Percy Faith - Great Folk Themes/American Serenade CD

Great Folk Themes/American Serenade buy CD music This discount-priced two-fer combines a couple of modestly successful Percy Faith albums on international themes: 1962's Music of Brazil! and 1963's Shangri-La!. Faith delighted in assembling collections of music with overseas flavors, but he never really ventured very far, usually preferring to present his interpretation of some other North American's interpretation of what the music of another clime sounded like. Music of Brazil! may have been released in the teeth of the samba fad of the early '60s, but Faith's take on the style derived from an earlier Brazilian craze of the early '40s, when the U.S. government was encouraging friendship with South America as a bulwark against Nazism. This is more swing music with Latin percussion, and it includes Faith's versions of hits like "Brazil," associated with Xavier Cugat. Of course, Faith had one of the biggest hits of his career in 1952 with "Delicado," and a new recording is included. Shangri-La! has even less legitimacy as a musical journey through the South Seas and the Far East, as its title, referring to a fictional utopia, suggests. These are Faith's arrangements of songs written mostly in Broadway and Hollywood for shows and films set in Asia and the Pacific Rim, such as Kismet and The King and I. The strings weave an alluring mystery, but the music was not made on location. ~ William Ruhlmann Originally released on Columbia. "2 LP's On 1 CD" B/W "Shangri-La" 2 LPs on 1 CD: MUSIC OF BRAZIL! (1962)/SHANGRI-LA! (1963). Adapter: Percy Faith.

Great Folk Themes/American Serenade CD music Collectables' two-fer reissue of the Percy Faith albums Today's Themes for Young Lovers and For Those in Love is an excellent match-up. The former album was Faith's summer 1967 LP release, and it was followed by the latter in the winter of 1968. Faith took the same approach with both, recording his versions of hits with his orchestra and, on most tracks, a female chorus, so you might as well call this reissue "Percy Faith Plays the Hits of 1967." Three of the year's Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers -- "Happy Together," "Somethin' Stupid," and "Windy" -- are included, along with lots of other soft rock successes. Faith's arrangements usually contain elements from the hit recordings, and he has made good choices from what was available to him. He wisely presents "Somethin' Stupid" as an instrumental, not forcing his chirpy women to twist their tongues around the slightly sarcastic lyrics, but they sound odd trying to sing "It Must Be Him," as if it weren't the emotionally overwrought song it is. Faith is at his best with songs already written in his sort of style, such as "Release Me" and the Burt Bacharach compositions "The Look of Love" and "I Say a Little Prayer." There is some filler here (Faith usually reserved at least one songwriting credit on each LP for himself and also stuck on other ringers, perhaps as favors), but this is a good survey of 1967 popular music from an easy listening perspective, including several tunes that remained familiar into the 21st century. ~ William Ruhlmann Originally released on Columbia. "2 LP's On 1 CD" B/W "For Those In Love" 2 LPs on 1 CD: TODAY'S THEMES FOR YOUNG LOVERS (1967)/FOR THOSE IN LOVE (1968). Liner Note Author: Mark Marymont. Recording information: 02/27/1967-12/22/1967.

Great Folk Themes/American Serenade songs The two albums contained on this discount-priced two-fer each contain Percy Faith's arrangements of movie music of the 1960s. Born Free was originally titled The Academy Award Winner and Other Great Movie Themes when it appeared in the spring of 1967 because, while Faith had recorded all five of the 1966 Oscar nominees for best song on it, the LP was printed before the winner, "Born Free," had been announced. Windmills of Your Mind, in 1969, appeared after the Oscar ceremony, but it, too, featured all five of the year's nominees. Also included were themes that, while they might not have been "songs" in the Academy sense, were Oscar-worthy, such as "Somewhere My Love (Lara's Theme From 'Dr. Zhivago')," from Maurice Jarre's score, which won the 1965 original scoring award. There were also ringers, such as "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," which had been written for Finian's Rainbow, the 1947 Broadway musical that didn't earn a film treatment until 1968. Faith featured his own work in "Song From 'The Oscar,'" taken from one of the handful of film scores he composed, and the curious "Elvira's Theme," actually a treatment of Mozart's "Piano Concerto in C-Major, K. 467," which had been featured in the 1967 film Elvira Madigan and which Faith disingenuously claimed a composing credit for. More than 30 years after the albums were recorded, some of the tunes remained familiar and enjoyable -- "Georgy Girl," "Somewhere My Love," "A Man and a Woman," "Born Free," "This Is My Song," "Alfie," "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "The Windmills of Your Mind," and "As Long As He Needs Me" (the last another ringer, from the stage musical Oliver!) -- while the rest were long forgotten. ~ William Ruhlmann Originally released on Columbia. "2 LP's On 1 CD" B/W "Windmills Of Your Mind" 2 LPs on 1 CD: BORN FREE (1967)/THE WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND (1969). Liner Note Author: Mark Marymont. Recording information: 05/26/1965-03/05/1969. Arranger: Percy Faith.

Great Folk Themes/American Serenade album for sale This two-fer CD combines Percy Faith's 1964 album (More Themes for Young Lovers) and the follow-up (Latin Themes for Young Lovers). These LPs were originally released on Columbia Records and had been out of print until being reissued in 2003 on Collectables. This pleasant set includes familiar songs like "Wives and Lovers," "Spanish Harlem," "Since I Fell for You," and "One Note Samba," in addition to completely banal offerings like "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" and "Popsicles & Icicles." Those who appreciate easy listening music, or anything kitsch in general, should find this a welcome addition to their collection. ~ Al Campbell Originally released on Columbia. "2 LP's On 1 CD" "Latin Themes For Young Lovers 2 LPs on 1 CD: MORE THEMES FOR YOUNG LOVERS (1964)LATIN THEMES FOR YOUNG LOVERS (1965). Liner Note Author: Mark Marymont. Recording information: 02/13/1964-10/22/1964.

Great Folk Themes/American Serenade CD music Originally released on Columbia, these two Percy Faith albums zero in on easy listening versions of songs by the Beatles and from Jesus Christ Superstar. The rather formulaic treatments work best on the compositions of Lennon and McCartney, especially "The Fool on the Hill" and "Yesterday." The 12 highlights from the original score of Jesus Christ Superstar include lackluster versions of "Superstar," "Everything's Alright," and "I Don't Know How to Love Him." Not an essential purchase by a long shot, but this disc will provide kitschy moments for your next cocktail party. In 2002, Collectables began reissuing Faith's Columbia titles as two-fers with original cover art and song sequences. ~ Al Campbell 2 for 1 includes - The Beatles Album (1970) & Jesus Christ Superstar (1971). Stand-out selections include John Lennon and Paul McCartney's 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds', 'Eleanor Rigby' plus 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' from Jesus Christ Superstar. Collectables. 2002. Originally released on Columbia. 2 LPs On 1 CD: THE BEATLES ALBUM (1970)/JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (1971). Liner Note Author: Al Fichera. Recording information: 05/12/1970-08/27/1971.

Great Folk Themes/American Serenade buy CD music There is no doubting that Percy Faith was one of the great arrangers in contemporary American music, but the nice side of the two-fer Bon Voyage/Carefree is that it not only explores Faith's delightful arrangements, but also showcases his clever compositions. Of the two records, combined here on one CD, it is Carefree where the too often overlooked Percy Faith as composer is explored. Every song in this section is a soundtrack for happy walking through the park on a beautiful snowy day. The first section of the disc, the album Bon Voyage, is a bit more serious, with Faith's renditions of several complex and challenging themes by a slew of composers, but no less cinematic. In fact, the whole 68 minutes serve as a magical aural theme park perfect for conducting imaginary orchestras while driving to and from the grocery store. Bon Voyage/Carefree is a fun listen. ~ Gregory McIntosh Pianist Percy Faith, a pioneer of the Easy Listening genre, had a successful and lengthy career as the in-house conductor and arranger for Columbia Records. Faith was renowned for his musical interpretations of Broadway and motion picture music. 2 on 1 reissue from Collectables, originally released in 1960 & 1961, features 23 tracks clocking in at 68 minutes. 2003. Originally released on Columbia. 2 LPs on 1 CD: BON VOYAGE (1960)/CAREFREE (1961).