Dan Penn is recognised as one of the great songwriters of the past fifty years. Music historian Peter Guralnick described him as the "secret hero" of 60s R&B, and for many, his material defines Southern soul writing. Nevertheless Penn's catalogue transcends musical barriers, and classics such as 'I'm Your Puppet' and 'Do Right Woman' have scaled both the pop and country charts in equal measure. The track listing includes Dan's original interpretations of future soul classics such as 'Rainbow Road', 'You Left The Water Running' and 'It Tears Me Up', as well as some lesser-known and rarely-covered items: 'Come Into My Heart', 'Strangest Feeling' and 'The Thin Line'. The package comes with an in-depth sleeve note based upon fresh interviews with Penn, and associates including Hall, Greene and Oldham, that deal specifically with the Fame era. Overall, "The Fame Recordings" offers a fascinating peek at the emergence of a popular music great.