Search - Frank Ifield :: Complete a Sides & B Sides

A country singer at heart

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 11/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just to clarify the title - it is actually the complete UK A-sides and B-sides, together with four German versions of his UK hits and a 2004 re-mix of his biggest hit. Frank's Australian recordings from the fifties can be found on a budget compilation (Sings country and classics), which is also on the EMI label.



Frank was born in England but raised in Australia, later to return to the UK to establish his singing career - a pattern subsequently repeated by Olivia Newton John. Whereas Olivia eventually based herself in America, Frank remained in the UK, playing the small country music circuit long after his pop successes were a distant memory. Country music has never been huge in Britain but it has enjoyed a reasonable level of support especially since the seventies. In the sixties, Frank Ifield discovered - as did the husband and wife team of Miki and Griff - that there was no significant following for the music. Frank, together with Miki and Griff, George Hamilton IV and a few others, helped to change that.



Like Miki and Griff, Frank had to compromise his music to get it heard but anybody listening to it will realize that Frank is a country singer at heart. A look at the track listing will show that Frank liked to cover country songs, although many pop singers also did that in those days.



Frank started his UK chart career with a couple of minor hits (Lucky devil, Gotta get a date) in 1960 but then disappeared from the charts until the summer of 1962, during which time he released several excellent singles including Tobacco road (later a hit for British R+B group the Nashville Teens). Those early UK recordings were done with a view to commercial success although they weren't like Frank's Australian recordings.



In 1962 and with only one single to be recorded before his contract expired, Frank decided he would be himself. At least he'd show EMI what he was really like. The result is an object lesson to all singers as Frank recorded a 1940's show song (I remember you) in a pop-country style. It became the first of three consecutive UK number one hits. Of course, EMI hastily renewed Frank's contract and allowed him more freedom to choose what he recorded.



Next came Lovesick blues, a song dating back to the 1920's but generally regarded as a Hank Williams classic - indeed, many make the mistake of thinking Hank was the original writer. Frank's version is very distinctive. The B-side (She taught me to yodel) also proved extremely popular and was for a time credited as a second A-side.



Wayward wind (a cover of the fifties classic) followed, then came a UK number four hit (Nobody's darlin' but mine) and a further number one (Confessin'). Frank then had another minor hit (Mule train) in October 1963. In the summer of 1964, Frank had one last top ten hit (Don't blame me) followed by six further minor hits up to the end of 1966. After that, he disappeared from the charts completely until a he had surprise minor hit in 1991 on a different label (The yodelling song), which is an old song (She taught me to yodel) with a different title.



Frank has been unable to sing since 1986, after which he returned to Australia. In 2004, I remember you was re-mixed to include steel guitar. Frank had originally wanted to record the song with a steel guitar but was unable to find a top player in the UK and ended up using a Hawaiian guitar (the steel guitar's ancestor) instead.



Frank did much to improve the status of country music in Britain. He may have compromised his sound to appeal to pop music fans, but so have plenty of others. If you just want the hits, a single CD is available (Essential Frank Ifield), but this collection is well worth the extra cost."

Still a lady killer!

J. Samuels Richards | Sydney,Australia | 01/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can I say about Frank and his wonderful range of songs.His voice covers a great range from love songs to slightly quirky numbers.Good listening at a dinner party for over 40's."

Beautiful Music - Beautiful Voice

Music Lover | Illinois USA | 11/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Frank Ifield has an amazing voice and uses it with wonderful results. On the Complete A & B Sides there is not a bad recording although there are some songs that are his alone even though they might be a cover of another artist's song. Some of the really great ones like "Paradise" and "I Remember You' are unforgetable but to listen to "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" shows the true beauty of his voice. Frank has a tremendous range and control of his voice and uses it with great effect. My only complaint is that he did not do recordings of Gospel and Spirituals. With that voice it would have been priceless."