"Chinatown" is a reissue of Columbia Records KC 33006, on which "Bend Me, Shape Me" was deleted and the "Chinatown" theme was added. The original album was titled and released as "The Entertainer," however was discontinue... more »d within weeks of release and replaced by KC 33224 (which also had a new cover due to Faith's displeasure with the original). This reissue contains the deleted track as a bonus selection. "Summer Place '76" was Percy Faith's last album, recorded just prior to his passing in February of 1976.« less
"Chinatown" is a reissue of Columbia Records KC 33006, on which "Bend Me, Shape Me" was deleted and the "Chinatown" theme was added. The original album was titled and released as "The Entertainer," however was discontinued within weeks of release and replaced by KC 33224 (which also had a new cover due to Faith's displeasure with the original). This reissue contains the deleted track as a bonus selection. "Summer Place '76" was Percy Faith's last album, recorded just prior to his passing in February of 1976.
CD Reviews
"The Sting, Chinatown & Summer Place Theme ~ Percy Faith"
J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 06/03/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is by no means "Elevator Music", but arrangements highlighting the quality of song writing ~ this my friends is Percy Faith in the purist form and he's giving every selection his personal attention. The "Percy Faith Touch" is no accident ~ his background in composing and formula of well crafted arrangements is legend. Mr. Faith was a master of violin based arrangements, which continually pleased all of his fans. If you don't agree, just listen to "WHAT'LL I DO", the beautiful classic Irving Berlin tune with golden sounds reaching the heavens with counter melodies in Faith's one-of-a-kind arrangements ~ same ultimate strings in "I GOT RHYTHM", a George Gershwin highlight with all the goodies. How about a sampling of "DEEP IN THE MORNING", the Neil Diamond song reeks from masterful orchestrations, with familiar and not so familiar tunes and infectiously delightful melodies, all spiced up with polished arrangements.The next track was a wonderful film called "CHINATOWN", starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in a whodunit mystery, but the real star was the haunting theme by Jerry Goldsmith that left the audience completely mesmerized and spellbound ~ Faith's arrangement on this cue is beyond the stratosphere. Many other selections are stand outs ~ "MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS", "FEELINGS", "MAYBE SEPTEMBER", "SADDEST THING OF ALL" and "SEND IN THE CLOWNS", as we witness Faith's strengths in originality through his masterful pen and baton ~ he comes through with flying colors ~ can you recognize this melody of "SOLEADO", composed by Zacar was recorded again and again under the title of "When A Child Is Born", as recorded by Johnny Mathis, beautiful rendition by Percy Faith.A big surprise was "1,2,3,4", a down and groovy composition with the B-Hammond Organ that leaves you simply numb. And one cannot leave this review without mentioning "SUMMER PLACE '76 (THE THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE"), his classic arrangement of 1959 is remixed by non other than Faith himself ~ Max Steiner would have loved hearing his classic composition with a "disco beat" ~ two great musicians/composers have given us much pleasure over the years and still going strong ~ gotta love it!Total Time: 70:14 on 21 Tracks ~ Collectibles COL-CD-7522 ~ (2/18/2003)"
SUMMER PLACE REVISITED
Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 03/07/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Faith risked a lot by "discofying" his 1959 Summer Place classic, and here in 2003, it's a little humorously whimsical to listen to that disco beat again. But it further exemplifies Faith's mastery of his art, and his incredible youthful vigor to stay with the times. This two album set from the mid-seventies evidences this. It is highlighted with some remarkable vocals by Leslie somebody or other (the CD doesn't give credits), and I can only remember it by searching the darkest corners of my memory, but she..wait, it's come Leslie Kendall!!! Anyway, the lady's voice is lovely on "Maybe September" and "Saddest Thing of All." Faith's eclectic songs include good versions of "I'm Gonna Go Fishin," "Midnight at the Oasis" the haunting theme from "Chinatown", "Tubular Bells" and "Send in the Clowns." A great addition to anyone's "easy listening" library.
RECOMMENDED."
CHINATOWN/SUMMERPLACE 76
Jeff Carter | Perry, Ga United States | 02/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THESE ARE TWO OF FAITH'S BETTER ALBUMS THAT ARE FINALLY ON CD.
CHINATOWN FEATURING THE ENTERTAINER FROM 1974 CONTAINS THE ENTER
TAINER,I'M GONNA GO FISHIN,WHAT'LL I DO,DEEP IN THE MORNING,
THEME FROM CHINATOWN,FIFTH MOVEMENT,MOODY,I GOT RHYTHM,MIDNIGHT
AT THE OASIS,1,2,3,4 AND BEND ME,SHAPE ME(BONUS)THE ENTERTAINER
WAS ONLY OUT 6 WEEKS IN 1974 BEFORE IT WAS DROPPED.THAN IT CAME OUT AGAIN WITH CHINATOWN ADDED AND BEND ME DROPPED.BUT ALL OF THESE SONGS ARE ON THIS CD.WHAT'LL I DO,THEME FROM CHINATOWN
AND MOODY ARE VERY LUSH AND BEAUTIFUL WITH HEAVY STRINGS.THE
REST ARE KIND OF BRASSY.
SUMMERPLACE 76 FROM 1974 WAS FAITH'S LAST ALBUM BEFORE HE DIED AND CONTAINS SUMMERPLACE 76,FEELINGS,DING DONG(CHROUS)MAYBE SEPTEMBER(VOCALS LESLIE KENDALL),SOLEADO,DREAM YOUR DREAM,SHABUMPIN,SADDEST THING OF ALL(VOCALS LESLIE KENDALL)LA BALANGA AND SEND IN THE CLOWNS.SOME OF THESE SONGS HAS A BIT OF
DISCO IN THEM ESPSECIALLY SUMMERPLACE 76 AND A FEW OTHERS.FAITH
PULLED OFF THE DISCO BEAT GREAT.OTHER SONGS ON THIS ALBUM ARE
VERY LUSH SUCH AS FEELINGS,MAYBE SEPTEMBER,SOLEADO,SADDEST THING
OF ALL,SEND IN THE CLOWNS AND DREAM YOUR DREAM.DREAM YOUR DREAM
WAS ACTUALLY CONDUCTED BY ALAN BROADBENT.SOLEADO IS ACTUALLY
WHEN A CHILD IS BORN WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE A CHRISTMAS SONG.
NO ORIGANAL LINER NOTES WERE INCLUDED ON NEITHER ONE OF THESE ALBUMS.SUMMERPLACE 76 DIDN'T GET AS MUCH PLAY AS SUMMERPLACE.
COLLECTIBLES IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE RELEASE SOME MORE FAITH
ALBUMS SOON."
Quirky song selections mar outing
Darryl Geddes | Syracuse, NY | 03/06/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Percy Faith leaves behind his signature lush string sound and replaces it with plenty of brass and woodwind. The opening track the Entertainer is orchestral overkill. In fact the cumbersome arrangement over takes the song and midway through the selection the melody is lost. I'm Gonna Go Fishin is equally bombastic. The other album included in this two-fer is Faith's discoed update of the Theme from a Summer Place. Need one say more? There are some good tracks: What'll I Do, Chinatown and Midnight at Oasis all carry Faith's distinctive style. And we also get a vocal thrown in for good measure. A lack of liner notes that specifically discusses these albums is a let down."
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
Darryl Geddes | 03/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I THINK THIS IS THE BEST PERCY FAITH CD YET! I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING 23 YEARS FOR THIS VERSION OF THE "THEME FROM CHINATOWN" I HAD NO IDEA THAT PERCY FAITH WAS THE ARTIST. AND ONCE AGAIN THERE ARE OTHER GREAT EASY LISTENING SONGS LIKE "MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS", "DREAM YOUR DREAMS", THE "SADDEST THING OF ALL", "MAYBE SEPTEMBER", AND "MOODY"."
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1