Before he was whacking guys in the desert or stabbing them with their own pen, Joe Pesci took a stab at a singing career. I’m not going to say anything about it, cause you never know, but I’m glad he starting acting. What I make you laugh? I amuse you?

The liner notes compare Joe Ritchie (a temporary stage name) to Little Jimmy Scott. Scott’s influence was noted by Jack Lewis (Brunswick producer) and Monte Kay (of the Modern Jazz Quartet) when Joe played with jazz sax legend Willis “Gator” Jackson at the Palm Garden in Harlem. (Turns out, according to the liner notes, that Joe lived briefly with Little Jimmy Scott in Chicago!)

Joe sings the Beatles’ “Got to get you into my life,” “The Fool on the Hill,” and “Fixing a hole” (think Casino!). Also three Bee Gees compositions, “Holiday,” “To love somebody,” and “And the sun will shine”. This on Brunswick, the soul label that was home to Jackie Wilson, Tyrone Davis, Barbara Acklin, the Chi-lites and others.

(12 votes, average: 2.75 out of 5)

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