Paul Scott His Piano and Orchestra – The Magic of Two Pianos
“Rediffusion Stereo The best budget records in the world”
Label: Rediffusion ZS 65
Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra – The Kaempfert Touch
Bert Kaempfert, German bandleader and musician. An important figure in the Beatles’ story, having recruited them to provide backing on an album and single he released in 1961 called “My Bonnie”. For more on this head over to Wikipedia.
Label: Polydor Records 2310 009
101 Strings – Play Songs of England
Sleeve notes:
The British, being a maritime nation, have visited the four corners of the earth. This perhaps, is the reason that the songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are known and loved, in one form or another, the whole world over.
There any songs of every kind and to suit every mood and occasion. Songs that are sad or gay or humorous. Wedding songs and lullabys, hunting songs and roundalays, reels, dances, hornpipes and jigs. Sea shanties that conjure pictures of tarry pigtailed sailors complete with cutlasses and jars of rum! And who is there that does not thrill to the thought of a royal occasion upon hearing the stirring tune “The British Grenadiers”?
The 101 Strings have compiled a programme of some of the best and some of the best loved of the SONGS OF ENGLAND, and, for your further enjoyment, have recorded them in PERFECT STEREO, using the most advanced equipment and techniques known today.
An old English proverb tells us that “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”. We say, “The proof of this album is in the playing”. Just listen.
Label: Marble Arch MALS 1358
Carlini’s World of Strings – Million Seller Hits of the 50’s
Sleeve Notes:
It hardly seems possible that twenty years can separate us from an unforgettable melody like “I could have danced all night” yet it is indeed twenty years ago that this classic from the pens of Lerner and Loewe first hit the ears of theatre-goers who flocked in their thousands to “My Fair Lady”. As a tribute to the million sellers of the 1950s, this album from the maestro Carlini brings back memories of the songs that filled this particular era with conspicuous success. Lerner and Loewe were just two of the names who contributed to our musical enjoyment in the ’50s and they, along with composers like LeRoy Anderson and Rogers and Hammerstein are well represented on an album that is filled with some truly timeless music.
Label: Stereo Gold Award MER 301
Roy Bradley Quintet – The Shearing Sound All Year Round
Sleeve Notes:
When George Shearing devised his small band version of the Glen Miller sound, he little realised that it would take him to the top of the show-biz tree, and away from his native England, to live and work. However, although we no longer have the genius of Shearing on this side of the Atlantic, we do have musicians who love the style, pioneered by him, and who feature it in their programmes. Among his devotees are the Roy Bradley Quintet, whom we present here, with their tribute to the man whose version of “I’ll Remember April” swept the world and made sure that no matter who plays in this way, the name Shearing will always be tagged to it.
BOSCOE
Label: Avenue AVE 040
Pick of the Pops Vol. 5
Sleeve notes:
Here is a selection of 12 top titles from the current charts, Ballads and Pop to please all tastes in popular music. We have tried to get as near to the original sound as possible and our only aim is to give you top value for money with twelve top titles that we know you will enjoy.
Label: Deacon Records DEA 1039
Basil Henriques and the Waikiki Islanders – Hawaiian Honeymoon
Sleeve Notes:
“Hawaiian Honeymoon” is a most apt title for this delightful album because it follows the wedding of Hawaiian guitar to a superb collection of popular hits, many of which are of world-wide status, and all of them have appeared in the best-selling charts somewhere in the world.
For all those to whom the Hawaiian guitar is the most romantic sounding of instruments this album will find ready acceptance, “the sound” producing, in such an individual style and treatment, a beautiful performance for so many of these melodies of today.
The stereo effect is quite startling and for the technically minded was, I am told, obtained by direct injection, the themes being played separately and remixed to provide the full stereo effect.
For the layman such as myself it sounds tremendously full and clearly two separate parts combine perfectly to give rhythmic and melodic effect, whichever the tune demands.
This is not the first LP made by the Waikiki Islanders featuring Basil Henriques, and having heard the previous releases I can confirm that this latest album is outstandingly the best so far.
Henriques’ control of such a complex instrument (the pedal Hawaiian Guitar) is really quite superb and though the arrangements of the various items are uncomplicated there is always great authority in the playing and, when necessary, tremendous drive in the rhythmic effect.
In short, “Hawaiian Honeymoon” is a thoroughly enjoyable and listenable album.
Label: Studio2stereo TWO 290
Ken Morrish – Hammond Party Time
Sleeve notes:
Of all the hundreds of musical instruments in use today, the Hammond Organ must spring to mind as being perhaps the most versatile, and certainly one of the most popular. Originally invented by Laurens Hammond in the mid-thirties, it has become widely used throughout the years. It is one of the few instruments that can produce an almost infinite range of tone colours. This album presents the opportunity to hear a wide variety of your most popular tunes, brought to life by Ken Morrish, a prominent member of the Theatre Organ Club of Great Britain. Each tune has a rhythm of its own, a selection which demonstrates the versatility of the organ.
Hear such cheerful, bouncy numbers as Jeepers Creepers and the oh so familiar tune that has introduced innumerable shows, There’s No Business Like Show Business. The organ becomes suddenly wistful, portraying the sadness of I Left My Heart in San Francisco, and the sorrow of The Green, Green Grass of Home. Then quite without warning one is swept into the fairground and onto the merry-go-round. Imagine yourself travelling up and down, round and round to the sound of Gold and Silver.
So if you’re holding a party what could be better than inviting the Hammond Organ along to provide the music.
Verity Stevens
Label: MFP 1421
Hubert Wolf and His New Electric Zither Party Sound – Zither pops 2
“Even stiff dolls will unbend.“
Sleeve notes:
Pop On The Zither? Yes – With Hubert Wolf Here he comes crossing the “WeiBwurscht, equator now. With melody and rhythme which will also please North German ears: the wolf from Lammerspiel. Or rather: Hubert Wolf, who is living near Frankfurt at Lammerspiel, has, with the electronic zither, the only one in the whole world, created an instrument which lends sound and swing to dull parties. In the first place by record. as e.g. the LP “Zither-Pops 2” (Telefunken, SLE 14 741-P). The artist who was already distinguished once with Radio Luxembourg’s Golden Lion for “Wheels”, is only in German still relatively unknow (sic). Wolf has already made a worldwide name for himself with his sound. Especially in America he is among the secret bestsellers. Only experts know that, technically, the zither is the most difficult instrument to handle, since one hand has to practice two functions (melody and accompaniment). It is Wolf’s mission to prove that an originally popular instrument ist (sic) fully capable to meet the demands of pop-music. The arrangements, of course, plays a big part here. Therefore, Hubert Wolf arranges his titles himself. And the artist Wolf makes the strings produce unique sounds. He frees the zither and the popular songs of their cobwebs. With the result that titles like Snow Waltz, Kufstein Song – i.e. titles from popular hit parades – turn into pop-affairs which stand a good chance in the hit parades of this type of music. The medleys are ageless, the music, however, is suitable to the period. “With this music I am really happy”, says the trained trumpeter and violinist. And happy will be the various generations whom Wolf adresses (sic) with this album. “Zither-fiends” will not get one more in. The sound of Hubert Wolf is much too grand, too convincing – simple startlingly modern. Even stiff dolls will unbend.
Label: MFP 1407
Bobby Hackett and His Luxuriant Strings – That Midnight Touch
“Sit back, listen and relax to the sound of Bobby Hackett, the man with the golden horn.“
Sleeve notes:
How can anyone who has heard the playing of Bobby Hackett ever forget it? There are twelve superb melodies on this album, written by such great men as Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Victor Young. Bobby Hackett plays the cornet, the smaller more nimble relative of the trumpet, and his improvisation of each of the twelve melodies, enhanced by the full impact of total stereo sound, creates music to relax to, distortion free sound.
Bobby Hackett is backed softly throughout this record by strings, and towards the end of his playing of the Victor Young melody “My Foolish Heart”, one of the two tracks on this album that are opened by his mellow cornet, there is a short, but splendid solo for the electric guitar. His interpretation of “I guess I’ll have to dream the rest” is quite delightful. This tune dates back to the days of the big band era, and has lingered throughout the years losing none of its original appeal. He plays the George and Ira Gershwin tune “Delishious” which also dates back a good many years, to the early 30’s when it was written for the first Gershwin musical of the same name. He follows the strings and piano into the Duke Ellington number “All too soon”. A typical Ellington number which Hackett interprets enchantingly.
To complete this wonderful album Bobby Hackett gives the old Viennese waltz “Stars in my eyes” composed by Fritz Kreisler, an unusual treatment, for it has a Latin beat, the tempo being set by the guitar and rhythm.
Sit back, listen and relax to the sound of Bobby Hackett, the man with the golden horn.
Verity Stevens
Label: MFP 1407