Search - Firehouse Five Plus Two :: Plus Two Story

Plus Two Story
Firehouse Five Plus Two
Plus Two Story
Genres: Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (18) - Disc #2

First recorded in 1949, this band was the side project of a group of animators at the Walt Disney studios; this two-CD set collects the group's recordings up to 1954. The Firehouse Five began at the peak of the California ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Firehouse Five Plus Two
Title: Plus Two Story
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Good Time Jazz
Release Date: 2/3/1994
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Styles: Traditional Jazz & Ragtime, Dixieland
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPCs: 025218225526, 090204026258, 090204036240, 090204096237

Synopsis

Amazon.com
First recorded in 1949, this band was the side project of a group of animators at the Walt Disney studios; this two-CD set collects the group's recordings up to 1954. The Firehouse Five began at the peak of the California revival of traditional jazz, when the music was sharply divided into warring camps and traditions were jealously defended. But there was nothing doctrinaire about the band's enthusiastic, almost frenetic, approach. Owing as much to vaudeville as it did to New Orleans jazz, it invoked the spirit of America's early popular music, including novelty tunes like "Who Walks in When I Walk Out." The sirens and other sound effects that the band added to its music even suggest a kinship with its inspired contemporary Spike Jones. Though these recordings may send traditional purists into apoplexy, the level of musicianship is surprisingly high and the spirit is infectious. --Stuart Broomer

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CD Reviews

Wonderful happy music
Daniel R. Lindsay | Hilo, HI United States | 12/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Firehouse Five Plus Two were wonderful musicians. This is a fact often overlooked, as they clearly played for fun -- both the listeners' and their own. In their early years, their humor and slapstick antics on stage often obscured their excellent musicianship. This double CD of their earlier recordings shows their growth and development, but the goofiness which characterized their live performances is not present in these studio recordings. In my view, they did not reach their peak till the arrival of George Probert and his magnificent soprano sax playing; Probert appears on only a few of these tunes. But the infectious energy and joy of this band was apparent from the start, and these songs can be played again and again with satisfaction and joy."
Master Animators, Amazing Musicians
Duane S. Montague | WA United States | 08/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'd been thinking of getting a Firehouse Five Plus Two cd for many years, but it was the recent passing of Ward Kimball (the founder of the group and the animator behind such famous Disney characters like Jiminy Cricket) that made me search for their cds on Amazon.I have always enjoyed the taped performances I've seen by the group (you can catch them on the "Disneyland, USA" DVD released last year), but listening to the music--a frentic, frantic, and altogether fun collection--one can really sense that these men, so reknowned for their artistic talent, were blessed with a multiplicty of talents.It's not intended to be listened to as background music for a quiet evening at home--the fire bells at the beginning of Disc One makes that quite clear--but it definitely is meant to be listened to when you feel like smiling, enjoying some wonderful dixieland jazz (one might feel inclined to look for the nearest speakeasy and dance the charleston), and remembering some of the greatest animators who ever lived, put on this collection, which highlights some of their greatest moments."
Excellent - You won't regret it !!!!
Santiago | California | 10/08/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought it without knowing who these guys were. After talking with some older people they told me that Firehouse Five plus Two had been very famous in the 50's. This CD is a great selection. The sound is very good considering that are recordings for the 40's and 50's. If you like this kind of music you'll find here the best."