K SPECIAL
VA - Decca: The Best of The World of... A Diverse Selection from the Legendary Decca Series (Super Deluxe Edition) (16CD Box Set) (2025)
The World of... is a series of budget-priced compilations, samplers and reissues released from 1968 by Decca Records UK (and subsidiary labels including Argo, Deram Records and York Records), to my mind these form a unique document of social and cultural historical importance. Most often associated with light entertainment (Val Doonican Vol. 5 anyone?) and popular classical, the series also incorporates blues, comedy, Shakespeare, psychedelia, railway locomotives, folk music and children's stories.
The list currently runs from SPA 001 to SPA 599...
As far as I can determine, Decca released 599 albums in The World of... series between 1968 and 1981 and can be viewed in this fully comprehensive list below:
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/harlou123/the_world_of_____series__decca_records/
Launched in 1968, the series showcased a wide variety of the label's output including classical music, pop, folk, jazz, blues, world music, showtunes, comedy and spoken word releases.
Among the editions are compilations, reissues, samplers and several collections based upon the BBC Radio programme Your Hundred Best Tunes. The World of... brought Decca’s catalogue to retailers like supermarkets, encouraging new buyers to "dip in". By 1975, it was described as "probably one of the best-selling series ever devised by a record company". The World of... albums are commonly found in charity shops in the UK.
The World of... series was formulated after Decca head Sir Edward Lewis was shown Germany's Phase 4 Stereo sampler albums on a business trip to the country. The series marked Decca's entry into the budget market, with the cut-price albums intended to entice consumers who didn’t usually buy LPs. Promoted with window displays, browser cards and colour posters, the series was an immediate success. By 1973, The World of... held 18-20 percent of the budget albums market in the UK, behind MFP with an estimated 28 percent. In 1975, the albums retailed at £1.29. By 1986, the dealer price had increased to £2.12.
The first release, the 14-track compilation The World of Mantovani, was issued in September 1968 in a gatefold sleeve and priced at 19/11. The album reached number six on the UK Albums Chart, while a second Mantovani volume made number 4 in 1969.
Among the early entries in the series was The World of Johann Strauss (1969), the first of several releases that "treated classical music much like pop: compiling the most popular pieces and presenting them across two sides". By the end of 1969, 54 titles were available in the series.
Several releases spotlighted Decca's contemporary pop signings. The World of David Bowie (1970) was issued after Bowie left the label and features most of his 1967 debut album alongside 1966 B-side "The London Boys" and three previously unreleased songs.
Further releases were dedicated to Tom Jones, Lulu, Cat Stevens, Lynsey de Paul, the Zombies, Amen Corner, Alan Price, the Flirtations, Them and Billy Fury, among others.
Seven The World of Hits albums featuring acts such as Small Faces, the Move and Thin Lizzy were issued between 1969 and 1973.
Dedicated World of releases appeared for blues, soul, folk, easy listening, hard rock, country, music hall, television themes, sacred music and brass bands.
Comedy releases featuring the Goons, Tony Hancock, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, Benny Hill, Marty Feldman, the Goodies and Bernard Manning among others were also issued.
In classical music, several The World of Your Hundred Best Tunes compilations were among the best-selling releases in the series, leading to the publication of a companion book by Alan Keith in 1975 "for the millions who have shown their needs by buying the discs".
Some albums in the series dropped the World of designation. These releases can be identified by their catalog numbers, which are prefixed SPA as with all others in the series. They include Nova Sampler (1970), comprising selections from Decca's short-lived progressive music series, I Thought Terry Dene Was Dead (1974), a companion to Dan Wooding's biography of the same title, and a 1975 reissue of The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp (1968).
The release schedule slowed during the 1980s, with some of the final original albums appearing in 1986.
The series inspired the title of Morrissey's World of Morrissey album, released in 1995. The World of... was revived in 2019 when five new titles were released to celebrate Decca’s 90th anniversary.
In January 1969, The World of Hits was first introduced and focused on Decca hit records at the time. The series ran for seven volumes up until 1973.
I have included five bonus albums in this collection: The World of David Bowie, The World of Mod, She-Zam! The World of 60s Power Girls, The World of Northern Soul and The World of Tom Jones which were released in 2019 and 2020 to celebrate Decca’s 90th anniversary.
The World of David Bowie - Decca UK (1970)
A special Record Store Day 2019 release, released on 13th of April.
The World of David Bowie is a compilation album by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 6 March 1970 by Decca Records as part of their The World of... series following Bowie's success with the "Space Oddity" single. It primarily consists of material he recorded in 1967 for Decca subsidiary Deram, including all but four tracks from his debut album David Bowie, as well as three previously unreleased songs - "Karma Man", "Let Me Sleep Beside You" and "In the Heat of the Morning" - and the 1966 B-side "The London Boys". The tracklisting was approved by Bowie himself, while the sleeve photo was provided by David Bebbington. The album was reissued in April 1973 with a Ziggy Stardust-era sleeve photo.
LP - Record Store Day 2019 Release. 180 Gram Blue Vinyl. 3500 copies.
Part of the ’Decca90’ series celebrating the label’s 90th anniversary year.
Decca launched its much-loved World of Series in 1968. The first album set out the series’ stall perfectly, looking at one of the label’s biggest selling artists - yet hardly one that chimed with the counter culture in 1968. The World of Mantovani – SPA 1, (or PA 1 in mono) - was a 14 track collection, each track a different selection from his sizeable Decca album catalogue. Released in the autumn of the year, it acted as a perfect primer, and its price, 17s, put it shy of the 37s 6d of the full price albums. Its whole raison d’etre was to drive sales of the artist’s deeper repertoire - dip in here and then indulge further - the rear sleeve clearly offered the catalogue numbers of the parent albums.
The series would run throughout the 70s and become a ubiquitous feature of the label. It was taken so seriously, that David Bowie himself offered the track listing for his own addition to the series, (SPA/PA 58), which was released in March 1970 after the success of the Phillips-released single Space Oddity. It also showed how the World ofs could be a veritable treasure trove for rarities and one-offs, as it contained the first official release of Let Me Sleep Beside You, Karma Man and In the Heat of the Morning. According to Kevin Cann’s invaluable book on Bowie’s early years, Any Day Now, Bowie bought a copy of the original himself from a record shop on Beckenham High Street. It became a big seller - indeed, Decca repackaged it in 1973 - when Bowie finally became a big star. Imagine the shock people had thinking they had The Jean Genie when all they had was Uncle Arthur and Little Bombardier.
Originally, the single versions of both Love You Till Tuesday and When I Live My Dream were meant to replace the album versions for this compilation, but this didn't transpire.
This 2025 digital remaster featured here is presented how it was initially intended to be released featuring all the original mono mixes and single versions.
The World of Lieutenant Pigeon is an incredibly rare item since it was never officially released.
DECCA had assigned SPA 414 and planned for its release but pulled it at the last minute without saying why.
Amongst several other projects, one of drummer Nigel Fletcher and pianist Robert Woodward's other concerns, involving guitarist Steve Johnson and Hilda Woodward (Robert's mum on second piano), was a novelty band called Lieutenant Pigeon. It is with much chagrin that the boys are usually associated with just one of the many tunes put out by this fine group. True, it is their biggest hit but after producing so much work in this and other bands, it must be galling to be considered a one-hit wonder. The tune is 'Mouldy Old Dough', DECCA's last ever No.1 hit. A fine plinky plonk stomp with a rasping titular refrain.
Nigel Fletcher on the subject of the record that never was, kindly provided a scanned image of what seems to be the only copy of the planned LP cover for the record. He explained that he’d left the cover in the sun and so apologised for the faded appearance - nonetheless a real authentic rock artefact.
Lieutenant Pigeon Chief Executive, Bill Boswell was later provided a higher quality example of the planned cover by Dave Ashby below:
Dave Ashby of Bury St Edmunds unearthed a gem. A copy of "The World of Lieutenant Pigeon" has turned up after all these years. He managed to purchase said rare item and has been good enough to scan the pictures of the sleeve. The boys say they only received a test pressing of the album off Decca back in the mid 1970s, and were not even aware that front and back sleeve designs had been completed. They were given the catalogue number SKA 5226 at the time but then the record was deleted, before even the release date. Dave's copy of the back sleeve clearly shows the catalogue number SPA 414.
A cassette tape and cover art was also produced, but again never released.
She-Zam! The World of 60s Power Girls (2019)
Incredibly rare with only 500 vinyl copies pressed as an HMV exclusive for Record Store Day in 2019.
Released as part of Decca's 90th anniversary celebrations.
Includes tracks that have never appeared on any compilation or in digital form until now.
The albums included in this box set are:
01 The World of Lulu - Volumes 1&2 - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 8 (1969)
02 The World of Marianne Faithfull - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 17 (1969)
03 The World of Amen Corner - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 33 (1969)
04 The World of David Bowie - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 58 (1970)
05 The World of Alan Price - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 77 (1970)
06 The World of The Zombies - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 85 (1970)
07 The World of Them - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 86 (1970)
08 The World of Cat Stevens - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 93 (1970)
09 The World of The Flirtations - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 218 (1972)
10 The World of Lynsey de Paul - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 443 (1974)
11 The World of Lieutenant Pigeon - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 414 (1975)
12 The World of Rock 'n' Fun - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) 483 (1975)
13 The World of Mod - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) (2019)
14 She-Zam! The World of 60s Power Girls - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) (2019)
15 The World of Northern Soul - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) (2020)
16 The World of Tom Jones - Decca UK (2025 Digital Remaster) (2020)
None of these albums have ever been released on CD or digitally, so this is a true first in this presentation of all digital files.
Compiled as always using the very latest highest quality and best sounding digital remasters, with a considerable number of tracks sourced from the original master tapes for superior sound quality and enjoyment.
This 16CD set contains only 100% CD quality original recordings, including many in their original mono form. No later remixes, re-recordings, vinyl rips or poor-quality YouTube rips here!
Enjoy!
K
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Track lists
The World of Lulu - Volumes 1&2
01 Lulu - Leave a Little Love (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 2:46
02 Lulu - Don't Answer Me 3:19
03 Lulu - Surprise, Surprise 2:20
04 Lulu - When He Touches Me 2:51
05 Lulu - Call Me (Mono) 1:56
06 Lulu - I'll Come Running Over 3:00
07 Lulu - Shout (Original 1964 Decca Records 7" Mono Single Version) 2:55
08 Lulu - Here Comes the Night (Original 1964 Decca Records 7" Mono Single Version) 2:53
09 Lulu - Lies 2:25
10 Lulu - Tell Me Like It Is (Original 1965 Decca Records 7" Mono Single Version) 2:29
11 Lulu - Tossin' and Turnin' 1:47
12 Lulu - Try to Understand (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 2:10
13 Lulu - Choc Ice 2:15
14 Lulu - Bye Bye Heart 2:25
15 Lulu - The Only One 2:07
16 Lulu - What a Wonderful Feeling 2:41
17 Lulu - He's Sure the Boy I Love 2:31
18 Lulu - Satisfied 2:54
19 Lulu - Dream Lover 2:41
20 Lulu - She Will Break Your Heart 2:58
21 Lulu - Can I Get a Witness 2:42
22 Lulu - Heatwave 2:04
23 Lulu - You'll Never Leave Her 2:18
24 Lulu - That's Really Some Good 1:56
The World of Marianne Faithfull
01 Marianne Faithfull - As Tears Go By (Original 1964 7" Mono Single Version) 2:38
02 Marianne Faithfull - This Little Bird (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 2:02
03 Marianne Faithfull - Summer Nights (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 1:47
04 Marianne Faithfull - Scarborough Fair 3:07
05 Marianne Faithfull - Monday, Monday 3:09
06 Marianne Faithfull - Come and Stay with Me (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 2:25
07 Marianne Faithfull - Is This What I Get for Loving You? (Original 1967 7" Mono Single Version) 3:51
08 Marianne Faithfull - Yesterday (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 2:17
09 Marianne Faithfull - Tomorrow's Calling (Original 1966 7" Mono Single Version) 3:00
10 Marianne Faithfull - In My Time of Sorrow 2:22
11 Marianne Faithfull - Go Away from My World (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 2:33
The World of Amen Corner
01 Amen Corner - Bend Me, Shape Me 2:36
02 Amen Corner - Run, Run, Run 2:46
03 Amen Corner - Love Me Tender 3:25
04 Amen Corner - Our Love (Is In the Pocket) 2:43
05 Amen Corner - Something You Got 3:13
06 Amen Corner - I Am An Angel (But I Can't Fly) 4:09
07 Amen Corner - High in the Sky 2:58
08 Amen Corner - Expressway (To Your Heart) 2:41
09 Amen Corner - Let the Good Times Roll - Feel So Good 2:34
10 Amen Corner - Can't Get Used to Losing You 2:40
11 Amen Corner - Lost and Found 2:07
12 Amen Corner - Gin House Blues 3:11
13 Amen Corner - I Don't Wanna Discuss It - Amen 3:07
The World of David Bowie
01 David Bowie - Uncle Arthur (The Original Mono Album Mix) 2:09
02 David Bowie - Love You Till Tuesday (Mono Single A-side) 3:01
03 David Bowie - There Is a Happy Land (The Original Mono Album Mix) 3:16
04 David Bowie - Little Bombadier (The Original Mono Album Mix) 3:26
05 David Bowie - Sell Me a Coat (The Original Mono Album Mix) 3:00
06 David Bowie - Silly Boy Blue (The Original Mono Album Mix) 3:54
07 David Bowie - The London Boys (Mono Single B-side) 3:22
08 David Bowie - Karma Man (Mono Decca Master) (Previously Unreleased) 3:05
09 David Bowie - Rubber Band (The Original Mono Album Mix) 2:19
10 David Bowie - Let Me Sleep Beside You (Mono Single Master) (Previously Unreleased) 3:27
11 David Bowie - Come and Buy My Toys (The Original Mono Album Mix) 2:10
12 David Bowie - She's Got Medals (The Original Mono Album Mix) 2:27
13 David Bowie - In the Heat of the Morning (Previously Unreleased Mono Vocal Version) 2:47
14 David Bowie - When I Live My Dream (Mono Single Master) 3:52
The World of Alan Price
01 Alan Price - Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo 2:48
02 Alan Price - The Trimdon Grange Explosion 3:57
03 Alan Price - The House That Jack Built 3:14
04 Alan Price - Tappy Tortoise 3:13
05 Alan Price - Don't Stop the Carnival 2:30
06 Alan Price - I Put a Spell on You 3:18
07 Alan Price - Falling in Love Again 2:27
08 Alan Price - 08 Not Born to Follow 2:52
09 Alan Price - My Old Kentucky Home 1:47
10 Alan Price - When I Was a Cowboy 3:09
11 Alan Price - Tickle Me 2:48
12 Alan Price - Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear 1:58
The World of The Zombies
01 The Zombies - She's Not There (Original 1964 7" Mono Single Version) 2:23
02 The Zombies - Sticks and Stones 2:57
03 The Zombies - You've Really Got a Hold on Me / Bring It on Home to Me 3:41
04 The Zombies - I Got My Mojo Working 3:36
05 The Zombies - Summertime 2:17
06 The Zombies - Kind of Girl 2:11
07 The Zombies - Tell Her No 2:07
08 The Zombies - Woman 2:26
09 The Zombies - Road Runner 2:06
10 The Zombies - Just Out of Reach 2:10
11 The Zombies - Nothing's Changed (Mono) 2:31
12 The Zombies - She Does Everything for Me 2:16
The World of Them
01 Them - Here Comes the Night (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 2:48
02 Them - Baby, Please Don't Go (Original 1964 7" Mono Single Version) 2:43
03 Them - I'm Gonna Dress in Black (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 3:37
04 Them - Richard Cory (Original 1966 7" Mono Single Version) 2:46
05 Them - I Put a Spell on You 2:38
06 Them - Bring 'Em On In (Original 1966 7" Mono Single Version) 3:17
07 Them - Gloria (Original 1964 7" Mono Single Version) 2:39
08 Them - Mystic Eyes (Original 1965 7" Mono Single Version) 2:43
09 Them - Turn on Your Love Light 2:21
10 Them - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue 3:47
11 Them - One Two Brown Eyes (Original 1964 7" Mono Single Version) 2:43
12 Them - Don't Start Crying Now (Original 1964 7" Mono Single Version) 2:03
The World of Cat Stevens
01 Cat Stevens - Here Comes My Wife 3:03
02 Cat Stevens - Granny 3:14
03 Cat Stevens - Matthew and Son 2:40
04 Cat Stevens - Here Comes My Baby 2:56
05 Cat Stevens - Lovely City (When Do You Laugh?) 2:45
06 Cat Stevens - I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun 2:13
07 Cat Stevens - I Love My Dog 2:20
08 Cat Stevens - Kitty 2:24
09 Cat Stevens - The First Cut Is the Deepest 3:00
10 Cat Stevens - A Bad Night 3:12
11 Cat Stevens - School Is Out 2:55
12 Cat Stevens - Where Are You 3:05
The World of The Flirtations
01 The Flirtations - Nothing But a Heartache (Original 1968 7" Mono Single Version) 2:42
02 The Flirtations - Love Is a Sad Song 3:09
03 The Flirtations - This Must Be the End of the Line 2:56
04 The Flirtations - Can't Stop Loving You 3:57
05 The Flirtations - Stay 3:35
06 The Flirtations - How Can You Tell Me? 3:00
07 The Flirtations - What's Good About Goodbye My Love 3:06
08 The Flirtations - Everybody Needs Somebody (To Love in the End) 2:46
09 The Flirtations - Keep on Searching 3:04
10 The Flirtations - South Carolina 2:45
11 The Flirtations - I Wanna Be There 3:05
12 The Flirtations - Need Your Loving 2:54
The World of Lynsey de Paul
01 Lynsey de Paul - Sugar Me (Original 1972 7" Single Version) 3:37
02 Lynsey de Paul - Ivory Tower 4:10
03 Lynsey de Paul - Doctor Doctor 2:52
04 Lynsey de Paul - Crossword Puzzle 3:09
05 Lynsey de Paul - The Way It Goes 3:37
06 Lynsey de Paul - Won't Somebody Dance with Me 3:51
07 Lynsey de Paul - Getting a Drag 3:09
08 Lynsey de Paul - So Good to You 3:19
09 Lynsey de Paul - Storm in a Teacup 3:18
10 Lynsey de Paul - Mama Do 4:16
11 Lynsey de Paul - Sleeping Blue Nights 4:30
12 Lynsey de Paul - All Night 4:00
The World of Lieutenant Pigeon
01 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough 2:44
02 Lieutenant Pigeon - Desperate Dan 2:43
03 Lieutenant Pigeon - After the Discotheque Is Over 2:44
04 Lieutenant Pigeon - The Blue Danube 2:58
05 Lieutenant Pigeon - The Bed 3:00
06 Lieutenant Pigeon - Aggravation 3:05
07 Lieutenant Pigeon - I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen 2:48
08 Lieutenant Pigeon - Brahms' Lullaby 2:20
09 Lieutenant Pigeon - Creativity 3:09
10 Lieutenant Pigeon - If Julia Sees Her 2:18
11 Lieutenant Pigeon - So Deep Is the Night 3:59
12 Lieutenant Pigeon - You're Getting Too Old for Toys 4:10
The World of Rock 'n' Fun
01 The Hamburger Brothers - Omar the Vampar 3:44
02 The Goodies - Stuff That Gibbon 2:30
03 Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough 2:44
04 Alan Price - Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear 1:58
05 Typically Tropical - Barbados (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 3:33
06 The Goons - Ying Tong Song 3:24
07 Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers - Monster Mash (Original 1962 7" Mono Single Version) 3:13
08 Whistling Jack Smith - I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman 2:23
09 The Ran-Dells - Martian Hop 2:15
10 Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack the Ripper 2:44
11 The Hollywood Argyles - Alley-Oop 2:41
12 David Bowie - The Laughing Gnome (Original 1967 7" Mono Single Version) 2:59
The World of Mod
01 Small Faces - All or Nothing 3:04
02 The Quik - Bert's Apple Crumble 2:12
03 Timebox - Beggin' (Original 1968 7" Mono Single Version) 2:49
04 Eyes of Blue - Supermarket Full of Cans 2:41
05 Tom Jones - Looking Out My Window 2:21
06 David Bowie - The London Boys 3:20
07 The Birds - Leaving Here 2:42
08 Jimmy Winston and his Reflections - It's Not What You Do (But the Way That You Do It) 3:01
09 The Hipster Image - Make Her Mine 2:16
10 Chirs Farlowe - Air Travel 2:11
11 The Beatstalkers - Base Line 2:10
12 Billie Davis - Billy Sunshine 3:22
She-Zam! The World of 60s Power Girls
01 Lulu - Here Comes the Night 2:51
02 Billie Davis - I Want You to Be My Baby 2:40
03 Dana Gillespie - You Just Gotta Know My Mind 2:20
04 Louise Cordet - Two Lovers 2:30
05 Olivia Newton-John - Till You Say You'll Be Mine 2:37
06 Adrienne Poster - Shang-a-Doo-Lang 1:55
07 The Flirtations - Nothing But a Heartache (Original 1968 7" Mono Single Version) 2:42
08 Susan Shifrin - 25 Miles 2:42
09 Vashti - Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind 2:18
10 Marianne Faithfull - Good Guy 2:48
11 Brenda May - Someone That I Used to Know 2:29
12 Lorraine Child - You 2:45
The World of Northern Soul
01 Timebox - Beggin' (Original 1968 7" Mono Single Version) 2:49
02 The Flirtations - Nothing But a Heartache (Original 1968 7" Mono Single Version) 2:42
03 Tom Jones - Stop Breaking My Heart 2:26
04 David Essex - So-Called Loving 2:29
05 Clyde McPhatter - Baby You've Got It 2:55
06 Eden Kane - A New Kind of Lovin' 2:16
07 Brotherhood of Man - Reach Out Your Hand 3:19
08 Billie Davis - Billy Sunshine 3:22
09 The Fantastics - Ask the Lonely 2:49
10 Dave Berry - Picture Me Gone 2:45
11 Engelbert Humperdinck - Come Over Here 2:41
12 Eyes of Blue - Supermarket Full of Cans 2:41
The World of Tom Jones
01 Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual 1:58
02 Tom Jones - Looking Out My Window 2:21
03 Tom Jones - Stop Breaking My Heart 2:26
04 Tom Jones - The Lonely One 2:37
05 Tom Jones - Dance of Love 2:23
06 Tom Jones - Dr. Love 1:53
07 Tom Jones - Lodi 2:56
08 Tom Jones - Venus 2:43
09 Tom Jones - Proud Mary 2:44
10 Tom Jones - She's a Lady 2:52
11 Tom Jones - Witch Queen of New Orleans 2:35
12 Tom Jones - Thunderball 2:52
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