Single's, EP's, Album's & Disc's

Houston Wells - The Official & Unofficial Releases:

Included in this list are compilations that Houston Wells' material has featured on, although we must add that a lot of the compilation releases were released unofficially.

Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"This Song Is Just For You/Paradise" (Single)
Label: Parlophone
Country: UK
Date Of Release: October 1962
Catalogue Number: R4955

Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"Shutters And Boards/North Wind" (Single)
Label: Parlophone
Country: UK
Date Of Release: December 1962
Catalogue Number: R4980

Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"Just For You" (EP)
Label: Parlophone
Country: UK
Date Of Release: 1963
Catalogue Number: GEP 8878

Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"Only The Heartaches/Can't Stop Pretending" (Single)
Label: Parlophone
Country: UK
Date Of Release: May 1963
Catalogue Number: R5031

"Only The Heartaches" features Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmores Night) on guitar. This song made the UK #18 on 31st August 1963, and went to #7 the charts in Ireland and stayed in the Top 10 for 6 weeks 1963.

Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"Blowing Wild (The Ballad Of Black Gold)/Crazy Dreams" (Single)
Label: Parlophone
Country: UK
Date Of Release: October 1963
Catalogue Number: R5069

"Blowing Wild (The Ballad Of Black Gold)" features Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin) on guitar.


Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"Western Style" (Album)
Label: Parlophone
Country: UK
Date Of Release: 1964
Catalogue Number: PMC1215

Track Listing:
1. I Won't Go Hunting With You Jake
2. You Left Me With A Broken Heart
3. Call Me Another Time
4. Squaws Along The Yukon
5. Little Black Book
6. Kissing Tree
7. I'll Be Your Sweetheart For A Day
8. Blowing Wild (The Ballad Of Black Gold)
9. Best Job Yet
10. Strangers
11. We're Gonna Go Fishin'
12. All For The Love Of A Girl
13. I'm Gonna Change Everything
14. Behind The Footlights

"Little Black Book" was re-recorded for the Jasmine Records "Now & Then" release of 2008.

Houston Wells & The Outlaws
"Galway Bay/Living Alone" (Single)
Label: Parlophone
Country: UK
Date Of Release: May 1964
Catalogue Number: R5141

Both tracks feature Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmores Night) on guitar, Chas Hodges (Chas & Dave) on bass, Mick Underwood (Gillan, Peace) on drums.


Houston Wells
"Ramona" (EP)
Label: Parlophone
Category: Country
Country: UK
Date Of Release: August 1964
Catalogue Number: GEP 8914

Track Listing:
1. Ramona (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
2. Girl Down The Street (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
3. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
4. Nobodys Child (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)

Unusual is that both The Marksmen & The Outlaws feature as the backing groups on this EP.

Houston Wells & The Premier Aces
"I'm Looking At You/Happiness Takes So Long" (Single)
Label: Parlophone
Country: Ireland
Catalogue Number: DIP 507
Date Of Release: 30th July 1966

Houston Wells & The Premier Aces
"Above And Beyond/Love Looks Good On You" (Single)
Category: Country
Country: Ireland
Label: Parlophone
Catalogue Number: DIP 509
Date Of Release: 1966

This recording made the #4 on the Irish charts in 1966.

Houston Wells & The Trident Showband
"Hello Mary Lou/Girl Of Independent Means" (Single)
Category: Country
Country: Ireland
Label: Parlophone
Catalogue Number: DIP 512
Date Of Release: 1966 (?)

This recording made the #4 on the Irish charts in 1966.

Houston Wells
"The Joe Meek Story Vol. 3: The Complete Houston Wells " (CD)
Label: Sequel
Date Of Release: 22 November 1993
Catalogue Number: 5023224124227

Track Listing:
1. This Song Is Just For You (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
2. Paradise (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
3. Shutters And Boards (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
4. North Wind (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
5. Only The Heartaches (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
6. Can't Stop Pretending (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
7. Blowing Wild (The Ballad Of Black Gold) (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
8. Crazy Dreams (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
9. Anna Marie (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
10. Moon Watch Over My Baby (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
11. I Won't Go Huntin' With You Jake (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
12. You Left Me With A Broken Heart (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
13. Call Me Another Time (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
14. Squaws Along The Yukon (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
15. Little Black Book (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
16. Kissin' Tree (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
17. I'll Be Your Sweetheart For A Day (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
18. Best Job Yet (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
19. Strangers (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
20. We're Gonna Go Fishin' (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
21. All For The Love Of A Girl (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
22. I'm Gonna Change Everything (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
23. Behind The Footlights (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
24. Galway Bay (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
25. Livin' Alone (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
26. Ramona (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
27. Girl Down The Street (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
28. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
29. Nobody's Child (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)

Obviously this label weren't aware that Houston was (and is) still alive and writing and recording.

Various Artists
"It's Hard To Believe It..." (CD)
Country: UK
Date Of Release: 1994

Tracklisting:
1. Telstar - The Tornadoes
2. Johnny Remember Me - John Leyton
3. Tribute To Buddy Holly - Mike Berry & The Outlaws
4. Chick A 'Roo - Ricky Wayne & The Flee-Rakkers
5. Night Of The Vampire - The Moontrekkers
6. Paradise Garden - Peter Jay
7. My Friend Bobby - Pamela Blue
8. Swingin' Low - The Outlaws
9. Valley Of The Saroos - The Blue Men
10. The Bublight - The Blue Men
11. Til The Following Night - Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
12. Just Like Eddie - Heinz
13. North Wind - Houston Wells & The Marksmen
14. Huskie Team - The Saints
15. Have I The Right - The Honeycombs
16. My Baby Doll - Mike Berry & The Outlaws
17. Something I've Got To Tell You - Glenda Collins
18. I Take It That We're Through - The Riot Squad
19. Lost Planet - The Thunderbolts
20. It's Hard To Believe It - Glenda Collins

Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"Only The Heartaches" (CD)
Label: Zircon Records
Country: UK
Date Of Release: February 1998
Catalogue Number: ZIRC 1001

Various Artists
"Joe Meeks Hidden Gems" (CD)
Label: Diamond
Country: UK
Date Of Release: 1998

Tracklisting:
1. The Millionaires - Baby Cant Sleep
2. Chad Carson - A fool In Love
3. Tornados 64 - Cyclone
4. Davy Morgan - Cocaine
5. Houston Wells & The Masters - We'll Remember You
6. Bobby Ross - Just Like You
7. Ray Dexter - Jesse James
8. Chad Carson - Grandfather Clock
9. Michael Cox - I Cant Make Up My Mind
10. Lennie & Les - Snow-White Eastern Maid
11. The Joe Meek Orchestra - Cry My Heart
12. The Ferridays - Summer Holiday
13. Houston Wells & The Premier Aces - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold
14. Tornados 66 - Walking On Ice
15. The Ferridays - Two Brothers
16. Ray Dexter - Atlantic Twist
17. Ricky Wayne - Muscles
18. Benny Parker & The Dynamics - I'll Tell Her Now
19. Malcolm & The Countdowns - You Stole My Heart Away
20. The Saxons - How Will I Know ?
21. Michael Cox - Funny Man
22. The Dauphine Street Six - On A Hillside
23. Joe Meek - He's Mine (Bonus Track)

Ritchie Blackmore
"Ritchie Blackmore Anthology Vol. 2" (CD)
Label: Teichiku
Country: Japan
Date Of Release: 1998
Catalogue Number: TECX-23904

Tracklisting:
1. The Outlaws - Shake With Me
2. The Rally Rounders - The Bike Beat - Pt 1
3. The Rally Rounders - The Bike Beat - Pt 2
4. Gunilla Thorne - Go On Then
5. Michael Cox - I've Been Thinking
6. Houston Wells & The Outlaws - Living Alone
7. Houston Wells & The Outlaws - Galway Bay
8. Gene Vincent & The Outlaws - Dance To The Bop
9. Gene Vincent & The Outlaws - Catch Me A Rat
10. The Outlaws - As Long As I Live
11. The Outlaws - Only For You
12. Heinz - I Get Up In The Morning
13. Davy Kaye - A Fool Such As I
14. Jess Conrad - It Can Happen To You
15. Burr Bailey - Like a Bird Without Feathers
16. Silas Dooley - Birds And The Bees
17. Silas Dooley - Something At The Bottom Of My Garden
18. Ritchie Blackmore Orchestra - Gateway
19. Ritchie Blackmore Orchestra - Little Brown Jug
20. The Lancasters - Satan's Holiday
21. The Lancasters - Earthshaker
22. The Sessions - Let Me In
23. Ronnie Jones - Satisfy My Soul
24. Boz - Down In The Flood

Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"Only The Heartaches" (CD)
Label: Diamond
Country: UK
Release Date: 05 April 1999

Track Listing:
1. This Song Is Just For You (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
2. Paradise (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
3. Shutters And Boards (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
4. North Wind (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
5. Only The Heartaches (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
6. Can't Stop Pretending (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
7. Blowing Wild (The Ballad Of Black Gold) (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
8. Crazy Dreams (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
9. Anna Marie (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
10. You Left Me With A Broken Heart (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
11. Call Me Another Time (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
12. Best Job Yet (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
13. Strangers (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
14. We're Gonna Go Fishin' (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
15. All For The Love Of A Girl (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
16. I'm Gonna Change Everything (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
17. Behind The Footlights (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
18. Galway Bay (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
19. Ramona (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
20. Girl Down The Street (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
21. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
22. Hula Love (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
23. Wild Side Of Life (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
24. Please Help Me I'm Falling (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
25. We'll Remember You (Houston Wells & The Masters)

"We'll Remember You" as featured here is the incomplete recording.

Joe Meek - The Alchemist Of Pop (CD)

Joe Meek was the UK's first successful independent record producer. Between 1959 and his sudden, violent death in February 1967, he carved out a reputation as a wildly-eccentric maverick, famous as much for his 'difficult' personality as for his pioneering innovative recording techniques.

This double album features 60 of Meek's most memorable offerings, of which over forty were chart hits and four made it to No.1. All Meek's big names are included here, most notably The Tornados, John Leyton, The Honeycombs, Heinz, Mike Berry & The Outlaws and Screaming Lord Sutch. Along with collector's favourites and rarities this is quite simply the ultimate Joe Meek compilation.

Disc One:
1. What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For - Emile Ford & The Checkmates
2. Be Mine - Lance Fortune
3. Green Jeans - The Fabulous Flee-Rakkers
4. Chick A'Roo - Ricky Wayne & The Flee-Rakkers
5. Angela Jones - Michael Cox
6. Sunday Date - The Flee-Rakkers
7. Paradise Garden - Peter Jay
8. Can't You Hear My Heart - Danny Rivers
9. Swingin' Low - The Outlaws
10. Ambush - The Outlaws
11. You Got What I Like - Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
12. Johnny Remember Me - John Leyton
13. Tribute To Buddy Holly - Mike Berry & The Outlaws
14. Night Of The Vampire - The Moontrekkers
15. Wild Wind - John Leyton
16. Can You Hear The Beat Of A Broken Heart - Iain Gregory
17. 'Til The Following Night - Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
18. Son This Is She - John Leyton
19. It's Just A Matter Of Time - Mike Berry & The Admirals
20. Walk With Me An Angel - Don Charles
21. Lonely City - John Leyton
22. Telstar - The Tornados
23. Stand Up - Michael Cox
24. Theme From "The Traitors" - The Packabeats
25. Can Can '62 - Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers
26. North Wind - Houston Wells & The Marksmen
27. Don't You Think It's Time - Mike Berry & The Outlaws
28. Globetrotter - The Tornados

Disc Two:
1. Ridin' The Wind - The Tornados
2. Jack The Ripper - Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
3. Robot - The Tornados
4. I Lost My Heart At The Fairground - Glenda Collins
5. Only The Heartaches - Houston Wells & The Marksmen
6. Hobbies - Jenny Moss
7. Wipeout - The Saints
8. Just Like Eddie - Heinz
9. Sky Men - Geoff Goddard
10. My Friend Bobby - Pamela Blue
11. Country Boy - Heinz
12. All My Loving - The Dowlands
13. You Were There - Heinz
14. Have I The Right - The Honeycombs
15. Questions I Can't Answer - Heinz
16. I Can't Stop - The Honeycombs
17. Little Baby - The Blue Rondos
18. Something Better Beginning - The Honeycombs
19. Diggin' For Gold - David John & The Mood
20. That's The Way - The Honeycombs
21. Crawdaddy Simone - The Syndicats
22. What'cha Gonna Do Baby - Jason Eddy & The Centremen
23. Something I've Got To Tell You - Glenda Collins
24. Please Stay - The Cryin' Shames
25. You're Holding Me Down - The Buzz
26. I Take It That We're Through - The Riot Squad
27. Singing The Blues - Jason Eddy & The Centremen
28. It's Hard To Believe It - Glenda Collins

Houston Wells & The Marksmen
"Only The Heartaches" (CD)
Label: Zircon
Country: UK
Date Of Release: 3 July 2000
Catalogue Number: ZIRC 1001

Tracklisting:
1. This Song Is Just For You (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
2. Paradise (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
3. Shutters And Boards (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
4. North Wind (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
5. Only The Heartaches (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
6. Can't Stop Pretending (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
7. Blowing Wild (The Ballad Of Black Gold) (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
8. Crazy Dreams (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
9. Anna Marie (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
10. You Left Me With A Broken Heart (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
11. Call Me Another Time (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
12. Best Job Yet (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
13. Strangers (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
14. We're Gonna Go Fishin' (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
15. All For The Love Of A Girl (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
16. I'm Gonna Change Everything (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
17. Behind The Footlights (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
18. Galway Bay (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
19. Ramona (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
20. Girl Down The Street (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
21. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (Houston Wells & The Outlaws)
22. Hula Love (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
23. Wild Side Of Life (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
24. Please Help Me I'm Falling (Houston Wells & The Marksmen)
25. We'll Remember You (Houston Wells & The Masters)

1963: The Soundtrack (CD)
Label: Castle Music
Country: UK
Release Date: 18 February 2003

Disc 1:
1. Hey Paula - Paul And Paula
2. Up On The Roof - Julie Grant
3. Little Town Flirt - Del Shannon
4. Dance On - The Eagles
5. Go Away Little Girl - Mark Wynter
6. Trouble Is My Middle Name - The Brook Brothers
7. Globetrotter - The Tornados
8. Thats What Love Will Do - Joe Brown And The Bruvvers
9. Loop De Loop - Johnny Thunders
10. Sukiyaki - Kenny Balls Jazzmen
11. Count On Me - Julie Grant
12. Say Wonderful Things - Ronnie Carroll
13. Fireball XL5 - The Flee Rekkers
14. Cupboard Love - John Leyton
15. Chariot - Petula Clark
16. Harvest Of Love - Benny Hill
17. Im A Hog For You Baby - Erkey Grant And The Earwigs
18. Shame Shame Shame - Jimmy Reed
19. Pipeline - The Eagles
20. Hands Off Stop Muckin About - Kenneth Cope With The Breakaways
21. Bobbies - Jenny Moss
22. Only The Heartaches - Houston Wells & The Marksmen
23. Theme From The Scales Of Justice - The Tornados
24. Hello Stranger - Barbara Lewis
25. Sweets For My Sweet - The Searchers

Disc 2:
26. Twist And Shout - The Searchers
27. Rondo - Kenny Balls Jazzmen
28. Thanks To You - Daryl Quist
29. From Me To You - Del Shannon
30. Lies - Johnny Sandon And The Remo Four
31. Summer Skies And Golden Sands - The Overlanders
32. Mashed Potatoes - The Undertakers
33. You Can Never Stop Loving Me - Johnny Tillotson
34. Wipeout - The Saints
35. Christine - Miss X
36. Some Other Guy - The Searchers
37. Poison Ivy - The Puppets
38. Teddy Bears Picnic - Jackie Lynton
39. You Dont Have To Be A Baby To Cry - The Caravelles
40. I Dont Care - The Chants
41. Aint Gonna Kiss Ya - The Searchers
42. Boys - Jeannie And The Big Guys
43. Kiss Me Now - Tommy Quickly And The Remo Four
44. Hippy Hippy Shake - Pat Harris And The Blackjacks
45. That Boy Of Mine - The Breakaways
46. From Russia With Love - John Barry
47. Youre No Good - Betty Everett
48. Money (Thats What I Want) - The Searchers
49. The Kennedy March - The Joe Meek Orchestra
50. Steptoe And Son At Buckingham Palace (Parts 1 And 2) - Wilfrid Brambell & Harry H. Corbett

Joe Meek: The EP Collection (12 CD Set)
Label: Castle Music
Country: UK
Release Date: ?
Compiled by Roger Dopson and annotated by David Wells.

Disc: 1:
1. John Leyton - Wild Wind
2. John Leyton - You Took My Love For Granted
3. John Leyton - Johnny Remember Me
4. John Leyton - There Must Be

Disc 2:
1. John Leyton - Lone Rider
2. John Leyton - Son This Is She
3. John Leyton - Lonely City
4. John Leyton - It Would Be Easy

Disc: 3:
1. Sounds Of The Tornados - Ridin' The Wind
2. Sounds Of The Tornados - Dreamin' On A Cloud
3. Sounds Of The Tornados - Red Roses And A Sky Of Blue
4. Sounds Of The Tornados - Earthy

Disc 4:
1. Tornados - Telstar
2. Tornados - Popeye Twist
3. Tornados - Love And Fury
4. Tornados - Jungle Fever

Disc 5:
1. Heinz - Live It Up
2. Heinz - Don't You Understand
3. Heinz - Dreams Do Come True
4. Heinz - When Your loving Goes Wrong

Disc 6:
1. Mike Berry - Tribute To Buddy Holly
2. Mike Berry - It's Just A Matter Of Time
3. Mike Berry - My Little Baby
4. Mike Berry - You'll Do It You'll Fall In Love

Disc 7:
1. Flee-Rekkers - Isle Of Capri
2. Flee-Rekkers - Brer Roberts
3. Flee-Rekkers - Hangover
4. Flee-Rekkers - P.F.B

Disc 8:
1. Houston Wells & The Marksmen - This Song Is Just For You
2. Houston Wells & The Marksmen - Paradise
3. Houston Wells & The Marksmen - Shutters And Boards
4. Houston Wells & The Marksmen - North Wind

Disc 9:
1. Packabeats - Evening In Paris
2. Packabeats - Traitors
3. Packabeats - Dream Lover
4. Packabeats - Packabeat

Disc 10:
1. Don Charles - Walk With Me My Angel
2. Don Charles - Hermit Of Misty Mountain
3. Don Charles - It's My Way Of Loving You
4. Don Charles - Heart's Ice Cold

Disc 11:
1. Blue Men - Entry Of The Globbots
2. Blue Men - Valley Of The Saroosn
3. Blue Men - Magnetic Field
4. Blue Men - Around The Moon

Disc: 12:
1. Blue Men - Glob Waterfall
2. Blue Men - Dribcots Space Boat
3. Blue Men - Love Dance Of The Saroos
4. Blue Men - Bublight


Joe Meek -
30 Brilliant Hits
(Musical Adventures of England's Greatest Independent Producer) (CD)
Label: ?
Country: UK
Release Date: ?

Tracklisting:
1. Emile Ford & The Checkmates - What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For
2. Michael Cox - Along Came Caroline
3. Danny Rivers - Can't You Hear My Heart
4. The Fabulous Flee-Rekkers - Green Jeans
5. Lance Fortune - Be Mine
6. Michael Cox - Angela Jones
7. John Leyton - Johnny Remember Me
8. The Outlaws - Swinging Low
9. Screaming Lord Sutch - 'Til The Following Night
10. John Leyton - Son This Is She
11. Mike Berry & The Outlaws - Tribute To Buddy Holly
12. The Moontrekkers - Night Of The Vampire
13. The Outlaws - Ambush
14. John Leyton - Wild Wind
15. The Tornados - Telstar
16. The Packabeats - Evening In Paris
17. John Leyton - Lonely City
18. Heinz - Country Boy
19. Mike Berry & The Outlaws - Don't You Think It's Time
20. Heinz - Just Like Eddie
21. Houston Wells & The Marksmen - Only The Heartaches
22. John Leyton - Cupboard Love
23. The Tornados - Globetrotter
24. John Leyton - I'll Cut Your Tail Off
25. Mike Berry & The Outlaws - My Little Baby
26. The Tornados - Robot
27. The Honeycombs - Have I The Right
28. The Blue Rondos - Little Baby
29. The Honeycombs - That's The Way
30. Crying Shames - Please Stay

Houston Wells
Then & Now: From Joe Meek To Taupo, New Zealand (2 CD Set)
Label: Jasmine Records
Country: UK
Release Date: 14th March 2008
Compiled by Houston Wells & Rob Smith
Produced by Rob Smith

CD 1: The Early Years
1. This Song Is Just for You (2.35) *
2. North Wind (2.35)
3. Only The Heartaches (2.52)
4. Can't Stop Pretending (2.55) *
5. Blowing Wild (2.26) *
6. Crazy Dreams (2.23) *
7. Girl Down the Street (1.51) *
8. Ramona (2.33) *
9. Anna Marie (2.55) *
10. Strangers (2.56) *
11. Hula Love (2.47) *
12. Call Me Another Time (2.11) *
13. All For The Love Of A Girl (2.47) *
14. The Wild Side Of Life (2.34) *
15. Galway Bay (2.39)
16. We'll Remember You (2.53) *
17. Blue Of The Night (2.07)
18. Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger (2.26)
19. Teach Me Little Children (2.20) *
20. Above And Beyond (2.34)
21. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold (2.32)
22. Hello Mary Lou (2.25)
23. I Won't Go Hunting With You Jake (3.49) **
24. Just For Old Time's Sake (4.53) **
25. Little Black Book (2.50) **
26. Little Daughter (3.38)
27. Ireland (3.46)

CD 2: The All-New Contemporary Houston Wells
1. The End Is Not In Sight (3.52) ***
2. Send A Message To My Heart (5.01) ***
3. As I Leave Behind Neidin (2.52) ***
4. Devil Woman (4.35) ***
5. Lonely Street (4.54) ***
6. The Girl From Yesterday (3.08) ***
7. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (4.31) ***
8. Sleepy Eyed John (2.49) ***
9. I Really Don't Want To Know (5.10) ***
10. Forty Shades Of Green (3.02) ***
11. King Of Fools (3.41) ***
12. I Wouldn't Cheat On You (3.01) ***
13. One More Last Chance (3.15) ***
14. Sweet And Gentle Love (3.36) ***
15. My Happiness (3.41) ***
16. If I Didn't Have You In My World (3.30) ***
17. I Will Love You Every Time (3.53) ***
18. If The Whole World Stopped Loving (3.39) ***
19. Honky Tonk Man (2.48) ***
20. Bluest Heartache Of The Year (4.37) ***
21. You're My Best Friend (3.53) ***

* - Previously Unreleased Remixed
** - Previously Unreleased Re-recorded Version
*** - Previously Unreleased New Recording

This collection features many re-mixes and re-recordings as well as previously unreleased tracks from sessions in New Zealand.

The Songs Of Houston Wells

This list includes songs recorded with The Marksmen, The Outlaws, The Premier Aces, The Masters, The Trident Showband.

In addition to those gems we have also listed other songs that Houston has recorded during several recording sessions in New Zealand.

We have also included a list of compilations that Houston Wells' material has featured on, although we must add that a lot of these have been release unofficially.

UK and Irish Recordings:

Recorded with The Marksmen:

Fraulein (?) *Unreleased*
We Will Make Love (Russ Hamilton) *Unreleased*
This Song Is Just For You (Hank Williams, Harris)
Paradise (Pete Willsher)
Shutters And Boards (Audie Murphy, Scott Turner)
North Wind (Joe Meek)
Only The Heartaches (W P Walker, C J Edwins, T Kennedy)
Can't Stop Pretending (Houston Wells, Allan Stephens)
Blowing Wild (Paul Francis Webster, Dimitri Tiomkin)
Crazy Dreams (Houston Wells)
Anna Marie (Walker)
Moon Watch Over My Baby (Joe Meek)
I Won't Go Hunting With You Jake (Stuart Hamblen)
You Left Me With A Broken Heart (Weske)
Call Me Another Time (Jean Jolly, Houston Wells, Allan Stephens)
Squaws Along The Yukon (Cam Smith)
Little Black Book (Jimmy Dean)
Kissing Tree (Linderman, Stutz)
I'll Be Your Sweetheart For A Day (Smith)
Best Job Yet (Clinton Ford)
Strangers (Petican, Mahoney)
We're Gonna Go Fishin' (Hank Locklin)
All For The Love Of A Girl (Johnny Horton)
I'm Gonna Change Everything (Zanetis)
Behind The Footlights (Emerson)
Hula Love (Buddy Knox)
The Wild Side Of Life (W Warren, A A Carter)
Please Help Me I'm Falling (Hal Blair, Don Robertson)

Recorded with The Outlaws:

Galway Bay (Arthur Colahan)
Living Alone (?)
Ramona (Mabel Wayne, L Wolfe Gilbert)
Girl Down The Street (Houston Wells)
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (Howard, Orlob, Adams, Hough)
Nobodys Child (Foree, Coben)

Recorded with The Masters:

We'll Remember You (Geoff Goddard)
The Blue Of The Night (Turk, Crosby, Ahlert)
No One Will Ever Know (?) *Unreleased*
I'm Coming Home To You (?)

Recorded with The Ladybirds & Session Musicians:
Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger? (D.Robertson, D.Clement, J.Crutchfield)
Teach Me Little Children (Dorsey Burnette, J Osborn)
32nd Of May (Ahlert, Snyder) *Unreleased*

The Ladybirds were also known as The Benny Hill Singers, one of them being the wife of session man extraordinaire Joe Brown and mother to english songstress Sam Brown (who at one point in time was a backing singer for Pink Floyd and Gary Moore). These tracks were recorded at Ardmore Studio's in Ireland.

Recorded with The Premier Aces:

Above And Beyond (Howard)
When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold (Wiley Walker, Gene Sullivan)
I'm Looking At You (Houston Wells)
Happiness Takes So Long (Houston Wells)
Love Looks Well On You (Richie Moman)

Recorded with The Trident Showband:

Hello Mary Lou (Gene Pitney)
Girl Of Independent Means (Cane)

New Zealand Studio Recordings:

Ramona (Mabel Wayne, L Wolfe Gilbert)
Devil Woman (Marty Robbins)
Lonely Street (Carl Belew, Kenny Sowder, W.S. Stevenson)
I Really Don't Want To Know (Don Robertson, Howard Barnes)
Just For Old Times Sake (McGuire Sisters)
As I Leave Behind Neidin (Jimmy McCarthy)
Forty Shades Of Green (Johnny Cash)
Honky Tonk Man (Tillman Franks, Howard Hausey, Johnny Horton)
I Will Love You Everytime (Phil Coulter, Tom Paxton)
I Wouldn't Cheat On You (Robert Smith)
If I Didn't Have You In My World (Vince Gill, Jim Weatherly)
If The Whole World Stopped Loving (Ben Peters, Robert Smith)
Ireland (Robert Smith)
King Of Fools (Dwight Yoakam, Kostas)
My Happiness (Betty Peterson Blasco, Borney Begantine)
One More Last Chance (Vince Gill, Gary Nicholson)
Send A Message To My Heart (Kostas, Kathy Louvin)
Sweet And Gentle Love (Jimmy McCarthy)
The End Is Not In Sight (Russell Smith)
The Girl From Yesterday (Glen Frey, Jack Tempchin)
You're My Best Friend (Wayland D Holyfield)
I Won't Go Hunting With You Jake (Stuart Hamblen)
Little Black Book (Jimmy Dean)
Little Daughter (Houston Wells)
Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (James Royce Shannon)
Sleepy Eyed John (Tex Atchinson)
Bluest Heartache Of The Year (W Wimberly, Rocky Wimberly)
Bonnie Scotland (Houston Wells, Rob Smith) *Unreleased*
Dad (Houston Wells, Rob Smith) *Unreleased*
Moonlight (Houston Wells, Rob Smith) *Unreleased*
There Ain't No Future In The Past (Houston Wells, Rob Smith) *Unreleased*
Daddy And Home (Jimmy Rodgers) *Unreleased*
T B Blues (Jimmie Rodgers)*Unreleased*


Re-Mastered Recordings:

All tracks remastered and produced and additional recording (including additional guitars and backing vocals) by Rob Smith

We'll Remember You (Geoff Goddard)
The Blue Of The Night (Turk, Crosby, Ahlert)
Teach Me Little Children (Dorsey Burnette, J Osborn)
My Little Daughter (Houston Wells, Rob Smith)
Hula Love (Buddy Knox)
Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger? (D.Robertson, D.Clement, J.Crutchfield)

Houston Wells - The UK's First Professional Country Music Recording Star

Biography by Paul Hazell (used with his permission)

Houston Wells - Then & Now From Joe Meek To New Zealand

Recent years have seen Houston Wells recording new material, both with a host of session musicians, as well as with his son Rob Smith. When you finally get your hands upon a collection of the modern works from this true legend of the UK and Ireland music scene's you will be astounded at his versatility, you will marvel at how well he has managed to reinvent himself without ever losing the knack of bringing out the beauty of the written lyric. What you will also hear is the legacy of a talented family, for Rob has added his own influence to the recordings he has made with his father in an effort to bring new and inspired vision to some old favourites and some brilliant original recordings. Rob's 2 daughters Catherine and Laura are both beautiful singers, they have accompanied their father and grandfather in their home studio (as well as having written their own material).


The Early Years - A Country Singer in the Making

Houston Wells first saw the light of day in Northumberland, England where he was born Andrew Smith, not far from Newcastle Upon Tyne. He enjoyed a happy childhood and grew to love the outdoors through his father, who nurtured in him a love of nature and took him on fishing trips. Not surprisingly, he grew up with an ambition to work in the outdoors and tried driving earth movers and logging as it turned out with a return ticket for later in life in both cases before joining the army and eventually the merchant navy.

A stint on the SS Iberia eventually saw him living for a time in Canada, where by the late 1950s he had settled in Powell River, about one hundred miles North of Vancouver. There, he worked as a logger and developed his love of country music. His inspiration as a singer came from such names as Slim Whitman, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash and Hank Locklin. The possessor of a rapidly maturing and tuneful voice, the young ex-seaman took to singing in bars whenever the opportunity arose.

Canada, of course enjoys a long and rich tradition of country and folk music influences that has produced such esteemed names as Hank Snow, Wilf Carter, George Hamilton IV and latterly Gordon Lightfoot and Ann Murray. The young man absorbed the local music and continued to perform whenever his spare time allowed.

The life in Canada was short-lived though, as Houston's wife and children elected to stay in the UK when the Canadian period began. So, in 1959 Houston moved on, travelling around by Greyhound bus and initially stopping over with relatives in Detroit before sailing back to England on "The Corinthia". The marriage did not last however and the young, newly single Andrew Smith settled in Wickford, Essex where his parents and brother were living. He took a job driving a truck for a boss based in nearby Rayleigh and listened to a lot of country music as he drove up and down the length of England. Houston recalls:

"Of all the songs I heard on the radio back then two particularly made an impression on me. One was Jim Reeves' "He'll Have To Go" and the other was Hank Locklin's "Please Help Me I'm Falling". Little did I realise then that within a short time I would be working with both these country superstars! It makes me wonder if life's already lined up for you".

The move to Essex was fortuitous, as living not too many miles away in the Southend-On-Sea area were four young lads collectively known as The Coasters, who were soon to play a major part in Andrew Smith's life! The Coasters had been formed by guitarist Pete Willsher and featured Brian Gill on bass, Norman Hull on rhythm guitar and Peter Nye on drums. They specialised in playing instrumental pieces and were well known around the Southend and Leigh-on-Sea area, where they often invited young would-be vocalists to sing a song or two. In a way, a kind of pre-digital forerunner of karaoke!

It was one night at the Elms Hotel in Leigh-on-Sea that Andrew Smith volunteered to sing a couple of numbers with The Coasters. The boys realised immediately that here was someone who was a lot more than just another lad who could hold a tune. Here was a good looking young man who within a few bars held the audience in the palm of his hand. What is more he could hit and hold some impressively powerful notes.


From that night on it was Andrew Smith & The Coasters and over the ensuing months they carved out a musical niche for themselves in a growing area spreading out from Southend and the popularity of their gigs made them wonder if there might be a chance they could record.

Brian Gill was an electrical engineer and he constructed a basic home studio so that the group could make a demo tape. Pretty soon, they had cut "China Doll" & "This Song Is Just for You". That recording found its way to London where it landed on the desk of Terry McGrath of Southern Music. Impressed by what he heard, McGrath asked Andrew to allow him to place it and very shortly afterwards, the boys received an invitation from the much exalted producer Joe Meek to attend his famous studio at Holloway Road in North London.

Houston recalls today that their first impression was that they had been unceremoniously shunted into a backroom store, ankle-deep in cables, plugs and tapes. Then it occurred to them that this was the actual studio where all the famous recordings were made!

Meek was impressed with Andrew and the boys. It later emerged that although he was renowned for his pop and rock n roll productions, he harboured a secret love for country music and was delighted to have a country act on his books. However, he already had other groups signed up and, in particular, had in mind that The Outlaws could provide perfectly good backings for Andrew's voice. He broke the news to the young lead singer. He would sign up Andrew but not the group. This bombshell did not go well with Andrew who insisted that he would only record with The Coasters. The resultant compromise was that Meek would record Andrew with The Coasters but only Andrew would be under contract. Meek would pay Andrew and he would have to share his income with the band.

The second surprise was that the recordings would not be released as being backed by The Coasters as there was already a popular American group by that name. Also, it was decided that Andrew Smith did not sound much like the name of a country singer. So it was that Houston Wells And The Marksmen came into existence as a Joe Meek act!

The day that Houston signed to Meek was preserved for posterity by the photograph of Meek holding his gun on Houston, as if compelling him to sign!

Interestingly, a 45rpm copy of that original demo has recently surfaced and we are hoping that it might respond positively to some tender loving care by our mastering team with a view to one day sharing it with the public on a future release.

In The Limelight

The first single was a studio cut of the Hank Locklin hit that had formed one side of the demo disc. "This Song Is Just For You" was coupled with the Pete Willsher number "Paradise" and it was released in September 1962. The former track is included on CD1 of this set and showcases the power and range of Houstons voice. It did well in the UK and enjoyed even more success in Ireland. It served to gain them some much-needed publicity and before long the boys were sporting glitzy country style shirts made up by Pete Willsher's mum! A similar level of success was achieved by the second single, a cover of the Jerry Wallace hit "Shutters And Boards" which sported Meek's own composition "North Wind" on the flip side.

Whilst Meek's musical brilliance is unquestioned, his choice of single A sides frequently has been! "North Wind" was universally acclaimed as a great song with a superb production and bound to succeed. However, Meek chose to make it the B side, which meant that it received much less airplay. Consequently both Houston and many of his followers have always believed that they missed out on a potential hit by not having "North Wind" as an A side. You can make up your own mind as "North Wind" is featured in this compilation.

Meek chose "Only The Heartaches" as the A side of the third single, so his taste was not so bad this was the one that made Houston Wells a really hot name. A country song with a western feel, released just as the Liverpool sound was taking off, one might not have expected the song to sell but, sell it did! It went into the pop charts in the UK and Ireland and won them many major shows, TV and radio appearances and subsequently led to concert tours. More and more the boys went out on the road and demand grew for new recorded product.

To ensure that Meek had plenty of material from which to choose future releases he had the boys record numerous tracks. That way, should the tours take the group away, Meek could still ensure a constant stream of new releases for his public. He would often move the boys on to more songs during recording sessions, promising to finish them off later.

Through all this, two things became apparent that surprised and frustrated Houston. Firstly, he noticed that as the records were released, his voice often sounded higher than it actually was. Also the backings did not sound as discussed with Meek. Houston told me:

"The basic tracks would sound fine in the studio but then, when we heard them on record they didn't sound the same and my voice sounded much higher than it really was."

In fact, what Houston did not realise at the time was that many of the tapes had been speeded up after recording but before the records were mastered and pressed and frequently, the productions had not been finished as Meek had promised. With this release, you can hear many of the tracks at the speed they were recorded, with the backings remixed to reflect the original intentions of Houston and Meek. This will be the first time these mixes have ever been heard outside the studios.

Secondly, Houston received no money and pretty soon was borrowing a suit from his father and a car from a friend because he could not afford to get to gigs and recording sessions on his depleted savings!

"The contract I had with the Meek organisation stated that I was entitled to one penny for every record sold. I still have the contract! With all the records we moved, that should have come to a quid or two, however I've yet to see a penny from them!"

This gave rise to numerous rumours that Houston was taking full pay and keeping the group on the bread line!

"We were on the bread line, he says, but it wasn't my fault. I guess I was naive, it would be different if we were going through that today. I was as green as grass back then, now I've got all my buttons on!"

A third frustration that only became apparent in later years was the number of tracks recorded by Meek that never saw the light of day. Whether Meek never got around to finishing the productions or whether he had plans for later albums we will never know. Houston takes up the story:

"There were a lot of tracks that never saw release through the Meek years and it wasn't because they weren't good enough. For instance, I recall that we did "Tennessee Stud" at the request of the TV star Richard Greene, who was famous as Robin Hood. He invited us to go shooting pheasants with him at his country home and it emerged that he was a lover of horses. "Tennessee Stud" was one of his favourite songs".

"Then later I recorded the delightful "Just For Old Times Sake" with The Masters. It always frustrated me that so many tracks never came out on record. In fact, I have re-recorded "Just For Old Times Sake" for this album. "We'll Remember You" was another favourite of mine a tribute to Jim Reeves that didn't get released on record, although it did see the light of day briefly later on an early CD compilation. But there were many more and now no-one seems to know where those master tapes are. Technically, they now belong to me so if anyone knows of their whereabouts I'd be grateful to them for letting me know".

At The Top

Sales of the records blossomed, against all the trends of pop music of those times and Houston Wells & The Marksmen appeared on all the major pop TV shows and headlined their own major concerts. They also embarked on some impressive concert tours, supporting such names as The Beatles, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash and Hank Locklin and later more tours with Locklin as well as working with Roy Orbison, The Carter Family, Lonnie Donegan, Carl Belew and again with The Carter Family.

In due course, more singles, two EPs and an album, "Western Style" followed. Today copies of that original LP album and the EPs are collectors pieces and exchange hands at high prices. Houston is amazed at the prices they sell for:

"I never realised how collectable my recordings were until a friend showed me on the Internet".

The constant pressure for concerts, tours and recordings coupled with the equally constant lack of funds placed pressures on the group and in 1964 they split. Meek immediately replaced The Marksmen with The Outlaws as he had originally wanted and Houston Wells & The Outlaws toured Ireland as well as returning to the studios to make more recordings, including "Galway Bay" and "Wild Side Of Life", which both appear on CD1 of this set and include Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore and Chas Hodges of Chas & Dave fame amongst the backing musicians. Other well-known musicians playing on Houston's sessions at different times included Canadian steel guitarist Ken Lundgren, guitarist Big Jim Sullivan - a renowned as an artiste in his own right as well as for his work with Tom Jones - and drummer Mick Underwood.

There followed a number of years during which Houston largely based himself in Ireland but toured not only the emerald isle but much further afield, working exhausting schedules across the UK, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and many other European countries as well as a tour in the USA.

During these years Houston worked with different bands. Initially there was The Masters, then in 1966 when The Masters split, Houston joined forces with The Premier Aces. With both bands, Houston enjoyed the trappings of success for the first time. They earned good money for their personal appearances and enjoyed charting records in the Irish Charts.

In 1968 Houston formed The Trident Showband, working 7 nights per week, travelling hundreds of miles on a regular basis, including once again touring with Hank Locklin.

Numerous fine recordings were made through the Irish years, sometimes returning to the UK to record for Meek but later also recording in the Emerald Isle. One track recorded during a brief visit to the Meek studios was the aforementioned "We'll Remember You" - the Reeves tribute. The song was given to Houston in the studio and he had to take it home, arrange it over night and record it the next day at 9am!. Contrary to some reports, the track was recorded with The Masters, not The Outlaws as many people assumed. Houston is particularly glad to see it included in this compilation:

"During the tour with Jim we got to know him very well and he did a lot to help us. He even invited us to tour with him in the USA, although tragically, that was never to be as he was killed in the plane crash. Although I didnt write this song, I meant every word that I sang".

The boys loved the life on the road, exhausting though it was. There were lots of crazy antics but few regrets. Perhaps one regret for Houston was missing the opportunity to shoot as a marksman in the Olympic team because the band was engaged to perform elsewhere. He did however win the West of Ireland down the line double rise Championship.

But back to the music. More fine recordings were made with both The Premier Aces and The Trident Showband. "When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again", "Hello Mary Lou" and "Above And Beyond" were good examples, the latter reaching No 4 in the Irish charts. During that period of time he also returned to England to record "Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger" and "Teach Me Little Children". Notwithstanding the success the boys achieved, with changing musical trends, it was becoming more and more tough to schedule appropriate work, the hours were crazy and members of the band began to yearn to spend more time with their families and loved ones. Thus in 1971, Houston resolved to bring the band to a close and they split amicably.

Houston decided it was time to leave the music industry and return to the outdoors. He embraced his long-held love of shooting and to replace the income from concerts, moved to County Wicklow where the family bought a logging business. They were successful at first but then fuel shortages and rising petrol prices made life really difficult and in late 1973 they closed the business.

To New Zealand

Houston decided that he would make a fresh start. He would emigrate to New Zealand. He contacted his ex-wife and obtained her blessing to take the children with him. Some rumours years later suggested that as the fans didnt know what had happened to him, Houston must have stolen his children and would therefore be wanted by Interpol!! This was not the case and Houston and the children sailed uneventfully for Auckland in December 1973, arriving down-under on 8th February 1974.

Houston promptly re-entered the logging business and for a time even returned to his other work-passion of driving earth-moving equipment! (He still gets excited at the thought of driving big machines!). He was offered operating work in various parts of the world but declined the potentially high earnings in favour of remaining with his family. They settled and built a life there and, although Houston never lost his love of country music, he no longer saw himself as a performer.

He did however continue to write songs and these were filed at first but later became part of his drive to see a new commercial CD release.

The Call Of The Boards

Although Houston keeps busy with his gym workouts, his shooting, his songwriting and his family, the call of the boards was too strong to be ignored forever. It was a series of unconnected events though that led to him reawakening the passion for singing!

On settling in New Zealand, Houston had continued with his shooting in his spare time and in 1986 was part of the New Zealand team that competed in the World Sporting Championships in Australia. Whilst there, Houston sang a few songs one evening at an informal get-together and found that, not only did he still get that same old buzz from performing, but his audience loved it too! The voice was still good and that evening awoke the seed of the performer within him.

Houston began to take an interest in the lively New Zealand country music scene and performed informally from time to time in the local country music clubs. He continued writing songs and started to build a reputation for having a good voice and singing good material! He began to attract the attention of local country music names such as singer John Hore-Grenell and producer Dave Maybee. Maybee invited Houston to record some of the songs he had been writing. Before long, Houston Wells was once again laying down tracks. Now though the pop-country sounds of the 60's
had been replaced by a more mature-sounding Houston recording some impressive contemporary country music.

By the late 1990's, Houston had built an ambition to once again seek a commercial release for some of this new repertoire of material. A couple of CD compilations from his early recordings had generated a lot of interest and shown there was a market for Houston Wells product. A friend produced a website for him and that also generated immediate interest. Eventually Houston was contacted by a couple of UK-based labels that were interested in releasing an album in due course. Those discussions continue but in the meantime, Jasmine Records have been in discussion with Houston about this project, which aims to bring up to date the story of the Houston Wells recording career.

Houston Wells Today

Houston today lives on the shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand where he enjoys a busy life combining his family and music with his interests of shooting, mending antique clocks and keeping fit. Musically, he has ongoing inspiration from his son, Rob Smith who is an established and respected guitarist and vocalist in his own right. They often spend time together in Rob's studio, experimenting with new songs and laying down demo takes.

Houston has also recently written his first novel and is now looking for a publisher. Although a fictional story, it draws from many of Houstons experiences through the years and there is much of Houston in the main character! Even today, his love of the outdoors remains and when he is not trekking up a mountain, or haring through the bush on his mountain bike, he can often be found sitting by the lake writing songs.