Search - 101 Strings :: Golden Age of Dance Bands

PIPE ORGAN PLUS VISITS THE BIG BANDS -- NO STRINGS ATTACHED

Robert Edler | Saint Louis, Missouri USA | 09/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Once upon a time (probably the sixties) one on the budget record labels (which kept changing its name -- Alshire, Sommerset and a few other variations) got a great idea of combining the sound of a giant pipe organ with European musical groups (the Nord Deuches Radio Orchestra and others). The albums were titled PIPE ORGAN PLUS, and most of the albums were real sonic block busters. I know because I owned about four of them. Never could get them all. This ablum was one of the lesser efforts sonicly. It contains copy cat arrangements of big band greatest hits with the addition of the pipe organ stylings of Californian Buddy Cole, who was better known for his radio work and Hammondesque recordings.The liner notes for one of the symphonic works explained how the symphony was recorded in one location and the organ was recorded in another. The orchestra had to be tuned to the organ, and the conductor and the organist were connected via telephone/radio line to make the two sound sources to come together. Infortunately, in the BIG BAND or DANCE BANDS recording it sounds as if they sent the pipe organ portion of the album via telephone line. The organ really isn't a sonic force, and except for AND THE ANGELS SING it sound more like the continuo for an old radio soap opera. (Hey, I was in grade school back then.)While the CD is not the best Big/Dance Band sound and the pipe organ is not the best Big Organ sound, it is a pleasant recording. I just wish Madacy (or whatever the company currently holding the original masters is called) would release the Brass Band, Symphonic and the other Sonic Pipe Organ Plus recordings on CD! And just to confuse matters more, the 101 Strings were never on any of the recordings."

Buddy Cole at the Wurlitzer

J. Fredricks | Clemmons, NC USA | 03/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As someone who can't stand the 101 Strings, I can see only one reason to own this CD - Buddy Cole. Buddy Cole was best known as Bing Crosby's piano accompanist on many recordings, radio and TV appearances. The pipe organ was his hobby and he had a giant studio built in his back yard to house his Wurlitzer. Out of this studio emerged what I consider to be the greatest pipe organ albums ever recorded. This particular recording however, is a hack job, since Buddy's studio could not accomodate an orchestra and the organ and orchestra had to be recorded separately. But if you're a Buddy Cole fan, this is his only release on CD I know of. Without Buddy Cole this rates 2 stars."

They pulled the wrong master tape!

Paul W Urbahns | Radcliff KY | 03/16/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The album title, Golden Age Of Dance Bands, was used on at least three different recordings by the same company in the 1960s. One was the 101 Strings release of orchestral versions, a second was by a big band "Poll Winners of 1940" using the original arrangements of the hits and a third album in the "Pipe Organ Plus series" of recordings had a big band playing along with a pipe organ. The Pipe Organ Plus albums were sonic greats in their time and when marketed right had a large market. The master used for this CD was the big band with Pipe Organ record. You will not find any strings on this 101 Strings release. A highly enjoyable album none the less."