KEEPING TRACK

KEEPING TRACK

Dateline December 2004

The Latest Releases from PERCY FAITH: The Columbia Singles – Volume 1 (1950-1951) Tzin-Tzun-Tzan; I Cross My Fingers (with Russ Emery); Violins From Nowhere (with Toni Arden); They Can't Take That Away from Me; I Was Dancing With Someone (with Toni Arden); Friendly Star; Goodbye John; If I Had A Magic Carpet; The Loveliest Girl I Know (previously unissued); This Is The Time; Green Grass And Peaceful Pastures (with Andy Roberts); I'm In The Middle Of A Riddle; Norah (with the Shillelagh Singers); A Kiss And A Promise; No One But You (with Johnny Thompson); You Are The One; Zing Zing Zoom Zoom; Come Home (previously unissued); The Circus Day Parade; The Happy Calliope Song; Black Ball Ferry Line; (with the Skylarks); The Wondrous Word Of The Lord (with the Skylarks featuring Les Scott); Always, Always (vocal by Peter Hanley); I Want To Be Near You (vocal by Peter Hanley); When The Saints Go Marching In (featuring the All Star Dixielanders); There She Goes; I Talk To The Trees (vocal by Peter Hanley & The Magic Voices); Would You (vocal by Peter Hanley & The Magic Voices). All tracks not credited with a vocalist feature a chorus. The observant will notice that two of the tracks have never been issued before. (USA) Collectables COL7635.

THE COLUMBIA SINGLES - Volume 2 (1952 - 1958) Festival (with chorus); Da-Du (with chorus); Over The Mountain (with chorus); Rap-A-Tat-Tat (The Dancing Cat) (with chorus); Funny Fellow (with chorus); Little Jumping Jack (with chorus); The Mosquitoes' Parade (with chorus); Everybody Loves Saturday Night (With The Paulette Sisters & Burt Taylor); Rainfall (with Bernie Leighton, Harpsichord); Land Of The Pharaohs; The Rose Tattoo (with chorus); We All Need Love (with chorus); Valley Valparaiso (with chorus); Baby Doll; The Last Dance; What's It Like In Paree? (Vocal By Barbara Manners); Katsumi Love Theme (From "Sayonara"); Never Till Now (From "Raintree County");: Do I Need You (Previously Unreleased) (with chorus);The Stars (with chorus); Somewhere (From "West Side Story") (Previously Unreleased);Maria (From "West Side Story"); The Impala Theme; Indiscreet (From "Indiscreet");Same Old Moon (From "Marjorie Morningstar"); Isle Of Paradise (Sur La Plage); Pyramid Dance (Heart Of Stone) (From "Goldilocks".) This is a superb compilation and, in my humble opinion, worth buying just to have the amazing full orchestral arrangement of Somewhere - awesome, and far better than the version on BROADWAY BOUQUET. Note also that Maria is not the same arrangement as on HOLLYWOOD'S GREAT THEMES. As well as two previously unreleased tracks, other gems are Rainfall, Land Of The Pharaohs and the exciting Pyramid Dance - what a pity the maestro didn't record more of Anderson's wonderful music. (USA) Collectables COL7636.

I THINK I LOVE YOU The original album plus 7 selected singles Theme from "Cactus Flower" (The Time For Love Is Anytime) : Peppermint Hill And Strawberry Lane : Theme For Young Lovers Anytime Of The Year : Theme From "Kotch" : The Godfather Waltz : Emanuelle - The Joys Of A Woman. (USA) Collectables COL7653 – release date 9th November. Alan Bunting

GARY WILLIAMS with The JOHN WILSON ORCHESTRA ‘Alone Together’ Just In Time, Where or When, Why Shouldn’t I, Just One of Those Things, I Remember You, I Get Along Without You Very Well, If I Had You, More Than You Know, You’re Sensational, My Buddy, I’ll Be Around, Time After Time, The End of a Love Affair, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Alone Together Vocalion Digital CDSA6809, 55:10 minutes. This CD arrived just as we were going to press, so it has been slotted in to this feature literally at the last minute. Which means that space is limited, so the following comments should be regarded as a ‘teaser’ to a feature on Gary that will appear in our next issue. RFS members who saw him with the magnificent John Wilson Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in the Spring of 2003 will know that he certainly understands how to handle a song. Other readers will have seen him in various concerts around Britain, and there is no doubt that he is building a strong following of loyal fans. Although Gary often sings songs that are associated with the great stars of the past half century, he doesn’t try to copy them note for note. Sensibly he is developing his own style, and this new CD must surely be the very best thing that he has done to date. He can handle the ballads and swing numbers with the same gentle ease, and it all seems so effortless. Yet in the background there is the strong impression that you are listening to a fine young singer who has worked hard at his craft, and who has a great future ahead of him. His choice of material includes several titles that are lesser known (full marks for that) and it is so pleasing to hear some unfamiliar verses. The CD booklet informs us that the lush orchestrations are by Andrew Cottee – we must find out some more about him. The John Wilson Orchestra perform as brilliantly as always, and this is a superior quality product from start to finish. It should be in the Christmas stocking of everyone who appreciates the finest popular music that is around in 2004. David Ades

ERIC PARKIN plays PARKIN "Nighthawks" Encounters, Moods, Nighthawks, Movietunes Shellwood SWCD19. One of our very finest pianists has made numerous recordings of the music of many great composers, so it is good to be able to hear a new CD entirely devoted to his own creations. In his booklet notes Eric Parkin explains that the paintings of Edward Hopper have fired his inspiration for the eight titles in the ‘Nighthawks’ section. Some of the artist’s atmospheric paintings of American life are reproduced, displaying the boredom and loneliness that can permeate life. ‘Encounters’ was prompted by the sight of passengers coming and going at the Channel Tunnel train terminal at London’s Waterloo station. ‘Movietunes’ recalls the late Christopher Palmer, whose work resulted in the rediscovery of so much fine film music, and introduced Eric Parkin in particular to the works of Miklos Rozsa. Finally ‘Moods’ is affectionately dedicated to Robert Farnon. Eric explains that Bob has always encouraged him to write down his improvisations, and there are plans for all these eight works to be published in due course. There is so much to enjoy in this magical collection, and piano lovers shouldn’t hesitate to acquire it. David Ades Shellwood CDs are available from the RFS Record Service.

MANTOVANI & HIS ORCHESTRA AND THE MIKE SAMMES SINGERS Kismet Overture, Sands Of Time, Rhymes Have I, Baubles, Bangles And Beads, Not since Nivevah, Stranger In Paradise, He’s In Love, Gesticulate, Night Of My Nights, Was I Wazir?, Rehadlakum, And This Is My Beloved, The Olive Tree, Zubbediya, Samaris Dance, Finale Act II Vocalion Decca Archives CDLF 8104 Back in 1964 this was, apart from original cast theatre recordings, Decca’s first serious excursion into the realms of the musical. The score by George Wright and George Forrest, both of whom attended the Kingsway Hall recording, is based on the splendid music by one of the most naturally gifted of all Russian classical composers, Alexander Borodin. Obviously nothing was spared in production and the cast list is impressive: Robert Merrill, Adele Leigh, Kenneth McKellar, Ian Wallace [how good to hear him again] and Regina Reznik. The first named is very much the singing star of the show. Nevertheless, Mantovani is clearly in charge as he shows in the Overture; his direction bringing plenty of sparkle as well as sumptuousness. The orchestra’s strings contribution to Stranger and Beloved demonstrates that old spine-tingling factor. The sound throughout is as highly spectacular as one might expect from a good Phase 4 recording, with just the occasional touch of over-modulation, and the album is an unexpected and most welcome addition to this label’s growing inventory of the great man’s re-issues.

Peter Burt

GUILD LIGHT MUSIC

full tracklistings in JIM 160 & 161

GLCD 5106 – THE GOLDEN AGE OF LIGHT MUSIC – 1930s

GLCD 5107 – CHARLES WILLIAMS & THE QUEEN’S HALL LIGHT ORCHESTRA

GLCD 5108 – BRITISH CINEMA AND THEATRE ORCHESTRAS

GLCD 5109 – LIGHT MUSIC FROM THE SILVER SCREEN

GLCD 5110 – MANTOVANI – BY SPECIAL REQUEST

Although a substantial number of Light Music CDs have become available in recent years, none have exclusively concentrated on pre-1940 recordings; this in contrast to the many re-issues of Dance Band, Jazz and other music of that era.  However, the gap has now been admirably filled by two of these new releases.  The 1930s CD combines a good mixture of well-known favourites, eg The Glow Worm Idyll, March of the Bowmen, (a particularly spirited performance), Butterflies in the Rain, etc, with some very interesting – albeit less familiar – pieces by British, American and European composers and orchestras.  Good examples of these are the Overture – The Immortals by Reginald King, (a very rare recording which I understand was ‘unearthed’ by an overseas RFS member), and the Overture from the Dance Suite by Kunneke.  British Cinema and Theatre Orchestras consists of recordings all made between 1931-39, and features some notable conductors, including Geraldo, Richard Crean, William Pethers, Joseph Muscant, Alfred Van Dam and Hyam Greenbaum; the last mentioned became first musical director of the BBC Television Orchestra in 1936.  Much of the music will be immediately familiar and emanates from a distinguished line-up of composers, including Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Vivian Ellis, Albert Ketelbey and Rudolf Friml.  With a generous running time of over 78 minutes spread over nineteen tracks, this is a most attractive collection.  A further trio of CDs returns us to the 40s and 50s. Charles Williams and the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra contains items from the early Chappell library, and with few exceptions the recordings are appearing commercially for the first time – there is little duplication between this and previous QHLO offerings from other companies.  It is good to see and hear the two Charles Shadwell compositions, ditto the Percy Fletcher, Montague Phillips, and John Holliday pieces.  In Light Music From the Silver Screen, we have another selection of absolute gems.  During WWII, a good many ‘epic’ movies were produced, and these often featured a comprehensive musical score with a big theme – eg the famous "Denham Concertos".  After the war this trend continued and the collection here includes music from films which appeared between 1946-1953.  The roll-call of composers and conductors includes such luminaries as Robert Farnon, Sidney Torch, Charles Williams, Ron Goodwin, Philip Green, Muir Matheson and George Melachrino.  From the pen of the latter, Vision d’Amour (from the film Woman to Woman) subsequently became part of a suite, Sketches from Life, with the alternative title, Loving.  The 22 tracks will surely stir many memories and be a great delight to aficionados of film music from a relatively short-lived golden age during the immediate post-war period. And so to the final CD in this group – Mantovani by Special Request.  Annunzio Paulo Mantovani was one of the great figures in the 20th century music scene.  He was active from the beginning of the 1920s, an era when Radio and Gramophone Records were becoming a major force in home entertainment.  By the 30s he had established his Tipica Orchestra, which was destined to become extremely popular.  After the war, it evolved into an enlarged concert orchestra, and with the essential help of arranger Ronald Binge, he went on to sell literally millions of records worldwide.  This compilation comprises tracks which have not previously appeared on re-issue CDs; these all date from between 1944-53 and in many cases have been included at the suggestion of Mantovani admirers, hence the CD’s title.  Some of the pieces have an obvious thirties flavour, whilst others have an interim style, before the definitive ‘Mantovani sound’ which took off in the early/middle fifties.  As with most of the GUILD CDs, there is a lot of material here that previously has not been heard in a long time, but once again will certainly jog a lot of memories! Having spoken at length to David Ades and Alan Bunting about the preparation of this series, I am well aware of the dedication and much ‘midnight oil’ which has gone into the realisation of these CDs.  The sound quality is mostly of such a high standard that it has me searching around for new superlatives – it is difficult to believe just how old some of the recordings actually are.  The results speak for themselves – these five new releases are worthy successors to the previous five, and are unreservedly recommended as definite ‘must haves’  And there are yet more to come…! Tony Clayden

FRANK CHACKSFIELD & HIS ORCHESTRA Beyond The Sea Track listing in JIM 160 The New Limelight Limelight Theme, The Man That Got Away, In The Still Of The Night, Scarlet Ribbons, Smile, Tonight, Theme from "Picnic" introducing Moonglow, Come Rain Or Come Shine, Night And Day, Here I Am, "Warsaw " Concerto Decca 475 614-9 At long last Decca have got around to transferring some of their famed Phase 4 LPs onto CD. And in 2-on-1 packaging, too. Trouble is with the first album here, Mike Dutton has beaten them to it by a matter of weeks [see my review last time]. There are some fine tunes on the second album and a good version of the concerto. The sound is brilliant and reasonably atmospheric, and this coupling may appeal – if you’ve not already bought the Vocalion. A pity about the duplication when there is so much other good stuff from Chacksfield still denied us. Peter Burt

MAURICE LARCANGE Accordion MICHEL LEGRAND – What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life, The Summer Knows, Windmills Of Your Mind, etc ; CHARLES AZNAVOUR Dance In The Old Fashioned Way, Yesterday When I Was Young, She, etc… with Roland Shaw Orchestra Vocalion CDLK4268, 76:39 mins. Back in the 1970s Decca recorded at least four Phase-4 LPs featuring the French accordionist Maurice Larcange. I cannot recall having heard them previously, but have to admit that the first two – now available on this new Vocalion CD – have come as a very pleasant surprise. Each LP is a tribute to a leading French composer, and it seems likely that most of the tracks have been arranged by Roland Shaw. For the Legrand LP Decca gave him the London Festival Orchestra and Chorus, and the spectacular sound right at the start of the CD alerts you to the fact that this is certainly not the kind of accordion music that used to be performed by various ensembles back in the 1930s! Here the accordion is used as a feature within the large orchestra, somewhat similar to the sounds which sometimes feature in recordings by Mantovani or Frank Chacksfield. The Aznavour selection has a slightly smaller ensemble (probably around 30 players), which seems to suit the composer’s style better. After a while you tend to forget that this is actually meant to be an ‘Accordion CD’ – in the hands of Maurice Larcange it simply becomes a part of the orchestra, and as far as I am concerned he produces some beautiful sounds. Perhaps this may not appeal to purists who prefer their orchestras in the traditional style, but I suspect that many people who are prepared to buy something a little different for a change may well enjoy it as much as I do. David Ades

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA – MUSIC FOR WIND BAND – Volume 5 Marches: The Minnesota March, The Thunderer, The Pride of the Wolverines, University of Nebraska, The Gallant Seventh, Powhattan’s Daughter, George Washington Bicentennial, The Diplomat, The Directorate, Our Flirtation, Sabre and Spurs, The Atlantic Pageant. Suite: Cubaland. Waltz: The Charlatan Waltzes. Band of the Royal Artillery conducted by Keith Brion NAXOS 8.559131 59.00mins. The sessions for Volume 5 of what is promised as the complete edition of Sousa’s complete works for wind band herald a return to the Blackheath Concert Halls. This is a disc full of rarities as with the almost solitary exception of the 1889 march The Thunderer most of the remaining titles here will be unfamiliar to the general non-specialist collector. However, the innocent ear, listening to the opening item here The Minnesota March, would probably have no great difficulty in guessing the identity of the composer since it is full of his characteristically flamboyant style and mannerisms. Of particular interest is the three movement Cubaland Suite each section of which reflects the changing government of this Caribbean country complete with appropriate national melodies. The Charlatan Waltzes from Sousa’s 1898 operetta are full of charm and would not have disgraced those of Parisian Waltz King Emile Waldteufel. On a somewhat more poignant note Keith Brion mentions in his notes that the George Washington Bicentennial march of 1930 was first played under Sousa’s baton at an impressive ceremony at the Capital Plaza in Washington in February 1932 just a month before the ‘March King’s’ death. Apparently The Diplomat was one of Sousa’s personal favourites but as far as this collection goes the palm for me goes to the 1918 march Sabre and Spurs the trio of which replicates the hoof beats of mounted horseman and makes felicitous use of the xylophone. In sum there’s some wonderfully ebullient, invigorating music here brimming with joie de vivre calculated surely to bring a smile to even the most dour curmudgeon. Recently a CD review magazine described the Royal Artillery Band as ‘a top notch ensemble’ and who would dare to argue with that? Super sonics and super budget price! Incidentally this fifth volume has been released in honour of the sesquicentennial of Sousa’s birth in 1854. Roger Hyslop

DEBBIE WISEMAN: Original soundtrack score for the film "Arsène Lupin" Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus conducted by Debbie Wiseman (France) EMI 8636282. In her booklet note, Debbie Wiseman describes this film as "a movie that every film composer dreams of scoring. A film full of action, suspense, mystery, drama, humour and romance." Which just about covers every human emotion, so it would have to be a very special composer that the producers would entrust for such a work. It is a measure of Debbie’s high standing in the film world, that she should have been engaged for a major foreign film such as this, and it hardly needs saying that the end result is simply superb. Whatever she does, she seems to be able to get beneath the surface of the actions and emotions of all concerned. Thank goodness that modern composers like Debbie are maintaining the very highest standards of film composing. David Ades

JULIUS KATCHEN AND MANTOVANI & HIS ORCHESTRA Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/Piano Concerto in F Decca 475 615-9 This album from 1955 is reissued by Decca in a new limited Heritage series celebrating its 75th anniversary. Delighted as I am for the company to be bringing back items from its years of light music pomp, I must admit to being a tad surprised at the choice here. The combination of artists makes the disc something of a collector’s item, and we can hear how Monty handles an 85-strong orchestra, but for the very best versions of these works look elsewhere. Peter Burt

SIGMUND GROVEN, Harmonica Here, There and Everywhere Title tracks, Two Beatles Girls – Eleanor and Michelle, Three American Sketches for Harmonica and Strings, Nordic Night, Midnight in Moscow, Tbliso, Down Under, Theme from ‘The Sundowners’, Yesterday, Gloria, Norwegian Wood, Sentimentango, Adagietto for Harmonica and Strings with The Norwegian Radio Orchestra conducted by John Wilson (Norway) Grappa GRCD4197, total timing 62:00 mins. For many years Sigmund worked closely with the late, great, Tommy Reilly so it is entirely appropriate that he should feature some works closely associated with the maestro in this collection – namely the two tracks from "The Sundowners" arranged by Angela Morley. Some other notable tracks include Sir George Martin’s Three American Sketches and Adagietto for Harmonica and Strings. Sigmund Groven himself is the composer of Nordic Night, Gloria and Sentimentango. This new CD is warmly recommended to everyone who enjoys hearing a harmonica with a full orchestra. David Ades This CD is available from Sigmund Groven, PO Box 5167, Majorstua, N 0302, Oslo, Norway – you can also order by e-mail: sgroven@online.no

SHIRLEY BASSEY Shirley In the Still of the Night, Let There Be Love, All at Once, For Every Man There’s a Woman, I’m in the Mood for Love, etc… Let’s Face the Music Let’s Fall in Love, Imagination, All the Things you Are, etc… EMI 4 732262, timing 75:32 mins. So many companies are now issuing CDs featuring two LPs, and considering the outcry that always greets any that do not contain the full contents of the original albums, it is surprising that record companies continue to incur the wrath of serious collectors. Two tracks are missing from the second LP, which is all the more disappointing since it features Shirley singing with the great Nelson Riddle. Geoff Love is MD on the first album, and there is plenty of good music to enjoy here. But why, oh why, did EMI have to spoil it? David Ades

RUSS CONWAY Concerto for Lovers Title track, In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, Love is the Sweetest Thing, I Wish You Love, etc… Pop-a-Conway Hi-Lili Hi-Lo, Elusive Butterfly, Tears, Things, A World of our Own, etc… EMI 4732702, timing 77:20 mins. The first LP in the compilation reveals Russ Conway to be a very pleasant and accomplished pianist, and the superb orchestrations by Tony Osborne (conducting his own orchestra) make this a quality product from start to finish. During his career Russ made several other similar LPs, so what on earth possessed EMI to couple this great LP with ‘Pop-a-Conway’? The publicity describes this as ‘two contrasting albums where Russ proves what a great musician he was’. True, but the transition from the lush music of the first LP, to the brash pop sounds of the second LP, is just too much to take. To be fair, ‘Pop-a-Conway’ is not all bad, but the first track is absolutely dire. By all means, buy the CD just for the first LP with Tony Osborne, but you have been warned about the content from track 13 onwards! To return to the first album, the attractive title track is a Conway composition (under his real name Trevor Stanford), and he also includes a pleasant rendition of David Rose’s Our Waltz. David Ades

VIC DAMONE – The Vic Damone Collection Columbia 5149242. This is a set that I discovered quite by accident, but a quick look at the cover got me interested. The collection includes three CDs, containing 20 tracks each, and boy, are they good! I paid £11.99 which I think is very good value indeed. The tracks feature 1950s recordings with the likes of Percy Faith, Glen Osser, Paul Weston, Camarata and Axel Stordahl – to name but a few. There seem to be very few duplications with the nine other Vic Damone CDs in my collection, except of course for As Time Goes By and the wonderful An Affair to Remember and his superb rendering of On The Street Where You Live which must surely be the bets ever version of this song. I get the feeling that many of the titles were originally ‘B’ sides, but even so they are all very much worth a listed. The tempos vary quite a lot which is good, and Damone’s diction is so good and you are never in any doubt as to what he is singing about. There are no sleeve notes, only listings of all the songs and the dates when they were originally released. What did surprise me on the list, about It Had To Be You, is the comment "contains explicit lyrics"! Really? I never knew – did you? Whilst on the subject of great singers from 50 years ago, I have also bought a new CD called DICK HAYMES in Hollywood on Jasmine JASCD 124. It contains no less than 29 tracks, and they all seem to be the actual soundtracks from his films – thus you also get Vivian Blaine (in "State Fair") and Betty Grable ("The Shocking Miss Pilgrim"). It’s a good CD, even if one has got many of the numbers already, but probably not these soundtrack versions. Alec Hellyer

FRANK SINATRA – The Platinum Collection 3 CDs containing 48 of Sinatra’s greatest Capitol recordings Capitol/EMI 7243 8647602. How good to see a major record company doing full justice to archive recordings by one of its artists. This 3-CD set of vintage Sinatra is attractively packaged, with intelligent (anonymous) booklet notes, plus a good selection of pictures and detailed recording notes – dates, arrangers and conductors. Serious Sinatra fans will already have these tracks on other CDs, but for anyone wanting a representative selection of some of the greatest popular recordings of the last century, this has to be an essential purchase. David Ades

FRANCES DAY (Australia) Frank Bristow FBCD122-124. Now this really is something unusual. A three-CD set of almost everything recorded by this amazing artiste who was a household name during the Thirties and the war. Many of the songs are from private collections featuring film soundtracks and live rare ENSA broadcasts. All have been beautifully restored and all 61 tracks are a real pleasure to listen to. Her reception by the troops speaks volumes and when she sings An Englishman Spoke in Grosvenor Square it is easy to see why. Duets occur with, among others, Bud Flanagan and John Mills and among the foot-tapping orchestras are Ray Noble, Percival Mackey, Carroll Gibbons, George Scott-Wood, Ben Frankel, Geraldo, Phil Green, Jay Wilbur, Louis Levy, Henry Hall and Frank Cordell. Price £22.30 (inc. p/p). Frank Bristow's CDs are only available direct from Frank Bristow, 2 Cross Street, Brighton 3186, Victoria, Australia. Many other CDs are listed on Frank's WEB pages:  http://www.musicfromthepast.com E-mail: franbris@ozemail.com.au Fax: (03) 9528 3167. Credit cards accepted. Arrangements can also be made for UK customers to send payment to a UK address using a British cheque - ask Frank for details. Peter Worsley

THE FILM MUSIC OF RON GOODWIN 633 Squadron, Frenzy, Lancelot and Guinevere, Deadly Strangers, Battle of Britain Suite, Whirlpool, The Trap, Of Human Bondage, Monte Carlo or Bust, Submarine X-1, Miss Marple Theme, Operation Crossbow, Clash of Loyalties, Beauty and the Beast, Force Ten from Navarone, Where Eagles Dare, Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines BBC Philharmonic conducted by Rumon Gamba Chandos CHAN 10262, 76:24 mins. Chandos kindly supplied us with advance information about this release (due out in the UK on 15 November), but we had not actually heard the recording before we went to press. However the previous film music CDs from Chandos by the BBC Philharmonic and Rumon Gamba have been of such a high standard, that we are unlikely to be disappointed. Understandably many of Ron’s ‘big hits’ are here, but there are sufficient differences between this and last year’s EMI tribute to encourage true Goodwin fans to add this to their collections. David Ades

PHIL KELLY AND THE NW PREVAILING WINDS ‘Convergence Zone’ Damp brown places, Cuzn bubba luvz, Subztatoot shuffle, Sweet Georgia upside down, Bella Luce, You and the night and the music, Yada Yada, 0. T .B.S. Kathy's waltz, The refrigerator. (USA) Origin 82417, 65:11 mins. This CD just missed the Big Band Roundup but after reading about Phil Kelly in the last issue I thought any fans should not have to wait till the New Year before knowing about it! Phil Kelly has had plenty of experience in arranging - Bill Watrous, Doc Severinson's Tonight show band, Si Zentner, Mel Torme, Buddy Greco, music for over 700 commercials, half a dozen Symphony orchestras, lectured in Film scoring and is one of the coaches at Bud Shank's Centrum Jazz Festival in Port Townsend, one hell of a C. V .! A glance at the track listing shows he also has a way with title twist! The band’s twenty one members includes Pete Christlieb, Gary Smulyan and Andy Martin, three players who always gyrate towards the good sounds. The first track rings subtle tempo changes on the traditional "Camptown races" kick starting the album in fine style. Subztatoot shuffle is seriously "hooky" bouncing all the way through it's seven and a half minutes, the riff owing a little to Gil Evans. Joe Labarbera wrote Bella Luce as a tribute to Conte Candoli, Jay Thomas played with and revered Conte, his poignant trumpet solo reflects their liaison, Phil Kelly introduces strings beautifully on this sublime tune. The album’s other ballad Kathy's waltz is dedicated to Phil's late wife, a song like something breathing close to you, jaw droppingly intimate and wide screen in Kelly's writing. Self produced albums such as this show that Big bands have undergone a renaissance due to musicians dedicated to keeping jazz alive despite being neglected by the mainstream labels. Paul Clatworthy Available from www.origin-records.com. In Great Britain: John Killoch. 65, Hundredacre Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. B74 2LB, England.

GERALDO I Bring To You Sweet Music Hello Again, Lady of Spain, Carioca, Deep Purple, etc… featuring vocals by Eve Becke, Al Bowlly, Len Camber, Dorothy Carless, Carole Carr, Archie Lewis and others Living Era CD AJA5558. Geraldo has been fairly well served with CD reissues in recent years – no doubt a reflection of his importance on the British entertainment scene for so many years. This CD contains tracks from 1933 to 1948, so the music and styles vary quite a bit. Alan Bunting has done some fine restorations, and two tracks are of particular interest to readers of this magazine: Getting Nowhere and Sleepy Serenade were both conducted by Robert Farnon at a session on 4 October 1946 when Geraldo was in the USA. David Ades

BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA Conducted by BARRY WORDSWORTH Sir William Walton: "The Wise Virgins" ballet suite; Constant Lambert: "Horoscope" ballet suite. ASV CD DCA1168. Ballet music is often close to light music, and these two celebrated composers have produced fine 20th century examples of the genre. Perhaps the Walton score is rather on the heavy side, but there are some delicious capricious lighter moments from Lambert. Warmly recommended. David Ades

The Subtle Sound of DAVID SNELL My Favourite Things, I’ll Remember April, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Take Five, How Are Things in Glocca Morra, Baubles Bangles and Beads, Girl from Ipanema, Surrey With the Fringe on Top, Tenderly, Wives and Lovers, Laura, Fascinating Rhythm, Waltz Song, Get Happy. Vocalion CDLF8110. For many years David Snell was known and highly respected as one of Britain’s foremost harpists, with his wide-ranging repertoire stretching from the classics to jazz-rock. He has also written extensively for recorded music libraries, but today he is mostly in demand for conducting such prestigious orchestras as the London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and the Orchestre de Paris. David also conducts scores for film soundtracks, ‘Cider House Rules’, ‘Emma’ and ‘Chocolat’ being recent examples. This CD is taken from his 1966 Decca LP which features David mainly as soloist, but there is some occasional discrete percussion, and a sax and trumpet appear on a few tracks – but no credits appear in the booklet. Here’s some quality playing that will add a touch of class to your collection! David Ades

GENIUS LOVES COMPANY - RAY CHARLES duets Here we go again, RAY CHARLES with NORAH JONES; Sweet potato pie, with JAMES TAYLOR; You don't know me, with DIANA KRALL; Sorry seems to be the hardest word, with ELTON JOHN; Fever, with NATALIE COLE; Do I ever cross your mind? with BONNIE RAITT; It was a very good year, with WILLIE NELSON; Hey girl, with MICHAEL McDONALD; Sinners prayer, with B.B.KING; Heaven help us all, with GLADYS KNIGHT; Over the rainbow, with JOHNNY MATHIS; Crazy love, with VAN MORRISON. EMI 7243 86654021, 51:42 mins. This type of album seems to be all the rage lately but as it is Ray's last recording it deserves attention! Just one look at the songs and his collaborations shows it covers most of his ventures in different styles of music - a mixed bag indeed! A massive host of session men are used, five with a small group, seven with full orchestra. The orchestral tracks have five scored by Victor Vanacore, a writer I will be on the look out for in the future. His arrangement on "Hey girl" is particularly beguiling and his other four come close seconds. A "Motown" veteran David Blumberg adds some delectable strings to Diana Krall's collaboration. Blues and soul fans will love this album and out and out pop and jazz fans will also find much to savour. Paul Clatworthy

CHRISTOPHER GUNNING Concerto for Piano & Orchestra; Storm; Symphony No 1. Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer (USA) Albany TROY 686. If you like atmospheric music then you will enjoy this CD. Gunning is known mainly as a film and TV composer so it is hardly surprising that his concert works are lighter rather than heavy. So much the better for those who enjoy contemporary tuneful sounds rather than unrelated and discordant squeaks, bangs and whistles. Albany has a reputation for championing the former so if you like atmospheric and serious, as well as light music, then this will suit you well. Picture a mixture of Britten and George Lloyd, then stir it up with Charles Williams’s film music and you will not be far off the mark. Peter Worsley

NORTHERN SAXOPHONE QUARTET The Cowles Collection Foxglove Audio FOX088. The invention of the compact disc has made it possible for many composers and performers to issue their own material which, for a variety of reasons, may not have attracted the attention of major record companies. Possibly this CD is a case in point, but that is not to infer any criticism of the music or the talented performers. Indeed the Northern Saxophone Quartet is highly respected, and their members perform the works of Colin Cowles with polish and enthusiasm. Formed in 1980, the quartet often plays overseas, and they are accompanied on harpsichord by Alan Cuckston, who is probably the leading exponent of the instrument. The English composer Colin Cowles (b. 1940) is recognised for his understanding of saxophones in the ‘straight’ style – perhaps not easy to put into words, because his music covers many moods and the CD booklet description ‘homogenous chamber medium’ might confuse some! The repertoire tends to be more ‘serious’ than ‘light’, but any readers who want to explore unfamiliar works for the saxophone could well be pleasantly surprised. David Ades This CD is available for £10.50 (UK postage included) from: Cottage Harmony, Keens Barn Cottage, Keens Lane, Othery, Somerset, TA7 0PU, England.

ALEX HASSAN ‘Taking a Chance on Love’ – the complete 1939-40 Popular Piano Solos of VERNON DUKE We’re Having a Baby, Autumn in New York, Jack and Jill, New York Nocturne, April in Paris, Midnight Lullaby, etc… Shellwood SWCD29. Readers will not need reminding that Shellwood specialise in piano recordings, and they continue to come up with fresh and appealing ideas. Once again it is the turn of Alex Hassan to take centre stage, with an intriguing collection of works by the great American composer Vernon Duke. Although published as piano solos over a two-year period, the songs actually date from 1929 onwards. Not every one will be familiar, but they are all enjoyable. David Ades

‘SECRET ELLINGTON’ previously unrecorded compositions by DUKE ELLINGTON You are beautiful, They say, This man, Only yesterday, I like singing, Full of shadows, New shoes, I am lonely, I get lonely for a plaything, You walk in my dreams, Big white mountain, My home lies quiet. True Life TLE 100002, 65:46 mins. Four different arrangers, twenty musicians but even with such an input you can understand why it never made Broadway! You will not end up humming the tunes and the lyrics are sometimes painfully inept (writer Herb Martin). A lot of hard work, money, talented players all mostly wasted! If Ellington had arranged his songs and used his Orchestra the result might have been different; we will never know. Herb Martin and playwright Henry Miller got together in the early 1990's to revamp the show to fit in with the Harlem of 1920; I hope they end up with a more likely hit! Where the instruments are let loose without the handicap of the words the music has its moments such as the fast tempo used on the first track and the gentle "Bossa" beat of "This man", elsewhere, not so hot! No wonder it has been secret for so long. Paul Clatworthy

KEEPING TRACK

Dateline September 2004

SIDNEY TORCH All Strings and Fancy Free Living Era CD AJA5540 74:50 mins. [full track listing in JIM 159 – page 30] Happy recollections of the heyday of ‘Friday Night Is Music Night’ and the first CD appearance of Sydney Norman’s Cornflakes make this a "must have" for your reviewer. I cannot help feeling that Sidney Torch has been overlooked somewhat in the current revival of our kind of music. He is even inexplicably missing from Peter Gammond’s otherwise excellent Oxford Companion to Popular Music. So it is only right that David Ades should have delved into his extensive collection and resurrected these particular original 78s. Nine of the 25 tracks are pieces penned by Torch, including the classic Shooting Star and the title track with its fine sounding pizzicato string sound. This is also evident to a lesser extent in Canadian In Mayfair by Angela Morley and High Heels which David reminds us, in his customary informative booklet notes, was Trevor Duncan’s first success as a composer. Another Torch arrangement is a cracking [if not quite in the Percy Faith league] six-minute, six tune Pan American Fantasy. Sharing the maestro’s love of music in the Latin idiom, I also enjoyed his own Fandango and Philippe Gerard’s Without My Lover. Other composers contributing include Coates, Ellis [an atmospheric Coronation Scot], Lecuona and Porter [arrangements by Morley], Richardson and Ross [a.k.a. Ray Martin]. The playing is robust in true Sidney Torch style and Alan Bunting’s audio restoration and remastering nothing short of wonderful. More of the same, please. Peter Burt

 

MANTOVANI American Scene My Old Kentucky Home, Camptown Races, I Dream Of Jeannie, The Old Folks At Home, Ring De Banjo, Beautiful Dreamer, Home On The Range, Grandfather’s Clock, Yellow Rose Of Texas, Just A-Wearyin’ For You, Turkey In The Straw, Goodnight Irene Concert Spectacular Stars And Stripes Forever, Estrellita, Theme from ‘A Summer Place’, Granada, Forgotten Dreams, Thunder And Lightning Polka, Zapateado, Londonderry Air, By The Sleepy Lagoon, A Trumpeter’s Lullaby, The Green Leaves Of Summer, The Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers. Vocalion CDLK 4157 [76.33 mins.] To my mind these two albums, now issued on CD in the UK for the first time, are musically and technically among the best Mantovani recorded. Originating from 1959 and 1960 respectively, there is that gorgeous string sound a-plenty but much more besides. The traditional American tunes, in arrangements by Cecil Milner and Monty himself, can only be described as delicious. Stephen Foster wrote the first six melodies – the massed tremolo strings in the opening number are stunning. Henry Clay Work’s Grandfather’s Clock, played on a musical box, is especially charming. The second album captures the excitement and variety of a Mantovani live performance. The well-contrasted items all have good tunes. The purple prose of the original sleeve notes conjures up "the thrilling grandeur of Thunder and Lightning Polka, the fragile, gentle beauty of Londonderry Air, and the jaunty fantasy of The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers". This last piece brings back childhood memories of Larry the Lamb, Ernest the Policeman, Mr Growser, et al. Long may Mr Dutton continue to pick the plums out of the Mantovani discography. I am hoping that ‘Folk Songs Around the World’ and ‘Songs to Remember’, two albums I missed on Lp, might be on his list. And also, of course, ‘Continental Encores’, ‘Gypsy’, ‘Songs of Praise’, ‘Old and New Fangled Tangos’ …… Peter Burt

 

FRANK CHACKSFIELD & HIS ORCHESTRA Beyond The Sea Ebb Tide, How Deep Is The Ocean?, Deep River, Stranger On The Shore, Moonlight On The Ganges, Sea Mist, Shenandoah, The Sea, Moon River, Sleepy Lagoon, Victory At Sea The Victors The Victors – My Special Dream, Cabinet Of Caligari – Sounds Of The Night, Divorce Italian Style – Theme, The VIPs – The Willow, Days Of Wine And Roses – Theme, 8½ – Theme, From Russia With Love – Theme, A New Kind Of Love – Theme, Mondo Cane – More, Toys In The Attic – Theme, David And Lisa – Love song, The Cardinal – Main Theme. Vocalion CDLK 4222 [68:59 mins.] Michael Dutton has brought us some excellent Chacksfield mono CDs; here he turns his attention to two from the stereo years. The first is a 1964 Decca Phase 4 production that begins with a twin-channelled take on what, originally released in 1953, became a second million seller for Chacksfield by 1961 [the first being the Limelight Theme in 1953] and the first-ever British non-vocal disc to reach No.1 in the U.S. charts. It ends with a dramatic 7-minute version of Richard Rodger’s Victory At Sea, complete with sound effects. Thankfully, only Sleepy Lagoon features an ethereal female voice. The maestro himself penned Sea Mist under his Roger Senicourt pseudonym. The second album is a Decca SKL also issued in the same year, with all the arrangements by Roland Shaw. It is nice to be reminded of some attractive themes from films of the 1960s that are, with a few notable exceptions, fairly forgotten. There is some fine trumpet on Nino Rota’s theme for Fellini’s 8½ [I remember a ‘Steptoe’ episode where Albert asks whether this is the director’s hat size] and, characteristically, the French horn [Neil Sanders?] stands out on several tracks, notably Cabinet of Caligari. But there is a lustre about earlier reissued Chacksfield recordings not always obvious here. He is definitely at his best, too, with music in the romantic/lyrical idiom and, although well recorded, quite entertaining and worth buying at the price, I would not put either of these 2-on-1 albums in my all-time Chacksfield top 10. Peter Burt

 

FERDE GROFE Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise, Painted Desert, On the Trail, Sunset, Cloudburst), Mississippi Suite (Father of Waters, Huckleberry Finn, Old Creole Days, Mardi Gras), Niagara Falls Suite (Thunder of the Waters, Devil’s Hole Massacre, Honeymooners, Power of Niagara). Naxos 6.110002 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by William T. Stromberg. This companion disc to the earlier set of Grofe suites is simply superb. Has there ever been a more atmospheric piece of light music than the Grand Canyon Suite? One can almost feel the shimmering heat at noon and the hailstones rattling down the gorge during the all-consuming thunderstorm. Grofe was a master of all kinds of music from popular songs, through light classical to expansive arrangements for Paul Whiteman’s original big band but this is perhaps his most memorable. If you like light music then you cannot afford to be without it. Edmund Whitehouse

 

BRITISH BY ARRANGEMENT 2 Three American Sketches (Peter Hope); Tango in D (Albeniz arr. Malcolm Arnold); Majorcan Fantasy (Peter Hope); Airs & Graces (Eric Wetherell); Mexican Hat Dance (Peter Hope); Fantasia & Fugue on the theme B-A-C-H (Liszt, arr. Christopher Phelps); The Lark in the Clear Air (Peter Hope); Fantasia on Auld Lang Syne (Ernest Tomlinson). Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Gavin Sutherland Sanctuary Group Whiteline CD WHL 2155. Yet another masterpiece from producer Philip Lane and conductor Gavin Sutherland with the promise of more to come. It’s all jolly good British stuff with an outstanding final extended offering by our very own Ernest Tomlinson, which includes all the instruments of the orchestra plus a few tinkling pots and pans thrown in for good measure. It is titled Auld Lang Syne but that is just an excuse to enjoy a real Lancashire hotpot of just about every famous classical tune one can think of. Great stuff! Peter Hope is represented with four excellent original pieces while Eric Wetherell, Christopher Phelps and Malcolm Arnold all chip in with handy arrangements. Whatever next? Peter Worsley

 

GUILD LIGHT MUSIC series - Vol. 4 Great British Light Orchestras; Vol. 5 Great American Light Orchestras. (For details and track listings please see JIM 159) When my review of the Guild Series appeared in JIM 159, it will have been apparent to readers that I had not yet had the opportunity to listen to volumes 4 and 5; this situation has now been remedied. I am delighted to report that the high standard of volumes 1-3 has certainly been maintained, perhaps even surpassed. The format remains the same, with a good mix of established favourites, together with some real gems which have "made it" onto CD for the first time. Once again, David Ades has expertly compiled and sequenced the programmes, whilst Alan Bunting’s digitally restored sound is quite outstanding. Also worthy of mention, and an object lesson to some other record companies, is the first-class graphic design and presentation of the entire series, this being the work of Paul Brooks. Amongst the items on the "English" CD are two pieces which will evoke memories of the early post-WWII "BBC Television Service" - as it was then known; Eric Coates’ "Television March", the service’s signature tune, and "Spring Morning", a George Melachrino composition for the EMI Mood Music Library, which was used from time to time behind the stories on "Television Newsreel". The "American" CD contains some particularly interesting material, including a little-known piece by Terrig Tucci (composer of "Edelma"), entitled "Holiday in Rio" – did he write anything else, I wonder? I understand that yet more CDs are soon to follow; I am sure these will be eagerly awaited by the growing band of Guild collectors. Tony Clayden

 

BRITISH LIGHT MUSIC DISCOVERIES 6 March Past of the RAF (Walford Davies); Legend of the Lake (Gareth Glyn); Londonderry Air (Hamilton Harty); Rondo in A (John Field); Overture 1912 (Iain Hamilton); Tarka the Otter; Serenata (David Fanshawe); Frank Lloyd Wright Suite (Christopher Slaski). Gavin Sutherland conducting the Royal Ballet Sinfonia ASV WHL 2149. John Field, Walford Davies and Hamilton Harty need no introduction and their splendid music survives them. Iain Hamilton’s Overture 1912 is dedicated to Dan Leno and the music hall genre in which he performed for so many years, while Gareth Glyn’s Legend of the Lake has much to do with mystic Anglesey where he lives. Tarka the Otter still remains popular today but Christopher Slaski is a young composer making a mark in the concert hall, his Frank Lloyd Wright Suite being an evocation of various buildings designed by the famous American architect. How much more British Light Music is out there left to be discovered? We can only surmise what producer Philip Lane and conductor Gavin Sutherland still have stashed up their sleeves. Edmund Whitehouse

 

PROMISES KEPT Steve Kuhn with strings Lullaby, Life's backward glance, Trance, Morning dew, Promises kept, Adagio, Celtic princess, Nostalgia, Oceans in the sky, Pastorale. Steve Kuhn piano, David Finck Bass, Orchestrated and conducted by Carlos Franzetti. ECM1815, timing 58:26 mins. ECM releases although beautifully recorded and packaged often come across as slightly sterile. There are exceptions and we certainly have one here! This CD is better described melodic, evocative and a treat for the senses. All are original compositions by Steve Kuhn, displaying seductive lushness in both writing and execution. This CD is a showcase for stellar and like minded musicians, completely outclassing similar set-ups. Paul Clatworthy

 

ELIZABETH JANE BALDRY, Harp Victorian Fairy Harp Music Ballade de la Fée, A Fairy Legend, Ondina, Recollections of the Enchantress, In Twilight Hour, In Fairyland, Conte de Fées, Le Révil des Elfes, Choeur de Nymphes, La Danza degli Spiriti Campion CAMEO 2025, 65:42 mins. The actual title of this charming collection is ‘Harp of wild and dreamlike Strain’, which gives a clue to the delights to be found on this little silver disc. Elizabeth Jane Baldry is fascinated with harp music from the Victorian era, and listening to this collection one can imagine an elegantly dressed young lady gently caressing a harp to the delight of the assembled company in the large lounge of a country house, illuminated by the flickering light of dozens of candles from several glass chandeliers. Such is the power of beautiful music to get one’s fertile imagination wandering! These are all premiere recordings of long-forgotten works (by composers such as Felix Godefroid, Charles Oberthür, Giorgio Lorenzi and John Balsir Chatterton) discovered by Elizabeth Jane in various nineteenth century archives. The recording was made in the ballroom of Buckland Manor in Devon, and the acoustic seems perfectly suited to the harp. If you need some soothing listening to transport you well away from the troubles of the day, you could hardly do better than select several tracks from this magical collection. Pure delight from start to finish! David Ades Campion CDs are available from the RFS Record Service, price £12 [US $24].

 

BEBEL GILBERTO Simplesmente, Aganju, All around, River song, Every day you've been away, Cada beijo, O Caminho, Baby, Ce'u distante, Winter, Jabuticaba, Next to you. Warner East West 5050467 3266 20, 47:56 mins. Don't be put off by the titles, the bulk of lyrics are in English and her voice is made in heaven. When you absorb the sound you will think you are listening to Astrud Gilberto all over again! Nine of the delectable songs are written by Bebel, sometimes collaborating, all twelve tracks imbibed with pure hands in the air pleasure. The accompaniment is sometimes sparse sometimes full bloodied but always gorgeous and aurally stunning. It should sell by the bucket load. Paul Clatworthy

 

CYRIL STAPLETON Come ‘N’ Get It 12 original compositions by Reg Owen Songs You Won’t Easily Forget Stranger on the Shore, English Country Garden, Catch a Falling Star, Romantica, Sway, Moon River, I Can’t Stop Loving You, etc..Vocalion CDLK4232, 70:44 mins. If anyone needs an example of the great versatility of the Cyril Stapleton Orchestra, it can certainly be found on this CD. The first LP features 12 Reg Owen big band numbers that will have found favour at the time, because thousands of British young men were still being conscripted into National Service when the LP first came out in 1959. The second LP (from 1962) contains some lovely light orchestral arrangements by Len Stevens, that fine composer of so many works for the mood music libraries. David Ades

 

THE MANY MOODS OF ANN RICHARDS By myself, Be easy, be tender, Where do you go, I'm gonna laugh, I gotta have you, Lazy afternoon, Something's coming, Every time, When the sun comes out, Poor little extra girl, Seasons Reasons, I'm late. Arrangements by Ralph Carmichael, Bill Holman and Tak Shindo. TOO MUCH! accompanied by Stan Kenton's Orchestra. It's a wonderful world, The morning after, I was the last to know, My kinda love, I got rhythm, No moon at all, Don't be that way, Suddenly I'm sad, Nobody like my baby, All or nothing at all. Arrangements by Gene Roland, Johnny Richards, Bill Holman, Stan Kenton and Wayne Dunstan, Capitol 7243 5 97055 2, 2-CD, 78:33 mins. I've always treasured Ann's album made with Brian Farnon, I was not in to vocals so much then, the Farnon name was the draw! There are plenty of songs on the first album that unfathomably got lost along the way. Nice strings on "I'm gonna laugh" and the writing on "Something's coming" is the best I have heard since Frank Comstock's version for The Hi Lo's. The second half gets off to a bad start with a scat reading of "It's' a wonderful world" which sounds more like Ann forgot the lyrics! Give me Peggy Lee any day! Kenton's score featuring trombones on "I was the last one to know" provides one of the highlights of the CD. Bill Holman's slow inventive start of "I got rhythm" rings the changes more than a little, Ann goes over the top at the close spoiling it! Despite my few gripes a good package. Paul Clatworthy

 

WERNER MULLER Wild Strings The Breeze and I, Dance Ballerina Dance, Hora Staccato, Moonglow, Ritual Fire Dance, El Rancho Grande, TD’s boogie woogie, Granada, Vilia, How Hight the Moon, Lady of Spain, The World is Waiting for the Sunrise Percussion in the Sky You Are my Lucky Star, The High and Mighty, Don’t Let the Stars Get in your Eyes, I Got the Sun in the Morning, Blue Moon, Look for a Star, Moonlight Becomes You, Over the Rainbow, I’m Sitting on top of the World, The Moon Was Yellow, Stairway to the Stars, When You Wish Upon a Star Vocalion CDLK4235, 64:22. In my early teens I became aware of the exciting sound of the Werner Müller Orchestra, and it used to be a cause of great frustration at the time to discover that his Polydor LPs were only available in Germany, and currency restrictions made it virtually impossible to import them into Britain. Eventually things changed for the better, and "Wild Strings" was eagerly snapped up as soon as it appeared on Decca’s ‘new release’ lists in 1963 (not 1969 as the CD states). "Percussion in the Sky" is perhaps a bit over the top with its stereo gimmicks, but both albums were fine examples of their kind. I’m glad to have them available again on CD. David Ades

 

BOUND FOR GLORY Songs and Piano Pieces on a Railway Theme From a Railway Carriage (Francis Jackson, Alec Rowley, Henry Ley, Carol Barratt); Adlestrop (Gordon Jacob, Ivor Gurney, Peter Duffy, John Mc Lain); Traveller’s Song (Glinka); Ambulance Train (John Jeffreys); Midnight on the Great Western, Calypso (Britten); Coronation Scott (Vivian Ellis); The Railroad (Geoffrey Kimpton); Metropolitan Railway (Leslie East); Diss (Geoffrey Wright), Skimbleshanks (Cats) (A.L. Webber); The Old Railway Line, I Came To Oxford, The Demise of Harpenden Junction Box (John Mc Lain); Railroad Rhythm (Billy Mayerl); Slow Train (Flanders/Swan); British Rail (Mervyn Horder); Canon Gloy (Hely-Hutchinson), This Train (Maw) Gordon Pullin (tenor), John Gough (piano) SOSSCD 369, can be obtained from Gordon Pullen at Treakles, Kettlebaston, Suffolk, 1P7 7QA, £10 inc. p&p 70:03 mins. Railways have inspired much music; most of it lightish, and this nicely recorded disc largely exemplifies that. Some items, like the Britten Midnight on the Great Western, Jeffry’s Ambulance Train and possibly the four settings of that charming poem Adlestrop, are relatively serious, but most of the others, including the two Betjeman ones (Metropolitan Railway and Diss), Skimbleshanks, Calypso and British Rail, even Slow Train, despite its underlying sadness, are light-hearted. Mr. Pullin’s light tenor, with outstandingly good diction, makes the most of them. Four songs are by RFS member John Mc Lain: rounded, lyrical and grateful to the voice, they are in the ballad tradition. This Train is a Negro spiritual, brilliantly set by Nicholas Maw. John Gough’s lively accompaniments contribute much; of his two solos, Railroad Rhythm is admirably done and, although it obviously lacks the colour of the familiar orchestral version, it is interesting to hear Coronation Scot’s piano version. Philip L. Scowcroft

 

JANE FROMAN The Memorable Radio Years. At The Candlelight Cafe, Stormy Weather, Lover, Just For Now, You Walk By, Rhode Island Is Famous For You, My Darling My Darling, Where Or When, I Get A Kick Out Of You, Again, But Where Are You, Buttons And Bows, Coffee In The Morning, Speak Your Heart, When I See An Elephant Fly, April In Paris, Speak Low, Orchids In The Moonlight, What’s The Use of Wonderin’, Papa Won’t You Dance With Me, They Can’t Take That Away From Me. Frank Bristow FBCDll3, 77:30 mins. Miss Froman will be best remembered for the 1952 film of her life, With A Song In My Heart starring Susan Hayward in the role of Froman, who sound tracked all her own songs with Hayward doing a marvellous job of lip-synching. This CD doesn’t include those songs, covering earlier radio years (1934-1949), and it is obvious that at the age of 27 the soprano wasn’t yet into popular music. This is more apparent in her duet with her then husband Don Ross (played by David Wayne in the movie), with whom Jane Froman had appeared in Ziegfeld Follies Of l934, on Coffee In The Morning (And Kisses In The Night). But her voice and style developed over the years, and by the time she did a duet with James Melton on Speak Low ten years later Jane Froman was in every way an ideal popular singer. What gives this collection a possible appeal to RFS readers is, firstly, the presence of Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra on What’s The Use Of Wonderin’ and, secondly, the fact that the first half of the CD is from a. 1948 radio series with Percy Faith and his Orchestra. It’s all good standard material with vocal and instrumental performances of equal quality, my only possible complaint being the incessant announcements and long-winded introduction that American comperes seem to delight in. Arthur Jackson

Frank Bristow’s CDs are only available direct from him in Australia: Frank Bristow, 2 Cross Street, Brighton, Victoria, 3186, AUSTRALIA – e-mail franbris@ozemail.com.au

 

RONNIE ALDRICH and his two pianos Liebestraum, The Story of a Starry Night, Till the End of Time, Story of Three Loves, etc.. Melodies from the Classics Pavane, Rondo alla Turca, Cavatina, Moment Musical 3, Gymnopedie 1, Badinerie, etc.Vocalion CDLK4230, 75:41 mins. Vocalion is doing Ronnie Aldrich fans proud, with a continuing flow of new reissues of his Decca albums. These two concentrate on light classics, and they fit nicely together on one CD. Aldrich fans (and there are many of them around the world) will eagerly snap this one up. David Ades

 

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Violin Concerto in G minor Op 80; Antonin Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A minor Op 53 Phillipe Graffin, violin. Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Michael Hankinson AVID AV0044 (obtainable through record dealers in the UK). Although Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (b. London 1875) is generally regarded as a quintessential Light Music composer, he belongs to a select group which includes Edward German, Haydn Wood and – as discussed in JIM 159 – Montague Phillips, all of whom embraced both ‘light’ and ‘serious’ works. A student of the RCM, where he was highly regarded by his composition teacher Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, and encouraged in his early career by Sir Edward Elgar – no less, he wrote a symphony, a good deal of chamber music and several cantatas. Amongst the latter, "Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast", first performed in 1898 under Stanford’s direction, enjoyed enormous popularity in its day, on a par with Handel’s "Messiah". The Violin Concerto dates from the last year of his tragically foreshortened life. It was written for the American violinist Maud Powell, who gave its first performance in June 1912; however, that event was very nearly scuppered when the orchestral parts were lost on the Titanic. Happily, Coleridge-Taylor managed to produce another set at the last minute, but failing health prevented him from journeying to the US for the premiere; he died from pneumonia brought on by overwork, having just achieved his 38th birthday in September 1912. The Concerto was subsequently given in London in the same year at the Queen’s Hall under Sir Henry Wood, but has only received a few performances since, and is here making its recording debut. Musically, it recalls the composer’s great hero, Antonin Dvorak; also at times Edvard Grieg, and in the rich use of the brass section, Coleridge-Taylor’s erstwhile mentor, Elgar. Those familiar with any of C-T’s compositions will immediately recognise the composer’s own distinctive ‘fingerprints’. It is our good fortune that more and more works of this kind are being rediscovered and recorded, and congratulations are due to the South African production team for making such an attractive piece available with this new release. Very appropriately, its coupling is the Dvorak Concerto, which was also given its first performance in the States by Maud Powell. Undoubtedly it never became as popular as some other contemporary violin concertos, eg those of Johannes Brahms or Max Bruch; perforce it has always had to play ‘second fiddle’ to its famous sibling – the Cello Concerto. A thoroughly enjoyable CD, warmly recommended. Tony Clayden

 

INTERMISSION IMPOSSIBLE 31 tracks featuring "Two-Way Stretch", "Cheyne Walk", "Let’s Skip", "See You Soon", "Traveller’s Joy", "Waltz In Jazztime", "These Foolish Things" amongst others (for full tracklisting please see the advertisement on page 23 of this issue). Here’s another CD living up to the excellence in sound quality we now come to expect from the compilations of Steven Wills, remastered by Lucy Reeve. This 31-track compilation from the Cavendish Library features the Big Band Sound of Ray Davies of "Button Down Brass" fame. Your mission is to play this CD and experience a variety of different tempos and styles covering Latin, Mexican, Dance Band, Big Band and Jazz. Each track has been carefully chosen to give a taste of this library which sounds as fresh today as it did way back in the late 1960’s. These tunes would fit into any of the daytime output of the late BBC Light Programme or the early BBC Radio 2 fayre of the 1970’s.  Remember Track 8? This was used as one of the themes from BBC Radio 2’s popular music quiz "Beat The Record" with Don Davis and Track 22 is a most endearing version of Jack Strachey’s "These Foolish Things" you ever did hear. If your mission is to listen to a quality big band CD, then this intermission is definitely not impossible! Malcolm Batchelor

 

FRANK D’RONE: Dear Frank – The Song Is You. I’ve Got The World on a String, The Song Is You, You Go To My Head, You Make Me Feel So Young, They Say It’s Wonderful, It Might As Well Be Spring, Moonlight Becomes You, I Only Have Eyes For You, It Happened In Monterey, I Concentrate On You, Lonesome Road, What’s New, The Girl Next Door, In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning (see below re availability). Frank Sinatra was godfather to Frank D’Rone’s son, but it was only recently that this tribute album was recorded, and what joy to find that not only has the singer’s voice lost none of its richness and accuracy of pitch, but that he still swings like the complete musician he is. Frank D’Rone came along just as the world of singers was giving way to the world of rock, and perhaps missed the big hits he deserved. However, those who, like me, remember and cherish his great recordings of the sixties and seventies, will be more than happy with this untypical collection of songs which Sinatra recorded – so untypical, in fact, that the list of titles alone doesn’t automatically make one think of him. D’Rone’s distinctive and impeccable phrasing brings something new to each track, yet, as in I Concentrate On You, in a way that I’m sure even Cole Porter would have approved, while arranger/ trumpeter/ fluegelhorn player Bob Perna’s driving group provides a backing that’s a constant treat to the ear. And those who remember Frank’s exceptional guitar skills will get a special kick from hearing him accompany himself on Wee Small Hours. Those who take the trouble to get a copy of this gem will not be disappointed. (This CD is available from Frank D’Rone at darone32@msn.com, or by mail to 1002 Briarcliffe Boulevard, Wheaton, Illinois, 60187, USA., for $15 plus postage). Pip Wedge

 

KEEPING TRACK

Dateline June 2004

HERE COME THE CLASSICS VOL. 8 – LIGHT MUSIC LEGENDS. MALCOLM ARNOLD English Dances : Set 2 Op. 33, No.1); ERIC COATES By the Sleepy Lagoon, Calling all Workers, Dambusters March; ARTHUR WOOD Barwick Green; VIVIAN ELLIS Coronation Scot; HAYDN WOOD The Bandstand, Hyde Park (Frescoes Suite); HUBERT BATH Cornish Rhapsody; ROBERT FARNON Westminster Waltz, Portrait of a Flirt; TREVOR DUNCAN March (Little Suite); CHARLES WILLIAMS Rhythm on Rails, Devils Galop, Heart o’ London; ARTHUR BENJAMIN Jamaican Rumba , EDWARD WHITE Puffin’ Billy; ANTHONY COLLINS Vanity Fair; EDWARD ELGAR Chanson de Nuit. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Barry Wordsworth with Roderick Elms (piano). RPO 008CD, total timing 59:28 mins. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are in the midst of producing ‘in house’ a series of CD’s under the generic title of ‘Here comes the Classics’ and Volume eight which has just appeared focuses on ‘Light Music Legends’. Many of the pieces included here will be perhaps overly familiar to the seasoned collector who will almost certainly have already various other alternative modern recordings in his collection, but the present disc is nonetheless worth considering on several counts. The novelty here is Charles Williams’ Heart o’ London consisting of a medley of popular tunes ranging from Cherry Ripe to Noel Coward’s London Pride. Also included here and having a comparatively rare outing is Haydn Wood’s ‘The Bandstand, Hyde Park’ from ‘Frescoes’ – a splendid piece and played here with a marvellous sense of style and panache. This disc has the added advantage of featuring one of London’s premier symphony orchestras, a conductor with an innate sense of how this music should be played and an excellent recording made in the Henry Wood Hall, London. So no matter how many versions of The Dambusters March you have already lurking on your shelves, this CD is more than worth seeking out! Available from : Recordings Dept. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, 16 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1 0GT. Phone ; 020 7608 8800 www.rpo.co.uk Roger Hyslop

GUILD LIGHT MUSIC The Golden Age of Light Music A new series of CDs compiled by David Ades, with digital sound restoration by Alan Bunting. The first three CDs were released in April, with two more at the end of May. For full tracklistings please refer to pages 20, 21 & 22 of JIM 158 [March 2004] and pages 26 & 27 in this issue.

GLCD5101 An Introduction

GLCD5102 The 1940s

GLCD5103 The 1950s

GLCD5104 Great British Light Orchestras

GLCD5105 Great American Light Orchestras

A comprehensive description of this important new series, plus full tracklistings, appeared in JIM 158, to which readers are referred. This has obviously been a major undertaking, and it is evident that a great deal of care has been taken, both in the choice of programmes, and the quality of the sound restoration. Inevitably there are a fair number of tracks which have already appeared on other recent CD reissue compilations, but these are balanced by the inclusion of either [a] different versions of familiar pieces, or [b] compositions which have made it on to CD for the first time. There is a good mix of commercial and publishers’ recordings, and the great attraction lies in the actual sequencing of the items; play any of these CDs and you will immediately be transported back to the ‘good old days’ of the BBC Light Programme. Whilst writing this I am listening to Volume 2 (being reproduced through a superb 1950s restored Grundig table radio) and it is difficult to believe that it is really 2004 – it is as if David Ades and Alan Bunting have indeed created the proverbial time machine! We are promised more to come, but in the meantime these three new CDs cannot be too highly recommended. Tony Clayden Guild Light Music CDs can be purchased from the RFS Record Service for £7 each [US $14]; the first three are offered at a special price of £18 [$36] for all three (plus postage and packing), if ordered before 30 June 2004.

PERCY FAITH AND HIS ORCHESTRA ‘Delicado’ 2-CD collection of early recordings for full tracklisting please refer to page 11 of JIM 158 [March 2004]. Sanctuary Group Living Era CD AJS 278. A word of warning to the reader: this is a biased review.  Percy Faith is my favourite composer/ arranger/ conductor, and Alan Bunting is a personal friend, so any time Alan turns his attention to Faith the results are likely to be pleasing.  In the present instance, they are spectacular. Alan has filled a great void by collecting the scattered early commercial recordings of Percy Faith, from roughly 1944 to the early 1950s, from four different record companies, and most are appearing on CD for the first time -- an event that ten years ago would have seemed impossible. If you are a dedicated fan, you have possibly managed to round up many of these selections on ancient, hissy vinyl (or perhaps even 78) but you have never heard them like this. With the touch of the magic Bunting wand, these 60 year old recordings glow with a warmth and detail never before heard. Faith did not make concessions to the limitations of the recording technology of the period, and frankly in the past I have never been able to even hear much of what was really going on in these arrangements.  It is a revelation to hear the 1944 Decca recordings in particular. A fan of Faith's Latin American arrangements has to love these; although a couple (Bim, Bam, Boom! and Tico-Tico) were later heard on stereo albums, most are unique. (Negra Consentida remains one of my favourite arrangements.)  The cello solo in If There Is Someone Lovlier Than You is by itself worth the price of the entire set. In some respects, the older versions seem superior to the later stereo recordings; for all the technical limitations, I think I prefer the 1940s version of Tia Juana to the 1960s recording. But this is far from a collection which would be of interest only to hardcore fans; it also contains some gems that were only out as singles at the time, and have been neglected because they are out of the mainstream. Most notably, there are two selections with then-famous cabaret singer Hildegarde (no surname needed, evidently). Not only does Hildegarde have one of those "warm, down-around-the-ankles" voices (in Raymond Chandler's phrase) – it’s easy to see why she was so popular -  the arrangements are a complete delight, as Faith sends the orchestra nipping and tucking at her heels like a kitten playing with a ball of yarn. Another surprise is a vocal version of the Alec Wilder melody Goodbye, John, which Faith memorably recorded with Mitch Miller on the oboe; undoubtedly the right choice, since the lyrics are pedestrian, but who knew there were any?  The second CD ends with a rather playful trick. Faith recorded an extended instrumental variant of the Song From 'Moulin Rouge' for the album "Music From Hollywood", and Alan has combined this with the familiar, frequently-anthologized Felicia Sanders vocal version which will no doubt become the standard we all will listen to from now on! The only negative thing you should know is this: if you buy this collection, you may have a hard time getting it out of your CD player. It's that good.  If only there could be more... but we're lucky to have what we do.  Congratulations to all of the people involved in making it possible. John Cutcher

Complementary to the five new Collectables issues is ‘Delicado’, Percy Faith’s double album on the Living Era label [CD AJS 278]. Here we have all of his earliest commercial recordings, made for the Majestic, Decca and RCA Victor labels, plus a selection of those he made after joining Columbia – a total of 50 original mono recordings spanning the years 1944 to 1953. Alan Bunting has done all the compilation, transfers, audio restoration and re-mastering, and the booklet notes, and it was obviously a labour of love. This is my kind of Percy Faith and these 2 CDs have given me more pleasure than many of the other re-issued examples of his work from the later years of his wonderful career. Peter Burt

This 2-CD set is available from the RFS Record Service for £11 [US $22] plus postage and packing.

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA : MUSIC FOR WIND BAND – Vol. 4 Marches: Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Sesqui-Centennial Exposition, Riders for the Flag, Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co., Pathfinder of Panama, The Glory of the Yankee Navy, The Aviators, The Stars and Stripes Forever, Selection Bride Elect, Suite: Tales of a Traveller, Waltz: Co-eds of Michigan. Band of the Royal Artillery conducted by Keith Brion. Naxos 8.559093 59mins. Volume 4 in the Naxos American Classics series of the complete Wind Band music of John Philip Sousa which incidentally includes a staggering 136 marches (!) fully upholds the superb production values of this series with regard to both performance and recording, aided no doubt by the splendidly spacious acoustic of Woolwich Town Hall. Indeed under the experienced and highly skilled tutelage of Mike Parton of the Specialist Recording Company, this disc is a model of how good a military band recording should sound – the results are deeply impressive. Much of the contents of this latest instalment consists mainly of notable rarities although decidedly not of course ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever’ – probably the most famous military march ever written, which here receives a suitably resplendent performance to bring this CD to an excellent conclusion. One of the joys of Sousa marches is their sometimes gloriously over the top titles and included here we have ‘Nobles of the Mystic Shrine’ and ‘‘The Glory of the Yankee Navy’- it’s difficult not to raise a wry smile at such appellations! The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. of Boston is apparently the oldest military organisation in the USA and the resultant march composed at their request includes their marching song ‘Auld Lange Syne’. ‘The Aviators’ a late piece composed a year before Sousa’s death in 1931 is dedicated to William J. Moffett who Keith Brion tells us in his informative notes is considered to be the father of the aircraft carrier. During the performance of this piece, you are well advised to duck down since it comes complete with low flying aircraft. The most substantial work in this collection is the 1911 Suite, ‘Tales of a Traveller’ which will certainly be of some interest to those of us on this side of the pond, since the final movement is an imposing and fairly lengthy coronation march apparently intended to be used at the coronation