1-CD-Album DigiPac (4-plated) with 36-page booklet, 30 tracks. Playing time approx. 73 mns

An underground legend celebrated by Buck Owens, who recorded a whole album of Tommy Collins' songs, and Merle Haggard, who wrote and recorded a tribute song Leonard. One of the pioneers of the honky tonk sound of Bakersfield! There are no other Tommy Collins CDs available, except for Bear Family's exhaustive box set! Includes the incredible rare first single Campus Boogie, plus uptempo hillbilly boogies and honky tonk classics!

Tommy Collins helped to establish the Bakersfield Sound. Legions of West Coast country performers and current roots/alternative country stars have built on the sound, making it one of the cornerstones of American music. Tommy Collins scored several hits as a performer, including You Better Not Do That in 1954. Just as Tommy Collins' career was taking off, he had a religious conversion. For several years, little was heard from him. He returned to music, and signed with Columbia in 1965. The following year, had a Top 10 hit with I Can't Bite, Don't Growl. For the next few years, he had a string of hit singles.

By the early '70s, Tommy Collins' professional and personal life was on the verge of collapse, due to his increasing dependency on drugs and alcohol. He recovered by writing songs, many of them recorded by Merle Haggard, including the '70s hits Carolyn and The Roots Of My Raising. In 1981, Merle Haggard had a hit single with Leonard, his tribute to Tommy Collins. After the release of Leonard, the spotlight again turned to Tommy Collins, who was now sober. Tommy Collins resumed professional songwriting and his most notable success was Mel Tillis' Top 10 1984 hit, New Patches.

Track Listing

• Campus Boogie
• Black Cat
• That's The Way Love Is
• Smooth Sailin'
• Let Down (& Wanda Collins)
• You Gotta Have A License
• Let Me Love You
• You Better Not Do That
• Untied
• I Always Get A Souvenir
• Whatcha Gonna Do Now
• I Love You More And More Each Day
• Love-A-Me, S'il Vous Plait
• You're For Me
• I'll Be Gone
• I'm Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail
• It's Nobody's Fault But Yours
• All Of The Monkeys Ain't In The Zoo
• Wait A Little Longer
• What Kind Of Sweetheart Are You
• A Love Is Born
• Heart's Don't Break
• You Belong In My Arms
• It Makes No Difference Now
• I Guess I'm Crazy
• Mary Don't You Weep
• Oklahoma Hills
• I Got Mine
• Black Cat (Stereo)
• Think It Over Boys

Additional Details

Label: Bear Family Records

Genre: Country

Run Time: 73 mins

Release Date: 11/15/11

UPC: 4000127168979