PHILIP LANE British Light Music London Salute; Diversions on a Theme of Paganini (9 short pieces including 5-a-Side); Cotswold Dances (Seven Springs, Badminton House, Pittville Promenade, Cleeve Idyll, Wassail Song); Divertissement for Clarinet, Harp & Strings; Three Christmas Pieces (Sleighbell Serenade, Starlight Lullaby, Christmas Eve Waltz); Maritime Overture; Three Nautical Miniatures for Strings (When the Boat Comes In, Spanish Ladies, Portsmouth); Prestbury Park. Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland. MARCO POLO 8.225185, total timing 72:57 mins. Here at last is a whole CD devoted to this most English of composers who is rightly acknowledged as the country’s leading expert on recreating and re-scoring lost film music. Nobody has done as much as Philip Lane in promoting and producing CDs of British Light Music in recent years and this first release of his own music is therefore to be welcomed with open arms. Gloucestershire-born it is not surprising that some of the tunes relate to the Cotswolds and his home town of Cheltenham. Prestbury Park is the posh name for Cheltenham Racecourse, Seven Springs  is the source of the River Thames, while Pittville Promenade, based on the composer’s perambulations as a child in Pittville Park, could just as well apply to Cheltenham Promenade where earlier this century the aristocracy and those "below stairs" were not allowed to meet! Cleeve Idyll  relates to the highest point on the Cotswolds, Badminton House conjures up images of jodhpurred-young ladies leaping fences on their ponies, while Wassail Songevokes young bobble-hatted and scarf-clad carollers singing underneath home made lanterns at Christmas. All the music on this disc is what one would expect from a master craftsman - soothing, jaunty, moving, jolly, evocative but above all, thoroughly enjoyable. No crash-bang-wallop and discordant assaults on the ear here, just excellent tuneful music which deserves to be widely heard.  
Peter Worsley Marco Polo CDs are available through the RFS Record Service – price £12 (US $24).

THE FILM MUSIC OF WILLIAM ALWYN – Volume 2 The Crimson Pirate, Green Girdle,Take my Life, A Night to Remember, The Card, Desert Victory, Svengali, The Winslow Boy, In Search of the Castaways, State Secret BBC Philharmonic conducted by Rumon Gamba Chandos CHAN 9959, total timing 77:29 mins. Back in 1993 Chandos gave us the first volume of Alwyn’s film scores (CHAN 9243), arranged by the late Christopher Palmer. Readers may recall that Palmer was involved in many fine albums of film music, and his death at an early age was regarded as a great loss. Fortunately his pioneering work in reconstructing ‘lost’ scores has been continued by Philip Lane, who deserves the thanks of us all for his superb achievements in this field. Many of the films in this collection regularly turn up on our television screens, but only three in this selection have been previously available in any form. Rumon Gamba has deservedly received much praise for his previous recordings, and his empathy with Alwyn is evident. Apart from the music, the CD booklet is excellent, with comprehensive notes and many photographs. These two CDs of Alwyn’s film music form an important part of the history of the British film industry in the 20^th century, and we can only applaud Chandos for making this music available to a wide audience. David Ades All CDs in the Chandos catalogue can be ordered from the RFS Record Service – full price issues are £12 (US $24) each.

ANDRE KOSTELANETZ conducts Show Boat, South Pacific, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, An American in Paris and Porgy and Bess Philadelphia Orchestra etc. (USA) Collectables COL-CD-6800, 73:31 mins. These classic performances from 1951-1954 provide glorious examples of the American musical theatre. Slaughter on Tenth Avenueis the same recording as on the recent Vocalion CD, and of course the other works will all be familiar, although not necessarily in these arrangements. Show Boat is a major opus in its own right, lasting some 22 minutes. Gershwin, Rodgers and Kern have seldom sounded better than this. David Ades

ANDRE KOSTELANETZ conducting his own Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic: "A Kostelanetz Concert" Invitation to the Dance (Weber); La Bamba de Vera Cruz (Tucci); Vocalise (Rachmaninov); Mosquito Dance (White); Flight of the Bumble Bee (Rimsky-Korsakov); Minuet (Boccerini); Mississippi Suite (Grofé); Marche Miniature, None But the Lonely Heart (Tchaikovsky); Roumanian Rhapsody (Enesco); Circus Overture (Toch); Love of Three Oranges – March, Wedding Suite (Prokoviev); Saturday Night (Kay); Stars and Stripes Forever (Sousa) (Australia) FRANK BRISTOW 77:56 mins. The latest CD from Frank Bristow in Australia is completely classical in format which, of course, offers no scope for the unique and individual Kostelanetz arrangements. There are standard settings of Invitation to the Dance, Bumble Bee, Boccherini’s Minuet, Love of Three Oranges and odd bits of Tchaik and Rach, but some may be less familiar. For instance, Hershey Kay’s Saturday Night from his ‘Western Symphony’ is quite superb, there’s a masterly performance of the Mississippi Suite, Ernst Toch’s descriptive overture to Circus (which may grow on me in time),Roumanian Rhapsody and, especially, the Wedding Suite from Prokoviev’s ballet "Stone Flower" which was new to me. This is quite typical of the kind of programme Kosty used to present in his Lincoln Centre Promenades with the New York Philharmonic-Symphony, which he conducts here in these Columbia and Coronet recordings, apart from six tracks by his own orchestra. Arthur Jackson For details on how to obtain Frank Bristow’s CDs, please refer to page 84 of our last issue (re Louis Levy).

LEROY ANDERSON Serenata, Syncopated Clock, Penny Whistle Song, Typewriter, Sarabande, Trumpeter’s Lullaby, Fiddle Faddle, Forgotten Dreams, Blue Tango, Jazz Legato, Jazz Pizzicato, Phantom Regiment, Bugler’s Holiday, Waltzing Cat, March of the Two Left Feet, Promenade, Plink Plank Plunk, Girl in Satin, Sandpaper Ballet, Belle of the Ball, Sleigh Ride Richard Hayman and his Orchestra NAXOS 8559125, 61:28 mins. This recent release in the Naxos ‘American Classics’ series is a reissue of a Naxos International CD from 1989 (8.990011) plus one extra track – Sleigh Ride. Around this time Richard Hayman was involved in a mammoth recording project in Czechoslovakia (as it was then) resulting in 20 or more collections of easy listening music. Considering their budget price, they were good value, but whether or not you wish to add this Leroy Anderson CD to your collection will probably depend upon two factors: the state of your finances, and if the music of this great American composer is new to you. Readers of this magazine who admire Anderson are likely to have already bought the CDs of his own performances of these (and other) works, and to be perfectly frank they are preferable. Under the composer’s baton these works truly sparkle; Hayman’s East European musicians sound as though they are going through the motions for the money, not because they genuinely love the music. But for only £5 you can hardly quibble. David Ades

BAX Violin Concerto [Eda Kersey & BBCSO, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult – BBC recording, previously unpublished, from 1944]/Symphony No.3 [Hallé Orch., conducted by Sir John Barbirolli – EMI recording, first published 1944]. Dutton Epoch CDLX7111, 72:31 mins. For glorious, sumptuously recorded romantic sound, there are few things in British symphonic music to rival the orchestral works of Sir Arnold Bax [1883-1953], whatever one’s views regarding their general construction. The wonderful Chandos series every time, I would suggest, for sheer sonic splendour; but this big-hearted music-making from an earlier generation still has lots to say to us and will give much pleasure to enthusiasts for contemporary performances, here further enhanced by the vibrancy and integrity of Michael Dutton’s superb transfers. John E. Govier This CD is available from the RFS Record Service for £10 (US $20).

KURT REHFELD ORCHESTRA ‘In the Palace Garden’ Enjoy Yourself, Violets of Love, In the Palace Garden, Gladiolas, Espirito, At First Sight, Dreaming the Hours Away, Swedish Party, Merci, Fiesta dei Fiori, Verena, Fortune’s Favourites, My Love For You Alone, Mazurka, Thoughts of You, Today’s Offer, Mannequin, Dinner Date, Ma Cousine a Paris, Colorado Melody (Germany) Bliss Records BRA 10010, total time 60:12 mins. Many readers will remember the previous CDs from this German publisher containing many melodic titles – most of them originally heard throughout Germany and played by the various regional radio stations that used to exist in musically happier times. Eighteen of the 20 titles here feature the composing talents of Werner Tautz, one of the giants of German Light Music. Each is presented in new arrangements by Kurt Rehfeld, and performed by his charming orchestra of around 20 players – strings, woodwind, rhythm and percussion. Good taste is the keynote, providing one hour of pleasant melodies that are instantly appealing. David Ades This CD is available from the RFS Record Service for £13 (US $26).

"KISS OF FIRE" Galavant, The Boulevardier, Serenade Of A Clown, The Violin Is A Lady [Frederic Curzon]; A Georgian Miniature, Gaiety Galop, Pastorella, Poldini, Poupée Valsante [Ernest Tomlinson]; My Beautiful Lady [Ivan Caryll]; Moonbeams [Victor Herbert]; Kiss Of Fire [Lester Allen/Robert Hill]; Aguero [Jose Franco]; Topsy, Tosti, Mattinata, Denza, Funiculi Funicula [Vincenzo Billi]; Thé Dansant [Percy Fletcher].Rhapsody Quintet (Canada) RHAP CD 003. The Rhapsody Quintet is a group based in Nova Scotia, comprising violin, cello, contrabass, piano and clarinet, which seeks to re-create the sound of the small light music ensemble of yesteryear. On the evidence of this CD [their third, apparently] it does this to perfection, with gloriously rounded, lyrical and stylish playing. I like the varied, well balanced programme, too: Latin American movements, a gypsy number [Topsy], arrangements from musical comedies of circa 1900, two popular Italian songs [by composers who settled in London], the delicious Poupée Valsante, and toothsome morsels from three British light music giants, Percy Fletcher, Ernest Tomlinson and Frederic Curzon. In the latter two cases these recordings neatly complement the full orchestra Marco Polo CDs. I particularly enjoyed Tomlinson’s foot-tapping Gaiety Galop and melting Pastorella [from a radio musical], Fletcher’s lilting Thé Dansant and Curzon’s The Violin Is A Lady, written for Jean Pougnet. Very highly recommended; a honey of a disc. Philip L Scowcroft This CD is available from Walt Music, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada [e-mail: ]. Copies can also be obtained to special order from the RFS Record Service.

Orchestra of Portsmouth Division Royal Marines: "Concert Classics Volume 2"The Fleet’s In, When Day Is Done, The Sailor With The Navy Blue Eyes, Keep On Smiling, Hands Across The Sea, The Dancing Years – Overture, etc… 24 tracks, total timing 76:37 mins. Eastney Collection RMHSEC004. Nostalgists shall thoroughly enjoy this varied selection of Second World War ORBS broadcast excerpts from three recorded programmes, all introduced by Kim Peacock. The first features three songs each from Anne Shelton & Frances Day, one from Jewel & Warriss, the monologue "Frank and his Tank" from Jack Warner. The second programme features four songs from Ivor Novello's "The Dancing Years" sung by Muriel Barron & Roma Beaumont. Finally, apart from two of Stanford's "Songs of the Sea", by Frederick Harvey & Choir, the rest of this programme features the orchestral items; Empire Medley (Somers),Ragamuffin (Rixner), serenade – Enchantment (Haydn Wood), Quivery Quavers(Lloyd), In a Chinese Temple Garden, Seafaring Medley, & A Life on the Ocean Wave. There is tremendous clarity throughout these vintage recordings, thanks to the expertise of the original sound transfers made by RFS member Philip Farlow. John Billingsley This CD is available from Eastney Collection, 60 Mayford Road, London, SW12 8SN, England – price £10 (UK) or £11.50 (overseas).

FRANZ LEHÁR CONDUCTS LEHÁR Gold & Silver, and orchestral excerpts from The Count Of Luxembourg, Eva, Gypsy Love, Land Of Smiles, The Merry Widow, Women of Vienna. Vienna Philharmonic & Zurich Tonhalle Orchestras [recorded May1940/June 1947] Dutton Super Budget CDBP9721, 66:45 mins. ‘FFRR’ [Full Frequency-Range Recording] came about as part of British Decca’s war effort 60 years ago. Later turning their technology to peaceful uses they were just in time to capture all except one of these authentic performances, directed by the veteran Hungarian King of Operetta himself. Franz Lehár died in 1948 when harmonies, melodic patterns and rhythms were fast emerging in light music, which must, to many listeners, have made these pieces sound either extremely nostalgic or just old-fashioned. Today we’re remarkably fortunate in that, given the choice, we can enjoy 20^th century light music "in the round" so to speak – no small thanks to genuinely historical and valuable reissues such as this. John E. Govier This CD is available from the RFS Record Service for £6 (US $12).

LES ANNEES "ZONOPHONE" … QUEL "REGAL"! Nights of Gladness, Moszkovski Dances, Vienna City of my Dreams, King Chanticleer, Over the Waves, My Lady Dainty, Narcissus, Valse Septembre, Swabian Peasant Waltz, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, My Hero, etc… 24 tracks International Concert Orchestra, The Blue Hungarian Band, London Novelty Orchestra, Commodore Grand Orchestra conducted by Joseph Muscant, etc. (France) ILD 642205, 70:35 mins. The CD booklet notes (in French) describe this CD as a ‘British Mystery’, because many of the tracks are by ensembles whose names give no real clue to their true identities. These 78s were recorded between 1927 and 1939, and there are some real treasures among them. They come from the British Zonophone and Regal labels, which during the 1930s merged to become Regal Zonophone (now part of EMI). This is the 10^th collection for ILD compiled by Pierre-Marcel Ondher, to whom collectors whose tastes embrace this style of music owe a great debt of gratitude for making this fascinating era of recording available once again. The sound quality is very good, and readers who have enjoyed previous CDs in this series should not hesitate to acquire this one as well. An excellent CD, in all respects. David Ades This CD is available to special order from the RFS Record Service – price £16 (US $32).

THE FIVE SMITH BROTHERS By the Old Willow Tree; The Cobbler (Yodelling Song); I’m Afraid To Open Your Letter; Put Your Shoes On Lucy; Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny; The Lambton Worm; Geordie Had the Bairn; When You and I Were Young Maggie; Blaydon Races; Cushie Butterfield; On Ikla’ Moor Baht’at; O My Jock Mackay; After the Wedding at Donegal Bay; Irish Medley (a. Patsy Fagan; b. As Irish as Dublin Town; c) Galway Bay); In The Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening; A Gordon For Me; I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen; Star O’ Robbie Burns; Hannigan’s Hooley; So Many Times Have I Cried For You; A Guid New Year. Evergreen Melodies C80 (CD) EVR80 (Cassette). "Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s Five Little Boys" all grew up on Tyneside and were an integral part of British popular musical either side of the last war. Sounding like a Geordie version of the Mills Brothers they were at their peak between 1945-1955, when most of these recordings were made and which are available here for the first time on CD. The family originally numbered six boys and two girls of whom Jack became a minister in Australia. Harold, Martin, Stan and Roy then formed the Four Smith Brothers and made their first record on Cup Final Day, 1932 (also included here), after which Stan and Martin went off to watch their beloved Newcastle United beat Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley. Harold and Roy had no tickets so had to go to the cinema instead! When Martin died young in the mid-Thirties, Alf abandoned his promising football career to bring the group back up to strength. During the war Ronnie Culbertson was persuaded to become "Ronnie Smith" thus making up the post-war Five Smith Brothers famous for their introductory chime "Hello, hello, hello, hello, hello-ho". They appeared at two Royal Variety Performances and were regular radio broadcasters on "Variety Bandbox" and "Up the Pole". CD price £8.50, cassette £6.50, available only by mail order direct from This England, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, GL50 1YQ, England - Tel. 01242 515156. Edmund Whitehouse

VIVIAN ELLIS - SONGS FROM THE SHOWS SS7 And So To Bed (Jack Jackson); Blue Butterfly; Dancing with a Ghost (Frances Day); Dreams That Don’t Grow Old  (Al Bowlly & Ray Noble); Every Little Moment  (Ray Starita); Faint Harmony (Les Allen & Henry Hall); I Was Never Kissed Before (Georges Guétary & Lizbeth Webb);  I’m On a See-Saw (John Mills and Louise Brown); Kiss Me Dear (Denny Dennis & Roy Fox); Lady Spiv (Greta Gynt); Ma Belle Marguerite (Georges Guétary); Maybelle (Lew Stone);Other People’s Babies (Norah Howard); Put That Down in Writing; She’s My Lovely(Jack Cooper & Ronnie Munro); Spread a Little Happiness (Carroll Gibbons); Sweep(Jack Hulbert); This Is My Lovely Day (Georges Guétary & Lizbeth Webb); I’d Do the Most Extraordinary Things; Why Did You Call Me Lily?  (Dora Bryan); Alpine Pastures(signature tune to "My Word"). This latest release from This England’s series on London musicals, features the most prolific composer of them all. Vivian Ellis was prominent in almost 70 West End shows and many of his songs have become standards, indeed Sting’s version of "Spread a Little Happiness" reached the pop charts almost 60 years after it was composed. This excellent selection ranges from 1928-1954 and includes all the old favourites, especially those from Bless the Bride. Several are hot tempo numbers and none better than Jack Hulbert¹s version of "Sweep". The CD costs £8.50 including postage with a shorter cassette version at £6.50, both available only from ‘This England’ (for full details see previous review) Edmund Whitehouse

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE SEA II International Festival of the Sea Theme, Hymn to the Sea [McDermott]; Sea Medley [arr. Long]; Prelude ‘49^th Parallel’ [Vaughan Williams]; Three Jolly Sailormen [Siebert]; The Shadow of Your Smile [Bacharach]; Victory at Sea [Rodgers]; H.M. Jollies [Alford]; Sailing [Sutherland]; Un-Canny Drum & Band Feature [Peers/Savage]; Where Corals Lie [Elgar]; The Mighty Sea from ‘The Battle of the Atlantic Suite’ [Roylance/Galvin]; Fanfare for a Festival [Arnold]; Evening Prelude & Sunset, Seafarers! [arr. McDermott]; The Jolly Roger [Hancock]; Heart of Oak [Boyce]; A Life on the Ocean Wave [Russell arr. McDermott].Band of H.M. Royal Marines [Plymouth] directed by Lieutenant Colonel R.A. Waterer, OBE, MMus, FLCM, LRAM, RM Chevron CHV CD11, 72:45 mins. This is one of the most outstanding military band CDs to come my way for a long time. One is struck immediately by the superb technical quality of the recording managed commendably and very professionally entirely in-house by the Royal Marines. It would be interesting to know exactly where the recording was made. With generous playing time, this is an imaginative and excitingly planned compilation of music associated with last year’s International Festival of the Sea, held in Portsmouth over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The playing is of a uniform excellent standard and reflects great credit on all those who took part. W.O. Michael McDermott, who was appointed staff arranger for the Royal Marines in 1996, has made a sizeable contribution towards the disc’s success, including his composition of the Sea Theme for the Festival itself, a suitably soaring and sonorous melody; Seafarers!, an impressive medley of nautical tunes; and an interesting arrangement of A Life on the Ocean Wave associated, I believe, with the Royal Marines since the 1890s. Other highlights include Vaughan Williams atmospheric Prelude for the 1941 film ‘49^th Parallel’; a very recent march, The Jolly Roger, by Martyn Hancock in celebration of the Centenary of the HM Submarine Service; and Edrich Siebert’s classic Three Jolly Sailormen in which three bandsmen display their dazzling dexterity on their cornets! This brilliant and impressive disc will strongly appeal to anyone with a taste for the stirring sound of a military band, particularly playing music with a salty tang. For anyone who attended the Festival itself it is an indispensable musical memento of a great nautical event. Roger HyslopThis CD is available from: Mrs. Ann Day, The Blue Band Magazine, HQBS, Eastney Block, HMS Nelson, Queen Street, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 3HH, England – telephone 023 9272 6173 : www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk

DANCE BAND VOCALISTS and DANCE BAND RARITIES: EVERGREEN MELODIES CB2 & CB3

CB2 All By Yourself in the Moonlight (Maurice Elwin), Good Little, Bad Little You (Eddie Collis), Hot Coffee (Billy Scott-Coomber), I’ve Gone and Lost My Little Yo-Yo (Fred Douglas), If I Had a Talking Picture of You (Billy Milton), Let’s Face the Music and Dance (Sam Browne and the Rhythm Sisters), In the Chapel in the Moonlight (Chick Henderson), Let’s Put Out the Lights and Go To Sleep (Anona Winn and Sam Browne),  Moani’ Low (Betty Bolton), One, Two, Button Your Shoe (Les Allen), Pop Goes Your Heart (Alan Kane), We’ll All Go Riding On a Rainbow (Dan Donovan), Who Walks In When I Walk Out? (Annette Keith), You Are My Lucky Star (Jack Cooper), This Year’s Kisses(Mary Lee), Il Bacio (The Kiss) (Millicent Phillips), Broken Doll (Marjorie Stedeford, Say It (Ivor Moreton), Scatterbrain (Phyllis Robins), The Wind’s In the West  (Peggy Dell with Jack Plant and the Cubs), Medley: a) Gertie the Girl with the Gong; b) Home James and Don’t Spare the Horses; c) No, No, a Thousand Times, No! (Elsie Carlisle).
CB3 The Popular Pair (Eddie Grossbart), Some of These Days (Marjorie Stedeford with Mario "Harp" Lorenzi), Knightsbridge March (In Town Tonight) (Ray Noble and the New Mayfair Orchestra), Bless Her Little Heart (Massed Bands of Debroy Somers, Piccadilly Revels, Kit-Cat and London Radio, directed by Al Starita), Reach Out For a Rainbow(Sam Browne with Van Phillips), Happy and Contented (Sam Browne with Ambrose),Let’s Sing a Song (Debroy Somers),  Signature Tunes of Famous Bands (Jay Wilbur introducing them), Snap Your Fingers (Sam Browne with Ambrose & chorus), The Younger Generation (Les Allen with the Savoy Hotel Orpheans), Ro Ro Rolling Along(Maurice Elwin with the Arcadians Dance Band), When the Morning Rolls Around (Les Allen with Syd Lipton), The Park Parade (Jack Cooper with Ivor Kirchin),  Oriental Medley (Phil Green’s Ballyhooligans), You Are My Heart’s Delight (Norman Long introducing the Savoy Hotel Orpheans), Love Locked Out (Sam Browne with Ambrose),I Never Knew I Could Love Anybody (Gerry Fitzgerald with Phil Green’s Darktown Strutters), No Strings (Howard Godfrey), I  Cover the Waterfront  (Jack Wallace),Misty (Ken Mackintosh). These two highly unusual compilations feature a large number of rare recordings. On the one hand is the cardboard promotional record released by the Siemens electrical company advertising The Popular Pair (in reality two types of light bulb) while at the other end of the spectrum we have Howard Godfrey’s No Strings which was never released at all because one of the trumpeters allegedly played a wrong note. It is hard to believe now that people would buy a record of Norman Long introducing the Savoy Hotel Orpheans or Jay Wilbur’s cut-glass accent introducing his band playing other people’s signature tunes, but such was their appeal at the time that both proved very popular. Most of the other tracks have not previously been reissued on CD. Most are lively and "hot" numbers while just a few are more wistful. Among the artistes are 14-year-old Millicent Phillips, who was known as "Britain’s own Deanna Durbin", and "Little Mary Lee" both of whom are still going strong in the 21st century.  The two CDs are highly collectable companion pieces released to coincide with "This England’s Second Book of British Dance Bands - the Singers and Smaller Bands" and are available separately @ £8.50 each, but only by mail order direct from This England, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, GL50 1YQ, Tel. 01242-515156. Edmund Whitehouse

TEST CARD MUSIC Volume 7 Swing Cocktail (G. Plathe), Lough Leane (Peter Hope), Mississippi Melody & Merry-Go-Round Waltz (Alan Perry), Morning Call (John Carmichael), Plain Sailing (Harvey Richards) plus 16 more. APOLLO SOUND APSCD223, 58:10 mins. Once again our friends at Apollo Sound have ‘raided’ the archives of Mozart Edition for another highly entertaining selection. There is just one exception – a tune called Kolibri composed (we are told) by Frank Valdor. I have it on a Polydor LP under the title Calypso in D, and Helmut Zacharias claims to be the composer. Not so, says one of my reference books! The title is actually Yellow Bird, and it is the work of Norman Luboff and Marilyn & Alan Bergman. Would any readers like to claim it also? Goodness knows how PRS sort out the royalties! For me the high spots of this CD include Peter Hope’s beautiful Lough Leane and the two cameos by Ernest Tomlinson, writing under his alter ego Alan Perry. It is good to have Morning Call available commercially at long last. Two new names to Apollo Sound are Neil Richardson with a catchy number called Bric-a-Brac, and Paul Lewis with Fake Three. Just a couple of minor complaints: it would have been nice to have all the composers’ first names in full, and whoever decided to design the booklet with white print superimposed on a pink background has far better eyesight than me! Apart from these friendly jibes, this is a great CD which production music fans should not hesitate to snap up. David Ades

FLIP YOUR DISC Sweet Horror, Susan Q-Pink Cloud, Charming Lady, Ann the Schoolgirl, Pampero, Flower Street, etc… 21 tracks. Apollo Sound APSCD218, total time 58:50. Here’s another great helping of funky sounds, mainly from the 1970s, featuring the bands of Reg Tilsley, Dave Lindup, John Fox, Lem Arcon, Franz Thon and the Polish Radio Orchestra. If you’ve enjoyed previous Apollo Sound CDs such as ‘Cut’and ‘Happy Hour’ you’ll be pleased to get this one as well. David Ades Apollo Sound CDs are available direct from them (see advert on page 89, or from the RFS Record Service for £12.75 (US $25.50).

BERT FIRMAN and his Orchestra  - Swing High, Swing Low ASV Living Era CD AJA 5407 Jig Walk; Oo La; Charleston Charley; Valencia; Always; While the Sahara Sleeps; Spanish Shawl; Shepherd of the Hills; That Certain Feeling; Oh Monah; The Stampede; Short an’ Sweet; Does She Love Me?; I Can’t Give You Anything But Love; Sax Appeal; She Didn’t Say Yes; A New Love Is Old; Sugarfoot Stomp; My Pet; Rhapsody in Blue; My Little; Don¹t Play With Fire; The Sweetheart Waltz; Swing High, Swing Low. There were four musical Firman Brothers (Sammy, Sidney, John and Bert) of whom Bert lasted the longest, being the final original West End band leader to expire, aged 93 in 1999. Most of his music was "hot" and this first ever release of his splendid band (which also includes brother John with whom he worked very closely), reflects that fact. Apart from four tracks from the late Thirties, where Sam Costa is the vocalist, the disc is devoted to his Twenties recreation of the sound of Fletcher Henderson and the like. All good stuff which will appeal mightily to those who love this era. A rare capture indeed is the first re-release of the premier British recording of Rhapsody in Blue with a strictly incognito pianist called Carroll Gibbons, who was under contract elsewhere at the time and dare not reveal his identity!  This alone is worth the purchase price of around £8 and ASV are to be congratulated on this latest excellent disc in a terrific series.    Edmund Whitehouse All ASV CDs are available through the RFS Record Service.

BLUE DREAMS: The Vantaa Pops Orchestra conducted by Markku Johansson. Blue Dreams; La Tangorita; Light of Stars; Konnivesi Waltz; Satin Strings; Star Bridge March; Peace Love and Harmony; Trumpet Party; Valse Romantique; Summertime Serenade; Romance; Dancing at the Casino; Bolero of the Rising Sun; Playout Music. (Finland) Finlandia 3984-26130-2. Here is a CD of new light music compositions. The 70 strong Finlandia Symphony Orchestra masquerading as The Vantaa Pops Orchestra brings us 60 minutes of wonderful melodies. Markku Johansson, who has composed all the items on this CD, obviously knows what real light music is all about. Among the items provided. there is a bustling samba, Trumpet Party, a wistful Valse Romantiquewith its attractive piano figurations, and a delightful La Tangorita. Star Bridge Marchwith its stately middle section would have fit comfortably into the Queen' s Hall light orchestral repertoire. This is a well varied programme and those who enjoy the music of Melachrino, Percy Faith and Charles Williams will love this. As far as I am aware the CD is not distributed in the UK at present. However it can be obtained within a few days from internet suppliers such as the German based JPC who are also able to obtain other hard to find light and dance music CDs. They can be found at: www.jpc.deBrian Stringer Editor: our member Per-Erik Pettersson has kindly offered to supply this CD (and an earlier one in similar style "Jealousy") direct to RFS members. The price of each CD is £15 which includes p&p. You can write to Per-Erik at: Huovisenkatu 15 A 3, FIN-33580, Tampere, FINLAND, or e-mail:

EDNA SAVAGE ‘Evermore’ I’ll Be There, Evermore, Stars Shine In Your Eyes, A Star Is Born, Candlelight, In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning, Arrivederci Darling, Bella Notte, etc… [30 tracks] Vocalion CDLK4120, 77:59 mins. Edna Savage was one of a number of talented British girl singers who enjoyed modest success during the 1950s. Almost all of her recording career is featured in this collection, including some duets with Michael Holliday. Sadly EMI delayed granting a license for this material two years ago when this CD was first planned, and Edna Savage died in hospital on 31 December 2000 aged only 64. She had a pleasant voice and it is good to have this souvenir, although I wish that the backing orchestras had been credited. David Ades

TED HEATH AND HIS MUSIC / EDMUNDO ROS AND HIS ORCHESTRA "Heath vs. Ros … Swing vs Latin" South America Take It Away, The Coffee Song, In The Still Of The Night, Come Rain Or Come Shine, Desafinado, etc… [22 tracks] Vocalion CDLK4123, 62:10 mins. This 2-LP collection features two classic Decca Phase 4 Stereo albums where the sound engineers fully exploited the left/right possibilities of their new toy. With the Heath orchestra on one side of your living room, and the Ros ensemble on the other side, the battle lines are drawn! Of course it’s all good fun, and the first LP must have sold well because there was a second – "Round 2" – which is the other LP included on this CD. Dare I say it, but if the gimmicks get a bit tiresome you can always press your mono button! David Ades

JOAN REGAN ‘Just Joan’ and ‘The Girl Next Door’ It Could Happen To You, When I Grow Too Old To Dream, I Know Why, That Old Feeling, Ricochet, I’ll Travel With You, etc… [24 tracks] Vocalion CDLK4132, 69:10 mins. This 2-LP collection comes as a pleasant surprise, offering a 10" LP of her hit singles (plus some bonus tracks) and a fine 12" album which she was probably given as a ‘thank-you’ for her chart successes. Joan Regan was one of Decca’s top girl singers in the 1950s, and even if some of the blatantly commercial singles have not stood the test of time, her album "Just Joan" reveals her to be a very accomplished ballad singer. Sadly for Joan (and so many of her contemporaries) she came to her peak at the same time as rock ‘n’ roll overwhelmed the pop world, and the rest … as they say … is history. If you remember Joan from her records and television shows you’ll be delighted with this new CD. David Ades

DAVID HUGHES ‘Here In My Heart’ With These Hands, A Beggar in Love, Only Fools, The Man in the Black Sombrero, Never, Only You Will Ever Know, Be Anything, At Last At Last, Kiss of Fire, Begin the Beguine, etc 24 tracks. Vocalion CDLK4134, 72:00 mins. British readers will probably still remember David Hughes, a good-looking singer who was popular on radio and television of the 1950s. This collection of EMI recordings provides a pleasant souvenir of his talent, and also serves to remind us that record companies at that time didn’t hesitate to support their artists with large backing orchestras tastefully arranged – what a pity that they aren’t credited in the notes. In later years David pursued an operatic career, but this was cut short when recurring heart problems caused his death at the early age of 44 in 1972. David Ades

JACK HYLTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA 1927 to 1931 Pardon the Glove, Buffalo Rhythm, Borneo, Mississippi Melody, If You Want the Rainblow, When the Lilacs Bloom Again, Who Cares, etc… 24 tracks. Horner’s Corner 101, total timing 73:43. When real enthusiasts have the opportunity to release CDs of their own particular favourites, the result is often very satisfying. RFS member Ian Horner has wide musical tastes, but Jack Hylton retains a special place in his affections. The result is this privately produced CD which Ian has kindly agreed that he will supply to any fellow RFS members who share his passion for British Dance bands. Personally I have always enjoyed the early Hylton HMV 78s, and I thought that I knew most of them. But most of the items in Ian’s collection are completely new to me, and he appears to have duplicated very few that are available elsewhere. The sound restoration is sympathetic, without spoiling the music in any way. So this is highly recommended to Hylton fans. David Ades This CD is only available direct from Ian Horner, Tree Tops, Bowden Hill, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7EA, England – price £9 (UK) or £11 (overseas) postage and packing included. Special Note: at this point it is appropriate to mention that Ian has had this CD professionally produced at this own expense, and all the appropriate royalties have been paid. Today it is easy for people to produce CDs at home, but it is illegal to sell them unless the proper copyright and royalties regulations have been observed. If in any doubt, you should consult organisations such as PRS and MCPS, or similar in your own country. The RFS will not knowingly publicise any CDs which it suspects may not have been legally licensed – i.e. ‘pirate’ copies.

Four more British Dance Band compilations from Vocalion…

RAY NOBLE featuring AL BOWLLY ‘HMV Sessions 1930-1934 Volume 9’ It’s All Forgotten Now, All I Do is Dream of You, Dreamy Serenade, Remember Me, I Never Had a Chance, etc… 25 titles. Vocalion CDEA6063, 65:54 mins. This CD completes this major series of famous recordings which originally appeared in a World Records collection. The sound on the LPs was good, but that was in pre-CEDAR days, and the transfers by Peter Bown and Chris Ellis have been improved by the modern equipment in the hands of Mike Dutton.

OSCAR RABIN and his Romany Band with Harry Davis ‘An Apple for the Teacher’Masabi, I Let a Song go out of my Heart, A Man and his Dream, When I Dream of Home, Scatter-brain, Down Argentina Way, etc… 25 tracks. Vocalion CDEA6066, 65:21 mins. To my ears, this isn’t a ‘Romany’ band, merely a pleasant dance orchestra playing hits of the day. Vocalists include Garry Gowan, Beryl Davis and Ken Beaumont. According to the Brian Rust/Sandy Forbes ‘British Dance Bands on Record’ Angela Morley (as Wally Stott) is playing alto sax on some of these tracks, including Daddyand Two in Love.

HARRY LEADER ‘Boston Bounce’ Strike up the Band, Turning the Town Upside Down, My Sweetie Went Away, Trusting my Luck, etc… 25 tracks. Vocalion CDEA6070, 74:06 mins. In their day dance bands were as numerous as pop groups, and their popularity often depended upon their venue (usually a top ballroom), radio broadcasts, records and – to a lesser extent – their regular vocalists. But vocalists at that time were considered to be of little importance and for their records bands often used to hire whoever happened to be available. Thus you will find Al Bowlly, Sam Browne and Sam Costa with many bands on many labels. Here the Harry Leader band features Sam Costa, Chick Henderson, Alan Kane and several others. Perhaps Leader wasn’t among the very top bands, but he made numerous records and this selection is pleasant enough.

JAY WILBUR Vol. 2 I’ve Got my Love to Keep me Warm, Swing, You Were There, Some of these Days, Chatterbox, etc… 25 tracks. Vocalion CDEA6071, 65:37 mins. Jay Wilbur was better-known than Leader and probably ten times as prolific in the recording studios … no wonder he needs a second volume! Surprise, surprise … his vocalists include Sam Costa, Sam Browne, Jack Cooper and Anne Lenner, all of them familiar ‘friends’ to dance band collectors. David Ades All Vocalion CDs are available from the RFS Record Service.

New Production Music Recordings

CARLIN Archive Series: CAS006 Drama/ Horror/ Sci-Fi; CAS007 Dance Hall/ Swing/ Jazz/ Lounge; CAS008 Well Known Tunes/ Marches; CAS009 Western USA/ Panorama. 2-CD collections. Readers may like to refer back to page 76 of JIM 148 (September 2001) when the first 5 CDs in this series were reviewed. The latest ones follow the same formula, with more from the incredible output from Harry Bluestone and Emil Cadkin, although there are the occasional tracks featuring some of the other composers in the Carlin stable. In terms of music per minute these collections are great value for money, although I have to sound the usual caution that production music CDs are not conceived for extended listening at home. But for dipping into occasionally they can be great fun! David Ades These 2-CD collections from Carlin are only available through the RFS Record Service – price £12 [US $24] each.

COCKTAIL CLUB Archive recordings from the 1960s and 1970s Men’s Club,Green Water, Minuit Rue Jacob, Promenade a Ischia, Voyage en Piano, Premier Flirt, Fumees Sur Paris, Reverie sur un Theme, Chanson sur Mesure, A Coeur Valse, Bal des Debs, Musique pour Deux, Tendre Dialogue, Reflets de Seine, En Prenant la Fleche d’Or, Les Jardins de Cannes, Valse en Point d’Interrogation, Reve pour une Image, Promenade a Brasilia, Fasty Sonny, Minor Trumpet, Tominique C., Bass in Rhythm, Campus No. 2, Jazzomaniac. Chappell CHAP253, time 75:03. These tracks all originate from Chappell’s legendary DMM series recorded in the EMI Studios in Paris. Some feature a small group (at times a bit way out!) but, as the notes say, there is also ‘a healthy measure of lush orchestra lounge’. Only two composers are responsible: Jack Dieval (21) and Henri Renaud (4). David Ades

FANTASY AND ADVENTURE New compositions by ADAM SAUNDERS The Adventure Begins, Dragons and Unicorns, The Dark Wizard’s Apprentice, Quest for the Ancient Scrolls, The Little Hero, Return to the Enchanted Kingdom, Unimaginable Evil, The Lovelorn Princess, Witches and Warlocks, Book of Spells, Dwarves and Goblins, A Noble Death, The Hermit Philosopher, Ancient Standing Stones, Arcan Sorceress. Chappell CHAP272, time 73:37. Right from the first notes, this is a most impressive collection of music from a talented young composer who happens to be a member of our Society. Therefore it is our great pleasure to be able to offer this CD to you. The titles give plenty of clues to the kind of music portrayed; it would not disgrace a major Hollywood epic. No expense has been spared in this lavish production, splendidly produced by Michael Whitewood. Nic Raine conducts the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and there is a choir on some tracks. Sound recording was in the experienced hands of John Timperley. Adam’s music ranges from dramatic to tender, and is always beautifully scored. He can be justly proud of this CD, and on the strength of this I shall be very surprised if his name does not appear on the credits of a major film in the next few years. David Ades Chappell CDs are only available through the RFS Record Service – price £9 (US $18) each.

ASPECTS OF NATURE Birth of Spring, Butterfly Sanctuary, Migration, First Flights, The Harvest, Snowfall, Arrival of Spring, Indian Summer, National Trust, Nature Cycle, Tolpuddle Ducks, Leprechauns (Robert Farnon), The Fledgling, Mother Goose, etc… 32 tracks. Bruton BRD49. Bruton have been trawling through the archives to ‘rescue’ an attractive selection of nature tracks, by some of their top writers including James Clarke, Brian Bennett, Duncan Lamont, John Hawkins, Keith Mansfield, Johnny Pearson, Chris Gunning, John Scott plus the one short Farnon piece mentioned above. Most of the compositions use a small ensemble (typically strings, harp and woodwind) which suits the kind of nature documentaries for which this collection is intended. The recordings date from 1977-1985. David Ades

SCREEN LEGENDS The Gold of San Jancinto, Roman Legions, Gunfighters and Lawmen, Biblical Choir, New Discovery, Silvery Moon, Beyond Dreams, etc… 16 full-length tracks, plus shorter versions and fanfares. Bruton BRJ55. The American composer John Cacavas has composed this impressive collection of themes which are best described as ‘sound-alikes’ – the kind of film music you think you have heard before, but which is sufficiently different to avoid accusations of plagiarism! A number of composers seem to be creating music of this kind, which must obviously be in demand from television and the film industry. John Cacavas has been writing enjoyable works for many years, and this large orchestra produces a rich, full sound. David AdesBruton CDs are only available through the RFS Record Service – price £9 (US$18) each.

BRITISH LIGHT OVERTURES Volume 1 Caramba (William Blezard); Overture to a Costume Comedy (Stanley Black); Overture and Beginners (James Langley); Tantivy Towers (Thomas Dunhill); Boy Wizard (Herbert Chappell); Festive Overture (Walter Carroll); Overture to an Unwritten Comedy (Michael Hurd); The Arcadians (Lionel Monckton); A Spa Overture (Philip Lane); Concert Overture (Thomas Pitfield); Sussex Symphony Overture (Paul Lewis) Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland ASV CDWHL 2130, total playing time 66:27. Is there no limit to what Philip Lane can unearth from the Light Music archives of this country? In his latest marvellous mid-price offering from ASV we are treated to another collection of recovered gems interspersed with some outstanding contemporary pieces. Apart from The Arcadians, they will be unfamiliar to most of us but hopefully not for too long. Tantivy Towers was a 1931 musical staged at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith while A Spa Overture is based on Philip Lane’s home town of Cheltenham. An interesting set of sleeve notes explains how all the other overtures came into being together with a potted biography of each composer. How fortunate we are that several major record companies now recognise the public interest in Light Music. If only the BBC would do the same! Peter WorsleyThere may be (though one doubts it!) readers of ‘Keeping Track’ who believe that enough is as good as a feast, and that eleven overtures – one after another – are a bit much. But programmability is one of the real benefits of CD Audio. If it’s some time since you last heard Stanley Black’s delightful pastiche, or the jolly and almost indecently tuneful Monckton/ Wood concoction, and wish to discover lots more equally super music herein – I can safely say: go out, get this, programme it judiciously and it will give enjoyment unlimited. Plus mark: the evocative inlay cover photo (Stanton High Street in the Cotswolds, with not a horseless carriage in sight). John E. Govier The above reviewers have almost said it all, but has anyone heard a better overture composed in the past five years than theSussex Symphony Overture by Paul Lewis? What sheer exuberance, coupled with melodious charm and sensitivity. David Ades

ERIC COATES – British Light Music (Volume 2) Calling All Workers; Springtime – Suite; From Meadow to Mayfair – Suite; With a Song in my Heart – Symphonic Rhapsody; London Again – Suite; By the Tamarisk; The Three Bears – Phantasy. Eric Coates conducting various orchestrasNaxos Historical 8110182, total playing time 62:20 minutes. If you missed the Conifer collections of Eric Coates’ recordings some years ago, then you may wish to consider this recent release of some of the finest Light Music ever composed. The transfers are just about acceptable, but not up to the standard we have come to expect these days. Naxos should exercise greater quality control over their historical issues, otherwise there is a danger that they will acquire a reputation for being inferior to others. Unfortunately this comment also applies to the technical quality of the Ketèlbey CD reviewed below. David Ades

ALBERT KETÈLBEY Volume 2 The Sacred Hour; Bells Across the Meadows; In a Fairy Realm – Suite; Algerian Scene; Fairy Butterfly; King Cupid; In the Mystic Land of Egypt; Wedgewood Blue; Sanctuary of the Heart; In a Persian Market; A Dream of Christmas; In a Monastery Garden Various Orchestras and Singers NAXOS 8110848, 61:42 mins. Another splendid collection of Ketèlbey originals from the Tens, Twenties and Thirties but this time including a vocal flavour. The singers on various tracks are Peter Dawson, Florence Smithson, Dennis Noble, Nellie Walker, Robert Easton and Oscar Natzke, while Albert Sandler also pops up with a violin solo. Ketèlbey himself conducts most of the pieces but also wielding the baton are Ray Noble, Henry Geehl and Charles Prentice. The transfers are clean and melodious, making this a most welcome addition to the repertoire, especially the seldom heard and truly delightful In a Fairy Realm. Peter Worsley

SALONORCHESTER SCHWANEN conducted by GEORG HUBER Salon Orchestra Favourites Volume 2 Blauer Himmel (Josef Rixner); Funiculi Funicula (Luigi Denza); Avant de Mourir (Georges Boulanger); South of the Alps (Ernst Fischer); Blue Tango, Belle of the Ball (Leroy Anderson); Dark Eyes (A. Ferraris); Gerhardt Winkler Medley (Winkler); A Media Luz (Edgardo Donato); Midnight on the Alster (Oscar Fetras); Puszta Fox (Mihaly Erdelyi); I Kiss Your Hand Madame (Ralph Erwin).Naxos 8555344, time 65:41 mins. Yet more classic Light Music from ‘the day before yesterday’ stylishly and sympathetically performed by musicians of today. Auditioning this release via headphones brought it home to me once again: Light music is rather more than just a succession of nice tunes – performances with this degree of intimacy and understanding bring out all the harmonic subtleties and rhythmic nuances which prove it! If you enjoyed the previous volume, I’ve no doubt that you will approve of this one. John E. Govier

GREAT OPERETTA RECORDINGS Pirates of Penzance & Trial By Jury Naxos 8.110196/7 D’Oyly Carte Opera Company conducted by Isidore Godfrey. Attention all G & S fans because here is another great complete historic recording to add to HMS Pinafore and The Mikado already in the Naxos bargain bag. Dating from 1949 it features all the greats of the time with Martyn Green and Darrell Fancourt leading the way. There is little more to say – it’s a bargain – and with Trial By Jurytoo! Edmund Whitehouse All Naxos CDs are available from the RFS record Service.

LIGHT CLASSICS Dance Music From Old Vienna Naxos 8.555689 A collection of 15 waltzes, galops and polkas recorded in the mid-19^th Century style by the modern Tanzqurett Wienn, from which you will deduce that all the track listings are in German – although fortunately not the sleeve notes which have an English version by Keith Anderson. This is salon music from the high point of Viennese culture. If that is your thing then you will enjoy this well-recorded disc. Edmund Whitehouse

LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA / ANDRÉ PREVIN ‘Previn Conducts Korngold’ Film Scores from: "The Sea Hawk", "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex", "Captain Blood" and "The Prince and the Pauper" Deutsche Grammophon 471347-2, 67:57 mins. In recent years admirers of Korngold’s work (both for films, and in the classical sphere) have been well-served with recordings. One could be forgiven for wondering if another release was necessary, but any such doubts should be dispelled within minutes of listening to this superb new recording. The London Symphony under Andre Previn perform magnificently, and Korngold’s glorious scores have never sounded better.David Ades

ENGLISH STRING MINIATURES Volume 4 Peter Hope – Momentum Suite; Frank Bridge – Two Pieces; Adam Carse – Two Sketches; Ernest Tomlinson – Graceful Dance; Gustav Holst – A Moorside Suite; Frederick Delius – Two Aquarelles; Paul Lewis – English Suite Northern Sinfonia conducted by David Lloyd-Jones Naxos 8555070, 62:14 mins. Mining the rich and apparently bottomless seam of English string music, this team has struck gold again! Another opus from the ever-fresh imagination of Peter Hope; two student pieces by Frank Bridge ‘rescued’ by Paul Hindmarsh; something on record at last by Adam Carse (and high time, too); and a charming interlude by one of Light Music’s most distinctive voices – Ernest Tomlinson. Then there is Holst’s string arrangement of a National Contest piece for brass bands (available complete on disc at last, nearly 70 years on); Eric Fenby’s transcriptions of two Delius part-songs – magically atmospheric – and Paul Lewis’s totally endearing English Suite with its ‘spot the real ending’ finale! What a bargain! John E. Govier

TWILIGHT MEMORIES Vintage British Light Music Curtain Up (Lambert Williamson); Sea Songs(Vaughan Williams); Folk Tune (Percy Fletcher); Waltz from The Three Bears (Eric Coates); Ascot Parade (Jack Strachey); Prunella - white kitten interlude (Leslie Bridgewater); Fiddle Dance (Percy Fletcher); The Young Ballerina - potter’s wheel interlude music (Charles Williams); Fireflies (Peter Yorke); Dance of an Ostracised Imp (Frederic Curzon); Muse in Mayfair - spinning wheel interlude music (Vivian Ellis); They Ride By Night (Charles Williams); Fandango (Sidney Torch); Shadow Waltz(Clive Richardson); Caprice for Strings (Edward White); Downland - ploughing interlude music (Cecil Milner); Wagon Lit (Sidney Torch); Goodwood Galop (Robert Farnon); Looking Around - Appleyards theme tune (Lloyd Thomas); Cumberland Green (Walter Collins); Cloudland (Bruce Campbell); Mock Turtles (Angela Morley); Petticoat Lane (Eric Siday); Strings on Wings (Ken Mackintosh); Twilight Memories (Granville Bantock). ASV LIVING ERA CD AJA 5419, 75:24 mins. The superb atmospheric colour picture on the front speaks volumes with vintage London taxis queueing outside a busy London Pavilion under the shadow of Eros in Piccadilly Circus. Twilight memories indeed with no fewer than four of the early television interlude tunes included on this marvellous new compilation by Philip Lane, Ray Crick and David Ades, with excellent sleeve notes by the latter. Vaughan Williams’ familiarSea Songs remind us of Billy Bunter being pursued by Mr. Quelch and one can almost feel the horses thundering across the South Downs in Goodwood Galop. They Ride By Night is virtually Dick Barton, Part 2 and while many of the other tunes may look unfamiliar you are sure to recognise some of them. Others will be new and that is no bad thing. Great value at mid-price. More please! Edmund Whitehouse

‘THINGS TO COME’ Original Film Music Themes 1936-1947 Things To Come; Dangerous Moonlight; The Night Has Eyes; Bambi; Love Story; The Way To The Stars; While I Live; SpellboundVarious orchestras Naxos 8120597, 60:23 mins. An interesting, and sometimes surprising, mixture of film themes which have almost all been available before on other CDs. Again I have to sound a note of caution regarding the quality of the sound restoration: these days it should be better than this.David Ades

BERLIN PHILHARMONIC conducted by NICO DOSTAL ‘In My Mountains’ Frőhliches Spiel, Spanische Skizzen, Wiener Erinnerungen, Blues-Fantasie, Ein Mond für Verliebte, In Meinen Bergen.CPO 9998112, playing time 54:10 mins. This is a reissue of a famous LP that will delight our German RFS members. Others wishing to explore new musical pastures will also find it very enjoyable. David Ades

FAMOUS OPERETTA MELODIES Excerpts from: The Gypsy Baron, Pique Dame, The Birdseller, Gasparone, La Belle Hé/ène, Boccaccio, Sir Pazman, The Beggar Student, Countess Dubarry, The Opera Ball, Orpheus in the Underworld, The Envchanted Castle, A Night in Venice, Woodruff, La Poupée, Bluebird, Hunt for Fortune, Die Fledermaus, The Pearl of Iberia, Berlin Weeps and Laughs, Fatinitza, Apajune, The Tales of Hoffman, The Bells of Corneville, The Kahlenberg Village Polka The Raphaele Concert Orchestra conducted by Peter Walden and Erwin Rondell ASV CDWLZ 261 (2 CDs), 142:38 mins. This is a commercial release of the two Mozart Edition CDs which were available through the RFS several years ago – Volume 1 MECD1002, & Volume 2 MECD1004.

ENGLISH BASSOON CONCERTOS Concerto in D (Eric Fogg); Concertino (John Addison); Concertino (Peter Hope); Summer Music (Arthur Butterworth*) – Graham Salvage (bassoon) and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland ASV CD WHL2132, 75:51 mins. For far too long, and probably on account of its appearance, the bassoon carried an undeserved stigma as the low comedian of the orchestra. People forgot (if indeed they knew) that Mozart and Weber wrote delightful concertos for the instrument, and failed to notice its many expressive solos throughout the concert repertoire. True, it hasn’t had quite the same degree of solo exposure as the oboe, flute or clarinet. This CD makes a fully worthy companion to "English Oboe Concertos" (see JIM 148, page 62). There are no end of beautiful (and truly musical) sounds to delight the ear and stimulate the mind, and the disc is recommended without reserve to all bassoon devotees and other attentive listeners with a taste for the unexpected. John E. Govier

20^th CENTURY CONCERTI Tuba Concerto by John Williams; Harp Concertino by Germaine Tailleferre; Saxophone Concerto by Henri Tomasi; Xylophone Concerto by Toshiro Mayuzumi.Foundation Orchestra conducted by David Snell. ASV LIVING DIGITAL CD DCA 1126. This most unusual disc is to be welcomed simply because it makes pleasant listening and you are therefore unlikely to hear the music on Radio 3! John Williams of Star Wars fame was for many years conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra while Germaine Tailleferre was the female member of France’s "Les Six". Henri Tomasi was also French while Mayuzumi, despite being Japanese, also wrote for Hollywood film epics. Certain similarities with Ronald Binge can be heard in sections of theSaxophone Concerto but the rest of the CD defies categorisation. This is not a criticism because we must continue to support those who, like ASV, eschew the avant garde and continue to give us music which is pleasing on the ear. Peter Worsley

MANTOVANI AND HIS ORCHESTRA ‘Candlelight’ Candlelight, You Stepped Out of a Dream, Blue Fantasy, Merry-go-round, Stradivarius, Gold and Silver, Brass Buttons, Longing, Heart of Paris, Take my Love, Spring in Montmartre, Song of Sorrento ‘Favourite Melodies Vol. 3’ The Lonely Ballerina, Dusk, Ma Chere Amie, June Night, The Deserted Ballroom, Naila – waltz, Lazy Gondolier, Begin the Beguine, Intermezzo from ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’, Dream Dream Dream, Edelma, Come Back to MeVocalion CDLK4136, 70:51 mins. Editor: the advance details we received for this CD did not indicate that the third volume of ‘Favourite Melodies’ had been chosen. Therefore we regret that the details on page 93 of our last issue were incorrect, and we apologise to our readers for any inconvenience this may have caused.

PEACOCK PIE – English Music for Piano and String Orchestra Concertino (Gordon Jacob, 1895-1984); Concertino (Armstrong Gibbs, 1889-1960); Miniature Suite (Cyril Rootham, 1875-1938); Concertino in E major (Robin Milford, 1903-1959); Suite for Strings and Piano ‘Peacock Pie’ (Gibbs); Festival Scherzo (Madeleine Dring (1923-1977). Martin Roscoe (piano) and the Guildhall Strings, leader Robert Salter Hyperion CDA67316, 60:14 mins. More real music for real music lovers – aural equivalents of our English country lanes and footpaths untainted by packaged tourism. The musical environment to which the works originally belonged (1921 to 1958) may have been a largely insular and conservative one; but these five composers each have something distinctive to offer, and repeated listening will yield fresh delights. I do hope that rather a lot of you will investigate this beautifully-made CD for yourselves..John E. Govier

ANDRE KOSTELANETZ ORCHESTRA ‘The Kostelanetz Touch’ With a Song in my Heart, Tiger Rag, Swamp Fire, Fascinatin’ Rhythm, ‘S Wonderful, Bugle Call Rag, Music of Jerome Kern, Estrellita, Dancing in the Dark, Turkey in the Straw, Poeme, Liebestraum, Manhattan Serenade, Blues in the Night, My Sombrero, Night and Day, Flamingo, Coubacaban, When Day is Done, I’ll see You AgainASV Living Era CD AJA5422, 73:43 mins. There are some of Kosty’s finest tracks in this collection, plus a few that he might have wished had been buried long ago! You certainly get an insight into his varied early career, and this medium-price release will be welcomed by his many admirers. David Ades

CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA Three separate pieces entitled Concerto for Orchestra by Edward Gregson, Alun Hoddinott and John McCabe. Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Douglas Bostock Classico CLASSCD 384. All three works are world premieres and Classico are again deserving of congratulation for recording something unusual. Their policy is to release British music previously unheard or unknown, but worth listening to. This CD certainly fits the bill but how does one summarise it? The three composers will probably shoot me for saying it but the nearest descriptive title I can think of is "film music". If you like dramatic scores then this is for you. It is not light music but then nor is it heavy either. Something in between sounds muddled and mundane so the best thing to do is to try it out.    Peter Worsley

THEA KING clarinet, with Northwest Chamber Orchestra of Seattle conducted by Alun Francis Concerto for Clarinet and Strings (Alan Rawsthorne); Mini-Concerto for Clarinet and Strings (Gordon Jacob); Concerto for Clarinet and Strings (Arnold Cooke). Helios CDH55069. Releases featuring concertos and other soloist-orchestra works by British composers (often long undervalued or ignored ones) have been coming out with some frequency lately. In fact, this recital formed one of Hyperion’s early issues, and the LP has been in my own collection since the 1980s. So, assuming you share my enthusiasm for this repertoire, and like the composers too, I feel safe in drawing to your attention this very modestly-priced reissue. John E. Govier

HOLLYWOOD GREATS: ESTHER WILLIAMS. Soundtracks from MGM’s DANGEROUS WHEN WET, Music and Lyrics by Arthur Schwartz and Johnny Mercer, performed by Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas, Jack Carson, Charlotte Greenwood, Denise Darcel, William Demarest, Barbara Whiting, and Donna Corcoran (uncredited), Musical Director George Stoll, Arrangements by Skip Martin (both uncredited). Overture/I Got out of Bed on the Right Side, I Like Men, In My Wildest Dreams, Ain’t Nature Grand, Finale. JUPITER’S DARLING: Music and Lyrics by Burton Lane and Harold Adamson, performed by Esther Williams (dubbed by Jo Ann Greer), Marge and Gower Champion, Howard Keel, Musical Director and Arrangements by David Rose (uncredited). Overture, If This be Slav’ry, I Have a Dream, Hannibal’s Victory March, I Never Trust a Woman, Don’t Let This Night Get away, The Life of an Elephant, Finale. EASY TO LOVE: Music and Lyrics by Mann Curtis and Vic Mizzy, also Cole Porter, performed by Esther Williams (dubbed by Betty Wand) and Tony Martin, Musical Directors, Lennie Hayton and George Stoll (both uncredited), Arrangements by Skip Martin and Pete Rugolo (both uncredited). Overture, Water Sequence, Didja’ Ever!, Look Out! I’m Romantic, Easy to Love, That’s what a Rainy Day is For, Finale. 
(ITALY) HITLAND HG 003 70:23mins

HOLLYWOOD GREATS: JANE RUSSELL. Soundtracks from THE FRENCH LINE, Music and Lyrics by Josef Myrow, Ralph Blane and Robert Wells, performed by Jane Russell, Gilbert Roland and Mary McCarty, Music Arranged and Conducted by Walter Scharf (uncredited). The French Line, Well I’ll be Switched, Any Gal from Texas, Lookin’ for Trouble, What is this that I Feel, Comment Allez Vous, With a Kiss, Wait til you see Paris. 
GENTLEMEN MARRY BRUNETTES performed by Jane Russell,  Anita Ellis (uncredited), Alan Young, Rudy Vallee, Johnny Desmond (uncredited), Robert Farnon (uncredited), MUSICAL DIRECTOR, ROBERT FARNON: Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, You’re  Driving me Crazy, Miss Annabelle Lee, Have You met Miss Jones?, My Funny Valentine, I’ve Got Five Dollars, I Wanna be Loved by You, Daddy, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Finale (ITALY) HITLAND HG 006 55:46 mins

Esther Williams, in her candid autobiography ‘The Million Dollar Mermaid’ (published by Simon and Schuster 1999) was quite happy to admit that her singing voice was invariably dubbed by someone else, which makes a CD celebrating her vocal talents questionable. But this is part of a series of budget priced albums entitled ‘Hollywood Greats’, produced in Milan, which often focuses on unusual soundtrack scores that are presented in a dubious quality reminiscent of the ‘pirate’ LPs of old. Certainly MGM records never chose to issue these Esther Williams movie soundtracks when the films were released. Several orchestral highlights will intrigue MGM aficionados, because you get all the Main Title Overtures (with or without Leo the Lion), plus some ballet and production music. My highlight from ‘Jupiter’s Darling’ is the song ‘I Had a Dream’, which segues into a five minute underwater ballet demonstrating David Rose’s genius. ‘Easy to Love’ includes two Busby Berkeley production numbers, including the seven minute ‘Aquacade’ Finale putting the MGM Studio Orchestra through its paces, as the cameras fast track a team of stunt water-skiers through the Florida everglades. This exhausting sequence is actually an up tempo arrangement of Paul Linke’s genteel ‘Beautiful Spring’, but that remains uncredited in the mostly irrelevant sleeve notes provided by this series of CDs. The audio sounds as if taken from optical tracks of prints of the movies - and that means ‘Jupiter’s Darling’ is not in its original stereo. I discovered this CD at Tower Records in Piccadilly Circus, London. Other MGM scores issued include ‘Athena’, ‘Yolanda and the Thief’ and ‘Everything I have is Yours’. JANE RUSSELL’s vocal talents were amply demonstrated in her Academy Award winning song ‘Buttons and Bows’ from ‘The Paleface’, and in ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ when she had star billing over Marilyn Monroe. Hitland presents us with the soundtracks from two of her lesser- known movies - although ‘soundtrack’ is not true for ‘The French Line’. This turns out to be a muddy and at times distorted transfer of a 10 inch Mercury LP of the film’s songs, plus an opening that bears no resemblance to Walter Scharf’s original bouncy orchestral Main Title. These tracks were all recorded to construct an LP issue and they don’t appear in the order as performed in the film. The one big production number, ‘Any Gal from Texas’ is reduced to shreds, and Jane’s burlesque ‘Lookin’ for Trouble’, originally the risqué finale, appears without the repartee in a number which caused a convenient promotional furore for the movie’s release: interesting how 50’s ‘risqué’ now comes across as high camp. Fortunately the transfer of the 12 inch soundtrack LP of ‘Gentlemen Marry Brunettes’ fares much better, although it’s not quite as bright as my Japanese LP reissue of 1976 and I doubt whether it emanates from the master tapes. Nevertheless, there’s much to enjoy in this one, as we’d come to expect from its distinguished musical director, who creates the sound of a big Hollywood Musical on a British sound stage. The score is a curious one, with only one original song, the rest being taken mainly from the catalogue of Rodgers and Hart, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. Apparently there was a race to prepare all the playback tracks in time, with Bob having to call in Angela Morley and Douglas Gamley for a bit of help at the eleventh hour. Another problem occurred at the playback recording session itself. It was discovered that the singing voice of Scott Brady, the film’s male lead, wasn’t up to scratch, so Bob himself sang the part, proving that he has a fine voice when the occasion demands (and that Mr. Brady had a persuasive agent). Unlike the LP cover, this CD does not give that credit where it falls due. This was always a cleverly produced album, with a mixture of music tracks plus some sections taken from the final mix of the film, i.e. with sound effects and dialogue, to create continuity. The mono LP never had room for any of the Farnon background score, and it was a revelation to see this film on cable television recently and hear it for the first time in stereo. Don’t expect too much from these albums, because they don’t have the superb technical polish and liner notes of such Turner Classics CDs as ‘Romantic Duets from MGM Classics’ (Turner R2 72826) and better still, the 6 box set ‘That’s Entertainment - The Ultimate Anthology of MGM Musicals’ (Turner R2 72182). That one includes a wealth of material in addition to the three ‘That’s Entertainment’ films, much of it never before issued. A detailed track listing can be found on the American website of amazon.com. Both of those issues will give you an insight into quality remastering, because you can compare certain tracks duplicated in the MGM ‘Hollywood Greats’ albums. Richard Hindley

CARROLL GIBBONS and The Savoy Hotel Orpheans Vol. 2 These Bands Made Music (BBC); So Shy; You’re Such a Comfort to Me; Fools Rush In; My Own Folks; Jeepers Creepers; What Harlem Is To Me; The Masquerade Is Over; I’m Just Beginning To Care; I Fall In Love With You Every Day; I Poured My Heart Into a Song; I Used To Be Colour Blind; It’s a Long Long Way to Your Heart; Seal It With a Kiss; Music Puts Me in the Strangest Mood; What’s New; Music for Romance. 77:34 mins. (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD74.

Volume 3 includes Athlone Radio Programme (April 1933), So Help Me, Heaven on Earth, Love Divided By Two, etc… 79:14 mins (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD??. Frank Bristow’s CDs are available from him at: 2 Cross Street, Brighton, Victoria, 3186, AUSTRALIA – e-mail .

MELACHRINO ORCHESTRA conducted by GEORGE MELACHRINO ‘Great Show Medleys’ The King and I, Guys and Dolls, The Dancing Years, Deep in my Heart, Gershwin Fantasy, Kismet, The Pajama Game, Summer Song, Three Little Words (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD80.

BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA ‘Lollipops’ Look Sharp - Be Sharp, March of the Little Lead Soldiers, Musical Snuff Box, Richard Rodgers Waltz Medley, Entrance of the Little Fauns, Mosquito Dance, Pop Goes the Weasel, Entry of the Boyards, etc… 79:24 mins. (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD76. I have always regarded the Boston Pops Orchestra (I grew up knowing it as the Boston PromenadeOrchestra) like the proverbial curate’s egg: some of its records were very good, while others I found distinctly boring. No doubt its 78s reflected the kind of music it performed at its public concerts, where it was often necessary to play well-known numbers in order to get the audience inside. Concert promoters have to rely upon the familiar (some people like to know the music they are hearing), but record buyers can be more selective. Frank Bristow’s collection is a faithful representation of the usual fare provided by the Boston Pops, but I wish he had omitted the two selections of old time songs, and I could have done without some of the light classics. Having said that (and you may violently disagree with my very personal opinion!), this CD contains some pleasant surprises. The opening track, Bob Merrick’s Look Sharp – Be Sharp is a splendid bright march, tuneful and uplifting. Another excellent track is Prairie Sky from Dimitri Tiomkin’s score for ‘Duel In The Sun’, which is followed by the more familiar On the Trail to Spanish Bit from the same film. Cuckoo Clock by Castillo is quite charming (and mercifully without too many clock effects), and I enjoyed Jack Mason’s Candlelight Waltz. Victor Herbert’s Dagger Dance from ‘Natoma’ is another welcome inclusion. Full marks, too, for the comprehensive booklet notes. David Ades

DAVID ROSE AND HIS ORCHESTRA ‘Rose Plays Rose’ Volume 2 (Australia) Frank Bristow EXCD26/27, 143 mins. 47 marvellous titles which explore David Rose’s talents to the full (if you prefer to call it genius you wouldn’t get any argument from me), even more so than in the single "Rose Plays Rose" CD I reviewed in JIM 148. Every aspect of the composer / conductor’s range can be found here, from the full orchestral style and sound of Majorca (all 7:10 mins of it), to the swinging Banned in Boston and The Stripper. Along the way we have such old favourites as Holiday for Strings, One Love, Our Waltz, Dance of the Spanish Onion and California Melodies, along with exquisite miniatures like The Tiny Ballerina Who Could Only Dance In The Key of C, Deserted City, Rose of Bel Air, 4.20am, Gay Spirits, Manhattan Square Dance, Waltz of the Bubbles andStringopation. Most of these have become familiar over the years, but even die-hard fans of David Rose like myself can find something new. But all, wither old or new, are equally acceptable, making an enjoyable 2hours 23 mins of the nicest music of this or any year. Arthur Jackson

DEBROY SOMERS BAND ‘Totally Instrumental’ Ice Rink Medley, Sea Songs Medley, Ballroom Memories, Ballads we Love, American Medley, Archibald Joyce Waltzes, Russian Fantasy, Waltz Medley, Carmen Capers, Faust Frolics, 1812 and all That, Happy and Glorious, Let’s Sing a Song, A Stanford Rhapsody (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD78, 78:48 mins. Alongside all his other projects, Frank Bristow is currently making much of the Debroy Somers repertoire available once again on CD. Almost forgotten today, Somers was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s, and he remained active in London theatres until his death on 27 May 1952. Perhaps his music may have dated more than some of his contemporaries, and maybe the kind of patriotic medleys which were his speciality are out of touch with today’s cynical world as portrayed in the media. (This notion was severely tested in Britain following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, when millions were unashamed to reveal their patriotic feelings. More than one commentator suggested that the media – both press and broadcasting – were out of touch with the true feelings of the population. And following the events of September 11^th our American friends also know how to express their love for their country). But to return to Debroy Somers: this CD of instrumentals reveals why he was so popular, with tuneful music delightfully arranged and expertly performed. Alan Bunting’s sound restorations cannot be faulted, and at times are simply amazing. Our grandfathers never knew that the coarse grooves on their 78s contained so much music! David Ades

STEVE TYRELL: STANDARD TIME: It Had To Be You; Until The Real Thing Comes Along; Ain't Misbehavin'; That Old Feeling; Stardust; As Time Goes By plus 9 other songs. 56:02. Columbia CK 86006. Talk about an enjoyable disc! In spite of his weather-beaten, voice, Steve Tyrell has become one America's leading exponents of the great standards. His enthusiasm for the lyrics and the music make up for any vocal shortcomings. The tone of this CD is upbeat starting off with a lively "It Had To Be You" that leaps out of the tracks. Plas Johnson on tenor sax plays great obbligatos and solos on numbers such as "That Old Feeling" while "Toots" Thielemans on harmonica weaves a magic spell over "Stardust" Clark Terry is fabulously inventive on "It Had To Be You". There's also a light hearted tribute to Harry "Sweets" Edison (who passed away shortly after these sessions began) who plays a feathery light muted solo on "Remembering Sweets " (based on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love") .This recording by Steve Tyrell is one the fastest selling CD's in America. Don't take my word for it--just buy this enjoyable recording and find out for yourself. Richard Jessen

SID PHILLIPS AND HIS GREAT JAZZ BAND Hors d’oeuvres, Mood Indigo, Indiana, Lazy River, You Turned the Tables on Me, All Alone, etc.. 24 tracks Vocalion CDLK4122, 63:23 mins. This is a second volume of tuneful jazz from one of Britain’s greatest exponents. No further comment is necessary.

RUSSELL MALONE: HEARTSTRINGS: Heartstrings; How About Me; Loved Ones; You Needed Me; Handful Of Stars; Wind In The Willow plus 4 other selections. 46:08. Verve 314549786-2. Russell Malone has a gorgeously soft tone to his playing which is accented by the lovely scores of Johnny Mandel, Alan Broadbent and Dori Caymmi. Both Mandel scores ( "Heartstrings", "How About Me") are ethereal sounding with something added that the other scores don't have: vibes and harp. Alan Broadbent writes colourful string charts that never sound boring. His best chart is for "You Needed Me" which transcends its country music origins. Dori Caymmi writes interesting harmonic shifts in his writing for "Wind In The Willow". Kenny Barron on piano gets two solos, the most ravishing one being on "Why Try To Change Me". A surprise awaits the ending, for we get the old gospel number "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" which Malone plays in a highly inventive way. This is definitely made for late evening activities--whatever they may be! Richard Jessen

TED HEATH AND HIS MUSIC ‘Ted Heath Personnel’ & ‘Our Kind of Jazz’ Ill Wind, Swinging the Blues, Hey Baby, Idaho, Four Fours, I’ll Remember April, etc… 25 tracks Vocalion CDLK4130, 70:21 mins.

‘My Very Good Friends The Bandleaders’ & ‘TH Swings in Hi-Stereo’ Sing Sing Sing, Sorta Crazy, One O’Clock Jump, I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, ‘C’ Jam Blues, My Funny Valentine, etc… 23 tracks Vocalion CDLK4139, 73:36 mins. Vocalion are doing a wonderful service to Heath’s countless admirers, who will not hesitate to add these new releases to their collections.

RONNIE ALDRICH and his Piano with the Strings of the London Festival Orchestra ‘Romantic Pianos’ & ‘Magnificent Pianos’ Deep Purple, More Than You Know, I’ll Never Smile Again, Embraceable You, Don’t Blame Me, I Have Dreamed, September Song, I’m In The Mood For Love, etc… 24 tracks Vocalion CDLK4135, 67:24 mins. Rather surprisingly, Ronnie Aldrich has tended to be ignored on CD reissues, although he has cropped up on various compilations. Mike Dutton has cleverly spotted this gap in the market, and this CD combines two Phase-4 stereo albums containing a vintage selection of standards.

ANDRE KOSTELANETZ: SCENARIOS FOR ORCHESTRA: Jerome Kern: "Showboat" Scenario for Orchestra; Richard Rodgers / Arranged by Robert Russell Bennett: "South Pacific" Symphonic Scenario for Concert Orchestra; Richard Rodgers: "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" Ballet Music From "On Your Toes"; George Gershwin: An American In Paris; Gershwin: A Symphonic Picture of "Porgy And Bess" (Arranged by Robert Russell Bennett). 73:71. Collectables COTJ-CD-6800. Andre Kostelanetz was once referred to by Columbia Records as "Music's Leading Man". He leads not only the New York Philharmonic but also a studio group as well as the first recordings in an aborted series by The Philadelphia Orchestra "Pops", recorded in the Academy of Music. Jerome Kern was asked by Cleveland Orchestra maestro Artur Rodzinski to write a scenario based on themes from Kern's hit musical "Show Boat". The Philadelphia Orchestra plays magnificently under Kostelanetz as they do for Bennett's arrangement of "South Pacific". "Slaughter" has more than enough menace due to the Philadelphians' golden tone. The two remaining Gershwin works, however, suffer from sloppy editing (due possibly to either the original tapes not being made available or a vain attempt at shortening the duration of the CD). Nevertheless, these are historic performances. To help solve the mystery of the bad edits, members who have Columbias ML 4514, CL 806, ML 4454, ML 4904 are encouraged to contact me via the magazine. Richard Jessen Editor: although this CD was reviewed in our last issue, Richard has raised some queries regarding editing which other members may wish to address.

SUSANNAH McCORKLE: HEARTS AND MINDS: I Can Dream, Can't I?; Love Is Here To Stay; My Attorney Bernie; For All We Know; The Computer Age; I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire plus 9 other songs. 66:39. Concord Jazz CCD-4897- 2. This is the next to last recording by an artist who left us too early. Susannah McCorkle jumped to her death in May of 2001 at the youthful age of 55, having suffered from depression most of her life. She always impressed one as a bright, intelligent person with a clear yet husky voice touched with awesome depths of warmth and humor. Along with a romantic "I Can Dream, Can't I?" are hilarious yet timely songs by Dave Frishberg--"My Attorney Bernie" and a song for all worry warts "What Did I Forget?" For single people getting out of relations, there's a priceless "Feet Do Your Stuff" as well as McCorkle' s own skewering of "The Computer Age (In Motion)." There's the deeply intimate lyrics of "Scars." McCorkle was that rarity of a performer: grace and wit in an increasing insane world. Richard Jessen

SWING ME A SWING SONG A Parade of 22 Great Jazz Vocalists Thursday (Helen Humes with Count Basie); Restless (Helen Ward with Benny Goodman); Don’t Try Your Jive On Me (Una Mae Carlisle); Drop In Next Time You’re Passing (Elizabeth Welch); I Wish I Were Twins (Valaida with Billy Mason); When I Grow Too Old To Dream (Putney Dandridge); Lovable & Sweet (Annette Hanshaw);Dream Man, Make Me Dream Some More (Fats Waller); I Just Couldn’t Take It Baby (Jack Teagarden); Sing Me a Swing Song (Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb); Ten Cents a Dance (Ruth Etting); Zaz Zul Zaz (Cab Calloway); Louisiana (Bing Crosby with Paul Whiteman); Three Little Words(Rhythm Boys with Duke Ellington); Troubled Waters (Ivie Anderson with Duke Ellington); I Let a Song Out of My Heart (Connie Boswell); Wha’d Jo Do To Me (Boswell Sisters); Isle of Capri (Wingy Manone); More Than You Know (Mildred Bailey); Am I Blue? (Ethel Waters); One Two Button Your Shoe (Billie Holiday); Thanks a Million (Louis Armstrong). ASV LIVING ERA CD AJA 5077

IT DON’T MEAN A THING …. Ivie Anderson with Duke Ellington It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing; Get Yourself a New Broom; I’m Satisfied; Troubled Waters; My Old Flame; Cotton; Truckin'; Isn’t Love the Strangest Thing?; Kissin’ My Baby Goodnight; Oh Babe, Maybe Someday; Shoe Shine Boy; It Was a Sad Night in Harlem; Did Anyone Ever Tell You?; There’s a Lull in My Life; All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm; Rose of the Rio Grande; When My Sugar Walks Down the Street; I’m Checkin’ Out, Goo’mbye’ A Lonely Co-ed; Stormy Weather; Mood Indigo; Me and You; I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good; Rocks In My Bed; I Don’t Mind; Empty Bed Blues. ASV LIVING ERA CD AJA 5420. If you like swinging blues then these two latest releases from ASV will have your feet tapping under the table. All Duke Ellington fans will welcome Ivie Anderson’s voice because she was good at her trade and also his longest serving singer. The tracks date from 1937-40 but sadly, she died at her peak, aged only 45 in 1949. If you prefer to mix your swinging blues, however, then the first disc will give you plenty of choice, ranging from the sensational Ethel Waters and Annette Hanshaw in the late-Twenties right through to the end of the Thirties. There is not a weak track amongst them!Edmund Whitehouse All ASV CDs are available from the RFS Record Service.

A GIRL FOR ALL SEASONS Nightride (Rosso, Kennedy); Simone (Gerhard Narholz); Hippy Hoedown (Syd Dale); Cockles and Mussels (Trad. Arr John Curran); Wait Till Friday (Brian Fahey); Love in Montmartre (Jimmy Kennedy); Holiday Jet (Otto Sieben); Milwaukee (Alstone, Kennedy); Funky Trumpets (Johnny Edwards); Country Capers (Kennedy); Chilli Con Vino (James Clarke); Stay Tuned (Kennedy); Somewhere Downtown (Narholz); Have Band Will Travel (Dale); One-Eyes Reilly and the Old Rigadoo (arr. Curran); The Big Race (Narholz); Left Bank Waltz (Kennedy); Bahia Bay (Tony Hatch); A Dash of Nashville 9Kennedy); Hello You (Tony Tape); Up the Down Staircase (Kennedy); Holly Go Lightly (Dale); Feeling Happy (Heidi Pehofer); Gaiety Girl (Vivian Ellis); A Touch of Bossa Nova (Narholz); Slippery Samba (Kennedy); Down by the Severnside (Kennedy). Codename Music CMCD154. Emerging from the "quality recordings" stable  of "Codename Music" who have been responsible in the past for "Cocktail Swing" and the magnificent themes album "Girl In A Suitcase", comes this dynamic CD of instrumentals from Jimmy Kennedy, Tony Hatch, Syd Dale, James Clarke, Brian Fahey and Gerhard Narholz who may be more familiar to you  as Norman Candler.   This CD bursts into melodic array with a Trade Test classic opener Nightride and gently sways through 27 tracks. The Evergreen Players and The Dixie Dynamoes punctuate the disc nicely with old tyme favourites such as Cockles and Mussels and One-Eyed Reilly And The Old Rigadoo. Melodic German 70's instrumentals feature here from the Sonoton Music Library and are the original recordings not released before on any previous production CD. This CD will appeal to members looking more for melody as it does not fall into the category of another production library CD.

Malcolm Batchelor   See advertisement on page 90 for details of how to buy this CD.

HUGO MONTENEGRO Good Vibrations, (Spain) RCA 74321695052. 11 tracks. Timing 28:35. Despite its incredibly short running time this CD is an essential album for any Montenegro fan as it includes his memorable music from the film Lady In Cement, as well as Another Time Another Place, his
theme to The Outcasts US TV show. There are also several superb versions of chart hits including the title track (the Beach Boys classic), Mason Williams Classical Gas and a stunning take of Paul Mauriat’s Love Is Blue, all featuring the Montenegro trademarks -- smooth-as-silk vocals, harpsichord, whistling from sessioner Muzzy Marcellino and tight, up-tempo pop arrangements. This album represents the composer/arranger at his peak in 1969 and is a delight from start to finish. The only fault (as with all these Spanish RCA imports) is that there is room to include two complete albums on the CD and it would have been better value to see the title doubled up with one of Montenegro’s other many albums. In Britain RCA imports are available from larger branches of HMV and HMV mail order (tel 08705 334578). David Noades

HUGO MONTENEGRO Hugo In Wonderland, (Spain) RCA 74321781692. 10 tracks. Timing 36:44. In complete contrast to the above title this 1974 album is a
tribute to the songwriting talents of Stevie Wonder, as well as a showcase for the electronic wizardry of Hugo and John Montenegro as all the titles here feature ARP and Moog synthesisers. However far from being a self-indulgent experiment the electronic sounds have been skilfully blended with a tight rhythm section to produce a hard jazz funk sound which impressed Stevie Wonder so much that he invited the Montenegro’s to contribute to his next album. The more up-tempo titles fare better in this form than the slower ballads, but the whole album works. Highlights include a breezy, jazzy take ofToo High, the funky stomp of Living For The City and an urgent, up-tempo reading of the classicSuperstition, with some bizarre electronic effects. The album features a host of famous session names including appropriately Tamla Motown’s bassist Carol Kaye, Larry Carlton (guitar), Tom Scott (woodwind) and keyboard player Clare Fischer best known for her work with Henry Mancini. As with all these Spanish RCA re-issues the album comes with its original artwork and sleevenotes. In Britain RCA imports are available from larger branches of HMV and HMV mail order (tel 08705 334578).David Noades

Various Artists, St Pauli Affairs, (Germany) Diggler Records DIG 002. 18 tracks, 47:46 mins. There has been a growing interest in European film and TV music in recent years and this compilation sees a host of themes lifted from the German Reeperbahn films which ran from 1968 to 1973. These were a series of police dramas based around Hamburg’s red light district, and this is reflected in the music with cheesy, kitsch nightclub sounds featuring organ, brass, wah-wah guitars and scat vocals (in a similar style to the Chappell Library Kitsch Pop collections). This nicely package collection brings together the best of Germany’s composers including Peter Thomas, Roland Kovak, Erwin Halletz and Sigfried Franz, with evocative titles such as Go-Go-Girl, Hunter’s Beat, Hippy Dibby and Beat In Steel. Annoyingly the sleevenotes are all in German and so we are denied a history of the films (which UK audiences have never seen) but nevertheless the music is a pleasant upbeat collection which will appeal to lovers of kitsch, sixties sounds. In Britain this is available from larger branches of Virgin and HMV and HMV mail order (tel 08705 334578). David Noades

DUDLEY MOORE Bedazzled OST, Harkit Records HRKCD 8001. 13 tracks, Timing 38.55. This long-overdue reissue is the score from the 1968 Peter Cook and Dudley Moore film which was recently (and unnecessarily) remade. Before making it as a comedy actor Moore was already a highly respected jazz and classical pianist with a string of albums to his name, and here he leads his famous jazz trio through a series of sophisticated arrangements, supported by sax, trombone, flute and string orchestra. The score is based around three main
themes played in a variety of styles, used to great comic effect in the film, alongside two decidedly tongue-in-cheek pastiches of pop songs with vocals by Cook and Moore, plus the totally hilariousLeaping Nuns' Chorus which has to be heard to be believed. It helps to see the film to fully understand that the music is an integral part of the comedy, but the music works equally well on its own and this stylish score proves that Dudley Moore was an accomplished composer. (NB: His score to the movie Thirty Is A Dangerous Age Cynthia has also been recently issued on CD). In Britain this is available from larger branches of HMV and HMV mail order (tel 08705 334578). David Noades

 
Various, Billion Dollar Caine, Top Kapi Records 057, 30 tracks, 64:17 mins. This unusual collection brings together no less than 16 themes taken from various cult-appeal Michael Caine films interspersed with selections of classic dialogue. Three tracks are appearing on CD for the first time, namely the haunting title theme and Skidoo from Billion Dollar Brain (by Richard Rodney Bennett), and singer Cher’s original rendition of the Bacharach/David’s Alfie theme, but the other selections from The Ipcress File, The Italian Job and Get Carter work well in this setting, especially with the linking dialogue. This will appeal to fans of Sir Michael, as well as acting as a nice sampler for the soundtracks of the featured films, with compositions by Quincy Jones, Roy Budd, Sonny Rollins and John Barry. In Britain this is available from Rhythm Records, London (tel 0207 2670123). David Noades

WILSON MALONE, Deathline OST, Spinney 002 CD. 2 tracks. 21:35 mins. Really an extended CD single, this two track disc features the title theme and a 17-minutesuite of incidental pieces from an obscure 1972 British horror movie, known in the US somewhat provocatively by the alternate titleRaw Meat. The film concerns a series of mysterious deaths in tunnels on the London Underground, which it is eventually discovered are committed by a wretched creature that was trapped in the tunnels many years ago and now lives on human flesh! The music is appropriately disturbing, combining elements of big band, progressive rock and experimental jazz and was composed by pop songwriter/producer Wilson Malone (formerly with progressive rock bands Orange Bicycle and Motherlight). This release was born out of a late night viewing of the film by soundtrack fan Paul Lamden who thought the music deserved a wider audience and issued it on his own independent label. It’s certainly worth investigation, however while the main theme is quite listenable in an eerie, hypnotic way, the incidental pieces are perhaps a little too disturbing without the aid of the accompanying visuals. In Britain this CD should be available at mid price from larger branches of HMV and HMV mail order (tel 08705 334578).  David Noades

QUINCY JONES, The Italian Job OST, MCA MCD 60074/112488-2, 12 tracks, 28:06 mins. Another long-overdue re-issue of a classic soundtrack, this time from the pen of Quincy Jones. When a top US composer is invited to write the score for what is essentially a very British picture, the result was bound to be interesting, and here it is quite magnificent. It kicks off quite sublimely with title themeOn Days Like These sung by Matt Monro, and this leads in a slow, organ-led, jazz groove Something’s Cookin which sets the pace for the whole album. Humorous moments include variations on Rule Britannia played by a string quartet, and a bizarre harpsichord-led jazz version of Greensleeves, but the film’s charm and whit is perhaps best displayed by the Cockney-style singalong Get A Bloomin' Move On presented in both vocal and instrumental versions. Better known as The Self-Preservation Society this quirky, catchy tune has been used in Nat West TVcommercials and has been sampled on several pop records, and is without doubt the reason why this album is so sought-after. The only complaints are that this is straight re-issue of the original album, and it would have been nice to have some bonus material, and while the  inlay card contains a brief essay on the reason for the film’s popularity, there is no information on the recording, or the composer which would have been very welcome. In Britain this title should be available in most shops. David Noades

PIERO PICCIONI Puppet On A Chain OST, DC Recordings DC39CD, 18 tracks, 31:49 mins. Lifted from an obscure Amsterdam-based spy movie (based on an Alistair McLean novel), this previously unreleased score written by Italian composer Piero Piccioni is a delightful blend of swinging sixties lounge music and dramatic orchestral themes. Tracks such as the title theme, Night Club and Big Action are perfect examples of groovy, driving up-tempo themes, which stand up very well on their own, while a lot of the other material requires knowledge of the film to appreciate their subtleties and complexities. There are some nice touches here however including a spine-tingling church organ onThe Funeral and a stabbing piano heartbeat effect on The Fear. Interestingly the music was recorded in England, performed by The London Sinfonia and was conducted by Harry Rabinowitz. In Britain this is available from larger branches of HMV and HMV mail order (tel 08705 334578), and Rhythm Records, London (tel 0207 2670123). David Noades

LOOT OST, Keith Mansfield/Steve Ellis, RPM228, 13 tracks, 31:28 mins. Probably best known today as a production music composer for KPM, Keith Mansfield originally had a successful career as a pop producer and occasional film composer. Here he has combined elements of both providing a pop-friendly, funky rock score for the film version of Joe Orton¹s classic black comedy featuring vocals from ex Love Affair lead singer Steve Ellis (Mansfield produced the band in his days at CBS). The score features a series of soulful pop songs linked with big band instrumentals and snippets of dialogue from the film resulting in a fascinating non-stop musical melange which works from beginning to end. With the usual session musician on hand in the shape of Alan Hawkshaw (keyboards), Herbie Flowers (bass guitar) and Alan Parker (guitars), etc, it’s a superbly arranged, tightly performed package which deserves a wider audience than it received on its original release in 1970. Available in most shops in Britain. David Noades

Nino Nardini and Roger Roger, Jungle Obsession, (France) Pulp Flavor DD014CD 13 tracks, 34:19 mins. This amazing CD is a reissue of a highly obscure Creasound production music album featuring a baker’s dozen of deliciously haunting themes. Although recorded in 1971 the music harks back to the 50s and the exotic sounds of Martin Denny and Les Baxter with a superb blend of African rhythms, strings, bird calls and spine-tingling siren-like harmonies. However it is very much a product of its time as French composers Roger Roger and Nino Nardini (aka George Teperino) have included modern devices such electric guitars, synthesisers and a string machine which make an occasional appearances, resulting in a decidedly unique avante garde sound. Highlights include the title track with its rock guitar riffs and kettle drums interjections, Bagheera which blends ethereal voices, strings and synthesiser to great effect and the jazz-like mix of vibes and guitar on Bali Girl, but each and every track is a treat for the ears. The sleeve notes give a brief biography of both composers but give away little away about the origins of the music. This CD is available from Jack Diamond Music (USA) web14.topchoice.com/~dyemund/, or you can also contact Pulp Flavor direct atwww.pulpflavor.com. David Noades

Various artists, Pop Shopping Volume One, CDHW 069, 28 tracks, 67.38. Pop Shopping Volume Two, (Germany) CDHW 028, 27 tracks, 73:20 mins. Lifted from a variety of rare German promotional records these superb compilations feature a selection of full length vocal and instrumental pieces originally used in German TV and cinema advertising in the 1960s and early 1970s. Earlier examples such as The Shoe Shoe Twist and The Nescafé Calypso are very much cliched products of their time, however most are superb pieces of sophisticated beat music courtesy of the country’s top session men. These tightly-arranged themes and extended jingles are the handiwork of some of Germany’s top composers including Gert Wilden, Klaus Doldinger, Johnny Teupen and Peter Thomas, who all made their names working in this field. Each and every track is a sound adventure in itself with strange rhythm patterns, unusual instruments and occasional breathy vocals, but highlights include Wilden’s bouncy Moulinex theme, Peter Scirmann’s spaghetti western spoof for BMW cars, Luigi Pelliccioni’s Variation K for BASF which cleverly uses the acronym’s four letters (in German) as notes in the opening fanfare (Bb, A, Eb, F), and Christian Bruhn’s funky Ford Taunus theme which has borrowed a lot from Isaac Hayes’ Shaft theme. Even if you’re not familiar with the obscure German products the music stands up well on its own, and these collections will appeal to more than just fans of advertising themes. The stylish packaging deserves a mention as in both cases the CD inlay cards, tray cards and discs humorously imitate some of the products featured. However one complaint: the tracklisting on Volume 2 is in the wrong order and the so the sleevenotes inside do not make sense and it’s impossible to work out which track is which! In Britain this is available from larger branches of HMV and HMV mail order (tel 08705 334578). David Noades Editor: David Noades has kindly offered to assist any RFS members who may have difficulty in finding any of the CDs he has reviewed in this issue. You can write to him care of the Secretary, or contact him direct by e-mail at: 

FRANKIE RANDALL and the Vincent Falcone Orchestra ‘Right Now@ The Best is Yet to Come, All or Nothing at All, Where or When, I Rememebr You, The Summer Wind, Slow Boat to China, You Make me Feel so Young, Get me to the Church on Time, The Lady is a Tramp, I Love You Just the Way you Are, You’re Nobody ‘till Somebody Loves You, Come Rain or Come Shine, I’ve Got You Under me Skin, Night and Day. (USA) Tin Bar Recording – no catalogue number. I did not know the name ‘Frankie Randall’! My interest was aroused by the backing orchestra, a name well known to the Farnon fraternity! The sparse sleeve notes state that Frank Sinatra entrusted many of his favourite arrangements to Frankie as a likely heir to his throne. There are a few around to dispute this! There have been (and still are) many claiming the same crown. Sinatra was a one off! If you have most of the tracks listed above in your Sinatra collection this is not for you. That said, it’s a cracking orchestra (although unaccredited), a fine set of tunes, and Frankie is a great, if not unique, singer. The CD does use many updated Sinatra charts, so the album has three plusses! When I mentioned I had bought the album to good friend and fellow member George Fraser, he informed me that Frankie Randall made several albums in the middle 60s with backings provided by Billy May, Marty Paich, Manny Albam and others of the same calibre, so Frankie has always moved in the right circles! I do not have all Sinatra’s recordings on CD, so this album was a welcome addition for my listening pleasure. Paul Clatworthy This CD is distributed by Beverly Hills Records Inc., PO Box 3216, Beverley Hills, CA 90212, USA – telephone 818 788 0215. In Britain it is imported by Montpellier Records and other specialist dealers.

All The Rage: Mandolin Ensemble Music from 1897-1924 The Boston Ideal March, Laughing Eyes, La Tipica Dance of the Lunatics ,The Flying Wedge, Gloriana, All the Rage, Estudiantina, My Heart At Thy Sweet Voice, Sweet Corn, Texas Fox Trot, Silver Ripples, Gallantry, Fieldston March.Nashville Mandolin Ensemble Conducted by Paul Martin Zonn. (USA)New World Records 80544–2. Those of you who enjoy the music of Troise and his Mandoliers or recall the Eberfield Mandolin Orchestra will find this CD a suitable companion. This ensemble is similar in size to that of Troise. Most of the items will probably be unfamiliar to most members, apart from one or two titles such as Estudiantina by Waldteufel and My Heart At Thy Sweet Voice by Saint Saens. The CD also features an arrangement of a lesser known piece by Ketelby called Gallantry.   The ensemble produce a rich mellow sound, at times not unlike that of Troise.  Some  tracks feature a violin, guitar or  accordion in addition to the mandolins, mandolas, etc. Tracks range from novelty items, ragtime, foxtrots, marches to light clasics. The recording quality is good.  The CD can be obtained from specialist import dealers or via the internet at  www.Amazon.Com (classical wing); or you can order direct from the Ensemble's website at www.soundartrecordings.com/alltherage.htm where other mandolin recordings are featured.  Beware, not all the CDs listed on the website are light music recordings. However this one is. Brian Stringer

REPRISE MUSICAL REPERTORY THEATRE: 4 Disc Set Finian’s Rainbow 38:34, Kiss Me Kate38:10, South Pacific 48:29, Guys and Dolls 33:07mins. Performed by The Hi-Lo’s, Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Debbie Reynolds, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Mary Kaye Trio, Lou Monte, McGuire Sisiters, Clark Dennis, Jo Stafford, Dinah Shore, Clark Dennis, Allan Sherman, Johnny Prophet, Phyllis McGuire, Keely Smith. Arranged by Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Skip Martin, Marty Paitch, Bill Loose, Warren Barker, Gene Puerling, Nathan Van Cleave, Jerry Fielding, George Rhodes, Ralph Smale, George Duning, Herb Spencer. Musical Direction by Morris Stoloff (USA) Reprise Records 2-47775. Why, I was asked, would you want to buy these versions, when you can get the Original Broadway Cast albums? The answer is to be found in David Finkle’s sleeve notes for this handsomely packaged box set that was released by Reprise Records in late 2001. Produced by Sinatra himself, it first appeared in 1963 on what was then his own label. ‘What Sinatra wanted….. was not to replicate original cast albums…. He was looking for something else. He wanted some of the best singers to put across in their inimitable ways some of the best songs ever written, and he wanted them all set forth in the best arrangements that knock-out arrangers …… could conjure’. Not only do the credits speak for themselves, but also a magnificent swing orchestra with a large string section accompanies the whole production. That early 60s stereo sound, with its exceptionally clear mix-down, is blissfully evident. Twice issued on LP over the years, it’s good to get the set on CD at last. ‘Guys and Dolls’, arguably the most successful of the four, was the only album reissued separately on CD until now. British purchasers will at last be able to read the sleeve notes for each album because they are included in the booklet. These were originally printed on foldout covers issued in the USA and Australian markets. All the albums have bright Overtures, and, true to the name of the label, there’s always a reprise by Sinatra in duet for the standout number from each show. This gives Riddle, Paitch and Van Cleave the challenge of writing a second arrangement, which they all produce effortlessly. Recommended if you like the full, over the top Hollywood sound, but definitely not for the purists. I found the existence of this album on the Reprise website, but had trouble tracking down retail outlets, as it doesn’t appear in major online catalogues. So you may have to shop around, as prices are varied when you do find suppliers through, for example, www.gemm.com. Expect to pay around US$40 for the set. Richard Hindley

KENNETH ALFORD, MASTER OF MILITARY MUSIC By Land and Sea, Cavalry of the Clouds, Colonel Bogey, Dunedin, Eagle Squadron, H.M. Jollies, The Voice of the Guns, The Thin Red Line, The Standard of St. George, The Middy, Great Little Army, On the Quarterdeck, Colonel Bogey on Parade [Alford]; Dance in the Twilight [E. Coates], Lilliburlero, A Life on the Ocean Wave [arr. Alford]; Fanfare, The Royal Tounament [Vivian Dunn]; Out of the Blue [H. Bath]; In Party Mood [J. Strachey].Bands/conductors unspecified but mostly conducted by Alford. Alford [1881-1945], whose real name was Frederick Joseph Ricketts, was indisputably Britain’s "March King", although not everyone realizes that his reputation is based on just 18 military marches [Sousa composed many times that number], plus a few non-march pieces and many arrangements. Twelve of the eighteen are on this vintage CD, plus Alford’s march potpourri Colonel Bogey on Parade, other arrangements of his and one or two more or less appropriate "fillers" by others. Disappointingly, the bands playing are not listed [in view of this issue’s considerable historical importance, they should have been] but we can safely assume that most tracks are by the Royal Marines [Plymouth Division] Band, conducted by Alford himself, who play with great spirit. The recordings, some of which go back to the 1920s, have been well transferred. Philip L Scowcroft CD CMM [Tape TMM] available from This England, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, GL50 1YQ for £8.95 [£7.50] including p&p.

SONGS MY FATHER TAUGHT ME Passing By [E Purcell]; The Lark in the Clear Air [arr. P Tate]; My Dearest Heart, The Lost Chord [Sullivan], Until [W Sanderson]; Drink to Me Only [arr. Quilter]; Love’s Garden of Roses, It is Only a Tiny Garden, A Brown Bird Singing, Bird of Love Divine [Haydn Wood]; Love Could I Only Tell Thee [J M Caple]; A Mood [Alison Travers]; Smilin’ Through [A Penn]; The Holy City [Adams]; The Cheviot Hills [Jack Robson]; On the Banks of the Wabash [P Dresser]; She is Far from the Land, God’s Garden [Frank Lambert]; In Summertime on Bredon [G Peel]; The Trumpeter [Diss]; Tell the Boys Come Home [Novello]; Trees [Rasbach]; The Old House [F O’Connor]; Bird Songs at Eventide [Coates]; I’ll Walk Beside You [A Murray] Sir Thomas Allen[baritone], Malcolm Martineau [piano] Hyperion CD 67290. This most enjoyable disc contains, seemingly, most of the ballads everyone knows – from the 1870s to the 1930s – and a few others besides. Two [Trees and Banks of the Wabash], perhaps three [Smilin’ Through] are American, the rest British. Frank Lambert is little heard nowadays but his two examples are well worth listening to; and Geordie composer Jack Robson’s Cheviot Hills is shapely, too. Graham Peel’s fluent Bredon was in its day as popular as the settings of Butterworth and Vaughan Williams, while the four Haydn Wood examples remind us what a fine writer for the voice he was. We have had several good CD ballad releases of recent years, but Sir Thomas, gloriously even in tone and sensitive in interpretation, sings these songs as well if not better than most. Malcolm Martineau is a sympathetic accompanist. The recording is excellent and I cannot imagine the disc failing to give pleasure. Philip L ScowcroftAll Hyperion CDs are available from the RFS Record Service.

NELSON RIDDLE: Route 66 and other Great TV Themes The Alvin Show, Andy Griffith, Ben Casey, My Three Sons, The Untouchables, Naked City, Sing Along, The Defenders, Sam Benedict, Dr. Kildare, This Could be the Start of Something More Hit TV ThemesBeverly Hillbillies, Bonanza, Andy Williams, Stoney Burke, McHale’s Navy, Dickens and Fenster, Supercar, Have Gun Will Travel, Lucy Show, Laurence Welk, New Naked City Theme, Dick Van Dyke EMI Capitol 7243 5384132, 55:54 mins. This superb CD brings together two classic collectable LPs from 1962 and 1963 respectively. Most of the themes are recognisable, with the exception of a few American TV shows unknown in Britain. The sound quality on these arrangements is faultless as one would expect from EMI. The booklet reproduces thr fornt and back covers from both LPs, but no recording dates are given. To any collector of TV themes this CD is highly recommended. John R. Forster

PHINEAS NEWBORN Jr. (piano) with Dennis Farnon and his Orchestra ‘While My Lady Sleeps’ Moonlight in Vermont, Don’t You Know I Care, Lazy Mood, I’m Old Fashioned, Black in the Colour of my True Love’s Hair, While My Lady Sleeps, It’s Easy to Remember, Bali Ha’I, If I Should Lose You (France) BMG – RCA Victor Gold series 7432 1851572 (CD reissue of RCA Victor LP LPM-1474 recorded 1957). Dennis Farnon and George Shearing collaborated on the arrangements for Shearing’s Capitol album "Velvet Carpet", but he gets full control of this beautiful reissue. The French seem to have a knack of discovering gems such as this, whereas the parent record companies seem content to let them gather dust! There were so many orchestral albums around when this saw light of day, but not many people of my age could afford them all. I am not even sure if it reached England at the time, so I am more than grateful for the chance to catch up with what I missed the first time around. Congratulations to producer Daniel Baumgarten who is obviously a man of taste! Reviewer Alex Dutith states that it’s one of the few dazzling examples of ‘jazz with strings’ – an observation I fully endorse! The first shimmer of delectable strings on the opening number announces you are in Farnon country. The late Stan Roderick summed it up with the words "Isn’t it lovely up on this cloud?" Newborn was busy touring when the album was being set up so Dennis wrote all the sparkling charts without any input from Newborn until the actual recording. The album is a must for every member of our Society. Paul Clatworthy

PATTY CLARK ‘I Love You’ I Love You, You Go To My Head, So Many Stars, I Get Along Without You Very Well, I Didn’t Know What Time It Was, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, They All Laughed, I Wonder, I Remember You/Nearness Of You, I See Your Face Before Me, Meditation, My Funny Valentine, Lover Come Back To Me, Good Morning Heartache, Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me. (USA) Mainstem MSTCD 0025. The name Patty Clark will not be familiar to many, but in the States she had a successful singing career with her own Radio and TV programmes on NBC, she appeared with Bob Hope and did a successful season with Johnny Desmond on CBS with the revived "Glenn Miller Show". All of which garnered critical acclaim, so it was surprising that she retired from the music scene for many years following her marriage to impresario Tony Fantozzi. About 18 months ago she decided to return to the Studio ,not just any studio but the prestigious Capitol studio in Hollywood, with a 55 piece Orchestra arranged and conducted by Lou Forestieri and including some jazz soloists Gary Foster (tenor), Doug Webb (soprano) and Bob McChesney (trombone). The result is an extremely polished collection of fine standards sung with an assured mature voice; the arrangements are a nice balance of string settings and small jazz group backings to full blown big-band charts. Clearly Patty is no stranger to this material, the experience shows through. Her rendering of "Good Morning Heartache" as a straight ballad, without the "angst" of other singers, makes it sound fresh and new. There’s a nice coupling of "I Remember You" and "The Nearness of You" which go together quite seamlessly. We seem to have an abundance of girl singers to-day, but few who can match Patty Clark’s interpretations from the standard songbook repertoire. This a welcome release that will not disappoint those who like good songs well sung without affectation, to some excellent backings. All expertly engineered by the legendary Al Schmit. Seek it out next time you’re browsing in your local record shop. Footnote - Patty Clark hails from North Dakota at the age of 17 she was singed up by the local NBC radio station in Fargo and they changed her name from Patricia Larson. It was the same radio station that has some years earlier changed the name of a certain Norma Engstrom to Peggy Lee. Albert Killman

"THE FOUNDERS" Recordings for the Silver Jubilee of the International Military Music SocietyDrum Salute, The Founders (L. Cullen); Plymouth Hoe (John Ansell); Bugle March, HMS Ocean (R.A. Waterer); Dance Movement (P. Sparke); Baroque ‘N’ Roll (K. Peers); Overture, Colas Breygnon (Kabalevsky); Pavan, Sicut Aquilae (R. Wiffin); Lover (arr. Martindale); Spitfire Prelude (William Walton); Staffordshire Yeomanry March (Geoffrey Kingston); Duke of Cambridge March 9Malcolm Arnold); Triumphale (Pascuzzi); March, Coronation Bells (Partridge); Evening Hymn and Last Post (arr. R. Tulip). History of Military Music RM Plymouth, RAF Central and RE/REME bands conducted by Richard Waterer, Robert Wiffin and Geoffrey Kingston Chevron CHVCD12. The Silver Jubilee of the International Military Music Society is worthily celebrated with a fascinating book‘Sound The Trumpets, Beat The Drums’ (which includes a chapter on Military Bands on Radio by RFS member Brian Reynolds), and by this CD in four parts: specially recorded contributions representing all three services, and a potted history of military music with brief recorded illustrations. Each of the present service music chiefs, Wiffin (RAF), Waterer (Royal Marines) and Kingston (Army) is represented by a composition showing that good military music is still being written, aqs may be seen also from Sparke’s Dance Movement and Pascuzzi’s Triumphale, both brightly scored, not to mention the more overtly popular arrangements. The Walton was an obvious choice for the RAF;Plymouth Hoe for the Marines; while the Arnold (written for Kneller Hall’s centenary in 1957) and Partridge marches are both stirring ones – for some IMMS members marches are the only military band music! Performances match the occasion. Philip Scowcroft See page 82 of our last issue for details of how to obtain Chevron CDs.

INSPIRATIONS OF LONDON Theme from Shaft, Dreaming Eyes, Keep Off, Sweet Honey Honey, Moon Over Moscow, New Paradise, Bloody Border, Sylvester’s Party, Wenn der Tag zu ende Geht, Clairons and Clairettes, Chrysan Theme, Hurricane, City Sound, Freezing, Ambros High Life, Cloudy Day, Four Friends, Soley Soley, Relax, Inspirations of London Ambros Seelos Orchestra Teleplay Music TPM 1001. Here are 20 golden tracks from the 1970s featuring a big band from Germany and its soloists performing some great instrumentals. This album features 20 great tracks featuring the big band and orchestral sounds of the renowned Ambros Seelos Orchestra. All recordings were made in the 1970's and 15 of the tracks regularly accompanied BBC Television's Test Card in the UK between 1972 and 1978. Musicians featured on the recordings include Horst Michalke, Ed Sperber, Ian Fenby, Georges Delagaye and, of course, Ambros Seelos. This CD has been compiled with care and a great deal of thought has gone into its balance of musical styles. Because this is not just a big band CD where you hear the first couple of tracks and know the rest of the CD is going to be the same. This is a CD of variety. Some tracks are instantly familiar, but others will be new to you; each track is an instrumental masterpiece which will delight all the fans of melodic tuneful big band music of the 70s era. Malcolm Batchelor This CD has been produced by Andrew Evans, and he has offered to supply it to fellow RFS members at a special price of £10 inclusive of postage and packing. Cheques or postal orders (sterling only) should be in favour of ‘Teleplay Music’ and sent to Teleplay Music, 16 Gadsby Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV11 3EH. Credit card orders can be placed via the website: www.teleplaymusic.co.uk – price $16.

FRANZ LEHAR Fata Morgana (Gypsy Feast), Suite de Danse, Chinese Ballet Suite & Character Dances from ‘Peter and Paul in Cockaigne’. Radio Sinfonieorchester Berlin cond. by Michail Jurowski CPO 999761-2. For lovers of light music – and that, of course, goes for all readers of this magazine – may I wholeheartedly recommend this CD. It consists of 19 tracks of brilliant, tuneful, catchy and unfamiliar orchestral music by Franz Lehar. Apart from a short snatch of music fromZigeunerliebe in the first track, I’ve never heard any of the pieces before. To paraphrase David Mellor’s Classic FM Sunday programme, "If you liked that you’ll like this". Ken Wilkins Editor: the Vocalion CD of music by Franz Lehar, reviewed by John Govier in our last issue (page 79), has been warmly received by RFS members. Another recent CPO CD offers a 1939 Radio Concert from Saarbrüchen conducted by Franz Lehar, featuring some of his songs as well as orchestral works (CPO 999 781-2). CPO CDs are available from the RFS Record Service.

BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC CLASSICS Volume 4 Marching Strings (Ray Martin); Jaunting Car (Peter Hope); High Heels (Trevor Duncan); Dance of an Ostracised Imp (Frederic Curzon); Keltic Lament (John Foulds); Rhythm on Rails, A Quiet Stroll (Charles Williams); By the Sleepy Lagoon (Eric Coates); Jamaican Rumba (Arthur Benjamin); In a Monastery Garden (Albert W. Ketèlbey); Demoiselle Chic (Percy Fletcher); Cavalcade of Youth (Jack Beaver); Elizabethan Masque (Frederic Bayco); Shepherd Fennel’s Dance (Henry Balfour Gardiner); Thrills (Charles Ancliffe); The Doge’s March (Frederick Rosse); Petite Suite de Concert (Samuel Coleridge-Taylor) The New London Orchestra conducted by Ronald Corp Hyperion CDA67400, total timing 77:53 minutes. We are greatly indebted to both Hyperion and Ronald Corp for the (hopefully) continuing series of British Light Music Classics, with its targeted emphasis on vintage Light Music ranging from about the 1890s to the early 1960s – a period when melody and rhythmic verve was at its most intense and infectious. Whilst inevitably in such a generous compilation some duplication with contemporary modern recordings is unavoidable, and pieces such as By the Sleepy Lagoon and In a Monastery Garden are doubtless included to make the CD more commercial, there is plenty of evidence of some imaginative programme planning and an impressive knowledge of Light Music repertoire. An excellent curtain-raiser is Ray Martin’s Marching Strings, played with plenty of verve and panache. Particularly welcome are the two Charles Williams miniatures, particularly the charmingly joyful and jaunty A Quiet Stroll. New to this listener was John Foulds’ haunting beautiful Keltic Lament, and remembered from the distant days of childhood Charles Ancliffe’s fine waltz Thrills (staple fare, no doubt, in programmes such as ‘Those Were The Days’) and the Doges March by Frederick Rosse, of which my father possessed a 78 record. Jack Beaver’s Cavalcade of Youth – used as the signature tune of ‘The Barlows of Beddington’ – also made one wistfully nostalgic. Also welcome is a completePetite Suite de Concert in a recording distinctly superior to the Marco Polo alternative (8.223516) with the Dublin RTE Concert Orchestra conducted by Adrian Leaper. Technically the recording (even by Hyperion’s high standards) is quite superlative with ample range, depth and amplitude, with many inner details and ‘effects’ being revealed – often hidden or obscured in earlier historic recordings. One cannot imagine this disc not being an automatic ‘must have’ amongst light music enthusiasts and hopefully the better known pieces will attract a wider currency amongst the general public. Anyway it’s up to all of us to encourage Hyperion and Ronald Corp to keep up their good work. As Andrew Lamb says in his informative notes to this fourth volume dip into the well of British Light Music Classics, the source is as fresh and sparkling as ever! Roger Hyslop

Unless I’m mistaken, nine of these pieces appear as first-time modern digital recordings. Anyway, here come the Marching Strings, fresh as ever (what a good opener they always make) and Jack Beaver’s uplifting Cavalcade of Youth; here also is Elizabethan Masque, rather unexpected and all the more welcome for that. Ketèlbey’s ‘monks’ sound really authentic (period performance!), and though less brisk than the composer’s version Rhythm on Rails gave me a pleasingly smooth ride. Many moons ago Charles Ancliffe was constrained to squeeze as much of Thrills as he could on to a 10" 78 side; complete with introduction, all repeats and coda it now gets the full treatment. So too doesPetite Suite de Concert, and its third movement Un Sonnet d’Amour is given as sensitive an account as any that I know. All in all, this is an excellent release which will hopefully make many more friends for our wonderful World of Light Music. John E. Govier Hyperion CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £12 [US $24] each.

PAUL LEWIS Three Decades of TV Themes The Prisoner of Zenda, Autumn Love, Brendon Chase, Arthur of the Britons, The Big Knife, King’s Royal, The Dark Angel, The Benny Hill Waltz, The Island, Woof!, Wreckers at Deadeye The Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Paul LewisCampion CAMEO 2018, 76:13 mins. At long last here is a CD which attempts to do justice to Paul Lewis’s work for British television. I say ‘attempts’, because incredibly he has been responsible for over 130 TV scores, so there is a vast body of his work still waiting to be rediscovered. But this new CD makes a fine start, and the swashbuckling opening from the 1984 "Prisoner of Zenda" (BBC TV) is in the finest Hollywood tradition. Autumn Love was originally in the Chappell Recorded Music Library, but its tender qualities were noticed in 1973 when it was chosen for the Thames TV series "Spring and Autumn". Subsequently it was arranged by Ray Martin for commercial LP release, and the Chappell version also appeared in Grasmere’s third album of famous themes. Paul knows how to write a catchy theme, and "Brendon Chase" certainly falls into this category. An RCA EP of the music sold 5,000 copies back in the 1980s. "Arthur of the Britons" (HTV 1972) is perhaps the major suite in this collection, with an impressive opening and plenty of tender (and exciting!) themes in the rest of the work. "The Big Knife" (HTV 1989) is sub-titled Romance for Piano and Strings and one can imagine it filling both sides of a Columbia 78 back in the late 1940s. "King’s Royal" (BBC 1981-82) has a very strong theme in the finest tradition of descriptive writing. "The Dark Angel" (BBC 1990) is another substantial work which the composer describes as A Gothic Melodrama for Orchestra. In complete contrast comes The Benny Hill Waltz, which is actually a movement called Ballroom from Paul’s collection "History Book of Music"; the change of title reflects the use of this piece (speeded-up) in many Benny Hill shows. "The Island" (HTV 1976) features soprano and orchestra; the producer had asked for a Laura-type piece, but understandably Paul felt some reluctance to copy that most famous of all film themes. The result is a melody employing vocalise (wordless) for soprano and orchestra – the listener can judge whether or not the producer had his wish granted. "Woof!" has to be Paul’s most famous TV theme. Although written for an ITV children’s programme, it achieved audience figures above six million, and has been shown in over 64 countries. Tommy Reilly originally played harmonica in the small Carlton TV orchestra (the Paul Lewis Woof Band), to be followed by James Hughes from series eight. Even if you have never seen the TV show, you cannot fail to be swept along by the sheer fun and exuberance of the music. In this Fantasy Paul has combined several of the themes he used during the series, but over the nine years he wrote many catchy little interludes for all of the main characters. Finally this delightful collection comes to an end with "Wreckers at Deadeye" (Thames 1970) – to quote the composer’s words "…a rip-roaring yarn of smugglers and shipwreckers." He has certainly captured it all in his music. The CD is accompanied by an excellent booklet (mostly written by Paul), generously filled with photographs. Campion is to be congratulated for including this highly entertaining CD in their ‘British Composers series’. This CD should be in the collection of everyone who enjoys expertly crafted light orchestral music. It is simply an absolute joy from start to finish. David Ades Campion CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £12 [US $24} each.

BRITISH STRING MINIATURES Volume One Divertimento (Gareth Walters); Elegy (Edward Elgar); Suite (Michael Roberts); Two Aquarelles (Frederick Delius); Fiddler’s Green (Anthony Hedges); Two Pieces from Henry V (William Walton); Partita (John Addison). Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland. ASV Whiteline WHL 2134, 71:37 mins. If you enjoyed producer Philip Lane’s four English String Miniatures sequence on Naxos then you will enjoy his new four-part series on ASV which mixes the familiar with the less well-known, no bad thing. Gareth Walters is Welsh and his five-part Divertimento is based on national folk tunes. Michael Roberts came from Blackburn in Lancashire and worked for the BBC before going freelance, parts of his excellent five-movement Suite being used as television theme tunes. Anthony Hedges has long been associated with Hull University and all four movements of Fiddler’s Green relate to places of musical jollity which sailors enjoyed while ashore. John Addison was educated at Wellington College and wrote for both the concert hall and cinema while Elgar, Walton and Delius need no further introduction. Edmund Whitehouse

Adventurous music-lovers who relish the bite, darkness, delicacy, light, sweep, tenderness, etc. etc. of well-made string compositions are unlikely to complain of this! Neither frivolous nor brow-furrowing, the seven works all add up to a pleasing, nicely contrasted programme. A short Elgar work and "tandem" pieces by Delius/Fenby and Walton balance the others. Gareth Walters and the late Michael Roberts and John Addison are represented by five-movement works (the Roberts was assembled from music written in 1962, ’65 and ’71). The newest work, dating from last year, is by Anthony Hedges – living up to the promise of its title. Full-toned playing and recording: try a lowish volume setting for comfort! It appears that more may be looked forward to. John E. Govier

MATTHEW CURTIS Fiesta, Amsterdam Suite, Pas de Deux, Paths to Urbino, Two Pieces for Small Orchestra, Outward Bound Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland Campion CAMEO 2015, 77:18 mins. I must confess to not having been aware of the music of Matthew Curtis previously, but how grateful I am that this gap in my musical knowledge has finally been filled by this splendid new CD from Campion in their ‘British Composers Series’. The accompanying booklet informs us that he hails from Embleton in Cumbria, and that much of his music has been taken up by non-professional and youth orchestras in Britain and overseas. He composes in a pleasing style that is instantly accessible, yet full of delightful orchestral colouring that will provide enhanced enjoyment with repeated listenings. How good it is that young composers (Matthew was born in 1959) are still writing what can be described as ‘traditional’ light music, although he himself seems to suggest that he regards it more as contemporary classical that can appeal to performers and audiences alike. Labels can be misleading: suffice it to say that anyone who enjoys the kind of light music championed by Eric Coates and Haydn Wood will find much to please them here. I look forward to hearing more of his music in the future. David Ades

‘Something Here’ – The Film and Television Music of DEBBIE WISEMAN Wilde, Hans Christian Andersen, Before You Go, Tom & Viv, Judge John Deed, Warriors, My Uncle Silas, Simon – an English Legionnaire, Tom’s Midnight Garden, Haunted, Othello, The Ugly Duckling Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Debbie Wiseman Silva Screen SILKD6035, 71:19 mins. As Debbie herself explains in the booklet, the album’s title "Something here" refers to the familiar comment from directors showing their film to a composer, indicating that some music is needed at a particular point. This collection brings together some of her memorable scores for film and TV, the earliest being "Tom & Viv" (1994) which tells of the tumultuous marriage of poet T.S. Eliot to his first wife, and no less than four from 2002, of which the major work has to be Debbie’s setting of "The Ugly Duckling", narrated by Nigel Havers in his usual suave manner. Perhaps parts of this fairy tale might be a bit frightening to very young children, but it serves as an extremely useful way to get youngsters interested in the manner in which orchestral music can tell a story – especially when the writing is as accomplished as this. Whenever the name ‘Debbie Wiseman’ appears on the credits for a film or television production, you know that the music will perfectly suit the situation on screen. Perhaps she has had rather a lot of serious subjects to date (and she can certainly tear at your heartstrings!), but the music for "Hans Christian Andersen" and "My Uncle Silas" reveal her lighter nature. She is such a petite, happy and bubbly person in real life that it is difficult to imagine her writing some of the serious works her directors demand, let alone control the full forces of a large symphony orchestra. What a formidable talent she is! One day she will get an Oscar for the best score for a major Hollywood film; why it hasn’t happened already, is Hollywood’s loss. Until the film capital of the world wakes up and finally takes notice, we in Britain can be sure that our films and television will continue to benefit from her superlative scores. David Ades

The Film Music of RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Volume 1 Scott of the Antarctic, Coastal Command, The People’s Land BBC Philharmonic conducted by Rumon Gamba Chandos CHAN 10007, 78:30 mins. Chandos is gradually building up an impressive library of film music, and it is good to note that this latest CD has been labelled ‘Volume 1’, indicating that there are more treats to follow from this great composer. Because he has been so lauded for his symphonies, Vaughan Williams’ work for the British cinema has tended to be somewhat neglected, but on its own it stands as a fine testimony to his gifts as a descriptive writer. It is well-known that his score for "Scott of the Antarctic" provided the basis for his Symphony No. 7 – "Sinfonia Antartica" – and some critics over the years have suggested that the symphony was in some ways less satisfying than the film music. Perhaps this is surprising, because less than half of the score that VW provided for the film was actually used by the producers, so this CD, which offers the premiere recording of the full version, provides the first opportunity for some of it to be heard. "Coastal Command" was a wartime documentary made by the Crown Film Unit in 1942, while "The People’s Land" described the work of the National Trust and was shot in colour in 1943 (surprisingly in view of the scarcity of film stock at that time). The BBC Philharmonic and Rumon Gamba are definitely in sympathy with film music, as their previous CDs have proved, and this latest one is no exception. The booklet is generously illustrated with film stills (but not from "The People’s Land"), and anyone interested in British film music should immediately add this to their collection. David Ades

NELSON RIDDLE: ‘The Unreleased Nelson – Part 1’ RADIO TRANSCRIPTIONS Isle of May, Till the End of Time, Our Love, Moon Love, The Lamp is Low, Full Moon and Empty Arms, In the Hush of Night, Yours and Mine, Yours is my Heart Alone (You Are my Heart’s Delight), My Reverie; HEY DIDDLE RIDDLE The Farmer in the Dell, Row Your Boat, Oh Dear What Can the Matter Be, The Muffin Man, Little Bo Peep, London Bridge, Tom Tom the Piper’s Son, Polly Put the Kettle On, Three Blind Mice, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Hickory Dickory Dock NELSON RIDDLE APPRECIATION SOCIETY NNCD003. Alan Wright is doing a wonderful job keeping alive the glorious music of Nelson Riddle. Not only does he produce the regular newsletter "Nelson’s Notes", but he has also arranged for members of the NRAS to obtain rare recordings by Nelson that are unobtainable elsewhere. Alan has kindly allowed us to give details of his latest release which contains two batches of traditional tunes, arranged in the unique Riddle manner, that have not previously been released anywhere. The first ten tracks (all classical works) are transcriptions recorded late in 1953 for use by radio stations. "Hey Diddle Riddle" dates from October to December 1959, and is believed to be for a projected album that didn’t eventually proceed. Anyone interested in Riddle’s work will find this CD fascinating, and it is an essential purchase for those wishing to have a complete Nelson Riddle collection. Audio restoration was in the hands of Alan Bunting, so you’ll know that it is of a very high quality. David Ades

This is available only as a private CD through a £10 (incl. p & p) donation to the Nelson Riddle Appreciation Society, 4 Jardine Cottages, Templewood Lane, Stoke Poges, Bucks, SL2 4BQ, England. Please mention the RFS when ordering; cheques should be payable to ‘The Nelson Riddle Appreciation Society’.

ABC RADIO THEMES : CLASSIC THEMES FROM POPULAR ABC RADIO PROGRAMMES – (Australia) ABC CLASSICS 472446-2. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has recently released this CD containing twenty tracks of a variety of radio themes heard over the years. Many of the themes of current programmes included are classical pieces from such composers as Respighi, Charpentier, Beethoven and Mozart. These themes have become much loved over the years. The older programme themes include 'Pastorale' by Ronald Hanmer, once used as the theme to the serial 'Blue Hills'; 'Old Mother Hubbard' by Cecil Fraser from 'The Argonauts'; Clive Richardson's 'Melody on the Move' from the 'Hospital Half Hour' and the Merrymakers' Dance by Edward German once used as the theme to the ‘Country Hour’. There are also two versions of 'Majestic Fanfare' by Charles Williams. The last nineteen seconds of this has been used as the ABC Radio News Theme for about fifty years. Also included is 'Olympia Australia' by the Australian composer Sean O'Boyle. This stirring and descriptive piece was used as the theme to the Sydney Olympics and more recently the Manchester Commonwealth Games. All told a good selection for regular ABC listeners and those who like theme music. Barry Freeman

FRANK BRIDGE Orchestral Works Vol. 2 Dance Rhapsody, Five Entr’actes, Dance Poem, Norse Legend, The Sea Chandos CHAN 10012, 72:37 minutes. When one considers how attractive this music is, it is surprising that this is the only cycle of Bridge’s music ever undertaken. The opening work Dance Rhapsody (this is the premiere recording in this version) is an attractive piece which Bridge first conducted to considerable critical acclaim in 1908. It enjoyed several more performances until 1918, after which it lay forgotten until 1938. It disappeared once more, until 1977, which probably says more about our musical establishment than the quality of the work itself. I find it enchanting, and I shall listen to it on many future occasions. The Sea is regarded as Bridge’s most successful orchestral work and (like a certain Canadian composer some years later) he chose to get his inspiration from the south coast of England. Frank Bridge (1879-1941) deserves to have his work remembered and enjoyed, and this collection could well provide some very pleasant surprises for music lovers who are currently unfamiliar with his achievements. David Ades

ELGAR The Wand of Youth Suites 1 & 2, Three Bavarian Dances, Polonia, Triumphal March [Carcatacus], Meditation [The Light of Life] – LPO, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult – EMI Classics CDZ 5 75295-2. 74 mins. A warm welcome back to the catalogue for an old friend, Sir Adrian Boult’s peerless performances of these wistful suites and enchanting dances. Here is light music of consummate excellence. It’s difficult to believe these classic and sensitive performances will ever be surpassed. I have treasured the original HMV LP [ASD 2356] for many years and it’s a particular joy to have these recordings, sounding newly minted and mercifully liberated from the inevitable "snap, crackle and pop", on CD. The attractions of this issue are further enhanced by some generous fill-ups: Polonia [a fantasia on Polish national airs dedicated to Ignaz Paderewski, and with organ judiciously added to bring the piece to a suitably grandioso conclusion], the stirring March, and the oratorio Meditation. With generous playing time, budget price and indisputably three-star performances this disc is self-recommending. Roger Hyslop

LES PAUL and Mary Ford ‘How High The Moon’ Title track, Just Because, Blue Skies, Dark Eyes, It’s Been a Long Long Time (with Bing Crosby), Rumours are Flying (with Andrews Sisters), Lover, Brazil, Nola, Goofus, Little Rock Getaway, La Rosita, Whispering, The World is Waiting for the Sunrise, etc… 30 tracks ASV Living Era CD AJA 5438, 77:08 mins. There can be few collectors of popular music around 50 years ago who did not have at least one Les Paul 78 in their collection. So for many of us, this new compilation is a welcome reminder of his considerable talents as a guitar player who, technically, was years ahead of his time. It is incredible that he achieved such astonishing results from the primitive recording equipment available in the late 1940s. I seem to recall reading that his multi-track records were often made at home in his bathroom, and that he kept the precise way he did it a closely guarded secret. Eight-track mixers have been mentioned, presumably linked to early tape recorders (the CD booklet notes briefly talk about ‘LP overdubbing’ – but surely this would have resulted in a build-up of unacceptable surface noise). Les Paul’s wife Mary Ford sings (also multi-tracked) on nine of the songs, and all of their big hits (up to 1951) seem to be here. It is great to be able to enjoy these unique recordings again. David Ades

MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES The Thirties Music from the Movies; 1936 Medley; Goldwyn Follies selection; Jungle of the Jungle; Hollywood Hotel selection; The Wizard of Oz selection; The Eyes of the World Are Upon You; The Great Ziegfeld selection; Empire Builders; Gold Diggers of 1937 selection; I Haven’t Time To Be a Millionaire; On the Avenue selection; Everybody Dance; Babes in Arms selection; There’s That Look In Your Eyes Again; Music from the Movies 1938 Medley. Louis Levy & his Gaumont British Symphony. ASV Living Era CD AJA 5445, 76:40 mins. Ever wondered how David Ades spends his spare time? He never has any and this impressive selection of 1930s movie music is yet another product of his fertile imagination and personal record collection. Louis Levy certainly comes under the guise of dance band leader but he was much more than that, being the major pre-war musical voice of the cinema. The luscious sleeve depicts the opening of the Gaumont State Cinema in Kilburn, North London, and the opening march Music from the Movies will be instantly recognisable to all who used to go the flicks when it was not unusual for there to be 2,000 other people present, more than many of today’s professional football club crowds! Singers on the disc include Sam Browne, Gerry Fitzgerald, Janet Lind, Robert Ashley, Hazel Jean, Edward Molloy and Eve Becke. If you were a moviegoer then you will know what to expect but if not then sit back and imagine what it must have been like when the only screen to watch was a big one, which most families visited at least once a week.    Edmund Whitehouse

I must comment on the superb sound of this CD. The soaring strings, wandering all over the place, are warmly supported by the full, rich sound of the brass which often carries the main melody. And the singers sound so clear. Alan Bunting has done a wonderful job restoring these ancient 78s. I have other Louis Levy albums in my collection, but they don’t sound as good as this. Raymond Wood Editor: I am very pleased that members have appreciated the efforts made by Alan on this CD. Some of the tracks I transferred for him were edited from up to three different 78s to get the best results we could, and I have to say (with suitable modesty) that I think the extra trouble we took was worth it.

‘POPS ROUNDUP’ - BOSTON POPS ORCHESTRA conducted by ARTHUR FIEDLER. Pops Roundup; Home On the Range plus 16 other cowboy songs. 61:26. (USA) RCA Victor Living Stereo 09026-61666-2. Howdy, pardners! Time to get out your western gear and ride out onto the Plains with this time honoured classic. Arrangements are by Jack Mason and Richard Hayman. To set the tone, there's "Pops Roundup," a send-up of American TV westerns followed by a gunfight version of "O Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie." There is a stunningly beautiful Jack Mason chart for "Home On The Range" which is treated with graceful dignity. Sons of the Pioneers admirers will find "Wagon Wheels" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" stunningly elegant. Tacked on at the end of this charming 1962 recording are 6 tracks from the 1967 follow-up album "Pops Goes West." It's hard to beat Richard Hayman's lush version of "Shenandoah" or his upbeat take of "High Noon." As with the earlier recording, the remastering is formidably life like with Richard Hayman playing his harmonica enthusiastically. A charming album from a great era for the Pops and Arthur Fiedler. RCA/BMG have a vast catalogue of Fiedler recordings including those of Chet Atkins and Kate Smith which are in desperate need of being released. How about it, guys? Richard Jessen

STANLEY BLACK, his Piano and Orchestra – Big Instrumental Hits Holiday for Strings, Ebb Tide, Patricia, Canadian Sunset, Delicado, 12^th Street Rag, April in Portugal, Lullaby of Birdland, Harry Lime Theme, Blue Tango, Melody of Love, Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White Hollywood Love Themes It’s Magic, Love is a Many-Splendoured Thing, A Woman in Love, Tammy, Hold my Hand, Be My Love, Three Coins in the Fountain, True Love, Friendly Persuasion, Secret Love, Around the World, My Foolish Heart Vocalion CDLK4159, 69:50 mins. Here’s a real treat for Stanley Black fans, presenting the two familiar sides of the master pianist. On the first LP he is wearing his Latin-American sombrero as he treats a dozen instrumental favourites from the 1950s to a rhythmic treatment, often (but not exclusively) with a rich Latin touch - his sparkling piano assisted by pulsating percussion and a small-ish mainly string orchestra. For the full, lush Stanley Black sound of a concert piano, backed by a large light orchestra playing gorgeous arrangements, you can do no better than the second collection, focussed on film themes from the same era. Both albums were recorded in stereo at a time when the Decca sound engineers were considered to be the finest around. Michael Dutton has worked his usual magic on the original tapes, resulting in a superlative CD that will find its way into many stockings this Christmas. David Ades

FERDE GROFÉ Death Valley Suite (Funeral Mountains, 49er Emigrant Train, Desert Water Hole, Sand Storm), Hollywood Suite (On the Set Sweepers, The Stand-In, Carpenters and Electricians, Preview, Production Number, Director-Star-Ensemble), Hudson River Suite (The River, Henry Hudson, Rip Van Winkle, Albany Night Boat, New York!). Naxos 8.559017. Grofé was much more than just Paul Whiteman¹s arranger, he was a major composer in his own right whose works are deservedly now being reheard. This latest luscious offering is terrific value with never a dull moment as the busy tunes duck and dive through Hollywood film sets, deserts and rivers. For those already familiar with his orchestral colouring then there is no need to elaborate further but for those new to this genre then wait no longer because you will certainly not be disappointed.     Peter Worsley

SPIKE JONES & HIS CITY SLICKERS Cocktails for Two; McNamara’s Band; Glow Worm; Leave the Dishes in the Sink; Little Bo Peep Has Lost Her Jeep; Clink, Clink, Another Drink; You Always Hurt the One You Love; Sheik of Araby; William Tell; Der Fuehrer’s Face; Water Lou; Oh By Jingo; Mother Goose; Old McDonald; Hawaiian War Chant; Dance of the Hours; That Old Black Magic; Rhapsody from Hunger(y); Man on the Flying Trapeze; All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth; Jingle Bells. Evergreen Melodies EV83. Spike was a serious musician but enjoyed mucking about after hours when he added the sound of cow bells, whistles, saws, breaking glass, pistols and car horns. He even trained a goat to bleat in the key of C! When he released Der Fuehrer¹s Face in 1942 it came at just the right time to set his show business career off, literally with a bang! This selection of his very best are both memorable and amusing but equally clever in their musicianship which relied on perfect timing and brilliantly conceived vocals. After each live performance Spike would bow and say "Thank you music lovers" in a dead pan expression which never betrayed his inward feelings. Judge for yourself the brilliant histrionics of a truly "one off". CD and shorter cassette version are available only via mail order from Evergreen, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, GL50 1YQ, England – telephone 01242 515156.   Edmund Whitehouse Editor: Spike Jones has been well served with recent CD releases. This new Evergreen collection joins around 20 compilations currently available, including a recent one from ASV - CDAJA5437. Robert Farnon’s eldest brother Brian worked with Spike Jones for many years.

ELIZABETHAN SERENADE – Classics of British Light Music Elizabethan Serenade (Ronald Binge); Knightsbridge March, The Man About Town, London Calling, Dancing Nights (Eric Coates); Chanson de Matin (Elgar); Lady O’Connell (Fredrick Ellard); In a Persian Market (Ketèlbey); Colonel Bogey (Kenneth Alford); Soldiers of the Queen (Leslie Stuart); 633 Squadron, The Barbican (Ron Goodwin); Warsaw Concerto (Richard Addinsell); Rememberance (Archibald Joyce); Pastorale (Ronald Hanmer); Music from ‘The Fool on the Hill’ ballet (Lennon, McCartney) (Australia) ABC Classics 472 509-2, 76:21 mins. This is a compilation of seventeen pieces previously released on CDs, or recorded for broadcast over the last few years. All but one of the tracks is performed by an Australian symphony orchestra, army band or small orchestra. The odd man out is Albert Ketèlbey’sIn a Persian Market played by the New Symphony Orchestra. The CD ends with two pieces from an Australian television ballet The Fool on the Hill which used music composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, arranged by John Lanchbery. I must admit that I do not think all the tracks fit into the category of ‘light music’, still it is nice to know that ABC Classics think so much of that type of music that they go to the trouble of releasing a CD of it. The CD comes with an attractive booklet containing an interesting article tracing the early history of ‘light’ and ‘mood’ music, and giving details of each piece and its Australian connection. Barry Freeman

MARLENE VERPLANCK ‘Speaking of Love’ But Not For Me, Blues in my Heart, It Was Written in the Stars, What Comes After the Rainbow, I Let a Song go out of my Heart, Listen to the Silence, Jamaica Rumba, Romance Medley, The Moment of Truth, A Christmas Love Song, What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve, Little Jazz Bird, Day-Dream, Nearer to your Love, Unless It’s You, My Love Went to London, Make Some Magic, The Singer, Speaking of Love, My Bluebird (USA) Audiophile ACD 320. "Listening to Marlene’s vocal performance on the CD Speaking of Love is as refreshing as a clear spring day. These are the sounds that will best serve the future of great popular music, and long may this mistress of song wait upon our admiration of her remarkable gifts. What a joy it must be to record with the wonderful lady." These words are Robert Farnon’s and quoted from the liner notes in praise of the CD; Johnny Mandel and Benny Carter also contribute words of praise. I think I read that this is Marlene’s seventeenth recording, not only is it superb but many regard it as her best ever. On it she demonstrates yet again what a wonderful lyrical singer she is and why fans and critics alike regard her as one of the finest interpreters of the American popular song, in the classic tradition performing today. Throughout her career she has always had taste and integrity in choosing which songs to sing, always paying loving care equally to well-known standards, sadly neglected ones, and new ones by fine composers. The repertoire on this CD of 22 songs date from Gershwins’ 1924 song "Little Jazz Bird" through to 2001, perhaps not too many well known standards, but a very good mix of excellent songs that many will be delighted to discover for the first time. Her musical accompaniment is always of the highest order and for this we have to thank her husband and musical partner Billy, a veteran of Charlie Spivak, and Tommy Dorsey bands for his musical direction. Not only was Billy responsible for all the arrangements on this CD but he contributed two original songs, and produced and conducted the recording session. For many years now the VerPlanks have been touring the UK every March and as a result built up a loyal band of enthusiastic fans. In this time she has had a long and fruitful association with the Roy Babbington, and here Roy provides the backing with his swinging trio, Roy on bass, Mark Fletcher drums and the dynamic and perhaps underrated pianist Geoff Eales who I was pleased to hear was given plenty of opportunity to shine. Just one more added bonus. On six of the tracks the trio is augmented with Big Band which Roy recruited from the cream of British session musicians. The closing track "My Bluebird" was written by Tommy Flanagan and here he accompanies Marlene to lyrics set by Jay Leonhart in what was to be his last recording before his death. As one critic put it writing of this CD: "Even by her own high standards this is exceptional - it would be a worthy winner of any jazz vocal recording award of this year or any other year ". I have to agree. Malcolm Frazer See also the advertisement on page 31 of this issue.

‘THE PRISONER’ Music used in the 1960s TV series Various composers and orchestras Silva Screen FILMCD 601, 602, 603. In 1989 Silva Screen issued the first CD of library tracks used in this cult TV series, and others were to follow in the early 1990s. They have now been repackaged and reissued, although it is likely that keen fans of the show will already have them in their collections.

JOLY BRAGA SANTOS Symphonies 1-6 Marco Polo 8.223879, 8.225087, 8.225216, 8.225233 Bournemouth & Portuguese Symphony Orchestras conducted by Alvaro Cassuto. Classic FM may be repetitive and at times annoying but it does play a greater variety of tuneful music than BBC Radio 3. Having gone to bed early a few months ago (a rare event in itself), I tuned to Classic FM in despair at the Beeb and immediately propped up my pillow and began to take notice of a composer quite new to me. In effect Joly Braga Santos is a Portuguese George Lloyd and his early symphonies are sheer delight, full of warm, expansive and extrovert colours. Very approachable and hugely enjoyable music for those not yet attuned. Marco Polo brands itself as the "label of discovery" and so it is. Try this composer’s early music and see for yourself. Peter Worsley

FAIRY TALES & OTHER WORKS Vyacheslav Grokhovsky Campion CAMEO 2016 Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer. Russian Caprice; The Enchanted Wanderer; Hans Andersen Fairy Tales (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Thumbelina, The Emperor’s New Clothes); Gypsy Rhapsody. Can there be anyone reading this review who has ever heard of this Russian composer born in 1945? Unlikely because this is the first time his music has been heard over here and the best description I can think of is to liken him to a modern Tchaikovsky. Very Russian and expansive in style and all the better for it. If you like traditional Russian romantic fare then you will enjoy this.Edmund Whitehouse

BRITISH COMPOSER SERIES Bill Worland Campion CAMEO 2017 City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland. Curtain Up!; Broadstairs Suite (Viking Bay & Pierremont Park, Snuff & Nonsense, Pavilion Waltz, Serene Place, Bleak House & Joss Bay); Sandman Serenade; Paths of Peace; Intermezzo 45 (Michaela, Little Ballet, Balalaikas, Finale); For Aida; Rhapsodie Tristesse; Amaro Dolce; Honky-Tonk Town; Midnight in Manhattan. Those already familiar with the composer’s Marco Polo disc can look forward to more thoroughly enjoyable light music in the best tradition. The "descriptive" Broadstairs Suite is excellent, much of it based on Victoriana and Charles Dickens while Intermezzo 45 was composed as the war drew to a close. In this first of what promises to be a fine new series deserving our full support, the other tracks are also good value especially the foot-tapping Honky-Tonk Town. Edmund Whitehouse

E. J. MOERAN Symphony in G Minor & Sinfonietta Naxos 8.555837 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Lloyd-Jones. Stop! Don’t be put off by the title because the Symphonyis beautiful pastoral music based on the Norfolk landscape of the 1930s while the Sinfonietta is a bright and breezy nine-part piece of light music by another name composed during the last war. There is much tuneful serious British music to enjoy which is now sadly neglected by the BBC and Moeran is most definitely part of this wonderful legacy. Highly recommended for all who simply enjoy good music.

Peter Worsley

JUDY GARLAND: ‘JUDY IN LOVE / ALONE’. Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart; I Can't Give You Anything But Love; Day In, Day Out; By Myself; Me And My Shadow plus 19 other songs. (USA) S&P Records 72435-37-823-2-0. 75:08. Jimmy McHugh, in his liner notes to "Judy In Love," called Judy Garland "The Star Studded Cinderella Girl." Both of these albums, marvellously restored to pristine clarity by Steve Hoffman, live up to McHugh's opinion. Both Nelson Riddle and Gordon Jenkins (the arrangers on these albums) had worked with Ms. Garland on tour in the 1950's). "Judy In Love" starts with a gem of a score for "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart," with a fantastic building of inner tensions by Garland combined with a combustible score by Riddle. A sensuous version of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" is followed by an endearingly swinging "This Is It." There even some mischievous studio chatter before a swinging version of "Day In, Day Out." Alone explores a darker world with a deeply moving version of "Me And My Shadow," sung with probing sensitivity by Garland. A small jazz combo within the orchestra is heard to brilliant effect on "By Myself" and "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues." "Among My Souvenirs" is a desolate tone poem for Judy Garland with accompanying chorus. No other CD can give you the jazzy optimist alongside the sublime ballad singer that made up the one and only Judy Garland. An essential recording for admirers of this great artist. Richard Jessen

Here are the tracklistings for some new Vocalion releases. All are expertly remastered by Mike Dutton from the original tapes, with attractive and informative booklets … in other words, the usual high quality product you have come to expect from Vocalion:

GISELE MACKENZIE and HELEN O’CONNELL Water Can’t Quench the Fire of Love, A Crazy Waltz, Lipstick Powder ‘n’ Paint, Give Me the Name Age Height and Size, When the Hands of the Clock Pray at Midnight; Gisele solo Le Fiacre, Johnny, Adios, Don’t Let the Stars Get in your Eyes, My Favourite Song, I’d Rather Die Young, Till They’ve All Gone Home, Seven Lonely Days, Till I Waltz Again With You; Helen solo Would I Love You, Green Eyes, Anytime, Slowpoke, Come What May, Be Anything, No Other Love, Night for Love, Rub-a-Dub-Dub. Vocalion CDLK4138, 59:27 mins.

EDMUNDO ROS and his Orchestra with The Mike Sammes Singers SING AND SWING: Guantanamera, Come Closer to Me, Fly Me to the Moon, If I Were a Rich Man, Sweet and Gentle, I Searched the World, Quiet Nights, Playtime in Brazil, Sway, The Girl from Ipanema, You too You too, The Fugitive, How Near is Love, Be Mine Tonight. SING AND DANCE: Amor amor, Perhaps perhaps perhaps, Granada, Frenesi, Green Eyes, Besame Mucho, Adios, Brazil, Tico-tico, Always in my Heart, Maria Elena, Perfidia, Magic is the Moonlight, Baia, You Belong to my Heart, Come to the Mardi Gras.Vocalion CDLK4140, 73:32 mins.

STANLEY BLACK Piano GERSHWIN GOES LATIN: S’Wonderful, Love is Here to Stay, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, Nice Work if you Can Get It, Embraceable You, Soon, Bidin’ my Time, A Foggy Day, Love Walked In, Somebody Loves Me, But Not for Me, Liza. FRIML & ROMBERG in CUBAN MOONLIGHT: Serenade from ‘Student Prince’, Romance, Wanting You, One Kiss, Lover Come Back to Me, Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, Sympathy, Love Everlasting, Indian Love Call, Rose Marie, Giannina Mia, Donkey Serenade. Vocalion CDLK4142, 62:02 mins.

DICKIE VALENTINE WITH VOCAL REFRAIN: One Two Button Your Shoe, Bidin’ my Time, Sunday, There’ll Be Some Changes Made, Singin’ the Blues, Mary, Lucky Day, Carolina in the Morning, If I Knew I’d Find You, Back in your own Backyard, Everybody Loves my Baby, When it’s Sleepy Time Down South. OVER MY SHOULDER: Birth of the Blues, East of the Sun, Blue, I Kiss to Build a Dream On, Beautiful Eyes, Somebody Loves Me, Then I Love You, Gonna Get a Girl, Why Should I Go Home, Te Amo, When I Was Young, Day Dreams. Vocalion CDLK4147, 76:44 mins.

FIVE FABULOUS FEMALES Marion Ryan: Mangos, Sixteen Reasons, A Thousand Blue Bubbles, It’s You That I Love, I Wish You Love, Somebody, No Love But Your Love, An Occasional Man. Jean Campbell: Vaya Con Dios, In the Mission of St. Augustine, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep, Two Hearts Two Kisses, The Mama Doll Song. Ruby Murray: Softly Softly, Heart, From the First Hello, I’ll Remember Today. Joan Regan: A Love Like Ours, Have You Ever Been Lonely, May You Always, Take Me in Your Arms. Lita Roza: What Am I Supposed to Do, Where Do I Go From Here, Stranger Things Have Happened, Keep Watch Over Him. Vocalion CDLK4148, 62:48 mins.

THE EILEEN FARRELL ALBUM: ‘I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES’. Blues In The Night; Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams; On The Sunny Side Of The Street; Taking A Chance On Love, plus 20 other songs. (USA) Sony Masterworks MDK 47255.75:53. No other testament to a singer could be made than this startling collection of songs recorded by the late Eileen Farrell between 1959 and 1961. I say startling because Farrell was customarily thought of as strictly a classical artist. Beneath this, Farrell was one of the greatest of classic pop singers, ranking with Frank Sinatra and company. Evidence of this are her appropriately torchy renditions of "Blues In The Night" and "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues. " There's also the uninhibited swinging hipster in "Somebody Loves Me" and "Taking A Chance On Love" complete with snapping fingers! Luther Henderson wrote the very tasty big band charts that provide strong accompaniments to Farrell's vocals. A magnificent tribute this underrated and under recorded singer. Richard Jessen

VIKKI CARR: ‘IT MUST BE HIM / FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE’ plus 2 Bonus Tracks. It Must Be Him; Can't Take My Eyes Off You plus 9 more songs and the complete November 1968 Persian Room concert. (USA) Collectables COL-CD-2850. 79:00. Collectables have released on CD two long overdue recordings from one of America's best artists, Vikki Carr. The first is her breakthrough album that received international acclaim while the second is Carr's superb yet long neglected concert album. What makes this a really attractive CD is that we get to hear studio versions of "It Must Be Him" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" with a chance at hearing "live" versions of the same songs. Unquestionably, there is more depth and drama in the live performances although both performances show the same profound regard for the lyrics. The Persian Room performance has the drive and intensity one expects from Carr's best performances. Although these are the original studio mixes, the sound is as flawless as the performances. Still radiantly beautiful and in great voice, Vikki Carr remains one of America's finest artists. Richard Jessen

Some recent releases in Vocalion’s acclaimed British Dance Band series:

CARROLL GIBBONS Volume 2 Hitting a New High Wake Up and Live, Swing High Swing Low, Give Me a Heart to Sing To, The Cat and the Fiddle, What More Can I Ask? etc… (24 tracks) Vocalion CDEA6073, 71:36 mins.

BILLY MERRIN AND HIS COMMANDERS From the Banjo to the Baton Everybody Dance, Everything’s In Rhythm With my Heart, The Londonola, The Little Black Cat, Dance Your Blues Away, etc… (27 tracks) Vocalion CDEA6074, 75:41 mins.

THE SKYROCKETS with PAUL FENOULHET and WOOLF PHILLIPS Sentimental Journey Blue Skies, So Would I, The ‘Ampstead Way, Money is the Root of All Evil, Mary Lou, One More Tomorrow, Don’t Blame Me, Night Breezes, All By Myself, The Trees in Grosvenor Square, Bayswater Bustle, etc… (24 tracks) Vocalion CDEA6075, 73:52 mins.

JACK WHITE AND HIS COLLEGIANS Let the Band Play Boom, The Badge From Your Coat, Stop You’re Breaking My Heart, Chatterbox, In My Little Red Book, Let The People Sing, etc… (25 tracks)Vocalion CDEA6076, 74:11 mins.

MRS JACK HYLTON AND HER BAND She Shall Have Music In a Gypsy Tea Room, I’ll Never Say "Never Again" Again, Vladivostock, Ev’ry Day You’re Away, You Are My Lucky Star, There’s No Day Like Today, etc… (27 tracks) Vocalion CDEA7077, 77:15 mins.

Like all the previous issues in this series, each of the above Vocalion CDs is a gem in its own right. As usual, compiler Bob Francis has been careful to include the well-known works by the band featured, but he has also included some rare items which will please collectors who may have previous releases in their collections already. The big bonus, of course, is the high quality of the remastering in the expert hands of Mike Dutton. And one must not overlook the informative CD booklets, attractively produced and written by people who admire and know the work of the artists concerned. All this, for around £6 per CD! David Ades

HILDEGARDE Volume 2 Songs From The Shows Pennies From Heaven, But Where Are You, For Sentimental Reasons, June Is Bustin’ Out All Over, Careless Rhapsody, The Saga of Jenny, This is New, My Ship, etc… (24 tracks) Vocalion CDEA6078, 71:36 mins. Following Volume 1 (CDEA6035) the emphasis now shifts to Hildegarde’s later career, mainly in the USA, where she worked with the likes of Guy Lombardo, Harry Sosnik, Bob Grant, Vernon Duke and Ray Sinatra. There is just one track with Clive Richardson, reminding us of her fruitful association with him. Before LPs arrived, albums of 78 rpm records gained popularity in the USA, often accompanied by sleeve notes. These are reproduced in the CD booklet, and to say that they are fascinating is a serious understatement.David Ades

THE BEST OF CILLA BLACK Alfie, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Step Inside Love, etc… EMI GOLD 541 4442. We mention this CD because the kind people at EMI sent us details, and there may be readers who are seeking a Christmas gift for an elderly uncle. Cilla is the butt of many jokes, but she is certainly a survivor, and one cannot deny that she was very successful with her chart hits in the 1960s. The CD booklet is better than usual from EMI, although it would have been nice if the orchestras had been credited. David Ades

DIANA DECKER I’m In Favour of Friendship, Poppa Piccolino, etc… EMI GOLD 541 4912. This release contains all of Diana Decker’s recordings and (as with CB above) the booklet is good – except for a lack of details regarding the orchestras and the other singers she performs with on some of the tracks. Diana Decker was fairly well-known in the 1950s (she also made films with the likes of James Mason and Shelley Winters), but the EMI publicity for this new release describing her as a ‘massive star’ is somewhat over the top! David Ades

Three great new Production Music CDs from Bruton

CLASSIC FILM & TV Volume 1: Spy & Sci-Fi Locomotion Groove, Seek It Out, Drugsville, Streets of New York, Drama in Jazz, The Red Room, Hush Hush, Rumble, The Escape, City of Evil, Secret Shadow (John Scott); The Scene (Don Phillips); Mood Moderne, Pseudo-Blue, Dramatic Intent, Weird Bridge (Roger Roger); Hip to the Beat, Persuasion, Underworld Groove (Johnny Hawksworth); Murder Most Foul (Anthony Mawer); Premonition of Disaster, The Get Away, Flight to the Rock Point, Mood for Crime (Arthur Wilkinson); Unawares (Stuart Crombie); Project X (King Palmer); Phantasm (Leslie Bridgewater); Radiation Belt, Orchestrated Devices (Raymond Jones); Space-Time Music (Wilfred Josephs); Blades, Strange Particles (Roberto Gerhard); Electro Twist (J. Mathews). Bruton BRO18/353.

CLASSIC FILM & TV Volume 2: Matinee Mania Sport Today (Felton Rapley); Sporting Type, Gymnastics March (Dennis Berry); Jubilee Sports (Stuart Crombie & Dennis Berry); Brave Heritage (Raymond Beaver); Banners Victorious, Marble Arch, Fanfare for the Empire, Goose Step, Hero of the Sky, Murder in Mind, Wild Eyes, From the Dead (Ronald Hanmer); Texas and Beyond (Johnny Scott); Lion King, African Adventure (Peter Hope); Covered Wagon Song, Serene Melody (Nino Nardini); The Soothing Touch, Behold the Dawn (King Palmer); Synopsis (Frank Harlow); Thoughts of Summer, High Hazard, Cellar Search (Philippe Pares); Pink Lilac (Conrad Leonard); Hillside Church, Abject Terror (Paul Lewis); Forgotten Love (Werner Drexler); Romantic Endeavour (Michael Kraus); Brassy & Bold (Chris Leonard); Crowned Heads (Sidney John Kay); Land of the Bard, The Jitters, Someone Coming, Primitive Force (Raymond Jones); Distress Signal (Patrick Beaver & Anthony King); Drummers and Fifers (Roger Roger); Achievements in Aviation (Anthony Mawer); Air Power (Sidney Sager); Nautical Fantasy (William L./ Trytel). Bruton BRO19/354.

CLASSIC FILM & TV Volume 3: Radio Times Smile for Me, Social Event, Club Rendezvous, Hard Swing Out, Move to the Bossa Nova (Johnny Scott);Silver Sparkle (Harry Rabinowitz); Bright Spark, Boy Scout (Harold Smart); Fast Lane, Cruising Speed (Gary Hughes); Liven Up (Michael Kraus); Satin Slipper (Raymond Beaver); Floor Show (Cyril Watters); Racing Page (Fernand Fontaine); What a Dame, Construction Tower (Bruce Campbell); Bright Lights, Honey Blonde, Show Opener (Stuart Crombie & Dennis Berry); Timekeeper (Larry Ashmore); Flitter Flatter, In a Busy Mood, Pull Up Your Socks (King Palmer); This Year’s Fashions (Vincent Holland); Pleasant Route (Anthony Mawer); Cinnamon Stick (Frank Sterling); Jaunty Jane (Malcolm Lockyer); The Merry Go Round (Harold Smart & Walter Owen); Hollywood Breeze, Mambo Magnifico (Roger Roger). Bruton BRO20/355.

As far as I can recall, it was around ten years ago that Zomba acquired the Southern Library of Recorded Music, but they do not seem to have exploited it to any great extent – until now. I do not have a complete listing of Southern titles, but from the limited information available to me it appears that many (if not all) of the tracks on these three CDs come from that library. All of the tracks were originally published in the 1960s, at a time when light orchestral mood music was still being written in a style that had become popular in the previous two decades. Of course, things were gradually changing, and more rhythmic sounds were creeping in (especially on Volume 1!), but these enjoyable compilations confirm that a lot of tuneful light music was still around. The details above give the full tracklistings, and even a casual glance at the composers will confirm the quality of the writing (and full marks to Zomba/Bruton for giving the first names of the composers in full – Southern often just provided initials on the original 78s). I think that one or two titles may have been altered, and in some cases the real name of the composer is given, rather than the pseudonym which appeared previously. Volume 1 is perhaps only for enthusiasts of more funky, way-out, jazzy sounds; if you have enjoyed the ‘Kitsch’ collections from some of the other production music companies, you may possibly also want to add this to your collection. Volumes 2 and 3 are far more melodious, and have wider appeal. All three CDs contain some real gems, but if your pocket can only afford one then I recommend Volume 3 for some very happy bright and light sounds. David Ades Bruton CDs are only available from the RFS Record Service – price £9 [US $18] each.

SOHO HIPSTERS Boosey & Hawkes ‘lounge funk’ 1969-1977 The Trackers, The Rally, The Sandpiper, Gin and Tonic, Snowmobile, Acapulco Connection, South Bound, Tournament, The Baltic Caper, Coast Road North, Border Incident, Pardon??, Taco Brazil, Lady Killers, Soul Type Blues, Motor-Cross, Shanghai Caper, The Armenian File, Night Driver, Savannah Flyer (Dennis Farnon); Funkbund (Trevor Duncan); The Big Score (John Cacavas); Two Bars (Pete Moore); One Way Trip (Sam Fonteyn); Big Fingers (John Scott). Boosey Media / Cavendish CAV CD 147. This really is Dennis Farnon’s CD, with a little help from other top writers in the B&H stable at the time. Relentless, ominous, dramatic, bright funky pop, soul rock, progressive jazz … all these ‘groovy’ sounds are here – and much more! Dennis is a master at dramatic, driving jazzy numbers, and if you admire his work in this style you shouldn’t hesitate to acquire this collection. David Ades Cavendish CDs are only available from the RFS Record Service – price £9 [US $18] each.

LONDON LANDMARKS: London Fields: 1. Springtime at Kew 2. Hampton Court Maze 3. St. James’ Park 4. Hampstead Heath (Phyllis Tate); London Landmarks: 1. Nelson’s Column 2.Tower Hill 3.Horse Guards Whitehall (Haydn Wood); London Salute (Philip Lane); Metropolis: 1. Boom & Bust 2.Solar City 3.Street Scene 4.The City Never Sleeps (David Watts); Rotten Row (Angela Morley); Festival of London March (Paul Lewis); On Hungerford Bridge - Saxophone Concerto (Christopher Gunning).Royal Ballet Sinfonia & Academy of St. Martin in the Fields – conductors Gavin Sutherland, Christopher Gunning and Paul Lewis ASV CDWHL2138, playing time 77 mins. At last! Forgive my jubilation but after years of campaigning I have finally acquired a CD which includes Phyllis Tate’s magnificent London Fields, a piece which I played many times to children at school who were all as enthusiastic as I was. Composed for the 1958 BBC Festival of Light Music it was much admired by people such as Steve Race but until now has never been commercially recorded. What a pity that neither Phyllis nor her musician husband Alan Frank lived long enough to see it. Composer Philip Lane is responsible for this majestic compilation which, apart from his own London Salute, includes the first recording of Haydn Wood’s London Landmarks since the days of Charles Williams’ 78rpms after the war. We all know Horse Guards Whitehall but here is an opportunity to complete the truly delightful set! Paul Lewis and David Watts chip in with splendid miniatures, as does Angela Morley (aka Wally Stott) with her familiar Rotten Row. The tour de force is Christopher Gunning’sSaxophone Concerto inspired by an evening stroll across Hungerford Bridge, the original footbridge not the wobbly one which came later! It’s a great CD and an absolute must for all lovers of British Light Music, if not for London Fields alone which, as a four movement suite, has rarely if ever been bettered. Edmund Whitehouse

One’s unbridled joy in having a modern recording of the entire London Landmarks Suite by Haydn Wood is in the event slightly tempered by some technical considerations. Listening to this disc on headphones one is struck by disconcerting variations in recording levels. Thus for Philip Lane’sLondon Salute to make its proper impact the volume has to be increased. So, too, in the Haydn Wood work where particularly in the first movement, The Horse Guards, Whitehall, one becomes aware that the violins in particular sound over bright and rather too few in number. As a recording this does not stand comparison with Ronald Corp’s version on HYPERION CDA 66968: ‘British Light Music Classics - 2’, where the sound has a far greater depth and range. Conversely, the Christopher GunningSaxophone Concerto, recorded at a different venue, has ample volume. Unfortunately, in no way should this really come under the category of Light Music and, at over 19 minutes, is overlong for its somewhat slender material, and many listeners will become bored with this piece long before the end. A warm welcome, however, for David Watts’ highly inventive Metropolis, Angela Morley’s enchanting Rotten Row, Phyllis Tate’s atmospheric London Fields Suite, and the Paul Lewis March. This disc, despite the above reservations, deserves a strong recommendation. One hopes, however, that ASV can be encouraged to produce new recordings of traditional Light Music with a decent sized string section - a Charles Williams disc would be an excellent starting point and is long overdue - and become a little less preoccupied with producing contemporary material some of which stretches an acceptable definition of Light Music to almost breaking point. Roger Hyslop

Available from the RFS Record Service for £10 [US $20].

ALFRED REYNOLDS Festival March; Suite – Alice Through The Looking Glass; Suite – The Toy Cart; Overture – The Taming of the Shrew; Suite and Ballet of the Roses from 1066 And All That; Suite of Five Dances The Duenna (arr. Sydney Baynes); Overture for a Comedy; The Sirens of Southend; Swiss Lullaby and Ballet; Suite – Marriage à la Mode; Three Pieces for Theatre Royal Ballet Sinfonia / Gavin Sutherland Marco Polo 8225184, 77:26 mins. Alfred Reynolds (1884-1969), conductor and composer, was a man of the theatre and this CD in Marco Polo’s admirable British light Music series gives a representation of his orchestral music for the stage, not in the original versions for often very small pit orchestras but in (with one exception) his own transcriptions for full orchestra. He was indeed a superb orchestrator as these pieces strikingly show. Most of the tracks are incidental theatre music, from The Toy Cart (1918, with a melting Romanza) to Alice (1947, for Stratford), and including much written for the Lyric, Hammersmith between 1923 and 1932 – three brisk overtures in the British comedy overture tradition and fine examples thereof, and other movements showing Reynolds’ gift for composing baroque pastiche (The Critic entr’acte, the Marriage à la Mode music and the dances from The Duenna, one of many 18^th Century operas given new life by Reynolds). And there are the selection from 1066, a revue-cum-musical comedy and probably his most popular piece, and the surpassingly beautiful movements from Swiss Family Robinson. Lovely music – not quite as individual as Eric Coates or Robert Farnon, but well worth anyone’s attention – and the performances and recording are excellent advocacy for it. Philip L. Scowcroft

Editor: Philip has penned the excellent booklet notes for this new CD, which is available from the RFS Record Service for £12 [US$24].

LEROY ANDERSON and his ‘Pops’ Concert Orchestra Sleigh Ride, The Syncopated Clock, Serenata, A Tumpeter’s Lullaby, Promenade, Saraband, Jazz Pizzicato – Jazz Legato, The Waltzing Cat, Plink Plank Plunk, Belle of the Ball, Blue Tango, Horse and Buggy, The Phantom Regiment, China Doll, The Penny Whistle Song, Fiddle-Faddle Jasmine JASMCD 2580. In 1992 MCA Records/Good Music in the USA released ‘The Original Hit Recordings …’ on MSD 35334 (20 tracks), and some collectors have preferred these to the later stereo re-recordings by the maestro, which were released on the 2-CD set ‘The Leroy Anderson Collection’ – MCAD2-9815. This recent collection from the British company Jasmine once again restores the first versions to the catalogue, so anyone wanting Leroy Anderson’s own original mono performances now has the opportunity to acquire them. Selected comparisons between the MCA/Good Music CD from 1992, and the new Jasmine release indicate that they are virtually identical. Sadly neither CD gives any recording dates, but at least Jasmine does say a little about Anderson, whereas the centre pages of the MCA leaflet were literally blank. This is a welcome reissue; these recordings should always be available, so if they are missing from your own collection you now have the remedy in your own hands. David Ades This CD is available from the RFS Record Service for £8 [US $16].

EXHILARATION: Light Music with a Lilt London Calling (Coates) London Symphony Orch. / Eric Coates; Cockney Capers (Crantock- pseudonym for Clive Richardson and Tony Lowry) Harry Davidson & his Orchestra; Down The Mall (Belton – pseudonym for Tony Lowry and Douglas Brownsmith) Charles Shadwell & his Orchestra; Wellington Barracks (Haydn Wood) Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra/ Sidney Torch; Fireside Fusiliers (Mayerl) Billy Mayerl & his Forte Fingers; Pedigree On Pomander Walk (Andre) Billy Mayerl & his Grosvenor House Band; Popular Song (From "Facade": Walton) London Philharmonic Orch./ William Walton; Daddy Long Legs (Wright) The Bohemians;Scrub Brother Scrub (Warner) Albert Sandler & his Palm Court Orchestra; Fingerbustin’ (Camarata)Kingsway Symphony Orchestra/ Camarata; Twinkle Toes (Raeburn) Wynford Reynolds & his Orchestra; Fairies In The Moon (Ewing) Wynford Reynolds & his Orchestra; The Dancing ClockOrchestre Raymonde; Montmartre (Haydn Wood) Debroy Somers Band; Folie Bergere Richard Crean & his Orchestra; A Cocktail of Happiness Wynford Reynolds & his Orchestra; Exhilaration (Charles Williams) Charles Williams & his Concert Orchestra; Comedians Galop (Kabalevsky) Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra/ Robert Farnon; Snowflakes Piano Duet by Rawicz & Landauer; Spinning Wheel (Rawicz) Sidney Torch & his Orchestra; Dance Of the Blue Marionettes (Leslie Clair) Organ solo by Sidney Torch; Parade of the Tin Soldiers New Light Symphony Orchestra; The Toy Trumpet Reginald Pursglove and his Orchestra; Pan-American Panorama (Philip Green) The Columbia Orchestra;American Hoe-Down (David Rose) David Rose & his Orchestra; Chicken Reel Boston Promenade Orchestra/ Arthur Fiedler. Memoir CDMOIR 554. Following the success of ‘Fiddle Faddle’ and ‘Red Sombrero’, Memoir Records have come up with a third selection of tuneful gems. I know that many light music enthusiasts are put off purchasing some albums because of the repetition of recordings already in their collections. However, they should not hesitate in this instance as many of the recordings are appearing on CD for the first time – several being from the Decca ‘Music While You Work’ series. Amongst the contributors are the orchestras of Harry Davidson, Debroy Somers, Charles Shadwell, Albert Sandler, Charles Williams, Richard Crean, David Rose, and Reginald Pursglove [who Light Programme listeners will recall as conductor of the Albany Strings]. We are also treated to the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon and Sidney Torch – the latter is also featured as cinema organist in The Dance of the Blue Marionettes. Of particular delight to me is the inclusion of the Orchestra of Wynford Reynolds [no relation] in three delightful numbers, two of which are from the pen of Reynolds himself; the third is an enchanting entr’acte entitled Fairies in the Moon – it’s worth buying the CD for this piece alone! It is one of two compositions on this album composed by the much neglected Montague Ewing – an album of his music is long overdue! We are also treated to the keyboard talents of Billy Mayerl and Rawicz and Landauer. This CD has been compiled by Jim Palm, who has also written the concise but informative notes. Ted Kendall who, unless my ears deceive me, does not appear to have changed the original acoustics by adding reverberation - a fact that will please the purists - has remastered the recordings. My only criticism is in the reproduction of the piano features Fireside Fusiliers and Snowflakes. Both would benefit from a little more volume and, in the case of the Billy Mayerl number [a particular favourite of mine], a crisper sound would have been preferable. Overall, I consider this to be one of the best light music compilations of recent years. It is bright, breezy and totally unpretentious – the perfect antidote to the 21^st century!

Brian Reynolds

Available from the RFS Record Service for £10 [US $20].

THE SYMPHONIC ERIC COATES Cinderella, The Selfish Giant, The Three Bears, Miniature Suite, London Everyday, Joyous Youth, The Dam Busters BBC Philharmonic Conducted by Rumon Gamba Chandos CHAN9869, 79:27 mins. It is wonderful to find that the music of the great Eric Coates is still considered sufficiently important to warrant expensive new recordings such as this. However much as we value the composer’s own interpretations (and thankfully we have been well served with reissues in recent years), it is always good that such works should continue to be in the current repertoire of leading orchestras, and attracting the attention of conductors of the calibre of Rumon Gamba. Readers will be familiar with most, if not all, of these Coates classics. Whether or not you decide to add this to your collection may depend upon the state of your finances, or your wish to preserve the memory of much loved performances from the last century. Whenever a new recording is made of any piece of music, somehow something different emerges. Tempi obviously vary even slightly, and the sound engineer’s balance of the orchestra may reveal a previously unheard instrument in a particular passage. Personally I feel that anyone who admires Coates should want to grab this CD with both hands, if nothing else to ensure that record companies still feel encouraged to commission new performances from today’s talented musicians. David Ades Chandos CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £12.50 [US $25] each.

A POPS CONCERT Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra NAXOS NOSTALGIA 8.120520 My Melancholy Baby; Washboard Blues; Sweet Sue; Among My Souvenirs; The Man I Love; High Water; La Golondrina; My Heart Stood Still; Together; Moonlight and Roses; La Paloma; Song of the Swamp; Southern Medley (My Old Kentucky Home, Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, Old Folks At Home); Jeannine. These recordings all date from 1927-29 when Whiteman was arguably in his heyday and include vocals by Hoagy Carmichael, Bing Crosby, Al Rinker and Jack Fulton. Originally 12" 78rpm records with a running time of 4 minutes each, they neatly bridge the gap between classical, jazz and popular music. For those who enjoy Whiteman’s style then this budget Naxos release will be most welcome while anyone who enjoys a jolly good foot-tapping tune will also be pleased to have it in their collection. Well done Naxos, more please.

Edmund Whitehouse Naxos CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £5 [US $10].

THE PERCY FAITH ORCHESTRA conducted by NICK PERITO Theme from ‘A Summer Place’; Love theme from ‘Romeo and Juliet’; Lara’s Theme from ‘Dr Zhivago’; A Man and a Woman; The Sound of Music; Love theme from ‘The Godfather’; Born Free; Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head; The Way we Were; Mon Oncle; Elvira Madigan theme; The song from ‘Moulin Rouge’; Hello Dolly; Moon River; Summer of ’42; Tara’s theme from ‘Gone With the Wind’; Never on Sunday; The Windmills of your Mind. Castle Pulse PLSCD 583. Although the CD booklet doesn’t make it clear (there are no notes), this is a reissue of the 1990s Percy Faith recreations by Nick Perito. Keen fans will probably already have them, but if you missed the original releases (which were quite expensive) here’s your opportunity to acquire 18 tracks at a bargain price. David Ades Available from the RFS Record Service for £6 [US $12].

THE RED SHOES – Music from the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger Vaughan Williams – Prelude and Epilogue from 49^th Parallel; Allan Gray – A Matter of Life and Death, The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp, A Canterbury Tale; Brian Easdale – Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes, Gone to Earth, The Small Back Room; Jacques Offenbach – Tales of Hoffman. Various orchestras, etc. CD41 Publishing, CD41-002. 74:00 mins. The era 1941-51 is well within the great period (c. 1935-1960) of British films and film music, so this release, which draws on film soundtracks (including some wholly or mainly spoken excerpts) and commercial recordings from the 1940s, is of particular interest. 49^th Parallel was Vaughan Williams’ first film commission and these expansive extracts will surely please. Allan Gray, Polish-born, was well respected for his film music and his work for the recorded music libraries – his music for these three films (the Prelude to A Matter of Life and Death is played here by the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra under Charles Williams) make pleasing listening. More distinguished are the Brian Easdale items, especially The Red Shoes music which, though recorded by Columbia at the time (and still sounds well here) has surprisingly never quite caught on. Posterity has largely forgotten Easdale (he died as recently as 1995), which is a pity. The recordings naturally show their age but the transfers have been well done and the booklet contains much fascinating information. Recommended. Philip L. Scowcroft This CD can be obtained for £10.00 from J. Nice, 1 Spinney Close, Beetley, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 4TB, England (telephone/fax 01362 861009. More information from website: www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk The EMI collection of British Film Music of the 1940s and 1950s was deleted several years ago, but copies are still available from the RFS Record Service for £12 [US$24].

JELLY ROLL MORTON Piano Rolls Stratford Hunch, Big Foot Ham, New Orleans Joys, Perfect Rag, Tom Cat Blues, State and Madison, Kansas City Stomp, etc… 22 tracks. Shellwood SWCD22, 72:11 minutes. The first 17 tracks are new roll re-creations from original 78rpm records, cut by Mike Meddings. Shellwood obtained a 1912 Aeolian 88 note Pianola push-up, which has been restored to near perfection. After pushing it up to a good grand piano they found an expert pianolist, Julian Dyer, to play the rolls. They succeeded in eliminating all extraneous mechanical noise, and two of the tracks are premiere CD recordings. All in all this is an enterprising release which should fascinate anyone interested in this kind of music. David Ades Shellwood CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £10 [US $20] each.

BRIGHOUSE AND RASTRICK BAND Popular Classics Dance of the Tumblers, Elvira Madigan Theme, The Padstow Lifeboat, Capriccio Espagnol, Pie Jesu, Sutherland’s Law Theme, Ravel’s Bolero, etc… Grasmere GRCD115. The Brighouse and Rastrick are one of Britain’s top brass bands, with a reputation that extends far beyond this island. If I am honest, I have to say that the light classics chosen for this CD do not particularly appeal to me, but one has to admire the musicianship of all the players. I am sure that there are many brass band admirers who will not hesitate to add this new release to their CD collection. David Ades

GEORGE GERSHWIN Gershwin in Hollywood, An American in Paris, Cuban Overture, Porgy and BessNew Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Judd Naxos 8559107, 65:09 mins. This new CD falls into the category: "if you want this music, it is probably already in your collection". In other words, at its budget price it has to be accepted as an introduction to Gershwin for the uninitiated. The masterpieces are, of course, An American in Paris and Porgy and Bess. To my mind, Gershwin’s Cuban Overture only briefly comes alive, and it is not surprising that it is one of his lesser-known works. The opening track Gershwin in Hollywood could be so much better: unfortunately Robert Russell Bennett’s arrangements are disappointing and only occasionally reveal any imagination or sparkle. The orchestra sound bored with it all, and I must confess that I was, too. But, I say again, at a budget price of around £5, it is a great chance to get acquainted with the orchestral Gershwin. David Ades

BRITISH SYMPHONIC COLLECTION Vol. 10 Symphony No. 2 by York Bowen (1884-1961);Symphonic Rhapsody "Spring" by Frederic Austin (1872-1952); Symphonic Movement "Genesis" by Edgar Bainton (1880-1956). (Denmark) CLASSCD 404. Can you remember when serious music was tuneful and enjoyable and when the listener did not need a crystal ball or an IQ of 250 to understand what was going on? Well here it is again! The work by York Bowen is a world premiere recording and all the better for that, while Austin and Bainton are rarely heard today, thanks to the self-opinionated gurus who belittle anything which is not discordant. Well worth a listen if you enjoy serious tuneful music and what’s more they’re all British! Edmund Whitehouse Classico CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £12.00 [US $24] each.

BRITISH SYMPHONIC COLLECTION Vol. 11 A Celebration of Malcolm Arnold’s 80th Birthday.Rinaldo & Armida (ballet suite); Little Suite No. 2; Homage to the Queen (ballet suite); Concerto for Organ & Orchestra. Royal Academy of Aarhus Symphony Orchestra conducted by Douglas Bostock(Denmark) CLASSCD 424. This unusual disc comprises 21 miniatures none of which lasts more than five minutes with several less than two! Apart from the Little Suite they are all world premieres but unmistakably Malcolm Arnold whose lush brass sounds remind us of his many dramatic film scores. Isn’t it amazing how much good music there is out there just waiting to be recorded. Well done Classico for taking the risk. More please! Edmund Whitehouse

ERIC PARKIN (piano) : Reginald King – piano pieces Song of Paradise; Humoresque; Sentimental Interlude; Pierrette on the Balcony; Beside the Lake; Polka Piquant; In Bluebell Land; Prelude in D; Tropical Moonlight; Passing Clouds; One Summer Day; Windflowers; Where Water Lilies Dream; Julia; The Haunted Ballroom (Toye, arr. King); Summer Breezes; Lilacs in the Rain; Elegy; Marionette; Whispering Violin; Meditation; Money Spider; Green Valleys; Yorkshire Relish; June Night on Marlow Reach; Moonlight Reverie; Prelude in A; Three Miniatures; Cynthia; A Prayer at Eventide.Shellwood SWCD17 (2 CDs) 108 mins. What a delightful collection this is! Light music lovers struggle to find recordings of Reginald King’s compositions today, but here Shellwood treat us to no less than 34 charming works, performed with warmth and affection by Britain’s foremost pianist. In recent years Eric Parkin has become renowned for his rediscoveries of the piano works of Jerome Kern, George Gershwin and, most importantly, Billy Mayerl. Reginald King deserves to be added to this illustrious list, and lovers of the piano cannot fail to be enchanted. I suspect that some will half remember hearing many of these works, especially Summer Breezes which was featured in the BBC Television Interlude film of the white kitten; the orchestral version was not taken from one of the usual recorded music libraries, so it has remained one of those elusive pieces missing from private collections. The well illustrated CD booklet notes by John Archer confirm King’s important contribution to the British musical scene in the middle years of the last century. This is an important release in all respects, and it will give a lot of pleasure. David Ades

THE CHEESY LISTENING ALBUM Wheels (cha cha) - Joe Loss Orchestra; Guatanamera - Geoff Love Orchestra; Let's face the music and dance - Nelson Riddle Orchestra; Music to watch girls by – Joe Loss Orchestra; Mas que nada - Manuel & The Music Of The Mountains; Mexican hat dance - Geoff Love Orchestra; Tequila - Joe Loss Orchestra; Do you know the way to San Jose - Ron Goodwin Orchestra; Quando quando quando - Manuel & The Music Of The Mountains; Desafinado - Laurindo Almeida & Bossa Nova All Stars; Girl from Ipanema – Geoff Love Orchestra; This guy's in love with you - Ron Goodwin Orchestra; Unforgettable - Starlight Strings; Can't take my eyes off you - Basil Henriques & The Waikiki Islanders; One note samba (remixed) - Geoff Love Orchestra; What the world needs now is love - Ron Goodwin Orchestra; Raindrops keep falling on my head - Joe Loss Orchestra; Man and a woman - Geoff Love Orchestra; Moon river - Nelson Riddle Orchestra; Music to drive by - Joe Loss Concertium; Walk on by - Ron Goodwin Orchestra; Let's do it (let's fall in love) - Nelson Riddle Orchestra; Peanut vendor - Manuel & The Music Of The Mountains; Y viva Espana - Pepe Jaramillo; Wives and lovers - Ron Goodwin Orchestra EMI Gold 5389412. This doesn't happen very often but EMI have just released a new all popular instrumental/orchestral CD featuring great British and US artists/orchestras like Geoff Love; Nelson Riddle; Manuel & The Music of the Mountains; The Starlight Strings; Ron Goodwin etc. The CD was released in the UK in June and it contains approx 71 minutes of what EMI call "25 very ripe instrumental easy classics"! I bought mine when I was visiting Guernsey in June and saw it in a record shop in St. Peter Port. I see it can also be bought at www.hmv.co.uk and www.amazon.co.uk etc. as well as the usual record stores. Chris Campbell

APOLLO SOUND: Test Card Music Volume 8 My Friends (G. Garanjan), At Sundown (Harvey Richards), Tierpark [Zoo] Promenade (Hans Bath), L’Amour Est Grand (J. Dieval), Flowers for Yvette (Harry Heinze), Santiago de Chile (Rudolf Maluck), Rockin’ Strings (William Gardner), Goodnight (arr. Sam Fonteyn), Fancy That (Gerhard Paul), Rockin’ Chair (Peter Hope), Irish Imp (William Gardner), Music in Mind (hendric Haydegg), Zambra Flamenca (John Carmichael), Moon Over Altea (L. Portner), In the Shade (Fernando Paggi), Ventuno [21] (Ulrich Sommerlatte), Talisman (Walter Franz), Blue Train (Roger Senicourt- actually Frank Chacksfield), Don Pedro (Horst Grosser), Machito (Heinz Hotter), Charley-O (T. Marino),Loose Cover (Sam Fonteyn), You are Mine (K. Veidt/P. Forester).Apollo Sound APSCD 228. Chris Churcher has assembled another fine collection for Apollo Sound in this impressive series, which has become a valuable source of material for the many collectors whose primary interests focus on the kind of bright and rhythmic 1960s/1970s sounds which used to be heard on television in the days before 24-hour programming, when gaps in the schedules were filled with test cards mainly for the benefit of engineers installing new sets. Once again the archives of Mozart Edition have provided all but one track, giving further evidence of that library’s strength in this kind of music. Readers will spot some familiar composers, while others will offer some pleasant surprises. I do not pretend to be an expert on test card music, but I know that some readers could probably give the days and times when these tunes were originally heard. They will need no further encouragement from me to snap up this latest compilation. David Ades This CD is available by mail order direct from Apollo Sound (see page 89); it can also be purchased from the RFS Record Service for £12.75 [US $25.50].

ALPHORN CONCERTOS Sinfonia Pastorella (Leopold Mozart), Dialogue with Nature and Concerto for Alphorn & Orchestra (Jean Daetwyler), Concertino Rustico (Ferenc Farkas). Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Urs Schneider. Naxos 8.555978. The 12 foot long alphorn may not be the most versatile of musical instruments but in expert hands it is quite capable of making pleasant and jolly sounds as witnessed by these ancient and modern musical offerings. It is certainly an unusual CD and all the more satisfactory for that. It is unlikely you will have heard any of the pieces before but each gives the lie to the myth that the alphorn has only two notes, one for calling animals and the other for contacting your goatherd girlfriend or boyfriend in the next valley! Edmund Whitehouse

CAREY BLYTON Film and Television Music Valse Musette, Girl Friday, Commuter Special, On the Go, Something in the Wind, Action for Orchestra, Blues in the Round, Neurosis, Man at Work, Noises of the Night, etc. plus television adverts for Birdseye Florida Orange juice, Mackintosh’s Quality Street, Lyons’ Harvest Pies, Nimble Bread, Elastoplast, and Lux Toilet Soap. Apollo Sound APSCD224. This is the first of four collections of the late Carey Blyton’s commercial music, which must have involved considerable research to acquire the recordings from a wide variety of different sources. Thus the first part of this CD concentrates on the composer’s commissions from several British recorded music libraries (Boosey & Hawkes, Weinberger, Synchrofox), leaving the remainder of the CD focussing on Blyton’s television commercials from 1964 to 1971. There are sometimes several different treatments of the same theme, and two of the tracks feature the finished product, complete with voice-overs. This offers a truly fascinating glimpse of the music business that will be unfamiliar to many. As a bonus, the CD booklet provides a wealth of very detailed information, even to the extent of listing full credits for the advertising agencies involved. An excellent release in all respects, and highly recommended to readers with an interest in this often hidden side of the world of production music. David Ades Apollo Sound CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £12.75 [US $25.50] each. They can also be purchased direct from Apollo Sound – see advertisement on page 89 of this issue.

GEORGE LLOYD The Serf (Orchestral Suite) and Cello Concerto (USA) Albany TROY 458 Albany Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Alan Miller. All George Lloyd fans will be delighted to learn of this posthumously issued CD, covering yet more of this fine tuneful composer’s later works. It’s very Lloydesque and yet altogether new at the same time. Who said serious music had to be dull to be enjoyed? Here is a man whose career was shattered by the war yet continued to compose melodious post-war masterpieces in the face of the avant garde lobby who refused to broadcast it. Well done George, you deservedly had the last laugh on them. Peter Worsley

PALM COURT ORCHESTRA Conducted by CHARLES JOB ‘Un Peu d’Amour’ Amparito Roca, Un Peu d’Amour, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, Love’s Garden of Roses, Wedding of a Rose, Nola, Alicante, Gavotte, Ecstasy Waltz, The Sunshine of your Smile, Song of Paradise, Neapolitan Serenade, Fairytale, Teddy Bears’ Picnic, Dreaming, Bird Songs at Eventide, Hiawatha, Entry of the Gladiators, Da Capo Palm Court Orchestra CD02, 63:22 mins. The music lovers of British Columbia in Canada are fortunate in having someone like Charles Job on the scene promoting quality light music through a regular series of concerts, and occasional CD releases such as this. I’m pleased to find Reginald King’s Song of Paradise, together with Leon Jessel’s Wedding of the Rose. The melody Dreaming is not the familiar Archibald Joyce piece, but a lesser-known work by Haydn Wood, who is also responsible for Love’s Garden of Roses, charmingly sung by Sally Braswell, mezzo soprano, who also performs two other numbers, The Sunshine of your Smile and Eric Coates’ Bird Songs at Eventide. Gerhard Winkler’s Neapolitan Serenade is a good choice (a perfect example of a tune you know, but have difficulty naming!). Lovers of the more traditional style of light music will thoroughly enjoy this collection, well played and conducted by musicians who have their hearts in what they are doing.David Ades This CD is available from the RFS Record Service for £11.00 [US $22].

SIR VIVIAN DUNN Conducts Sir Arthur Sullivan Yeoman of the Guard – Overture, The Tempest – Incidental Music, The Merchant of Venice – Suite, Entrance and March of the Peers – from Iolanthe, Overture in C – In Memoriam Bournemouth Symphony, City of Birmingham Orchestra andBand of HM Royal Marines School of Music Eastney RHMSEC006. Paddy Dunn remains very active in the promotion of his late father’s recordings, and it is appropriate that he should have recognised the upsurge in interest in the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan. Although his work in the world of military music is unsurpassed, Sir Vivian Dunn was a master of so many different kinds of music, and we are fortunate that there exist so many recordings of his encounters with some of the finest symphony orchestras in the land. This new CD neatly brings together several different sessions, providing a tribute to Sullivan that will find favour with his many admirers. The CD booklet is packed full of interesting facts, making this a collection that will find itself in many appreciative homes.David Ades This CD is available from Eastney Collection, 60 Mayford Road, London, SW12 8SN, England – price £10 (UK, postage paid), £11.50 (overseas, postage paid). Credit cards accepted. Please mention the RFS when ordering.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK On the Town – Opening [Lyn Murray]; Sidewalks of New York [Shannon Quartet]; Broadway Melody [Ben Selvin]; Give my Regards to Broadway [George M. Cohan]; Park Avenue Fantasy, Stairway to the Stars [Paul Whiteman]; Forty Second Street [Boswell Sisters & Dorsey Brothers Band]; Slumming on Park Avenue [Red Norvo with Mildred Mailey]; Slaughter on Tenth Avenue [Lennie Hayton & MGM Orchestra]; Skyscraper Fantasy [Mantovani]; Manhattan Tower [Gordon Jenkins] etc… 22 tracks ASV Living Era CD AJA 5441, 75:01 mins. David Lennick and Ray Crick have come up with a fascinating selection of ‘New York’ music, which should sell very well in the USA. The choice of material is wide, offering something for lovers of show and film music, plus a light orchestral ‘standard’ and a comparatively rare Gordon Jenkins masterwork. Peter Dempsey’s booklet notes are entertaining, but he has missed a trick by not mentioning that Slaughter on Tenth Avenue is a classic Conrad Salinger arrangement, much sought-after by his admirers. Currently there is great interest in this unsung hero of Hollywood musicals, and his work is destined to receive much greater acknowledgement in the future. This version of Slaughter… comes from the 1948 MGM musical ‘Words and Music’. It was briefly available on an EMI CD of tracks from the film in 1990, but since then has been hard to find. In an ideal world it would be preferable to go back to the original tapes, because both the EMI and ASV transfers show their age. A more serious ‘howler’ in the booklet notes concerns Skyscraper Fantasy. We are told that it is the work of the famous clarinettist Sid Phillips, but readers of this magazine will know that the actual composer was Donald Phillips, the brilliant backroom boy also responsible for Concerto in Jazz, who died in 1994. This Mantovani 78 ofSkyscraper Fantasy has also recently appeared on CDs from Vocalion (CDEA6019) and Naxos (8120516). Other gems include Park Avenue Fantasy (incorporating Stairway to the Stars) by Paul Whiteman, Jo Stafford’s delectable Manhattan Serenade, Frank Sinatra’s Autumn in New York and Dick Powell’s Lullaby of Broadway. And what about Gordon Jenkins’ Manhattan Tower? Quite frankly, like baseball it hasn’t travelled well eastwards across the North Atlantic. You either love it or hate it!David Ades

THE WARTIME PICNICS and A COUNTRY CALENDAR by Peter Cork. Here is something really unusual, two privately produced double-CDs by a Kentish composer who once taught music to Dudley Moore! Both are semi-autobiographical because they recreate the war years and a time when our landscape was more gentle and perhaps more musical than it is today. The Wartime Picnics (90 minutes) is a musical relating a family love story in a poignant world, evolving around three picnics on the Kentish Downs during and after the Second World War. A young girl falls for a serving airman and their relationship gradually unfolds against the dark clouds of conflict. A Country Calendar (140 minutes) describes the British life and landscape in words and music from the Thirties, Forties and Fifties, long before motorways shortened journey times and made virtually everywhere accessible to everyone. The narrators are Rosemary Leach, Tim Pigott-Smith and Dennis Quilley, and the aptly-named producer is Piers Plowright, a well-known BBC personality and friend of the composer. Scenes range from the Cumbrian Lakes to the coastal paths of Cornwall and events from August Bank Holiday to the Battle of Britain and a frosty Christmas Eve. Each month and season is covered by separate tracks with the background music played by a pleasant light orchestra. Such ventures are to be encouraged and applauded in this day and age and at £13.99 for each double-CD they will not break the piggy bank. Available post free from Re-Collections, JEM House, Littlemead, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8NH, ENGLAND. Tel. 0870-727-4104, Fax 01483-268889. Edmund Whitehouse

RON GOODWIN AND HIS ORCHESTRA ‘Music for an Arabian Night’ and ‘Holiday in Beirut’EMI 7243 5397892. These two fine albums caused quite a stir when they were released on Parlophone LPs back in the 1960s. Since then they have reappeared on CDs available mainly in the Middle East, but it is good to have them available again as a ‘2 on 1’ with general distribution. Ralph Harvey has contributed the booklet notes, and the original album covers are also reproduced. Don’t hesitate; if these vintage Ron Goodwin LPs are not already in your collection, you can correct that omission right away! David Ades

ALBERT SAMMONS – Delius Violin Concerto [w. Liverpool P.O., cond. Dr Malcolm Sargent – rec. 1944]/ Elgar Violin Concerto in B minor [w. New Queen’s Hall Orch., cond. Sir Henry Wood – rec. 1929] Dutton super budget CDBP9735, 66:30 mins. Two classic recordings from the Shellac Era, which deserve a place in every serious collection of British Music. Arguably the greatest of all English violinists, Albert Sammons [1886-1957] was also a highly respected teacher [his pupils included the youthful George Lloyd] remembered as a man of great kindness and integrity who referred not to use the fiddle as a mere box of tricks. Sadly, the onset of Parkinson’s disease in the mid-1940s enforced his early retirement from playing. Delius had dedicated his 1916 Concerto to Sammons, who also made the Elgar work [written for Fritz Kreisler] very much his own. Neither work is Light Music, of course, but so many readers have expressed admiration for these wonderful and highly original composers, that I make no apology for submitting this review. In any case, the Delius is a virtually uninterrupted stream of beautiful melody, while the Elgar is so full of marvellous themes and striking ideas – the "guitar effect" in the last movement cadenza is just one – that listeners will always be finding something new. Michael Dutton’s state-of-the-art transfers ensure these magnificent performances have never sounded better. For listeners whose appetites for more Sammons have been whetted, Michael Dutton has also produced an historic CD [Dutton Epoch CDLX7103] of chamber music by John Ireland, on which violinist and composer perform the Second Violin Sonata; and there is also an Hyperion issue [CDA67096: ‘The English Kreisler’] on which Paul Barritt and Catherine Edwards present 20 of Sammons own Salon Pieces in excellent style. John E. Govier

TED HEATH AND HIS MUSIC ‘Nice One Ted!’ Hindustan, Swannee River, Song of the Vagabonds, Two Guitars, Lyonia, Roumanian Roundabout, The Nearness of You, Colonel Bogey, Button Up Your Overcoat, Rag Mop, Blue Skies March, London Fog, Euphoria, Lady Byrd, Sidewalks of Cuba, Sophisticated Lady, Tequila, Move, Father Knickerbopper, Saxophone Mambo, You’re Nearer, Trumpet Voluntary, El Abanico, Post Horn Boogie, My Silent Love Memoir CDMOIR565, 68:40 mins. Ted Heath fans have been well served by various record companies in recent years, and it seems that the flow of new releases is accelerating. At the same time it is difficult for new compilations such as this to avoid duplications, and collectors will have to decide for themselves whether or not there are enough new delights on this CD to persuade them to part with their precious pounds. Personally I cannot imagine any true fans hesitating for long, because Memoir have come up with such a splendid production, thanks to the excellent sound restoration by Ted Kendall, and the superb booklet notes by Campbell Burnap. The gifted arrangers make one’s mouth water: Reg Owen, Eric Jupp, Reg Briggs, Norman Stenfalt, George Shearing, Bruce Campbell, John Dankworth, Phil Bates and Wally Stott (Roumanian Roundabout). Personnel, recording dates, matrix numbers, studios … all the information you could ever want is here. To paraphrase the CD’s title: "Nice One, Memoir!" David Ades

NAT KING COLE ‘Here’s To My Lady’ A Portrait of Jennie, That’s My Girl, Because of Rain, Nature Boy, Baby Won’t You Say You Love me, Here’s To My Lady, Song of Delilah, The Magic Tree, I’ll Never Say ‘Never Again’ Again, Unforgettable, Little Girl, Red Sails In The Sunset, Too Young, Put ‘Em in a Box, Lillette, I’m Hurtin’, A Little Bit Independent, Wine Women & Song, Mona Lisa, Lush Life, Lost April, Always You, My First and Last Love, Home Memoir CDMOIR566, 71:55 mins. I suppose that many of the comments I have made about the Ted Heath CD (above) equally apply to this new Nat King Cole release. Again, keen collectors may well already possess the majority of the tracks, but the fine remastering (by our friend Ted Kendall, of course), and the comprehensive notes (this time by Nigel Hunter) elevate this above the offerings from the major companies. It seems incredible, but true: often the major record companies who originally released recordings such as this seem to take little trouble to make their occasional reissues attractive, when it comes to information in their booklets. Thank goodness for the fact that in Britain we still have a thriving independent record sector, where true enthusiasts are able to impart their knowledge to fellow collectors. At least generations to come will be able to read something about the artists, the music and the recording history – and why their contributions to the art of recorded music are so important.David Ades Memoir CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £10 [$20] each.

TONY WHITTAKER ‘Keyboard Magic’ In Love For The Very First time, Call Me, Laura, Music of the Night, So Nice, Sands of Cairo, Warwick Waltz, Stairway to the Sea, All I Ask of You, Matrimony, Memory, The Boy From… , As Time Goes By, Cat’s Tail, Merry as a Grig, Abba Medley TWMS CD05/02. RFS member Tony Whittaker has produced an attractive collection of piano pieces, augmented on some tracks by bass, guitar and strings. You may have noticed Merry as a Grig in the listing above – an interesting choice, by Van Phillips, the arranger who produced some interesting dance band sounds in the 1930s, then went into production music, but eventually achieved greater fame as an acclaimed photographer. It is also nice to find less hackneyed numbers – In Love For the Very First Time makes a good opening. All in all, an enjoyable selection of music which will please piano fans. David Ades This CD is available direct from Tony Whittaker, 83 St. Helen’s Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 3QG, England – price £10.00. You can also order via Tony’s website: www.tonywhittaker.co.uk

GLORIOUS VICTORY: Willcocks – Guards Armoured Division; Alford – Eagle Squadron, By Land and Sea, Holyrood, The Vanished Army, Army of the Nile, The Standard of St. George;Panella – On the Square; Kendall – Glorious Victory; Kelly – Arnhem, Arromanches; Sousa – Liberty Bell, The Stars and Stripes Forever; Eley – Duke of York; Zehle – Wellington; Rhodes – Golden Spurs; Bagley – National Emblem; Strauss – Radetzky March; Stanley – Alamein. Kings Division Normandy Band, Director of Music Captain Gary Clegg Plantagenet Music PMRD9425, 65:00 mins. A superb, well planned compendium of military marches, some old favourites, others less familiar, recorded in the ample acoustic of St. Michael’s Parish Church, Kirkham, Lancashire. A generous representation of the martial music of the English ‘March King’ Kenneth J. Alford including his impressive slow march By Land and Sea in which A Life on the Ocean Wave is cleverly interweaved. Two of Sousa’s best, although the rendering of The Stars and Stripes Forever is surprisingly rather small scale and lightweight, with a sharp accelerando towards the end. There is also a rather curious arrangement by Sharpe of the Radetzky March.There’s a fascinating example of an early 19^th century march Duke of York by Christopher Eley, a Hanovarian Bandmaster brought to England by the aforementioned Duke. Bandstand favourites such as Panella’s On the Square and Bagley’s National Emblemintermingle with less well-known (at least for this listener) but nonetheless impressive marches by the likes of G.H. Willcocks (Director of Music, Irish Guards 1938-48); Albert Kelly (who served as Bandmaster of the Royal Sussex Regiment); Samuel Rhodes (one time Director of Music with the Scots Guards with no less than 44 years’ service with Army bands); and Leo Stanley (the pen name of Randolph Ricketts, brother of Frederick Ricketts, better known as Kenneth Alford!). Despite the very minor quibbles above, all these marches are played with an impressive degree of aplomb, precision and professionalism, and one hopes that the Kings Division’s next CD won’t be too long in the making. Roger Hyslop Plantagenet CDs are available from: Plantagenet Music Ltd., 90 Holgate Road, York, YO24 4AB, England – telephone orders 01904 64710. Also available from Discurio, 46 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LD, England – tel/fax 10634 845222 www.discurio.com

THE KING’S SQUAD Jager – Esprit de Corps; Gray – Thunderbirds; Donajowsky – Preobrajensky Blankenburg Action Front; Menken – A Whole New World; Willcocks – Sarafond; Charles Williams – Blue Devils; etc… Band of HM Royal Marines Commando Training Centre / Capt. N.J. GracePlantagenet PMRD 9426. Here’s a military band with a difference! An audio representation of the Pass-Out Parade of the Kings Squad – the senior recruit squad in Royal Marines training, recorded at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone, Devon, with a spoken narration by a certain Lord (better known as Paddy) Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon in Somerset– a former Royal Marines Officer between 1959 and 1972; his contributions are brief and succinct and should not become too irksome on repeated playings. The doyen of British military musicians, Lieutenant Colonel Sir F. Vivian Dunn (who was appointed Director of Music of the Portsmouth Division Band in 1931, at the incredibly early age of 22, and completed an illustrious career with the Royals as Principal Director of Music at Deal), is represented by several of his very attractive arrangements, includingPreorajensky, The Globe and Laurel, Where ere You Walk and Sarie Marais. Since the playing of the Royal Marines bandsmen display their usual enviable musical prowess, and the recording is excellent, this CD must be strongly commended. Roger Hyslop Plantagenet CDs are not available through the RFS Record Service, but details of how to obtain them can be found at the end of the previous review.

JOHNNY HARRIS ‘Movements’ Fragments of Fear, Reprise, Stepping Stones, Something, Give Peace a Chance, Footprints on the Moon, Light My Fire, Wichita Lineman, Paint It Black + bonus tracks Warner Bros 8122-73602-2 [also on vinyl as 2-LP set: 8122-73601-1]. 43:35 mins. This album really needs no introduction. It was big in its day but has become even bigger in recent years after it was rediscovered when tracks were sampled on modern dance records resulting in original copies changing hands for up to £50. And after just one listen it’s very easy to see why! The opening track is taken from the score of the obscure psychological thriller "Fragment Of Fear" and has a deliciously chilling melody that will weave its way into your brain and stay there. Over a distorted rhythmic shuffle a flute is joined by strings, wah-wah guitar and a bubbling Hammond Organ resulting in a non-stop groove with a warm, rich sound which is worth the cover price alone. However it is the next track "Stepping Stones" which usually gets most attention. This fast and frantic jazz piece was used for a chase sequence in the same movie and sees a repeated screaming flute motif (played by Harold McNeil) across a hard percussive backing offset by stabbing strings and guitar, resulting in a funky sound which wouldn't be out of place in the score to a black cop movie such as "Shaft" or "Superfly". There are some quieter moments too including the delicately haunting "Footprints On The Moon" complete with angelic choir choruses, and some superb covers including "Something" which Harris later reworked for Shirley Bassey, "Wichita Lineman" and a truly amazing arrangement of the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" which owes more than a little to "Night On A Bare Mountain". The CD also features a colourful 24-page booklet covering the composer's long career in music and there are two bonus tracks including the groovy Lulu's theme which was used for the "Happening For Lulu" show where Harris acted as MD. NB: There are plans to follow this up with a reissue of Harris' other Warner Bros album "All To Bring You Morning". David Noades

It is good to know that James Beyer’s concert with the Edinburgh Light Orchestra last November was a great success. James reports: "It was a most enjoyable occasion and I was extremely delighted with the performance. It was a great evening - everyone played really well and our large audience greatly enjoyed the concert. But above all, we managed to attract an audience of 751 (93% capacity 'house') - our largest for some time! We also presented a cheque for £1000.00 to Marie Curie Cancer Care." The next concert will be on Saturday 25 May at 7:30pm at the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh. As usual James will be on the podium, and the ELO’s leader is Lawrence Dunn. Tickets: £10.00; £8.50 and £6.50. For bookings and programme details please telephone 0131 334 3140.

As advertised in our last issue (page 35) Gavin Sutherland will be conducting The Magic of Mantovani Orchestra at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre on Sunday 14 April at 7:30pm. If you don’t already have your ticket, you can telephone 0844 576 3000. But you’d better be quick – these hugely popular concerts sell out very quickly!

At the beginning of January ITV in Britain (and PBS in the USA) screened the first of ten episodes of "Mr Selfridge" about the American entrepreneur who founded the famous London store. The music immediately impressed, but as usual the credits were squeezed so small that they were impossible to read. Thanks to the internet, the composer was identified as Charlie Mole. He is clearly a talented musician, and someone to look out for in the future. He deserves a full feature in JIM … can any reader oblige?

As a result of the note in the last JIM (page 37) several members tell us that they have ‘discovered’ Radio Six International, which broadcasts a wide range of programmes. Following the death of Gerry Anderson on 26 December, Radio Six MD Tony Currie broadcast a tribute which included music from all the shows associated with the creator of Stingray, Space 1999, UFO and of course Thunderbirds. Before he died, Barry Gray had passed on to Tony some of his precious tapes of music from the many series he worked on, and these provided fascinating listening. It was a superb tribute, and should have been broadcast on the BBC to reach a far wider audience. But it could be heard around the world via the internet, and the added bonus of listening to Radio Six International is that it does not carry advertisements!

RFS member Philip Suffolk compiled an entertaining selection of Robert Farnon’s music for a meeting of the ‘Tuesday Music Group’ in Sutton Coldfield on 22 January. Unfortunately the severe weather conditions on the day forced the event to postponed, and it has now been rescheduled for Tuesday 30 April starting at 1:00pm. The good news is that Philip invites any RFS members within reach of Sutton Coldfield to join him on the day. The Sutton Coldfield Music Group would be pleased to see any of you, as would Philip. The venue is Sutton Coldfield Methodist Chuch, South Parade, Sutton Coldfield, and their meetings are held in Room 2 every fortnight. Philip’s presentation is called "Focus on Farnon" and he will begin with excerpts from Bob’s wartime exploits with the Canadian Band of the AEF, then move on to some of his early BBC broadcasts. Philip’s ‘Journey’ through Bob’s musical career continues through his big hits of the 1940s then focusses on his work with international ‘greats’ including Frank Sinatra, George Shearing and Lena Horne. It promises to be a very entertaining event, and we congratulate Philip on putting together such a well thought-out programme.

Keith Lockhart will be conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra in an attractive programme of British music at London’s South Bank on Friday 7 June at 7:30pm. The concert "The Home Front" will include: Warsaw Concerto (Richard Addinsell); Epic March (John Ireland); Seascape from ‘Western Approaches’ (Clifton Parker); Music from ‘Henry V’ (Walton); ‘Music While You Work’ – sounds of wartime broadcasting; ‘Sincerely Yours’ – music by the Forces’ Sweetheart Vera Lynn. (Thanks to Anthony Wills for this information).

Nigel Burlinson has pointed out that Vocalion catalogues from 2002 to the present date can be viewed and downloaded from the home page on their website – www.duttonvocalion.co.uk

Radio Six International is being mentioned several times in this issue – with good reason … because it regularly carries several programmes for Light Music fans, in addition to "The Golden Age of Light Music". The station’s MD Tony Currie presents his weekly "The Lively Lounge" where you can expect to hear music by the likes of Tony Hatch, Ronald Binge, Herb Alpert, Laurie Johnson, Helmut Zacharias and many similar recording artists from the 1960s onwards – including tracks from production music libraries like De Wolfe and KPM. And RFS member André Leon also crops up weekly with a varied selection of programmes, such as "Sounds Of The Century", "Carry On Crooning" and "André Leon’s Encores". If you have a computer with a broadband connection, you really owe it to yourself to investigate all the internet radio stations out there with some great specialist programmes.

Cyril Watters’ daughter Jill Coward has just launched a new website dedicated to her late father, who was a member of our Society for many years. If you have access to the internet, do visitwww.cyrilwatters.com where you can read all about Cyril – both his home life and his impressive list of compositions.

The final programme in the first series of "The Golden Age Of Light Music" was broadcast on Radio Six International at the beginning of June. The good news is that the programmes are going to be repeated later this year, and some new ones will be added after the first 32 have been heard again. The repeats might begin before you receive the next Journal Into Melody, and you can check the Latest News page of our website to discover more. Alternatively visit www.radiosix.com and click on ‘schedule’.

Light Music enthusiast and author Philip Scowcroft, RFS member and frequent writer for JIM and elsewhere, turned 80 on 8 June. Unsurprisingly the birthday was celebrated musically: on 12 June by a visit from the Fitzwilliam String Quartet in the Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery lunch hour concerts Philip has organised since 1966; and on 9 June, in an end-of-course concert by Doncaster’s Beechfield Youth Orchestra, which included the premiere of a piece composed by local musician James Belbin Wood in honour of the event – entitled Scowcroft’s Scherzo (Philip was presented with a handsome bound copy of the score). Philip tells us that its main section was cheerful and tuneful, befitting a light music man, but with just enough spicy harmonies to provide contrast!

We are very sorry to report that our good friend Frank Comstock died on 21 May aged 90. Frank has been a loyal supporter of the RFS for many years, and through him a number of great musicians from the glory days of Hollywood came to know about the RFS, not least Doris Day with whom Frank worked on "Calamity Jane" and other projects. Forrest Patten got to know Frank in recent years, and he has contributed an obituary in this issue.

Also in May the RFS lost another loyal and long-serving member, Stan Coates. At one time Stan used to travel down to London from the north-east of England to attend our meetings, and he first introduced the young John Wilson to our society around 18 years ago. Stan had an encyclopaedic knowledge of big band music, and one of his favourites was Geraldo. His diligence in seeking out rare manuscripts enabled John to include some great arrangements in his concerts, including some long-forgotten ones by Robert Farnon.

James Beyer tells us that his latest Edinburgh Light Music Concert on Saturday 25 May went extremely well; and everyone on both sides of the podium seemed to enjoy themselves. As is the norm at this time of year – the holiday season coupled with a particularly good day weather-wise slightly reduced attendance numbers. This pattern is nothing new and the shortfall is always compensated by a larger turnout at our winter programmes. It is a sad fact – but nevertheless something out-with anyone’s control – that the current economic situation is also affecting audience numbers in all branches of the performing arts.  However, an audience totalling 672 (78% capacity) is still an excellent attendance in this day and age. The orchestra’s next concert is on 16 November at Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall as usual. Website: http://edinburghlightorchestra.moonfruit.com E-mail:

The American copyright of Happy Birthday To You came into the news just recently. In June it was reported that Good Morning To You Productions Corp, a New York company said it was making a documentary about the song. Facing a penalty of $150,000 if it used Happy Birthday without permission, the company said it paid a $1,500 licensing fee in March. Happy Birthday to You has been performed around the world in tribute to everyone from toddlers to centenarians for nearly 120 years, but few people know that the ubiquitous song is owned by a private company. Now, the most famous ditty in the English language has found itself in the middle of a legal battle after a film production company filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the copyright protecting the song. The proposed class action asks a federal court to declare the song to be in the public domain and that Warner/Chappell Music Inc, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, return ‘millions of dollars of unlawful licensing fees’ it has collected for reproductions and public performances of the song. ‘More than 120 years after the melody to which the simple lyrics of Happy Birthday to You is set was first published, defendant Warner/Chappell boldly, but wrongfully and unlawfully, insists that it owns the copyright to Happy Birthday to You,’ the lawsuit said. Under a revised US copyright law, works created after 1923 are guaranteed 95 years of protection. Although the song was first published in 1893, according to Billboard.com, the song has been considered as protected by copyright because the lyrics appeared in a songbook in 1924 and a piano arrangement for it was released in 1935. Just another example of the crazy situation which afflicts music copyright, especially in the USA.

Recently seen on ebay: a seller offering ‘a rare 10" 78 recording of Robert Farnon’s Symphony No. 1’ for the bargain price of £188.13 plus £19.67 postage! This must be another copy of a direct from air recording of the first broadcast way back in 1941 by the Toronto Symphony; fortunately we already have this in the RFS archives.

Our friends in The Light Music Society are holding their annual AGM Weekend with plenty of music and feasting back in Lancashire this year, over the holiday weekend 24, 25 & 26 August. The familiar venue is Ernest Tomlinson’s home, Lancaster Farm, Longridge. On the Sunday morning Tony Currie of Radio Six International will be doing his hour-long show "The Lively Lounge" live from the Library of Light Orchestral Music at the farm. It will be broadcast from 10:00am to 11:00am BST and will be heard world-wide via the internet. Tony’s shows are always very varied and enjoyable, and RFS members with internet access are urged to listen in. The programmes enjoy several repeats, so wherever you are in the world it should be available at a time to suit you. Visit www.radiosix.com and click on ‘schedule’ to check when you can hear "The Lively Lounge". It’s sure to be fun!

Our US representative Forrest Patten has reported that the 1977 film "The Disappearance", with a music score by Robert Farnon, has been released on Blu-Ray in the USA by Twilight Time. Bob’s score is apparently going to be isolated on a separate track, so maybe it will be possible to hear it in its entirety. Jumping Bean has discovered that this film was previously issued on DVD in the UK in 2003. A well-known internet mail-order website has been offering new copies at a penny under £100!

The author Chris Way died in August. Some RFS members may remember meeting him at several London meetings around 20 years ago. Chris was an authority on Glenn Miller, and his first book in 1987, ‘In The Miller Mood’, was a day-to-day record of Miller’s Army AirForce Band. In 1991 ‘The Big Bands Go To War’ was published. It claimed to be the full story of the Allied Services Bands of World War Two, and Robert Farnon provided an introduction. There is a detailed listing of the broadcasts by Captain Robert Farnon and the Canadian Band of the AEF from July 1944 to December 1945. Despite a few inaccuracies, this is a valuable record of Bob’s work in programmes such as The Canada Show, Canada Show In Swing Time, Night Cap, Canada Dance Band, Piano Parade, Canada Sing Show, Variety Bandbox, Canada Guest Show, AEF Special, Empire Day Programme, Farewell AEFP, Canadian Caravan and Farewell AFN. In total the entries relating to Robert Farnon occupy 79 of the book’s 288 pages. The British Band of the AEF conducted by RSM George Melachrino is also featured prominently.

British broadcasting legend David Jacobs presented the last of his long running Radio-2 Sunday evening programmes on 4 August. It was good to hear him include Robert Farnon’s beautiful arrangement of Dancing In The Dark. Sadly David died four weeks later on 2 September.

Gordon Gray, MD of Memoir Records (and other labels previously) told us recently that he remembers some session musicians telling him many years ago that they’d be willing to play for Bob Farnon for nothing, such was their admiration for him. Gordon now wishes that he had made some albums with Bob ... "rather than some others I could name!"

During the summer months there were rumours going around in the music business that the failure of some European Governments to ratify the legislation might be the death knell of the increase in sound copyright in the European Union from 50 to 70 years. Sadly our hopes were dashed when the UK Government issued a press release confirming that the change passed into law on 1 November, as originally planned. Any member states failing to ratify by this time would be punished, but this would not stop the increase to 70 years going ahead. So we are saddled with the situation which means that independent companies cannot reissue sound recordings made later than 1962, unless they pay to license the material from the copyright owners, thereby considerably increasing the cost of the CDs. Fortunately for Light Music lovers, there is a wealth of earlier untapped recordings still available for future releases by Guild Music, Sepia, Jasmine, Vocalion and other labels who specialise in this repertoire.

If you haven’t done so already, do make a point of visiting our President’s new websitewww.davidfarnon.com (there is a direct link from the home page of our own site). Before you do anything else, click on ‘Credits’ at the top of the page. You will be amazed at the number of times David’s music has been used all over the world. He now devotes himself exclusively to composition, and one of his latest projects is an Operatic Love Duet, for Soprano, Tenor and Orchestra.

During the compilation of Guild ‘Golden Age of Light Music’ CDs, David Ades and Alan Bunting take great care in trying to identify the composers and – where possible – the arrangers. Often emails go back and forth before decisions are finally made, and a recent message from Alan to David illustrates the problems they encounter! "While preparing the updated Composer listings I noticed that we had a discrepancy regarding the composer of Spanish Gypsy Dance. We have him as Mariano Marquina and Pasqual Marquina. After some thorough checking I discovered, much to my surprise, that his correct name is Pascual Marquina Narro. While I think we can regard Pascual and Pasqual as more or less the same thing, I had always believed his surname was Marquina as indeed it is on all the record labels I have seen. But Wikepedia and numerous scans of sheet music on the WEB clearly say Narro is his last name. However, ASCAP lists him as Pascual Narro Marquina and I found one entry which says the piece is ‘composed by Pascual Marquina Narro as Pascual Narro-Marquina’! No wonder getting things right is so difficult - if anyone asks me who wrote it I shall continue to answer simply ‘Marquina’!" Another problem that Alan didn’t mention is that it is not unusual for names of composers to be omitted entirely on American records. An added complication is variations in spelling. Titles with Gypsy can also appear as Gipsy, but that’s another matter!

André Leon has commissioned David Ades to provide 24 one-hour programmes for UK LightRadio. Twelve will feature recordings from "The Golden Age of Light Music" using the Guild CDs. The other twelve are in a series called "Journey Into Melody" which covers light music from many different sources. As we go to press, two of the "Journey Into Melody" programmes have already been broadcast on Radio Six International on Sunday afternoons. Other ‘friends of the RFS’ who have also been heard at this time (in syndicated UK Light Radio productions) include Brian Kay, Philip Farlow and Brian Reynolds. Radio Six International is available world-wide via the internet. Its programmes are also taken by numerous small local stations in the UK, USA and even New Zealand.

Andrew Lamb has recently published a bicentenary biography of William Vincent Wallace (1812-65), world traveller, virtuoso pianist and violinist, and composer of the once highly popular British operasMaritana and Lurline. The 237 pages of "William Vincent Wallace – Composer, Virtuoso and Adventurer" include 30 illustrations, and this paperback volume is available from usual retailers for £30. [ISBN 978 0 9524149 7 1]. It can also be purchased for £20 post-free (UK) direct from the author at 1 Squirrel Wood, West Byfleet, KT14 6PE, United Kingdom Tel. (+44) (0)1932 342566. e-mail: Your sterling cheque should be payable to ‘Andrew Lamb’. This is just the latest in an impressive list of titles from the same author, which include biographies on Henry Russell, Harry Fragson, Leslie Stuart and the Offenbach Family.

The Winter 2012 edition of "Freedom Today", the quarterly magazine of The Freedom Association, included an edited version of Alan Bunting’s article on Sound Copyright, which was published inJournal Into Melody last December. "Freedom Today" circulates among the major ‘shakers and movers’ in the British establishment, and it is to be hoped that the JIM article will alert them to the downside of the European Union’s directive. It is probably too late to expect a change of heart, although the proposals do not become legally binding until all EU states have ratified them; at the time of writing this has not yet happened.

There will be a swinging evening of jazz with the Nicola Farnon Trio on Wednesday 11 July at St Marys Church, Elsworthy Road, Primrose Hill, London NW3 3DJ. Featuring Nicola on piano and double bass, Piero Tucci on piano & teno sax and Phil Johnson on drums. This is a rare chance to hear Nicola (Robert Farnon's niece) in London. Tickets are £5 (£4 concessions) and can be obtained by email on , by ringing Celyn on 020 722 3238 or at the door on the night. Licensed bar.

It seems that Tony Bennett still has an endless supply of energy, for which his countless fans are eternally grateful. This year he is undertaking what would be a punishing schedule of performances for any singer, let alone one in his eighties. After tours in Australia and Europe he will be at several prestigious venues in the UK this summer, notably Symphony Hall, Birmingham – 24 June; Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow – 25 June; Liverpool Empire – 27 June; the Royal Albert Hall in London on 30 June and 1 July; and the Palace Theatre, Manchester, on 3 July. Thanks to Mark Fox for keeping us informed.

André Leon missed our May London meeting this year, because he flew back to his original home in Johannesburg on 26 April. He writes: "During the time away I'll be celebrating my 50th Year in Broadcasting. It was in 1962 that the Natal Mercury in Durban wrote a half-page column In The Mood for Mood Music. ‘The Idler’ wrote the article about my unusual hobby of collecting signature tunes! (Now 50 years on I'm letting them know what's happened in-between!). The article led to an offer from a radio production Company, Herrick Merrill Radio Productions. They made programmes for SABC's National Commercial Service.... ‘Springbok Radio’. A year later I joined LM Radio, then on to the SABC in Johannesburg. I came to England in 1969 and found that the BBC was not exactly waiting for me!! But I've managed to make a few useful contributions since, and found good luck at Invicta Radio, Capital and later Classic fM! A few years at Decca Records, Carlin Music and Boosey & Hawkes and the rest (in a nutshell) is History! How nice, also to be involved with the Robert Farnon Society. And hopefully a future place will be found also for.... UKLightRadio! Where I'll be concentrating in early July to make more programmes. Next schedules via Radio Six International is now planned for August (Autumn season)." André Leon returns to London on 21 June.

We are sorry to learn that two more long-established music appreciation societies have recently closed down. The Dick Haymes and Glenn Miller societies have joined a growing list, indicating that younger music lovers are now seemingly unaware of the great musical heritage that is in danger of being neglected in future. Happily there are exceptions, and our friends in the Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby societies are still going strong. It is particularly sad that the Glenn Miller Society has closed down, because the Robert Farnon (Appreciation) Society had strong links with them back in the 1950s, through people like the late Geoffrey Butcher who was a walking encyclopaedia on Miller’s music.

John Wilson’s latest CD for EMI is due to be released on 1 October. It features music from the film versions of five of their top shows, originally produced on Broadway. For more details please see page 54 of this issue. The John Wilson Orchestra will take the new Rodgers & Hammerstein album on tour in the autumn and will play the following dates in Britain: 

October 20 Birmingham Symphony Hall 
October 22 Leeds Town Hall 
October 23 Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Hall 
October 24 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 
October 25 Gateshead The Sage 
October 26 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 
October 27 Brighton Dome 
October 29 London Royal Festival Hall 
October 30 London Royal Festival Hall 
November 1 Cardiff St David’s Hall 
November 5 Manchester Bridgewater Hall

Our friends in the Light Music Society regularly hold a series of events over a weekend in late summer, including a concert where its members form an orchestra under conductor Gavin Sutherland, who also happens to be the LMS Chairman! This year they have moved the event from its usual Lancashire venue down to Cambridge, over the weekend 22-23 September. On the Saturday LMS members will be participating in an Orchestral Play-Day which commences at 9:30am and continues until 5:00pm. The orchestra will be led by Shelley van Loen. Members will then have a short break before Dinner at the Royal Cambridge Hotel. (These events are subject to advance booking). On Sunday there will be an afternoon Concert by the Cambridge Concert Orchestra at 3:00pm where everyone is invited to attend.

Our RFS member, Ron Hare, has written and prepared an excellent background piece on fellow RFS member Frank Comstock. It appears on Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Comstock (or simply search Google for ‘Frank Comstock’. Forrest Patten’s interview with Frank that originally appeared in JIM is also available on the Robert Farnon Society website.

Around two years ago David Ades was asked to assist the Imperial War Museum in recreating the original music that Rosie Newman chose to accompany her film shows, especially during and immediately following the Second World War. Alan Bunting also assisted by digitally remastering the original discs that were rediscovered in recent years, and the results appeared towards the end of last year in the DVD "Rosie Newman’s Britain At War in Colour" issued by Strike Force Entertainment in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum. The Federation Of Commercial Audio Visual Libraries (FOCAL) staged its 2012 International Awards in London on 2 May, and the Rosie Newman DVD won the Award for ‘Best Use of Footage in a Home Entertainment Release’. The DVD contains some amazing colour sequences from an era normally only shown in black and white. The film can be viewed as originally presented by Rosie Newman with the music soundtrack. It can also be seen with the music plus a commentary taken from Rosie’s writings. As a bonus feature there is a short documentary explaining how the DVD was prepared, including the restoration of the music soundtrack.

Serge Elhaik contacts us from France to tell us that he is enjoying his retirement, and putting it to good use! He writes: "I have finished for Marianne Melodie a CD of Paul Mauriat with 5 rare instrumentals of the 50s and the early 60s, together with 19 songs backed by Paul for various singers. Some are very popular singers, others are more obscure, and that is a collection which will please, I hope, the keen followers of Paul." Serge also hopes that he can devote more time to adding to his impressive list of books: he is currently thinking about a new project about French popular music.

The Edinburgh Light Orchestra, under its conductor James Beyer, is currently enjoying its 35^thAnniversary Year, and its Spring concert on Saturday 26 May was a great success. Their next concert is on Saturday 3 November – as usual at the Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh commencing at 7:30, when the soloist with the orchestra will be the soprano Elizabeth McKeon. Programme details were not available as we went to press, but these are probably on the orchestra’s website by now -www.edinburghlightorchestra.moonfruit.com RFS members are also welcome to contact James Beyer direct at  or by telephone – 0131 334 3140.

RFS member – and distinguished light music composer - Paul Lewis is now well advanced with work on From Armchair Theatre to "Woof!" by Way of Benny Hill - Memoirs of a Media Composer, an autobiography for Kaleidoscope Publishing. This is an anecdotal account of Paul's life, from childhood as the son of a half-Russian violinist mother, one of a generation of professional musicians, through teenage years avoiding Music College by working for music publishers (including Paxtons in Dean Street, Soho), his time as Assistant Musical Adviser to ABC TV at Teddington Studios and his subsequent freelance composing career. The book will be profusely illustrated and will include a CD of extracts from some of Paul's earliest Armchair Theatre scores and the first TV production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1967. More recently Paul enchanted children and their parents alike with his superb musical accompaniments for the ITV series Woof! which was so popular in the 1990s, and has been seen in many countries around the world. Each show (about the boy who could become a dog - and then a boy again!) had its own specially composed music score, played by musicians such as Tommy Reilly - something that would seem unimaginable for a children's drama series today. Publication of Paul's autobiography is scheduled for Spring 2013 to coincide with his 70th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his first TV credit. Other commitments permitting, Paul is hoping to renew friendships with fellow RFS members at our London meeting next May.

Joe DePaola contacted us from Texas to report that his local classical radio station WRR101 played two tracks from Robert Farnon’s Reference Recordings CD in June: A La Claire Fontaine and A Promise of Spring. It is a pity that these performances by Bob conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are not heard more often.

Our committee member Brian Reynolds tends to hide his light under a bushel! From time to time he had mentioned that he has composed the ‘odd piece of music’, and we knew that Frank Chacksfield had included one of Brian’s works Souvenir de Montmartre occasionally in his BBC radio programmes. Just recently Brian confided in us that he had been surprised (and no doubt delighted) to discover that Frank had included this piece on one of his Decca LPs in the late 1960s. A recent letter to the Editor reveals that Brian’s composing activities have been far more extensive than he has previously revealed! He writes: "You may be interested to know that the Invicta Concert Band from Kent has approached me with an offer to make a complete CD of my compositions! The idea came from the band musicians (some of whom are RFS members) and has been approved by both the conductor and the Band Chairman. It's early days yet, but I hope it will come to fruition in the next few months. As the band ask me to conduct something at most of their concerts, I shall probably conduct one or two pieces on the CD. I recall approaching the Life Guards band with this idea years ago but was told (quite rightly) that my name would mean nothing to anyone and my pieces would not be familiar. I put the same argument to the Invicta band, but they would not hear of it and told me – ‘People like good tunes, and you compose good tunes’. So, as they say, - watch this space! Incidentally, I have found four of my pieces on 'Spotify' including Elizabethan Tapestry which I was asked to compose for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1975. Also, to my astonishment, I found mySouvenir de Montmartre from the Frank Chacksfield Orchestra! I had no idea that he'd ever commercially recorded it, although he often broadcast it!" As soon as we learn more about the proposed CD of Brian’s music, we will certainly give full details in JIM.

James Beyer recently sent us a cutting from ‘Projections’ – a privately published magazine for film (and DVD) collectors. The short feature relates that the notorious criminal and serial murderer John Christie was a film buff. He particularly admired Gregory Peck and Virginia Mayo, so he must surely have seen "Captain Horatio Hornblower, RN" in which they both starred. But Christie’s cinema-going days were numbered. Soon after he would have seen the film (and presumably enjoyed Robert Farnon’s stirring music) three of Christie’s victims were discovered in his former flat at 10 Rillington Place. He was hanged at Pentonville Prison on 15 July 1953.

RFS member/composer John McLain tells us that the renowned theatre organist Len Rawle, MBE, has recorded four of his marches, and John’s novelty piece The Wedding Train is now in Len’s performance repertoire. UK members may remember that Len appeared many years ago in the outstanding BBC documentary "Metroland" where he played the organ at his home in Chorleywood to an appreciative Sir John Betjeman.

In June BBC Four in the UK screened a short documentary series called "London on Film". The first programme was about the West End, and a short sequence showing Piccadilly Circus was taken from the 1950s colour travel film "This Is London", with Robert Farnon’s music clearly heard behind Rex Harrison’s commentary.

Paul Barnes (who presents one of the best popular music shows on BBC Radio in the East Anglia region) did his usual birthday tribute to Bob Farnon in his late-night Saturday programme on 21 July. Paul has recently interviewed John Wilson for Saga magazine. He told us at the end of July: "I interviewed JW (he was kind enough to say it was the best interview he’d ever done), and I sat in on a recording session for the new Rodgers/Hammerstein album at Abbey Road. I also interviewed Andrew Haveron, Matt Skelton and Mike Lovatt. Saga went to town with the photography and they tell me that words and pictures make for a great spread. I think it’s scheduled for the August edition, which means that it should appear any time about now. Of course, Saga is available on subscription only, but it has sales in excess of 600,000, and a readership of about three times that."

"THE GOLDEN AGE OF LIGHT MUSIC"

is currently being broadcast each Saturday evening at 20:00 GMT on Radio Six International, with a repeat the following Sunday morning. The programmes are compiled and introduced by David Ades, and feature music from the Guild series of Light Music CDs.

Radio Six International can be heard throughout the world via the internet: www.radiosix.com

The Guild "Golden Age of Light Music" series of CDs celebrated its 100^th release in November 2012. For details of the latest collections, please visit the ‘Light Music CDs’ pages of this website, or visit guildmusic.com

Early in August we were in touch with Sam Jackson, Managing Editor of the UK classical music station Classic fm. Naturally the subject of the amount of Light Music played on national radio stations cropped up, and it was encouraging to hear Sam make these comments: "We're big fans of Light Music here, and we love to champion it on-air. There's always at least one Light Music piece on Alan Titchmarsh's Saturday programme (9am-midday) each week, and it forms a regular part of the rest of our output, too." John Brunning’s early evening ‘Drive’ programme presented several tracks from Iain Sutherland’s new CD "In London Town". We know that a number of RFS members get in touch with various radio stations from time to time. Unless they get some kind of feed-back from listeners, the presenters do not know if their audience enjoys what they are playing. It is not a bad idea to occasionally contact them to say "thank-you for playing light music!" Indeed Classic fm did do light music fans proud on Monday 17 September. The previous evening John Wilson conducted the Northern Sinfonia in a concert at the Sage, Gateshead, and Classic fm devoted two hours to it from 8:00pm onwards. Among the familiar works conducted by John were Calling All Workers, Summer Days Suite, Knightsbridge and By The Sleepy Lagoon (Eric Coates), Jumping Bean (Robert Farnon),Sketch Of A Dandy and London Landmarks Suite (Haydn Wood), Nell Gwyn Overture (Edward German), Dusk (Armstrong Gibbs), The Yeoman Of The Guard Overture (Sullivan), Devil’s Galop(Charles Williams) Coronation Scot (Vivian Ellis and Rouge et Noir (Fred Hartley).

The high cost of printing and distributing appreciation society magazines has taken its toll on yet another long established music society. The Spring 2012 issue (received in August) of ‘Pro Musica Sana’, the Miklos Rozsa Society publication which first appeared in 1972, is the last to appear in printed form. Like some others, its future existence will now concentrate on its internet website –www.miklosrozsa.org We are sure that John Fitzpatrick (in the USA) and Alan Hamer (in London) will continue to keep music lovers fully informed about this great composer, whose standing remains as high as ever among admirers of film music.

For those vintage film/documentary lovers amongst us, and we know there are quite a few, the British Council has put 80 of their films on line here :

http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-council-film-collection

Most of them date from wartime and there is some wonderful footage of London and the countryside more generally (some in colour) in many of these films. Some of the soundtrack music will appeal to light music lovers, and the quirkier topics include the origins of the English language, how the British Justice system works, etc. The film "Colour In Clay" has music by Jack Beaver; others feature music by William Alwyn, Richard Addinsell, Ralph Vaughan Williams etc.

Surfing members might also like to visit:http://landofllostcontent.blogspot.fr/search/label/Robert%20Farnon

(Thanks to Nigel Burlinson for this information).

An essential piece of information from Tony Clayden: Did you know that Brian Kay was the lowest ’frog’ on Paul McCartney’s recording of We All Stand Together [The Frogs’ Chorus ] ?

Norman Jackson is a big fan of the Scarborough Spa Orchestra. He tells us that the versatility of the players is amazing, and their library of ‘our kind of music’ is immense. As an example, Norman has sent us just one day’s programme of music performed by the orchestra (musical director Paul Laidlaw). Among over 30 pieces during two shows (at 11:00 am and 7:45 pm) the wide choice of music included Barnacle Bill (Ashworth Hope), Mam’selle Mannequin (Percy Fletcher), Vanity Fair(Anthony Collins), Devil’s Galop (Charles Williams, Jumping Bean (Robert Farnon), Blithlely Along(Paul Fenoulhet), The Girl From Corsica (Trevor Duncan), Penny Whistle Song (Leroy Anderson),Sailing By (Ronald Binge),Samum (Carl Robrecht) and the march Oxford Street (Eric Coates). Some years ago the orchestra was threatened with closure, but thousands of members of the public (Including Norman and his wife) joined forces to protest – and were successful at Keeping it alive. With a repertoire like this, perhaps we should all make a pilgrimage to Scarborough next summer!

For some years Philip Scowcroft’s book "British Light Music" has been out of print. Originally published in 1997 by Thames Publishing, it remains sought-after by light music aficionados and music students alike. The good news is that another publisher is interested in making it available once again. Dance Books Ltd (Southwell House, Isington Road, Binstead, Hampshire, GU34 4PH) are planning to issue a facsimile edition of the original, but Philip will be allowed to make a few amendments and there is likely to be a new cover. He would have preferred to undertake a complete update, and add many more composers, but this is not possible, no doubt for financial reasons. The new edition is likely to cost in the region of £12.50 and we will let you know when it becomes available.

Volume 3 of the British Transport Films Collection contains the 1956 film ‘Making Tracks’. The music haunted me but no details were included in the credits. It seemed to be folk inspired but my guess that it might have been written by Vaughan Williams proved unfounded. I didn’t want to give up and recently discovered that it was taken from Gustav Holst’s Suites Number 1 and 2 which were based on English folk songs. Although first published in 1909 and 1911 respectively, they had just been recorded by Frederick Fennell and the Eastman Wind Ensemble and it is their version which was used on the film. These, along with The Planets, and other pieces are available on the Decca double CD 480 2323. Howard Ripley

We love to tell you about our talented fellow members, and a new book is warmly recommended. "It Shouldn’t Happen To A Teacher" is written by David Franklin, a retired deputy headmaster who kept a diary of incredible but true stories. Written in a highly engaging style and with a cynical irony born of decades of dealing with children, parents and fellow teachers, he has produced a work of both charm and wit, yet full of pathos. Hundreds of anecdotes include losing pupils at Alton Towers and on the Underground in London, catching a band of petty thieves while the Queen was driving past, discovering two pupils sleeping in a school wheelie bin, trying not to laugh when a colleague dressed as a frogman tripped over his flippers in assembly, and many more. Illustrated with several brilliant cartoons by JIM’s own talented artist, Ken Wilkins, this hilarious book will bring a smile to the face of all who remember their school days with affection and makes an ideal stocking filler for both parents and grandparents. For reasons you will understand when you read the book, ‘David Franklin’ is a pen name, and we have been sworn to secrecy regarding his true identity! The book is a softback (160 pages) published by Bretwalda Books Ltd - ISBN 978-1-909099-15-9, price £7.99. As a special offer to RFS members, the author has asked Peter Worsley (of ‘This England’ and ‘Evergreen’ magazines) to handle sales for him at a special price of ONLY £6 (which includes UK p&p) or £11 for two books. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, act quickly (supplies are limited!) and send a cheque, payable to P.R. Worsley, direct to him at Karakorum, Sunnyfield Lane, Cheltenham, GL51 6JE, England.

In the notes accompanying the first volume of ‘Great British Composers’ (GLCD5195) the true identity of the conductor ‘Eric Johnson’ was the subject of speculation. Reference was made to researches on the internet which pointed to the likelihood of ‘Johnson’ being Dr Kurt List, but thanks to further investigations by music academics, prompted by Guild’s CD, it appears that the recordings were not made in London, but in the Mozart-Saal of the Vienna Konzerthaus between May and July 1960 by the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. The conductor of the Eric Coates recordings was Josef Leo Gruber, a violinist with the Vienna Volksoper Orchestra. He conducted the Vienna State Opera Orchestra for several Westminster recordings, when this orchestra comprised musicians from its own members and also those of the Volksoper Orchestra. The recordings were produced by Kurt List, the Music Director for New York-based Westminster Records. Thanks to Andrew Lamb for this information.

The thorny subject of the raising of sound copyright from 50 to 70 years in the EU is continuing to concern many members, who realise that their hopes that more light music from the mid-1960s might be made available once more are likely to be dashed. Alan Bunting is in regular correspondence with the Intellectual Property Office regarding the UK’s response, and it seems that the Government plans to implement the legislation in the autumn of 2013. This means that recordings from 1963 onwards will no longer be available to independent record companies to reissue, unless they pay the large fees demanded by the major companies to license the material. But the preparatory work on the legislation is throwing up all kinds of problems regarding implementation, as we predicted in JIM. If similar difficulties over interpretation are being experienced by all the other EU countries which have this matter forced upon them, goodness only knows what the outcome will be. If Alan can make any sense of future developments, he promises to pass them on to us!

If you fancy a weekend by the sea, and at the same time enjoy some light music, Morecambe is the place to be at the beginning of September. The late summer weekend organised by The Light Music Society is now a well established part of Britain’s light music scene, and each year it seems to get better. On Saturday 3 September the Society will hold its Annual General Meeting at Heysham Methodist Church at 11:00am, followed by lunch. At 2:00pm the LMS Orchestra will be rehearsing (members can observe) and there will be a talk and exhibition of Light Music Memorabilia. In the evening a Festival Dinner will be held at the Clarendon Hotel, Morecambe at which the guest speaker will be Philip Lane. On the Sunday morning the LMS Orchestra will have another rehearsal, with the concert taking place at The Platform, Morecambe at 3:00pm with Gavin Sutherland conducting. For more information please visit the LMS website – www.lightmusicsociety.com – or email the secretary, Hilary Ashton: 

If you are one of the many people now on Twitter, you’ll be glad to know that Debbie Wiseman posts regular updates about her latest work, albums and concerts on there. Her username (which you need to find the correct page!) is @wisemandebbie. On June 2nd Debbie is conducting a suite from "The Promise" at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Film Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.