Search - Georgie Fame :: 20 Beat Classics

Good-Time Rockin' Blues

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 06/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"To most Americans who have heard of him, the name Georgie Fame brings to mind his cheesy novelty hit Bonnie and Clyde. Others, who are more musically advanced, know of him as a sideman for and a producer of some memorable Van Morrison albums in the 1990s. But few of us ever knew him as a star in his own right. I bought 20 Beat Classics on the strength of an amazon recommendation and my curiosity about a musician who added much to the continuing success of the legendary Morrison. On the first listen I was less than impressed, but on subsequent listens the CD began to grow on me. Sure its primitive, at times it is even lame, but at other times it is excellent. Fame covers a lot of ground here, touching on compositions by artists as varied as James Brown and Willie Nelson. My favorites are the rocking Yeh Yeh, the jazzy Moody's Mood For Love, a very soulful rendition of Nelson's Funny How Time Slips Away, In The Meantime, Blue Monday, and I Love the Life I Live. The lowlight is My Girl and the switching of some lyrics in an otherwise decent rendition of Papa's Got A Brand New Bag. These should be listened to in the spirit of the times in which they were recorded. When heard from that perspective, Fame comes across as a hip musician whose play was very much on the edge in its day. If you liked the sounds of Them, the Kinks, and the Yardbirds you are almost sure to like this fine assortment of good-time rockin' blues."

Still doing it !!

John Hegarty | New Zealand | 04/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've had this collection on tape for many years, having earlier had much of the content on vinyl. About to buy the CD for reasons of practicality.



It really is a sublime collection and a constant reminder of just what a good band GF & The Blue Flames were in the mid-60's. As an Englishman now living in New Zealand I'm surprised to read that Georgie is so little known in the US.



For anyone really keen, you can try tracking down a VHS tape "Ready Steady Go - Volume 1". GF & BF's play Yeh Yeh live, at a time (1964) when very little live music was performed on British TV...........and the whole band really cooks. Coincidentally, the same tape will also provide the VERY first TV appearance by Georgie's more recent musical mate Van Morrison (singing with THEM), aged 18 at the time I believe.



Georgie is still going strong. I saw him perform less than two weeks ago (7 April '07) here in NZ. The voice is as strong and tuneful as ever (at 64) and the Hammond still rocks. Long may it remain so. He'll be at Montreux this year also."

Georgie Fame "Great"

Byron C. Mccarty | Hillsboro, KS | 12/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Growing up in the 1960s we all knew "Yeah, Yeah" and "Get Away" but Georgie Fame has a lot of other good stuff out there. I made and effort to collect all his old American and British albums. I have this CD on an album and it is excellent. I really like "Sitting In The Park" a great song by Georgie Fame. I wish that "Last Night" from the American album "Yea, Yea" was on this CD, it is a great five minute rocker.



If you haven't heard Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames before it would be worth your time and money to check out this CD.



You might also want to check out "The Bonnie & Clyde" album that is on Epic records. That album has a great cover of "When I'm Sixty-Four" on it.



I know you will like Georgie Fame if you like British Invasion Music, if you don you probably won't like this CD."