Two years ago on April 15, 2019 the world of music lost one of its giants with the passing of Les Reed OBE. Renowned for writing global hits like "It's Not Unusual", "Delilah", "The Last Waltz" and "There's A Kind Of Hush", Les was also responsible for penning hundreds of other heart-tugging and romantic songs. He was the arranger and music director of huge global chart successes like Wayne Fontana's "Game Of Love", Tom Jones' "Green Green Grass Of Home" and The Fortunes' "You've Got Your Troubles", composer of classical pieces like "The Niagara Suite", and the magnificent stage shows 'That Woman' [the story of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson] and 'Beautiful but Damned', depicting the stormy relationship between F Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda.
Accomplished on both the accordion and clarinet, it was as a pianist that Les Reed had few equals. Whether performing solo works or accompanying legends like Bing Crosby, Connie Francis, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck and Dave Clark Five, he possessed great understanding of how best to showcase the artists and the recording.
In 1969 he displayed a wide range of his musical skills by writing the songs and arrangements, providing piano accompaniment, directing and producing the album 'Connie Francis Sings The Songs of Les Reed' for which he was joined at his London Wessex Reed Studios by the world's best-selling female recording artist. The collection is regarded by many of Connie's diehard fans as their favourite of the 50-plus albums she recorded for MGM, many of whom also single out "What's Wrong With My World" as being its standout track.
Also recorded with great effect by P J Proby, Its lyrics were provided by singer, songwriter and television presenter Jackie Rae who, during World War II, flew Spitfires as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. He and Les had also collaborated on many other memorable songs, among them "No One Can Break A Heart Like You" for the Dave Clark Five, "Please Don't Go" (Donald Peers) and "One More Time" (Sammy Davis Jr).
Connie and Les Reed regarded their sessions as among the most enjoyable each had undertaken. Regarded by Connie as a "complete gentleman", their fondness for each other endured throughout the following 50 years! "What's Wrong With My World" is also my #1 track on their outstanding album and highlighted by way of tribute to my favourite songwriter.