Presenting Doreen Chadwick – (1994) (Ossett Town Hall Organ)

1994 release playing the Compton/Christie Organ in the Town Hall, Ossett
Recorded & released on the Audicord label in 1994 (Remastered in 2004).

Running time: 59.21.
Code: ACD 228.

Selection from “Annie Get Your Gun”
My Prayer
Macapa
Sicilienne
Spanish Dance, Op.12
Crazy
Viennese Medley: The Laughing Song / Danube, River of Dreams / When Vienna Sings / You Are My Heart’s Delight / The Dutiful Wife / The Cavalier / Waltz from “Die Fledermaus”
I Wanna Be Like You / Midnight in Moscow / Mack the Knife
From Russia with Love
Leicester Square Rag
Reilly, Ace of Spies
Pennsylvania Polka
Kiss of Fire
Try a Little Tenderness
Style with the Ladies: Style / Hello Dolly / Dinah / Margie / Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue / Ain’t She Sweet

Sleeve Notes from 1994:

Doreen Chadwick is already represented in the Audicord catalogue by recordings on the organs of the Gaumont, Manchester, and the Regal, Edmonton, both being available on CD. But as they originated with other companies, it is with particular pleasure that Audicord now presents its own production by this popular artiste. On this occasion, Doreen selected the organ at the Town Hall, Ossett, which she has played many times, and knows how to use its resources to advantage.

Born near Pontypridd, Doreen studied the piano and church organ and, still in her teens, she 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 concent-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, Aberdere. 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 organist 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 where 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 alto 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 organ fans, and with so many instruments now preserved in public halls, and lots of electronic organ societies around, her engagement book continues to be well filled.

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 heard in concerts, radio and recordings, it has proved to be a successful and well-liked organ, and it is hoped that you will enjoy the programme that Doreen now presents upon it.

The producer thanks the Northern Theatre Organ Trust and the city of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council for their co-operation in the making of this recording.