GENE PITNEY St George's Hall He may be a silver-haired 65 year-old, but Gene Pitney can still hold a packed house in the palm of his hand.

St George's Hall was bursting at the seams on Saturday night as Gene and his orchestra delivered an impressive set at a cracking pace.

Looking svelte and sexy in a black suit, he tore through hit after hit from his 40-year career. In between songs he chatted to the crowd, recalling his spells working with the likes of Burt Bacharach, Hal David and Phil Spector, and read out a stack of cards sent by fans to his dressing room.

As well as favourites like Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa, Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart and I'm Gonna Be Strong, Gene delivered a medley of songs he wrote for other artists, including the Bobby Vee hit Rubber Ball.

His distinctive voice and intense stage presence made his songs as fresh, powerful and relevant as they were in the 60s. His spine-tingling finale of Town Without Pity prompted a standing ovation, with crowds flocking to the foot of the stage to shake hands with the man who created a soundtrack to their lives.