Some Unusual (but much liked) CD's

OK! Let’s move on to CD’s. I possess one thousand and twenty seven music CD’s in my collection at the moment, and these are catalogued on my computer in the same way as my audio cassettes.

One of the reasons I have so many CD’s is that I subscribe to Classic FM Magazine, and each month you are sent a “Free CD” with the magazine. These soon build up into a very good classical music CD library. The CD’s are usually tracks from current releases, and often you find that a particular track is very much to your liking, so you are tempted to purchase the full CD! A very cunning way of exploiting the CD buying public and persuading them to part with their hard earned cash.

Another reason I have so many Classical CD’s is I subscribed to a 48 set CD collection called “In Classical Mood”, which provided a CD in a slip case which was in the form of a small book, which gave lots of information about the pieces on the CD, the composers, and current events at the time the music was written. The music on these CD’s was themed, so for example, titles included “Tranquillity”, “The Magic of Italy”, “Piano Favourites” etc.

I also subscribed to a series of 62 CD’s called “Classic Composers” which took you through the various periods of music - Baroque, Classical, Early Romantic, Late Romantic, and Modern. These CD’s also came in the form of a small book, which gave lots of information about the pieces on the CD, the composers, and current events at the time the music was written. They also gave a good selection of classical music through the ages!

The vast bulk of the CD’s are of classical music, but there are other categories too. For example, you will find:

Barbershop, Ballet, Classical Baroque, Christmas Carols, Christmas Songs, Christmas Music, Organ, Piano Music, Choral – Religious, Vocal, Light Vocal, Male Voice Choir, Scottish, Light Classical (Orchestral & Piano), Classics with a Beat, Synthesisers, Comedy, Country, Folk, Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Groups, Traditional Jazz, Popular Instrumental/Vocal, Film Music, Soundtracks, and Brass Bands.

I have always delighted in tracking down musical curiosities and oddities, so for example you will find a selection of CD’s with the music of Leroy Anderson on them. I’m sure you will have heard of his piece “The Typewriter”, which uses a typewriter as a percussion instrument.

The Jacques Loussier trio became well known for their interpretations of the music of J S Bach, (Remember the Hamlet Cigar Advert music?) whilst the Swingle Singers performed scat versions of music by Bach, Mozart and many other classical composers.

Mannheim Steamroller (yes they really are called that!) is a synthesiser group who originally specialised in arrangements of Christmas songs and carols before branching out into the wider fields of classical music. Mannheim Steamroller actually began as an alias for record producer/composer Chip Davis. Before the fame of Steamroller, Davis had been best known for creating the country music character “C.W. McCall” (of “Convoy” fame) for his friend Bill Fries. And even before Davis “made” McCall a star, he produced an unusual album of classical music performed entirely by Davis and musical collaborator Jackson Berkey, using electric bass and synthesizers. Since no major label would handle its distribution, Davis founded his own music label, American Gramaphone (a play on the classical record label Deutsche Grammophon), to release the album. The result, Fresh Aire, was released in 1975 under the pseudonym Mannheim Steamroller, in the hopes of the album being a best seller. Fresh Aire II was subsequently released in 1977 and Fresh Aire III was released in 1979.Mannheim Steamroller quickly grew into a full band, with Davis on drums, Berkey on keyboards, and Eric Hansen on bass and lute. Berkey’s wife Almeda joined them onstage as another keyboardist. The London Symphony Orchestra appears on Fresh Aire V, Fresh Aire VI, and Fresh Aire 8.Later, Davis collaborated with guitarist/composer Mason Williams for a remake of the 1968 instrumental “Classical Gas”, which used the original arrangement.

Chip Davis - of Mannheim Steamroller

Isao Tomita is a Japanese musician and another synthesiser performer who plays classical music.

Claude Bolling is a Jazz musician who often plays with well known classical musicians. He has written music for (and performed with) Yo Yo Ma [cello], Jean-Pierre Rampal [flute], and Maurice Andre [trumpet].

One of my favourite folk singers is the Scottish born, Australian based Eric Bogle (Yes it really is his real surname!). I first discovered his music via a song of his on an LP of Mike Harding’s (the Lancashire Comedian and Folk Singer), and then some years later whilst we were on holiday on the Isle of Arran I purchased a cassette of his songs. Even much later when we were touring the West Coast of Scotland I came across a shop in Ullapool, where the proprietor was an Eric Bogle fan and stocked all his English releases. Needless to say I made quite a few purchases at the shop!!!!

Eric Bogle

If you like your music to be entertaining and tuneful, you can do no better than purchase a CD of Leroy Anderson's music. His music is light, bright and tuneful.

Should you feel that the original classical music is a bit heavy for your taste , try the likes of Jacques Loussier, Mannheim Stemaroller or Isao Tomita.

For tuneful Jazz, cleverly composed and performed you can do no better than the Claude Bolling Trio.

Folk songs which are full of meaning are the trademark of Eric Bogle. He doesn't shy away from some of the more "Difficult" subjects. He does have an excellent sense of melody, and some very poignant lyrics.

Do try to hear some of his songs - I assure you that you will not be disappointed.

Happy Listening!