The No. 1 – ”The Collector” / ”Cracks In The Sidewalk” (Kapp K-824) April 1967

The No. 1 | The Collector | (Kapp) 1967 I’ve been fascinated by the song ”The Collector” for a number of years having discovered it on The Everly Brothers album ”Two Yanks In England.” I wanted to find out more which led me to Sonny Curtis who wrote the song. Sonny was a member of Buddy Holly’s backing band The Crickets.

I wrote about his version a few years ago but it’s taken me an age to get around to uncovering ”The Collector” by The 1. The latter hailed from Ridgefield, Connecticut and recorded as The Blue Beats before this disc on Kapp.

The 1’s version adds a more baroque psychedelic feel but it still retains the darkness of this fabulous psychedelic ballad.

‘I’m a collector of beautiful things I capture and keep them and pin down their wings.”

line-up:
Louie Mazza (drums)
Peter Robbins (bass)
Chris Covell (vocals / lead guitar)
Gary Quinn (rhythm guitar)

recordings of ”The Collector”
The Everly Brothers – ”Two Yanks In England”- released July 1966
Sonny Curtis (Viva-607) January 1967
The 1 (Kapp K-824) April 1967
The All Night Workers (Mercury 72833) July 1968
The Affection Collection – self titled album (Evolution 2007) late 1969