1972

Sleeve Notes:

Featuring the funky trumpet of Ray Davies

With so much good music around these days, the difficulty when compiling material for an album is deciding what to leave out! When Tony Palmer and I got together to discuss this problem we finally decided to choose tunes that would be suitable for the unique sound that we get from the Button Down Brass, coupled with the Quad 4 D recording technique, and yet still be able to let you listen to the individual qualities of the members of the group.

“I Don’t Know How To Love Him” from the musical “Jesus Christ, Superstar” is really a show case for Johnny Edwards on Trombone, but also note the fine percussion work by Stan Barratt who really enjoyed himself playing the Verdi drum and tymps, while Denis Lopez caused havoc with the hand cymbals!

Eric Ford (accoustic guitar) Dave Richmond (bass guitar) and Barry Morgan on drums gave us tremendous rhythm throughout the whole record, (just listen to “Shaft”), while Alan Parker’s (electric guitar) solo on “Truckin'” just has to be heard to be believed! Alan. Hawkshaw and Harry Stoneham supplied the Electric Piano and Organ work. Need I say more?

Morricone’s Theme from the film “The Red Tent” gave me the chance to play a more legitimate style trumpet solo than usual, and with some fine tunes from Carole King, James Taylor and Leon Russell I’m sure you’ll have as much enjoyment listening to this album as we all did making it. As the song says:- “Why Can’t We All Get Together?”

Label: Pye Records Quad 1004
Photography by Paul Chave

1972 1970s Covers

Sleeve Notes:

If there’s a recipe for an album that sets out to combine the very best in songs with the best in orchestral performances, then Cyril Ornadel has surely achieved it with this collection. What’s more he’s managed it with a style and a panache that has, quite rightly, placed him in the forefront of music makers.

Certainly he’s had the very best of ingredients to work with because names like Kaempfert, Lennon and McCartney, Bernstein, and Simon and Garfunkel find a ready acceptance and respect from all musicians. In compiling this album, Cyril Ornadel hasn’t just set out to make an LP that is perfection by musical standards, although that’s as much a part of the album as anything, but on a broader basis he’s created an album that is rich in the kind of musical pleasure that stems from listening to old favourites like “Lazy hazy crazy days of summer”, “Strangers in the night”, “In the midnight hour” and “Zorba’s Dance”. They’re songs that have a lasting popularity and listening to the Stereo Action Orchestra perform them it’s easy to see just why they’re so frequently played. But although you’ve heard them before under different guises we can safely guarantee that in the hands of Cyril Ornadel they remain not only great melodies but lasting moments of enjoyment.

Label: RCA Camden CDS 1105

1972 1970s Covers

Sleeve Notes:

The prerequisite for relaxed jazz is the quality of intimacy. Yet, all too often the tempos and the instrumentation of such groups have served to incite a mood far different.

To prove the point, soak in the feeling developed by the Phil Moody Quintet. Carefully selected instrumentation coupled with an equally good choice of material, all add up to a programme that makes for a ‘three’s a crowd’ mood.

Compositions treated in this ‘jazz for two’ reading include such truly great romantic standards as Body and Soul, I Only Have Eyes For You, All of Me, Two Sleepy People, Alone Together, Let’s Fall in Love, The Way You Look Tonight, and You Do Something to Me. Add to this an original arrangement based on the classics – Romeo Digs Juliet.

The leader of the group is Phil Moody – a pianist of supreme taste and facility. He has gathered about him five of the finest jazz musicians on the West Coast of America. The combination consists of Jack Sperling on bass, Paul Horn on flute, Al Hendrickson on guitar, Roland Bundock on drums and Gene Estes on vibes.

Sit back, with someone special – and feel this intimate jazz. It could prove very helpful to the intention in mind.

Label: Pye Golden Guinea GGL 0085

1972 1970s Covers

Long player, long hair, long dress, long long ago. Love songs in HiFi Stereo was an early seventies delight.

Label: Polydor 2482 294

1972 1970s Covers