St David’s Hall, Cardiff - 29/05/2003
Pitney stays strong to win ovation
AMERICAN pop legend Gene Pitney made another visit to South Wales this week to the delight of his loyal band of fans.
A prolific visitor to the United Kingdom since his chart-topping days in the 1960s, he was in fine form and looking extremely fit.
A credit to his personal fitness trainer.
He was one of many American singers who ruled the pop charts in the early 1960s, including Booby Vee, Bobby Rydell, Bobby Vinton, Fabian and Del Shannon before The Beatles appeared to change the music scene forever.
However while his competitors faded, Pitney showed he had staying power to regularly have hit records even when the groups had a stranglehold on the charts.
It is easy to forget just how many successes he had until he runs through them on his impressive stage show.
Having a classy 10-piece Maurice Merry Orchestra is certainly a bonus in recreating the songs just as they were on record.
Apart from the numerous hits, I’m Gonna Be Strong was the highlight, earning a standing ovation. The only disappointing thing for me was that he did not sing two of my personal favourites, Town Without Pity and 24 Sycamore but with such a selection of songs at he has to choose from it would be impossible to fit them all into one performance.
There was an interesting medley of hits Pitney wrote for other artists. I knew he had written Hello Mary Lou for Rick Nelson, but had forgotten He’s A Rebel for The Crystals with Phil Spector’s fabulous Wall of Sound production.
A tribute to Harry Belafonte was an unusual but delightful diversion with Gene accompanying himself on guitar for Kingston Town and Scarlet Ribbons.
Last year Pitney was inducted into the Rock & Rock Hall of Fame after seven rejections. A ridiculously long overdue recognition. He is also one of the few American pop artists to be the subject of a Grogg from world-famous South Wales sculptor John Hughes.
A brilliant show, and if anybody is interested in how the best of Sixties music sounded, this is the performer you need to check out. Pop music at its best.
Singer-songwriter Annie Sims opened the show with a country-flavoured selection. without being out of the ordinary., the highlight being her version of Kenny Rogers’ Sweet Music Man.
