Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames - Yeh Yeh (Hullabaloo - 1965)

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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. Fame played piano and organ in addition to singing, and was influenced by the likes of Mose Allison, Booker T. & 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.

Fame was born Clive Powell on June 26, 1943, in Leigh, Lancashire (near Manchester, England). He began playing piano at a young age, and performed with several groups around Manchester as a teenager, when he was particularly fond of Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. In 1959, his family moved to London, where the 16 year old was discovered by songwriter Lionel Bart (best known for the musical +Oliver). Bart took Powell to talent manager Larry Parnes, who promoted British rockers like Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Johnny Gentle, and Vince Eager. Powell naturally had to be renamed as well, and as Georgie Fame, he played piano behind Wilde and Eager before officially joining Fury's backing band, the Blue Flames, in the summer of 1961. (The Blue Flames also included guitarist Colin Green, saxophonist Mick Eve, bassist Tony Makins, and drummer Red Reece.) When Fury let the band go at the end of the year, Fame became their lead singer, and they hit the London club circuit playing a distinctive blend of rock, pop, R&B, jazz, and ska. Their budding reputation landed them a residency at the West End jazz club the Flamingo, and thanks to the American servicemen who frequented the club and lent Fame their records, he discovered the Hammond B-3 organ, becoming one of the very few British musicians to adopt the instrument in late 1962. From there, the Blue Flames became one of the most popular live bands in London. In 1963, they signed with EMI Columbia, and in early 1964 released their acclaimed debut LP, Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo. It wasn't a hot seller at first, and likewise their first three singles all flopped, but word of the group was spreading.

Finally, in early 1965, Fame hit the charts with "Yeh Yeh," a swinging tune recorded by Latin jazz legend Mongo Santamaria and given lyrics by vocalese virtuoso Jon Hendricks of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. "Yeh Yeh" went all the way to number one on the British charts, and Fame started living up to his stage name (although the song barely missed the Top 20 in America). His 1965 LP Fame at Last reached the British Top 20, and after several more minor hits, he had another British number one with "Getaway" in 1966. After one more LP with the original Blue Flames, 1966's Sweet Thing, Fame broke up the band and recorded solo; over the next few years, his backing bands included drummer Mitch Mitchell (later of the Jimi Hendrix Experience) and the young guitarist John McLaughlin (Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra).

At the outset, Fame's solo career was just as productive as before, kicking off with the Top Ten big-band LP Sound Venture (recorded with Harry South's orchestra); thanks to its success, he toured with the legendary Count Basie the following year. Several hit singles followed over the next few years, including "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde," which became his third British chart-topper in late 1967 and, the following year, his only Top Ten hit in America. But by 1969, his success was beginning to tail off; hoping to make inroads into the more adult-oriented cabaret circuit, Fame was moving more and more into straight-up pop and away from his roots.

~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Category:

Education

Tags:

• R&B
• pop

[phildirt3]

wish i could get this on itunes

[John1948Five]

@phildirt3 It's available on Napster.

[phildirt3]

@John1948Five ive got a newer jazzier version on itunes but its no where as cool as this its missing the organ the best part

[John1948Five]

@phildirt3 I would love to hear the version you have.

[wendydale1]

Always liked this and never knew Georgie Fame was soooo cute. Yeh Yeh!!

[jofrad]

Lovely stuff !!

Georgie (organ) Peter Coe (tenor sax), Glenn Hughes baritone sax), Cliff Barton (Bass), Colin Green (guitar), Bill Eyden (drums) Speedy Aquae, (congas).

[bencheshire]

I know this song, and thought i liked it, but wow, too many words and too low in his register to comfortably sing into that tinny mic and be heard. I cant imagine anyone being comfortable with this, though, what ab awkwardly written song. pS Duke Fame in Spinal Tap was named after Georgie right?

[SeattleSoulFan]

I'm pretty sure I saw this when it aired! I'd cut my teeth on the Beatles and didn't know quite what to make of this because it was jazzy and not guitar-driven. Some years later, I decided I had to have a copy! Thanks for posting! When it hit #1, the Beatles wrote, "Congratulations, Georgie lad, yer mum should be proud. /s/ The Beatles (a band)" Noel Redding, later w/Jimi Hendrix, was also in the Blue Flames for a while.

[aranflewen]

hahaha..I remember this song when friendster was still a social networking site..I made the testiflash tribute of it as part of my profile background music..hehehe

[oXIdizzyIXo]

Shanghai Knights! But love this type of music anyway

[akgwatts]

Saw Georgie at the Tottenham Court Royal and the Flamingo Club in the early 60's...he is good but great live.

[jeaniebthe1]

Looking forward to doing a support set at this Legendary fella's gig on the 8th May in North London! Got my dancing shoes ready :)

[drummer78]

Yes, that is him.

[Babyhowdy233]

Georgie is the King Of Cool! :D

[alienhuman]

@venezmilord looks like him.

[venezmilord]

Ok, do tell me if I'm awfully wrong, but is that Brian Epstein I see at 1:04?