Cover versions of some of the songs that George made famous
sounds like george

HERMAN’S HERMITS

LEANING ON A LAMP

POST

Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits were a popular 60’s group who’s biggest UK hit was, “I’m In To Something Good” which reached No 1 in August 1964. They had many other hits and in April 1966 recorded ‘Lamp Post’ but ironically did not release it in the UK. But it did reach No 2 in New Zealand!

CLINTON FORD

FANLIGHT FANNY

Clinton Ford was a very popular and versatile singer in the UK in the 50’s and 60’s and featured on many broadcasts of the BBC’s light programme, Saturday Club.

LONNIE DONEGAN

AUNTIE MAGGIE’S

REMEDY

Lonnie was known as “The King of Skiffle” and was a very big star and had lots of hits between 1956 and 1962 but when the Beatles appeared, Lonnie faded. He recorded ‘Auntie Maggie in 1967 but it did not chart.

ARTHUR ASKEY

HOLD YOUR HATS ON

Arthur was a big star for many years, making his début on the variety stage in 1924 and continuing to work in to his 80’s. Like George, Arthur was a well-loved character.

NORMAN WISDOM

LEANING ON A

LAMP POST

Norman (in my opinion) took over from George in the 1950’s as England’s best comedian and also made a string of films which for Wisdom fans, are still popular today. Norman’s big hit was “Don’t Laugh At Me Cos I’m A Fool”.
BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS YOU CAN’T STOP ME FROM DREAMING
There are lots of different versions of this song, I could easily fill this page with it! It must be one of the most popular covers of all time. Who better than the one and only the Father of Rock n Roll, Bill Haley to come up with this version. Push the chairs back and get jiving!
DICK ROBERTSON YOU CAN’T STOP ME FROM DREAMING
Dick Robertson was a popular American band leader and songwriter in the 1930’s and 1940’s. I only discovered Dick a few months ago but have to say that his albums are very well produced and listenable.
DICK ROBERTSON CHINESE LAUNDRY BLUES
Dick Robertson again with a great version of Chinese Laundry Blues. It is unusual to listen to an American accent singing the song after listening and playing George’s version so many times.
DANNY LA RUE FANLIGHT FANNY
Danny was tops in variety and TV for many years from the 1960’s and was still doing pantomime shortly before his death at age 81. A totally colourful and very popular character throughout his career.
GRACIE FIELDS LIKE THE BIG POTS DO
Gracie Fields was a mega-star at the same time as George Formby and came from the same Lancashire background. She made her first stage appearance as a 5-year old in 1905 and was working right up to her death in 1979. Imagine George and Gracie in the 1930’s and 40’s, there was nobody bigger than these two and they Were born just 20 miles from each other.
OZZIE NELSON YOU CAN’T STOP ME FROM DREAMING
Ozzie was an American band leader in the 1930’s and 1940’s and also in the 1940’s he developed his own radio show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. This eventually went on TV in the States and Ozzie enjoyed a very successful show biz career. He is also father to well known rock singer, Rick Nelson
THE FOURMOST AUNTIE MAGGIES REMEDY
The Fourmost were a part of the Mersey Beat story and also were signed to the Brian Epstein management empire. They had a couple of really good hits in the UK in 1963 and 1964. Their first, “Hello Little Girl” is one I fondly remember, but their biggest hit was “A Little Loving.”
GEORGE HARRISON IN MY LITTLE SNAPSHOT ALBUM
He visited the GFS in March 1991 along with Jimmy Nail and he was a member for a while - but he was never President of the GFS or a honorary member as I keep reading in the press. He gave the Society publicity at the time and in 1991 the GFS was booming anyway with the Warrington Exhibition and the showing of Daniel Wiles The South Bank Show.
MAX MILLER COME HITHER WITH YOUR ZITHER
The legendary Max Miller! Enormously popular comedian and known as “The Cheeky Chappie”. He used double entendre to great effect when telling jokes but he also recorded songs and starred in films in a career that lasted over forty years. To quote one of his many catchphrases, Max Miller - “There’ll Never Be Another”
REG DIXON ORDINARY PEOPLE
A rare track from Reg Dixon, the Coventry comedian who took over from George Formby in the hit show, Zip Goes A Million after George suffered a serious heart attack. Reg stayed with the show until it closed after 544 performances on 7 February 1953.
LESLIE SARONY THE OLD KITCHEN KETTLE
A well known entertainer who enjoyed a long and succesful career in show biz. He made records, wrote songs, appeared in the West End and made films and was active until into his eighties on TV. He also had a partnership with Leslie Holmes (The Two Leslies) from 1933 until 1946.
Diz Disley was famous for his acoustic jazz guitar playing and was influenced by Django Reinhardt. He featured heavily in British trad- jazz and skiffle and also brought comedy into his act.
DIZ DISLEY WITH MY LITTLE UKULELE IN MY HAND
JOE BROWN I GO CLEANING WINDOWS
Joe Brown has always been a lover of both the ukulele and George Formby. A brilliant guitarist and performer who has been a popular figure in entertainment for over sixty years.
JAN & KJELD BANJO BOY
Two brothers, Kjeld born in Sweden and Jan born in Denmark. They won several singing competitions in Denmark/Sweden and appeared on TV and radio. They released Banjo Boy in 1960 and it went to number 1 in the German pop charts. They also appeared in a few German films between 1959 and 1962.
LIEUTENANT PIGEON HAPPY GO LUCKY ME
More famous for the 1972 No 1 UK single “Mouldy Old Dough”, the band was a spin-off of experimental music group, Stavely Makepeace. Happy Go Lucky Me looks like a online album track.
CLINTON FORD FANLIGHT FANNY’S DAUGHTER
CLINTON FORD MADAM MOSCOVITCH
Clinton introduces Fanlight Fanny’s daughter in the best George Formby tradition! George was never shy of re-working good number, especially involving Mr Wu. I wonder when we will hear this song performed at a Blackpool convention?
Clinton brings back Madam Moscovitch. born in Salford in 1931, he would have been well aware of the power and popularity George Formby.
CLINTON FORD THE LANCASHIRE TOREADOR
CLINTON FORD WHY DON’T WOMEN LIKE ME
As far as the page is concerned, Clinton is the champion for George Formby cover songs and is always fondly remembered when listening to music of the 1960s.
Clinton died in October 2009 age 77. He was living in the Isle of Man at the time.
This track is Bill Haley’s version of Sweet Sue. Bill and his Comets were right there in the 1950’s at the birth of Rock n Roll.
Dorothy was a singer and actress who might be remembered in the UK for her part in “The Roaring Twenties” which was shown on ABC TV in 1961.
Leon Redbone was a singer-songwriter with his own unique style of jazz/blues music. He created some lovely albums and is definitely worth a listen.
BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS SWEET SUE
DOROTHY PROVINE HARD HEARTED HANNAH
LEON REDBONE SOME OF THESE DAYS
BING CROSBY SWEET GEORGIA BROWN
DEAN MARTIN DINAH
LES PAUL AND MARY FORD TIGER RAG
Bing was a superstar from the 1920s to the 1970s and made some lovely albums. He was also my dad’s favourite!
Actor, singer and comedian which is how he started out with Jerry Lewis. They split in 1956 and Dean went on to sell many albums and singles and make many films.
Les Paul was a guitarist, , songwriter luthier and inventor who was a pioneer in solid body guitars. He and his wife Mary formed a duo and were very popular on US radio and TV and made many best selling records.
GEORGE FORMBY SWING IT GEORGE PART ONE
GEORGE FORMBY SWING IT GEORGE PART TWO
In 1939 George released a record entitled “Swing It George Parts 1 & 2” where he included popular standards of that time that have also been recorded by countless other artists.
Here you can find George Formby’s versions of the songs together with selected recordings by just a few of the many recording stars who also sang these songs. This idea was inspired by GFS member Johnny Key who provided the first alternative recordings. Thank you Johnny.
JOE BROWN HITTIN THE HIGH SPOTS
The legendary Joe Brown MBE (honoured in 2009) recorded this song for his Hittin The High Spots album which was released in 2004.
HOGSNORT RUPERT LITTLE UKULELE
Formed in 1968 and one of New Zealand’s longest running bands. They were first known as Hogsnort Rupert’s Original Flagon Band and released this track on their 1970 album, “Have A Hogsnort Rupert Summer.” The track was suggested by Mr Geoffrey Lamb who took the trouble to write all the way from Queensland, Australia.

HERMAN’S

HERMITS

LEANING ON A

LAMP POST

Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits were a popular 60’s group who’s biggest UK hit was, “I’m In To Something Good” which reached No 1 in August 1964. They had many other hits and in April 1966 recorded ‘Lamp Post’ but ironically did not release it in the UK. But it did reach No 2 in New Zealand!

CLINTON FORD

FANLIGHT FANNY

Clinton Ford was a very popular and versatile singer in the UK in the 50’s and 60’s and featured on many broadcasts of the BBC’s light programme, Saturday Club.

LONNIE DONEGAN

AUNTIE MAGGIE’S

REMEDY

Lonnie was known as “The King of Skiffle” and was a very big star and had lots of hits between 1956 and 1962 but when the Beatles appeared, Lonnie faded. He recorded ‘Auntie Maggie in 1967 but it did not chart.

ARTHUR ASKEY

HOLD YOUR HATS ON

Arthur was a big star for many years, making his début on the variety stage in 1924 and continuing to work in to his 80’s. Like George, Arthur was a well-loved character.

NORMAN WISDOM

LEANING ON A

LAMP POST

Norman (in my opinion) took over from George in the 1950’s as England’s best comedian and also made a string of films which for Wisdom fans, are still popular today. Norman’s big hit was “Don’t Laugh At Me Cos I’m A Fool”.

BILL HALEY AND

THE COMETS

YOU CAN’T STOP ME

FROM DREAMING

There are lots of different versions of this song, I could easily fill this page with it! It must be one of the most popular covers of all time. Who better than the one and only the Father of Rock n Roll, Bill Haley to come up with this version. Push the chairs back and get jiving!

DICK ROBERTSON

YOU CAN’T STOP ME

FROM DREAMING

Dick Robertson was a popular American band leader and songwriter in the 1930’s and 1940’s. I only discovered Dick a few months ago but have to say that his albums are very well produced and listenable.

DICK ROBERTSON

CHINESE

LAUNDRY BLUES

Dick Robertson again with a great version of Chinese Laundry Blues. It is unusual to listen to an American accent singing the song after listening and playing George’s version so many times.

DANNY LA RUE

FANLIGHT FANNY

Danny was tops in variety and TV for many years from the 1960’s and was still doing pantomime shortly before his death at age 81. A totally colourful and very popular character throughout his career.

GRACIE FIELDS

LIKE THE

BIG POTS DO

Gracie Fields was a mega-star at the same time as George Formby and came from the same Lancashire background. She made her first stage appearance as a 5-year old in 1905 and was working right up to her death in 1979. Imagine George and Gracie in the 1930’s and 40’s, there was nobody bigger than these two and they Were born just 20 miles from each other.

OZZIE NELSON

YOU CAN’T STOP ME

FROM DREAMING

Ozzie was an American band leader in the 1930’s and 1940’s and also in the 1940’s he developed his own radio show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. This eventually went on TV in the States and Ozzie enjoyed a very successful show biz career. He is also father to well known rock singer, Rick Nelson

THE FOURMOST

AUNTIE MAGGIES

REMEDY

The Fourmost were a part of the Mersey Beat story and also were signed to the Brian Epstein management empire. They had a couple of really good hits in the UK in 1963 and 1964. Their first, “Hello Little Girl” is one I fondly remember, but their biggest hit was “A Little Loving.”

GEORGE HARRISON

IN MY LITTLE

SNAPSHOT ALBUM

He visited the GFS in March 1991 along with Jimmy Nail and he was a member for a while - but he was never President of the GFS or a honorary member as I keep reading in the press. He gave the Society publicity at the time and in 1991 the GFS was booming anyway with the Warrington Exhibition and the showing of Daniel Wiles The South Bank Show.

MAX MILLER

COME HITHER WITH

YOUR ZITHER

The legendary Max Miller! Enormously popular comedian and known as “The Cheeky Chappie”. He used double entendre to great effect when telling jokes but he also recorded songs and starred in films in a career that lasted over forty years. To quote one of his many catchphrases, Max Miller - “There’ll Never Be Another”

REG DIXON

ORDINARY PEOPLE

A rare track from Reg Dixon, the Coventry comedian who took over from George Formby in the hit show, Zip Goes A Million after George suffered a serious heart attack. Reg stayed with the show until it closed after 544 performances on 7 February 1953.

LESLIE SARONY

THE OLD KITCHEN

KETTLE

A well known entertainer who enjoyed a long and succesful career in show biz. He made records, wrote songs, appeared in the West End and made films and was active until into his eighties on TV. He also had a partnership with Leslie Holmes (The Two Leslies) from 1933 until 1946.
Diz Disley was famous for his acoustic jazz guitar playing and was influenced by Django Reinhardt. He featured heavily in British trad- jazz and skiffle and also brought comedy into his act.

DIZ DISLEY

WITH MY LITTLE

UKULELE IN MY HAND

JOE BROWN

I GO CLEANING

WINDOWS

Joe Brown has always been a lover of both the ukulele and George Formby. A brilliant guitarist and performer who has been a popular figure in entertainment for over sixty years.

JAN & KJELD

BANJO BOY

Two brothers, Kjeld born in Sweden and Jan born in Denmark. They won several singing competitions in Denmark/Sweden and appeared on TV and radio. They released Banjo Boy in 1960 and it went to number 1 in the German pop charts. They also appeared in a few German films between 1959 and 1962.

LIEUTENANT PIGEON

HAPPY GO LUCKY ME

More famous for the 1972 No 1 UK single “Mouldy Old Dough”, the band was a spin- off of experimental music group, Stavely Makepeace. Happy Go Lucky Me looks like a online album track.

CLINTON FORD

FANLIGHT FANNY’S

DAUGHTER

CLINTON FORD MADAM MOSCOVITCH
Clinton introduces Fanlight Fanny’s daughter in the best George Formby tradition! George was never shy of re- working good number, especially involving Mr Wu. I wonder when we will hear this song performed at a Blackpool convention?
Clinton brings back Madam Moscovitch. born in Salford in 1931, he would have been well aware of the power and popularity George Formby.
CLINTON FORD THE LANCASHIRE TOREADOR

CLINTON FORD

WHY DON’T WOMEN

LIKE ME

As far as the page is concerned, Clinton is the champion for George Formby cover songs and is always fondly remembered when listening to music of the 1960s.
Clinton died in October 2009 age 77. He was living in the Isle of Man at the time.
sounds like george
Cover versions of some of the songs that George made famous
Home Home

BILL HALEY

SWEET SUE

This track is Bill Haley’s version of Sweet Sue. Bill and his Comets were right there in the 1950’s at the birth of Rock n Roll.

DOROTHY PROVINE

HARD HEARTED

HANNAH

Singer and actress, a star of The Roaring Twenties which was popular on ABC TV in 1961

LEON REDBONE

SOME OF THESE DAY

Leon Redbone was a singer-songwriter with his own unique style of jazz/blues music. He created some lovely albums and is definitely worth a listen.

BING CROSBY

SWEET GEORGIA BROWN

Bing was a superstar from the 1920s to the 1970s and made some lovely albums. He was also my dad’s favourite!

DEAN MARTIN

DINAH

Actor, singer and comedian which is how he started out with Jerry Lewis. They split in 1956 and Dean went on to sell many albums and singles and make many films.

LES PAUL & MARY FORD

TIGER RAG

Les Paul was a guitarist, , songwriter luthier and inventor who was a pioneer in solid body guitars. He and his wife Mary formed a duo and were very popular on US radio and TV and made many best selling records.

GEORGE FORMBY

SWING IT GEORGE PT 1

In 1939 George released a record entitled “Swing It George Parts 1 & 2” where he included popular standards of that time that have also been recorded by countless other artists. Here you can find George Formby’s versions of the songs together with selected recordings by just a few of the many recording stars who also sang these songs. This idea was inspired by GFS member Johnny Key who provided the first alternative recordings. Thank you Johnny.

GEORGE FORMBY

SWING IT GEORGE PT 2

JOE BROWN HITTIN THE HIGH SPOTS
The legendary Joe Brown MBE (honoured in 2009) recorded this song for his Hittin The High Spots album which was released in 2004.
HOGSNORT RUPERT LITTLE UKULELE
Formed in 1968 and one of New Zealand’s longest running bands. They were first known as Hogsnort Rupert’s Original Flagon Band and released this track on their 1970 album, “Have A Hogsnort Rupert Summer.” The track was suggested by Mr Geoffrey Lamb who took the trouble to write all the way from Queensland, Australia.