You're The Reason: Early Years

Although nowadays chiefly remembered for his 1969 million-seller 'Games People Play', Joe South had been writing, recording and producing records since the late 1950s. This compilation presents South's first dozen 45s, recorded between 1958- 62 for a variety of Georgia-based labels, plus a studio outtake and three of his early songwriting/production successes with other artists. Features his earliest hits, 'The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor' and our title track, 'You're The Reason', alongside regional hits/collectors' rarities like 'I'm Snowed', 'What?A?Night', 'Play It Cool' and 'Masquerade'. The bonus tracks feature Billy Joe Royal, Linda Brannon and The Tams, whose 'Untie Me' was Joe's first major national hit as a writer and producer. This is the very first comprehensive compilation of South's early career, and a half-dozen of these sides have never previously appeared on CD.