Mcwilliams,David Reaching For The Sun: Major Minor Anthology 67-69 CD

First complete anthology of late 60s recordings by highly-regarded Irish singer/ songwriter. Includes his best-known song, the huge European hit 'Days Of Pearly Spencer', as well as more than a dozen tracks making their CD debut. At the height of the protest singer boom that spawned the likes of Dylan and Donovan, Irish-born music industry heavyweight Phil Solomon received a demo tape from a young Ballymena-based singer/songwriter by the name of David McWilliams. Sensing the possibilities, the entrepreneur added McWilliams to his Irish-based roster of acts (The Bachelors, The Dubliners, Van Morrison's Them, etc) and placed the youngster on his fledgling record label Major Minor. Launched in a blaze of publicity in mid-1967, McWilliams coupled voguish songs about social deprivation with lighter, more romantic material, with producer and occasional Beatles/ Rolling Stones associate Mike Leander providing the striking string arrangements. Success was immediate: three charting albums were released in the space of eight months, with 'Days Of Pearly Spencer' - a swirling, cinematic slice of psychedelic pop/folk - becoming a huge hit single across Europe. However, that punishing schedule and a puzzling lack of financial reward saw a disillusioned McWilliams turn his back on the music industry in 1969, although he would return after a three-year sabbatical to resume his career elsewhere. A 2-CD set, 'Reaching For The Sun' is the first-ever compete anthology of David's Major Minor recordings. It includes mono and stereo versions of his signature tune 'Days Of Pearly Spencer' alongside more than a dozen tracks making their CD debut, including 'Who Killed Ezra Brymay', only released at the time in America.

1. God and Country 2. Redundancy Blues 3. The Silence Is Shattered 4. Hiroshima 5. Question of Identity 6. Time of Trouble 7. Echo of My Heart 8. In the Early Hours of the Morning 9. I'll Be Home 10. Leaves That Fall 11. Twilight 12. Hey Sally Sally 13. Reaching for the Sun 14. Sheelo Gone So Long 15. Midnight Sun 16. Pretty Bird 17. Days of Pearly Spencer 18. Can I Get There By Candlelight 19. For Josephine 20. How Can I Be Free 21. Brown Eyed Gal 22. Marlana 23. For a Little Girl 24. Lady Helen of the Laughing Eyes 25. Time Will Not Wait 26. What's the Matter with Me 27. There's No Lock Upon My Door 28. Tomorrow's Like Today 29. Three O'Clock Flamingo Street 30. Harlem Lady 31. Four Seasons 32. Turn Homeward Stranger 33. Letter to My Love 34. City Blues 35. Reflections 36. Poverty Street 37. And I'm Free 38. September Winds 39. Young Man's Dream 40. Born to Ramble 41. This Side of Heaven 42. Mr. Satisfied 43. The Stranger 44. Follow Me 45. Oh Mama Are You My Friend 46. I Love Susie in the Summer 47. Who Killed Ezra Brymay 48. Fiori Nel Vento (Poverty Street, Italian Language Version) 49. Correrai, Correrai (MR. Satisfied 50. Italian Language Version) 51. Un Sasso Nel Cuore (Intangible, Italian Language Recording) 52. Lo Straniero (The Stranger, Italian Language Version) 53. Harlem Lady (Mono Version) 54. Days of Pearly Spencer (Mono 55. Version)