WERNER TAUTZ – Time for Music Bing Bang, The Better Idea, On the Road South, Your Tenderness, Piccadilly Walk, Portrait of a Dream, Black Velvet, Tokyo Tea Time, etc… 25 tracksVarious German Orchestras. (Germany) Bliss Records BRA 10011, 77:15 mins. Werner Tautz celebrated his 80th birthday last December, and this great collection of 25 of his compositions is a worthy tribute. Many readers of this magazine will already be familiar with Werner’s tuneful melodies through earlier Bliss Records releases, and they will be aware of his talent for composing bright and tuneful works that are so easy on the ear. This time the emphasis is more on dance and swing music, and once again Werner demonstrates that he is a master of this as well. The music simply bounces along happily from track to track, with some great big band sounds from various German radio orchestras that may well come as a pleasant surprise to collectors who think that the Americans (and perhaps a few British outfits) had a monopoly in this area. Not so! The likes of Kurt Edelhagen, Delle Haensche, Alfred Hause, Horst Jankowski, Erwin Lehn, Werner Müller and even Britain’s Reg Owen, all have a ball playing Werner’s great tunes. The recordings date from 1956 to 1977, and they seem to come from all the top radio stations in Germany. The booklet notes are in German and English, and I have no hesitation in saying that this new CD is going to give a lot of pleasure to folks who enjoy tuneful big band music from a few decades ago. David Ades Bliss CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £14 [US $28] each.
MORE BEWITCHING PIANO Eddie Heywood – Sweet and Lovely, Who’s Sorry Now; Steve Race – So in Love; Ben Light – Perfidia, Tea For Two; Carmen Cavallaro – They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Some Enchanted Evening; Frankie Carle – Running Wild, Sunrise Serenade; Semprini – Kitten on the Keys; Stanley Black – Falling in Love with Love; Vivian Ellis – "Bless the Bride" selection; plus Diana Lynn, Jan August, Barclay Allen, Carroll Gibbons, Felix King, Ian Stewart, Frankie Froba and Eddy Duchin – 24 tracks Memoir CDMOIR 571, 76:38 mins. It would be hard to imagine a better choice of pianists than this, and this recent collection from Memoir will find its way into the hands of many appreciative piano lovers. The Vivian Ellis selection from his hit show "Bless The Bride" is a real gem. Digital sound restoration is in the safe hands of Ted Kendall, proving once again that the dusty grooves of those old 78s contained more magical sounds than we realised at the time. David Ades
THE BIG BEAUTIFUL MALE VOICE Edmund Hockridge – Just Say I Love Her, I Leave My Heart in an English Garden, If I Loved You; Howard Keel – The Girl That I Marry, My Defences are Down; Gordon MacRae – So in Love; Allan Jones – If, Falling In Love With Love; Lee Lawrence – So Ends my Search for a Dream, How Can You Buy Killarney?; David Hughes – With These Hands, A Beggar in Love; plus John Raitt, Teddy Johnson, Vaughan Monroe, Harry Dawson, Lester Ferguson, Georges Guetary, Reggie Goff and Bill Johnson – 24 tracks Memoir CDMOIR 572, 72:45 mins. The title of this CD is a bit of a mouthful, but then it features some very big voices! If you think of your favourite male singer from around 50 years ago, the chances are that he will be included in this collection.David Ades
THE MOZART LOUNGE Stanislaus, A Long Cigarette, Zottos, Halogene, Cindy’s Jump, Blues in Italy, Fake Three, Pluto, Arcadia, Midnight Shadow, Bamba, Jasmin, Wagtail, I’ll Wait for your Love, Three Cats, Moonshot, Haute Couture & You Have Gone Apollo Sound APSCD229, 44:55 mins. Apart from track 7 ‘Fake Three’ by Paul Lewis, the names of the other composers may be a little unfamiliar, although they will mean a lot to the aficionados of Test Card Music: W. Kubiczeck, H. Walther, J. Gleichmann, M. Peiper, M. Gutesha, G. Peguri, T. Schumann, Sapabo, H. Stuck … etc (pity their first names aren’t given in full). If you haven’t yet realised from the title, these recordings emanate from the Mozart Edition Production Music Library, which has already been ‘raided’ in previous releases from Apollo Sound (and ASV). This latest compilation is not really light music, but tuneful, rhythmic pop of the kind that tended to overwhelm us in the 1970s. Perhaps it is aimed more at the ‘serious’ collectors of this kind of repertoire, which will certainly ensure that sales are healthy. Sound quality is good, although I do wonder if some people might feel that the total running time of under 45 minutes is a trifle ungenerous. David Ades Apollo Sound CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £12.75 [US $25.50] each.
SKYSCRAPERS – SYMPHONIC JAZZ Skyscrapers (John Alden Carpenter), Manhattan Serenade & Manhattan Moonlight (Louis Alter), Two American Sketches (Thomas Griselle), Song of the Bayou (Rube Bloom), New Year’s Eve in New York (Hans Werner-Janssen), Skyward (Nathaniel Shilkret), My Silent Love (Dana Suesse), Buffoon (Zez Confrey) Victor Symphony/Concert Orchestra conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret Naxos 8120644, 64:23 mins. I was attracted to this CD as soon as I read about it in the monthly Naxos list, and it certainly provides a fascinating insight into one aspect of the American recording scene way back around 1930, when jazz was making such an impact. Many of the works are new to me, particularly the opening number Skyscrapers by John Alden Carpenter, which runs to almost 22 minutes. When I first listened to it I considered it to be pretentious and boring, but then I took it with me on a long car journey, and found myself playing it repeatedly. There really is a lot going for this work, although the main reason why it isn’t better known could be because it lacks the kind of strong romantic theme that Gershwin, for example, would have conjured up. But I find it fascinating, none-the-less. On the other hand, Louis Alter’sManhattan Serenade is a well-known delightful standard, although this is a fragmentary arrangement which comes to annoying abrupt pauses, just when you think the melody is finally going to take off. The American Sketches by Thomas Griselle are far more satisfying, as is Rude Bloom’s Song of the Bayou and that lovely song by Dana Suesse My Silent Love. Perhaps the best-known work is the closing number Buffoon, by that ‘Kitten on the Keys’ man, Zez Confrey; this is a ‘fun’ arrangement! All in all this is an interesting collection, a bit disappointing here and there, but who can really complain at such a bargain price – around £5. Producer David Lennick and sound engineer Graham Newton have worked wonders with these ancient grooves. I urge you to sample it. David Ades
JEAN SABLON J’attendrai, These Foolish Things, La Chanson des Rues, Vous qui Passez sans me Voir, Paris tu n’as pas Change, Symphony, Pigalle, My Foolish Heart, C’est si Bon, etc… 20 tracksNaxos 8120641, 62:57 mins. I have always enjoyed the voice of Jean Sablon, one of the several talented singers of his generation whose fame spread well beyond his native France. So I didn’t hesitate to acquire this new CD, although my initial excitement quickly turned to disappointment when I started to listen. The sound restoration is poor, and I am surprised that a company such as Naxos would release such an inferior product. It makes a nonsense of the blurb inside the booklet, which informs us that … "Naxos has engaged a number of respected restorers who have the dedication, skill and experience to produce restorations that have set new standards in the field of historical recordings." This one certainly slipped through the net: it is simply not good enough. David Ades
VICTOR HELY-HUTCHINSON A Carol Symphony Improvisations on Christmas Carols (Brian Kelly); A Carol Symphony (Victor Hely-Hutchinson); Bethlehem Down (Peter Warlock, arr. Lane); Wassail Dances (Philip Lane); A Christmas Carol Symphony (Patric Standford). City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland. Naxos 8.557099. Surprisingly, this is only the third recording of Hely-Hutchinson’s wonderful Christmas piece but this CD also includes another fine Carol Symphony composed in 1979 by Patric Standford. Also delighting the Light Music ear are excellent works by Brian Kelly, Peter Warlock and Philip Lane. Don’t think for a moment that this disc is only suitable for Christmas because it is, without doubt, all-year round delightful fayre which will give great pleasure to many. Lane’s arrangements of the Warlock piece reminds one of the string version of John Ireland’s The Holy Boy and who is to say it does not deserve equal recognition? Peter Worsley
ENTENTE CORDIALE Light Classics Peter Warlock – Capriol Suite; Dame Ethel Smyth – Two Interlinked French Melodies; Peter Hope – Four French Dances; Joseph Jongen – Two pieces; Charles Lecoco – Overture, The Lady and the Maid; Paul Lewis – A Paris; Jean Gabriel-Marie – Mireio suite; Cesar Franck – Chorale. City of Prague Philharmonic conducted by Gavin Sutherland and Christopher Phelps ASV White Line CDWHL2147, 70:25 mins. Contrary to the expectation generated by the title, the inspiration for this CD is music with a purely French influence which is either composed by the French themselves, or Belgians or the British. Our friends at ASV are right to subtitle this CD ‘Light Classics’ because readers who have purchased previous Light Music CDs in the White Line series might feel that most of the music on offer here is somewhat on the serious side. Probably the best-known work is Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite, and Peter Hope’s charming French Dances may also sound familiar through broadcast performances. Easily the most accessible piece of music in this collection is Paul Lewis’s delightful waltz A Paris which he composed in 1991. Jean Gabriel-Marie’s Mireio suite provençale is a very pleasant surprise, with the opening Prologueconfirming how much an influence Ravel exerted on composers of incidental music around 70 years ago. It would have been nice if the ‘Entente Cordiale’ idea had been exploited to its full potential by including some French musical impressions of Britain … but perhaps there aren’t any. David Ades
ORIENT EXPRESS: The Legendary Journey Captured in Music. DARYL GRIFFITH: Orient Express, KENNETH WRIGHT: Dainty Lady, F. CHARROSIN: Keep Moving, RENÉ POUGNET: Aubade, L. OLIAS: Paris Urchin, FRED HARTLEY: (arr) Five Minutes with Waldteufel, KRUGER HANSCHMANN: Farmer’s Breakfast; In the Park Café, G WINKLER: Spinning Top, KARL KOMZAK, snr: Munchen-Wien, MOZART: La Finta Giardiniera Overture, R STOLZ: Easter Parade in Vienna, KORNGOLD (Arr Artok): Marietta’s Song, SCHNEIDER: Lehar in Three Four Time, KÁLMÁN: Grand Palotas de la Reine, J. G. RENNER: Gypsy Blood, J. KNÛMANN: Roumanian Gypsy Fantasia, H. KROME: Bulgarian Dance, CECIL RAYNER: Fatina, An Eastern Waltz. London Salon Ensemble Meridian CDE 84466 (79'57") This desirable, very generously measured disc charts in light music the progress of the original Orient Express through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Rumania. We start in London with a specially composed piece of train music by Daryl Griffith, harmonium player in the LSE, and contrasting miniatures by Kenneth Wright and Frederick Charrosin. Paris Urchin is a perky number and along the way there is opportunity for all manner of dance music – waltzes by Waldteufel, Stolz, Lehar and Cecil Rayners (Constantinople, represented by an English writer for silent films!) a Bavarian peasant polka, Komzak’s delicious polka mazurka, Hungarian dances by Kalman and characteristic Rumanian and Bugarian examples (gypsy music has long been a standby of light orchestras). The transcription of Korngold’s famous song seems a touch long in this context, but Winkler’s Spinning top and Mozart’s elegant little overture are especial delights. This attractive, often unusual programme is executed in perfect style. Strongly recommended. Philip L. Sowcroft
New from Meridian is another sparkling CD from the London Salon Ensemble – this time recreating in music a journey on the original Orient Express which ran from London to Constantinople (Istanbul). The cities on the journey are represented either by title, composer, or both. The title tune Orient Express is really rather special as it is a first-rate piece of Light Music composed specifically for the Ensemble by their Harmonium, Celesta and Percussion player, Daryll Griffith. A versatile musician is Daryll, having not only played violin with the BBC Concert Orchestra, but having also conducted it! Having heard several of his many compositions, I have been amazed that for a relatively young man he has a marvellous understanding of the light music idiom. Before leaving London we are serenaded by Kenneth Wright’s delightful Dainty Lady. The theme of the CD provides the Ensemble with a wonderful excuse (as if one was needed) to include Charrosin’s scintillating string fresco Keep Moving– a piece that ‘brings the house down’ at their public concerts. In France we meet a Paris Urchin, a possibly unfamiliar yet enchanting piece of typically 1950s style light music, featuring the accordion of Neil Varley (who is the producer of Brian Kay’s Light Programme on Radio-3). Its composer, Lotar Olias, apparently once submitted an entry for the Eurovision Song Contest! Well, nobody’s perfect! We are then treated to some Waldteufel waltzes (Fred Hartley style). Fred was incidentally Head of Light Music at the BBC from 1940-1944 (not 1946 as stated in the booklet). Other delights include In a Park Café and Winkler’s Spinning Top. As we reach Salzburg, what more appropriate than Mozart’s tiny overture La Finta Giardiniera. On then to Vienna with waltz medleys by Stolz and Lehar, and then to Budapest and Bucharest with some typical gypsy music, including Renner’s Gypsy Blood. After aBulgarian Dance by Hermann Krome, we conclude our journey in Constantinople with an Eastern Waltz by Cecil Rayners – Fatima. There’s something for everyone on this CD, which is superbly played and recorded in natural acoustics. Howard Friend’s informative notes are of great interest; we are also treated to a picture of the London Salon Ensemble as well as a reproduction of an actual Orient Express timetable (assuming that it wasn’t cancelled for engineering works or leaves on the line!). Although this commendable CD is available in the shops for £14.99, it is suggested that you purchase it at a much reduced price direct from the Ensemble. You should contact: Lars Payne, 40 Durand Gardens, London SW9 0PP, England – or telephone him on 0207 735 7948. Brian Reynolds
DENNIS LOTIS Decca Singles Undecided, That’s-a-Why, Settin’ the Woods on Fire, Don’t Let the Stars get in your Eyes, Ma Says Pa Says, I Collect, Wild Horses, etc… 25 tracks Vocalion CDLK4150, 61:29 mins. Ted Heath was fortunate in having several top vocalists who became star performers in their own right. Vocalion has already reissued some classic tracks by Dickie Valentine (CDLK4147), and now it is the turn of Dennis Lotis – happily still appearing regularly on stage with Rosemary Squires. It seems incredible that he has been singing for over 50 years, and these early recordings reveal that he was one of the very best. He didn’t always have very good songs to sing, but it is fun to hear the best (and the worst!) once again in this enjoyable compilation. David Ades
TED HEATH Big Band Dixie Sound That’s a Plenty, I Wish I could Shimmy like my Sister Kate, The Darktown Strutters Ball, etc… Big Band Blues St. Louis Blues, Memphis Blues, Blues in the Night, etc… Vocalion CDLK4155, 77:14 mins. Vocalion continues to serve Ted Heath fans magnificently, with a steady stream of LP reissues. No doubt Ted’s legion of fans will add this latest to their CD collections. David Ades
BRITISH BY ARRANGEMENT Beatlecracker Suite (Tchaikovsky/Lennon & McCartney arr. Arthur Wilkinson); The African Queen (Allan Gray arr. Philip Lane); Nocturne (Borodin arr. Malcolm Sargent); Dances from Terpsichore (Praetorius arr. Philip Lane); Variations (Donizetti arr. Robert Irving), Mendelssohniana (Philip Lane). City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland. ASV White Line CD WHL 2142. Tchaikovsky and the Beatles may sound an unusual combination but after you have heard Wilkinson’s Beatlecracker Suite you will marvel at the juxtaposition of the eight short movements. Philip Lane is a master of arrangement and his continuing fruitful relationship with conductor Gavin Sutherland has again hit the Light Music bullseye. Who is next for the treatment? Edmund Whitehouse
BILLY MAYERL Marigold; Hollyhock; Four Aces Suite (Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds, Spades); The Joker; Hop-o’-my-Thumb; Jazz Master; Railroad Rhythm; The Song of the Fir Tree; Harp of the Winds; Three Dances in Syncopation (English, Cricket, Harmonica); Aquarium Suite (Willow Moss, Moorish Idol, Fantail, Whirligig) (all Billy Mayerl); Wake Up and Dream medley (Cole Porter); Baby’s Birthday(Ronell); Balloons (Magine), Here Comes the Bride medley (Schwartz), Limehouse Blues (Braham). Evergreen Melodies CL2. Released to celebrate Billy’s centenary alongside an article in This Englandmagazine, all the original tracks feature the "Nimble fingered gentleman" himself. Apart from theAquarium Suite which includes his own orchestra playing in the background, they are exciting piano solos, played mostly at the frenetic pace which made the maestro such an exciting entertainer. Also available in shortened cassette form. Eat your heart out, Liberace! Edmund Whitehouse
LITA ROZA Decca Singles The Blacksmith Blues, Allentown Jail, High Noon, Early Autumn, Walkin’ to Missouri, Half as Much, etc… 25 tracks Vocalion CDLK4160, 68:19 mins. Vocalion has already released a CD of two of Lita’s Decca LPs (CDLK4126), but now the spotlight falls on her singles. She had some big hits (Blacksmith Blues and Allentown Jail) and recorded many songs that have survived the years. Of course, this selection finds her with her boss Ted Heath, as well as Reg Owen, Johnny Douglas, Roland Shaw and Bob Sharples. Voted No. 1 Female Vocalist from 1952 until 1955, these 78s are part of Britain’s Pop History; it is important that they should be available. David Ades
CYRIL STAPLETON Decca Singles Collection for full tracklisting see page 48 of JIM 153 – December 2002 Vocalion CDLK4154, 77:57 mins. Fans with fond memories for the BBC’s "Show Band Show" have probably invested already; so these notes are aimed at potential first-time buyers. Much recorded in 1952, Eric Spear’s Meet Mr. Callaghan features Miller-type saxes in this version, while the treatment of Doll Dance could hardly be more Latin-Sixty-ish. Loads of variety in-between-times too; that corkingly brassy Elephants’ Tango and the catchy Italian Theme, the latter an instant recall by me after years, nay decades silence. More nostalgia, should one recall the march which introduced "Highway Patrol"; and more warmly romantic film/TV melodies by Max Steiner and Victor Young. Pop-inflected pieces present shorter, punchily-rhythmic melodic lines; and so on. Many tracks showcase brilliant engineering (Kenneth Wilkinson, perhaps?) as well as musical skills. Some traditionalists might object to the vocal ‘intrusions’, but they are few and one can skip them in the generous 30 tracks. Michael Dutton’s faithful exemplary transfers (I’ve compared where I could) add to an already strong recommendation. Finally, see if you can spot the tiny paraphrase on Great Little Army during track 9! John Govier
JOHNNY KEATING SOUND The Keating Sound Listen, Speak Low, Baghdad Blues, Serenata, etc…Straight Ahead The Preacher, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Hey Girl, etc… Vocalion CDLK4165, 73:31 mins. Johnny Keating was chief arranger for Ted Heath, so he knew a thing or two about Dance and Swing Bands. He also knew that, by the 1960s, the days of the ‘traditional’ dance bands were well and truly numbered. Things had to change, and these two LPs from 1964 and 1965 illustrate graphically how Johnny felt they should change. My goodness, how people sat up and took notice when they heard the first track Listen! It still has the same effect today. Malcolm Laycock’s note puts everything into the right perspective, and if you had any doubts about the quality of the musicians a glance at the credits will reveal that only the top session men were good enough to play these adventurous charts. I missed these LPs the first time around; I am very glad to have them now!David Ades
JACK BUCHANAN Medley (Two Little Bluebirds, It’s Not You, There’s Always Tomorrow, Dancing Honeymoon, And Her Mother Came Too, Who); Everything Stops For Tea; Fancy Our Meeting; From One Minute to Another; Goodnight Vienna; I Think I Can; I’m In a Dancing Mood; etc... Evergreen Melodies CYC. The alleged comment made after Fred Astaire’s first audition was "Can’t act, can’t sing but can dance a little"! The same accusations were made about Jack Buchanan, Britain’s Fred Astaire lookalike. There were many similarities between the two and all these excellent songs from the Thirties go with a swing which make the listener hum along without even realising it. His main leading lady was Elsie Randolph who pops up on five of the tracks with a man she described as "Immaculate in dress and behaviour, totally and unselfishly dedicated to the theatre". Also available in shortened cassette form. Edmund Whitehouse
"Music At Sunset" Beating Retreat - DUNN: The Captain General and Fanfare, Salute for Heroes; HANDEL arr. DUNN: Where ere You Walk; McBAIN: Bugle March; Mechanised Infantry, plus drummings, Heart of Oak, Land of Hope and Glory, Cockaigne, Evening Hymn and Sunset, Rule Britannia and A Life on the Ocean Wave; Music at Sunset - ALFORD: Marches, By Land and Sea and The Vedette and Waltz, Thoughts, ZETHLE: Viscount Nelson March, BRIDGER: The Shanghai Sailor; CLIFTON PARKER: Sink the Bismarck TATTOO ALFORD: The Middy; RAUSCH: Bugle March, Sambre et Meuse; DUNN Royal Flourish No.2 and March, Passing By; HANDEL arr. DUNN: March and Air plus Drummings, Crown Imperial, Jerusalem, and Evening Hymn and Last Post.) Band of HM Royal Marines School of Music / Lt. Col. F. Vivian Dunn. EASTNEY COLLECTION RMHSEC 007, £12.00 each incl. p & p from 60 Mayford Road, London SW12 8SN, England. This is a superb tribute to that fine musician and great gentleman, Sir Vivian Dunn, one of several from Eastney, but this one shows his talent not just as a conductor, but as an arranger and composer. It falls into three parts, the first and third being a recreation of military ceremonies with appropriate music, mostly marches and fanfares, with snippets of Elgar, Parry, Walton and Handel - some moving moments here. In between we have a short concert comprising three marches, two of them by Alford and not among the more hackneyed ones, a film theme (and Sink the Bismarck does stir the blood), a charming waltz reminding us that Alford could compose things other than marches and the sprightly piccolo solo, The Shanghai Sailor. I like Dunn’s own compositions which skilfully incorporate popular melodies, rather as his great predecessor, Alford often did. Excellent performance and recording; need I say more.Philip L. Scowcroft
‘DAYDREAMS’ - The Chamber & Instrumental Music of Sir Arthur Sullivan String Quartet; Daydreams 1 to 6; Idyll for cello and piano; Allegro Resoluto; Slowly Slowly [cello/piano]; Berceuse, Romance for String Quartet; Thoughts 1 & 2; Twilight; Duo Concertante Yeomans String Quartet, James Watson [cello], Murray McLachlan [piano] SOMM CD 233. Sullivan composed so much more than his comic operas with Gilbert and CD companies, even performers, are gradually taking note of this. Indeed, he deserved to be known as a master of "serious" music, though much of this disc of his solo piano and chamber music is light and tuneful enough. The Daydreams are nicely varied, best being the fourth, a waltz re-cycled from a ballet. The two Thoughts are even briefer and lighter in touch. The Berceuse is Sullivan’s own transcription of an air from ‘Cox and Box’. Most substantial are the fairly recently rediscovered one movement Quartet – a student work like theRomance and both showing Mendelssohn’s example – and the Duo Concertante for cello and orchestra. Practically all the piano and cello works date from the 1860s; Slowly Slowly is a transcription by Berthold Tows of an excerpt from ‘The Golden Legend’. Performances are very good, with a special mention for the hard worked M McLachlan. Recording and presentation are first rate.Philip L. Scowcroft SOMM Recordings can be ordered direct from them at: 13 Riversdale Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey, KT7 0QL, England.
DAVID HUGHES Favourite Opera & Operetta Arias On with the Motley, Your tiny hand is frozen, Take a pair of sparkling eyes, etc… Songs You Love Where e’er you walk, Ave Maria, Angels Guard Thee, etc… Vocalion CDLK4166, 78:11 mins. The serious side of David Hughes is represented on these two LPs, the first with the City of Birmingham Orchestra conducted by Louis Fremaux, and the second featuring Gilbert Vinter and his Orchestra and Jack Byfield on the piano. David’s transformation from ‘Pop’ to ‘Opera’ is confirmed in these fine recordings, made not long before his sudden death from a heart attack in October 1972. Examples of his early rise to fame are already available on Vocalion CDLK4134. David Ades
‘NULLI SECUNDUS’ Burton: The Minstrel Boy; Goodwin: Second To None; Ellis: Op. Palllister; Jones: We Are The Music Makers; Barnwell: A New Start; Taylor: Wandering Minstrel; Meldrum: Decadian; Norley: Pegasus Bridge; Brydon: The Dalesman; Torrent: Excelsior; Wolfendale: The Minstrel Boy; Taylor: Oxbridge; Walters: The Castle Guard; Torrent: Flying Colours; Philbin: Crown & Lyre; Burton: Foggy Foggy Dew; Brown: Strident King, On The Countermarch; Hallatt: Scutad; Goodwin: Esprit de Corps; Hopla: The White Rose; Hamilton: Oath For All Corps Comrades; Allen: The Musical Ride; Forsyth: Band Ready; Sale: Duty Calls; Burton: The River Wide Band of the Prince of Wales Division [Clive], Band of the Royal Logistic Corps conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey A Kingston CA Mus Bandleader BNA 5173, 68:13 mins. On sampling this disc one could be forgiven for thinking that most of the existing "tunesmiths" representing the lighter end of the musical spectrum are to be found alive and well and residing within the ranks of the British Army musicians! Here is a splendid collection of 26 brand new rousing and essentially tuneful quick marches composed by various aspiring bandsmen and their more senior officers as entries for the Corps of Army Music March Competition. The vast bulk of the material here is completely original although there are a few borrowings from ‘Trad’ and, in one case, Sir Arthur Sullivan. Considering the limited amount of time available for both rehearsal and recording and the fact that the musicians were totally unfamiliar with the scores, the two bands under the skilful and expert guidance of their conductor, the Principal Director of Music [Army], acquit themselves with distinction and the overall results are pretty impressive. A stimulating, unusual and heartening disc which reflects great credit on the standards demanded and attained at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, and well recorded there in the Morris Hall. As to which march subsequently won the Competition, I can only recommend you to buy this disc and find out! Roger Hyslop Bandleader CDs are available from DISCURIO, 46 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LD. Tel/Fax 01634 845222, www.discurio.com, or from larger retail outlets such as the HMV Oxford Street stores in London.
KOMZAK, LANNER, MILLOCKER, STRAUSS (JOHANN AND JOSEF), SUPPE, ZIEHRER Overtures, Marches, Polkas, Waltzes Johann Strauss Orchestra of Vienna conducted by Willi BoskovskyEMI Double Forte 72435756762,total timing 120:37 minutes. Much of the material for this very generously filled pair of EMI Double Fortes -26 tracks in all -hails from a 4 LP box set issued during the mid -1970s under the title 'Viennese Enchantment'. Most of the first disc is occupied by fairly standard fare -Suppe's Light Cavalry and Poet and Peasant etc., although there is an unfamiliar Johann Strauss overture - Blindekuh (Blind Man's Buff) and one by Ziehrer entitled Die Landstreicher. The second disc however is a cornucopia of Viennese rarities including two waltzes by Carl Millocker -Carletta and the Traum Walzer from The Army Chaplain and a mouth-watering confection of dance music by Komzak, Lanner and Ziehrer whose sheer fecundity for producing attractive, lilting, enchanting and stirring melodies surely rival the great 'Waltz King' himself. Two minor technical quibbles: the recording sessions used two different halls with noticeably different acoustic characteristics. One, fortunately used for the minority of tracks, produces a bright shallow sound whilst the other venue reveals sound of greater opulence and depth with more warmth from the string section. There are also some disconcerting variations in sound level between individual items which some judicious adjustment of the volume control can easily remedy. Overall however these discs at mid-price are excellent value particularly with that doyen of Viennese musicians -Willi Boskovsky -at the helm! Roger Hyslop
SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN Iolanthe: Overture & The March Of The Peers; Patience: Quick March; Three Sketches from ‘Kenilworth’; Princess Ida: Quick March; The Lost Chord; Danish March [Princess of Wales March]; The Yeoman Of The Guard: Quick March; The Golden Legend: ‘O Gladsome Light’; Pineapple Poll: Suites 1 & 2; The Pirates Of Penzance: March The Band of the Irish Guards directed by Major Andrew Chatburn BA ARCM, psm The Specialist Recording Company SRC106, 68 minutes. Particularly welcome in the compilation under review are the Three Sketches from ‘Kenilworth’ in an arrangement by Herman Finck – he of In The Shadows fame. This work was a masque for chorus and orchestra based on Sir Walter Scott’s description of Elizabeth I’s visit to the town. First performed at the 1864 Birmingham Festival, it was fatally flawed by a weak libretto and quickly disappeared from the repertoire. Herman Finck rescued some of the score in the form of the Three Sketches as heard here and Dennis Wright subsequently transcribed the music for band. As far as one can recollect there are currently no alternative modern recordings currently available. Other rarities are the Danish March [Prince of Wales March] and ‘O Gladsome Light’. The Lost Chord – decidedly not a rarity – comes as a splendidly played cornet solo and it’s good to have arrangements of Sullivan’s music for the Savoy Operas in the form of very convincing quick marches, especially as according to John Humphries’ notes they have lain in the British Library unplayed for well over 50 years! The Irish Guards under their DOM, Major Chatburn, are in particularly fine form whilst the recordings made in The Chapel, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, are quite magnificent with full, vivid and detailed sound. Military band enthusiasts and Sullivan aficionados alike can buy with confidence. A quality product! Roger Hyslop [available from DISCURIO and larger outlets, as above] The Specialist Recording Company has been set up by Michael Purton, principal horn player with the Hallé Orchestra 1973-1986, with the express objective of recording military bands on state of the art equipment in carefully selected locations so that these fine ensembles can be heard at their very best. Initially SAC are concentrating on producing single composer CDs. For the curious, so far issued in this series are discs devoted to Elgar [SRC101], Bliss [SRC102], and Arnold [SRC103], all employing bands of the Household Division or Royal Artillery.
TONY MARTIN Make With The Magic Singin’ in the Rain, No Orchids for my Lady, Pagan Love Song, Domino, Fascination, At Last At Last, Music Maestro Please, Manhattan, etc… 26 tracks Vocalion CDUS3031, 75:10 mins. Tony Martin was a very good singer in his prime, and his fans will be delighted to have this new collection of his recordings from 1947-52. The thing that immediately strikes you when first playing this CD is the amazing clarity that Michael Dutton has achieved from these old 78s. I have read that there are critics of his work, saying that middle and bass are sometimes less than they would like, but if your own personal preference requires a fuller-bodied sound this can be easily achieved by increasing the bass control on your amplifier – after all, that is why you have bass and treble controls at your fingertips. It is surprising that new Tony Martin CDs are coming along without any duplications (I checked the recent Memoir release), illustrating how many fine recordings he made. Many tracks this time benefit from Henri René accompaniments, and there are also some nice sounds from Earle Hagen and Freddy Martin. Most enjoyable. David Ades
ANNE SHELTON Music Music Music! It Happened in Adano, Greensleeves, If You Ever Fall in Love Again, etc … plus three tracks arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon: Don’t Misunderstand, Come Back to Angouleme & Love Me My Love. 25 tracks, Vocalion CDEA6081, 72:07 mins. She tended to be overshadowed by Vera Lynn, but Anne Shelton had a very good voice and it is to Decca’s credit that they issued many records by both of these talented ladies. This latest selection from Vocalion contains many superb examples of her charm and sincerity. She had some good orchestras accompanying her – Robert Farnon (of course!), Paul Fenoulhet, Jay Wilbur, Caramata and others are included here. Some of the songs have deservedly long been forgotten, but Anne gamely gives of her best each and every time. Once again, the clarity of the transfers is outstanding.David Ades
RADIO & TELEVISION MEMORIES Volume One: Music While You Work Calling All Workers; Radio Newsreel Imperial Echoes Toytown Parade of the Tin Soldiers; Housewives Choice In Party Mood; Children's Choice Puffin' Billy; Sports Report Out of the Blue; Mrs Dale's Diary 1 Harp interlude; Mrs Dale's Diary 2 Dance in the Twilight; The Archers Barwick Green; Listen with Mother traditional chimes; Top of the Form Marching Strings; ITMA introductory theme; Dixon of Dock Green An Ordinary Copper; Meet the Huggetts Horse Feathers; Down Your Way Horse Guards, Whitehall; In Town Tonight Knightsbridge March; Blue Peter Barnacle Bill; Children¹s Newsreel Holiday Spirit; PC 49 Changing Moods No. 2; Grove Family Family Joke; The Appleyards Looking Around; What¹s My Line? Parisian Mode; Emergency Ward 10 Silks & Satins; Billy Bunter Sea Songs; Ask Me AnotherFlying Squad; BBC Film Unit credits Wellington Barracks. Evergreen Melodies CR2 (cassette TR2). This will bring back memories, there are 26 tracks in all, roughly equally divided between TV and radio, in reasonably good transfers from mostly 1940’s and 1950’s originals. Most will be familiar from other recent issues or re-issues – for example, twelve tracks were present, if not necessarily in these versions, in EMI’s 1997 collection "The Great British Experience." One or two of the shorter tracks here are less familiar on CD, like the introductions to ITMA and Dixon of Dock Green and the brief harp interlude (composed by harpist Sidonie Goosens ) from Mrs. Dale’s Diary. Three tunes –Out of the Blue ( Sports Report ), Barnacle Bill (Blue Peter), and Barwick Green (The Archers) still introduce the original programmes. Devotees who want this selection will hardly need my recommendation but irritatingly, as always from this source, there is little or no information as to the performers or date of recording. I suppose the release is aimed more widely at ‘Evergreen’ readers, rather than at specialists in British light music, and on that account I wish it well. Philip L. Scowcroft
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS – Complete Symphonies Numbers. 1 to 9. LPO Choir / Cameron /Baillie / Ritchie /Gielgud , LPO/Boult – DECCA " The British Collection " – 473241 – 2 5 CD Boxed Set (CD’s in individual card sleeves + booklet. While not ‘light music‘ as such , the very Englishness of these works shine through every bar. These classic recordings, originally on the Decca LXT LP label, resurfaced on CD (Decca London and Belfast ) while the Symphony no. 9 was taped by Everest Records in stereo in 1958. Here we get a far better presentation than previously, with good notes on each Symphony and for the first time as a set, the final Symphony is included.The new transfers at 96khz are outstanding: far better than the previous re-incarnations, with plenty of weight and clout. With a device that creates fake stereo on my processor switched in, the results for such early recordings (1952–1958 ) are superb, with reference to the mono recordings of Symphonies nos. 1 – 7. Symphony no. 3 ‘A Pastoral Symphony’ is still considered the best available recording and here the clarity beautifully reflects the composer’s wartime memories of the French landscape, not English, as some writers thought was the case. The organ entry in the ‘Landscape’ movement of Sinfonia Antartica is still magnificent and will interest readers, as the music is based on the composer’s film score ‘Scott of the Antarctic‘. There is some lack of range compared to the modern stereo recordings of Andrew Davis and Boult’s later EMI set, especially in nos. 1 ‘Sea Symphony‘ and 2 ‘London Symphony‘ but this set is well on top of any short list. As a youngster I lived in a house in Kew which belonged to a friend of Vaughan Williams and contained some keyboard instruments belonging to him. The composer visited the house and conversed with my parents. He was a warm hearted ‘big’ man in stature and that likeable nature is reflected in these scores, while good tunes abound. Give these classic recordings a try and you will, I hope, be delighted with them, especially at the modest price asked. Discount mail order suppliers are the most competitive on price. Max Harris
SANDY MACPHERSON I’ll Play to You; Down the Mall; Dancing With Tears In My Eyes; Seventeen Candles; Gaucho Serenade; A Little Rain Must Fall; It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow; Who’s Taking You Home Tonight?; Over the Rainbow; I Don’t Want To Set the World on Fire; Sand In My Shoes; Yours;Londonderry Air; Melody in F; My Hero; Salut d’Amour; etc… Evergreen Melodies C85 (cassette E85). Sandy Macpherson was the BBC theatre organist for more than 25 years during which time he endeared himself to millions on the radio with his quiet unassuming Canadian accent which actually belied a large frame and busy manner. He was a pillar of broadcasting during the war years, particularly in the early days before his purpose-built organ at St. George’s Hall was destroyed in the Blitz. He then moved to Evesham and later North Wales where he inherited Reginald Foort’s giant concert Moller organ which the BBC bought and moved to London after the war was over. These recordings feature all the major instruments Sandy played during his long career. Edmund Whitehouse
"La Bicyclette Bleue" Original sound track from French TV series composed and conducted byMichel Legrand (French Emarcy 159 846-2). Back in the territory he excels in, Orchestral music, Legrand has scored music that is sometimes gentle, beautiful and persuasive, other times we get the epic music provided by Hollywood before hit records were lumped together to provide a film sound track. Forties styled jazz on titles such as "La voyage a Paris" and "Les abris" leads me to suspect the story line is set in wartime France (I have not seen the series!). This is further emphasised on a track like "Paris libere" where a large chorus augments the orchestra, this is music which needs a bigger screen than television can provide, full of string and brass splendour. The title song is destined to be a Legrand composition wheeled out as many times as some of his other classics, we get two versions, one solo piano the other the full might of a large orchestra. The building menace invoked in "La mort du pere" really stirs the soul. There is music for almost all tastes here, which I am sure will become a firm favourite with musical connoisseurs world-wide. I played it almost continuously after receiving it. If like myself you buy few sound tracks, put this one top of your "must have" list. I doubt anything will top it before the year is out. Paul Clatworthy
TV THEMES -Classic Themes from popular Programmes on ABC (Australian)Television -various composers and orchestras. (Australia) ABC Classics 472575-2 123:06 mins. This double CD set contains some sixty-three tracks of theme music from popular ABC TV programmes over the last four decades. Most are from ABC-produced programmes which have become firm favourites with the Aussi public. Many of the themes have not been released on record before. Several short tracks of music currently used with the various station idents we see each day, are also included. Many of the popular British programmes that we have grown to love are also featured - either the original version or one played by a local orchestra. The themes have been grouped together in several categories: News & Public Affairs, Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Lifestyle etc. This reflects the wide variety of programmes we have on ABC TV each week and makes it interesting to hear. Heartily recommended for lovers of TV theme music and TV in general.
Barry Freeman
NATALIE COLE "Ask a woman who knows" I haven't Anything better to do, Tell me all about it, Ask a woman who knows, It's crazy, You're mine you, So many stars, I told you so, Soon, I'm glad there is you, Better than anything, The music that makes me dance, Calling you, My baby just cares for you. POLA 065470-2. Every British member who listened to the radio broadcast on November the 11th and 18th of last year of Natalie Cole in concert with the BBC Radio Big Band (augmented with strings) knows what delights this album contains! For the uninitiated Natalie and co-producer Tommy LiPuma have picked a group of songs, for the most part, not given many airings. The backings are impeccable, just as fine as when she recreated her father’s songs. Four tracks have the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, one has a duet with Diana KraIl others have Roy Hargrove, Gary Foster, Russell Malone and Joe Sample. Arranger credits include John Clayton, Alan Broadbent and Rob Mounsey. Natalie says she likes to grow and experiment "kicking the bar up a little." She certainly does on this album! Paul Clatworthy
JACK MILLMAN "Blowing up a storm" Four more, Khan, We'll be together again, Asphyxiated Swing, Yardbird suite, Stella by starlight, Now hear this, Easy to love, Where can I go without you, With the wind and rain in your hair, Back home in Indiana, Bag's groove, Tom and Jerry, So goes my love, Bolero De Mendez, Just a pretty tune, Cathy goes South, Bambi. Progressive Records PCD- 7085. I slipped a review of another Jack Millman in the December Big Band Roundup although it was not technically a Big Band! I'm playing by the rules this time! The first twelve tracks feature Jack on Flugel, Don Friedman, piano, Don Peterson, bass and Ray Tiedel, drums. Jack's playing and arranging not quite as good as one of his rivals of the time, Shorty Rogers, but still very listenable West Coast jazz, recorded in 1957. The last six tracks are more adventurous as more players are drafted in and Bill Holman, Pete Rugolo, Gerald Wiggins, Gene Roland and Johnny Mandel take over the arranging duties. These tracks were recorded in 1956, a date I will always remember as I spent Christmas stuck in a Devizes transit camp! I could have done with some of this music then! Paul Clatworthy
MÉMOIRES DE KIOSQUE (Bandstand Memories) The Phantom Brigade, The Acrobat, Buffoon, Fandango, Colonel Bogey, Stein Song, Children of the Regiment, etc… 58 tracks on 3 CDs Various Bands (France) EPM 980722. This is the latest enterprising collection from Pierre-Marcel Ondher (affectionately known simply as ‘PMO’), which focuses on the kind of music that could be heard frequently on bandstands and in town centres during the 1930s and shortly thereafter. The bands come mainly from Germany, France, Britain and Russia, and include such famous names as Wingates Temperance, Coldstream Guards, Royal Marines, Black Dyke Mills, American Legion, Fodens Motor Works, Fairey Aviation, etc… PMO has compiled a truly fascinating selection from his own massive private collection, and music lovers owe him a great debt of gratitude for making these historical 78s available once again. It is difficult to imagine that anyone else would be able to put together such an important collection from so many different sources. Perhaps this is aimed at serious collectors of band music; if you fall into this category you cannot fail to be pleased at having the opportunity to acquire so many rare recordings sounding fresh and bright, thanks to the modern miracle of CEDAR. The excellent booklet is only in French, but the very full recording details are not difficult for non-French speakers to understand. David Ades This 3-CD set can be obtained from the RFS Record Service for £23.00 [US $46.00].
NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG: HUMORESQUE. Music from the 1947 Warner Bros. film, directed by Jean Negulesco. Includes "Carmen Fantasie", "Tristan and Isolde Fantasie, " Humoresque by Antonin Dvorak plus 7 other selections.NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG, violin with the LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA conducted by ANDREW LITTON. 59:39. Nonesuch 79464-2. Warner Brothers’ 1947 expose of an artist's life, "Humoresque," gets a well deserved modern day digital recording. For this modern traversal, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg gives ample evidence of her enormous talent. The variety of the selections amply shows off Sonnenberg's genius. Along with selections by Bach, Lalo and Dvorak, all played with individual elegance come some interesting turns on two pop songs by George Gershwin in which Nadja's partner is impressive singer Judy Blazer. Franz Waxman's famous "Carmen Fantasie" is played with a dominating presence by Salerno-Sonnenberg. And to top things off is an emotionally shattering performance of Waxman's "Tristan and Isolde Fantasie" which has to be to be believed. Andrew Litton provides expansive yet sympathetic accompaniments. Every film music fan should own this amazing release! Richard Jessen
RETO PAROLARI and the GERMAN SYMPHONIC POPS ORCHESTRA Great Moments of Light Music Friedrich Schrőder – Overture ‘Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies’; Hans Bund – Erinnerung an ein Ballerlebnis’; Ernst Fischer – Eile mit Weile, Auf der Gamsjagd in Tirol; Willy Richartz – Waltz from ‘Kőlnisch Wasser’; Werner Heymann – Selection of his music for films; Gerhard Winkler – Chianti; Josef Rixner – ‘Bagatelle’ overture, Spanish March; Ludwig Schmidseder – Habanera. (Switzerland) Amos CD5967, 58:20 mins. Almost single-handedly, Reto Parolari is keeping the flag of Light Music flying in his native Switzerland, and it is good to know that his influence is spreading well beyond the borders, notably into Germany. The ‘great moments of light music’ in this collection will be better known to European ears, although readers of this magazine will not need any introduction to the works of Ernst Fischer, Gerhard Winkler and Josef Rixner. The other composers are equally capable of producing some beautiful sounds, and this entire CD is both a wonderful voyage of discovery and a pure joy. I think that this is the best CD I have heard so far by Reto Parolari, and the German Symphonic Pops Orchestra (of Leipzig) perform enthusiastically under his baton. Warmly recommended to all light music enthusiasts. David Ades
FIESTA! Tico Tico No Fuba; Granada; The Girl From Ipanema; Brazil; Besame Mucho; Sweet and Gentle plus 14 other selections. ERICH KUNZEL AND THE CINCINNATI POPS ORCHESTRA. Telarc CD-80235. 75:02. Erich Kunzel and his forces in Cincinnati have recorded a real pleasure packed CD! The majority of the arrangements are by Tommy Newsome with Warren Barker, Carmen Dragon, Charles Koff, Richard Hayman and John Bambridge contributing to this sparkling 1990 release. Tommy Newsome's best arrangements have a combination of suavity with a sly, dry wit which is evidenced in "Sweet And Gentle." "Tequila" is Newsome's most exotic score with only tuned percussion taking the lead. "The Girl From Ipanema" is a quietly sensual impression of that eternally young, tall, bikini clad woman. Bambridge turns in a beautifully score for "Besame Mucho" that charms as much as it beguiles. The Carmen Dragon/Warren Barker scores date from the Hollywood Bowl Symphony LP's of the 50' s with a visceral "Tico Tico" and a highly dramatic "Granada". Doc Severinsen plays with red blooded lustiness in "La Virgen de la Macarena". And let's not forget Eric Knight's pulsating score of "Lambada" which will win awards for most played track! Richard Hayman's hilarious "Mexican Hat Dance" is remarkably fresh and cheeky! Kunzel inspires vigorous and energetic performances from his excellent Cincinnati musicians. Richard Jessen
INTERNATIONAL NOVELTY ORCHESTRA plus Quartet, Harry Robbins (xylophone) and other Groups 5 CDs issued in Australia by FRANK BRISTOW FBCD86-90. In the notes accompanying these CDs (which are all available separately), Frank Bristow explains that the idea was first discussed some years ago with his friend, the late Stuart Upton, the then Editor of the now defunct Vintage Light Music Society magazine. For all his expertise and experience, Stuart was unable to provide any information about the 12 to 14 players who made up these groups. Respected French record producer Pierre-Marcel Ondher recently said that it is now impossible to discover anything about that combination. The name The International Novelty Orchestra has been used for both British and American ensembles over the years, but this CD series is specifically about a delightful British studioband who recorded for Regal Zonophone mainly during the 1930s. The group played novelty pieces, waltzes and occasionally hits of the period. Many are what is now regarded as ‘traditional’ light music of the ‘palm court’ variety, although occasionally some tracks will surprise with their infectious rhythmic vitality. Many tracks have (unnamed) vocalists; keen British dance band fans will recognise the likes of Sam Browne. Sadly there isn’t room to list the contents, but each and every CD contains many pieces that are sure to delight those who are attracted to this style of music. The transfers are clean and sympathetic to the original sound. This is the kind of mammoth recording project that could only be undertaken by a dedicated band of true enthusiasts. We are indeed fortunate that there are people around like Frank Bristow and his colleagues. David Ades
Frank Bristow’s CDs are only available from him in Australia, but you can also order and pay through his contacts in England and the USA:
Frank Bristow, 2 Cross Street, Brighton, Victoria, 3186, AUSTRALIA – e-mail:
PAUL DESMOND: BOSSA ANTIGUA. Bossa Antigua; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes; O Gato; The Girl From East 9th Street; plus 7 more slections. PAUL DESMOND, alto sax with JIM HALL, EUGENE WRIGHT, CONNIE KAY, others. RCA Victor/BMG 0902668689-2. 59:34. In the 1960's, Bossa Nova was a shot in the arm for both the jazz and pop music worlds. Nowhere else is that made more plain than on this legendary re-release by alto saxist Paul Desmond. Things begin in a softly engaging groove with "Bossa Antigua" which means "Old Thing" (a witty referral to the phrase "same old thing") which has an attractive solo by Paul Desmond and one of the best solos by Jim Hall on guitar. The alternate take of this selection ("Samba Cepeda") remains stuck in a static groove. The same problem occurs with "O Gato" which takes off magnificently on the released version but merely stands still in its tracks on the alternate take. The big surprises are the two takes of "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes": the first is an all out jazz treatment while the alternate is an overtly bossa nova version full of life. "The Girl From East 9th Street" is an Americanized version of "Ipanema" without a single reference to its famous sister. The booklet not only includes Desmond's facetious liner notes but credits Percy Heath, George Duvivier and Milt Hinton as session musicians (they do not appear!). This is a re-release of historic proportions worthy of the legend and artistry of Paul Desmond.Richard Jessen
TRIO TIME – How Beautiful Is Night Kerry Dances, Lulu’s Back In Town, Yesterdays, Small Talk, Solar, How Beautiful is Night, Sweet and Lovely, Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve seen, What is This Thing Called Love, Ask Me Now, Blues for Holly Ann, The End Of a Love Affair, Over The Rainbow, Beatrice, Oh, Lady Be Good, On Green Dolphin Street. Ted Beament Piano/ Adrian MacintoshDrums/ Paul Bridge Bass. Calligraph Records CLGCD 036. At the November RFS Meeting I introduced a recording of one of Bob’s compositions "How Beautiful is Night" in a setting that was both unusual and delightful; it brought about a number of enquiries regarding the album. Ted Beament has been around the British jazz scene for a good few years and has backed many a visiting American musician including Sonny Stitt and Harry Edison. In 1995 he joined Humphrey Lyttelton and recorded with "Humph" and Helen Shapiro. It was at a Humphrey Lyttelton gig, at a local jazz club, that I found out about this CD which Ted had for sale. I spoke to Ted about the album’s title which he readily admitted was a favourite of his "that guy writes such lovely tunes; I really would like to meet him". When I explained I would be sending Bob a copy his face beamed and he signed a copy with the words "I hope you like it". I hope I did it justice, he remarked to me. The album is a collection of standards, with one or two jazz favourites added to the mix. Nice to see Small Talk in a new recording, and Ted’s arrangement of Kerry Dances is a delight. This is a very accessible album, each member of the trio contributing equally to the whole and highlighting the detail of each piece. This is never more evident than in How Beautiful is Night which Ted begins as a straight piano solo. The bass and drums then enter with a gentle, almost latin beat, allowing the piano to explore the melody line, as "Humph" says in the CD notes: "it’s four and half minutes of enchantment". If you don’t usually buy this sort of album why not treat yourself. It really is a joy. Oh! and what of Bob Farnon’s reaction, I can tell you he was absolutely delighted; and did he do the piece justice ? – "Oh Yes" said Bob admiringly "he most certainly did". Albert Killman
Calligraph Records can be obtained for £12 from all good record shops,or by mail order from:3 Ainsdale Close, Links View, Northampton, NN2 7NQ, England; postage and packing £1.50 [outside UK £2.50].
CHARLIE BYRD: BRAZILIAN BYRD (Music Of Antonio Carlos Jobim). Jazz 'n' Samba; Corcovado; The Girl From Ipanema; Dindi plus 8 selections and one alternate take. CHARLIE BYRD, guitar with orchestra. Columbia Legacy CD CK 52973. 37:04. The Bossa Nova era of the 1960's had two highly popular guitarists before the public: Charlie Byrd and Laurindo Almeida. Both had been pioneers in the idiom in the 1950's as well as studying with Andres Segovia, famous Spanish classical guitarist. On this album, recorded on three dates in 1964 and 1965, Charlie Byrd is partnered with Tommy Newsome as arranger/conductor. Things get off to a rousing big band chart of "Jazz 'n' Samba" with Byrd swinging as hard as the big band behind him. Byrd's classical training is very much evident on a mournful "Corcovado" and "Dindi" which he imbues with a soft edged Romanticism. "The Girl From Ipanema" receives a perky arrangement that acts as a perfect foil for Byrd's rhapsodic rendition of the vocal line. For this recording, Byrd arranged three selections of which "Engano" is the most effect with its rolling chords set against a sparce orchestral background (the alternate take is taken at a way too fast tempo). Charlie Byrd and Tommy Newsome both were working magic at these sessions which is very apparent of their special rapport with one another. This highly recommended reissue comes with Dom Cerulli's original informative liner notes. Richard Jessen
Late Arrivals from EMI
Just as we were putting the final touches to this feature, a batch of new releases arrived from EMI Gold. Sadly space to list all the titles is a problem, but the following details should point you in the right direction.
BIG BAND MILLION SELLERS featuring Laurie Johnson, Colin Busby, Ted Heath, Don Lusher and Kenny Baker playing String of Pearls, Tuxedo Junction, April in Paris, Lullaby of Birdland and many more titles associated with the Big Band Era. 22 tracks, EMI 581 5972. These are not recreations of the original sounds of the bands that first made these tunes famous, but more recent interpretations.
THE VERY BEST OF KENNY BAKER Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey, You Made Me Love You, Satchmo, Georgia, Carnival Time, And the Angels Sing, I Can’t Get Started, What’s New, etc… 18 tracks, EMI 581 4822. Here is the late, great Kenny Baker, fronting a fine big band, and you’ll also spot solos from the likes of Tommy Whittle, Don Lusher and Roy Willox.
BIG BAND CLASSICS C Jam Blues (Duke Ellington), Jumpin’ at the Woodside (Count Basie), One o’Clock Jump (Benny Goodman), In the Mood (Colin Busby), Cute (Don Lusher), Begin the Beguine (Joe Loss), What’s New (Kenny Baker), Red Silken Stockings (Sid Phillips & Betty Driver), Tampico (Stan Kention and June Christy) etc… 21 tracks, EMI 581 5982. Duke Ellington and Coronation Street’s barmaid Betty on the same CD? I’m lost for words … and I could quote some other amazing examples! Quite honestly, I think that the net has been cast far too wide in this collection, and whoever buys it (for whatever reason) is probably going to dislike at least half of the tracks.
THE VERY BEST OF TED HEATH Opus One, East of the Sun, Obsession, Intermission Riff, Hot Toddy, etc… 24 tracks, EMI 581 4802. We’re on safer ground here, although (like the CDs mentioned above) the promotional details give no clue as to the source of the recordings. If you want theoriginal Decca Ted Heath hits, going back to the days of 78s, you’ll discover them elsewhere. But if authenticity is not your hang-up, you’ll find much to enjoy here. The playing is impeccable, as you’d expect. David Ades
QUEEN’S HALL LIGHT ORCHESTRA conducted by Robert Farnon, Philip Green, Sidney Torch & Charles Williams - Volume 3 All Sports March (Robert Farnon), Paddle Boat (Joyce Cochrane), Melody of the Stars (Peter Yorke), Going for a Ride (Sidney Torch), State Occasion (RF), Soliloquy (Haydn Wood), Valse d’Amour (Tony Lowry), All the Fun of the Fair (Percy Fletcher), Music in the Air (Byron Lloyd), Sunset at Sea (Charles Williams), Waiata Poi (Alfred Hill), Comic Cuts (ST), Pale Moon (Frederick Knight Logan), Cubana (CW), Ecstasy (Felton Rapley), Grand Parade (Clive Richardson), Song of Capri (Mischa Spoliansky), Spring Song (HW), My Waltz for You (ST), Fiesta (Mark Lubbock), The Awakening (Robert Busby), Kings of Sport (Jack Beaver), Fiddler’s Folly (Len Stevens), Casanova Melody (Michael Sarsfield), Grandstand (RF), "Dan Dare" themes - Commandos (CW), Radio Location (CR), Searchlight (CW). Vocalion CDEA6094
BRITISH STRING MINIATURES Volume 2: Set of Act Tunes and Dances (Henry Purcell); Serenade for the Birthday of Frederic Delius (Peter Warlock); Air and Dance (Delius); Serenade (Matthew Curtis); Suite – The Spanish Lady (Sir Edward Elgar); Serenata Concertante (Philip Lane) Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland ASV CDWHL2136
BRITISH LIGHT OVERTURES Volume 2: Plymouth Hoe (John Ansell); Overture 125 (David Gow); Farnham Festival Overture (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett); The Moor of Venice (William Alwyn); A Scots Overture (John Gardner); The Lamprey (Michael Gryspeerdt); Scaramouche (Peter Hope); A Cleveland Overture (Anthony Hedges); A Snowdon Overture (Gareth Glyn) Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland ASV CDWHL2137
JOHNNY DOUGLAS ORCHESTRA I won’t dance, Yesterdays, A fine romance, The Carioca, They can’t takle that away from me, The way you look tonight, I’m putting all my eggs in one basket, etc.. (22 tracks taken from the Decca LPs ‘Cheek to Cheek’ & ‘A Handful of Stars’ Dulcima DLCD118
TRIBUTE TO ERIC COATES London Bridge, The Enchanted Garden, By the Sleepy Lagoon, Cinderella, Second Symphonic Rhapsody – Bird Songs at Eventide & I Heard You Singing, FootlightsEDWARDIAN FAVOURITES Melodies by Paul Rubens, Josef Strauss, Lionel Monckton & Edward German Pro Arte Orchestra conducted by Stanford Robinson Vocalion CDLK4183
MUSIC OF LECUONA Siboney, Danza Iucumi, Jungle Drums, Gitanarias, Maria my own, Malaguena, Always in my heart, Andalucia, La comparsa, High in Sierra PLACE PIGALLE Domino, Why do you pass me by, At last at last, Autumn leaves, C’est si bon, La mer, Waltz of Paree, Chez-moi, Boom, Mademoiselle de Paris, When the world was young, Au revoir Stanley Black, his Piano and Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4176
BRITAIN’S CHOICE March from ‘Colour Suite’ (Gordon Langford), A La Claire Fontaine (Robert Farnon), Suite of English Folk Dances (Ernest Tomlinson), March from ‘A Little Suite’ (Trevor Duncan), The Boulevardier (Frederic Curzon), The Watermill (Ronald Binge), Tabarinage (Robert Docker), ‘The Ring of Kerry’ Suite (Peter Hope) PERCY GRAINGER Country Gardens, Molly on the Shore, Londonderry Air, Handel in the Strand, Mock Morris, Shepherd’s Hey. Quilter Children’s Overture,Toye The Haunted Ballroom, Armstrong Gibbs Dusk, Balfour Gardiner Shepherd Fennel’s DanceThe Light Music Society Orchestra conducted by Sir Vivian Dunn Vocalion CDLK4182
MUSICAL MERRY-GO-ROUND The Carousel Waltz, Clowns’ Dance, Visions d’Art, Circus Polka, Masquerade – Waltz, La Ronde, Coney Island, Gopak, Prater Fest, Dance of the Comedians FAMOUS EVERGREENS Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Ave Maria, Songs Without Words No. 4, Waltz (Brahms), Santa Lucia, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ – waltz, Jealousy, Clair de Lune, Moto Perpetuo, Intermezzo from ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’, Dance of the Hours Sinfonia of London conducted by Robert Irving and Douglas Gamley Vocalion CDLK4181
EVENING IN PARIS Mademoiselle de Paris, Love’s last word is spoken, My prayer, Vous qui passez sans me voir (Why do you pass me by?), Pigalle, La vie en rose, Boom, Ca c’est Paris, J’attendrai, Valentine, Clopin clopant, La Seine, Parlez moi d’amour, Can-can EVENING IN ROME Santa Lucia, Serenade in the night, Mattinata, Luna rossa, Tell me you’ll not forget, Mamma, Come back to Sorrento, La montanara, O sole mio, The echo told me a lie, Catari catari, Vieni sul mar, Anema e core, Funiculi funicular Frand Chacksfield and his Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4167
TRIBUTE TO RON GOODWIN CD 1: Jet Journey, Blue Star, Skiffling Strings, Lingering Lovers, Colonel Bogey and the River Kwai March, Summertime in Venice, Red Cloak, The Melba Waltz, The Messenger Boy, The Girl from Corsica, Swedish Polka, Under the Linden Tree, Concetta, On the Waterfront, The Headless Horsemen, Midnight Blue, The Song of the High Seas, The Laughing Sailor, Tropical Mirage, Handyman, Three Galleons, Guadalcanal March, The Little Laplander, Wagon Train, When I Fall in Love, Bluebell Polka, Song from the Moulin Rouge, Josita, Elizabethan Serenade. CD2:original Ron Goodwin compositions and film scores – final tracklisting still to be confirmed as we went to press Ron Goodwin and his Concert Orchestra EMI [full details in Journal Into Melody – June 2003]
NAT KING COLE Love Songs When I Fall in Love, Unforgettable, Very Thought of You, Too Young, Let’s Fall in Love, The More I See You, Stardust, These Foolish Things, etc… 24 tracks EMI 581 5132
TED HEATH AND HIS MUSIC
Hits I Missed & Al Jolson Classics Vocalion CDLK4168
Great Film Hits & Pop Hits Vocalion CDLK4170
BOB SHARPLES ORCHESTRA Contrasts in Hi-Fi & Dimensions in Sound Vocalion CDLK4169
MANTOVANI ORCHESTRA Italia Mia & Verzaubter Klang als Germany Vocalion CDLK4173
SYDNEY LIPTON ORCHESTRA Sweet Harmony & Dancing at Grosvenor House Vocalion CDLK4175
BRITISH LIGHT OVERTURES Volume 3 Open Road (Matthew Curtis); The Hobbit (Carey Blyton);Hampton Court (Montague Phillips); Summer Overture (John Fox); Overture to a Fairy Tale (Bruce Montgomery); Comedy Overture (Adam Saunders); A Children’s Overture (Roger Quilter);Celebration Overture (Philip Lane); The Ballyraggers (James Langley); The Needles (Matthew Taylor)Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland Sanctuary White Line CDWHL 2140. Whilst most people are familiar with Quilter’s A Children’s Overture there can be few who have come across the other overtures on this splendid disc, let alone ever heard them played. In no particular order Hampton Court can be justifiably described as "majestic" in every sense while the rough and tumble of The Needles will put fear into any yachtsman. Matthew Curtis is his usual jolly self in Open Road while Carey Blyton wrote his clever short piece about The Hobbit long before media film hype destroyed the individual mindset created through reading the book. The Ballyraggers is true to the dictionary definition of a word which means "aggressive horseplay" while Philip Lane’s Celebration, John Fox’s Summer and Adam Saunders’ Comedy are overtures to grace the opening of any music festival. Bruce Montgomery’s Fairytale is a lovely wistful item which brings us back to Roger Quilter. This is a great disc. Peter Worsley
BRITISH FILM COMPOSERS IN CONCERT Thieves’ Carnival Overture (Clifton Parker); Two Choreographic Studies (Parker); Ballet de la Reine (Leighton Lucas); Eire Suite (Anthony Collins); Scottish Aubade (Bruce Montgomery); Scottish Lullaby (Montgomery); Palladium Symphony (Eric Rogers)Royal Ballet Sinfonia/Gavin Sutherland Sanctuary White Line CDWHL2145 (71:50). Our habit of "pigeon-holeing" composers and their music often works to our own disadvantage. Frankly, is it really important that music be exclusively "Light" or "Serious"; "Classical" or "Popular"; Traditional or Avant-Garde or Post-Modernist (whatever that means); or written before or after such-and-such a year or period? Anyway, Messrs. Lane and Sutherland, those doughty champions of the long-neglected and the little-known, here explode the possibly still-lurking myth that, because these five composers wrote mainly for the cinema their "other" work can’t be much good. For example: one might easily preconceive a piece bearing the title "Palladium Symphony" as all glitz and superficial showbiz clichés. It isn’t, and if you are familiar with Clive Richardson’s "London Fantasia" and Ralph (not ‘Rafe’ incidentally) Vaughan Williams’ F minor Symphony, listen very attentively – chances are you will be greatly intrigued! Anthony Collins’ "Fluters’ Hooley" was heard from time to time in far-off BBC days, although little if anything else is likely to stir any memories: you are in for some very pleasant surprises! Not, then, for those who "only like what they know"; but real music-lovers go ahead fully confidently. John E. Govier
In their non-pressurised moments several film composers managed to score private light music gems, either for themselves or for their close circle of friends. They would have remained private and eventually been forgotten had not Philip Lane uncovered them and arranged their recording. All the pieces have their own special appeal, the most substantial being the first performance of thePalladium Symphony by Eric Rogers, more usually known for his work with the Carry On films after he succeeded Bruce Montgomery. There was also more to Anthony Collins than Vanity Fair and conducting. Clifton Parker meanwhile scored more than 50 films while Leighton Lucas arranged much of Ivor Novello’s later works. More rich pickings here. Peter Worsley
ALBERT W. KETÈLBEY Volume 3 Cockney Suite (State Procession – Buckingham Palace; Cockney Lover – Lambeth Walk; Palais de Dance; Elegy – Thoughts on Passing the Cenotaph; Bank Holiday – ‘Appy ‘Ampstead); Gallantry; I Call You From the Shadows; Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind; In a Camp of the Ancient Britons; A Musical Jigsaw; Danse à la Tarantelle; Mind the Slide (The Troubled Trombone); Jungle Drums; Aberfoyle; Fiddle Fun; A Desert Romance; Sunset Glow; With Honour Crowned. Orchestras conducted by the composer Naxos 8110869, 70:58 mins. This third volume contains a number of rare recordings which are undoubtedly musically important from an historical standpoint, and the compiler Peter Dempsey is to be congratulated for unearthing them. They cover a period from the early acoustics of 1908 up to the more sophisticated electricals of 1940, so understandably the different studios, ensembles and record companies mean that the sound quality varies considerably. Nevertheless in the hands of a talented sound restoration engineer, using state-of-the-art equipment such as CEDAR, good results could be achieved. Sadly this is not the case here, and I have to say that, because of the obtrusive surface noise, listening to this CD was, for me, a tedious experience that I will not hurry to repeat. David Ades
At long last we can hear exactly how Albert Ketelbey thought some of his rare compositions should sound and the results will surprise many of his fans. Several of the recordings are pre-electric but still play well, especially Norman Allin’s bass voice in the superb Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind andThe Troubled Trombone, a jazzy number which predates the arrival of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band by several months! In a Camp of the Ancient Britons is an exciting piece and most of the others will also delight the ear. If you can identify the 44 different tunes in A Musical Jigsaw then you will be doing well but of special interest is the complete original Cockney Suite, among which ‘Appy ‘Ampstead never disappoints. The sleeve notes are good and this is a bargain CD if you like historic British Light Music – it’s as simple as that! Edmund Whitehouse
CATERINA VALENTE Great Continental Hits (with Stanley Black Orchestra) If You Go, Autumn Leaves, Melodie d’Amour, Too Soon, Volare, I Wish You Love, Song of the Sea, Why Do You Pass Me By etc. Valente & Violins (with Roland Shaw Orch) Love Letters, It Might as Well be Spring, This is all I Ask, Ebb Tide, What Now My Love, Somewhere etc. Vocalion CDLK4125 (postponed from last year). The reissue of these two LPs has been eagerly awaited – not only for Caterina’s distinctive way with a song, but also as an example of Stanley Black’s superlative scores. The second album (with Roland Shaw) is also very good, and together they make an attractive package that should sell very well. David Ades
RONALD BINGE Aldershot Brass Ensemble A Variation on Alouette, A Tune a Day, Trombonioso, Rushlake Green, The Jolly Swagman, A Song for all Comets, etc. The Romantic Guitar with Gerald Tolan Echoes of a Dream, The Ever-Changing Sea, Summer’s End, Fugal Fancy, Where the Sun Shines etc. The Wimbledon Girl Singers Where the Gentle Avon Flows, Sailing By, Down by the River, String Song, The Watermill, Alas My Love You Do Me Wrong etc. Vocalion CDLK4129. These LPs, originally on Refiffusion, are perfect illustrations of Ronald Binge’s versatility. Once he ‘escaped’ from the cascading strings he created for Mantovani, he tried his hand at several different styles, and his many admirers owe a debt of gratitude to Mike Dutton at Vocalion for restoring these fascinating examples of his work to the catalogue. David Ades
MANTOVANI Exodus Exodus Main theme & Karen, A Summer Place, The Green Leaves of Summer, Song Without End, 76 Trombones, The Sundowners, Irma la Douce etc. Great Films – Great themes Barabbas, Fanny, Advise and Consent, Goodbye Again, The Apartment, Never on Sunday etc. Vocalion CDLK4179. Around 40 years ago, some music lovers were getting a little tired of the ‘Mantovani sound’, especially as so many new LPs of his music were constantly being released. Of course, the reason for this abundance was that they all sold well, and hearing them again after several decades it is easy to understand why. For the truth is that the famous ‘sound’ did not overwhelm everything that Mantovani did, and the main thing in his favour was the excellence of the arrangements, the high standards of performance and the top quality recording. If anything, they sound even better today, and this collection of popular film themes (including the unlikely Charles Williams hit theme for The Apartment) will please Mantovani’s many fans. David Ades
HAT BOX : Hat Box(Alan Bullard); Arioso (S.Rak); Greensleeves to a Grand, Brande Yrlandt, Cowarte Monsieur and Fantasia (Anon 17th century); Chadkirk Idyll (E. Tomlinson); Fred’s Blue Ginger Staircase Music (David Ellis); Variations on Dowland’s Comagin (Van Eyck); New World Dances (John Golland) Un Petit Jazz (John Duarte); Bramall Hall Dances (Peter Hope). John Turner (Recorder), Neil Smith (Guitar). CAMPION CAMEO 2020 74.45mins. Apart from the 17th Century Variations and the Stepan Rak piece, all the music on this attractive disc may be described as British light music with at least two great light music composers represented therein. Much of it (though not the Golland and Duarte, both uptempo suites) is also associated with Stockport where David Ellis, producer and composer, lives. Stockport was once famed for hatmaking, so Alan Bullard’s Hat Box, a "thematic suite" in eight brief movements (featuring top hat, beret, Mexican hat, stetson, deerstalker, baseball cap, bonnet and cloth cap) is appropriate. Ernest Tomlinson’s Chadkirk Iydll (Chadkirk is the chapel where the recording was made) was also expressly written for the CD and is the most serious piece here. Ellis’s rhythmic suite (Fred and Ginger are Astaire and Rodgers, of course) and Peter Hope’s Bramall Hall Dances, mixing old and new idioms, both celebrate local buildings. The enterprising John Turner plays brilliantly and Neil Smith partners him well, if a little woodenly in Tomlinson. Philip Scowcroft
BRITISH STRING MINIATURES VOLUME 3 Entertainments (Gilbert Vinter); Sospiri (Sir Edward Elgar); Four Folksong Preludes (Peter Warlock); Countryside Suite (John Fox); Elegy (Haigh Marshall); First Suite for Strings (Cyril Scott); Sinfonia Breve (Gareth Walters). Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland Sanctuary Group CDWHL 2139. Essentially British in every respect one can just imagine rural folk wending their way along the lanes long before the now ubiquitous motor car invaded what had hitherto been largely alien territory. Nowadays one has to venture a good way off the beaten track to find peace and quiet but this music, especially John Fox’sCountryside Suite (Morning Air, Black clouds over the moors, My village and Country Folk) speaks for itself. Gilbert Vinter is in his usual jaunty vein with Entertainments, while Elgar’s Sospiri is well-known. The other pieces also hark back to a gentler age when music-making was a very different affair. A rural idyll indeed. Time to reflect and ponder? Edmund Whitehouse
A TRIBUTE TO STANLEY BLACK Early Black Magic, 25 original recordings 1931-52. Lullaby; Lady Be Good; Lost in the Fog; Honeysuckle Rose; I ‘ain’t got Nobody; Trouble in Paradise; I Won’t Dance; Porcupine Rag; Someday Sweetheart; Roy Club Rag; Gershwin medley; Caravan; Out of the Ragbag medley; Victory Roll Rag; Oasis; South American Way; I threw a Kiss in the Ocean; At the Crossroads; A Sultan goes to Harlem; Jungle Bird; Andalucia; Sans ton Amour; Sulla Laguna; Pianolo; Estrellita. Sanctuary Group Living Era AJA 5490. With musicians like Coleman Hawkins and the full bands of Howard Jacobs, Lew Stone, Harry Roy, Bert Ambrose and Carl Barriteau one can hardly fail to be impressed with this new disc. Before he switched more to light music Stanley Black was a true jazz and dance band favourite, arranging as well as composing and playing the piano. These 25 tracks are amongst his very finest. Edmund Whitehouse
BOB SHARPLES ORCHESTRA Dimensions in Sound Tuxedo Junction, Singing the Blues, Mack the Knife, The Whistler and his Dog, Strike Up the Band, Rocket, Satin Doll, Trolley Song, etc. Contrasts in Hi-Fi On the Road to Mandalay, Will You Remember, By the Bend of the River, Giannina Mia, A Perfect Day, Donkey Serenade, Sylvia, Sweethearts etc. Vocalion CDLK4169. This is another of Vocalion’s excellent value 2-CD packages, offering 2 CDs for the price of one, simply because the two LPs combined last too long to squeeze on to one CD. Rather than cut some tracks (which less honourable record companies might do), Mike Dutton ensures that these reissues are the genuine article. Dimensions in Sound was released in August 1960, and it sounds like a dry-run for Decca’s Phase 4 Stereo, which was launched with much publicity two years later. The instruments are well separated, and I was amused by the comment about Rocket in the original sleeves notes from the LPs producer Ray Horricks: "The sound is quiet, but a good cartridge will separate the instruments." Today we have learned not to want too many gimmicks, so the question has to be – does the music rise above the sound engineer’s games? Just about, although I have to admit that the sound is spectacular! Contrasts in Hi-Fi (released December 1957) was just too soon for stereo, although the arrangements often sound like it ought to be. ‘Contrasts’ is the operative word, because this LP contains so many different styles that one wonders at times what Bob Sharples is up to. Dennis Brain (French horn) and Bobby Pratt (trumpet) are featured soloists on some tracks, and there are four vocal numbers featuring The Sandmen (who actually include girls!). After the initial shock, I think that this CD is likely to grow on you. It’s worth adding to your Christmas ‘wants’ list. David Ades
FREDDY GARDNER and his Golden Tone Saxophone I Only Have Eyes for You, I’m In the Mood For Love, Roses of Picardy, These Foolish Things, Valse Vanité, Body and Soul, Softly as in a Morning Sunrise – plus 19 more Sanctuary Group Living Era CDAJA5454, 77:12 mins. The seven tracks listed above are the last ones on the CD, and they all feature the magnificent playing of Freddy with the Peter Yorke Orchestra, recorded only a few years before his untimely death on 26 July 1950, aged only 39. The other tracks date from 1935 onwards, and showcase Freddy with various small groups and also his larger swing orchestra. There are also five sides from Decca’s Music While You Work wartime series played by Freddy Gardner and his Messmates. Keen fans may already have some of these 78s on other reissues, but this new attractive collection shouldn’t be ignored. David Ades
RADIO AND TELEVISION MEMORIES No. 3 London Calling (Eric Coates), On a Spring Note (Sidney Torch), Bowin’ and Scrapin’ (Reg Casson), Rippling Waters (Donald Thorne), Muse in Mayfair (Vivian Ellis), Table Talk (Dolf van der Linden), Pastoral Montage (Gideon Fagan), Downland (Cecil Milner), Non-Stop (John Malcolm), Cavalcade of Youth (Jack Beaver) etc… This England (Evergreen Melodies) CR4. Sorry there isn’t room to list the contents in full, but a glance at the list will confirm that this CD is packed with light music favourites. In total there are 36 tracks, and some of them are brief extracts from actual shows such as Have a Go, Journey Into Space and Much Binding in the Marsh. Even if you have some of these titles already (and most of you will), it’s always nice to hear them played in a different order, with the additional surprises squeezed in! David Ades This England CDs cost £8.95 (which includes UK postage). Write to: Evergreen Melodies, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, GL50 1YQ, England – tel. 01242 515156 or online at Credit cards accepted.
DAVID ROSE AND HIS ORCHESTRA Plays Gershwin & Kern Liza, Summertime, Man I Love, Embraceable You, Love Walked In, A Fine Romance, American in Paris, Long Ago and Far Away, Somebody Loves Me, Fascinating Rhythm, Make Believe, In Love In Vain, Song is You, Why Was I Born, etc… (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD92, 79:46 mins.
DAVID ROSE AND HIS ORCHESTRA A ‘Mrs Miniver’ Rose Almost Like Being in Love, Don’t Fence Me In, I Got Rhythm, Hot Canary, El Relicario, Academy Award Medley, Pink Champagne, Ain’t Misbehavin, Little House on the Prairie, Rustle of Spring, Alone Again Naturally, King & I Medley, etc..(Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD97, 77:57 mins. Anyone who knows and loves the music of David Rose, George Gershwin and Jerome Kern will know what to expect from the first of these two CDs, an immaculate performance of some of the best standards of all time which needs no further description from me. I have to admit that the "Mrs. Miniver" reference in thre second obscure title is completely lost on me; the record itself is a blend of twelve David Rose originals done for the World and Muzak companies, presumably for background music, including links of less than one and a half minutes. There are also two tracks, Bewitched and Over the Rainbow, from the Standard label and four Rose compositions from his affiliation with Capitol. Not the best CD from the Rose Orchestra by any means, but a well-varied and contrasted programme that should satisfy almost everyone.Arthur Jackson
FROM THE BOSWORTH LIBRARY Isn’t it a Happy Day, Ivory Antics, Petals, Rain or Shine, Doctor’s Orders, Red Poppies, April Day, etc… (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD100, 79:08. The Bosworth Library is believed to have started issuing mood music 78s in 1936, to be quickly followed by Boosey & Hawkes. Frank Bristow has collected together 29 sides which I believe all date from the 1930s. When people like Chappell arrived on the scene most mood music was played by a full light orchestra, but many of these early 78s feature small ensembles (no strings) by groups such as the Ragamuffin Syncopators and the Pall Mall Revellers. It’s rather like the kind of music that accompanied the antics of Laurel and Hardy in their first talkies. Anyone with an interest in the history of mood music will want to add this to their collection. David Ades
THE STORY OF TWO LOVES Manhattan Tower Gordon Jenkins Orchestra & Chorus; Atlantic Crossing Ferde Grofé and New Symphony Orchestra. (Australia) Frank Bristow EXCD37, 76:17 mins. Two narrative stories you may remember from the earliest days of microgroove, one of which at least has developed legendary status over the last 50 years. This is, of course, Gordon Jenkins’Manhattan Tower which, despite criticism, stands alone in its subject matter and musical content as one of the finest ’concept’ albums ever produced. First appearing in 1945 on Brunswick 78s (and later on LP) of only 17 minutes’ duration, Manhattan Tower was recreated and augmented by Jenkins as a 48-minute LP under his new Capitol contract, and it is this ‘Hi-Fi’ version that Frank Bristow has elected to use here (obviously it’s not the sort of thing Capitol itself would ever reissue!). I vaguely remember Ferde Grofé’s Atlantic Crossing being issued on Decca LK4037 circa 1950/51, but I never had it in my collection. It is interesting to have as a fill-up to Manhattan, but even to a long-term Grofé admirer it cannot be more than a footnote in his career. Narrated by Anton Dolin and authoress Ethel Levane, it tells a nostalgic story of two Americans finding love in London and Paris, but one can’t help feeling that the whole thing might have been better without the (mostly incomprehensible) dialogue, and letting the music, such as it is, speak for itself. Arthur Jackson
Frank Bristow’s CDs are only available by writing to him at: 2 Cross Street, Brighton, Victoria, 3186, AUSTRALIA or by sending an e-mail to him at: Arrangements can be made for British members to pay with a sterling cheque.
LEROY ANDERSON Classical Juke Box Syncopated Clock, Chicken Reel, Fiddle Faddle, Serenata, Sleigh Ride, Irish Suite, Saraband, Promenade, Trumpeter’s Lullaby, Jazz Legato – Jazz Pizzicato, A Christmas Festival Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Naxos 8120649. In the past few years there have been several fine CDs of Leroy Anderson’s music, which must affect the sale potential of each new entrant on the scene. The emphasis here is on his original compositions and arrangements performed by the Boston Pops between 1947 and 1950. This compilation was in the safe hands of David Lennick and Graham Newton, so you can be reassured that the sound quality is vastly superior to some of the recent ‘vintage’ releases from Naxos. David Ades
New from Apollo Sound:
CAREY BLYTON Film Production Music Volume 2 Capital City, Flying Birds, The Living River, The Goshawk, Revenge of the Cybermen, Death to the Daleks, etc… Apollo Sound APSCD225, 55:49 mins.
TEST CARD MUSIC Vol. 9 Melancholic Rock, Just a Game, David, Disco Girl, It’s Incredible, Dream On, etc… Apollo Sound APSCD 231, 56:16 mins.
THE MOZART LOUNGE Vol. 2 The Swingers, Tampico, My Credentials, Alter Ego, Three Dogs, Curriculum, Street Waltz, etc… Apollo Sound APSCD 232, 50:06 mins.
These three new CDs from Apollo Sound will be warmly received by the many keen collectors who have welcomed the feast of lounge (or whatever you care to call it!) music that has been resurrected from the archives in recent years. Firstly there is the eagerly awaited second volume of original compositions by Carey Blyton, whose death in July 2002 we sadly reported in JIM 153 (page 58). The first half concentrates on Carey’s work on documentary films, many of them covering wildlife subjects for organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Often a small group featuring mainly woodwinds seems best suited to subjects like this – an area in which Carey excels. The second part of the CD visits his music for TV plays, notably Doctor Who (around 17 short tracks) so the fans of this cult series will be delighted. A surprising inclusion is the familiar Associated Rediffusion station ident from 1966, introducing Carey’s score for "Julie’s Gone". Mention must be made of the impressive 20-page booklet which goes into incredible detail regarding both the composer and his music. A most impressive release.
Next we move on to the ninth in Apollo’s best known series – Test Card Music – and this time all the tracks are from Apollo Sounds’ own archive, having originally appeared on their LPs. The vast majority were recorded in European radio studios during Heinz Herschmann’s frequent (and very productive) tours of the continent, often in countries which were then on the other side of the iron curtain. Names such as The Polish Radio Orchestra, the Franz Thon Big Band, the Budapest Radio Orchestra and Joze Privsek, will be familiar to the growing band of collectors who eagerly devour each new issue. Waving the union jack are Simon Gale and Richard Frank. Here are 20 tracks that will rekindle nostalgic memories of the days when television didn’t invade our homes non-stop for 24 hours each day!
Finally, for this time, we have the second volume from the archives of Mozart Edition (GB) Ltd who (like Apollo) often recorded in Europe. The 19 tracks include a variety of sounds from Hans Hammerschmidt, Borgazzi Fabio, Mario Mellier, Maria Augusta Bruni, De Vera, Sapabo etc… These names will be known to aficionados, and such is the cult status of this kind of music that Apollo have bowed to the wishes of their loyal customers by making some of these CDs also available on vinyl. The ensembles range in size from a trio to a big band and chorus. Of course this isn’t light music – it is best described by the CD cover which calls it Groovy and Scat! David Ades
PETER YORKE AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA featuring FREDDY GARDNER and *STEVE CONWAY "Melody of the Stars" Melody of the Stars; "Till The Clouds Roll By" – Look for the Silver Lining, All the Things You Are, I Won’t Dance, Smoke Gets in your Eyes, Who, Old Man River; These Foolish Things; "Carnival in Costa Rica" – Costa Rica, *Another Night Like This, I’ll Know it’s Love, *Mi Vida; Humpty Dumpty, "Blue Skies" – Blue Skies, You Keep Coming Back like a Song, Getting Nowhere, White Christmas; Dawn Fantasy (featuring Arthur Sandford, piano); "The Time The Place And The Girl" – Gal in Calico, Through a Thousand Dreams, A Rainy Night in Rio, Oh But I Do; How Deep is the Ocean; "It’s Magic" - *It’s Magic, Run Run Run, Put ‘em in a Box, *It’s You or No One; I Only Have Eyes for You; "Night and Day" – Night and Day, Begin the Beguine, Let’s Do It, What is this Thing Called Love, My Heart Belongs to Daddy; *No Orchids for my Lady; "Bambi" – Love is a Song, Let’s Sing a Gay Little Spring Song, Looking for Romance Little April Shower, Love is a Song; Gentle Maiden; "Look for the Silver Lining" – Look for the Silver Lining, Kiss in the Dark, Who, Time on my Hands, Sunny. Sanctuary Group Living Era CDAJA5501.
ERNEST GOLD and BERNARD HERRMANN Film Themes of Ernest Gold It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, The Young Philadelphians, Judgement at Nuremberg, The Last Sunset, Inherit the Wind,Pressure Point, A Child is Waiting, On the Beach, Saddle Pals, Exodus, Too Much Too Soon.London Festival Orchestra conducted by Ernest Gold. The Great Movie Thrillers Psycho, Marnie, North by Northwest, Vertigo, A Portrait of Hitch (from The Trouble with Harry). London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bernard Herrmann. Vocalion CDLK4178.
RONNIE ALDRICH Two Pianos – Today You Only Live Twice, A Whiter Shade of Pale, Georgy Girl, Something Stupid, A Man and a Woman, My Cup Runneth Over, Don’t Sleep in the Subway, Release Me, Barefoot in the Park, Alfie, Music to Watch Girls By, This is my Song Soft & Wicked Last Tango in Paris, You’re so Vain, Aubrey, Tie a Yellow Ribbon, Clair, Call Me, Goor Time Charlie’s Got the Blues, Oh Babe What Would you Say, Killing me Softly with his Song, Last Song, Theme from ‘The Valachi Papers’, It Never Rains in Southern California with the London Festival OrchestraVocalion CDLK4188.
STANLEY BLACK Some Enchanted Evening Falling in Love with Love, The Man I Love, So in Love, The Desert Song, Why Do I Love You, Body and Soul, Easy to Love, I’ve Got You Under my Skin, The Night is Young and You’re so Beautiful, All the Things you Are, Some Enchanted Evening, Love for Sale, Lover Come Back to Me, You and the Night and the Music Summer Evening SerenadeGaviotta, Serenade to Eileen, Siciliano, From Here to Eternity, Memory, Desire, Starlight Serenade, Carnet de bal, Le Grisbi, Magic Circles, Melody of Love, Estrellita del sur. Vocalion CDLK4186.
JOHNNY DOUGLAS AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA "Just Pure Gold" Catch a Falling Star, The Storry of a Starry Night, A Wonderful Guy, La Vie en Rose, Cherokee, Hello Young Lovers, All in a Golden Afternoon, I Feel Pretty, The Song is You, Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Seven Golden Bells, A Summer Place, Allez-vous en Go Away, Green Leaves of Summer, Carousel Waltz, I Still See Elisa, When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love, Lucy’s Theme from ‘Parish’, The Girl That I Marry, Out of my Dreams, This Nearly Was Mine Dulcima DLCD119. 21 tracks arranged by Johnny Douglas taken from his Decca LPs ‘Golden Strings’ and ‘The Broadway Waltzes’.
BRITISH LIGHT OVERTURES Volume 2: Plymouth Hoe (John Ansell); Overture 125 (David Gow); Farnham Festival Overture (Sir Richard Rodney Bennett); The Moor of Venice (William Alwyn); A Scots Overture (John Gardner); The Lamprey (Michael Gryspeerdt); Scaramouche (Peter Hope); A Cleveland Overture (Anthony Hedges); A Snowdon Overture (Gareth Glyn) Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland Sanctuary Group White Line CDWHL2137, 62:54 mins. While the nautically jolly Plymouth Hoe will be familiar to many, the other splendid overtures on this new CD will not. David Gow’s 125 was written to launch British Rail’s new high speed train in 1976; Richard Rodney Bennett’s offering is self explanatory; William Alwyn’s Moor of Venice began as a brass band piece before Philip Lane orchestrated it; while John Gardner’s original work was in honour of wartime RAF Fighter Command before being rescored for the 1954 Proms. Michael Gryspeerdt was a doctor by profession but played in the Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra which often repaired to The Lamprey pub near Gloucester Cathedral while Peter Hope needs no introduction, nor does Anthony Hedges whose Cleveland Overture is related to Hull University where he was domiciled for many years. Welshman, Gareth Glyn lives on Anglesey and looks out to Snowdonia so it is easy to see where he obtained his inspiration. All the music is in the best British Light Music tradition and well worth purchasing. Peter Worsley
I have, alas, one or two serious misgivings about the makeup of this CD, bearing in mind the title British LIGHT Overtures. I can well imagine some impulse purchasers being misled into thinking that they are going to enjoy an hour or so of tuneful undemanding music which, for the most part, this recording doesn’t deliver. William Alwyn’s The Moor of Venice for example, has a particularly grim and doom-laden scenario which is fully realised in the music and could in no way be categorised as ‘light’. Surely a more accurate generic title (if Sanctuary Classics are going to continue with this series) would simply be ‘British Concert Overtures’. Furthermore the age profile, as represented by the compositional dates of these works is heavily tilted towards the modern with only two pre-dating 1950, one of which fortunately is John Ansell’s splendid, stirring and evocative salt-laden nautical overture Plymouth Hoe. Wonderful to have this at last in first-class modern sound, but for this listener at least leaving most of the remainder on this disc obstinately becalmed and (taking the nautical analogy a little further) outgunned and outranged! The best of the remainder for me was Rodney Bennett’s Farnham Festival Overture which includes skilful use of a piano, and Gareth Glyn’s appealing A Snowdon Overture which displays a charm and lyricism lacking in most of the remaining tracks, which I cannot imagine returning to very often. Playing time is somewhat miserly and there would have been ample room at the end for Ansell’s companion nautical overture The Windjammers, referred to in Philip Lane’s notes, and bringing about perhaps a satisfying concluding symmetry to this disc. Recording and performance are first rate, and if you think the contents will appeal to you don’t be put off by the strictures of a curmudgeonly reviewer. Incidentally, isn’t it about time that such significant figures of the past as Percy Fletcher, Montague Phillips, Haydn Wood, etc are represented in this series, assuming the compiler(s) can become a little less obsessed with ‘modern’? It would considerably increase the attractiveness and saleability of this series, and certainly I would have passed by Volume 2 had it not been for Plymouth Hoe! Roger Hyslop
JOHNNY DOUGLAS ORCHESTRA I won’t dance, Yesterdays, A fine romance, The Carioca, They can’t take that away from me, The way you look tonight, I’m putting all my eggs in one basket, etc.. (22 tracks taken from the Decca LPs ‘Cheek to Cheek’ & ‘A Handful of Stars’ Dulcima DLCD118, 73:42 mins. Many of us will recall these two Decca LPs from over 45 years ago with pleasant memories. Johnny Douglas’s own arrangements have a bright, fresh sound that won him many admirers back in the 1950s, and this welcome reissue on his own Dulcima label will please many readers of this magazine. The LPs date from 1955 and 1957, so they were just too early for stereo, but the original tape masters still sound fine. To fit both albums on to one CD, it has been necessary to omit Like Someone in Love and How High the Moon from ‘A Handful of Stars’. Just one slight disappointment: the CD booklet doesn’t say anything about Johnny’s distinguished career. Maybe he was too modest! As you will have read elsewhere in this issue, sadly Johnny died on Easter Sunday, 20 April, so this CD will serve as a lasting tribute to his talent as a superlative arranger of popular songs. David Ades Dulcima CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £13 [US $26] each.
BRITISH STRING MINIATURES Volume 2: Set of Act Tunes and Dances (Henry Purcell); Serenade for the Birthday of Frederic Delius (Peter Warlock); Air and Dance (Delius); Serenade (Matthew Curtis); Suite – The Spanish Lady (Sir Edward Elgar); Serenata Concertante (Philip Lane) Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland Sanctuary Group White Line CDWHL2136. You may not hear this music played regularly on BBC Radio 3 which shows it must be good! It is a delightful light string music CD of the highest calibre, both ancient and modern(ised). Gareth Glyn’s characteristic Anglesey Sketches tell the story of different parts of the island in North Wales where the composer resides. Particularly pleasant are the scherzo Cemaes, reflecting exuberant summer beach activities while the elegy Moelfre, conjures up the hundreds of lost souls down the centuries whose ships foundered on this dangerous rocky coastline. Matthew Curtis and Philip Lane prove that modern serious string music can be thoroughly enjoyable while the rest of the disc can easily be guessed from the style of the well-known composers listed. Peter Worsley The Sanctuary Group White Line series of CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £10 [US $20] each.
CHARLES WILLIAMS ‘Radio and Television Memories No. 2’ Devil’s Galop, Girls in Grey, The Old Clockmaker, Quiet Stroll, Voice of London, High Adventure, Rhythm on Rails, Starlings, Young Ballerina, Pioneer Trail, Trolleybus, Model Railway, Great Day, In a Hurry, Summer Garden, Follow That Car, Sports Galop, Workroom, Full Speed, Ten Days’ Leave, Night Boat to Duiblin (film theme), Alf’s Button Afloat (film music), SOS, Searchlight, Convoy Attack, Barrage, Naval Action, Commandos, Said the Bells, Atlantic Brakers, War in the Jungle, Sons of the Air, March Winds, Storm on the Moors, Seaford Head, Drummer Boy, Speedway Galop and The Falcons Charles Williams and his Concert Orchestra, Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra, etc. THIS ENGLAND CR3. As many readers will know, a new CD of Charles Williams’ compositions was recorded in England earlier this year, and its release is eagerly awaited. But This England magazine has just got in first by issuing the first commercial CD devoted entirely to compositions by this master of Light Music, which will delight his many admirers. The CD (and cassette) coincide with an article on Charles Williams in the spring 2003 issue of Evergreen (the sister magazine of This England). The CD is full of radio and TV themes, such as "Dick Barton – Special Agent", BBC Television Newsreel, "Jennings at School", Farming, "Friday Night is Music Night", "Top of the Bill", "Dan Dare", television interludes and others. There are also two rare film soundtracks – from "Night Boat to Dublin" (1946) and a 1938 Crazy Gang Film "Alf’s Button Afloat"; predictably the sound quality is only average and the extracts are brief, but the second film is notable for chase music which Williams must have used later as the basis for his Devil’s Galop. These two tracks alone make this CD a real collector’s item. Keen Williams fans will probably have many of the other tracks, and the need to choose items that are out of copyright (more than 50 years old) means that the compilers have had to resort to a number of less well-known short mood music pieces from the Chappell Recorded Music Library of the 1940s. Readers who have previously purchased CDs from This England will know that they are lovingly produced by real enthusiasts. The gloss of the major record companies may be missing, and expensive sound restoration is beyond their reach. Having said that, the sound quality here is perfectly acceptable, with only occasional surface noise evident, and it has to be recognised that this may well be a ‘plus’ factor for some collectors who value authenticity. This release is strongly recommended as a slice of English Light Music history. The only thing lacking is precise information of the recording source and the actual orchestra playing on each item. David Ades This CD is only available direct from Evergreen Melodies, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, GL50 1YQ, England – tel. 01242 515156 or online at The CD costs £8.95 including postage; a shorter cassette version is available for £7.50. Overseas members should enquire about extra postage costs.
MUSIC OF LECUONA Siboney, Danza Iucumi, Jungle Drums, Gitanarias, Maria my own, Malaguena, Always in my heart, Andalucia, La comparsa, High in Sierra PLACE PIGALLE Domino, Why do you pass me by, At last at last, Autumn leaves, C’est si bon, La mer, Waltz of Paree, Chez-moi, Boom, Mademoiselle de Paris, When the world was young, Au revoir Stanley Black, his Piano and Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4176. The early stereo sound on the ‘Lecuona’ album is quite amazing. Equally exciting are the arrangements, presumably the work of maestro Stanley Black, although he did not generally make known the musicians who must have worked with him on some of his albums. He was so busy in the recording studios and concert halls, that he surely could not have scored all his music himself. The accompanying LP "Place Pigalle" employs much fewer musicians, mainly piano, accordion, percussion and occasionally electronic organ. The result is an atmospheric portrait of the kind of sounds one would love to hear emanating from a smoky French café or bistro, late into the evening. Sadly things are rather different today, but at least Stanley allows us to wallow in our nostalgia for what should be. These are two very different albums, but somehow they are each very satisfying in their own way. You may not want to play the entire CD through in one go, but I suspect that you will get a lot of enjoyment from selecting various portions from time to time, depending upon your mood. David Ades
EVENING IN PARIS Mademoiselle de Paris, Love’s last word is spoken, My prayer, Vous qui passez sans me voir (Why do you pass me by?), Pigalle, La vie en rose, Boom, Ca c’est Paris, J’attendrai, Valentine, Clopin clopant, La Seine, Parlez moi d’amour, Can-can EVENING IN ROME Santa Lucia, Serenade in the night, Mattinata, Luna rossa, Tell me you’ll not forget, Mamma, Come back to Sorrento, La montanara, O sole mio, The echo told me a lie, Catari catari, Vieni sul mar, Anema e core, Funiculi funicular. Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4167. This is really Leon Young’s CD, with his glorious arrangements excelling in these timeless interpretations of delightful melodies that still cannot fail to charm. The Chacksfield Orchestra really was a superb ensemble in the 1950s, strongly supported by the Decca sound technicians who were in a class all their own. First issued in 1954 and 1955, these albums just pre-date stereo, but the mono sound is fine and, after all, it is the music that really matters. As far as I am concerned, these interpretations are exactly how I wish to hear this kind of music performed. Rock ‘N’ Roll hadn’t yet fully embarked on the wrecking spree that killed off so many fine orchestras just a few years later. David Ades
NAT KING COLE Love Songs When I Fall in Love, Unforgettable, Very Thought of You, Too Young, Let’s Fall in Love, The More I See You, Stardust, These Foolish Things, etc… 24 tracks EMI 581 5132. I suppose that the only ‘problem’ with compilations such as this is deciding how many duplications you are prepared to tolerate. I haven’t checked in detail, but I should imagine that keen NKC collectors will already possess many of these tracks. However if your collection is currently devoid of this great singer, you could do far worse than purchase this bargain. David Ades
TED HEATH AND HIS MUSIC
Hits I Missed & Al Jolson Classics Vocalion CDLK4168
Great Film Hits & Pop Hits Vocalion CDLK4170
It is difficult to find something new to say about Ted Heath and his Music. His great band contained some of the finest soloists that were around in Britain at the time, and all of his Decca LPs were outstanding in their own way. For example, the idea of a big band swinging Al Jolson hits might sound a bit far-fetched, but Heath certainly gets away with it. And how many band leaders would allow their egos to admit that they had actually missed some hits? Ted Heath fans continue to be very fortunate that so many of his albums are now available in superb remasterings such as these. David Ades
MANTOVANI ORCHESTRA Italia Mia & Verzauberter Klang Aus Germany Vocalion CDLK4173. Just recently Vocalion have been treating us to several Decca albums featuring music from the continent of Europe, each being superb examples of the work of the respective orchestras. Frank Chacksfield with his ‘Evening in Rome’ (CDLK4167) has concentrated more on the popular sound of Italian music from the 1950s, whereas this Mantovani collection veers a little closer to the light classics. The sound and the performance are both stunning, and some readers may be reassured to know that the famous Mantovani ‘cascading strings’ sound is only used very sparingly (Decca probably insisted upon a touch of it here and there). The title track Italia Mia is one of Mantovani’s own compositions. This is the first time it has appeared on CD in Britain: it was previously on CD only in Japan – over a dozen years ago. The second LP was made for the continental market in June 1969, and did not appear in the UK, USA or Japan, so its revival should be of great interest to all Mantovani fans. Somewhat surprisingly, it was released in Australia as "Enchanting Sounds from Germany", but has been unavailable for many years. All of the tracks were big German hits, and many will be familiar to British ears. The German album is slightly more popular in style than theItalia Mia, but both fit nicely together, and this new CD is highly recommended. David Ades
SYDNEY LIPTON ORCHESTRA Sweet Harmony Cocktails for Two, Love is the Sweetest Thing, Love Walked In, Isn’t it Romantic, Dance Little Lady etc. Dancing at Grosvenor House Canadian Sunset, It’s Been a Long Long Time, Five Minutes More, Sioux City Sue, My Baby Just Cares for Me, Little White Lies, Scatter-brain, You’re Driving me Crazy etc. Vocalion CDLK4175. I suppose an obvious comment to make is that the melodies on this CD are so well-known that other versions of them must already be in the collections of many readers. So it all really comes down to a question of whether or not this style of music is your cup of tea – and I use the term deliberately, because a lot of tea will have been drunk over the years while Sydney Lipton and his Orchestra were performing music such as this at some of London’s most fashionable establishments. Today’s younger record buyers might find this rather quaint, but for those of us with longer melodies it will be a welcome addition to our collections. David Ades
EDWARD GERMAN Coronation March and Hymn, Henry VIII - Three Dances, Welsh Rhapsody, Much Ado About Nothing, Bourée and Gigue, Nell Gwynn -Three Dances, Gipsy Suite - Four Characteristic Dances, Tom Jones -Three Dances Band of the Welsh Guards directed by Major Philip Shannon MBE. Specialist Recording Company SRC 104 69 mins. This is a further instalment in SRC's continuing series featuring CDs devoted to a single British composer and performed by one of our premier military bands - in this case the Welsh Guards. With the notable exception of Marco Polo who have included him in their British Light Music Series (No. 8.223419) and issued two volumes of his more serious music (Nos. 8.223695 & 8.223726), Sir Edward German has been largely neglected by the recording companies, so this new SRC CD is particularly welcome. Whilst some of these items have already appeared on the aforementioned Marco Polo album - Gipsy Suite, Henry VIII and Nell Gwynn Dances - none are exactly over-represented in the current catalogue. The attractions of this issue are considerably enhanced by the inclusion of several rarities. The Coronation March and Hymn(for George V’s Coronation) is based on themes from Henry VIII, the excerpts from Much Ado About Nothing are quite delightful and well worth a hearing whilst there are no modern recordings extant of the Tom Jones Dances. Nimble and agile woodwind playing are demanded in many of the faster dance movements and the Welsh Guards are fully equal to the challenges made upon them. Like the Sullivan disc the sessions were taped in the spacious acoustics of the Chapel, The Royal Hospital Chelsea. A very good buy! Roger Hyslop
[available from DISCURIO, 46 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LD. Tel/Fax 01634 845222,www.discurio.com, or from larger retail outlets such as the HMV Oxford Street stores in London].
BILLY MAYERL Vol. 1 Original Recordings 1925-1936 Marigold; Puppets Suite (Golliwog, Judy, Punch); Desert Song (selection); All-Of-A-Twist; Eskimo Shivers; Nippy (medley); Three Miniatures in Syncopation (Cobweb, Muffin Man, Clockwork); Sennen Cover; Jazzaristrix; Virginia Creeper; Limehouse Blues; Mignonette; Three Dances in Syncopation (English, Cricket, Harmonica); Indispensable You; Honky-Tonk; Honeysuckle; Sporting Love (medley); Have a Heart; Hollyhock.Naxos 8.120653. An excellent selection of early Mayerl masterpieces, including selections from two of his rarely heard musicals from the Thirties, Nippy and Sporting Love. Sennen Cove is the splendid full orchestral version conducted by Billy himself, while Ray Noble and Jack Hylton take the baton forHave a Heart and Indispensable You respectively. All the other tracks are solos played at the height of his fame by Mayerl, whose fantastic skills were described in a slow-motion film of the time as "Lightning Fingers". Peter Dempsey has done a wonderful job of remastering, including possibly the first ever piano recordings made by the new electrical process in Britain, namely All-Of-A-Twist andEskimo Shivers on 24th September, 1925. All in all a very good buy at bargain price. Peter WorsleyNaxos CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £5 [US $10] each.
PAUL MAURIAT AND HIS ORCHESTRA ‘The Best of …’ Love is Blue, Puppet on a String, Song for Anna, Les Deux Guitares, Last Summer Day, New York New York, Nocturne, Pearl Fishers, Guantanamera, Jeux Interdits, Those Were The Days, etc… 21 tracks (France) Mercury/ Universal 063 687-2. First of all he wrote the book … now our member Serge Elhaik has penned the booklet notes (in English and French) for this very entertaining and welcome new release. In 1968 Paul Mauriat’s Love Is Blue was top of the charts in the USA for seven weeks, firmly establishing his credentials as a top international conductor. Mauriat is also highly respected as a songwriter and arranger, as his work with the likes of Charles Aznavour and Mireille Mathieu will testify. His later career found him much in demand in Japan, where it is reckoned that he gave at least 1,200 concerts until 1998. The Paul Mauriat Orchestra still continues under Gilles Gambus. This CD presents the maestro in some of his most popular recordings (seven are his own compositions), and it should win him many new admirers. David Ades
THE FILM MUSIC OF RICHARD ADDINSELL Goodbye Mr. Chips; Dangerous Moonlight (Warsaw Concerto); Love on the Dole; Blithe Spirit; The Black Rose; Scrooge; Tom Brown’s Schooldays; The Admirable Crichton; Out of the Clouds (Flame Tango). BBC Philharmonic conducted by Rumon Gamba Chandos CHAN 10046, 79:50 minutes. A real feast of light music for cinema and non-cinemagoers alike. The vast majority of these orchestral masterpieces have been reconstructed by Philip Lane and what a labour of love was that! By listening to the soundtrack over and over again he has recreated the deliberately destroyed scores and put back into the musical repertoire what would surely have been lost for ever. It seems strange to us now that such musical gems were discarded as worthless once the movie had been made but there was so much good music around at the time that it is understandable, if not forgivable. The recordings are first class with the addition of the choirs of both Chetham’s and Manchester Cathedral, plus the piano playing of Martin Roscoe in The Warsaw Concerto. If you remember the films then you will remember the music but even if you are too young it doesn’t matter because the splendid music stands alone. Peter Worsley
While welcoming this release wholeheartedly, it is only right that I should draw readers’ attention to the previous two CDs of Addinsell’s Film Music (ASV CDWHL2108 & 2115). Philip Lane was also involved with both of these, and it is understandable that Chandos would wish to include many of Addinsell’s best-known works, so it is inevitable that some duplications have occurred. However, on this latest release, the only items that may already be in the hands of keen collectors are Warsaw Concerto, Blithe Spirit, and Scrooge. This not only serves to illustrate the considerable output achieved by Addinsell, but it should also reassure his admirers that they must not hesitate to acquire this latest release. Full marks also for the excellent booklet. David Ades
…Warsaw Concerto – that seemingly indestructible veteran evergreen – receives from Martin Roscow a performance of genuine symphonic breadth imbuing the piece with a surprising verdant freshness which is very appealing. A highlight for me was the music from Love On The Dole which I found particularly poignant and touching. Rumon Gamba deftly steers the highly accomplished and polished BBC Philharmonic through these scores with unerring sensitivity and complete sympathy. Roger Hyslop This CD is available from the RFS Record Service for £12 [US $24].
MARTIN BÖTTCHER Film Music Unser Haus in Kamerun, Der Fälscher von London, Strasse der Verheissung, Auf Engel Schiesst Man Nicht, Lufthansa-Suite plus 3 bonus tracks (Germany) Peermusic CD 0103. I feel sure that our German members will be familiar with the work of Martin Bőttcher – and rightly so, because his music is inventive and very pleasing. This new CD (conceived by our member Volker Rippe) offers the music from five films, plus three bonus tracks which I suspect were popular singles in the 1960s. The first film Unser Haus in Kamerun has a very pleasant theme, which is attractively arranged in a variety of moods with strings well to the fore. Several of the tracks would stand up very well on their own as fine examples of production music. Der Fälscher von London veers more towards jazz and (presumably!) the seamier side of London night life. A somewhat similar style is evident in Strasse der Verheissung, with nods towards West Coast Jazz and the more blatant pop sounds of the 1960s. Glenn Miller sounds emerge (intentionally) in Auf Engel Schiesst Man Nicht. Then bright holiday sounds take over in the Lufthansa-Suite. This is an interesting collection, with varied styles that prove that the composer can turn his talents towards any kind of mood, as required by the storylines in the films. The CD booklet (in German only) reproduces four film posters – a ‘plus’ point for collectors of film music. Scores such as this deserve to be preserved for posterity. David Ades
TED HEATH & HIS MUSIC Listen To My Music Opus 1; East of the Sun; Bakerloo Non-Stop; Donegal Cradle Song; On Ilkla Moor Baht’at; Baia; London Suite (Chelsea, Whitechapel, Limehouse, Bond Street, Piccadilly, Soho): Deep Forest; Pagan Love Song; You Go To My Head; Dark Eyes; Harlem Nocturne; Song of the Vagabonds; Listen To My Music; Hindustan; Lady Byrd; Sophisticated Lady; Lyonia; Euphoria; Cuban Crescendo; Roumanian Roundabout. Sanctuary Group Living Era CD AJA 5459. Ted Heath lovers will be pleased with this CD which includes Fats Waller’s complete London Suite which was released before the wartime Waller piano solo originals (which were destroyed in the Blitz) were commercially recorded from inferior copies made at the time. All the tracks were mono and made between 1944 and 1950 when Heath was arguably at his peak. The band was initially formed at the behest of the BBC Variety Department for broadcasting purposes only but soon outgrew this role and became Britain’s most famous big band. A fine tribute to a fine set of musicians. Edmund Whitehouse
LEROY ANDERSON – ‘Blue Tango’ Sleigh Ride, Promenade, The Waltzing Cat, The Syncopated Clock, Saraband, Serenata, Jazz Pizzicato … Jazz Legato, A Trumpeter’s Lullaby, Plink Plank Plunk, Horse and Buggy, Belle of the Ball, Blue Tango, China Doll, The Penny-Whistle Song, Fiddle-Faddle, The Phantom Regiment, Irish Suite, Christmas Festival Leroy Anderson and his ‘Pops’ Concert Orchestra Sanctuary Group Living Era CDAJA5481, 75:12 mins. This new CD has been compiled by RFS member David Lennick (who is based in Ontario, Canada), so the recording information given in the booklet refers to North America. Which is why all of the 78s are quoted as having Decca catalogue numbers, but this is the US Decca company, not the familiar British one. (To avoid confusion, I feel that there should have been a note in the CD booklet to explain this). In the UK these tracks were issued on Brunswick with completely different catalogue numbers, although the matrix numbers will have been the same. The recordings date from 11 September 1950 to 5 November 1952, and the running order of the tracks simply reflects the sequence in which they were released in the USA (except for the final item). In 2002 Jasmine issued a CD containing the first 16 titles (JASMCD 2580 – reviewed in JIM 152), but these are not all the same performances. (Jasmine gives no recording information whatsoever, and there was insufficient time available to make further investigations before this review had to be ready for the printers. If any readers can shed more light on this, we’ll be pleased to give the relevant details in a future issue). Clearly this new Living Era release is better value because it also contains Anderson’s six-movement Irish Suite plus the longer eight-minute version of his Christmas Festival. For the sake of completeness, I should remind readers that in 1992 MCA Records/Good Music in the USA released ‘Blue Tango -The Original Hit Recordings of Leroy Anderson’ on MSD 35334. This had 20 tracks, although Jazz Pizzicato and Jazz Legato were put on two different tracks, and incredibly separated by four other numbers – clearly the compiler had little regard for Anderson’s original concept. The remaining three ‘extra’ tracks were later works – Forgotten Dreams, Sandpaper Ballet and Bugler’s Holiday. Surprisingly Horse and Buggy was dropped in favour of The Minstrel Boy. The later stereo recordings by Leroy Anderson are on the 2-CD set ‘The Leroy Anderson Collection’ (MCA MCAD2-9815) so there have already been several opportunities for collectors to obtain the composer’s own performances on CD. If anyone reading this review still lacks Leroy Anderson on their CD shelves, then my advice is to choose this latest release which is the best now available. The sound quality is very good (although the trumpets in The Wearing of the Green sound decidedly tipsy!), and these original performances from the beginning of the 1950s stand as the definitive versions. David Ades
BOB HOPE ‘Thanks for the Memory’ Title track, Two Sleepy People, The Lady’s in Love with You, Penthouse Serenade, Put it There Pal, The Road to Morocco, My Favourite Brunette, Beside You, Buttons and Bows, That’s Not the Knot, Lucky Us, Ain’t we Got Fun, Blind Date, Goodnight Irene, Home on the Range, Wing Ding Tonight, Am I in Love, A Four-Legged Friend, Hoots Mon, Chicago Style, The Road to Bali, Merry-Go-Runaround Living Era CDAJA5493, 76:30 mins. British-born Bob Hope has become an American institution, and he had the rare honour of hearing warm tributes paid to him by the US Congress a few years ago when what might be termed a ‘premature’ announcement of his death was made. Assuming that he doesn’t fall at the last hurdle, by the time you read this he will have celebrated his 100th birthday on 29 May, and this new CD is therefore both a timely and a fitting tribute to his rather sparse recording career. Once again, the compiler credits are in the name of ‘our’ David Lennick, so my previous comments (on the Leroy Anderson CD above) about North American recordings details apply here as well. If Bob wasn’t exactly prolific in the recording studios, at least what he did commit to wax was worthy of preservation, proving that he had an astute regard for quality, rather than quantity. On several tracks he is joined by the likes of Bing Crosby, Shirley Ross, Dorothy Lamour, Margaret Whiting and Jane Russell, and there are extra tracks (not listed above) from radio shows and visits to the troops, for which he became something of a legend in World War 2. Bob’s films are represented with numbers from several Roadfilms, plus The Paleface and Son of Paleface – the latter being a rare example of a sequel being better than the original. The gremlins appear to have made mistakes on two track titles, but apart from that minor niggle this is a splendid production in all respects. David Ades All Sanctuary Group Living Era CDs are available from the RFS Record Service for £8 [US $16] each.
BEST OF THE FIFTIES Various Artists 6 CD set, EMI GOLD 582 5542. Selling for around £20 this collection ought to be good value, although the music on the 6 CDs would easily fit on to 4. Also EMI are on decidedly dodgy ground with the assertion that these are "original artists … original hits" when many are cover versions by EMI contract artists. As for the 1950s tag, how can you describe Judy Garland’s Over The Rainbow in this way ("The Wizard of Oz" came out in 1939)? This is a very mixed bag, with hardly any instrumental items. Just treat it as yet another compilation: it certainly isn’t an accurate portrayal of the overall music scene in the 1950s as I remember it. David Ades
NORMAN WISDOM ‘The Very Best of …’ EMI GOLD 582 6522. I haven’t listed the tracks because you’d be hard pressed to associate many of the titles with Sir Norman. Missing is his big number (accompanied by Robert Farnon) from the ice show "London Melody" which first made his name, and it would have been nice to have that catchy tune I’d Like to Put on Record from "Trouble in Store" (of course Don’t Laugh at Me is included). Surprisingly absent also are those two classic sides he did with Joyce Grenfell (remember Narcissus?). Norman has a pleasant voice, and he usually had excellent orchestrations backing him. This collection is quite good, but with a little more thought it could have been so much better. David Ades
HUMPHREY LYTTELTON ‘The Best of …’ EMI GOLD 583 2802. This is a 3-CD box set which you should be able to pick up for around £12. I have to admit that my knowledge of Humph’s recordings is limited, so I cannot say if there are any glaring gaps among the 60 titles. It begins with Bad Penny Blues so perhaps the omens are good! Whether or not your own particular favourites are all here, I suspect that few will disagree that this is very good value. David Ades
ADAM FAITH What Do You Want, Poor Me, Someone Else’s Baby etc. 24 tracks. EMI GOLD 583 1132. Pop singers don’t usually get included in this feature, but we know that a number of our readers are keen fans of John Barry, so they may be interested in this new release. Faith’s early successes were distinguished by the pizzicato and strings effects cleverly achieved by John Barry, with a little help from the Abbey Road echo chamber. Thanks to Hit and Miss, the signature tune of BBC TV’s "Juke Box Jury", John Barry was well known to pop fans around 40 years ago, and he certainly helped young Terence Nelhams (aka AF), who died earlier this year on 8 March aged 62.David Ades
ANNE SHELTON The Best of … Let’s Face the Music and Dance, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Bridge of Sighs, If I Give My Heart To You etc. 23 tracks. EMI GOLD 584 0152. Anne Shelton has been quite well served with CD reissues just recently, but mainly they have concentrated on her repertoire from the 1940s. This new collection from EMI comes mainly from the 1950s, and it includes a mixture of hits of the day plus a few well-loved standards. Anne was a very good singer, so we mention this for the benefit of her many admirers. David Ades
NATURAL BORN FILLERS Big Beat, Trippin the Blues, Waltz Cool, The Charmer (John Cacavas); Fancy Flutes, Kiddies Corner, Dancing Harp (Roger Roger); Swing Song, Happy Folk, For Deborah, The Waiting Game, The Winners (Roger Webb); Autumn Love (Paul Lewis); The Gentle Touch (Herbert Chappell); Regency Street (Sam Fonteyn); Dancing Youth Waltz (Douglas Gamley); The Storyteller (Harry Rabinowitz); Horn-a-Plenty (Robert Farnon); Like Spring (Steve Race) etc.. 66 tracks Double CD. Total Time 158 minutes Codename Music CMCD1970. "Diamonds are forever" should capture your mind when you see the cover of this well compiled CD of BBC and ITV Daytime Interlude classics from the late 1960’s and 1970’s. You should be mesmerized by the cover alone. On opening this double CD will unfold one primary disc and one secondary disc from schooldays past containing 64 tracks of catchy little pieces of light musical charm played before schools and children’s programmes on TV. Plus two distinctive bonus tracks featuring the primary school’s diamonds music and the secondary school’s diamonds music. The whole school timetable can be fondly remembered here as you listen to well loved and often aired musical miniatures from the world famous Chappell Recorded Music Library featuring enchanting pieces from the pens and pencils of John Cacavas, Brian Fahey, Roger Webb, Gordon Franks and Robert Farnon to name a few. So rustle up your old school kit and make space in your satchel for this little gem from days gone by. Malcolm Batchelor
The thought of 64 Chappell tracks should be enough to tempt many RFS members to buy this great new collection, especially as so many of the numbers will not already be in your collections. Steven Willis is a true enthusiast who has clearly put his heart into this compilation … and it shows! David Ades For full details of how to order this 2-CD set please go back to the full-page advertisement on page 5 of this issue.
ANDRE KOSTELANETZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA – A MISCELLANY. Liza, Laura, Sari Waltz, Vienna City of My Dreams, Falling in Love with Love, Gypsy Love Waltz, Gold and Silver Waltz, Intermezzo, Someone to Watch Over Me, Lady Be Good, Two Hearts in ¾ Time, Empore Waltz, Vilia, Have You Met Miss Jones?, Waltz Dream, Diane, Gypsy Baron Waltz, Love Walked In, You Made Me Love You, Serenade (Pierne ), We Kiss in a Shadow, Bali Ha’i, Moon over Miami, Now is the Hour, Frank Bristow FBCD91 78:30 mins. This is more or less Kosty’s recording career in microcosm, ranging from 12" 78s of anything up to 60 years ago (some of which …the Lehar, Stauss, Kalman, Stolz and Oscar Straus….startes me off as a collector) , on through Rodgers and Gershwin of the mid–forties and on to some early stereo recordings. Those six tracks are hardly typical of the Kostelanetz we admired for something like 30 years, either technically or musically. One, You Made Me Love You is so bad in both respects it’s all one can do to listen to it, but that is only one title out of many. Otherwise this ’Miscellany’ is a typical cross section of Kostelanetz’s’ work in all fields over the years and can be safely recommended. Arthur Jackson
ANDRE PREVIN & DAVID ROSE ORCHESTRA – LIKE BLUE/SONGS FOR YOUNG LOVERS. You and the Blues, Blue Room, Serenade in Blue, Blue Holiday, Blue Again, Like Blue, Black and Blue, Little Girl Blue, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Blue Turning Grey Over You, Blue Subterranean, Born to be Blue, Blame It on My Youth, Young Man’s Lament, You Make Me Feel So Young, Young and Tender, While We’re Young, Too Young to be True, Last Night When We Were Young, Like Young, Younger Than Springtime, Year of Youth, Too Young to go Steady, Love is for the Very Young. Frank Bristow FBCD94 70.30 mins. It must be forty years since I had a Polydor/MGM double LP called " Like Young, Like Blue ", which turned out to be one of those albums one keeps coming back to when all else fails to satisfy. Here is the identical set complete on a very welcome CD from our friend Frank Bristow, with both soloist and orchestra on top form. Previn and Rose are equally adept as interpreters also in no fewer than eight cases, composers of standard music such as we used to know in those happy days of yore. I would imagine most JIM readers will be familiar with these recordings, so if your original copies have been showing signs of wear, now is your chance to replace them. Arthur Jackson
DAVID ROSE & HIS ORCHESTRA – EASY LISTENING Kiss of Fire, In a Sentimental mood, You Stepped out of a Dream, Ebb Tide, Caravan, Blue Prelude, All the Things You Are,Misty, Flamingo, Man with the Golden Arm, Shangri – La, Autumn Leaves, Autumn Waltz, September in the Rain, Blue Autumn, ‘Tis Autumn, Indian Summer, Shine on Harvest Moon, Autumn Serenade, Autumn Nocturne, And This is My Beloved, October Mist, Autumn in New York, Misirlou, What Is There To Say? , It’s a Most Unusual Day, Love Makes the World Go Round. Frank Bristow FBCD95 78:46mins. "Easy Listening" as an album title sounds most inappropriate to me. One thing the musicianly David Rose was not was a mere purveyor of bland mood music, as this collection of familiar and well loved standards proves. The basic material stems from three American MGM LP’s, "21 Channel Sound", "Autumn Leaves" and "Spectacular Strings", none of which as far as I have been able to ascertain, were ever issued in the U.K. Everything is nicely contrasted as far as tempi and styles are concerned, varying between big band sounds and the lush Rose string sound. It’s always perfect and musicianly and in no way can it be classed as "Easy Listening". Arthur Jackson Editor: Sorry to correct Arthur, but to avoid correspondence(!) "21 Channel Sound" was released in Britain – on MGM C901 and MGM CD 6057 (stereo).
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, Works For Wind Band – Volume 3 The Corocan Cadets, Semper Fidelis, Selections from : The Free Lance, The New York Hiippodrome, La Flor di Sevilla, Waltzes from ‘El Capitan’, A Century of Progress Suite: The Last Days of Pompeii, The White Rose, With Pleasure, Dance Hilarious, The Belle of Chicago, The National Game. Royal Artillery Band conducted by Keith Brion. Naxos 8.559092 54mins. Naxos have ambitiously set their sights on recording Sousa’s Wind Band music in its entirety, so this will be a substantial and significant series with several more instalments apparently already in the can. They have invested very wisely in the Royal Artillery Band, one of the largest and best bands in the British Army and in obtaining the services of Keith Brion, an American conductor who is a specialist in Sousa’s period style. The third volume was recorded in Woolwich Town Hall, a venue where often the Royal Artillery Orchestra have given public concerts. Sousa said a march ‘should make a man with a wooden leg step out‘ and that he succeeded spectacularly in his own philosophy cannot be in doubt. All the marches are played here with quite superb panache and swagger. La Flor de Sevilla composed for the Ibero – American Exposition in 1929 has a particularly attractive and beguiling trio, whilst A Century of Progress written in the year prior to his death showed the ‘March King’ had lost none of his flair for the idiom. The selection from the 1905 operetta The Free Lance, contains some appealing melodies, whilst the early suite The Last Days of Pompeii (which includes harp) has some interesting special effects as does the final piece on the disc The National Game. This is a series to collect and cherish especially at the Naxos price and one waits impatiently for Volume 4. Incidentally, this disc has the rare distinction for a military band CD in being ‘mentioned in despatches‘ during BBC Radio 3’s CD Review on Saturday 15th March, when Semper Fidelis followed on from a particularly unattractive and impenetrable piece by Schnittke!
Roger Hyslop
Production Music CDs
BIG SCREEN LITTLE SCREEN 2-CD collection of Archive tracks classified as Horror, The Westerns, Epics & Adventure and Dark Drama Cavendish CAV CD 155. This interesting collection has been put together by André Leon, from the Boosey & Hawkes archives, some dating back to 78s issued in the 1950s. Many of the tracks are quite short in duration, and the CDs are obviously not intended for leisure listening at home. But there are some interesting tracks that will appeal to enthusiasts, and the list of featured composers illustrates the quality of the writing – Trevor Duncan, Don Banks, John Scott, Eugene Cines, Joseph Cacciola, Dudley Simpson and Monia Liter, among others. Our good friend Heinz Herschmann is represented by his classic 78 The Galleon, and I have to say that it sounds better here than it did on his own Apollo Sound CD APSCD 205. Trevor Duncan’s gems include Revelation, four tracks of Mob Violence and two tracks from The Unwanted – The Boy. Enthusiasts are fortunate to have the opportunity to hear mood music of this calibre. David AdesCavendish CDs are only available from the RFS Record Service.
CLASSIC FILM & TV Vol. 4 ‘Comic Cuts’ Hey Buddy, Quack Track, Camilla, La Tour Eiffel, Allo Paris! (Nino Nardini); Puffing Joe (Harry Rabinowitz); Dolly Flapper (Peter Dennis); Saloon Rag, Adios Amigo, Clown in Town (Philippe Pares); Chase Me Chester, Slap and Tickle, Dandy Andy, The Moke, Caliope Carousel, River Police (Roger Roger); Goon Time (John Scott); Capering Clowns (Max Saunders); Yom Kippur, Irish Spree, Scottish Frolic (Leslie Bridgewater), etc… 54 tracks Bruton BRO21/356. The above details give titles of some of the longer pieces, but others are of a very short duration – often just a few seconds. The comments about leisure listening for the Cavendish CD above, equally apply here. The previous three CDs in this series were listed in JIM 153 – page 87.David Ades Bruton CDs are only available from the RFS Record Service.
A further selection of recent releases from Vocalion. Unfortunately we had to go to press before review copies were received, but we felt sure that you would wish to know that these CDs are being released in the late Spring.
BOB SHARPLES ORCHESTRA Contrasts in Hi-Fi On the Road to Mandalay, Will You Remember, By the Bend of the River, Giannina Mia, A Perfect Day, Donkey Serenade, Sylvia, Sweethearts etc.Dimensions in Sound Tuxedo Junction, Singing the Blues, Mack the Knife, The Whistler and his Dog, Strike Up the Band, Satin Doll, Trolley Song, etc. Vocalion CDLK4169.
WINIFRED ATWELL Hall of Fame Melodies in the style of other famous pianists including Bill Snyder (Bewitched), Eddie Heywood (Soft Summer Breeze), Fats Waller (Ain’t Misbehavin’), Carmen Cavallaro (Manhattan), George Shearing (I’ll Remember April) etc. …plays Gershwin Nice Work if You Can Get It, Love Walked In, Somebody Loves Me etc and Rhapsody in Blue with Ted Heath Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4177.
CATERINA VALENTE Great Continental Hits (with Stanley Black Orchestra) If You Go, Autumn Leaves, Melodie d’Amour, Too Soon, Volare, I Wish You Love, Song of the Sea, Why Do You Pass Me By etc. Valente & Violins (with Roland Shaw Orch) Love Letters, It Might as Well be Spring, This is all I Ask, Ebb Tide, What Now My Love, Somewhere etc. Vocalion CDLK4125 (postponed from last year).
RONALD BINGE Aldershot Brass Ensemble A Variation on Alouette, A Tune a Day, Trombonioso, Rushlake Green, The Jolly Swagman, A Song for all Comets etc. The Romantic Guitar with Gerald Tolan Echoes of a Dream, The Ever-Changing Sea, Summer’s End, Fugal Fancy, Where the Sun Shines etc. The Wimbledon Girl Singers Where the Gentle Avon Flows, Sailing By, Down by the River, String Song, The Watermill, Alas My Love You Do Me Wrong etc. Vocalion CDLK4129.
MANTOVANI Exodus Exodus Main theme & Karen, A Summer Place, The Green Leaves of Summer, Song Without End, 76 Trombones, The Sundowners, Irma la Douce etc. Great Films – Great themes Barabbas, Fanny, Advise and Consent, Goodbye Again, The Apartment, Never on Sunday etc. Vocalion CDLK4179.
SID PHILLIPS Rediffusion Anthology Vol. 3 Chicago, I’ve Found a New Baby, Ja Da, Bugle Call Rag, That’s a Plenty, Dar Town Strutters’ Ball, Sweet Georgia Brown, After You’ve Gone, Nobody’s Sweetheart, Milenberg Joys, Georgia on my Mind etc. Vocalion CDLK4184.
DENNIS LOTIS and BRIAN DEE piano ‘Mr. Dee and Me’ (1999 recordings) Skylark, It’s You or No One, Handful of Keys, I’m So in Love, Day by Day, I See Your Face, My Shining Hour, My Romance etc. Vocalion CDLK4185.
GRETA KELLER Vol. 2 Vocalion CDEA6084.
JOSEPHINE BRADLEY AND HER BALLROOM ORCHESTRA ‘Dancing in the Dark’ Vocalion CDEA6088.
BERTINI and the TOWER BALLROOM DANCE BAND ‘Hello Everybody’ Eclipse Records Vocalion CDEA 6092. Editor: Sadly this doesn’t include his famous number ‘Samum’ which was on Regal Zonophone – not Eclipse.
JACK PAYNE AND HIS ORCHESTRA Vol. 4 ‘Good Morning Mr. Sun’ Imperial Records Vocalion CDEA6093.
SAMMY KAYE Swing and Sway Vocalion CDUS 3024.
EDDIE FISHER The Early Years Vocalion CDUS3026.
DINAH SHORE Volume 2 Double CD for the price of 1 Vocalion CDUS3029.
All Vocalion CDs are available from the RFS Record Service. CDLK series cost £10 [US $20] each; CDEA are £6 [$12]; and CDUS are also £6 [$12] each.
BRITISH FILM COMPOSERS IN CONCERT Clifton Parker – Thieves’ Carnival Overture, Two Choreographic Studies; Leighton Lucas – Ballet de la Reine; Anthony Collins – Eire Suite; Bruce Montgomery – Scottish Aubade, Scottish Lullaby; Eric Rogers – Palladium Symphony Royal Ballet Sinfonia / Gavin Sutherland Sanctuary White Line CD WHL 2145. This new release showcases the concert works of some of the most interesting British cinema composers in a collection of world premiere recordings, featuring the likes of ‘Carry On’ film composers Bruce Montgomery and Eric Rogers, whose Palladium Symphony was inspired by his time conducting and composing for ITV’sSunday Night at the London Palladium. Another featured composer, Leighton Lucas, went from dancing with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes to working with Ivor Novello, later writing music for Alfred Hitchcock’s Stage Fright and war epics such as The Dam Busters, for which he provided the incidental music to supplement Eric Coates’ famous march.
KETỀLBEY CONDUCTS KETỀLBEY Volume 3 A Cockney Suite, Gallantry, I Call You From The Shadows, Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind, In a Camp of Ancient Britons, A Musical Jigsaw, Danse a la Tarantelle, Mind The Slide, Jungle Drums, Aberfoyle, Fiddle Fun, A Desert Romance, Sunset Glow, With Honour Crowned Various Orchestras Naxos 8110869. This collection of recordings dates from 1909 to 1940. The previous two volumes disappointed some buyers who felt that the sound restoration was patchy; it may be worth waiting to read reviews before deciding to purchase, although the price of around £5 is certainly not excessive.
THE NEW CONCERT ORCHESTRA Volume 1 Boosey & Hawkes recordings Citizens of the World – March, Passage to Windward, Four Old Fusspots, Icicle Ride, Broad Reach, Harvest Supper, The Scent of Sandalwood, Little Suite – Folk Tune, The Spirit of Progress – March (Trevor Duncan); Romantic Journey, Exuberant Youth (Ernest Tomlinson); Music for a Sunday Afternoon (Willis Schaefer); The Bingola, Paris Taxi, Spring (Vivian Ellis); Vin Rosé, Song of the Woodlands, Riverside Idyll (Frederic Curzon); Talking Point, Celtic Melody, Watersmeet (Cyril Watters); Girl Bird (Dennis Farnon); The Bullfighter (Monia Liter); Diary of a Debutante (Sam Fonteyn) VOCALION CDLK4192.
DIMITRI TIOMKIN : "Red River" film score Moscow Symphony Orchestra / William Stromberg Marco Polo 8225217. Starring John Wayne and Montgomery Clift, Howard Hawks’ Academy Award-winning Red River ranks among the best of the classic westerns made in the 1940s.
CARL MICHAEL ZIEHRER Selected Dances and Marches – Volume 4 Razumovsky Sinfonia / Christian Pollack Marco Polo 8223817.
New PERCY FAITH albums from Collectables in the USA (due to be released at the end of June):
COL 7561 Clair + New Thing
COL 7563 Lil' Abner + Broadway Bouquet
COL 7564 Bon Voyage! + Carefree - The Music Of Percy Faith
COL 7565 The Columbia Album Of Victor Herbert (Originally a 2-LP set)
…and finally an interesting CD from Derek Boulton’s Horatio Nelson
TUTTI CAMARATA Tutti’s Trumpets (1957 LP) I Can’t Get Started, Boy Meets Horn, What’s New, Trumpet Soliloquy, Trumpet Tango, Stardust, Tenderly etc. Tutti’s Trombones (1966) The Sweetest Sounds, Blueberry Hill, I Feel Pretty, The Pink Panther Theme, The Girl from Ipanema, Mr Lucky theme etc. Horatio Nelson HN04. Available from the RFS Record Service for £10 [US $20].
BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC DISCOVERIES VOLUME 5 Kaleidoscope (Peter Hope); Pastoral Reflection(John Fox); Inauguration (Paul Lewis); Adagio Serioso; Rondoletta (David Lyon); Music for Strings(Brian Douglas); Capriol Overture (Gavin Sutherland); Clarinet Concerto (Handel arr. Barbirolli);Haunted Ballroom (Geoffrey Toye); Overture on North Country Folk Tunes (Thomas Pitfield). City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gavin Sutherland Sanctuary Group CDWHL 2144. Producer Philip Lane has again unearthed several new shining trinkets but this time largely from the more modern musical treasure chests. How gratifying to know that many contemporary composers still believe in melody and it is a fitting tribute to Thomas Pitfield that we can hear more of the music referred to in his obituary. Geoffrey Toye’s Waltz from The Haunted Ballroom will be familiar to many as will some of Handel’s Clarinet Concerto played by Verity Butler – except of course that Handel never wrote it because the clarinet did not exist at the time – we have Sir John Barbirolli to thank for the amalgamation of various violin and other Handellian pieces. Paul Lewis and David Lyon are in good form while Peter Hope is eminently recognisable; even conductor Gavin Sutherland gets in on the act. Edmund Whitehouse
STANLEY BLACK Some Enchanted Evening Falling in Love with Love, The Man I Love, So in Love, The Desert Song, Why Do I Love You, Body and Soul, Easy to Love, I’ve Got You Under my Skin, The Night is Young and You’re so Beautiful, All the Things you Are, Some Enchanted Evening, Love for Sale, Lover Come Back to Me, You and the Night and the Music Summer Evening SerenadeGaviotta, Serenade to Eileen, Siciliano, From Here to Eternity, Memory, Desire, Starlight Serenade, Carnet de bal, Le Grisbi, Magic Circles, Melody of Love, Estrellita del sur. Vocalion CDLK4186. This is a superb collection from Stanley Black, featuring one LP of great show tunes, while the second album contains many light music gems from the 1950s. Highlights include Carnet de Bal, Le Grisbi and Ray Martin’s Magic Circles. Don’t miss this one! David Ades
RONNIE ALDRICH Two Pianos – Today You Only Live Twice, A Whiter Shade of Pale, Georgy Girl, Something Stupid, A Man and a Woman, My Cup Runneth Over, Don’t Sleep in the Subway, Release Me, Barefoot in the Park, Alfie, Music to Watch Girls By, This is my Song Soft & Wicked Last Tango in Paris, You’re so Vain, Aubrey, Tie a Yellow Ribbon, Clair, Call Me, Goor Time Charlie’s Got the Blues, Oh Babe What Would you Say, Killing me Softly with his Song, Last Song, Theme from ‘The Valachi Papers’, It Never Rains in Southern California with the London Festival OrchestraVocalion CDLK4188. Happily Ronnie Aldrich is now becoming properly represented on disc once again, and this time the emphasis is on selections of contemporary popular songs from around 40 years ago. Many have stood the test of time, and they all sound fine given the polished Aldrich treatment. David Ades
ERNEST GOLD and BERNARD HERRMANN Film Themes of Ernest Gold It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, The Young Philadelphians, Judgement at Nuremberg, The Last Sunset, Inherit the Wind, Pressure Point, A Child is Waiting, On the Beach, Saddle Pals, Exodus, Too Much Too Soon. London Festival Orchestra conducted by Ernest Gold. The Great Movie Thrillers (Music by Bernard Herrmann) Psycho, Marnie, North by Northwest, Vertigo, A Portrait of Hitch (from The Trouble with Harry). London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bernard Herrmann. Vocalion CDLK4178. These two Decca albums provide a feast of film music, although one has to admit that keen collectors will probably already have other recordings of much of this repertoire. However it is always good to have the composer conducting his own works, so this is a valuable new release. David Ades
JOHNNY DOUGLAS AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA "Just Pure Gold" Catch a Falling Star, The Story of a Starry Night, A Wonderful Guy, La Vie en Rose, Cherokee, Hello Young Lovers, All in a Golden Afternoon, I Feel Pretty, The Song is You, Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Seven Golden Bells, A Summer Place, Allez-vous en Go Away, Green Leaves of Summer, Carousel Waltz, I Still See Elisa, When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love, Lucy’s Theme from ‘Parish’, The Girl That I Marry, Out of my Dreams, This Nearly Was Mine Dulcima DLCD119. 21 tracks arranged by Johnny Douglas taken from his Decca LPs ‘Golden Strings’ and ‘The Broadway Waltzes’. Purists will be disappointed that these two albums in total lasted longer than the time available on a CD, necessitating the ‘loss’ of several numbers, but these lovely recordings should surely be in everyone’s collection. David Ades
PHILIP MARTIN piano "The Maiden’s Prayer" Rustle of Spring, Humoresque, May Night, The Harmonious Blacksmith, Spring Song, Chanson Triste, Poeme, Poupee Valsante, To a Wild Rose, Narcissus, etc… 24 tracks Hyperion CDA67379. The highly entertaining (and informative) booklet notes by Jeremy Nicholas tell us that this CD is dedicated to the memory of Hyperion’s founder, Ted Perry, who died on 9 February 2003. This was Ted’s own pet project, describing it as "…a disc dying to be made." The subtitle "…gems from an old piano stool" could hardly be more descriptive; many of these works would have been very familiar to our ancestors around one hundred years ago, who relied upon the piano for their musical entertainment in the home. But few would have heard them performed as expertly as Philip Martin, who treats them all with the utmost respect, even though some of them may now be regarded as rather ‘corny’ through their frequent use as silent films music, or as the basis of modern popular songs, where the lyric writer decided to ‘borrow’ his melody from the classics. Indeed many tracks could be used in a musical quiz – the melodies are so familiar, but the titles (like so much light music) are elusive. This is a delightful CD in so many respects, and lovers of piano music should embrace it warmly. David Ades
BILLY MAY AND HIS ORCHESTRA ‘All Of Me’ All of Me, My Silent Love, When My Sugar Walks Down The Street, Fat Man Boogie, Lean Baby, I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan, Walking My Baby Back Home (vocal: Nat King Cole), Charmaine, When I Take My Sugar To Tea, etc… 26 tracksMemoir CDMOIR576 73:54 mins. What can you say about Billy May that hasn’t already been written by his many admirers? He is one of the great arrangers and bandleaders of the last century, and the early days in the life of his fine orchestra are represented in these memorable 78s dating from 1951 and 1952. This collection has been intelligently compiled by Gordon Gray, with some superb remastering by Ted Kendall. Malcolm Laycock’s excellent booklet notes will probably tell you things about Billy that you didn’t know before, and it all adds up to a quality production that is warmly recommended. David Ades
PAUL WESTON Orchestra Music for Romancing My Romance, Poor Butterfly, Oirchids in the Moonlight, Gone With The Wind, etc.. Music for the Fireside Love Walked In, Something to Rememebr You By, Tenderly, September in the Rain, etc… EMI 5813582, 72:03 mins. Our friend Ray Purslow of The Record Centre, Birmingham, has been responsible for advising EMI on the reissue of many of the better collections that have surfaced from them in recent years. Unfortunately this particular CD hasn’t been a particularly happy experience for him, because the Americans at Capitol sent over a mono copy of the second LP, instead of stereo. One number – There Will Never Be Another You – appears twice, in both mono and stereo! But this is still very enjoyable music, and you can compare a few of the tracks with the new John Wilson versions, as reported elsewhere in this issue. David Ades
COPLAND: ORCHESTRAL WORKS. Fanfare For The Common Man; Three Dance Episodes from "Rodeo;" The Red Pony Suite; A Lincoln Portrait. ADLAI STEVENSON, Narrator; EUGENE ORMANDY, LOUIS LANE, ANDRE PREVIN, conductors. (USA) Sony Essential Classics SBK 62 401. (64:23 mins). "I felt that it was worth the effort to see if I couldn’t say what I had to say in the simplest possible terms." Thus wrote Aaron Copland (1900-1990) who has been called the Norman Rockwell of American classical music. This CD represents his best known style: lean and athletic in sound with widely spaced harmonies that communicate immediately any listener. The first work is "Fanfare For The Common Man," commissioned by Eugene Goossens for the Cincinnati Symphony during its World War II series of specially written fanfares. Eugene Ormandy and his Philadelphians bring a good deal of opulent, soft grained nobility to their rendition. "Rodeo" and "An Outdoor Overture" are played with gusto and sharp edged playing by Louis Lane and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. "The Red Pony" suffers slightly from unfocussed recording and odd moments of sloppy playing under Previn’s direction. Yet it has an inner vitality that’s very refreshing. "A Lincoln Portrait" has had many distinguished narrators on record. However, Adlai Stevenson brings a warm friendliness mixed with an eloquence to his narration missing from all other versions. Eugene Ormandy elicits a strongly warm sound from The Philadelphia Orchestra, making this one of the most moving performances on this CD. Only one howler exists in the otherwise well done booklet notes: for "The Red Pony" description, Billy Buck is NOT Jody’s grandfather but the gruff ranch hand. The mastering of these 1959-1965 originals is deeply luxurious. For the beginning listener, this an excellent introduction to one of American music’s beloved icons. Richard Jessen
GORDON LANGFORD’S ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS Fanfare & Ceremonial Prelude; Concertino for Trumpet & Orchestra; Four Movements for String Orchestra; A Song for All Seasons; First Suite of Dances; Greenways; Spirit of London; Hippodrome Waltz; Pastorale and March (both from Colour Suite). BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Ruman Gamba Chandos CHAN 10115. Ernest Tomlinson rates this CD of his old friend very highly indeed and that alone should be good enough for the rest of us mere mortals. Appropriately, Hippodrome Waltz is about the Hippodrome, Golders Green, now home to the BBC Concert Orchestra, where the young Langford was first taken by his parents to experience pantomimes and concerts. The inspiration he gained there is still with him today and this splendid new disc is the answer to why he has remained so popular. There is no real necessity to discuss the other works in detail because if you like Ronnie Binge, Ernest Tomlinson, Trevor Duncan and similar light music composers then you will thoroughly enjoy these works too. How wonderful to know that such serious tuneful music is there for everyone to enjoy and isn’t it about time the BBC sat up and took a bit of notice? Perhaps RFS members could drop a few more hints about the music we love? I do my bit regularly so what about a few more? This CD would be a good one to quote at them. Edmund Whitehouse
‘HONEYMOON FOR THREE’ Songs by BILLY MAYERL You’re Not Too Bad Yourself, Apart from Business, Steak and Kidney Pudding, It Must Be You, I Breathe on Windows, Two of Everything etc… 24 tracks Alex Hassan, piano with Robert Petillo, tenor and Alison Taffs, mezzo-sopranoShellwood SWCD28, 68:46 mins. Billy Mayerl is so well-known as a successful composer of catchy piano novelties, that it often comes as a surprise to many that he was also adept at orchestral works, and songs for stage musicals. This new collection from Shellwood concentrates on the latter, with some charming performances from all three performers. One has to say that it is all very English (although Billy’s parents were immigrants!) and none of the songs became big hits. Most of them come from shows produced in the 1930s, with a few from Billy’s earlier career in the 1920s and one particularly pleasant number Resting from the mid-1940s, which was recorded by none other than Richard Tauber. This CD is an affectionate tribute compiled by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. It can best be described as the kind of music that would have been heard as a vocal interlude in a ‘Palm Court-type’ concert on many seaside bandstands before World War 2. If this kind of repertoire is your cup of tea you’ll be thoroughly captivated, although you may find that you will appreciate the music more if you sample it in small doses from time to time. David Ades
STEVE CONWAY ‘The Best of All’ I Could Never Tell, Show Me The Way, Carnival in Costa Rica - Film Tunes Selection, Would You Believe Me, After All, No Orchids For My Lady, I’m Spending The Evening With Friends Of Mine, If All The World Belonged To Me, Honey Child, It’s Magic - Film Selection, Beside You, The Wedding Of Lilli Marlene, Church Bells On Sunday Morning, The Hours I Spent With You, Best Of All, So This Is Love, All My Life, Would I Love You, All Alone with my Heart, Confetti, While You Danced Danced Danced, Chez Moi, With All My Heart And Soul. Sepia 1015. The Sepia label, according to their website intro, was launched in June 2002 with the aim of restoring to the catalogue neglected or almost forgotten quality music of yesteryear. The issue of this Steve Conway disc is, therefore, most welcome, filled as it is with wonderful songs, accompanied by maestros of melody such as Jack Byfield, Reginald Killbey, Philip Green, George Melachrino, Ray Martin, Peter Yorke and even Roberto Inglez, each conveying their own distinctive style which is very much in evidence on this disc. All My Life additionally features The Hastings Girls Choir. The standard of transfers on the Sepia CD is generally very good and it is hard to believe these songs were recorded 50 plus years ago. A short informative booklet is included. The month and year of the recordings are given although matrix numbers are omitted. Several CDs of Steve Conway are now available. There is one sponsored by This England magazine; others have been issued by Pulse and Memoir. Steve Conway tracks are also included on Peter Yorke discs from Crystal Stream, Sanctuary Living Era and Vocalion where he is the featured singer. Unfortunately this does result in significant duplication of tracks. However this Sepia issue is recommended if the compilation appeals and you do not already have the music on other discs. Further details of Sepia issues, including selections from the original Broadway cast recordings of Song of Norway and Roberta, can be found on the Sepia website at www.sepiarecords.co.uk/ Their CDs are available for around £6.99 from UK record stores or online at Sepia Records. Brian Stringer
WINIFRED ATWELL Hall of Fame Melodies in the style of other famous pianists including Bill Snyder (Bewitched), Eddie Heywood (Soft Summer Breeze), Fats Waller (Ain’t Misbehavin’), Carmen Cavallaro (Manhattan), George Shearing (I’ll Remember April) etc. …plays Gershwin Nice Work if You Can Get It, Love Walked In, Somebody Loves Me etc and Rhapsody in Blue with Ted Heath Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4177. It may be hard for the younger generation to realise just how big a star Winifred Atwell was when at the peak of her success. She really enjoyed great popularity, especially when playing her pub-style "other" piano (as on the famous Pot Black theme), but on these 2 Decca LPs she is revealing that she was also a trained and highly competent pianist. Perhaps the fact that she is mimicking other pianists on the first album means that her own personality is disguised; the second collection of Gershwin is a better example of her work. David Ades
HUMPHREY LYTTELTON ‘Snag It’ Weary Blues; Sunday Morning; Sleepy Time Down South; Georgia On My Mind; Maple Leaf Rag; Come On and Stomp, Stomp, Stomp; Careless Love; Ice Cream; Snag It; I Like to Go Back in the Evening; Dallas Blues; Cakewalkin’ Babies; Trouble in Mind; Panama Rag; Low Down Dirty Shame Blues; On Treasure Island; Trog’s Blues; Wolverine Blues; Suffolk Air; Down Home Rag; Apex Blues; Onions; Blues for an Unknown Gypsy’ Travellin’ Blues’ It’s Over Now; Get Out of Here and Go On Home Humphrey Lyttelton and his Band, 1948-52 ASV Living Era CDAJA 5462. If you heard the BBC radio programme "Humph at 80" then you will know that this remarkable octogenarian is still as busy as ever but keeps his residence a secret from everyone, even those involved in "I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue". It was not always thus and this collection of 26 vintage Dixieland jazz tracks brings back memories of jiving teenagers in London’s post-war West End when Humph was at the forefront of British revivalist jazz. Never one to follow convention he totally ignored the Musicians’ Union ban on foreign artists and not only invited Sidney Bechet to appear on stage but even had the cheek to make two illegal recordings with him (Sleepy Time Down South and Georgia On My Mind)! Other busy revivalist beavers appearing with Humph on this CD include Wally Fawkes, George Webb, Keith and Ian Christie, and Micky Ashman. It’s sure to make your feet tap. Peter Worsley
THE BAND OF THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS : Marche Militaire La Ronde (Gounod); Andalusian Fresco (Durand); Strike up the Band (Gershwin); Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair (Foster); Northumberland Airs (Trad.); State Occasion (Farnon) ;An Age of Kings (Bliss); Deep River (Trad); Milanollo (Hamm); Black Eyes (Trad.); Fanfare and Soliloquy for Band (Sharpe); Winds on the Run (Osterling); Three Blades of Toledo (Sharpe); Cherokee (Noble); Figaro (Mozart), Royal Windsor (Bayco). Castle PLS CD540 (previously released on MACD 176) (57.53mins) This budget priced CD comes with no notes, no information on recording dates or locations, no listed timings for individual tracks and quite extraordinarily, with no conductor at all credited! That’s the Downside! On the credit side we have an interestingly varied programme and with the exception of Track 11 – Sharpe’sFanfare and Soliloquy where the sound is squeeezed and pinched – the engineering is well managed and often approaches demonstration standards. Particularly welcome for the readers of JIM is the inclusion of Robert Farnon’s State Occasion which receives a satisfyingly good performance. A warm welcome too for Frederic Bayco’s fine, stirring and dignified Royal Windsor march. It would be interesting if any reader can furnish more details of the provenance of this recording – are there any serving or ex-Coldstreamers out there who might help? A number of arrangements here are by Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Sharpe so could these sessions date from his tenure with the band? Meanwhile, worth a fiver of anyone’s money! Roger Hyslop
NAT TEMPLE Nattering Around (Temple), Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin), Make Believe (Kern), Sugar (Mitchell/ Alexander/ Pinkard), It’s the Talk of the Town (Symes/ Neiburg/ Livingston), Concerto for Clarinet (Shaw), Canzonetta (Perry/Temple), On the 5.45 (Warren), American Patrol (Meacham), etc.. This England (Evergreen Melodies) C86. In Britain the name ‘Nat Temple’ is probably still familiar to many people old enough to remember Bernard Braden’s radio series in the 1950s. But before that he had worked with bands such as Geraldo, Harry Roy, Ambrose and Lew Stone, building up a fine reputation for his clarinet playing. This affectionate collection has been assembled from various sources, and includes his own Canzonetta with Geraldo in 1942. Nat celebrated his 90thbirthday this July. David Ades This England CDs cost £8.95 (which includes UK postage). Write to: Evergreen Melodies, PO Box 52, Cheltenham, GL50 1YQ, England – tel. 01242 515156 or online at Credit cards accepted.
VIKKI CARR LIVE AT THE GREEK THEATRE. 20 tracks including It Must Be Him; Can’t Take My Eyes Off You; With Pen In Hand. VIKKI CARR with the BOB FLORENCE ORCHESTRA. (USA) Collectables COL-CD-7515. 91:41. A wonderful concert recording finally sees the light of day on CD! Recorded live in 1973 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles over a three day engagement, this performance is now heard for the first time in the correct order in which is was heard by those who were there in the audience. Vikki Carr is in great form throughout, singing not only her biggest hits but also a medley of four songs from one of her great albums "En Espanol." The rest of the performance consists of brand new songs sung with all of the depth and authority only Ms. Carr can bring to a song. She’s joined by the breathy voice of Randy Marr who provides his guitar accompaniment. Marr also sings a brilliant solo on "I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now." Bob Florence provides strong accompaniments to Ms. Carr’s vocals assisted from some of L.A’s best musicians such as Bob Cooper, Bill Perkins and Bobby Shew - all members of the "Tonight Show" band (all shouting Ed MacMahon’s "Hiyo!" when introduced!). The booklet contains the gorgeous original concert photos plus a beautiful inlay photo of Vikki Carr in casual attire. The miking gives us a great sense of presence on both Ms. Carr’s effervescent voice as well as the excellent musicians and singers (which include Jackie Ward). A vivid performance by one of America’s greatest treasures!Richard Jessen
ROSEMARY CLOONEY: THE LAST CONCERT. Overture; Sentimental Journey; I’m Confessin’ That I Love You; Just In Time; Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe; You Go To My Head; Rockin’ Chair; Ol’ Man River; The Singer; They Can’t Take That Away From Me; God Bless America – with the Honolulu Symphony Pops Orchestra Conducted by Matt Catingub. (USA) Concord Records CCD-2166-2. (44:51 mins). The world lost one of the truly greatest artists on 29 June 2002, when Rosemary Clooney passed on. Rosie always left one wanting more at the end of a concert and this CD, recorded live on 16 November, 2001, presents her in great form. The main focus is on ballads which suited the immediate post 9/11 mood America was going through at the time. "Sentimental Journey" sets the mood with other favorite standards. The last three songs are tributes to Frank Sinatra and Irving Berlin. "God Bless America" sums up personal triumphs in everyone’s life in the opening verse and this is so with Rosie’s interpretation. That she should end her last concert with this song speaks eloquently of how much Rosemary Clooney’s service to American, (and, indeed all music) will mean to each succeeding generation. Richard Jessen
MARIAN McPARTLAND TRIO LIVE AT SHANGHAI JAZZ. Scratchin’ In The gravel plus 11 other tracks. MARIAN MCPARTLAND with RUFUS REID and JOE MORELLO. (USA) Concord CCD-4991-2. A dash of Debussy, mix with Milhaud, baste with Bill Evans, let it cook and - VOILA! - you have Marian McPartland! Add bassist Rufus Reid and drummer extraordinaire Joe Morello and one has this delightful date at the Shanghai jazz Festival in Madison, NJ on 24 April, 2001. Things start off on the right foot with a hard driving "Scratchin’ In The Gravel" on which McPartland, Reid, and Morello all demonstrate their considerable talents. The music of Duke Ellington has been a constant influence on McPartland ever since her days at the Hickory House in the 1950's and she shows her fondness for the Duke by gently caressing the melodic line of "Prelude To A Kiss." The biggest pleasure is hearing McPartland playing her meditative piano solos and none is better than "Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair," which lovely beyond words. The whole set is one swinging delight and should be an essential part of any music lover’s library. Richard Jessen
CARL MICHAEL ZIEHRER – Selected Dances and Marches Vol. 4. Weaner Mad’In – Walzer; Augensprach – Polka Mazur; Duck’ dich, Manderl Marsch; Liebesgcheimnis – Polka; Liebeswalzer; FrauenLogik – Polka Mazur; Ohne Sorgen – Polka schnell; Natursanger – Walzer; Ein Blumchen im Verborgenen – Polka Mazur; Buberl Komm! – Walzer; Konig von Sachsen Huldigungs – Marsch; In Reih’ und Glied – Polka Francaise; Seculo Nuovo, Vita Nuovo – Walzer. Razumovsky Sinfonia conducted by Christian Pollack. Marco Polo 8.223817 (77.14 mins). Anyone on the lookout for a CD of bright, cheerful and attractively scored light music to escape perhaps briefly from the rather sombre world we all have to inhabit in these troubled times, will be well rewarded in investing in this generously filled and vividly recorded Marco Polo disc of Volume 4 of the dance music of Carl Michael Ziehrer. He was one of the principal rivals to the Strauss family dynasty and was nothing if not prolific with opus numbers stretching well into the five hundreds. The best known item in this collection is undoubtedly the Weaner Mad’In (Viennese Girls) Waltz which comes complete with whistling effects presumably produced by members of the orchestra both during the introduction and towards the end , whilst Natursanger ( Nature Singers ) Waltz – a lovely lilting piece , comes with added bird song effects. That this well planned collection contains two military marches should come as no surprise when one learns that Zeihrer was a bandleader no less than three times in his long career! Recommended but with a plea to Marco Polo to get round to the dance music of Joseph Gung’l and Paul Lincke whose waltzes in particular were often a mainstay of many a light orchestra’s broadcast repertoire throughout the "golden age " of BBC Radio. Roger Hyslop
DICK McINTYRE and his Harmony Hawaiians Vol 5. Kailua – with vocalists Ray Kinney, Gary Speare & Danny Kuaana. Kaneohe, Hilo March; Kukuna Oka La; Kuu Ipo; Kehaulani; Palolo; Under A Tropical Moon; My Hawaiian Souvenir; On The Beach At Kualoa; It Happened At Waialae; Our Last Hawaiian Moon; Nani Wale Ka Mahina; Kolopa; Anapau; Kaleponi; Hula Lullaby; Nanakuli Hula; Naughty Hula Eyes; Uhe Uhene. (Australia) Cumquat CQCD 2747. What will our friends from down under be getting up to next? Here is an excellent CD drawn from yet another enterprising Australian catalogue, comprising easy listening music (predominantly Hawaiian of which this CD forms part) and various eras of Jazz, with a particular focus on Australian artists. Time was when Hawaiian music featured regularly in the BBC schedules with groups such as the South Sea Serenaders, the Paradise Island Trio and Roland Peachey. Sadly those days are long gone. It is heartening, therefore to find a small company reviving Hawaiian music in quite a big way. The Dick McIntyre CD consists mostly of tracks far removed from the over-recorded songs with which we have become so familiar in Hawaiian music circles, such as Aloha Oe and Hawaiian War Chant. Those who have fond memories of Andy Iona and Dick McIntyre will find a treasure trove of their music in the catalogue where they already share five volumes each and the project is ongoing. There are too many CDs to list details here, and I suggest that if the genres of music provided are of interest, you should have a look at Bruce’s excellent web site where you can also hear samples of the music. We must be grateful to the growing dedicated band of enthusiasts who are making available once again hard to find recordings of artists and music that are unlikely to see the light of day via a major record company. A few years ago this sort of project would have seemed no more than a dream. I shall no doubt be returning for lots more cumquats… Brian Stringer
Available from www.cumquatrecords.com.au/ or by writing to address shown below - price $27.50 (around £13.00 Sterling) via Credit Card. A printed catalogue is available for those who do not have access to the website. You can write to: Cumquat Records, PO Box 963, Central Park Post Office, Burke Road, Malvern East, Victoria, 3145, Australia. Customers ordering for the first time may be fortunate enough to receive a couple of interesting free sampler CDs.
SIR THOMAS ALLEN More Songs My Father Taught Me I heard you singing, Will you go with me, A Cradle Song, The Green Hills o’ Somerset, Mother Machree, Roses of Picardy, Because, Down by the Sally Gardens, etc… with Malcolm Martineau, piano Hyperion CDA67374, 79:01 mins. Now that we are in the 21st century, no longer can we hear our elderly relatives talking about the Victorian times when home entertainment meant singing round the parlour piano. But clearly the songs from that period created a big impression, because so many still receive the occasional performance today. Sir Thomas Allen is obviously enjoying taking some time off from playing leading roles in the top opera houses of the world, and this CD is likely to win him many more admirers. The excellent booklet notes by Andrew Lamb give not only the lyrics but also potted biographies of the composers. This is a worthy successor to the first volume on CDA67290. David Ades
TRIBUTE TO ERIC COATES /EDWARDIAN FAVOURITES Tribute to Eric Coates – London Bridge; The Enchanted Garden; By the Sleepy Lagoon; Cinderella; Second Symphonic Rhapsody – Bird Songs at Eventide/I Heard You Singing; Footlights Edwardian Favourites – Paul Rubens Melodies; Josef Strauss Pot-Pourri; Lionel Monckton Melodies; Edward German Melodies Pro Arte Orchestra/Stanford Robinson Vocalion 2-CD set CDLK4183 (1:42:06 total time). Following the death of Eric Coates, Pye were quickly out with a fine memorial album. Austin Coates provided the sleeve-notes; and one of his father’s major scores – "The Enchanted Garden" – received its first recording. Scores, maybe hundreds of our readers will have these works already – some of them, perhaps, in several versions. Further good reason for adding this CD to your library may well be found on its Siamese twin! "Edwardian Favourites" features "Robbie" (BBC colleagues mostly knew him thus), as a lively arranger: I particularly enjoyed his treatment of those prolific tunesmiths Paul Rubens and Lionel Monckton. With two exceptions – "Sleepy Lagoon" and "Footlights" – stereo tapes are the source of everything: the original LP releases were mono only. The original sleeve-notes are also used. I hope that Mr. Dutton will give us some more Pro Arte material in due course: Gilbert Vintner’s "World of Light Music", for an instance. John E. Govier
PERCY GRAINGER / BRITAIN’S CHOICE CD 1: Percy Grainger – Country Gardens ; Molly on the Shore ; Londonderry Air ; Handel in the Strand ( David Parkhouse – piano ); Mock Morris ; Shepherds Hey ; Childrens Overture Op 17 (Quilter) ; The Haunted Ballroom (Toye); Dusk (Armstrong Gibbs) Shepherds Fennel’s Dance ( Balfour Gardiner); CD 2 : March from the Colour Suite (Langford); A La Claire Fontaine ( Farnon); Suite of English Folk Dances (Tomlinson); March from ‘A Little Suite’ (Duncan); The Boulevadier (Curzon); The Watermill (Binge); Tabarinage (Docker); Suite – The Ring of Kerry (Hope). The Light Music Society Orchestra conducted by Sir Vivian Dunn KCVO. OBE, FRAM. Vocalion CDLK 4182 (93.49 mins). This double CD set from Vocalion conveniently groups together all the recordings Sir Vivian Dunn made for EMI in 1970 with the Light Music Society Orchestra. Thus it should appeal not only to the many admirers of Sir Vivians’ art but to all those who respond to high quality light music delivered in ‘Rolls Royce ‘ performances. Roger Quilter’s sparklingChildren’s Overture is delivered with an enchanting wide-eyed gleam and well sprung rhythms and is distinctly to be preferred to the rival Marco polo alternative with the Czechoslovak RSO under Adrian Leaper (British Light Music – Roger Quilter 8.223444). The second CD opens with a well spirited account of Gordon Langford’s March from the Colour Suite. Robert Farnon’s A La Claire Fontaine is marvellously atmospheric and according to Derek Oakley’s biography of Sir Vivian, ‘Fiddler on the March’, R.F. publicly acclaimed this recording as "by far the finest he had heard ". Mr. Oakley also mentions that Sir Vivian included this piece as his sixth choice on 6th November 1971 when he was Roy Plomley’s guest on BBC Radio’s ‘Desert Island Discs’. This is a highly desirable addition to the Vocalion catalogue and with bright and vivid sound, a fine and worthy tribute to the talent and genius of a great and unique musician who made an indelible and lasting mark in both the military band world and the cause of music in general. Roger Hyslop
For close on 23 years I purchased most of my LPs – and, latterly, my earliest CDs – from an independent classical record shop in Birmingham: small, yet widely known and highly respected among West Midlands record buyers. The proprietor and his staff were unfailingly helpful and reliable, musically knowledgeable and utterly impartial; so when these two albums, then new, featured in a prominent shop display, it spoke volumes for their quality! Now, well over thirty years on, here together are two of British Light Music and the LP Era’s greatest glories; and sounding, if anything, finer than ever. Come to think of it, this notice could quite easily have consisted of one word only: essential!
John E. Govier
TWO SIDES OF RON GOODWIN: CD1 – The Early Years – Popular Singles Jet Journey, Blue Star, Skiffling Strings, Lingering Lovers, Colonel Bogey and the River Kwai March, Summertime in Venice, Red Cloak, The Melba Waltz, The Messenger Boy, The Girl from Corsica, Swedish Polka, Under the Linden Tree, Concetta, On the Waterfront, The Headless Horseman, Midnight Blue, The Song of the High Seas, The Laughing Sailor, Tropical Mirage, Handyman, Three Galleons, Guadalcanal March, The Little Laplander, Wagon Train, When I Fall in Love, Bluebell Polka, Song from Moulin Rouge, Josita, Elizabethan Serenade. CD2 – Original Compositions from Films and LPs 633 Squadron, Love Theme from 633 Squadron, The Trap, Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines, Lancelot and Guinevere, London Serenade, Return My Love, Where Eagles Dare, Mercury Gets the Message, Cafè Royal Waltz, Decline and Fall, Frenzy, El Morocco Tea Rooms, Operation Crossbow, Jumping Jupiter, Monte Carlo or Bust, India, Miss Marple’s Theme, The Milky Way, Kill or Cure, The Girl With the Misty Eyes, Departure, Aces High Ron Goodwin and his Concert Orchestra 2-CD Tribute Album EMI 582 5502 Although Ron Goodwin is taken from us, his unique contribution to British and World Music remains, inspiring and indestructible. By all means, hang on to your original singles and LPs as I shall mine, for old times’ sake; but on no account whatever pass up this splendid, fully worthy memorial to THAT MAGNIFICENT MAN AND HIS MUSIC MACHINE. John E. Govier
THE BOURNEMOUTH MUNICIPAL ORCHESTRA Merry Middies, Raindrops, Clatter of the Clogs, Crocus Time, Dance of Seville, A Fairy Ballet, Zip Zip, Intermezzo Pizzicato, Dicky Bird Hop, Echoes of the Valley, Whispering Pines, Fluttering Birds, Gee Whiz, Rosewood Ripples, Idylle Bretonne, Slippery Sticks, Language of the Nightingale, Oriental Dance, Jolly Whistlers, Dance of the Nymphs, The Merry Brothers, The Two Imps, Rippling Streams, Carlsbad Doll Dance (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD104, 76:45 mins. Except for Intermezzo Pizzicato, which is conducted by its composer Montague Birch, all of the titles on this charming CD are conducted by the legendary Sir Dan Godfrey. These 78s were recorded by Columbia in the Pavilion or at the Winter Gardens in Bournemouth between 1927 and 1934, and they capture a period of English seaside musical entertainment that would finally disappear following the outbreak of the Second World War. A few brief attempts may have been made to resurrect this kind of genteel music-making during the 1940s and 1950s, but by then the world had changed too much. Happily through the wonder of sound recording (assisted by today’s excellent remastering techniques – in this case in the capable hands of one of the very best sound engineers, Alan Bunting) we can still marvel at the highly professional musicianship of the performers, and the composers who created such attractive novelties for them. The name J. Gennin crops up several times, as does T. de la Riviera and W. Byrne. Ernst Slaney is credited on both xylophone and cello – could he be related to the composer Ivor Slaney? In fact the xylophone is prominent on several tracks, usually performed by W.W. Bennett. Arthur Jackson has contributed the fascinating booklet notes, helping to make this a most desirable collection that should attract everyone who is passionate about traditional light music, as it used to be played. David Ades
MORTON GOULD AND HIS ORCHESTRA ‘An MG Round-Up’ High Noon, On Top of Old Smokey, Wagon Wheels, I’m and Old Cowhand, Riders in the Sky, Tennessee Waltz, Home on the Range, Buckaroo Blues, Last Round-up, Cowboy Rhapsody, On the Sunny Side of the Street, Diane, Avalon, 12th Street Rag, La Mer, Tell Me That You Love Me, Speak to Me of Love, Tea for Two, Through Your Eyes to your Heart. (Australia) FRANK BRISTOW FBCD105, 78:04 mins. To make my prejudices known at the outset, can I just say that cowboy songs, especially of the Tin Pan Alley variety, have never been my favourite music, even in Morton Gould settings. He does the best he can with the first ten tracks, of course, but even his own compositions, Buckaroo Blues and Cowboy Rhapsody, can’t escape the general air of ennui inevitable with this sort of material. If you don’t share my tastes (or lack of taste, however you feel about it) you can, of course, decide for yourself! The popular standards on the last nine tracks are more traditional Gould, although over the top in one or two cases, La Mer and 12th Street Rag for instance. The CD as a whole is a bit of a curate’s egg … in fact Frank Bristow does hint that he is more or less scraping the bottom of the barrel. Though I must say that in the present musical climate no light music album should be ignored. Arthur Jackson
Frank Bristow’s CDs can only be obtained direct from him in Australia: Frank Bristow, 2 Cross Street, Brighton, Victoria, 3186, Australia – e-mail: Arrangements can be made for British members to pay with a sterling cheque.
READER’S DIGEST ‘The Wonderful World of Music’ Reader's Digest UK's long running series of "themed" collections of light/popular all orchestral/instrumental music in 3 CD boxsets titled "The Wonderful World of Music" appears to have restarted again. I thought the series had come to an end when I received my 12th 3-CD boxset sometime last year, so I was delighted to receive an unexpected parcel during the summer from Reader's Digest containing another 3 CD boxset called "Sounds to Soothe" (catalogue number RDCD3431-3). Then soon afterwards, another parcel arrives from Reader's Digest containing another 3-CD boxset. This time titled "The Early Years" - catalogue number RDCD3541-3. This means that so far Reader's Digest in the UK have released 14 CD boxsets in the ‘Wonderful World of Music’ beautiful orchestral music series. As there are three CDs in each boxset, that makes a total of 42 CDs of "our kind of music" and that doesn't include a couple of boxsets of beautiful orchestral music Reader's Digest have released in the past outside the ongoing ‘Wonderful World of’ series. Regarding "The Early Years" 3-CD boxset, there is just under an hour of music on each CD. The total price is £28.95 including postage and packing. You get the usual glossy booklet (approx 24 pages) with full details on every track. The first CD is called "Twilight Dreams". The second CD is called "Through The Years" and the third CD is called "Forever In Your Heart". As with all these CDs, the sound quality is excellent. You also get the usual mix of artists/orchestras eg. on the Early Years 3-CD set, you have Roland Shaw and his Orchestra, Fracis Goya, his Guitar and Orchestra, Larry Sinclair and his Orchestra, Romantic Strings and Orchestra, Frank Chacksfield, Roger Williams, his Piano and Orchestra, Douglas Gamley and his Orchestra, Robert Mandell and his Orchestra, Nick Ingman and his Orchestra......etc etc. Well I can't wait to receive the 15th 3-CD boxset from Reader's Digest. How long can they keep this series going? Not that I am complaining, I hope this superb series of beautiful orchestral music never ends. For some reason, Reader’s Digest UK do not mention "The Wonderful World of Music" CD collection on their website! I highly recommend these CDs to everyone. Unfortunately, they are not available to anyone living outside the UK, I assume for copyright reasons. If you live in the UK, you can contact Reader's Digest on 08705 113366 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday from 8am to 1pm. Chris Landor
THE CATS AND THE FIDDLE We Cats Will Swing For You - ASV Living Era AJA5475 We Cats Will Swing For You; Killin’ Jive; I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water; Gang Busters; Thursday Evening Swing; Nuts To You; Till the Day I Die; Mr Rhythm Man; Please Don’t Leave Me Now; When I Grow Too Old to Dream; Public Jitterbug No. 1; I Miss You So; That’s Jack; Gone; You’re So Fine; Swing the Scales; Hep Cat’s Holiday; I’ll Always Love You Just the Same; One is Never Too Old to Swing; I’m Singing so Help Me; I’m Gonna Pull My Hair; I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire; Blue Skies; Another Day; Stomp, Stomp; Life’s Too Short. If you can imagine a cross between Fats Waller, the Mills Brothers and King Louis the Ape singing in the cartoon film Jungle Book then you will just about capture the sound of this relatively unknown American group whose recording dates were virtually synonymous with the Second World War. It is also interesting to note that the phrase "Hep Cat" is older than many of us imagined. The Cats were the four singers and the Fiddle was their double bass accompaniment. The only other instrument was an acoustic guitar but the resulting sound was both melodious and pleasant. An unusual CD and a revealing find for those who enjoy close harmony.Peter Worsley
ENSA COMPLETE CONCERTS featuring radio broadcasts by Henry Hall, Geraldo, RAOC Blue Rockets, Robert Farnon and Lou Preager. Rex Records REXX300. We mentioned this 2-CD collection in our last issue (page 5) because of the Robert Farnon connection, but it has been suggested to us that we should also indicate that the other broadcasts included will be fascinating for many readers. The names of the vocalists will sell this release to many – Frances Day, Johnny Green, Dorothy Carless, Western Brothers, George Melachrino, Beryl Davis, Dick James, Carole Carr and Edna Kaye – to name just some.
Three more 2-CD sets have followed from Rex, which we list for your information:
REXX301 Charlie Kunz – his famous piano medleys: perhaps a bit too much to digest in one go, but enjoyable to visit in small doses
REXX302 Spike Jones and his City Slickers – a lot of collections by this zany American band are already available, but if you haven’t yet acquired any you’ll probably find many of your favourites here
REXX303 Family Favourites – quite simply a very varied compilation of popular 78 from just over 50 years ago. Sadly the famous signature tune With a Song in my Heart by Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra has been edited. DA
TROISE AND HIS MANDOLIERS Play to Me Gypsy - ASV Living Era AJA5492 Speak Easy; Play to Me Gypsy; Nights of Gladness; In the Hills of Colorado; La Paloma; Hungarian Dance No. 5; Beside My Caravan; Dark Eyes; Serenade; Ballerina; Café in Vienna; Zampa; Old Monastery Bell; Destiny Waltz; Serenata; Argentina; Gypsy Moon; Serenade No. 1; Beside the Singing Waters; Sorrento; Gypsy Dance; Hawaiian; Havana Heaven; El Relicario; Lady, Sing Your Gypsy Song. If you cannot afford to take your wife to a Neapolitan restaurant then all you have to do is buy some pasta at the local supermarket, turns down the lights in your dining room and put this latest disc on your CD player. The singer is Don Carlos and the flavour is almost authentic because Pasqual Troise really did come from Naples, even though he spent most of his life in the UK, initially with Sidney Firman’s BBC Radio Dance Band. The sound is more than just mandolins with at least one piano accordion taking most of the melodies. The sound transfer is good with the recordings dating from the Thirties before he turned into Troise and his Banjoliers for the radio programme Music While You Work. Edmund Whitehouse
PHIL KELSALL at the Wurlitzer Organ of the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool "Shall We Dance?"Grasmere GRCD 117 (also on cassette GRTC 117). There are a few artists who can be assured that every new recording they release will receive a warm welcome from devoted fans. Phil Kelsall certainly falls into this category, and this new collection of popular tunes split up into 23 medleys – and played in strict-tempo for dancing – will be echoing in dance halls around the world for a long time to come. Dance records have always been steady sellers (remember the page after page of 78s by Victor Silvester, Joe Loss and Harry Davidson in the catalogues half a century ago?), and talented performers like Phil Kelsall manage to appeal to two kinds of audience, because his attractive arrangements are also good to listen to at home. David Ades
ROB MCCONNELL TENTET Music of the Twenties Thou Swell; Remember; Lover Come Back To Me; Can’t We Be Friends; Always; I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me; Indian Summer(time);How Long Has This Been Going On; You Do Something Go Me; With A Song In My Heart; What’ll I Do. (Canada) Justin Time JUST 196-2. This is the third CD release by the Rob McConnell Tentet since its formation at the end of 1997, and right off the top the tight ensemble work on Thou Swell reminds the listener just what a great group this is. Rob’s liner notes, as usual, are both informative and very amusing, and add an extra dimension to the enjoyment of this CD. The eleven tracks allow everyone in the group to have several solos, and on Thou Swell, Rob notes that finally he was able to find a way to feature every member of the band on one tune. Bassist Steve Wallace is showcased on Rick Wilkins’ Remember, the only chart not penned by the leader himself, and in Lover Come back the alto sax of P.J. Perry moves from a pensive opening into an up-tempo display of virtuoso playing, to which Dave Restivo adds his own touches of brilliance. Can’t We Be Friends features great work from Rob and Terry Promane on trombones. Guido Basso chose Alwaysfor his solo opus, and makes an old tune into a thing of beauty. While Rob’s liner notes for I Can’t Believe… only mention Dave Restivo’s sparkling solo, Rob’s own contribution is also very worthy of mention. Alex Dean’s solo on Indian Summer(time) is slightly more restrained than usual, but no less inventive (Rob describes it as ‘the less troubled Alex Dean’!), and Steve Wallace’s fine-toned bass solo is the kind you don’t talk through. At the end, Rob inserts the Summertime segment, with a modest tribute to Miles Davis and Gil Evans, with Guido Basso doing a great imitation of Miles. Terry Promane’s status as one of Canada’s best trombone players is underlined in his solo on How Long Has This Been Going On, to which are added the sleek tenor sax ruminations of Mike Murley, who comes back later on in With A Song In My Heart to show that he’s equally fluent at twice the tempo in half the time. On this chart, Dave Restivo goes from fills to thrills, to offer some very imaginative and nimble keyboard explorations. Oh, and you might find yourself, as I did, hearing the verse of Without a Song for the first time, and thinking what a great tune it is in itself. Can’t recall Andre Kostelanetz ever playing it. Alex Dean lets loose a bit more, but never substitutes flash for creativity, on You Do Something To Me, which is driven along impeccably by Terry Clarke, who gets to exchange fours with Alex toward the end – and is, throughout the CD, the time rock on which the Tentet firmly stands. Finally, trumpeter Steve McDade, after contributing his fine ensemble work throughout the CD, gets his own chance to shine on What’ll I Do, which he does with a finely burnished performance.Fans of Rob McConnell will buy this one anyway, and won’t be disappointed. For those who don’t know the name – try listening to Thou Swell, and you’ll know just what to expect from the rest of the CD. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed either. Pip Wedge
HANDS ACROSS THE SEA – AN ANGLO-AMERICAN MEDLEY SOUSA: Hands across the Sea, ANSELL: Plymouth Hoe, BERLIN: Puttin’ on the Ritz, CESE: Little English Girl, CARMICHAEL: Hoagy Carmichael in Concert, ARNOLD: English Dances No.s 6 & 8, HOWE: The Guards Division, arr. LOWDEN: The Big Band Bash, GRUNDMAN: The Blue and the Gray, STECK: Royal Review, arr. PRYCE: Don’s Days’ Hits, FILLMORE: The Klaxon, MYDDLETON: The Boys of the Old Brigade The Band of the Guards Association directed by Geoff Broome – Irish Guards (Retd.) The Specialist Recording Company RHC01 (72’31"). One is sometimes reminded that waiting for recordings of a favourite piece of music is not dissimilar to waiting for a bus – nothing for ages than three come along almost together. John Ansell’s stirring seascape ‘Plymouth Hoe’ was recently included in a compilation CD to mark the 25th Anniversary of the International Military Music Society (CHEVRON CHVCD12), and then resurfaced again as a component of British Light Concert Overtures Vol. 2 by the Royal ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland (ASV CD WHL2137). Here it is again in a sparkling performance by the Band of the Guards Association, but this Anglo American musical medley offers many other attractions including two of Malcolm Arnold’s delightful English Dances, whilst the Guards Division March by Jimmy Howe – a former distinguished DOM of the Scots Guards, ingeniously interweaves snatches of the various regimental marches of the various components of the Household Division into his score. Older listeners may recognise Arnold Steck’s ceremonial march as it was used many years ago as the signature tune of BBC Television News. The Band of the Guards Association is made up of the former musicians from the seven regiments of Her Majesty’s Household Division, and one of the most impressive features of this disc is, given the different style of playing demanded in a programme of this nature how effortlessly and with consummate ease this ensemble switches convincingly from military to big band and back again. Beautifully refined playing is there in abundance when appropriate, whilst there is nothing inhibited in the approach to the more extrovert numbers. Intonation is always impeccably reliable. This recording reflects great credit to all involved in its production and if I may briefly mount a favourite hobby horse of mine – what a tragedy that so many first class military bands are denied access to the airwaves of our national radio network – even brass bands get a better deal! This disc is nonetheless recommended with all possible enthusiasm for all those who relish and enjoy superb wind band playing. Roger Hyslop Specialist Recording Company CDs are available from Discurio, 46 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LD, England (tel/fax 01634 845222).
MAX SCHÖNHERR (1903-1984) 2-CD collection of his music from the archives of Austrian RadioDie Grosse Wiener Rundfunkorchester conducted by the composer (Austria) ORF CD 327. Earlier in this issue (page 36) you will have read the sad news of the passing of Prof. Karl Grell, whose activities as a record producer in recent years have made many fine recordings from the Austrian Radio archives available to a wide public once again. This collection is his final project, intended to celebrate the centenary of the distinguished Austrian composer and conductor. His name may not be well-known outside his homeland, although our friend Alexander Schatte points out that the only important biography about his life and work was written and published in England. The collection includes several suites, plus many shorter works – often polkas or waltzes. Clearly Max Schönherr was a master of light concert music, and these two CDs (each lasting over 70 minutes) will give a great deal of pleasure to admirers of ‘straight-forward’ light music performed by a large orchestra who are looking for something they haven’t heard before. David Ades
TROISE AND HIS MANDOLIERS ‘Play to me Gypsy’ Argentina; Ballerina; Beside My Caravan; Beside The Singing Waters; A Cafe In Vienna; Dark Eyes; Destiny Waltz; Gipsy Moon; Nights Of Gladness; Old Monastery Bell; La Paloma; Play To Me, Gipsy; Serenade (Notturno D'Amore); Serenade [Serenata] (Toselli); Serenade No.1(Heykens); Spanish Gipsy Dance; Speak Easy; Zampa Overture - With Don Carlos – Vocals Sanctuary-Living Era CDAJA5492. The release of CDs featuring mandolin ensembles are fairly rare nowadays. This new Troise from original Rex 78s recorded between 1934 and 1936 is therefore most welcome. The CD features a mix of light music, popular songs, and light classical items, adapted for the Mandoliers. Several items feature Irish operatic trained tenor Christopher Thomas Birrell O'Malley who used the much shorter pseudonym of Don Carlos when he sang with the Mandoliers which sounds much more cosmopolitan and more in keeping with the group's musical style. Flapper issued a CD of the Mandoliers a few years ago which should still be available; fortunately only six tracks on the new CD appear on the earlier Flapper, so there is still a good deal of material which is appearing for the first time in digital format making the purchase worth while even if you have the earlier CD. The sound quality on the current issue is generally very clear with negligible background noise, although perhaps not quite up to the stunning quality of issues like Pink Champagne on the same label. Informative notes on the contents are provided by Ralph Harvey, and the attractive cover design is very colourful….pity there is no photograph of the Mandoliers as a group, however. Troise was also well known for his Banjoliers. At least 24 Banjoliers tracks were recorded on the Decca Music While You Work label, so I suspect it would not be too difficult to put together a CD. Meanwhile we are indebted to ASV for making these historic recordings of the Mandoliers available once again for us to enjoy. Brian Stringer
THE ROMANTIC HARMONICA MUSIC OF PAUL LEWIS ‘Serenade & Dance’ The Secret World of Polly Flint, Woof! Fantasy, Two Miniatures, Impromptu for Harmonica and Harp, Spring Suite, Tea for Three, Pavane, Seal Morning, Serenata, A Somerset Garland, Norfolk Rhapsody, Serenade and Dance, The Benny Hill Waltz James Hughes – harmonica, Elizabeth Jane Baldry – harp, The Delamere String Quartet conducted by Paul Lewis Campion CAMEO 2024. Happily the music of Paul Lewis is now readily accessible, thanks to the recent Campion CD of his television music (CAMEO 2018 – reviewed in JIM 153), and several of his works which have appeared in various Sanctuary Group compilations in their White Line series (the latest example being the first CD in this feature). Partly due to his work providing the incidental music for the TV series "Woof!", he has become more and more interested in the harmonica, originally through the great Tommy Reilly (who played on the earlier "Woof!" episodes), and more recently with James Hughes, who is one of today’s leading exponents on the instrument. Paul also has a great love for the harp, and the magical sounds of Elizabeth Jane Baldry are an added bonus in this delightful collection. Here is music which will soothe and charm – and bring the occasional smile. Bravo Campion for releasing this CD! David Ades
SIGMUND GROVEN (Harmonica) ‘Over the Rainbow’ Over the Rainbow, Send in the Clowns, Londonderry Air, Irish Medley, The Entertainer, Ribbon of Sand, etc.. (17 tracks) (Norway) Grappa GRCD 4195. Fans of the harmonica have a second CD to enjoy in this issue, thanks to our good friend Sigmund Groven (both Sigmund and Paul Lewis are members of the RFS). Sigmund was one of Tommy Reilly’s many students, and it is nice to see that this collection includes Tommy’s arrangement of Gavotte from ‘Mignon’ and his Golden Girl which he co-composed with James Moody – who has also arranged some other numbers. Sigmund also composes, as you can hear onHomeward Bound and Song of the Harmonica. This enjoyable CD may be difficult to fin in record stores, but we’ll be pleased to put you in touch with Sigmund if you’d like to buy a copy. David Ades
THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN – A TRIBUTE TO RON GOODWIN Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines – March, Freefall, Monte Carlo or Bust – Selection, Luftwaffe March – Aces High, Theme from ‘The Trap’, Prisoner of War March, Frenzi, City of Lincoln March, Suite: Time Traveller, 633 Squadron, Where Eagles Dare, Battle of Britain March, The White Rabbit, The Headless Horseman, Force Ten from Navarone, Tall Ships, September 15th 1940, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines – Selection The Band of the Parachute Regiment directed by Captain Paul Goodwin MBE BA (Hons) Dip. Mus. (Open) ARCM LRSM BBCM psm BANDLEADER BNA5178 (70’30"). A timely and most welcome salute from the military band world to the late and estimable Ron Goodwin comes not altogether inappropriately from the Band of the Parachute Regiment. Many of the expected favourites are here in this compilation of his work, but the value of this disc is considerably enhanced by the inclusion of a number of rarities, many of which were the result of special commissions. Foremost amongst these being the ‘Suite: Time Traveller’, which came from and was first performed by Bromley Youth Music Trust in 2002 in honour of H.G. Wells who had lived in the town and is commemorated by a blue plaque inset into the wall of the local Alders Store in the High Street. The stirring City of London March was a commission from the BBC and received its first outing by the BBC Concert Orchestra and The Central Band of the RAF. Ron Goodwin wrote White Rabbit for the Bournemouth Symphonic Brass whilst Tall Ships was the result of The Royal Tournament Series of works for Wind Band and first performed in 1996 by the massed bands of HM Royal Marines at that years Royal Tournament – a greatly and much missed by many people military ‘spectacular’. September 15th 1940 as its name suggests was commissioned by The Central Band of the RAF to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The Parachute Regiment Band give a good account of themselves of the recording made in Flagstaff House, Colchester, whilst acceptable is a little tight and unyielding and would have benefited from greater transparency. The band would have been heard to deservedly more impressive effect in a more flattering and sympathetic acoustic. Nonetheless, a desirable and enterprising addition to the Goodwin discography which should have wide appeal to all his many admirers. Incidentally, by one of those strange quirks of coincidences not only does the D.O.M. carry the Goodwin appellation but also the Bandmaster – one WOI Steve Goodwin! Roger Hyslop
MICHAEL BUBLE Fever, Moondance, Kissing a fool, For once in my life, How can you mend a broken heart, Summer wind, You'll never find another love like mine, Crazy little thing called love, Put your head on my shoulder, Sway, The way you look tonight, Come fly with me, That's all. (USA) 143 Records-Reprise 9362-48535-2). Another contender for Sinatra's crown steps forward! He has plentyof back up! Arrangements by Bill Holman, David Foster, Don Costa, Johnny Mandel, Billy May, Don Costa and John Clayton, backed on one track by Barry Gibb, on others, star musicians (often with a string section). A quick perusal of most of the titles shows singers in the past have already made hits of the songs (often with the same arrangements!). That said he looks (on the sleeve) a heart throb in the mould of Chet Baker, has a voice not unlike a subdued Bobby Darin (when he was one of the singers trying to fill the gap left by Sinatra's exit from Capitol Records). I hope I will be proved wrong but by trying to entertain in many different styles of music could be a mistake. Main hope for the producers and artist is that the new generation will not know the originals and hail his talent as the male equivalent of Diana Krall. Paul Clatworthy
DEODATA "Skyscrapers" Title track, Flap, Rudy's, Soccer game, The first stone, Elizeth, The Byrd, The gap, Down the hill, Boy meets girl, Carly and Carole. (USA) IRMA 509563-20 - available Compact Disc Club. CD releases by the Deodata Orchestra are not as prolific as I would like so it's a shame that this selection includes two tracks already out, the title track and "Carly and Carole" (twice before!) By way of compensation you get nine tracks I have not heard before, five written by Deodata, two by Marcos Valle, one each by Mascarenhas and Alves. Deodata sitting on some tracks at a Hammond organ goes a little over the top (Fairground style!) but when playing piano is a delight, Sergio Mendes fans will find plenty of music to enjoy but I enjoy my Deodata more with strings in attendance! Paul Clatworthy
GARY McFARLAND – STEVE KUHN "The October Suite" One I could have loved, St Tropez Shuttle, Remember when, Traffic patterns, Childhood Dreams, Open Highway. (USA) Impulse 654413-2. Most readers know I like my strings lush but Gary was such an inventive writer I am prepared to make an exception! Another mitigation is that we lost Gary far too early, so his recordings are not exactly available in quantity! This album utilises only four strings, four woodwind, drums, bass and harp plus the piano of Steve Kuhn. A similar line-up was used on some of Gary's other albums, "Does the sun really shine on the moon", "Scorpio and other signs", "The In sound" and "The Gary McFarland orchestra". The last named (which had Bill Evans as guest soloist) would have made a nice pairing with this release as we get just over thirty minutes worth! That said it would also pose the question: did Steve Kuhn hear the earlier recorded Bill Evans vehicle and say "I would like some of that!" Gary was never schooled in string writing but his melody lines and ardent romanticism shines through on every track. The first title Gary wrote for a film "13". It is revamped on track five under the title, "Childhood dreams". The remaining four tracks Gary wrote especially for the recording. Another gem from the "Impulse" back catalogue gets a very welcome reissue. Paul Clatworthy
SHORTY ROGERS AND HIS GIANTS Bossa Nova – Jazz Waltz Lorito's samba, No more sadness, Melancholy samba, One note samba, Sugar loaf, Empashgi's samba, Love is a rose, Only you, Cry your sadness, Only one love, Little brown boy, I'm gonna go fishin', Greensleeves, Walk on the wild side, Witchcraft, Be as children, Jazz waltz, Echoes of Harlem, A taste of honey, Terrence's farewell, The streets of Laredo. (USA) COLLECTABLES COL-CD-7504. Two LP transfers from the Reprise label originally released in 1962 will undoubtedly get a new audience second time around. Shorty did the rounds of many labels but always gave his all (which was plenty, whether playing, arranging or composing). He embraced the "Bossa" era as good as any, his own unique style bringing new life to a genre then dominated by guitar and saxophone. They are still part of the set-up but Shorty injects extra flavours into the twenty one tracks. Paul Clatworthy
THE BOB FLORENCE LIMITED EDITION Whateven Bubbles Up Dukeisms, Nerve endings. Chelsea Bridge, Running with scissors, Kissing bug, Never let me go, Q&A, Whatever bubbles up.(USA) SUMMIT RECORD DCD 360. I got a copy of this CD via Ralph Enriquez, and by the time this review is printed one of the suppliers listed at the end of last issue’s "Big Band Roundup" (JIM 155 page 68) will be able to supply. Five originals by Bob plus two Billy Strayhorn and the beautiful ballad "Never let me go" make up Bob's latest outing from his new home since the demise of the "Mama" label. Eighteen albums on by his own Big Band and the spark is still there! Rich and invigorating sounds from a star studied orchestra who delight in showing what a Big Band is all about. Bob's solo piano on "Never let me go" is wonderful but I would have liked to hear some voicing from the complete band. That said, chalk up another hit for the Bob Florence sound. Paul Clatworthy
RUBY BRAFF AND STRINGS Swinging on a star, Pennies from heaven, Love walked in, Old folks, Goodnight, my love, Moonlight becomes you, I married an angel, Please, Love thy neighbour, April in Paris, Go fly a kite, In the wee small hours of the morning, All alone, I get along without you very well, You're sensational, Too-Ra-Loo-Ra- Loo-Rai, My heart stood still, White Christmas. ARBORS RECORDS ARCD 19219. Ruby recorded half of this CD twenty or so years ago for the proprietor of the Pizza Express Jazz club The arranger for the strings was Neil Richardson, recommended to Ruby by Robert Farnon. It met with great acclaim at the time of issue on LP and as a limited edition soon became a collectors item. Recently Mat Domber got permission to reissue as a CD and took the decision to add eight more newly recorded tracks arranged by Tommy Newsom. The new tracks feature a smaller string section but complement the earlier recordings in every way, not least in the choice of songs. Ruby's cornet playing is just as elegant as ever and he points out this album will please jazz and orchestral fans alike, sometimes lush, sometimes muted sometimes swinging, all the ingredients essential for good listening. Paul Clatworthy
SYMPHONIC IMPRESSIONS OF OMAN (Lalo Schifrin) Prelude and Variations,Molto pia animato, Allegro vivace, Andantino, etc… London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lalo Schifrin.Scherzo Music 028. No Jazz to meet the Symphony Orchestra this time! It’s Lalo in classical mode, inspired by the traditional music of the region. It mentions the Oman Ministry of Information but does not say in what capacity. It was recorded in October 2001 and confirms Lalo is master of his craft in any type of music. Sometimes pensive, sometimes majestic, always palpably exciting – when something’s this perfect you wonder why anyone else bothers. This CD demands serious attention.Paul Clatworthy
BRITISH FILM CLASSICS 2 CDs of themes, preludes etc. from various Chandos collections of music by leading British film composers Chandos CHAN241-12. Jeff Hall has mentioned this new collection in his Film Music Bulletin, so this is just to remind you that over 140 minutes of glorious film music is available at a bargain price. Many favourites are here (featuring composers like Ron Goodwin, Arthur Bliss, Richard Rodney Bennett, William Alwyn, Eric Coates, William Walton … etc) but the compilers have also sensibly included some less well-known works which provide a nice balance plus some pleasant surprises. Sorry we can’t spare the space for a full tracklisting here, so look our for this in your local record store, or visit the Chandos website (www.chandos.co.uk) for all the details. David Ades
A few late arrivals are given a Quick Spin…
MICHAEL BALL ‘A Love Story’ This Guy’s in Love With You, What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life, I Wish You Love, I Wish I Were in Love Again, etc.. EMI/Liberty 07243 5919492. Michael Ball is one of the best present-day British singers, and the titles above will give you an idea of the quality songs on his new CD. If you fancy some modern vocals this Christmas, you could do far worse than this. DA
SORTIES D’ARTISTES Music by André Messager (France) Les Verres Luisants LVL 005. We have mentioned this talented French group of enthusiastic musicians previously, and their latest collection salutes the work of a composer who gained an international reputation for Véronique, Madame Chrysanthéme and other operettas around 100 years ago. An attractive booklet (in French) provides an ideal accompaniment to some delightful performances. DA
CHRISTMAS CLASSICS Orchestral and choral music performed by The Hallé Orchestra conducted by Carl Davis with Claire Rutter, soprano and Choir Sanctuary/Hallé CD HLL 7504. In time for Christmas comes this delightful seasonal offering, with works by Leroy Anderson Sleigh Ride, of course), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Morton Gould’s setting of The First Nowell andJingle Bells), and a generous helping of other pieces by the likes of John Rutter, J.S. Bach, Tchaikovsky and even Sir Paul McCartney. DA
Latest Releases from Vocalion …
MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH THE STARS (Anne Shelton, Dickie Valentine, Stargazers, Vera Lynn, etc..) CDLK4199
DICKIE VALENTINE ‘Here is DV’ and Singles 1950-58 CDLK4217
EDMUNDO ROS ‘Broadway Goes Latin’ & Hollywood Cha Cha CDLK4223
KATHY KIRBY Singles CDLK4215
MARGARET WHITING Capitol singles CDLK4214
MARK WYNTER EP & singles CDLK4191
TED HEATH singles CDLK4198
TED HEATH London Palladium Vol. 3 & Final Swing Session CDLK4203
TED HEATH Fever & Sound of Music CDLK4209
SHOW TIME My Fair Lady, Sound of Music, Camelot, Gypsy, Oliver (Cyril Stapleton, Edmund Hockridge, etc.) CDLK4218
STANLEY BLACK Intimate Percussion & Exotic Percussion CDLK4208
TONY KINSEY QUINTET Jazz at the Flamingo CDLK4213
CATERINA VALENTE I Happen to Like New York & Valente on TV CDLK4193
Production Music
ELIZABETHAN & BAROQUE DRAMA Chappell Recorded Music Library CHAP 292. The lion’s share of the music on this new production music CD has been composed by RFS member Adam Saunders; the rest are authentic Elizabethan songs arranged by Richard Cheetham. The music is performed by the Academy of Ancient Music and the Orchestra of the Renaissance. Adam tells us that they were very fortunate to secure the services of these ensembles, which are two of the best of their kind in the world. Chappells wanted to have something unique in their library, which would give a truly authentic sound for period drama, historical and architectural programmes. Clearly the result is most impressive, although Adam admits that he had to do a lot of research before he actually put any notes on paper. I suspect that Adam may well find himself in demand for more work of this kind in the future. David Ades Chappell CDs are only available from the RFS Record Service, price £9 [US $18] each.
In Journal Into Melody 143 (June 2000 – page 62) we reported on some new CDs issued by BMG Production Music in Italy, which proved popular with many collectors of this kind of music. We are pleased to report that a further batch of 8 CDs are now available, containing some interesting (and often funky!) Italian sounds as before. Some of the composers may be familiar – Angelo Francesco Lavagnino, Ennio Morricone, Pino Donaggio, Franco Micalizzi, Nino Oliviero, Luigi Zaninelli, Carlo Savina, Gianni Ferrio, Domenico Modugno, Gianni Marchetti, Marco Tiso … and many more. The CD titles give a good indication of the contents.
BPM3010 Amazing Adventures
BPM3011 Rome By Night
BPM3012 Neorealism – Italian Post-War Cinema
BPM3013 Children
BPM3014 War
BPM3015 Classic Western
BPM3016 Crime & Spy Themes Vol. 2
BPM3017 Love Themes Vol. 2
The earlier 9 CDs are also still available, and we are pleased to advised that we have now secured fresh supplies of the eight Atmosphere Music CDs of Paxton Mood Music 78s (full listing is available from us). In the past couple of years we have had to disappoint several members who were seeking these CDs, so this is your opportunity to acquire them at long last. We can also now supply the later Atmosphere CDs from the Ember catalogue (see also JIM 143). BPM and Atmosphere CDs are only available from the RFS Record Service for £9 [US $18] each, plus postage and packing as usual.
Just in time to meet the Editor’s deadline come the four much delayed Percy Faith 2-on-1 reissues on Collectables from the States. THE COLUMBIA ALBUM OF VICTOR HERBERT [COL 7565] is another of those albums one never expected to find on CD. All the old favourites are here such as Ah! Sweet Mystery Of Life, March Of The Toys, and A Kiss In The Dark – a total of 23 glorious melodies in sparkling string laden 1958 vintage stereo.
Brass and woodwind feature in NEW THING, coupled with CLAIR [COL7561], released in 1974 and a product of a new trend dictated by the then CBS recording policy. Standout tracks are Chuck Mangione’s Hill Where The Lord Hides, the engaging Washington Square, and a stringy Stranger On The Shore. On the second album from a year earlier, the title tune itself is disappointing with female voices, but there is some good stuff including that fine Moody Blues tune Knights In White Satin. Of particular interest is 2001, Faith’s adaptation of Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss. Regrettably, Sony does not provide any track background information.
BON VOYAGE/CAREFREE [COL 7563], from the early 60s, couples a collection of "Paris and Rome favourites,’ like Guaglione, Anema E Core, Petite Fleur and Under Paris Skies, with a selection entirely written and arranged by Faith. This includes Go-Go-Po-Go, which was the "B" side of Summer Place, the delightful Brazilian Sleigh Bells and Goin’ Home Train as well as the title track. A most welcome return for a well-loved album
On his admirable Percy Faith Discography website, Alan Bunting describes Gene De Paul’s score for the musical LI’L ABNER [COL 7564], recorded mono only in 1957, as "superb". Unfortunately Sony Stateside has coupled it with a BROADWAY BOUQUET from a mono master rather than stereo. If you cannot wait for the promised re-pressing, this wonderful album is still available in stereo on Sony in Britain, paired with the equally attractive COUNTRY BOUQUET. One up to the Brits! Peter Burt
