Mike Sammes Singers & The John: Channel West, 2CD

Listen to any popular British recording of the late 1950s and ''60s and the chances are you will be listening to the voices of The Mike Sammes Singers. Theirs is probably one of the one of the oddest and most extraordinary stories in show business; that of singers whom everyone heard but relatively few saw.

In their heyday, Mike Sammes' playful and impressively versatile singers provided the backing for hundreds of international artists; from Pinky and Perky to the Beatles. As well as smooth vocal textures and musical punctuations for both film and television productions and countless advertising jingles.

Along the way, they somehow found time to record a quantity of much admired albums of their own, either as the Michael (or Mike) Sammes Singers, or under such pseudonyms as the Knightsbridge Chorale (a monicker they adopted when collaborating with Tony Hatch for Top Rank). In short - for a time - they were everywhere.

"We recorded for Decca, HMV, Columbia, Parlophone, Philips, Fontana, Oriole, Embassy and Top Rank and there was nothing unusual in doing three sessions a day and a jingle at lunchtime," remembered Sammes.

The voices of the Mike Sammes Singers can be heard on everything from Flash Bang Wallop to Delilah and The Green Green Grass of Home. From Val Doonican's Walk Tall to Ronnie Hilton's Windmill in Old Amsterdam. From Lily the Pink to Waltzing Matilda.

TRACKLISTING

DISC 1
1. Gunlaw / Maverick
2. Cheyenne
3. Bronco
4. Sugarfoot
5. Wyatt Earp
6. High Noon
7. The Deputy
8. Gunlaw / Laramie
9. Wagon Train
10. Wells Fargo
11. Rawhide
12. (Take Me Back to My) Boots and Sadle
13. The Last Round Up
14. Shane
15. Bonanza
16. Route 66
17. Tightrope
18. The Roaring Twenties
19. M-Squad
20. Ghost Squad
21. Suco- Suco (Theme from "Top Secret")
22. Perry Mason
23. Maigret
24. The Avengers
25. Echo Four-Two
26. 77 Sunset Strip
27. Johnny Staccato
28. The Eton Boating Song
Disc 2
1. Pick Yourself Up
2. Somewhere Along the Way
3. Put on a Happy Face
4. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise
5. Misty
6. Spring, Spring, Spring
7. Dreaming
8. There Will Never Be Another You
9. California Here I Come
10. Baby Talk to Me
11. I'll Know
12. Deep in a Dream
13. Passing Breeze
14. Let's Get Away from It All
15. Taking a Chance on Love
16. Nice to Know You Care
17. O Can Ye Sew Cushions?
18. It Was a Lover and His Lass
19. Au Clair De La Silvery Moon
20. Little Drummer Boy
21. Comin' Thru' the Rye
22. I Know That You Know
23. Hi Lili, Hi Lo
24. Love Is Here to Stay
25. Manhattan
26. I'm Beginning to See the Light
27. Stork Talk
28. Til Autumn Comes
29. San Fernando Valley
30. Oh My Twisted Bach!