Reginald Dixon – Sunday At The Tower (Download)

2002 release recorded on the TWO Blackpool Tower Wurlitzers. Vintage recordings from 1932-1940 (Previously released as a cassette in 1998). Running time 64 minutes. Mono.

The download “.zip” file is 142Mb and includes 15 MP3 tracks, plus a 1200dpi JPG of the Cover. Just copy the MP3 files into your iTunes (or similar) library.

The CD version was deleted a few years ago.

1929 – Original 2/10 WURLITZER:
Classics of Jazz: Chinatown, My Chinatown / Sweet Sue / Somebody Stole My Gal
The Skater’s Waltz
Classica: Intro – Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 / Toreador’s Song / Spring Song / William Tell / Nocturne / Hungarian Dance / Minuet / Largo / Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Dixonland No.3, Pt.1: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes / The Continental / Tina
Viennese Memories of Lehar: The Merry Widow Waltz / You’re In Love / You Are My Heart’s Delight / Dutiful Wife / The Cavalier / Gypsy Love Song / Boys
The Whistler and His Dog
Merrie England Selection: Intro – Hey Jolly Robin / Rustic Dance / O Peaceful England / Hornpipe / Yeoman of England / Graceful Dance / My Troth is Plighted / When Cupid First This Old World Trod / Robin Hood’s Wedding

1935 – ‘New’ 3/13 WURLITZER:
With Sword and Lance
Dixonland No.7, Pt.1: Two Trumpets Toot / Easter Parade / Rain
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Selection: Intro – Whistle While You Work / Some Day My Prince Will Come / One Song / Dwarf’s Yodel Song / With a Smile and a Song / Heigh-Ho
Dixon Hits No.15, Pt.1: When My Dreamboat Comes Home / Broken Hearted Clown / Toodle-oo
Gypsiana (A Selection of Famous Gypsy Airs)
Dixon Hits No.15, Pt.2: Where Are You? / On a Little Dream Ranch / The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down
Orpheus in the Underworld: Overture
I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside

SLEEVE NOTES (from the original 1998 cassette).

Just about every aspect of the life and career of Reginald Dixon has been extensively chronicled, and so these notes refer to this compilation of his recordings.

In researching and assembling the programme, care was taken to select only items which had at the time never previously been re-issued on cassette. Furthermore, they have been arranged so that the first half features the original 2-manual 10-rank Wurlitzer which was installed in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom in 1929. The second half features the ‘new’ 3-manual 13-rank instrument, designed by Reginald Dixon himself, and installed there in 1935, at which time the original one was enlarged and rebuilt in the resort’s Empress Ballroom. It now forms part of the Worthing Wurlitzer.

The opening medley and item 6 are from the final recording session (January 1935) prior to the removal of the 2-manual organ, whereas “Skaters Waltz” is an example of Reginald Dixon’s early period (January-October 1932) with Sterno. Eight Regal Zonophone sides of the original organ were issued among those of the new organ, including “Merrie England”, recorded in October 1934 but not released until February 1936.

Track 9 was Reginald Dixon’s very first recording on the new organ, and the upright piano attachment is featured. Recorded on 7th April 1935, three days before the official opening, it was rushed through for issue in May. However, “Orpheus in the Underworld” was another of the delayed issues, being recorded in July 1940 and not released until February 1941, but at least it fared better than “Finlandia” (not included here), which was held back for 3% years!

The primary purpose of this programme is to be representative of the music played by Reginald Dixon at his Sunday concerts in the Tower Ballroom. Popular items were certainly not forgotten, but ‘music of substance’ played an important part, and it is hoped you will enjoy this selection chosen for your pleasure, and in recognition of the musical ability of this most famous organist in his more youthful years.

Produced by John Greenwood.
Mousetrap digital processing and mastering by Frank Hare.
Photo from the JD Sharp collection.

This compilation copyright 1998 Audicord. MSS Studios, Rhiwlas, Cae Deintur, DOLGELLAU. LL40 2YS.