Search - Beau Hunks :: Complete Little Rascals Music

A wonderful, unsung composer's music excellently performed!

11/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I couldn't possibly say enough about these superb recordings. Nostalgia aside, I've come to realize the genius of Leroy Shield. Thanks a million Beau Hunks!I realize that the recording was done in "low-fidelity" on purpose to make it sound more authentic but I have to believe that the composer surely would have wanted his music presented in the best form possible. Nevertheless... 5 stars+."

"Otay, Spanky!" As "HIP" as They Come

MacGuffin | New York City | 12/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Definitely not an "historically informed performance" in today's accepted sense, and yet that's exactly what it is, the differences being of repertoire and musical instruments. Holland's Beau Hunks (named for a Laurel and Hardy film) have gone to the trouble of giving us note-for-note recreations of Leroy Shield's prolific Little Rascals output performed on instruments of the type used for the original soundtracks, and the results are astounding--truly a labor of love. I can't imagine these recordings would be of much interest to non-fans but to those of us who are, they're enchanting. They remind me not only of my childhood (I suspect most of us who grew up during the 50's and 60's here in the States watched TLR on TV) but also of the great LR festivals that were held during the 80's here in NYC every Friday midnight at the St. Mark's Theater. Those were more permissive times and fans used to wait in the ticket holders line, partaking with impunity of a particular variety of imported "tobacco" before being allowed in to find seats. And while some of us have moved beyond certain such not-strictly-legal activities in which we engaged at that time, I'd like to believe that our development remained arrested with regard to forms of entertainment like TLR. Really great stuff, in no small part because of that wonderful, evocative, immediately recognizable music.

Incidentally (collectors take note), the inserts for this set differ slightly from those included with the CD's sold for individual purchase. The most obvious differences concern the first disk (TBH Play the Original LR Music) and include the cover art's being sepia-toned as opposed to black-and-white; the stock itself isn't as nice, either (it's not nearly as heavy). Also, both disks in the box are labeled on their back inserts as being part of a box, so if such things are important, examine your set with these differences in mind--they're the easiest ones to spot. No extra materials are included, hence there's no advantage to owning the box over the individual CD's unless having the slipcase is important; it might also be a bit easier to acquire the separate CD's (the first of which is way OOP, as is the box)."

CD A MUST FOR ANY RASCALS FAN

MacGuffin | 11/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to this CD is a surreal experience. The recording is so authentic that you will be transported back to the 1930's and think that you are actually hearing the musicians who recorded the musical themes back in California during that time. For Rascal's fans everywhere, the effort that must have be taken to complete this project can only be compared to the discovery of the Titanic! No one ever thought the ship would be found, let alone that the technology would exist to complete such a task. That is how I felt listening to The Beau Hunks. A big thank you to all of the wonderful musicians who took part in this project. It is a dream come true for anyone who grew up with and loves The Little Rascals comedies."