[.ca] Hard to Find Pop Instrumentals

Instrumentals that were instrumental...:
This compilation, companion piece to "Orchestral Instrumentals", done by the little label doing great "oldies" CDs, ie., Eric Records, brings together instrumentals representing many of the sans vocal musical styles that appeared on the pop charts in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Starting with the "Third Man Theme" of Anton Karas from 1950, the disc winds through diverse styles - rag time, Dixieland, honky-tonk, jazz, Latin and more - finishing (though not chronologically) with the 1979 "Music Box Dancer", the Frank Mills tune that wound up being popular in music boxes. While loaded with top-10 songs from those decades, making this compilation outstanding is the selection of so many seldom-found tunes. "National City", the march tune from the fictitious Joiner, Arkansas Jr. High School Band (actually Ernie Freeman and friends), from the U.K. Reg Owens' exciting "Manhattan Spiritual", the Little Dippers' "Forever" and "The Crazy Otto" from Johnny Maddox are just some of the first-timers or rarities on CD. The outstanding sound quality on most tracks and preponderance of stereo versions (all tracks save 1,2,4,9,10,13,17) contribute to making this outstanding repertoire even more enjoyable to listen to. If there had to be a criticism leveled here, it would be the substitution of a newly-recorded stereo version of the 1955 "Alabama Jubilee". Credit does got to Eric however, for labeling it as such on the outside of the package and offering an explanation in the liner notes, which by the way, offer interesting backround on the included tracks. This is a superbly constructed piece offering one of the very best collections of post big-band pop instrumentals available in the market.

For Water Aerobics, THE MOST POPULAR CD!:
This CD Series (Hard-to-Find Pop Instrumentals I, and II) is THE MOST POPULAR at water aerobics classes (whose typical member is over age 50), and has been for a several weeks. It is even more popular than both "Abba Gold" and the "Hooked on Classics" series. I've lent this CD Series to so many water aerobic instructors (four different ones), for so many days, that I've actually purchased second copies, something I've done with no other CD. So, why this popularity? Possibly because: (1) The music is positive/upbeat, (2) the variety, and (3) the excellent sound quality. If you know why the popularity, please tell me.

Excellent:
A great selection of many hard to find instrumentals. All done by the "orginal" artists in most cases. Great music from the 50's, 60's etc.

A welcome round up of pop gems.:
This disc is a little uneven in its range (Anton Karas' "Third Man Theme" to Meco's "Star Wars" disco cover) but it's a great disc to get to fill in the holes of your collection of all time great pop singles. A lot of these songs are pretty hard to find (hence the title!) and some I've never seen on compact disc before. I really bought it because I wanted a copy of "Music Box Dancer" from the original master tapes (and it sounds great!) but there's a lot more here. The Brass Ring's "Dis-Advantages of You" is among the 1960s finest moments and Piero Umiliani's "Mah Na Mah Na" (from the 1969 "Sweden Heaven and Hell" film) is finally on CD as well. The version of The Ferko String Band's "Alabama Jubilee" is a 1999 re-recording. The liner notes state that the new version is used because the original master of the 1955 version is poor quality. Be that as it may, I would rather have had the original. Sometimes you gotta sacrifice quality for originality, but hey, it wasn't my decision. Nice liner notes, too!

A Great Collection Even At List Price:
I bought this album to replace lost or worn out records. I still have the original 78RPM (remember them?) of "The Third Man Theme" (Anton Karas) that my parents bought in 1950, which is now so worn out it is barely audible. It's a shame that the flip side of the record, "The Cafe Mozart Waltz", was not included in this compilation. "Kemo-Sabe", "The Music Box Dancer", and "Midnight In Moscow" also replace lost 45's. When you listen to "Kem-O-Sabe" you will recognize the similarity to the music in old western movies, and more recently the sing-song chant at Florida State football games and Atlanta Braves baseball games. And if you listen carefully you will also hear a similarity to the opening bars of the gallop in Rossini's "William Tell Overture" which everyone recognizes as the theme song to the old Lone Ranger tv show. "Percolator Twist" and "Wahsington Square" are also old favorites. "Percolator" was based on a Maxwell House coffee commercial that ran in the 60's. The best part, though, is that the entire cd is a pleasure to listen to. It is worth the price, ...

• "Third Man" Theme - Anton Karas
• Crazy Otto Medley - Johnny Maddox
• Entertainer - Marvin Hamlisch
• Petite Fleur \oLittle Flower\c
• March from the Tiver Kwai 7 Colonel Bogey
• Alabama Jubilee \oStereo Version\c - Ferko String Band
• Tea for Two \oCha Cha\c - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
• Manhattan Spiritual - Reg Bowen
• Graduation Song... Pomp & Circumstance - Adrian Kimberly
• National City
• Midnight in Moscow - Kenny Ball & His Jazz Band
• Washington Square - The Village Stompers
• Soft Summer Breeze - Eddie Heywood
• Forever - Anita Kerr Quartet, The Little Dippers
• Music Box Dance
• Dis-Advantages of You - The Brass Ring
• Percolator (Twist) - Billy Joe & The Checkmates
• Keem-O-Sabe
• Mah Nà Mah Nà - Piero Umiliani
• Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band