Wynn Stewart was one of the singers, guitarists and songwriters who originated and developed the Bakersfield sound of country music during the 1950s. Cited by many as having been a significant influence on contemporaries such as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard who were associated with Bakersfield movement, Stewart formed a high school band that played clubs around California before making his first records for the small Intro label.

While his debut singles, I’ve Waited A Lifetime and Strolling both failed to chart on the country music listings, the latter caught the attention of Skeets McDonald, one of Stewart's idols, who arranged an audition with Capitol Records. He soon recorded and released his first single for the label, Waltz Of The Angels, and landed him his first hit when it reached No.14 on the country chart.

This collection comprises just about all his releases on singles and albums between 1954 and 1962, including the A & B sides of his singles on the Intro, Capitol, Jackpot and Challenge labels. It includes charting hits such as Wishful Thinking, Big, Big Love and Another Day, Another Dollar.

He went on to enjoy further success in later years, and this collection is an entertaining introduction to his early career, and an insight into the roots of the Bakersfield phenomenon. The singer continued to tour into the 1980s and it was while on the road that he suddenly died of a heart attack on 17 July 1985.

TRACKS

CD 1
1. I'VE WAITED A LIFETIME Wynn Stewart (Intro 6088) 1954 
2. AFTER ALL Wynn Stewart (Intro 6088) 1954 
3. WHY DO I LOVE YOU SO Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3408) 1956 
4. WALTZ OF THE ANGELS Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3408) 1956 
5. SLOWLY BUT SURELY Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3515) 1956 
6. KEEPER OF THE KEYS Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3515) 1956 
7. A NEW LOVE Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3651) 1956 
8. HOLD BACK TOMORROW Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3651) 1956 
9. YOU TOOK HER OFF MY HANDS Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3596) 1956 
10. THAT JUST KILLS ME Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3596) 1956 
11. I WISH I COULD SAY THE SAME Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3803) 1957 
12. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Wynn Stewart (Capitol 3803) 1957 
13. COME ON Wynn Stewart (Jackpot 48005) 1958 
14. SCHOOL BUS LOVE AFFAIR Wynn Stewart (Jackpot 48005) 1958 
15. HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES Wynn Stewart and Jan Howard (Jackpot 48014) 1958 
16. YANKEE GO HOME Wynn Stewart and Jan Howard (Jackpot 48014) 1958 
17. ABOVE AND BEYOND Wynn Stewart (Jackpot 48019) 1959 
18. OPEN UP MY HEART Wynn Stewart (Jackpot 48019) 1959 
19. WISHFUL THINKING Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59061) 1959

CD 2
1. UNCLE TOM GOT CAUGHT Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59061) 1959 
2. WRONG COMPANY Wynn Stewart and Jan Howard (Challenge 59071) 1960 
3. WE'LL NEVER LOVE AGAIN Wynn Stewart and Jan Howard (Challenge 59071) 1960 
4. HEARTACHES FOR A DIME Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59084) 1960 
5. PLAYBOY Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59084) 1960 
6. IF YOU SEE MY BABY Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59095) 1960 
7. I'D RATHER HAVE AMERICA Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59095) 1960 
8. BIG BIG LOVE Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59121) 1961 
9. ONE MORE MEMORY Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59121) 1961 
10. I DONE DONE IT Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59142) 1962 
11. I DON'T FEEL AT HOME Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59142) 1962 
12. DON'T LOOK BACK Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59155) 1962 
13. LOVERSVILLE Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59155) 1962 
14. ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DOLLAR Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59164) 1962 
15. DONNA ON MY MIND Wynn Stewart (Challenge 59164) 1962 
16. THREE CHEERS FOR THE LOSER Wynn Stewart (From the album 'Wynn Stewart' Wrangler W 1006) 1962 
17. WALL TO WALL HEARTACHE  Wynn Stewart (From the album 'Wynn Stewart' Wrangler W 1006) 1962 
18. SEARCHING FOR ANOTHER YOU Wynn Stewart (From the album 'Wynn Stewart' Wrangler W 1006) 1962 
19. COUPLES ONLY Wynn Stewart (From the album 'Country & Western Stars' Stereo Spectrum  DLP-604) 1962