The Singles

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Cat No: CHARLY668X

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Release Date: 11 November 2013

Label: Charly

Packaging Type: Brilliant Case (Jewel Case size, Holds 2 CDs)

No of Units: 2

Barcode: 803415766826

Genres: Rock

Description
With a career spanning more than four decades, singer/songwriter Jerry Butler rightly deserves his place in the pantheon of Chicago greats. Blessed with one of Soul music's most distinguished voices, The Iceman has earned the admiration of peers and fans alike thanks to his smooth delivery and suave demeanour. For the first time on one deluxe 2CD set, this hit-laden 56-track package gathers together all of Butler's Vee-Jay solo singles and reveals not only a consummate artist, but one with a superb instinct for spotting and nurturing great songwriting talent.

Born in Sunflower, MS, Butler relocated to Chicago as a child and began singing in church alongside friend and future collaborator Curtis Mayfield. As teenagers the pair joined brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks and their friend Sam Gooden to form The Roosters vocal group. Changing their name to The Impressions they registered their first hit in 1958 with Butler's self-penned 'For Your Precious Love' on the Vee-Jay affiliate Abner, and shortly thereafter Butler left to pursue a solo career.

Butler's career flourished at Vee-Jay during the early 1960s where he enjoyed ten US R&B Top 30 chart placings (including the No.1 'He Will Break Your Heart') and sixteen US Hot 100 hits, among them stunning duets with labelmate Betty Everett ('Let It Be Me', 'Smile') - all of which are included here. Adept at both ballads and up tempo numbers, Butler was the first to record 'Moon River' and had the pick of material by then up-and-coming writers such as Mayfield, Randy Newman and Van McCoy.

Complete with a fully annotated, richly illustrated booklet, The Singles comprises all of Jerry Butler's commercially released Vee-Jay 45rpms 1959-66 A and B-sides, plus bonus tracks on which he duets with Betty Everett.
Tracklisting