Jake Thackray has been described as one of the world's greatest comedy songwriters, and with more than 1,000 television and radio appearances to date plus appearances in countries as far flung as the US, Canada, Cyprus, Holland, France, Africa and Hong Kong, that is probably a very fair assessment of the career of this former north of England schoolteacher.

Jake was born in the former West Riding of Yorkshire in 1938 and his first chosen profession was teaching. After leaving Durham University with an honours degree, he became a schoolteacher and spent four years working in France before returning to Leeds where he continued teaching for a further six years.

During this period he started writing songs for his pupils, with the aim of "amusing and educating them at the same time". Soon his songs were beginning to feature on the local radio station and it was only a matter of time before they started reaching an even larger audience via BBC Radio's Northcountryman programme.

Brian Fahey the musical director of BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra was one of the first to recognise Jake's potential and introduced him to top record producer Norman Newell. A trip to EMI Records' famous Abbey Road Studios followed, and Jake was finally persuaded to become a professional entertainer. It was a decision he wasn't to regret . . .

Jake's first EMI album "The Last Will and Testament ..." was an immediate success with his growing army of fans. His first professional stage appearance was at the famous Leeds City Variety Theatre (home to BBC TV's "Good Old Days" series). His early television appearances included "Look North" followed by a weekly guest spot on the 13-week series "The Beryl Reid Show".

Jake Thackray's fame spread even further afield when he became a regular on the "David Frost Show" and "Frost In America", followed by "The Braden Beat" with Bernard Braden, and "That's Life" with Esther Rantzen.

Although Jake was still appearing in many of his beloved folk clubs around the country, he was also appearing at many of the more famous venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the London Palladium and the West End nightcub Quaglinos. He appeared on the same Royal Variety Show bill as Louis Armstrong and Tony Bennett, and performed before the Royal Family at a private Buckingham Palace concert.

Jake was also a regular visitor to the recording studios and made a succession of best-selling albums for EMI Records. Many of his most popular tracks are included in this collection which brings together the cream of his recorded work between 1967 and 1972, including "Family Tree", "The Cactus", "Jumble Sale" and "Bantam Cock".

More recently Jake has had his own BBC2 series and has continued to work and live around the world. He has moved from his native Yorkshire and is now living in Monmouth, but his down-to-earth Yorkshire humour has not been left behind. This collection is the evidence of why he has built up such a large and loyal fan following.

Chris White