Deel elf in deze magnifieke Ace-serie -ongeacht het onderwerp- verschijnt vrijwel tegelijkertijd met de lijvige cd/ lp-box The Whole World's Shaking: Complete Recordings 1963-1966, met daarop het vroege werk van deze met recht (want: eerste) enige echte Modfather, maar dan van de Britse jazz. Vier, soms vijf keer per avond optreden met zijn Blue Flames in de Londense clubs Flamingo en Roaring Twenties vroegen om veel materiaal, dat Fame cum suis dan ook via diverse overzeese kanalen kregen aangereikt van bezoekers. Soldaat, immigrant, platenhandelaar en verzamelaar droegen (dan obscure) soul, jazz en (rhythm 'n') blues maar ook ska en calypso aan om zo, mede via de magische toetsen van jazzcat Fame, een wijdverbreide rage te ontketenen die hem permanent werk en bovendien een voortdurende gerespecteerde reputatie opleverde. Hoe die tot stand kwam is uitgebreid te lezen (want: Ace!) en uiteraard horen op dit superbe document, al dan niet ter aanvulling.
A hero to several generations of Mods and a genuine British musical icon, Georgie Fame made his first real impression in the UK playing his own exciting brand of jazzy soul that was informed by the kind of American music he liked himself and played as a working musician with his band, the Blue Flames, from 1963 to 1966.
The latest in Ace’s ongoing series devoted to the influences and inspirations of major musical talents, “Georgie Fame Heard It Here First” presents a representative selection of the sounds that shaped the man’s tastes in Jazz, R&B and Soul and that got his career on the right track (Baby!). Many of the songs were largely unknown to all but the hippest members of the record-buying public when Georgie recorded his versions, and several of them had not been issued in this country when he did.
The featured repertoire is largely drawn from what Georgie recorded during the early to mid-60s and includes the original versions of his global chart topper ‘Yeh Yeh!’ and UK top 20 hit ‘Sitting In The Park’.
Although many of the titles will be familiar to Fame fans and modernists of all ages alike, there are several mouth-watering rarities and obscurities that even the most ardent collector will be unlikely to have in their original vinyl formats.
Georgie will be promoting his recently released boxed set (which includes his versions of all but one of the songs heard here) during October, so interest in this unofficial ‘side project’ is likely to be extremely high
1. Sweet Thing - The Spinners
2. Work Song - Oscar Brown Jr
3. The Monkey Time - Major Lance
4. The Dog (Do The Dog) - Rufus Thomas
5. Yeh Yeh! - Lambert, Hendricks And Bavan
6. Get On The Right Track Baby - Ray Charles
7. Pink Champagne - Joe Liggins And His Honeydrippers
8. Close The Door - Joe Tex
9. I Love The Life I Live - Mose Allison Trio
10. Eso Beso (That Kiss) - Paul Anka
11. One Whole Year Baby - Earl Curry & His Orchestra
12. Sitting In The Park - Billy Stewart
13. Pride And Joy - Marvin Gaye
14. Sick And Tired - Fats Domino
15. Monkeying Around - William Bell
16. Dr Kitch - Lord Kitchener
17. Bend A Little - Shorty Billups
18. Soul Stomp - Earl Van Dyke
19. Do-Re-Mi - Lee Dorsey
20. Gimme That Wine - Lambert, Hendricks And Ross
21. Shop Around - The Miracles
22. Moody's Mood For Love - King Pleasure
23. It's Got The Whole World Shakin' - Sam Cooke
24. Funny How Time Slips Away - Joe Hinton
25. All About My Girl - Jimmy McGriff
