Jerry Butler - The Singles (2013)

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.

Tracklist:
1-1 Jerry Butler - Lost [2:23]
1-2 Jerry Butler - One by One [2:40]
1-3 Jerry Butler - Rainbow Valley [2:12]
1-4 Jerry Butler - Hold Me, My Darling [2:47]
1-5 Jerry Butler - I Was Wrong [2:50]
1-6 Jerry Butler - Couldn't Go to Sleep [2:34]
1-7 Jerry Butler - A Lonely Soldier [2:54]
1-8 Jerry Butler - I Found a Love [2:14]
1-9 Jerry Butler - He Will Break Your Heart [2:52]
1-10 Jerry Butler - Thanks to You [2:31]
1-11 Jerry Butler - Silent Night [2:44]
1-12 Jerry Butler - O, Holy Night [2:54]
1-13 Jerry Butler - Find Another Girl [2:52]
1-14 Jerry Butler - When Trouble Calls [2:38]
1-15 Jerry Butler - I'm A-Telling You [2:26]
1-16 Jerry Butler - I See a Fool [2:45]
1-17 Jerry Butler - Moon River [2:45]
1-18 Jerry Butler - Aware of Love [2:17]
1-19 Jerry Butler - Isle of Sirens [2:54]
1-20 Jerry Butler - Chi Town [3:04]
1-21 Jerry Butler - Make It Easy on Yourself [2:46]
1-22 Jerry Butler - It's Too Late [2:19]
1-23 Jerry Butler - You Can Run (But You Can't Hide) [2:43]
1-24 Jerry Butler - I'm the One Who Loves You [2:18]
1-25 Jerry Butler - The Wishing Star (Theme from the Film 'Taras Bulba') [2:38]
1-26 Jerry Butler - You Go Right Through Me [2:15]
1-27 Jerry Butler - You Won't Be Sorry [2:23]
1-28 Jerry Butler - Whatever You Want [2:22]
1-29 Jerry Butler - Strawberries [3:53]
1-30 Jerry Butler - I Almost Lost My Mind [2:16]
1-31 Jerry Butler - Where's the Girl? [3:03]
1-32 Jerry Butler - How Beautifully You Lie [2:43]
1-33 Jerry Butler - Just a Little Bit [2:31]
1-34 Jerry Butler - Woman with Soul [2:15]
1-35 Jerry Butler - Need to Belong [3:00]
1-36 Jerry Butler - Give Me Your Love [2:37]
1-37 Jerry Butler - Giving up on Love [2:35]
1-38 Jerry Butler - I've Been Trying [3:05]
1-39 Jerry Butler - I Stand Accused [3:01]
1-40 Jerry Butler - I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore [3:03]
1-41 Betty Everett;Jerry Butler - Let It Be Me [2:43]
1-42 Betty Everett;Jerry Butler - Ain't That Loving You, Baby? [2:48]
1-43 Betty Everett;Jerry Butler - Smile [2:51]
1-44 Betty Everett;Jerry Butler - Love Is Strange [3:03]
1-45 Jerry Butler - Good Times [2:12]
1-46 Jerry Butler - I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face [2:58]
1-47 Betty Everett;Jerry Butler - Since I Don't Have You [2:25]
1-48 Betty Everett;Jerry Butler - Just Be True [2:29]
1-49 Betty Everett;Jerry Butler - Fever [2:24]
1-50 Betty Everett;Jerry Butler - The Way You Do the Things You Do [2:31]
1-51 Jerry Butler - I Can't Stand to See You Cry [2:37]
1-52 Jerry Butler - Nobody Needs Your Love (More Than I Do) [2:30]
1-53 Jerry Butler - Just for You [2:33]
1-54 Jerry Butler - Believe in Me (Solo Re-Cut Version) [2:13]
1-55 Jerry Butler - Give It Up [2:37]
1-56 Jerry Butler - For Your Precious Love (Solo Re-Cut Version) [2:43]