Doreen Chadwick – Concert Gems (1999) (Shrewsbury Wurlitzer)

1999 release at the Wurlitzer Organ at the Buttermarket, Shrewsbury.
Released on the Audicord label. This CD contains live concert recordings from 1989, 1990 & 1991.

Running time: 61.13.
Code: ACD 239.

March: Espana
Rhondda Rhapsody
All the Things You Are / Love Changes Everything
The First Waltz
Melodies by Tchaikovsky: Theme from Piano Concerto / Waltz from Swan Lake / Dance of the Cygnets / Theme from the Fifth Symphony / Waltz of the Flowers / March from The Nutcracker Suite / Theme from Pathetique Symphony / Finale from the 1812 Overture
Regency Romp
Be My Love / You Do Something to Me / The Drinking Song / Serenade (The Student Prince) / They Didn’t Believe Me / The Anniversary Song / Rose Marie / Because You’re Mine / Because
The Dream of Olwen
Love / My Own True Love / Can’t Buy Me Love / All My Loving / Only Love / Can’t Help Falling in Love / Love is a Many Splendoured Thing / I Just Called to Say I Love You

Sleeve Notes:

Doreen Chadwick

Born near Pontypridd, Doreen Chadwick studied the piano and church organ and, still in her teens, won several Eisteddfods and music festivals in the solo organ playing classes. But her ambition was to become a cinema organist, and after experience on a concert organ at the Palladium, Pontypridd, she obtained professional unit organ tuition at the Castle, Merthyr Tydfil, which led to an appointment at the Rex, Aberdare. Anxious to further her career, she passed an audition with Granada Theatres, who placed her as assistant organist at Tooting prior to touring the circuit as a member of the Granada team.

This continued for three years until the organists returned from war service, and she was then fortunate in obtaining a position with ABC at the Savoy, Leicester, followed by the Ritz, Richmond, from which she commenced broadcasting. An engagement at Lyons Corner House, Tottenham Court Road, playing a Hammond organ, led to an invitation to move North to an hotel at Oldham, which also provided an opportunity for her husband, Len Wiles, to learn the trade, and eventually they moved to the Magnet Hotel, Oldham, for a very happy fourteen years. Doreen soon became associated with the famous Wurlitzer at the Gaumont, Manchester, where she played for public performances and broadcasts. With so many instruments now preserved in public halls, and lots of electronic organ societies around, her services continue to be in demand.

The Shrewsbury Wurlitzer

Designed by Harold Ramsay, this Wurlitzer was originally installed in the Ritz Cinema, Chatham, in 1937. It remained there until 1971, when it was removed and placed into storage for several years, during which time Kerry Wycherley purchased the Buttermarket, Shrewsbury, and converted it from a derelict warehouse into an entertainment centre with bars and restaurants, and offered a home to the organ. It has proved a very successful installation. January 1999 saw the tenth anniversary of its opening. In the last few years there have been some modifications to the organ, and further improvements are planned, but on this cassette you can hear it in its original form with these live performances by Doreen Chadwick, taken from her 1989, 1990 and 1991 concerts.

The producer acknowledges the Shropshire Theatre Organ Trust for permitting the original recordings.