Hits And Rarities

When debating the birth of British rock ’n’ roll, scholars will undoubtedly discuss the merits of Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard and Billy Fury… Oft-overlooked however is the huge contribution made by Sir Tommy Steele. Born Thomas Hicks in 1936, this humble Bermondsey boy went to sea in the Merchant Navy and, after sailing around the globe for five years, returned to the UK electrified by the raw power of rock ’n’ roll. Spotted singing in a trendy London coffee bar by Larry Parnes and John Kennedy, Hicks changed his name to Steele and, virtually overnight, became Britain’s first ‘teen idol’. In the 65 years since his ‘discovery’, Tommy has influenced everyone from Bowie to The Beatles and is now recognised as one of the Britain’s greatest ever all-round entertainers. This 92-track collection brings together just some of his hits, rarities, and live performances. Disc One features many rockin’ singles and favourites, like: “Rock With The Caveman”, “Rock Around The Town”, “Grandad’s Rock”, “Doomsday Rock”, “Elevator Rock”, “Rebel Rock”, “Knee Deep In The Blues”, “Teenage Party”, “Water, Water” and “Happy Guitar.” While Disc Two includes a variety of rarities and alternative film versions lifted from successful movies such as: “The Tommy Steele Story”, “Tommy The Toreador”, “Light Up The Sky!” and “The Duke Wore Jeans.” Disc Three will be of particular interest to fans as many of the early television recordings have never released before and will be heard on CD for the first time. This substantial celebration, with detailed liner notes from authorised Tommy Steele biographer Sebastian Lassandro, salutes Tommy’s significant contribution to British popular culture.