Chris Powell – Anything Goes DVD (Review)

Issue 349 – January 2017

(DVD) Chris Powell – Anything Goes
Running Time 2 hours – Price £12.95

News of this new DVD was a nice surprise as there certainly are a lack of organ DVDs on the market at the moment. A few years ago there were a handful a year, but this has reduced to a couple of finger-fulls if you’re lucky. Nicholas Martin seems to be leading the way, with Byron Jones doing the odd one, but it’s been a couple of years since we’ve had one from Chris Powell, this being his sixth DVD in total.

His last DVD was the popular “Fascinating Rhythm” in 2014 which was recorded on the Burton Upon Trent Town Hall Wurlitzer. This one was recorded 81.5 miles to the east (or 77.3 miles if using toll roads) …perhaps the Internet is handy after all! Anyway, this one features a very generous running time of two hours and contains music from the Wurlitzer & Compton organs of the Burtey Fen Collection in Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, with around an hour on each organ.

His previous release “Fascinating Rhythm” was out of stock for a while, but if you want that one, it is available again for the same price as this. Together they go to show just what lovely theatre organs there are around and just 77.3 miles apart (if you’re willing to pay the tolls!).

FULL TRACKS: AT THE WURLITZER ORGAN: Up With The Curtain • The Nearness Of You • Another Op’nin, Another Show / True Love / You Do Something To Me / It’s De-Lovely / Night & Day / It’s Alright With Me / Anything Goes / So In Love • Nights of Gladness • Let’s Face the Music and Dance / Top Hat, White Tie and Tails / How Deep Is The Ocean • Play A Simple Melody / Cheek To Cheek / They Say It’s Wonderful / Alexander’s Ragtime Band / Let Yourself Go • Downtown / Alfie / I Only Wanna Be With You / The Carnival Is Over / Secret Love • Walking Back To Happiness / Puppet On A String.

AT THE COMPTON ORGAN: The Dambusters • I Write The Songs • My Fair Lady Selection: I Could Have Danced All Night / Wouldn’t It Be Loverly / I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face / Show Me / With A Little Bit Of Luck / On The Street Where You Live / Get Me To The Church On Time • Rule Britannia / Danny Boy / Tulips From Amsterdam / By The Side Of The Zuider Zee • I Love Paris / Spanish Gypsy Dance / Y Viva Espana / Spanish Eyes / Vienna Forever / O Sole Mio / Funiculi Funicula • Orpheus In The Underworld • The Rose • Can’t Buy Me Love / All My Loving / Yesterday / Hey Jude • This Ole House / You’re Sixteen / Can’t Help Falling In Love With You / With You I’m Born Again / You Light Up My Life / Quando, Quando, Quando / The Last Waltz • Bye Bye Blackbird / Now Is The Hour / You Made Me Love You / Nice People / Wish Me Luck / When The Saints / That’s My Weakness Now / Old Pianna Rag.

Review by Ian King from Organ and Keyboard Cavalcade Magazine.