The Third Face Of Fame - Plak

ENGLISH

Georgie Fame's swinging, surprisingly credible blend of jazz and American R&B earned him a substantial following in his native U.K., where he scored three number one singles during the '60s and a top ten hit with 'Bonnie & Clyde' in the States. Fame played piano and organ in addition to singing, and was influenced by the likes of Mose Allison, Ray Charles, Booker T and the MG's and Louis Jordan. Early in his career, he also peppered his repertoire with Jamaican ska and bluebeat tunes, helping to popularize that genre in England; during his later years, he was one of the few jazz singers of any stripe to take an interest in the vanishing art of vocalese, and earned much general respect from jazz critics on both sides of the Atlantic. This set finds him in a suaver, jazzier vein accompanied by a band made up of the cream of jazz musicians on the UK scene at the time. It was at this time, 1967 and 1968, that to much acclaim, he toured as featured vocalist with the Count Basie Orchestra throughout the UK & Europe. Recording: 1968 by Mike Ross Production: Mike Smith