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KEEPING TRACK
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KEEPING TRACK
Dateline December 2005
BRITISH LIGHT CLASSICS The Merrymakers,
Knightsbridge, By the Sleepy Lagoon, Calling All Workers,
Oxford Street (Coates); Elizabethan Serenade, The Watermill
(Binge);In a Persian Market, In a Monastery Garden (Ketèlbey);
Country Gardens, Irish Tune from County Derry, Mock Morris,
Shepherd’s Hey (Grainger); Dusk (Armstrong Gibbs);
Devil’s Galop (Williams); Barwick Green (Arthur Wood);
Marching Strings (Ray Martin); Sailing By (Binge); Portrait
of a Flirt (Farnon). HMV 5 867952. The last five tracks
are labelled ‘bonus tracks’, since they are taken
from famous singles. The other works all first appeared
on various EMI LPs from the 1950s onwards, and it has to
be said that all self-respecting light music collectors
will have them already – in some cases, probably more
than once! But if you missed out before, or you are searching
for the perfect Christmas present, then this could be just
for you. The quality of the music – and the performances
– is of the highest order.
David Ades This CD is available
from HMV Shops and from the HMV website on the internet.
FRANCK POURCEL 4-CD box set – Golds
of the 20th century Angie, My Way (Comme d'habitude),
Imagine, Lay all your love on me, Aranjuez mon amour, I've
Got You Under My Skin, Love Me Tender, Chariot (I will follow
him), Yesterday, Les Feuilles mortes, Cielito, lindo, Concorde,
Le Premier Pas, Yesterday Once more, Bahia, Let it be, Georgia,
Hymne D'amour, Saint-Nicolas, Without You, Isn't she lovely,
Misty, Blue tango, Song for guy. De Cannes Hollywood
Star Wars, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Moon River),
Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (Raindrops keep fallin'
on my head), Born Free, La Dolce Vita, Live and let die,
The Godfather 1 (Speak softly love), Dr Zhivago, Love Story
(Une histoire d'amour), Orfeu Negro (Manha de carnival),
The Third Man, Midnight Cowboy, Mona Lisa, Les Parapluies
De Cherbourg, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, (La colline
de l'adieu), All That Jazz (On Broadway), Un Homme Et Une
Femme, The Graduate (Mrs Robinson), Porgy and Bess (Summertime),
The Sandpiper(The Shadow Of Your Smile), West Side Story
(Somewhere), Hello Dolly, The Bridge on the River Kwai,
Marty (Hey Marty). French Fiddlers / Super Lounge
Only You, Graves, Image, Casino blues, Cry Me A River,
Anjou, When I fall in Love, Ilona, Ebb Tide, Too beautiful
to last, My prayer, If, Les hanches, Laura, Les levres,
Promises, In a nostalgia mood, Night and Day, Parchemin,
My Special Angel, Anytime, I'm getting sentimental over
you, A Top the Sacre Coeur, Stormy Weather, So many
violins. Classics forever Danse hongroise
#5, Le Lac De Come, Carmen: Chanson Boheme, Jesus Que Ma
Joie Demeure, Nabucco:Va pensiero - Choeur Des Esclaves,
Czardas, Tosca: Vissi d'arte, Acceleration, Allegro en re
Mineur, La Danza, La Traviata: Sempre libera, Aida:Marche
Triomphale des Trompettes, Les Mille et une nuits, Mouvement
Perpetuel, Turandot: Nessum Dorma, Grande Valse "Les Patineurs",
Golliwog's Cake-Walk, Plaisir d'amour, Valse de la Belle
au Bois dormant, La Moldau. EMI W3362462. There are
very few Pourcel CDs released these days, and here are a
number of rare tracks appearing on CD for the first time.
Pourcel's daughter Francoise has been instrumental in getting
EMI France to release this special collectors' edition 4-CD
boxset. The CD booklet includes a biography in French and
English, and this set has already been called the best Pourcel
collection ever released!
Chris Landor
JOHNNY DOUGLAS "The Railway Children"
Dulcima DLCD 120 [2 CDs]. Johnny Douglas was truly inspired
when he composed the music for this magical film in 1970.
Everything about the movie was just right – the cast,
the scenery and, of course, the music. This new release
offers again two LPs: firstly the Johnny Douglas Orchestra
playing his themes from the film (on EMI’s Columbia
label), and secondly Lionel Jeffries introducing soundtrack
excerpts (originally on Music for Pleasure). Johnny’s
memorable main theme will be familiar to many, but this
CD reveals that this was only one of several pleasing melodies
created for the various characters. As a bonus the final
track on CD1 is the vocal version of the main theme, retitled
More Than Ever Now and sung by Vince Hill. Hugely
enjoyable! David Ades This 2-CD set is
available from good record shops; it can also be ordered
direct from Dulcima Records, 39 Tadorne Road, Tadworth,
Surrey, KT20 5TF, England – price £13.00 plus £2 p&p.
STEFANIE POWERS – On The
Same Page They All Laughed, Where Are You?, Last
Night When We Were Young, Autumn In New York plus 8
other songs (37:00) Jambo Music JM-100. With a growing volume
of CDs recorded by people outside of the orbit of the classic
American songbook, this one by actress Stefanie Powers is
simply the best. Ably accompanied by veteran pianist and
singer Page Cavanaugh and his quartet, Powers proves to
be a surprisingly accomplished vocalist. All of her performances
on this CD are full of the charm she always exhibited in
her television, stage and screen appearances to millions
around the world. Where Are You? is very poignant,
as is her rendition of Autumn In New York. I’ve
Got A Feelin’ You’re Foolin’ is a really
funny, mischievous duet with pianist Page Cavanaugh. This
is a winning album by a well-loved personality, bringing
to we lucky listeners another wonderful facet of Stefanie
Powers’ artistry. Richard Jessen
MANNY ALBAM, BILL RUSSO, TEO MACERO,
TEDDY CHARLES – Something New, Something Blue (30:40)
Freshsound Records FSR-CD381. Short on playing-time made
worse by the fact that the two tracks by Manny Albam (Night
Crawlers and Tin Roof blues are on Manny's own
album (see Big Band roundup). Teo arranges Blues for
Amy and St Louis blues, Bill Russo East Hampton
blues and Davenport blues, Teddy Charles Swinging
Goatsherd blues and Blues in the night. Each
contributor was given the brief: arrange one standard and
write one original. The two that grasp this task to my liking
are Teo having fun with some tempo changes on St Louis
blues where pianist Bill Evans excels and Bill Russo
on East Hampton blues; a mournful start but soon
chugging along at a nice pace. As a blues album this one
really hits the spot.
Paul Clatworthy
THE TEND’REST BREAST: Settings
of Women’s Poetry Songs by Frank Bridge, Ivor Gurney,
Lennox Berkeley, John Ireland, Alistair King, Roger Quilter,
Madeleine Dring and Montague Phillips. Georgina Colwell
(soprano) and Nigel Foster (piano). Durelm Records
DRD 0237 from Dunelow, 2 Park Close, Glossop, SK13 9RQ (email:
info@dunelm-records.co.uk, website www.dunelm-records.co.uk
at £10.95 incl. P&P) This CD, devoted to settings of
poems by women (though one exception, all the composers
are, or were, male) ranges over 20th Century
English song including iconic figures like Gurney, Ireland
and Frank Bridge, but does include several we may classify
as ballads: Quitter’s Tune and Wild Cherry,
Bridge’s Love Went a Riding and three songs
by Montague Phillips. It has been said that Phillips’s
songs, of which, like Coates and Haydn Wood, he composed
many (he was married to a professional singer) that they
were too good as ballads, not good enough as art songs.
However that may be, it would be a stony heart which was
not roused by the fiercely exultant Sing Joyous Bird.
And Madeleine Dring contributes one of her cabaret songs
(with words by herself) which has some delicious doubles-entendres.
Performances from both artistes are affectionate and skilful;
the insert prints all the words, though Miss Colwell’s
crystal clear diction hardly needs them. Philip L
Scowcroft
HELEN O’CONNELL – The
Sweetest Sounds Taking A Chance On Love, Fly Me To
The Moon, Tangerine plus 12 other great songs (35:05)
Hindsight HCD-251. Sweet sounds, indeed, emanate from this
charming collection of songs performed by vocalist Helen
O’Connell for the United States Marines in 1953 and
The Navy Swings shows from 1961 and 1963. O’Connell
here shows her innate jazzy side, especially on the opening
Sweetest Sounds and Fly Me To The Moon where
she shows total enjoyment of singing. Although the songs
are, unfortunately, brief to accommodate the time restrictions
of 15 minute shows, there are some startlingly long versions
such as achingly beautiful renditions of A Beautiful
Friendship and Embraceable You. The groups are
all small with multi-instrumentalist Murray McEachern playing
trombone and saxes with his septet in 1963. A surprisingly
great but unknown group adds to the tasty backgrounds: the
Red Blount Quartet of 1961 plus the familiar settings by
Page Cavanaugh in 1953. The booklet notes by Eliot Tiegel
cover every aspect of Helen O’Connell’s career
accompanied by two photos supplied by Frank DeVol. Although
a brief CD, it more than qualifies as another fine example
of the artistry of the fondly remembered personality of
Helen O’Connell, the sweetest sound we have ever heard.
Richard Jessen
Modern sounds from California Freshsound
Records FSR2202. Two and a half hours of West Coast jazz
at its finest, recorded 1954 to 1957, with so many tracks
I for one have never seen elsewhere! Freshsound deserve
plaudits for this release which gathers together compositions
by almost everyone of note on the West Coast: Shorty Rogers,
Jimmy Giuffre, John Grass, Marty Paich, Jack Montrose, Al
Cohn, Pete Rugolo, Leonard Feather, Howard Lucraft and one
from Dave Brubeck – Shorty and Marty getting the lion’s
share! Almost all the soloists active at the time are on
board making this set a must-buy!
Paul Clatworthy
BMG Zomba Production Music
– Italian Life BPM 3019 , Horror &
Sci-Fi BPM 3020 , Jazz & Big Band BPM
3021, Historical BPM 3022 , Tension
& Suspense BPM 3023, Holiday Travels BPM
3024, Big Screen BPM 3025 , Classical Heritage
BPM 3026 , Tango & Ballroom BPM 3027 .
Composers include Ennio Morricone, Stelvio Cipriani,
Gian Piero Reverberi. Gian Franco Reverberi, Armando Trovaioli,
Angelo Francesco Lavagnino, Manuel De Sica, Pino Donaggio,
Luis Bacalov, Carlo Rustichelli, Piero Piccioni, Alessandro
Alessandroni etc... These CDs are available from the
RFS Record Service, price £9 [US $18] each, plus p+p.
Atmosphere (part of BMG Zomba Production Music) have
released a further nine CDs in their BMG Score Music series.
This music is taken from RCA Italy's famous film music archives,
most appearing on CD for the first time. There is approximately
an hour of music on each CD and the sound quality is superb.
I should mention that although generally the music on these
CDs is melodic, there is some that may be described as harsh
or atonal, mainly on the Horror & Sc-Fi CD. This series
will appeal to anyone who enjoyed the previous CDs in this
series and anyone who enjoys film music (especially Italian
film music). It features some wonderful original compositions;
in my opinion the BMG Score Music series has to be one of
the most exciting ranges of discs currently released by
any production music company. I have already heard some
of the music being used by both BBC and ITV. There are now
27 CDs in this series and I am sure more will follow.
Chris Landor These CDs are only
available through the RFS Record Service, price £9 each
(plus postage and packing)
DORIS DAY sings – 22
original recordings (1952-53) I Can’t Give You Anything
But Love, Sentimental Journey, Just You Just Me, I’m
In The Mood For Love plus 18 other great songs (48:47)
Hindsight HCD-411. Not much need be said about Doris Day
except that she is one of those vocalists whose records
never fail to amaze one in their superb choice of songs.
This CD release emphasises the years 1952-3 in small jazz
group settings by Page Cavanaugh and octet, and also as
big orchestral recordings arranged by the ever reliable
Van Alexander. The perkiness of the Page Cavanaugh group
inspires Day to her best efforts, particularly in Just
You, Just Me, Singin’ In The Rain and Light
Your Lamp. The booklet notes by David Dexter Jr. include
interviews with Doris Day and Van Alexander. The sound of
these recordings is as beautiful as the inner booklet photo
of Doris Day with one of her adorable four legged friends.
A wonderful souvenir of a great singer. Richard Jessen
JUNE CHRISTY – Something
Cool (1955 and 1962 versions). It Could Happen To
You, Lonely House, This Time The Dream’s On Me plus
18 other great songs (68:39). June Christy was always a
musician’s singer. Her phrasing and shading resembled
the way a horn player would phrase and bend a note. This
particular issue proves that Christy became a much greater
artist after the seven intervening years. The arrangements
are virtually the same with nearly the same players. Arrangements
are by Pete Rugolo who first worked with June when both
were employed by Stan Kenton. Something Cool was
Christy’s signature tune, becoming a necessary inclusion
in all her solo concerts. The 1955 version is startlingly
good but the 1962 version measures up well with much added
expressiveness and depth in Christy’s reading. The
melancholy mood established at the beginning pervades both
the mono and stereo versions although there are up tempo
songs to vary the mood such as I Should Care and
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise which is swung more
like an Artie Shaw chart. The remastering is a dream; the
mono has not been reprocessed into fake stereo and the succeeding
stereo version has absolute quiet surfaces. This is a highly
recommended introduction for those who have never heard
June Christy. Paul Clatworthy
STANDBY FOR SWING – The Oscar Brandenburg
Orchestra, The Gentle Giants Like Cute, Moonglow,
Charmaine, Hometown, Organ Grinders Swing, Leagueliner,
Wot Cher, Stay With It, Colonel Bogey, I Dream Of You, Black
Satin Ribbons, 9.20 Special, Blue Lou, Puppet On A String,
My Prayer, I’ll Be Around, These Foolish Things, High
Flyer, A Handful Of Songs, Fools Rush In, Tuxedo Junction,
Lady Of Spain, Bedtime For Drums, Delicado, Big Noise From
Winnetka, Harbour Lights, Come Swing With Me. Codename
Music (Winchester Hospital Radio Label) WHRCD 502. This
album is colourful. It combines the talents of Ray Davies,
Neil Richardson, Alan Moorhouse and others in a mix of popular
standards played in big band fashion. Colourful for the
way these excellent musicians transform the standards into
a classy swing format. Like a rainbow, one colourful tune
is followed by another reflecting a cathode of melodic rays.
Who would have believed in this day and age that many of
these actual versions were played day-in, day-out on BBC-television
in the mornings and afternoons when people were at home
testing their new colour sets during the late sixties and
early seventies. Yes, you would hardly call this testcard
music nowadays. It proves there were some superb pieces
being aired then. If you hadn’t known they were on
then you would probably have bought a ticket for this sort
of fayre and sat down at the Local Civic Hall to enjoy it.
Fans of traditional big band music here will love these
renditions. Fresh, sharp colourful playing. Music to savour
and enjoy; not music to twiddle your knobs to!
Malcolm Batchelor For details of how to obtain
this CD please see the advertisement on page 87 of this
issue.
HITS OF 1954 – The Crew Cuts, Les
Paul & Mary Ford, Dean Martin, Doris Day, Frankie Laine,
Perry Como etc.. (52 tracks, 2 CDs) Memoir
CDMOIR 590. Memoir collections are always enjoyable, thanks
to the good taste of Gordon Gray (who compiles most of them),
and the expert remastering of Ted Kendall. It’s incredible
to think that some of the tracks here are now over 50 years
old – especially when some of us can remember when
they were originally released! There are only a few non-vocal
items – Ebb Tide (Frank Chacksfield), Young at Heart
(Billy May), Shadow Waltz (Nelson Riddle), Dream Dream Dream
(Percy Faith), The Creep (Ken Mackintosh) and Skokiaan (Ralph
Marterie).
David Ades Memoir CDs are available
from the RFS Record Service, price £10 each plus postage
and packing.
THE SHADOWS Platinum Collection (48
tracks, 2 CDs) EMI 334 9382. Perhaps not of interest to
all readers, but with Christmas approaching this could be
a present for an ageing Shadows fan. The set comes with
a DVD featuring a live performance from the NEC, Birmingham,
in 1986.
DON’T FORGET: Other new CDs are
mentioned on our Light Music CDs page.
ROGER ROGER – The Magic of Roger
Roger (4 CD box-set, CDs also available individually)
Just A Smile GAL066, Pour vous madame GAL
067, Cityrama Galerie GAL 068, Newsreel /
Actualites GAL 069. These CDs are available
from the RFS Record Service, price £9 each plus p+p. A
recent release earlier this year by French production music
company Koka Media (part of BMG Zomba) on their Galerie
label. The discs were released to mark the occasion of the
10th anniversary of the death of Roger Roger. If you buy
all four CDs they come in an attractive CD box with an informative
14 page colour booklet. There are far too many tracks to
list them all, with over an hour of music on each CD. Almost
all the music was composed by Roger Roger apart from six
tracks which were composed by Roger's son-in-law and childhood
friend Nino Nardini. The recordings are taken from
the Chappell archives. Unlike other production music CDs
there are no 30 or 60 seconds cuts; all the tracks are full-length.
Just A Smile - this is the definitive collection
of Roger Roger's fun and light-hearted compositions: covering
jaunty TV comedy themes, hilarious vaudeville and silent
movie pastiche, kid's music, circus, music-hall, fairground,
puppets and teddy bears! Pour Vous Madame - classic
50's latino, Hollwood glamour, romantic liaisons and seduction.
Cityrama - swinging big band and full
orchestral to beat combos; themes including ‘promenade’,
‘by night’ and ‘the city in motion’. These
classic tracks remind the listener of how timeless the music
of Roger Roger is. Much more than an historical snapshot
of an era gone by, this collection portrays the talent of
a fine composer whose work is as relevant and fresh today
as it was on its first release. Newsreel / Actualites
- These classic recordings come from the era of cinematic
newsreel and early TV broadcasts. From serious political
affairs to fun on the piste, and from heavy industry to
exotic holidays. These Roger Roger compositions display
his love of combining old and new instruments and styles
to create unique soundscapes. Themes include sports, industry,
history and conflicts. All these recordings were produced
between 1954 and 1975. All the tracks have been digitally
remastered, and the sound quality is superb. Each CD comes
in an attractive fold out CD sleeve. A fine box-set for
connoisseurs of Roger Roger's music; highly recommended.
Chris Landor These CDs are available from the
RFS Record Service price £9 each plus postage and packing.
KATHY KIRBY – The Complete Collection
Let Me Sing And I’m Happy, I Can’t Give
You Anything But Love, Someone To Watch Over Me, I’ll
Get By, Acapulco 1922, Following In Father’s Footsteps,
Waiting For Robert E Lee, Bill, Happy Days And Lonely Nights,
Who’s Sorry Now?, Can’t Help Loving That Man,
If You Were The Only Boy In The World, The Man I Love,
Miss Dynamite etc… (2 CDs, 38 tracks) Spectrum
9824795. I had forgotten how good a singer Kathy Kirby was.
What a pity this Ambrose protégé’s personal
problems brought her recording career to a premature end.
Hearing these tracks in stereo for the first time I have
been struck, too, by how terrific the arrangements are,
particularly on the second disc. Although unaccredited in
the liner notes, I understand the majority of them are likely
to be either by Charles Blackwell or Ivor Raymonde, who
were her musical directors. Most of Kathy’s best known
tracks are here such as her first Top 20 smash Dance
On and Secret Love that took her to the Top 5,
both in 1963 ─ the year she won the title of Top British
Female Singer in the NME reader’s poll. Then there
is her Top 10 cover version of Theresa Brewer’s Let
Me Go Lover, You’re The One, I Want To
Be Happy, [All Of A Sudden] My Heart Sings, and
the 1965 British Eurovision Song contest entry, I Belong.
A number of great standards composed by the likes of Arlen,
Rodgers and Youmans are also included. Both issues are budget
priced [I found them at £3.49 a disc online] and both are
rather special. Ideal stocking fillers, maybe?
Peter Burt
SOUND OFF DIVISIONS – Band of HM
Royal Marines / Captain R.P. Long Fanfare for a Festival
(Arnold), The Middy, Army of the Nile, HM Jollies (Alford),
Heart of Oak (Boyce), March and Air (Handel), Golden Spurs
(Rhodes), Chimes of Liberty (Goldman), War on the Big Screen
(arr Brown & Cunningham), Duke of York (arr Balfour),
Cavalry of the Steppes (Knipper), Navy Blue (Brown), Sailing
(Sutherland), The Melody Shop (King), Trafalgar (Zehle),
Glorious Victory (Kendell), Will ye No Come Back Again,
Auld Lang Syne (Trad), A Life on the Ocean Waves (Russell)
(72:00) Chevron CHVCD 20. Several months ago BBC
2 screened the 1939 British film Sons of the Sea,
made in colour and starring Leslie Banks, Kay Walsh and
Cecil Parker. It deals with life at the Royal Naval College
Dartmouth just before the Second World War, with a dangerous
spy on the loose to boot! Much of the film appeared to have
been made on location at and around the College and affords
a fascinating insight into the style and presentation of
Ceremonial Divisions held at this establishment in the late
1930s. The title of the film borrows from a popular song
of the time which makes a number of appearances during ‘The
Divisions’ sequences but alas sadly does not appear
on this new release Sound off Divisions from Chevron. To
compensate however we have Richard Baker, a former navy
man himself, who gives a brief and succinct history of the
Naval College and interjects from time to time to set the
scene during the various key moments of the complete Naval
Officers Passing In / Passing Out Parade. The musical compensations
are considerable too, notably a trio of fine marches by
English ‘March King’ Kenneth Alford and a particularly
imposing slow march Golden Spurs by Sarah Rhodes,
a distinguished DOM 1111 of the Scots Guards. War on
the Big Screen takes its inspiration from such film
classics as The Great Escape, 633 Squadron,
Battle of Britain and The Dambusters. The
rather unusual title of The Melody Shop is explained
by the fact that the youthful composer Karl King dedicated
the piece to the owners of the Powell Music Company. He
went on to write many more marches with possibly Barnum
and Bailey Favourite among the best known. Sailing
- and this I hope will not raise too many hackles from
his fans - is, I think, better played here by the Royal
Marines than when sung by Rod Stewart! There are
a number of intermittent shouted orders at various points
in the ceremony, apparently recorded on the parade ground
itself as there is a hint of an ambient background which
helps foster a great sense of atmosphere and occasion. The
specialist collector with a particular interest in the Royal
Navy and its traditions and ceremonials will be readily
attracted to this disc, whilst for the more general listener
there is a veritable feast of great music simply to sit
back and enjoy. In many ways this disc is a companion one
to Passing In available on Clovelly CLCD 13604 -
reviewed in JIM no. 164 p 83 - which focused on the various
ceremonies relating to junior entrant rates. The recording
as usual from this source is vivid and immediate and this
is another home grown product for which the Royal Marines
Band Service can feel justly proud. Roger Hyslop
This CD is available at www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk
or from Discurio, Unit 3, Faraday Way, St Mary Cray, Kent
BR5 3QW. Tel/Fax: 01689 879101.
ENNIO MORRICONE – Soundtrack from
La Casa Bruciata RAI Trade FRT 410. This terrific
score for a 1998 TV thriller set in Brazil tells the story
of a fearless priest who protects a child who has witnessed
a murder. If you enjoyed Morricone's beautiful music to
The Mission, you will love the score to La Casa
Bruciata. This is one film music CD I can happily recommend
to all RFS members. The CD runs for just over 46 minutes
and features 14 tracks including the wonderful, powerful
main theme. There are many other exciting melodic themes
on this CD. The music on this CD is beautiful, melodic,
uptempo and exciting. I’ve been enjoying it so much
I just can't stop playing the CD at every opportunity! Highly
recommended. Unlike other soundtrack CDs where you frequently
get just one main theme and endless variations La Casa
Bruciata features many different melodic themes.
Chris Landor This CD is available
at £10.95 from First Contact Records, 31 Veronica Road,
London SW17 8QL. Tel 020 8675 4733 and online at www.firstcontactrecords.com.
THE PALM COURT ORCHESTRA / Charles Job
– Grand Hotel Secrets, The Lost Chord, Silverheels,
Idylle, Fascination, Folies Bergeres, Kashmiri Song, Narcissus,
Wedgewood Blue, Hetty Wainthropp Theme, Serenade Pasionnee,
etc… 19 tracks (71:36) Canada CD003. In
British Columbia Charles Job and his talented musicians
are fast becoming something of a musical institution, and
the fact that their CDs are reaching a wider audience is
certainly doing no harm to their hard-earned reputation.
Their latest offering boasts several top composers who will
need no introduction to admirers of the kind of music associated
with the ‘Palm Court’ style – among them
Charles Ancliffe, Arthur Sullivan, Edward Elgar, Paul Lincke,
Albert Ketèlbey, Rudolf Friml and Percy Fletcher.
There is much to admire in this recent release, and the
playing is well up to this ensemble’s usual high standards,
which is praise indeed. Nodding towards more recent offerings
is Nigel Hess’s theme music for the Hetty Wainthropp
TV series, which I gather has received the composer’s
own seal of approval. But the balance is firmly in favour
of the kind of genteel music favoured during the early years
of the last century, and it would be hard to find a more
satisfying release than this among recent CD offerings.
David Ades This CD is available from the RFS Record
Service for £9 [US $18] plus p+p.
TUBBY HAYES – On the air 13
tracks (50:36) Harkit Records HRKCD8156. Tubby would have
been seventy this year. He was a leading light on the jazz
scene in the sixties (I fondly remember him from the smoke-filled
atmosphere of Ronnie Scott's first jazz club) These thirteen
tracks are picked from broadcasts never before released.
Tubby plays tenor, flute and vibraphone. Gordon Beck plays
piano, Jeff Clyne is on Bass and Johnny Butts plays drums.
Tubby's blues and In the night are originals
composed by Tubby. Elsewhere a well-produced selection of
popular songs including A taste of honey, Speak
low, The more I see you, Bye bye blackbird
and Time after time. Tubby's vibes playing is well
featured on this CD. He joked "I sometimes wish I had never
started playing vibes! I lug the bloody thing around, set
up and then play sax all night! Hearing his vibe playing
you would never know he was self taught; excellent! On most
of Tubby's recordings he blew the competition away; here
he is in a more relaxed mood but he still enthralls.
Paul Clatworthy
Royal Scottish National Orchestra /
David Lloyd-Jones – SIR ARNOLD BAX Tintagel,
Garden of Fand, Happy Forest, The Tale the Pine Trees Knew,
November Woods (74:11) Naxos 8557599. Naxos appear to
be repackaging a number of performances that have previously
appeared on the Naxos and/or Marco Polo labels, but to be
fair to them the fact is usually stated in the notes. Of
course, if you have already purchased ‘on spec’
you could get caught out, but hopefully keen collectors
of a particular artist or composer will always check first
before adding fresh releases on the same label. In this
particular case, these symphonic or ‘tone’ poems
were recorded between 1995 and 2002, and together they form
an attractive package of some of the composer’s most
popular works. If you have yet to discover the beauty of
Bax’s writing, this could be the ideal introduction
for you.
David Ades Please note that Naxos have recently
increased the price of their CDs by 20%.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Alan
Barlow – THIS ENGLAND Elgar – Serenade
for Strings; Delius – Irmelin prelude, Two Pieces for
Small Orchestra; Holst – St Paul’s Suite, Brook
Green Suite; Warlock – Capriol suite (64:02) Sanctuary
Resonance CD RSN 3049. There are times when I envy young
people; they still have their lifetimes ahead of them, and
one of the glories they will discover (should they choose)
will be a whole world of marvellous music. Many of us can
remember the excitement we felt the first time that we heard
some of the works in this collection. Perhaps some readers
may still be unfamiliar with a few of them. Incredibly there
are people who are completely unmoved by music … how
sad I feel for them! Like the Bax CD mentioned previously,
these recordings have been around for some while; it’s
good to know that they are available once again.
David Ades
LALO SCHIFRIN – Les Felins
(34:50) Aleph Records 031. Lalo's sound track for Rene Clements’
film contained the seeds of Dirty Harry, Bullitt
and Enter the Dragon (his words). The main title
music illustrates this description with some force; an underlying
sense of foreboding and menace in its makeup. Sweeter sounds
are used on Searching and Detecting but still mixed
with suspense. Lalo was handed the completed film before
writing, which took him two months, time well spent! I never
saw the film but the music is so descriptive I feel I have!
The pizzicato opening of Mediterranean chase is light
music at its finest. The production is tasty and highly
varied.
Paul Clatworthy
PERCY FAITH - The Oscar Soundtrack Collectables
COL-CD-7815. Thirteen mostly up-beat tracks composed and
conducted by the man himself that stand up well away from
the action of the movie. Titles include Swingin’
Village, Mexican Hoedown, Tijuana Tourists, and
Posh Party. A bonus is a version of Song from
The Oscar [Maybe September] by Tony Bennett. The Maestro’s
music was generally regarded as more memorable than the
movie which was described by one critic as "a picture
that attains a perfection of ineptitude quite beyond the
power of words to describe". But at just under 34 minutes
the CD is disgracefully short measure – not the usual
2-on-1 from this label; more like ½-on-1. It will have to
do, though, for Faith aficionados who are still awaiting
Columbia Singles Volume 3. Now that is worth getting
excited about.
Peter Burt
ASPIDISTRA DRAWING ROOM ORCHESTRA –
The Best of Palm Court Softly, Unawares!, El Saludo,
Czardas, Melodie d’Amour, Nights of Gladness, Whispering,
Indianola etc... Too Beautiful for Words Down
South, The Billy Pssum’s Frolic, Ragamuffin, The Valley
of Poppies, Silverheels, In a Persian Market, Bal Masqué
etc... Both CDs available direct from The Aspidistra
Drawing Room Orchestra, Cardinal’s Wharf, 49 Bankside,
London SE1 9JE, email music@teatime.co.uk. Price
£10 for one CD, £15 for both, plus £1.20 p+p. Cheques payable
to the Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra. Two splendid
discs from one of the few remaining ‘Palm Court’
ensembles, including a selection of light-classical and
lighter music in finely balanced chamber arrangements. The
orchestra consists of piano, three violins, viola, cello,
flute and oboe/cor anglais, producing an ambience perfect
for the atmosphere of Imperial tea-time elegance. Personally
I miss a little brass, percussion and a bass (the piano
struggles on its own), and yet this is part of the ensemble’s
unobtrusive quality. The playing is sensitive and the melodies
beautiful. I think this kind of music should be experienced
live and in context rather than on disc.
Peter Edwards
STANLEY BLACK, His Piano and Orchestra
– Digital Magic Chiquitita, California Suite,
Theme from ‘Bilitis’, Tomorrow from ‘Annie’,
Just when I Need You Most, Rise, Here’s that Rainy
Day, Theme from ‘The Deerhunter’, Theme from ‘The
Way we Were’, I Will Survive. Vocalion CDLF 8119.
Although the title is perhaps a little misleading, this
is a good mix of music highlighting Stanley Black’s
intensely colourful arrangements and individual mastery
of the piano.
Alec Hellyer
CHERYL BENTYNE – Let me off uptown
(48:34) Telarc Jazz CD-83606. Cheryl used to be part
of the supergroup Manhattan Transfer. Here she goes solo
on songs made famous by Anita O'Day. She gets wonderful
arrangements from Bill Holman on three tracks, using his
Mighty little Big Horns comprising of Bob Summers,
Carl Saunders, Chris Tedesco and Jack Sheldon (trumpets),
Bob McChesney (trombone), and Lanny Morgan, Pete Christlieb
and Bob Efford (saxes). Jack Sheldon duets on the title
track taking on Roy Eldridge’s original part with Anita.
Corey Alien (who arranged the remaining tracks) and Cheryl
and Bill Holman listened to almost every O'Day record before
choosing the songs, so no duds here! Let’s face
the music and dance has Larry Koonse on guitar joining
in on the fun. Man with a horn displays Jack Sheldon's
virtuosity on a ballad. Boogie blues is a joyous
romp and a real mover scored by Bill Holman. If you have
the original Anita O'Day recordings there are some interesting
comparisons to be made; these are very effective remakes.
Paul Clatworthy
EDMUNDO ROS in Concert Brazil,
I Adore You, El Gallo, Night of Adventure, Co Co Seco, London
is the Place for Me, El Gato Montes, How Insensitive, Pancho
de Bull, Yes Teacher, Alma Llanera, The Coffee Song. Vocalion
CDLF 8121. If anyone is looking for a first Ros album to
buy, this would be a splendid start. A good mix of the classics
and the less-familiar, this was recorded live in Monaco
in 1972. The recording quality is intimate and there is
no obtrusive audience noise.
Alec Hellyer
There are some splendid new CDs among
the October releases from Mike Dutton’s labels:
EDWARD GERMAN Symphony no.1 in
E minor; Overture – The Tempter; Prelude – Romeo
and Juliet; Hamlet – Symphonic Poem; The Willow Song
BBC Concert Orchestra (John Wilson), Cynthia Fleming
(leader) Recorded at The Colosseum, Town Hall, Watford,
24-25 May 2005, Epoch CDLX 7156
MONTAGUE PHILLIPS VOLUME 2 Festival
Overture (‘In Praise of my Country’) op.71, Hillside
Melody op.40, Hampton Court op.76*, Phantasy for violin
& orchestra op.16, Charles II Overture op.60, In Old
Verona: a serenade for strings, In May Time op.38, Empire
March op.68 BBC Concert Orchestra (Gavin Sutherland),
Matthew Trusler (violin), World premiere recordings,
except* Recorded at The Colosseum, Town Hall, Watford, 3-4
August 2005, Epoch CDLX 7158
RICHARD TAUBER • INTERMEZZO Vienna
city of my dreams, Let me awaken your heart, My heart and
I, Serenade from The Student Prince, Roses of Picardy, Can
I forget you, The English Rose, One day when we were young,
I’m in love with Vienna, Don’t be cross, Only
a rose, One alone, My hero, Come back my love, Intermezzo,
Ideale, Long ago and far away, We’ll gather lilacs,
Au revoir (J'attendrai), Pedro the fisherman, Love lost
for evermore, My curly headed baby (in German), The song
is done (in German), Good-bye (in German) Recorded in
the 1930s and ’40s CDVS 1910
LEONARD BERNSTEIN CONDUCTS BERNSTEIN
Facsimile A Choreographic Essay RCA Victor Orchestra
(Leonard Bernstein); On the Town Ballet Music "On
the Town" Orchestra (Leonard Bernstein); Jeremiah
Symphony with Nan Merriman (mezzo-soprano) St Louis
Symphony Orchestra (Leonard Bernstein); Ravel Concerto
for Piano & Orchestra Philharmonia Orchestra (Leonard
Bernstein). Recorded in the 1940s CDBP 9758
ORCHESTRAL JEWELS • THE COMPOSERS
CONDUCT Wolf-Ferrari The Jewels of the Madonna: Act
III Intermezzo, The Secret of Suzanne: Overture The Four
Peasants: Act II Intermezzo, The Curious Women: Minuet and
Furlana Recorded in 1947 Zürich Tonhalle Orchestra
(Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari); Straus From Strauss to
Straus: Selection, The Waltz Dream: Overture, The Chocolate
Soldier Recorded in 1947 The New Symphony Orchestra
(Oscar Straus); Scott-Wood Serenade to Evening
Arthur Dulay (piano), London Caprice Recorded 1949 The
New Promenade Orchestra (George Scott-Wood); Wildman
Vienna Concerto Jacqueline Blanchard (piano) Recorded
1949 L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Charles Wildman)
CDBP 9760
THE ART OF CONSTANT LAMBERT A CENTENARY
TRIBUTE Bliss Miracle in the Gorbals 1946 Royal Opera
House Orchestra (Constant Lambert); Gordon The Rake’s
Progress 1945 The British Ballet Orchestra (Constant
Lambert); Lambert Music for Orchestra 1948 Philharmonia
Orchestra (Constant Lambert); Walton Façade excerpts
1929 Edith Sitwell; Constant Lambert Ensemble (William
Walton) CDBP 9761
CHRISTMAS WITH RONNIE ALDRICH White
Christmas, Let It Snow, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,
Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells, Toyland, Sleigh Ride, The
Christmas Song, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, By the
Fireside, Count Your Blessings, The Christmas Waltz. Ronnie
Aldrich, piano with the Strings of the London festival Orchestra
Vocalion CDLF 8126.
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KEEPING TRACK
Dateline September 2005
ERIC COATES : LONDON AGAIN Footlights,
The Three Men Suite, The Selfish Giant, London Again Suite,
Cinderella, Summer Days Suite, Television March Royal
Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Wilson
AVIE AV2070, timing 79:00 mins. John Wilson has already
recorded two albums for ASV namely ‘Under the Stars’
- CD WHL2107 and ‘The Enchanted Garden’–
CD WHL2112 featuring the orchestral music of the ‘King
of British Light Music’ and when the latter of this
pair appeared in 1998 the accompanying literature revealed
the fact that he would be recording more discs of music
by Eric Coates and a release of orchestral music by Robert
Farnon. Both projects would now appear to have been abandoned
by ASV but the French Label Avie have gallantly stepped
into the breach and ‘picked up the baton’, at
least as far as Eric Coates is concerned, and have produced
a superbly impressive quality product – with the help
of John Wilson of course! There is no sense here of a ‘paired
down’ performance to save expense as a quick glance
at the orchestral personnel listed helpfully at the back
of the sleeve notes reveals! Of the many delights contained
on this very generously filled disc I must highlight the
‘London Again Suite’ receiving its finest
ever modern recording far outclassing Adrian Leaper’s
version with the CSRSO (Bratislava) with its lack lustre
strings on MARCO POLO 8.223445. The Langham Place elegy
in particular is invested with a poignancy and wistfulness
which is exceptionally touching whilst the hustle and bustle
of the opening Oxford Street movement is well conveyed.
A warm welcome too for both ‘The Three Men Suite’
and ‘Summer Days Suite’ both also the lucky
recipients of modern technology. In the former suite there’s
a gorgeously full toned saxophone in ‘The Man
about Town’ whilst there’s a clever fugal
treatment of ‘Three Blind Mice’ in the
concluding movement – ‘The Man from the Sea’.
The ‘Summer Days Suite’ was recorded for
Lyrite by Sir Adrian Boult and the New Philharmonic Orchestra
in the late 1970’s but this LP, as far as I know, has
never been released in CD format and, in any case, Sir Adrian
unaccountably omitted the enchanting middle movement ‘On
the Edge of the Lake’ from his recording. In John
Wilson’s talented direction the whole suite has never
sounded fresher or more magical. The two substantial orchestral
Phantasias included on this new release namely ‘The
Selfish Giant’ and ‘Cinderella’
have rarely sounded more persuasive or winning or had stronger
advocacy than they receive here. The disc is rounded off
very satisfyingly by the rousing ‘Television March’
– a considerable rarity commissioned by the BBC
to launch the resumption of their television service after
the Second World War in 1946. The art deco Philharmonic
Hall in Liverpool seems to be blessed with excellent acoustics
allowing for an exceptionally wide ranging, spacious and
detailed recording and John Wilson has clearly inspired
the Liverpool orchestra who respond magnificently with glorious,
whole hearted and stylish playing. This is undoubtedly a
notable and significant addition to the growing and welcome
Coates discography and one to rank alongside the highly
regarded Chandos disc of ‘The Symphonic Eric Coates’
available on CHAN 9869 on which Rumon Gamba conducted the
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and reviewed by our esteemed
editor in JIM No 152 p79. With generous playing time and
with such impeccable credentials, this disc should have
wide appeal – no self respecting light music enthusiast
should surely contemplate life without it! Roger Hyslop
MANTOVANI The Magic of Mantovani ¹vocals by Jack
Plant; ²vocal by Ken Crossley Three Coins In The Fountain,
When The Rose Of Tralee Met Danny Boy¹, The Luxembourg Polka,
The Skaters Waltz, The Midnight Waltz, Tango De La Luna,
La Cumparsita, Jamaican Rhumba, Swedish Rhapsody, Charmaine,
Moulin Rouge [Theme From], Diane, Some Enchanted Evening,
Come Back To Sorrento, Tipica Stomp, Boomps A Daisy², The
Warsaw Concerto, Oh Mama Mia [Look At The Moon]¹, Autumn
Leaves, La Mer Signature SIGNCD2255, 65:35 mins. This
extremely attractive mishmash has for openers a favourite
stereo recording from 1958 juxtaposed with a late 1930s
song: the first of two never before issued in long-playing
format. Later on, alongside some of Monty’s most famous
and best-loved numbers from the 50s and early 60s, we have
a swinging 1937 version of Tipica Stomp and another
track with vocal recorded for Columbia in 1939. The material
is on the whole well produced, although probably more from
disc than the original tapes. I understand that Waves Restoration
audio tools were used but, unfortunately, due to the quality
of the original recording there are two "clunks"
on Swedish Rhapsody. This piece also suffered at
the hands of the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society
[MCPS] who, when the track listings were submitted to gain
the relevant licence, amended the composer from Alfven to
Wildman! All this aside, if you are not a big Monty fan
but would like a representative disc in recognition of a
celebrated musician in his centenary year, then at only
£2.99 [yes, £2.99], look no further. The CD liner is also
of good quality and our friend Colin MacKenzie reckons it
is worth getting hold of if only for the splendid photo
of the Maestro on the cover. Peter Burt
Available in the UK from Barnardo’s Charity Shops or
direct from Fastforward Music Ltd, 1 Sorrel Horse Mews,
Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1LN, England [UK postage £1, overseas
postage at current Royal Mail rate]
ELGAR : MARCHES Pomp & Circumstance Marches
Op 39 Nos: 1 in D Major, 2 in A Minor, 3 in C Minor, 4 in
G Major, 5 in C Major, Coronation March Op 65, Funeral March
(Grania & Diarmid) Op 42, March from Caractacus Op 35,
March of the Mogul Emperors Op 66, No 4, Empire March, Polonia
– Symphonic Prelude Op 76. New Zealand Symphony
Orchestra conducted by James Judd NAXOS 8.557273 total
timing 79:00 minutes. Naxos have made an inspired
choice here in the conductor James Judd, a notable Elgarian
whose recording of that composer’s First Symphony
with the Hallé Orchestra on the Carlton IMP Label
merited not only three stars but also the accolade of a
rosette in the Penguin CD Guide indicating a recording of
special distinction. Most but not quite all of Elgar’s
works in march tempo are included here with the set of the
five Pomp & Circumstance Marches taking centre
stage and rivalling any of the alternative versions currently
available irrespective of price. Of the remaining items
the Coronation March for the 1911 Coronation of King
George V is at nearly eleven minutes somewhat distended
and I could not help harbouring the rather subversive thought
that Sousa’s alternative intended for the same august
occasion is more successful and has the additional virtue
of greater conciseness – see JIM issue 159 p69. The
other marches range from the dramatic as evidenced in the
Triumphal March from the cantata ‘Caractacus’
to the beautifully moving and solemn Funeral March
from ‘Grania & Diarmid’. It was a good
idea to round the disc off with a more substantial work
– the rarely heard and performed symphonic prelude
‘Polonia’ written in 1915 in aid of the
Polish Victims’ Relief Fund and incorporating suitable
and appropriate Polish melodies. These are sensitive, idiomatic
and sure footed performances from James Judd and he coaxes
playing from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra which is
both accomplished and sensitive. With vivid detailed recording,
a fine sense of spectacle and splendour and maximum playing
time, an astonishing bargain and yet another feather in
the already overcrowded Naxos cap! Roger Hyslop
ERIC JUPP & his ORCHESTRA The Rockin’ Strings
Try A Little Tenderness, Tree In The Meadow, The Very
Thought Of You, The Two Of Us, If You Change Your Mind,
We’ll Meet Again, I’m In A Dancing Mood, Georgia
On My Mind, Garden In The Rain, The Touch Of Your Lips,
If I Had You, Goodnight Sweetheart Music For Sweethearts
Let Me Call You Sweetheart, How Deep Is The Ocean, The
Very Thought Of You, ‘Deed I Do, The Kiss In Your Eyes,
If You Were The Only Girl In The World, Moonglow, It’s
Magic, Love Walked In, If I Had A Talking Picture Of You,
You Are My Heart’s Delight, I Love You Truly Vocalion
CDLK 4294, 67:21 mins. Mike Dutton has done it again with
this 2-on-1 that includes the re-issue of an LP I never
thought to hear on CD. ‘Music For Sweethearts’
is based on a late-evening BBC radio series much loved
by my newlywed wife and I at the end of the 50s. Here we
have a warm wash of strings complementing the superb alto
sax of Bill Povey, the terrific trumpet of Stan Roderick
and the special style of Mr Jupp’s own piano playing.
Perfect music to match the mood. ‘The Rockin’
Strings’ is something else entirely – high
strings, a beat and wordless female chorus. The original
sleeve note opines that "the outcome is guaranteed
to evoke pleasure and satisfaction with every listener".
Not with this one, it didn’t! Good tunes, ‘though,
and the CD is worth getting for the lovely ‘Sweethearts’
album alone. Peter Burt
SHELLEY VAN LOEN AND THE PALM COURT STRINGS –
‘In the Shade of the Palms’ In the Shade
of the Palms, These Foolish Things, Tango of the Night,
Lady of Spain, Love's Old Sweet Song, La Comparsita, In
a Dream, Por Una Cabeza, Butterflies in the Rain, Hampden
Roar, Roses of Picardy, Tango Yvonne, Beggars' Romance,
Two Guitars, Song of Capri. Palm Court Records - PALM
CCD2. The term 'Palm Court' is generally attributed to the
BBC who, in the mid-twenties commenced live broadcasts from
the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne performed by Albert Sandler
and his Orchestra on a stage bedecked with potted palms.
These broadcasts, later transferred to the studio and titled
'Grand Hotel', were heard regularly until the 1970's and
were revived again during the 1980’s. The tradition
of salon music is still maintained at Eastbourne by Shelley
Van Loen and the Palm Court Strings whose latest CD will
be welcomed by all who enjoy melodious music impeccably
played. For this album, special emphasis has been given
to the compositions and arrangements of Fred Hartley - pianist,
composer, arranger, orchestra leader and one-time Head of
Light Music at the BBC. Three of his original compositions
are included, of which my favourite is 'Hampden Roar', a
1963 piece often played on the BBC Light Programme and which
was performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra in the very last
edition of 'Legends of Light Music'. As for the Hartley
arrangements - I have always considered his version of 'Lady
of Spain' to be the ultimate arrangement of this famous
tune but I think you'll feel a tingle go down your spine
when you hear 'These Foolish Things'. Shelly's sensitive
treatment of this popular standard would be hard to surpass.
This is not the only piece on this album in which the Palm
Court Strings effectively recreate the sound of Fred Hartley
and his Music. The recipe for a good album is to provide
a mixture of the familiar and the not so familiar. In this
latter category is Francis Chagrin's 'Beggars' Romance',
specially arranged for Shelley by our good friend Philip
Lane. Another title new to me was 'Por Uno Cabeza', arranged
for the strings by Chris Walker, It is a super tango which
was featured in the films 'The Scent of A Woman' and 'True
Lies'. Indeed, there are several tangos in Shelley's selection
and I was delighted at the inclusion of 'Tango Yvonne' by
Bernard Monshin, whose Rio Tango Band is fondly remembered
for its countless radio broadcasts. There could hardly be
a more appropriate opening number (and title tune) for this
album than Reginald King’s 'In the Shade of the Palms'
- a lovely warm piece which is so typical of its composer's
work. In fact it is the word 'warmth’ that best sums
up this album as a whole. Shelley van Loen produced it herself,
so she knew exactly what she wanted of it and has certainly
been successful. Quite apart from the lovely programme,
you will be very impressed by the sound quality and balance
which are first-class. With its 'drawing room’ acoustics
it is the perfect fireside companion - but don't wait until
Christmas, order it today! Brian Reynolds
available direct from Shelley Van Loen, Manor
Farm Stables, North Green, Kirtlington, Oxon. OX5 33Z, England
- tel.01869 351 990. Price £12 (which includes UK p&p).
GUILD LIGHT MUSIC Highdays and Holidays (Bosworth
78s) GLCD5115; In Town Tonight (1930s –
Volume 2) GLCD5116 (for full tracklistings see
pages 17 & 21 in this issue) Regular aficionados
of this series will have noticed that all recent releases
have carried a subtitle, usually named for one of the tracks.
The Bosworth CD is thus called Highdays and Holidays
(after the Peter Yorke composition) and breaks new ground,
insomuch as it is the first Guild issue to be devoted to
the music of just one publisher, whilst at the same time
featuring several different orchestras and conductors; this
is in contrast to GLCD 5107, an all-Chappell programme solely
played by the QHLO under Charles Williams. Bosworth was
amongst the first of the London publishers to create a library
of pre-recorded music on 78 r.p.m. discs alongside Boosey
& Hawkes, and the earliest recordings on the new CD
date from the late ’30s, whilst the latest are from
the early ’50s. As far as I know, Haydn Wood
always published his work via either B&H or Chappells;
therefore Sketch of a Dandy seems to be unique, for
this composition dating from late in his career was placed
with Bosworth, and recorded in 1952 by Louis Voss and his
orchestra. The latter did a great deal of work for the company,
and appears as conductor on roughly half of the 27 tracks.
By the late ’40s, the aforementioned Charles Williams,
having by then relinquished his role as Chappell’s
musical director, offered a few works to other publishers;
three of these feature on the disc. Conversely, Albert Ketelbey
published most of his output via Bosworth, although he is
only represented by two titles here. There are plenty of
familiar names and some less well known; amongst these,
I must mention George Crow, whose composition Wild Goose
Chase (a sort of non-pizzicato Holiday for Strings)
was aired on the BBC by Desmond Carrington in the late ’80s,
and through a fortunate chain of subsequent events eventually
led me to join the RFS! Crow was a pianist and conductor,
who had his own West End "celebrity" orchestra
around the time of WWII and afterwards fronted a "Big
Band" in the northern English resort of Scarborough.
In 1957 he conducted one season of the famous Scarborough
Light Music concerts and eventually joined the New Zealand
Broadcasting Commission as a TV producer. Bosworth also
had a strong European connection, from which spring some
interesting pieces, including a first-class performance
of Gerhard Winkler’s Neapolitan Serenade. All-in-all
this is a really superb collection and I cannot recommend
it highly enough.
The subtitle of Volume 2 of the 1930s is "In
Town Tonight" – there are no prizes for guessing
that Eric Coates’ Knightsbridge March is included,
albeit in a wonderfully unconventional performance by the
BBC Dance Orchestra under Henry Hall. I vividly remember
this particular Columbia recording from my childhood –
the parents of my closest school friend always seemed to
be playing it when I visited! With one exception (an Erich
Börschel composition from the Bosworth library) all
tracks originate from commercial 78s, many on the Columbia,
HMV and Parlophone labels of EMI; this company was pre-eminent
in the field of sound recording at that time. Indeed, the
final (bonus) track contains a rare experimental stereo
(described as "binaural") recording from 1934;
this employed the pioneering 2-channel recording system
invented and patented by Alan Blumlein, the brilliant engineer
who played a crucial role in many of EMI’s pre-war
technological developments, including the world’s first
high-definition television system for the BBC in 1936. The
CD contains twenty excellent tracks including four "selections"
– I was particularly taken by Charles Shadwell’s
Happy Selection and the Ice Rink Selection
by Debroy Somers. There was a vogue in the 1930s for orchestral
performances featuring a solo organ – I imagine that
these were actually recorded in cinemas – and two such
pieces feature here. Also included are a number of novelty
pieces by Josef Rixner (Pony), Harry Engelman (Fingerprints),
Squirrel Dance by H Elliott Smith and Shadowsplay
by Herbert Küster. Amongst the roll call of conductors
are the distinguished names of Philip Green, Anton, Alfredo
Campoli, Marek Weber, Alfred Van Dam, Joseph Muscant and
Ray Noble. This is another superb and most enjoyable collection,
with a sound quality surpassing even the usual exceptionally
high standard we have come to expect from Alan Bunting.
How does he do it? We have now reached number 16
in the Guild Light Music series, embodying a staggering
384 tracks – this is an incredible achievement on the
part of all concerned. And yet, as I write, David Ades and
his team are busy working on yet more – as I have said
before, watch this space! Tony Clayden
STANLEY BLACK conducting THE LONDON FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
& CHORUS Dimensions In Sound Fantasy Impromptu,
Take The ‘A’ Train, Alfie, These Boots Are Made
For Walking, "Exodus", La Bamba, Michelle, Money
To Burn, A Taste Of Honey, Three Blind Mice A Tribute
To Charlie Chaplin Smile, Texas, Who’ll Buy My
Violets [La Violetera], Morning Promenade, Medley from "The
Great Dictator", Theme from "Limelight",
Titina, Mandolin Serenade, Green Lantern Rag, This Is My
Song Vocalion CDLK 4278, 73:24 mins. ‘Dimensions’
is the one I’ve been waiting for – top of
my list of LPs to be re-issued on CD. It is a Phase 4 production
and first saw the light of day in 1968 and is a joy from
start to finish. Chopin’s Fantasy Impromptu is
given the full orchestral treatment - and none the worse
for that - while the final selection, Three Blind Mice,
is a thrilling tour de force. Maestro Black plays around
with the well-loved children’s tune: inverting the
melody, varying it in many different ways, using Mozart’s
style one minute and Tchaikovsky’s the next. Duke Ellington’s
Take The ‘A’ Train is in big band territory
with the brilliant brass mimicking a train as it starts
and gains momentum, racing faster and faster. Alfie
in contrast features a solo Spanish guitar; the clarity
of the recording making it feel it’s there in the room
with you. La Bamba, percussion to the fore, almost
had me cavorting round said room. I could go on, but buy
this disc for yourself – I doubt you’ll regret
it. You will also get a good selection of music by Charlie
Chaplin, reminding us that he was not a three-hit- wonder.
There are no liner notes for either album, which is a pity.
Peter Burt
As I begin to write these notes, I have on my television
screen pictures (the sound is turned down!) of the global
Live 8 concerts which feature many of the world’s top
pop music performers. How the music industry has changed
out of all recognition! These recordings date from the late
’60s and early ’70s; thirty or forty years ago
there was still a huge demand for orchestral music of this
type, much of which was satisfied by Decca group which cornered
the market with its ‘stable’ of artistes such
as Robert Farnon, Frank Chacksfield, Mantovani, and the
subject of this review, Stanley Black. Consider this: Vocalion
has now released thirteen double albums (equivalent
to twenty-six single albums) of Stanley Black’s work,
and this probably represents about half of his total LP
output. That’s a lot of music! Even just these two
new CDs encompass a wide range of musical styles, from Chopin,
Bizet, Rodrigo and Chabrier at the ‘classical’
end through Billy Strayhorn, Bert Bacharach, Lennon &
McCartney to Sebastien de Yradier, Charles Chaplin and many
other worthy if lesser known composers. Stanley Black often
makes effective use of a chorus, and every single track
on both CDs has a degree of precision – what I would
describe as a ‘rightness’ – which was his
hallmark. It is doubtful if anyone took more pains
or burned more ‘midnight oil’ to achieve this
perfection, as I know well from the many conversations I
have had with his widow Edna Black over the last couple
of years. Lack of space precludes a description of each
track, but I will indulge myself and mention just one particular
great favourite (from Dimensions in Sound) –
Three Blind Mice or what Stanley nicknamed "Mice
in the Gardens of Spain" – absolutely brilliant!
It goes without saying that Mike Dutton has done us proud
yet again with his digital transfers; if you are a Stanley
Black devotee buy both of these discs – you will not
be disappointed. Tony Clayden
MANTOVANI By Special Request – Vol.2 1940-1951
Castiliana, One Night Of Love, Love Is A Song,
Mexican Starlight, Nights Of Gladness, Spanish Cocktail,
Our Waltz, Siesta – A Rumba Serenade, "Song of
Norway" – Selection, Valse Septembre, Tango Bolero,
Tell Me You Love Me, Hejre Kati, Gipsy Trumpeter, In Waltz
Time, La Paloma, Oh Mama Mama, One Magic Wish, The Spirit
Of The Matador, Tango De La Luna, The Choristers, Concerto
In Jazz Guild Light Music GLCD 5113 76:50 mins. In enthusiastically
reviewing ‘Mantovani – By Special Request’
[GLCD 5110] in January I mused about more of
the same, and here it is. Although, not entirely. This is
the great man from the years leading up to the time his
Ronald Binge inspired cascading strings took the light musical
world by storm. The sound is less distinctive but the quality
is there. RFS members who don’t much care for the post-1951
recordings should enjoy what’s on offer here. Most
of the tracks were new to me and among those to be enjoyed
are the opening Castiliana, one of Decca’s "Music
While You Work" series of 78s for playing over PA systems
in factories; a brilliant sounding Gipsy Trumpeter featuring
Stan Newsome – hear the orchestra swing; and The
Choristers from 1940 that David Ades suggests, in his
immensely informative liner notes, anticipates the sound
Ronnie would create for the strings a decade later. Concerto
In Jazz is a winner in the mini-concerto style so popular
in the 1940s. There are contributions, too, from the composer
Mantovani [aka Pedro Manila]: Mexican Starlight,
Adios Conchita, In Waltz Time and Tango
De La Luna. This CD is an immaculate production in every
respect [AR&R by Alan Bunting, of course] and, while
for me not quite hitting the heights of Vol.1, is wonderful
value. Peter Burt
LAURIE ALLYN "Paradise". All I need is you, You
go to my head, Paradise, Surrey with the fringe on top,
Easy living, You're so bad for me, The more I see you, I'll
never smile again, So in love, That's what a woman is for,
Where are you, Take me in your arms. (USA) V.S.O.P.111
CD Mode 130, 39:07 mins available in the UK from Montpellier
– details page 66 of our last issue. When an album
captivating as this surfaces after forty eight years you
wonder why? The excellent liner notes written by Peter Jacobson
and the singer herself (now named Didi Pearce) explain that
Mode records went to the wall just after it was recorded!
I did not know the singer, the draw was Marty Paich who
arranged and chose the tunes. Although prolific, in my book
every recording he involved himself with made great listening.
This gem matches his best work with any singer (it's a long
list!) Laurie herself explains "The West Coast sound fed
her soul" and "Boy" does it show! Marty was a master of
the sound and really knew the musicians to play the contents
of his fertile imagination. Felix Slatkin leads the string
section on eight tracks, the four brass tracks have Pete
Candoli, Herbie Harper, George Roberts and Vince De Rosa
in the ranks, Don Fagerquist playing lead trumpet. A total
of twenty three musicians play their hearts out on this
exquisite CD. Laurie's bell-like diction fits the songs
so well they could have all been written just for her, in
fact she only knew three of the songs before the recording
(it doesn't show!). If the CD and sleeve had been blank
I would have though it had been recorded yesterday. Paul
Clatworthy
FAY CLAASSEN with The Millennium Jazz Orchestra "Specially
arranged for Fay". Very early, Just one of those
things, Nature Boy, But not for me, Love for sale, When
we were one, Speak low, Giant steps, A house is not a home.
JAZZ'N PULZ BMCD381, 59:34 mins - details www.millenniumjazzorchestra.nf
Also info© jazzimpuls.com Starved of CD's by The
Metropole Orchestra I picked up on recordings by The Millennium
Jazz Orchestra (reviewing two of their CD's in Big Band
Roundups). Once again the singer being unknown to me, the
arranger the draw! This time Joan Reinders. Evidently Fay
has made two other albums but the first time she approached
a Big Band leader hoping to sing with them was turned down
flat with crushing response "we only work with well known
singers". Whoever that band was they should have heard her
sing first! Joan Reinders had no such reservations, pointed
in her direction by colleagues he invited her to sing at
one of his regular concerts, she debuted with more than
a little impact, this CD being the follow up to that success.
Reinders’ evocative brass scoring on tracks "Nature
boy" and "A house is not a home" worthy of Gil Evans. Impressive
brass is also used on "Giant steps". "Scatting" is not my
favourite style of singing and the Fay indulges this mode
on several songs which could have done with a bit of editing!
Elsewhere Joan's writing excuses any excesses, particularly
swinging "Speak low" and on "Love for sale" (a close second
to Pete Rugolo's version for Patti Page). This CD is well
worth your listening time, Holland's jazz men giving America
real competition. Paul Clatworthy
MANTOVANI All Time Romantic Hits Together;
Deep Purple; The Very Thought Of You; Tribute To Maurice
Chevalier – Gigi, Louise, Thank Heaven For Little Girls,
Valentine; Isn’t It Romantic; Dearly Beloved; You Were
Meant For Me; Tribute To Noel Coward – London
Pride, Someday I’ll Find you, Zigeuner, Mad Dogs And
Englishmen, I’ll See You Again Mantovani By Mantovani
Cara Mia, Manhatten Lullaby, Piccolo Bolero, Serenata
d’Amore, Italia Mia, Midnight Waltz, Last Summer, Deserted
Shore, Our Last Affair, Theme For A Western Vocalion
CDLK 4287, 65:45 mins. The first album, issued in 1975,
on this 2-on-1 CD was one of the last recordings in the
long and illustrious career of someone described elsewhere
by David Ades as "an amazing musician". It had
been recorded the previous year in Paris – perhaps
Monty’s forthcoming biography will enlighten us on
the reason for that. Both the beginning and end of the opening
number have a trademark Mantovani string effect. The two
tribute selections are well arranged, and all the standards
are beautifully played. The Maestro always used fine musicians.
The second album, in Phase 4 stereo and never previously
released in the UK, features Monty not just as conductor
[and arranger?] but as composer as well. One can only wonder
along with liner notes author Scott Raeburn why these attractive
pieces do not figure more in other people’s selections.
Also charming is the CD front cover showing Monty leaning
on the balcony of the Royal Festival Hall with the Palace
of Westminster and "Big Ben" in the background.
It is good to have these two albums added to the growing
list of Mantovani recordings available on CD. Peter
Burt
VICTORY IN EUROPE: Goodwin: Battle of Britain
March: Lloyd: HMS Trinidad: Dunn: Cockleshell
Heroes: Coates: The Dambusters March: Anka: The
Longest Day: Charnley: Pegasus (Drum Suite): Addison:
A Bridge Too Far: Williams: Hymn to the Fallen:
Smallwood: Victory in Europe: Miller: Moonlight
Serenade/American Patrol arr. McDermott: Songs That
Won The War: Alford: Colonel Bogey: Rodgers: Victory
at Sea: Becker-Douglas: Millennium Prayer for Peace
– ‘So Many Lives’: Bidgood: Royal
British Legion March: Russell: A Life on the Ocean
Wave. The Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland. DOM
Captain A J Smallwood PGA Dip B Mus (Hons) LRSM RM with
Sing Live Chevron CHVCD 76:00 mins The Dambusters
March must surely be bidding fair to becoming one of
the most frequently performed and recorded pieces of British
Light Music ever, but at least here we have the novelty
of it being played – and very well too – by a
Royal Marine Band. This disc is an ingeniously conceived
and impressive musical contribution towards the 60th
anniversary commemorations of the Second World War and seeks
to relate the music – much of it taken from outstanding
feature films – to specific episodes that occurred
during the momentous and dramatic years of 1939-1945.
Thus the aforementioned Dambusters March relates
to Operation Chastise, Vivien Dunn’s popular and well
regarded march Cockleshell Heroes to Operation Frankton,
and Addison’s A Bridge Too Far to the ill fated
Operation Market Garden, the attempt to capture strategic
river bridges in Holland and hopefully hasten the end of
the war. Paul Anka, the well known pop singer and song writer,
contributed the arresting and catchy tune for The Longest
Day, Operation Overlord. The excerpts from Richard Rodgers’
Victory at Sea has an interpolated and crisply delivered
and succinct commentary by Rear Admiral Nick Harris MBE,
Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland,
whilst a real whiff of nostalgia for the veterans amongst
us comes with an extended and imaginatively arranged selection
by WO Michael McDermott (staff arranger of the Royal Marines
Band Service since 1996 and who leaves the Service this
year), of Songs That Won The War. The band is joined
here by the excellent Sing Live UK, a choir formed in 1998
who have appeared on both radio and television and performed
at many concerts nationwide. Feelings of period nostalgia
are perhaps further deepened and intensified by the inclusion
of two peerlessly played Glenn Miller classics namely Moonlight
Serenade and American Patrol. The notable symphonist
George Lloyd, looked upon with some suspicion and disdain
by some elements of the Musical Establishment because he
was guilty of actually composing memorable tunes, served
on board the cruiser HMS Trinidad as a Royal Marine during
the Second World War. Whilst engaging German destroyers
during a Russian Convoy she was actually hit by one of her
own torpedoes which had circled back. Lloyd was one of only
three musicians to escape the transmitting station in the
bowels of the ship as the compartment flooded and he composed
HMS Trinidad and dedicated the piece to all the comrades
lost in this tragic freak accident. The band are
on brilliant top form, the recording made by Royal Marines
personnel in the Caird Hall Dundee is state of the art and,
if you need a further inducement to buy this outstanding
£13 disc, then £1 from the sale of this CD will be donated
to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. (This disc
can be obtained direct from Bd. Cpl. F Brown, The Band of
Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland, HMS Caledonia,
Rosyth, Fife KY11 2XH – I’m sure he would be delighted
to hear from you! Cheques made payable to ‘Royal Marines
Band Fund Scotland’ and allow 28 days for delivery.)
Roger Hyslop
MANTOVANI Mantovani Hollywood "Born
Free", Lara’s Theme, "Goldfinger", "Ben
Hur", "A Taste Of Honey", This Is My Song,
"You Only Live Twice", "The Magnificent Seven",
Tara’s Theme, "Lawrence Of Arabia", "Zorba
The Greek", "The Bible" The World Of Mantovani
Where Is Love, The Windmills Of Your Mind, My Way, Theme
from "Romeo and Juliet, My Cherie Amour, Theme from
"The Virginian", Where Did Our Summers Go, Theme
from "Elvira Madigan", I’m A Better Man,
Aquarius, Quentin’s Theme, Love Me Tonight Vocalion
CDLK 4289, 77:09 mins. This 2-on-1 is the fourteenth Vocalion
Mantovani CD to be issued and Mike Dutton has all Mantovanians
in his debt. The "lead" album was released in
1967 and appears in this country on CD for the first time.
It includes both the dramatic and the tender and, re-hearing
it again digitally remastered, I would rate it as one of
Monty’s finest. The second album, from 1969 and never
before on CD anywhere in the world, is an eclectic mix of,
as ever, good tunes. Interesting to hear one maestro’s
interpretation of another maestro’s composition with
Percy Faith’s "The Virginian" Theme.
And then there is Cecil Milner’s arrangement of part
of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.21, the "Elvira
Madigan" Theme. Among the three or four tunes I
had not heard before I especially enjoyed Robert Corbert’s
Quentin’s Theme, from an old cult supernatural
daytime soap opera. Another, the Bacharach/David I’m
A Better Man, has a fadeout finish – something
of a rarity for Mantovani. Knowledgeable liner notes from
Nicholas Briggs and our own Colin Mackenzie complete a desirable
package. Without them I would not have known that the bouncy
final number was a hit for Tom Jones! Peter Burt
Various artists including THE CREW CUTS,
LES PAUL & MARY FORD, DEAN MARTIN, DORIS DAY, FRANKIE
LAINE, PERRY COMO... Hits Of 1954 Memoir
CDMOIR 590 (2 CDs). Memoir collections are always
enjoyable, thanks to the good taste of Gordon Gray (who
compiles most of them), and the expert remastering of Ted
Kendall. It’s incredible to think that some of the
52 tracks here are now over 50 years old – especially
when many of us can remember when they were originally released!
There are only a few non-vocal items – Ebb Tide
(Frank Chacksfield), Young at Heart (Billy May), Shadow
Waltz (Nelson Riddle), Dream Dream Dream (Percy Faith),
The Creep (Ken Mackintosh) and Skokiaan (Ralph Marterie).
David Ades
CAREY BLYTON – Original music from Films and Television
Volume 3: Capital City, Flying Birds, The
Living River, Kites are Flying, Sherlock Holmes, The Goshawk.
Apollo Sound APSCD226. Volume 4: The Pigeon
Fancier, Footprints in the Jungle, It Wasn’t Me, Julie’s
Gone, Display to Sell, The Furry Folk on Holiday. Apollo
Sound APSCD227. These two CDs complete Apollo Sound’s
praiseworthy project to make available the lion’s share
of the considerable amount of music created by a composer
who has previously not received the public acclaim that
he has merited. Active in many spheres, from film documentaries
to television advertisements, plus many scores for notable
television dramas (especially three series of Dr Who),
it is clear that his work deserves to take its place among
many of his peers. Blyton has demonstrated that film music
can often succeed admirably with only a small number of
players, a lesson that could be learned by some modern writers
who tend to overwhelm both their audience and the actors.
The research behind these collections is admirable, and
the booklet notes are incredibly detailed. It seems such
a pity that Carey Blyton did not live long enough to witness
the completion of this worthy survey of his work –
he died in 2002. David Ades
GEORGINA COLWELL (soprano), NIGEL FOSTER (piano):
The Tend’rest Breast Settings of Women’s
Poetry Songs by Frank Bridge, Ivor Gurney, Lennox Berkeley,
John Ireland, Alistair King, Roger Quilter, Madeleine Dring
and Montague Phillips. Dunelm Records DRD 0237 Available
from Dunelow, 2 Park Close, Glossop, SK13 9RQ www.dunelm-records.co.uk
email: info@dunelm-records.co.uk £10.95 incl. P&P. This
CD, devoted to settings of poems by women ranges over 20th
century English song including iconic figures like Gurney,
Ireland and Frank Bridge, and includes several we may classify
as ballads: Quilter’s Tune and Wild Cherry,
Bridge’s Love Went a Riding and three songs
by Montague Phillips. It has been said that Phillips’s
songs, of which, like Coates and Haydn Wood, he composed
many, that they were too good as ballads but not good enough
as art songs. But it would be a stony heart which was not
roused by the fiercely exultant Sing Joyous Bird.
And Madeleine Dring contributes one of her cabaret songs
(with words by herself) which has some delicious doubles-entendres.
Performances from both artistes are affectionate and skilful.
The insert prints all the words, though Miss Colwell’s
crystal clear dictation hardly needs them. Philip
Scowcroft
LIONEL MONCKTON, IVAN CARYLL Piano selections from
The Girls of Gottenberg, Our Miss Gibbs, The Quaker Girl,
Oh! Oh! Delphine, Airs and Graces. Arrangements by H.
M. Higgs (69:25) Available at £4 from Ken Reeves,
232 Rainham Road North, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 7EA email:
saved_musicals@yahoo.co.uk.
This is one of a series that Mr Reeves is producing of tunes
(in computer-generated piano selections) from some of the
leading musical comedies of the Edwardian era. I have previously
heard a disc of selections by Paul Rubens; now he turns
his attention to Monckton and Caryll. The Girls of Gottenberg
and Our Miss Gibbs were joint affairs (the insert specifies
which tunes are by which composer), The Quaker Girl
and Airs and Graces are all Monckton, Oh! Oh!
Delphine all Caryll. As I suppose is inevitable with
computer-generation the playing sounds mechanical but we
do at least get an idea of just how tuneful these shows
were and also of Higgs’ skill at threading the tunes
together. No substitute, of course, for recordings of the
shows themselves but they are of interest. Philip
Scowcroft
ARTIE SHAW and his Orchestra- Featuring his Inspired
Clarinet Serenade to a Savage, Softly as in a Morning
Sunrise, Rosalie, What Is This Thing Called Love?, Begin
the Beguine, Copenhagen, Zigeuner, I Surrender Dear, Hop
Skip and Jump, These Foolish Things, Time on My Hands, Frenesi,
Dr Livingstone I Presume, Easy to Love, Back Bay Shuffle,
Stardust, Traffic Jam, Moonglow, Dancing in the Dark, Lady
be Good, Don’t Take Your Love from Me, Grabtown Grapple
Blues. (75:08) Vocalion CDVS1943. Without checking for
duplications (a | | |
