Cat. No. VV 1246: CHUCK WILLIS ~ HIS GREATEST RECORDINGS. ATCO SD 33-373.

USED VINYL RECORD. PART OF A COLLECTION NOW UP FOR SALE.

HAROLD "CHUCK" WILLIS WAS KNOWN AS THE KING OF THE STROLL FOR HIS PERFORMANCES OF THE 1950s DANCE THE STROLL. WHEN THE BAND WAS PERFORMING ON STAGE THEY WOULD ALL THIS STEP SIDE TO SIDE. DICK CLARK OF AMERICAN BANDSTAND FAME POPULARISED THE DANCE BY PLAYING CHUCK'S HIT "C. C. RIDER" WITH MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE PERFORMING THE DANCE TO THE TUNE AND THE STROLL BECAME A POPULAR DANCE.

IN 1951, CHUCK WAS SIGNED TO COLUMBIA RECORDS AND RELEASED ONE SINGLE HE THEN BEGAN RECORDING ON THE COLUMBIA SUBSIDIARY "OKEH" WHERE HE ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A POPULAR R&B SINGER. IN 1956, HE MOVED TO ATLANTIC RECORDS WHERE HE HAD IMMEDIATE SUCCESS WITH "IT'S TOO LATE", "JUANITA" AND "LOVE ME CHERRY". CHUCK'S MOST SUCCESSFUL RECORD WAS A REWORKING OF AN OLD MA RAINEY TUNE "C. C. RIDER". ITS RELAXED BEAT, COMBINED WITH A MELLOW VIBRAPHONE BACKING AND CHORUS INSPIRED THE EMERGENCE OF THE STROLL. WILLIS HAD SUFFERED FROM STOMACH ULCERS FOR MANY YEARS. HE WAS KNOWN TO DRINK A LOT. DURING SURGERY IN CHICAGO, CHUCK DIED OF PERITONITIS ON APRIL 10, 1958 AT THE AGE OF 32.

THIS ALBUM ON THE ATCO LABEL IS ONE OF SIX RELEASED IN A SERIES ENTITLED "GREATEST RECORDINGS". THE ALBUM CONTAINS 12 FABULOUS R&B TUNES ALL RECORDED BETWEEN 1956 AND 1958. THE SLEEVE IS A BIFOLD SLEEVE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH ONLY VERY, VERY, MINOR SIGNS OF WEAR. THE RECORD IS GRADED AS NEAR MINT.

TRACK LISTING: Side 1 - Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes / Ease The Pain / C. C. Rider / What Am I Living For / That Train Is Gone / Love Me Cherry. Side 2 - Betty And Dupree / It's Too Late / From The Bottom Of My Heart / Kansas City Woman / Thunder And Lightning / My Crying Eyes. 

12" VINYL RECORD