Craig Douglas – CRAIG DOUGLAS***

Only Sixteen/Golden Girl/Come Softly To Me/My First Love Affair/What Do You Want/Come Be My Love/Pretty Blue Eyes/New Boy/Teenager In Love/Riddle Of Love/Sandy/Heart Of A Teenage Girl

Isle of Wight born Craig Douglas was a regular fixture in the British singles chart in the early 1960s, concentrating on melodic ballads. Album wise he was less successful with only this self titled debut slipping into the UK album chart. His cover of Only Sixteen was a UK chart topper, with Pretty Blue Eyes and Heart Of A Teenage Girl also making the top ten. A compilation of his hits is worth a listen. (UK:17)

“Apart from the hits, which were quite good, most of the rest is average. It is easy to understand why Craig Douglas never hit the heights.”

“Craig had a sweet 'ballad' voice, good diction and a distinctive sound at a time when so many singers sounded pretty much the same.”

“Douglas can be seen as one of this country's finest exponents of high school pop, and to be honest his cover of Sam Cooke's Only Sixteen is better than the original, for the simple reason that Cooke may have wanted to pass himself off as a teenager, but Douglas was the real deal.”

“Though Douglas is not known as an album artist and never really made another, even this is just a 'hits so far' collection. Rock critics may have wanted to write Douglas off as of little worth, but the facts are simply too much in his favour.”

“I'd forgotten just what a good singer he was. Funny business show business, that a fellow with his talent should so quickly fade into relative obscurity. Still, here's a chance to relive good memories, good songs and good singing...treat yourselves.”

“It is nice to hear some quality well written songs sung by a very talented and professional entertainer.”

“If you, like me, are stuck in a time warp, and like your music to have lyrics you can understand clearly, and a tune you can sing along to, then you will enjoy listening to some well remembered songs, and some not quite so well remembered, but very enjoyable all the same. Although Craig Douglas was not a pop icon, he made his mark on the music world in the late 50s and early 60s.”