Keeping Track - Dateline December 2003
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