Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Counting Teardrops (The Pye/Piccadilly Anthology) (2006)

Emile Ford began as England's version of Carl Mann, creating rock & roll adaptations of classic pop songs, but Ford had greater technical and vocal ability than Mann. In collaboration with producer Joe Meek, Ford waxed a rockin' remake of "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?" that topped the British pop chart in 1959, then enjoyed substantial success with similar treatments of "On a Slow Boat to China" and "Them There Eyes." Counting Teardrops is a two-disc anthology of his complete recordings for the Pye and Piccadilly labels, encompassing two albums, a dozen singles, unreleased recordings and the hit EP Emile. The 61-track collection is split into halves, with the first disc compiling Ford's early Pye recordings (1959-1961) and the second his later Piccadilly sides (1961-1963). The package touts Ford as Britain's first major black star, yet his sound is firmly rooted in the pop/rock of white teen idols such as Ricky Nelson (whom Ford covered with "You'll Never Know What You're Missing"). Ford rocks the oldies throughout the program, from "Red Sails in the Sunset" and "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" to Carl Mann's "Mona Lisa," while also covering the songs of American teen idols such as Johnny Crawford and Barry Mann. The creative arrangements add a new dimension to familiar tunes, as on Ford's unusual remake of "Fever." He also ventures into harder-rocking territory from time to time, as with his rendition of "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," but classic and contemporary pop songs are clearly his forte. Ford is remembered in England for his huge debut hit, and among Joe Meek spotters because of Meek's early production work with Ford, but anyone who enjoys early-'60s teen pop will find Counting Teardrops an estimable collection of mostly well-known songs by a talented vocalist.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes At Me for (Mono Version) (2:06)
1.02 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Don't Tell Me Your Troubles (2:12)
1.03 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - On a Slow Boat to China (2:33)
1.04 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - That Lucky Old Sun (2:48)
1.05 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Red Sails in the Sunset (1:59)
1.06 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Move Along (2:32)
1.07 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Send for Me (2:17)
1.08 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Heavenly (2:19)
1.09 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home) (1:59)
1.10 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Paralysed (2:34)
1.11 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - So Many Ways (3:20)
1.12 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Buona Sera (Alternate Version) (3:34)
1.13 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - To Know Her Is to Love Her (2:33)
1.14 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - I'll Be Satisfied (1:57)
1.15 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Lonely Weekends (2:22)
1.16 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Mona Lisa (2:58)
1.17 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - My Wish Came True (2:32)
1.18 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Be My Guest (2:09)
1.19 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Endlessly (2:55)
1.20 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Wiggle, Wiggle (2:38)
1.21 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - You'll Never Know What You're Missing Till You Try (2:27)
1.22 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Still (2:19)
1.23 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Afraid (2:09)
1.24 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Them There Eyes (2:29)
1.25 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Question (2:24)
1.26 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates & George Ford, Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Counting Teardrops (2:16)
1.27 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - White Christmas (2:20)
1.28 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - What Am I Gonna Do? (2:30)
1.29 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - A Kiss to Build a Dream On (2:19)
1.30 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Darling Tell Me Do You Love Me (2:27)
1.31 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Over and Over (2:20)
2.32 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Half of My Heart (2:43)
2.33 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Gypsy Love (1:51)
2.34 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - After You've Gone (1:39)
2.35 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Hush, Someone's Calling My Name (2:07)
2.36 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Keep A-lovin' Me (2:39)
2.37 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - The Alphabet Song (A - You're Adorable) (2:35)
2.38 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Fever (2:37)
2.39 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Always (1:56)
2.40 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Early In the Morning (2:02)
2.41 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Don't (Stop Me Now) (3:06)
2.42 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair) (3:35)
2.43 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Vaya Con Dios (3:39)
2.44 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Trouble (2:39)
2.45 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Lawdy Miss Clawdy (1:52)
2.46 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - The Joker (2:36)
2.47 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Danny Boy (3:12)
2.48 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Yellow Bird (2:48)
2.49 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Buona Sera (3:10)
2.50 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (2:15)
2.51 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Doin' the Twist (2:23)
2.52 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Sazzle Dazzle (2:28)
2.53 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Your Nose Is Gonna Grow (2:05)
2.54 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - The Rains Came (2:11)
2.55 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (2:05)
2.56 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - (Just) Keep On Doin' What You're Doin' to Me (2:07)
2.57 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Tell Me Who (2:22)
2.58 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano (2:06)
2.59 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (2:19)
2.60 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Dreamboat (2:09)
2.61 - Emile Ford & The Checkmates - Bonny, Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond (2:38)