1959 Adam Faith: What Do You Want?

Another British teen idol given voice through rock and roll, Faith's unconventional vocal has always been an acquired taste, but twisted here into a ping pong match between Buddy Holly and Reggie Kray it's more acquired than usual. The Holly tics and gurgles are prescient due to the obvious similarities 'What Do You Want?' shares with 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' - both glide by on a sheen of plucked strings (courtesy of a John Barry arrangement) though here Faith is trying to get the flames of a new love burning ("Say what you want and I'll give it you darling. Wish you wanted my love baby") rather than saying goodbye to a departing one. At a shade over a minute and a half long. it's the shortest number one we'll be meeting on these travels and it reduces 'What Do You Want?' to a perfectly delightful and fully formed miniature. And while Faith's attempt to bribe someone into bed with money, diamonds and pearls may seem slightly distasteful under close analysis, there simply isn't enough of it to get worked up about. Either way really.

But John Barry eh? Can only mean that The Sixties (TM) are just around the corner.....