Not Just The Clown Prince

SIR Norman Wisdom, OBE, is remembered for a variety of achievements, in a career notable for it's longevity (he appeared in his final film in 2007, at the age of ninety-two). Although he played straight parts later in life, the slapstick genius's peak years were the 1950s and 60s, during which he was the UK's most loved comedic actor. However, he also pursued a parallel career as a serious recording artist, in which he rarely performed comedy material, his style and singing voice similar to that of an old-style crooner. Remarkably, he wrote a number of his songs, notably his signature hit, 'Don't Laugh At Me ('Cause I'm A Fool). This compilation is drawn largely from Wisdom's singles' releases, between 1951-61, variously for Decca, Columbia, Philips and Top Rank, and includes his duets with Joyce Grenfell and Ruby Murray. It features a number of sides which are difficult to find elsewhere on CD plus a couple which have never previously appeared in the digital format.