Jess Conrad: Jess For You - The Definitive Collection, 2CD

• In the early 1960s, prior to Beatlemania, JESS CONRAD was considered a Golden Boy of Pop. Dubbed by the NME as “The Face of ‘61”, he came to prominence via TV shows like Wham!, Boy Meets Girls, Thank Your Lucky Stars and Ready, Steady, Go!

• As an actor, Jess appeared in over 28 films, including The Boys and Konga, and enjoyed a prolific recording career, notching up British hits between 1960-62 with ‘Cherry Pie’ (No.39), ‘Mystery Girl’ (No.18) and ‘Pretty Jenny’ (No. 50).

• This long overdue double CD collates most of Jess’s recorded output from 1960 to the noughties, including his work with the legendary Joe Meek (‘Hurt Me’, ‘It Can Happen To You’), a rare South African only release (‘Little Bit Of Loveliness’), and later recordings made for both Columbia Records (written and produced by Charles Blackwell, Mitch Murray and Les Reed) and President (with Cy Payne and Ivor Raymonde arranging and producing).

• Also included is a one-off single as Men (with Dave Dee and Troy Dante) and previously unreleased takes from a private collection, including a favourite recording by Jess of Moon Mullican’s ‘Seven Nights To Rock’ (from 2016).

• The accompanying booklet is packed with detailed sleeve notes and nostalgic pictures, which complement this unique set and pays tribute to an artist who wove himself into the very fabric of pre-Beatles Pop Britain.

• Some of Jess’s records are now deemed worthy of cult status, such as ‘This Pullover’. Such was his success on Kenny Everett’s ‘World’s Worst Records’ (based on his highly rated Capital Radio programme) that three of Jess’s recordings made the resulting compilation album in 1978 (‘This Pullover’, ‘Why Am I Living’ and ‘Cherry Pie’). And some of Jess’s singles are collector’s items: most notably ‘Pussy Cat’, which has caught the ears of Mod/Beat collectors and has been seen on sale for up to £150.

DISC ONE

1. CHERRY PIE


2. THERE'S GONNA BE A DAY


3. OUT OF LUCK


4. UNLESS YOU MEAN IT


5. MYSTERY GIRL


6. THE BIG WHITE HOUSE


7. THIS PULLOVER


8. WHY AM I LIVING


9. I SEE YOU


10. OH! YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL


11. EVERY BREATH I TAKE


12. WALK AWAY


13. HEY LITTLE GIRL


14. TWIST MY WRIST


15. PRETTY JENNY


16. YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU TRY


17. IT'S ABOUT TIME (7” Version)


18. AS YOU LIKE IT


19. SWIMMING IN TEARS *


20. DIDN'T WANT YOU TO *


21. YOU CAN KISS ME IF YOU LIKE *


22. THAT'S MY WEAKNESS NOW


23. YOU TOO


24. RAG DOLL


25. (I WANNA) LOVE MY LIFE AWAY


26. LITTLE SHIP


27. AN ANGEL CRIES


28. JUST THE TWO OF US


29. MAYBE YOU'LL BE THERE


30. IT TEARS ME ALL TO PIECES


31. IT’S ABOUT TIME (EP Version)


32. I DON'T CARE (WHAT PEOPLE SAY)


33. ONE OF THESE DAYS


34. DOWN TOWN TONIGHT

 

* PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED DEMOS

DISC TWO

1. TAKE YOUR TIME


2. I KNOW YOU


3. PUSSYCAT


4. TEMPTED


5. THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY


6. DON'T TURN 'ROUND


7. HURT ME


8. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU


9. A LITTLE BIT OF LOVELINESS


10. TIN PAN ALLEY RAG


11. THE OTHER SIDE OF LIFE


12. SEE THE TINKER RIDE


13. A CONSPIRACY OF CARDS *


14. CRYSTAL BALL DREAM


15. PUSSY CAT


16. HERE SHE COMES AGAIN


17. MY IDEA


18. DON'T LOCK ME UP *


19. THESE ARE NOT MY PEOPLE - Men


20. BE-BOP-A-LULA


21. FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING


22. WITHOUT A WORRY IN THE WORLD


23. DIZZY MISS LIZZIE


24. GIVE ME A STAR


25. SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY


26. LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS


27. HEY LITTLE GIRL (Promotional Film Version) *


28. JOHNNY B. GOODE–CAROL–LITTLE QUEENIE MEDLEY


29. SEVEN NIGHTS TO ROCK *

* PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED