Doreen Chadwick – Let’s Face The Music (2002) (Osset Wurlitzer)

2002 release playing the Compton/Christie Organ in the Town Hall, Ossett
Released on the Audicord label 2002 (originally released on cassette in 1997).

Running time: 60.40.
Code: ACD 234.

Selection from “Call Me Madam”
Lonely Ballerina
The Green Cockatoo
Destiny
Saturday Rag
Music from the Verdi Operas
The Ossett March
Serenata
Kisses in the Dark / Kiss Me, Honey Honey
Presto
The Love Dance
Clownerie
It Had to Be You / Only You
Let’s Face the Music & Dance / I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm / Cheek to Cheek

Original 1997 Sleeve Notes:

Following the tremendous success of Doreen’s previous album, “Presenting Doreen Chadwick”, she returned to the same instrument to record this one. She has also played it several times in concert, and so knows how to use its resources to advantage.

Born near Pontypridd, Doreen 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-type organ at the Palladium, Pontypridd, she obtained unit organ tuition from Gene Lynn 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 Doreen was then fortunate in obtaining a position with Associated British Cinemas 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. She also played it and many other organs for meetings of the theatre organs fans, and with so many instruments now preserved in public halls, and lots of electronic organ societies around, her services continue to be in demand.

The Ossett Town Hall Compton/Christie Organ

Opened in January 1970, the organ in Ossett Town Hall is owned and promoted by the Northern Theatre Organ Trust. It is a three manual instrument with ten Compton units and three Christie, together with a full range of tonal percussions, traps and effects. Often featured in concerts, and on radio and recordings, it has proved to be a successful and well-liked organ, and it is hoped that you will enjoy this new programme that Doreen presents upon it.

As a matter if interest, this organ was also a particular favourite of the late Armsbee Bancroft, who composed “The Ossett March” especially for it. Unfortunately, he was never able to record it, but as a special tribute, Doreen has done the honours. It is a well-known fact that Armsbee was a great admirer and friend of Horace Finch, and you will notice that the Trio within the March bears quite a similarity to Horace’s signature tune.
The producer thanks the Northern Theatre Organ Trust and Wakefield Metropolitan District Council for their co-operation in the making of this recording.