ARTICLE: SONGWRITER/COMPOSER - UK PROGRAM TOUR 1981
- SONGWRITER/COMPOSER -
The first in a remarkable series, Last's debut album - "Non-Stop Dancing" was an emphatic hit in his home country. Which was the signal for the dam to burst. The name of James Last began to figure strongly over the sales counters of an ever-increasing number of other European countries. It was only fiting, really, that it wasn't too long before his was picked as Orchestra of the Year by the West German record distributors' association. Followed the next year by a special award, presented at the annual MIDEM music festival, for being the best-selling German recording artiste. And the band's popularity was demonstrated by its winning the big-band section of an annual poll conducted by a leading West German music publication. Since when, the James Last Story has been one of a succession of triumphs.
In the songwriting field, for example, it is many years ago that his name became synonymous with quality songs with impressive commercial possibilities. In 1966, songwriter-composer Last attained global popularity with an irresistible ditty called Games That Lovers Play. With 27 cover versions in the States alone, it was a more-than-successful introduction to the pop-music world at large for an obviously talented writer. Amongst the US artists to record Games have been Ray Conniff, Connie Francis, Nino Rossi, Eddie Fisher, as well as our own Mantovani. Andy Williams, Petula Clark, Billy Vaughan and Anita Kerr are amongst those who have recorded Last's ever-popular Happy Heart. And other Last compositions covered by other top performers include: Fool (Elvis Presley - recipient of an ASCAP Country Music award); Lingering On (Tom Jones); Now I Know (Jack Jones); When The Snow Is On The Roses (Sonny James - another ASCAP/Country award-winner); and Music From Across The Way (Andy Williams, again)...
