Search - Nelson Riddle :: Touch of Class

Nelson riddle

RAMON AUAD A | chile | 06/18/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Goods titles with the best orchestra. Specially performed for a quiet moments."

Easy listening elegance.

Robert S. Clay Jr. | St. Louis, MO., USA | 03/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There would be a tendency, I suppose, to dismiss this album as forgettable elevator music. The music was copyrighted in the late '50s and early '60s, and, generally speaking, it's the same stuff that one hears on those "music of your life" radio stations. Much as Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle walked a fine line between "easy listening" and lite jazz. As the title suggests, this album stresses the more elegant sound. That means an emphasis on stringed instruments, but even Charlie Parker did some music with strings. True elegance is the theme music from an obscure Western movie of 1956 called "The Proud Ones." Riddle's orchestration nicely captures the image of a rider on the trail, whistling to keep the restless cattle quiet. In a brief 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the listener enjoys a smooth sound that sooths jangled nerves. The track is followed by the "Route 66" theme that evokes a '60s sports car eating up the highway miles. Moving on from movie and TV themes, there is "September in the Rain," as the leaves of brown come tumbling down. The lighthearted "Lisbon Antigua" and the others nicely round out the set of 16 tracks. This European import is a reissue of the original album. There are no liner notes, just a listing of the music and publication dates. This one will make the Hip-Hop generation gag. Those with an open mind can relax and enjoy the music. ;-)"