Now Sound — All Formats  

An incredible live recording by Burt Bacharach – and one that wasn't issued in the US! This early 70s concert is great proof that the Bacharach magic didn't come from any studio tricks – but from the genius of Burt himself – as the maestro's working here in a fantastic larger-than-life setting, one that offers slightly different takes on the magical tunes of his A&M years. The arrangements include a large instrumental group, plus strings and uncredited singers – and Burt himself delivers some wonderful vocals on a few tunes too. Titles include "Promises Promises", "The Look Of Love", "Walk On By", "Come Touch The Sun", "Bond Street", "Close To You", "A House Is Not A Home", and 2 nice medley tracks!

An obscure and wonderful chapter in the career of Burt Bacharach – material penned for a 1967 TV musical starring Rick Nelson and Joanie Sommers – all of it perfect 60s Bacharach pop all the way through! The plot of the musical is a bit silly, but the performance isn't – tightly-crafted vocal numbers that often mix Burt's older Brill Building style with a bit more of a Sunshine Pop kind of approach. Although penned by Bacharach, the music is actually conducted by Peter Matz – who does a great job of retaining the maestro's sense of space and timing, but also unlocks some bolder flourishes in the tunes, and manages to get some really amazing vocal performances out of both Sommers and Nelson! There's a sophistication here that goes beyond the roots of both singers – and the record's filld with lesser-known tracks that still sparkle with plenty of Bacharach brilliance – including "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", "They're Gonna Love It", "Juanita's Place Montage", "Try To See It My Way", "They Don't Give Medals", "Fender Mender", and "Juanita's Place".

Early work from easy maestro Phil Bodner – with titles that include "Farewell Blues", "Ol Man River", "Misty", "Sposin", "Lover Come Back To Me", and "In Other Words".

A very groovy take on the work of Jimmy Webb – a sweet instrumental set from German maestro Kurt Edelhagen – featuring a host of hip jazz players from around the European scene, and some great arrangements by Quincy Jones! The tunes are all hits by Jimmy – but they're redone wonderfully by Quincy – who brings in a slightly more soulful approach overall – one that finds all the best spaces between the notes in Webb's originals, and uses them to create a wonderfully subtle sense of groove. Instrumentation includes trumpets from Jimmy Deuchar and Shake Keane, trombone from Jiggs Whigham, saxes from Karl Drewo and Wilton Gaynair, organ and celeste from Bora Rokovic, and bass from Peter Trunk – plus some added strings – and Quincy gets some help on the arrangements from Tom Scott and JJ Johnson, in ways that aren't entirely clear from the notes. Titles include "Sunshower", "Galveston", "Didn't We", "Up Up & Away", "Where's The Playground Susie", "Wichita Lineman", and "Honey Come Back".

A pair of instrumental classics from Marty Gold – back to back on a single CD! Sounds Unlimited is filled with soaring sounds from RCA maestro Marty Gold – maybe not the totally unlimited record you might expect from the title, but definitely a key 60s entry in the genre of bachelor pad hi fi records! There's a fair bit of horns in the orchestrations, with solos by Don Butterfield, Joe Wilder, Phil Bodner, and Mel Davis – all of whom help to color the tunes with lots of nice jazzy tones – giving the whole thing a bit more depth than the usual instrumental outing. Titles include "Alone Together", "When I Fall In love", "Ballerina", "Skylark", "The Donkey Serenade", and "Tonight". For Sound's Sake has Marty Gold really pushing the needle into the red – using lots of jazzy inflections to expand the dynamic range of the instrumentals on the set – with key solo work by players who include Phil Bodner and Jerome Richardson on reeds, as well as Joe Wilder on trumpet. Titles include "Mood Indigo", "Memories Of You", "Yesterdays", "All The Things You Are", "I Love Paris", "El Cumbanchero", and "Baubles Bangles & Beads".

Rare work from British easy maestro Ron Goodwin – one of England's most important orchestral talents of the 50s and 60s! Disc one of the set features Goodwin's instrumental singles of the 50s – many of which were done in a style that's similar to some of Les Baxter's pre-exotica work for Capitol. Like Baxter, Goodwin came from a more traditional style of mood music, but was also willing to work in farther-reaching modes – and would pick up traces of some of the more ambitious easy styles of his time. The second disc features Goodwin's soundtrack work of later years – much of which was done in highly dramatic styles that often supported historical narratives, war stories, and other films of an epic nature. Together, the 2CD set makes for a great look at Goodwin's oft-neglected work – and is packaged with a great set of notes and a huge amount of tracks! Titles include "Concetta", "Red Cloak", "The Melba Waltz", "Messenger Boy", "Jet Journey", "Tropical Mirage", "Josita", "Wagon Train", "Aces High", "Departure", "Frenzy", "Decline & Fall", "Cafe Royal Waltz", "Return My Love", and "When Eagles Dare". 53 tracks in all!

A previously unreleased album from German maestro James Last – a special set designed for the American market of the late 60s – and one of James' grooviest records too! We're not sure why the set never came out at the time – because it's got a style that's not only better than most of Last's usual grooves, but which also tops that of most of the other European instrumental leaders being imported to the US at the time! Last has this great way of balancing the lush and the spare, the upbeat the laidback – all with a sense of complication that goes way past the peppy, zippy tunes you might know from other albums – almost in the territory of countryman Claus Ogerman, who had already found his place in the US. Tunes are a nice mix of Last originals, and a few key covers that get this wonderful treatment on the record – way more than just simple instrumental versions of hits – and instead these cool platforms for larger orchestral expression – almost in the mode of some of Johnny Harris' work of that nature. Titles include "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Jean", "America", "Evie", "Ballad Of Easy Rider", "Is That All There Is", "Lay Lady Lay", and "Tracy".

Sweet soundtrack grooves from Brit maestro Geoff Love – two late 70s albums back to back in a single package! First up is Star Wars & Other Space Themes – a set that has Love really cashing in on the sci-fi cinema boom of the mid 70s – leaping off with the lead theme to Star Wars, but then sounding even groovier on a host of other cuts from previous years – a sweet range of numbers that's often heavy on Brit influences – arranged with some nice funky touches by Nick Ingman, with almost a KPM vibe at times! Titles include "UFO", "Barbarella", "Space 1999", "March", "Thunderbirds", "Dr Who", "Mars The Bringer Of War", and "Star Trek". Nick Ingman's the arranger on Close Encounters – and helps give the record a disco vibe that's quite different than the usual sci fi set – a groove that clearly stems from Ingman's great sound library work of the 70s – touched here with plenty of clubby rhythms and some especially great keyboards at times. The whole thing's funkier than you might expect – and titles include "Close Encounters", "Flight Fantastic", "Space Patrol", "Solar Sailor", "The Omega Man", "Star Wars", "Time Machine", and "Blake's 7".

Two albums recorded a bit later than the initial 60s hit run for easy maestro Paul Mauriat – both with a more pronounced approach to the groove! Overseas Call was recorded in New York, and has Mauriat bringing in plenty of disco elements throughout – using soaring strings with tighter clubby rhythms, all in a mode that's right up there with some of the best European disco/easy sets done in a similar style! There's a few nice instrumental solos from both Brecker Brothers, and guitarist John Tropea – and titles include "Overseas Call", "Eva", "Come Back", "Power Jam (parts 1 & 2)", "You Can Do It", and "From Jupiter With Love". Brazil Exclusivamente has Mauriat moving down to Rio – working with Brazilian musicians in a local studio – and coming up with a sweet style that mixes late 70s club with some of the warmer samba styles of the time! The approach is a bit like a European 70s soundtrack approach to Brazilian music – and titles include "Suplica", "Mania De Voce", "Gostoso Veneno", "Estrada Do Sol", "Comecar De Novo", and "Na Paz Do Seu Sorriso".

An obscure US album that presents some late 50s work recorded by Parisian easy maestro Andre Popp! Popp's had a strong reputation for years as being the Esquivel of the other side of the Atlantic, and this album's a perfect illustration of that point – very much like the earliest Esquivel work at RCA, a mixture of older romantic easy listening styles with some stranger twists and odd instrumentation – a bit less electric and spatial than Esquivel's own albums, but definitely with that "pushing the envelope" sound that was shifting the mood music era at the time. Tracks include "La Bardinette", "Sexy Sax", "La Pendule", "Musique Mechanique", "Du Vent Dans Les Voiles", "Melodie Du Sud", and "Tunisia Waltz".

Spy themes galore – a full CD of famous James Bond tunes, paired with a whole bonus CD of additional work from Brit maestro Roland Shaw! Back in the 60s, Shaw recorded a host of great spy-styled sets for Decca – two albums of work with Bond on the cover and in the title, and two more with additional spy and secret agent themes! The best of that work's packaged together here, in an ultra-cool 2CD set that features 37 tracks in all – a good number of which were penned by John Barry for original Bond films, then redone by Roland in ways that are swinging 60s, with lots of mod instrumental moments – including some great guitar amidst all the horns. Titles include "Twisting With James", "You Only Live Twice", "Chateau Fight", "Pussy Galore's Flying Circus", "Thunderball", "Dawn Raid On Fort Knox", "Dr No's Fantasy", "James Bond Theme", "Diamonds Are Forever", "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", "Bond Below Disco Volante", "The Saint", "I Spy", "The Avengers", "Theme From The Man From Uncle", "Casino Royale", and "Mission Impossible".

Great work from this famous Italian maestro – sweeping, soaring instrumentals – but also a bit funky at times too! Ettore brings a real soundtrack approach to most numbers – fitting, given that most tunes here are film themes – and he uses full strings, plus some nicely isolated instrumentation at points, especially a bit of tinkling piano. Things are mostly straight, but there's a great funky break on his version of "The Godfather (part 2)" – and some sweetly gentle funk on "Once Is Not Enough" – another great warm number. Other titles include "The Big Hunt", "The Saddest Thing Of All", "Sheila Levine", "Incontro", and Stratta's own great "The Beginning Of Our Life".

One of the weirdest, wildest moog albums you'll ever hear – an amazing collaboration between moogy maestro Mort Garson and "word man" Jacques Wilson! The album's an electronic fairy tale for the late 60s scene – a pretty scary little set at the heart, given all the analogue electronics and strange sounds from Garson – as well as Wilson's oddly-penned lyrics. The whole thing's almost an audio equivalent of the psychedelic Yellow Submarine animated feature – but without the Beatles' songs, of course – although some of Mort's tunes are still pretty darn catchy! Titles include "Leave the Driving to Us", "Blue Poppy", "They're Off to Find the Wozard", "Killing Of The Witch", "Never Follow The Yellow Green Road", and "Upset Strip"

A lost Burt Bacharach treasure – a bit later than classic vintage, but a wonderful album from the mature maestro – and sometimes overlooked, due to its status as a soundtrack! The work here is totally great – that mellow, easy-flowing style that Burt really perfected around the time of Living Together – served up here in a batch of sweet instrumental tracks, plus a few key vocal numbers with lyrics sung by Jackie DeShannon, Libby Titus, and Michael McDonald – all of whom slide down more into the Bacharach ethos than stand out as their usual selves – and we mean that in a good way! Titles include "I Don't Need You Any More", "In Tune", "If We Ever Get Out Of Here", "On The Beach", "I've Got My Mind Made Up", "Find Love", "Luisa", and "I Think I'm Gonna Fall In Love".

A very groovy take on the work of Jimmy Webb – a sweet instrumental set from German maestro Kurt Edelhagen – featuring a host of hip jazz players from around the European scene, and some great arrangements by Quincy Jones! The tunes are all hits by Jimmy – but they're redone wonderfully by Quincy – who brings in a slightly more soulful approach overall – one that finds all the best spaces between the notes in Webb's originals, and uses them to create a wonderfully subtle sense of groove. Instrumentation includes trumpets from Jimmy Deuchar and Shake Keane, trombone from Jiggs Whigham, saxes from Karl Drewo and Wilton Gaynair, organ and celeste from Bora Rokovic, and bass from Peter Trunk – plus some added strings – and Quincy gets some help on the arrangements from Tom Scott and JJ Johnson, in ways that aren't entirely clear from the notes. Titles include "Sunshower", "Galveston", "Didn't We", "Up Up & Away", "Where's The Playground Susie", "Wichita Lineman", and "Honey Come Back".

One of the greatest Jackie Gleason albums ever – intially released in a heavy duty package that took the listener through a full evening's worth of seduction! Jackie put together the record as a bachelor's "do it yourself" kit – filled with four different sides of music – one apiece for "sippin", "listenin", "dancin", and "lovin" – all modes the maestro is mighty darn great at! The "sippin" selections feature solo piano with a bit of bass and drums – the "listenin" section is a trad jazz combo led by Gleason – the "dancin" set is bigger band society numbers – and the "lovin" secion features some of Jackie's famous lush orchestrations – pillowy waves of sound designed to relax even the most uptight of lovers. The whole thing's very cool – and is designed to take you from start to finish in the course of a very sucessful evening – and as Jackie says, "Man Is The Hunter, Woman Is His Game!"

Easily one of the best of the Bond-alike albums of "spy" grooves from the 60s – handled by Brit easy maestro Roland Shaw, with a sound that's in keeping with the best soundtrack work of the time! Shaw's got a jazzy mode here that really opens up some of these tunes – letting the horns and piano come into play a bit more on a few numbers, and differing the songs a lot from their more famous versions used in the films. The package has a great kitschy cover, plus a cool montage of film scenes on the back – and titles include "The Saint", "The Ipcress File", "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold", "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang", "Man From Uncle", "Our Man Flint", and "I Spy".

Sensual soundtracks from German maestro Peter Thomas – very groovy music recorded for two sex-ed films of the late 60s! The sounds here are every bit as wonderful as those we've come to love in Thomas crime and sci-fi scoring – lots of cool 60s instrumentation on keyboards, funky drums, guitar, and horns – mixed up with odd production effects, weird vocal bits, and larger orchestrations that never get in the way of the core grooves – yet really help take things to the next level! This material is a really under-discovered side of Thomas' career – but stands equally well next to his better-known gems – and given that the sexy films are titled The Perfect Marriage and Every Night Of The Week, you can bet there's plenty of slinky bedroom action going on in the grooves. The package is beautiful – with full color images, and notes in English and German – and the CD features 24 tracks in all, with titles that include "Love Maker", "Big Love", "Teach Me Teacher", "The Grand Day", "Hurdy Gurdy", "The World's History", "Cin Cin Mon Marie", "First First Love", "The Marriage", "Coitude Melanchodelic", "Shaker", "Playboy", and "Gisela's Seduction".

Pretty great stuff – two groovy albums from German maestro Kai Warner, back to back on a single CD! Warner Plays Wagner is exactly what it sounds like – Kai takes on a host of compositions from Richard Wagner – but the results sound even better on record than they do on paper – thanks to Warner's groovy way of mixing strings together with early 70s production modes – all in ways that are far less classical than kind of a hip sort of soundtrack or sound library sort of vibe! Strings are heavy, but the grooves are too – and there's often a nice little bounce on the bottom, which cuts through the orchestrations in a great way, with lots of nice moments you wouldn't expect. Titles include "Tannhauser", "Am Stillen Herd In Winterszeit", "Lohengrin", "Dir Ton Lob", and "Lied An Den Abensternd". Swingin Johann is a whole new take on the music of Strauss – big band versions of older waltz numbers from the 19th century, but pepped up with plenty of that economic miracle German mode of the 70s! Instrumentation is jazz-based, but gets some sound library touches too – a bit of electrification in the bass, and some smoothing in the production – and even a bit of keyboards too. The end result isn't far from Berry Lipmann at the time – and titles include "Wiener Bonbons", "Annen Polka", "Wer Uns Getraut", "Rosen Aus Dem Suden", "Schatz Walzer", "Thema Aus Die Fledermaus", and "Kunstlerleben".

Very groovy work from the Four King Cousins – a sweet quartet of lovely voices peeled off of the larger King Family ensemble, singing here in a spare and syncopated groove with lots of late 60s Capitol touches! Maestro Lex De Azevedo produced, arranged, and conducted – and the album's got a really unified sound that links together harmonies from Sunshine Pop and a bit of the loping styles that were showing up in mainstream easy at the time – a sublime blend of vocals and lightly snapping rhythms that's totally outta site! All tracks are covers, but done in really wonderful versions – and tunes include the great Roger Nichols track "I Fell", plus "Love So Fine", "God Only Knows", "California Nights", "This Girl's In Love With You", and "I Wanna Be Free".

One of the greatest Jackie Gleason albums ever – intially released in a heavy duty package that took the listener through a full evening's worth of seduction! Jackie put together the record as a bachelor's "do it yourself" kit – filled with four different sides of music – one apiece for "sippin", "listenin", "dancin", and "lovin" – all modes the maestro is mighty darn great at! The "sippin" selections feature solo piano with a bit of bass and drums – the "listenin" section is a trad jazz combo led by Gleason – the "dancin" set is bigger band society numbers – and the "lovin" secion features some of Jackie's famous lush orchestrations – pillowy waves of sound designed to relax even the most uptight of lovers. The box comes with 2 disks in plain sleeves, plus a cool booklet that includes drink recipes, wine tips, and seduction techniques! The whole thing's very cool – and is designed to take you from start to finish in the course of a very sucessful evening – and as Jackie says, "Man Is The Hunter, Woman Is His Game!"