For those unaware, Don Fardon first tasted fame as the singer in Coventry’s cult freakbeat legends The Sorrows, when their single, ‘Take A Heart’, made #21 in the UK chart in 1965. Though The Sorrows aren’t covered by this box, Don’s excellent 1968 solo version of ‘Take A Heart’ is included as is his 1969 solo take on another Sorrows’ single, ‘Let The Live Live’.

All of Fardon’s singles from the 1967 to 1974 era, including many not issued in the UK, are featured such as ‘Indian Reservation’, ‘Belfast Boy’ and ‘I’m Alive’ but also ‘The Letter’, ‘Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’’, mod favorite ‘Treat Her Right’, 1974’s glam stomper ‘Don’t Do That’ and more plus all the tracks from albums, The Lament Of The Cherokee Indian (1968), The Love Story Of Don Fardon (1969), I’ve Paid My Dues (1970), Released (1970) and I’m Alive (1970).

This incredible 3CD set contains 81 tracks including the aforementioned ‘Indian Reservation’, a UK #3 hit in 1970 and a global million seller, plus his hit 1970 tribute to footballer Georgie Best, ‘Belfast Boy’ and club favorite ‘I’m Alive’, recorded in 1969, that peaked at #12 in the independent singles chart in 2010.

It also features numerous tracks previously unreleased on CD including Fardon’s never re- issued debut solo single, ‘It’s Been Nice Lovin’ You’ (1967 version) and B side, ‘I Won’t Be Long’ and the half live / half studio album, Don Fardon & The Gang On Tour In Scandinavia recorded in 1970.

And, also comes complete with eight never commercially issued tracks drawn from BBC World Service program Top Of The Pops including recordings of ‘Indian Reservation’, ‘Belfast Boy’ and a cover of The Beatles’ ‘Back In The USSR’.

Disc One
1. It’s Been Nice Lovin’ You (1967 Single Version) 2. I Won’t Be Long 3. The Letter 4. Daytripper 5. Captain Man 6. We Can Make It Together 7. (The Lament Of The Cherokee) Indian Reservation 8. Dreamin’ Room 9. Treat Her Right 10. Goodbye 11. Take A Heart 12. How Do You Break A Broken Heart 13. Sally Goes Round The Moon 14. Sunshine Woman 15. I Need Somebody 16. Mr. Stationmaster 17. Coming On Strong 18. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ 19. Ruby’s Picture On My Wall 20. Running Bear 21. I Get So Excited 22. Back In The USSR 23. Another Day a.k.a. On The Beach 24. Tobacco Road 25. Baby Let Me Take You Home 26. For Your Love 27. Out Of Time

The first disc opens on the sweeping It’s Been Nice Lovin’ You, the Brit-Soul beauty I Won’t Be Long and a robust The Letter, before later bringing us a free flowing Daytripper, the fantastically arranged (The Lament Of The Cherokee) Indian Reservation, a pulsating cover of the Sorrows song Take a Heart, and then later we get psych-lite trip of Sally Goes Round The Moon, the funk-grooved beauty Mr. Stationmaster, the rambunctious duo of I Get So Excited and Back In The USSR, this disc rounding out on the rocky pop sounds of Out Of Time.

Disc Two:
1. I’m Alive 2. Keep On Loving Me 3. It’s Been Nice Lovin’ You (1969 Version) 4. Let The Live Live 5. Belfast Boy 6. Echoes Of The Cheers 7. Hudson Bay 8. New York City 9. 6.10 Phoenix Gone 10. Riverboat 11. California Maiden 12. Mississippi Woman 13. Miami Sunset 14. Cheyenne 15. San Diego 16. Girl 17. Follow Your Drum 18. Get Away John 19. Devil’s Well 20. Delta Queen 21. Hometown Baby 22. Superwoman 23. Lady Zelda 24. Louisiana 25. Lola 26. St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John 27. Chippawa Town 28. Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast 29. Do You Know What I Mean

The second disc opens on the fervently ecstatic I’m Alive, the blue-eyed soul of Keep On Loving Me, and the finger-snapper Let The Live Live, and later brings us the 1970 hit single Belfast Boy, the storytelling that drives New York City, the joyful foot-tapper Mississippi Woman, and then we get stand out tracks such as the Neil Diamond-eseque Follow Your Drum, the dutifully soulful Delta Queen, the disc rounding out on the aching ballad Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast and the dancefloor smash Do You Know What I Mean.

Disc Three:
1. Don’t Do That 2. King’s Highway 3. Lady Madonna 4. Nashville Tennessee 5. Birth 6. Had To Run 7. Waa Ee Nah Nah - BBC Sessions 8. Belfast Boy 9. Hudson Bay 10. Indian Reservation 11. Back In The USSR 12. Follow Your Drum 13. Get Away John 14. Delta Queen 15. King’s Highway - Don Fardon & The Gang On Tour In Scandinavia 16. Memphis Tennessee (Live) 17. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ (Live) 18. Something (Live) Rock And Roll Medley: 19. Roll Over Beethoven (Live) Route 66 (Live) Johnny B Goode (Live) Travelling Band (Live) 20. Belfast Boy (Live) 21. Get Away John (Album Version) 22. Jambalaya 23. Girl (Album Version) 24. Oh Lonesome Me 25. Leaving On A Jet Plane

The third and final disc in this brilliant new collection opens on the driven Geordie cover Don’t Do That, the free flowing King’s Highway and a veritably smooth Lady Madonna, and latterly we are treated to some BBC Sessions that include lovely-to-hear versions of Belfast Boy, Indian Reservation and Back In The USSR, amongst others, then come a fantastic live set from Don Fardon & The Gang On Tour In Scandinavia, the stand out’s being the usual suspects plus a rousing Rock And Roll Medley (featuring Roll Over Beethoven, Route 66, Johnny B Goode and Travelling Band), the music coming to a close on the some single album versions along with a languishing rendition of John Denver’s immortal Leaving On A Jet Plane.

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