The Shape I'm In

Award-winning bodybuilder Johnny Restivo was only fifteen years of age when he was launched on his singing career. Given a strong promotional push by his record company, RCA-Victor, he got off to a promising start, his debut 45, 'The Shape I'm In', making a significant dent on the Top 100 and selling well overseas, although the B-side, 'Ya-Ya', became the bigger international hit. Although he was unable to get a follow-up away, 45s like 'Looka Here Now' and 'My Reputation' enjoyed regional success. He later became a huge star in Australasia and South America, notably in Argentina, where he hosted his own TV series. This collection presents everything that Restivo recorded between 1959-62, for RCA, 20th Fox and Epic, the first time that this body of work has been thus assembled. A number of these sides are real collectors' rarities, having never previously been reissued in any format.