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Talented multi-genre artist and all round ‘good guy’, Conway Twitty had an extraordinary career. He mastered rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, pop and country music, and was a gifted songwriter and performer. Few artists, after enjoying global smash hits in one genre, would change tack to pursue their art in another; but this is exactly what Twitty did. A rarity in the music industry, he never drank, never smoked, and treated everyone with humility and respect, and was described by critics as “the best friend a song ever had”. With over 16 million records sold by the mid-eighties, Twitty racked up 41 number one hit singles in both the pop and country charts; that’s more than Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and George Jones achieved. This carefully curated 18 track LP homes in on his early career as he embraced his rockabilly roots. Aside from his iconic No.1, the brooding and dramatic It’s Only Make Believe, he enjoyed thirteen other chart entries during this period, including the US No.6 Lonely Blue Boy and the UK No.5 Mona Lisa, before forging a niche as a leading force in the country market. This collection manages to showcase not only his fine voice, but his versatility in performing material, from out-and-out rock ‘n’ roll to ballads and country-flavoured tunes with equal panache.
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