Lionel Bart had come to prominence as a writer, penning popular hits for the likes of Tommy Steele and Cliff Richard and shows such as Fings Aint Wot They Used TBe. He was eventually persuaded to record an album of his own, although such was his preference for writing over performing it is doubtful whether he took the recording session seriously. Certainly Bart For Barts Sake is not a conventional album; only nine tracks, which were recorded just before Oliver was about to open, covering a wide range of subject matters. The acclaim that Oliver received has tended to overshadow this particular album, a situation we are happy to now rectify.