Georgie Fame - Somebody Stole My Thunder: Jazz-Soul Grooves 1967-1971

The hipper side of a national treasure

When The Ballad Of Bonnie & Clyde hit No 1 in early 1968, Fame found himself in ever greater demand on the pop and cabaret circuit, moving him further away from his jazz roots. But although he seemed willing to jump through the occasional glitzy showbiz hoop, there was still much evidence of what his long-term fans considered the “real” Georgie.

This compilation sees Fame let rip on his Hammond B3 with gusto, from the mod-ish title track to the Ray Charles vibes of Seventh Son and Peaceful’s blissed-out shuffle. Never the strongest singer, the limitations of his laconic voice are nonetheless perfectly suited to the looseness of the music. That’s not to suggest there’s anything shambolic here; Fame always surrounded himself with the best musicians available, and his quality control and mastery of his craft keeps him in demand to this day. His on-off work with Van Morrison over the last decade or so undoubtedly helped invigorate an artist prone to the odd slip in standards.

There’s much to admire in Fame’s more mainstream output, not least his work with fellow ivorytinkler Alan Price, but these 24 tracks represent the heart and soul of one of this country’s most cherished music makers.

Sony BMG | 88697106802

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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