Theatre Organ Echoes 1 – Movie Magic (Back in Stock)

CD Duration: 73.41 / Year: 2006

2006 compilation featuring 73 minutes of movie magic performed by eleven of the UK’s finest theatre organists (compiled from the Amberlee/Audicord back-catalogue). Includes 13 tracks never released on CD before, with two previously unreleased tracks from Ronald Curtis at Hammersmith. 21 tracks, 11 organists, 10 organs.

BACK IN STOCK FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY.

Ronald Curtis at the Compton of the Odeon Theatre, Hammersmith:
Ah Sweet Mystery of Life
Tea for Two
When You Wish Upon a Star
Eternally
Summer Holiday

William Davies at the Compton of the Regal Cinema, Henley-On-Thames:
Summer of ’42
Spitfire Prelude
A Summer Place

David Hamilton at the Compton of The Odeon, Leicester Square:
People
The Impossible Dream

Anthony Causier at the Wurlitzer in The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury:
Somewhere Out There
When Mabel Comes in the Room

Mike Hall at the Compton of the Regal Cinema, Henley-On-Thames:
Over the Rainbow

Arnold Loxam at the Wurlitzer of the Municipal Hall, Eston:
The Harry Lime Theme

Doreen Chadwick at the Wurlitzer of the Gaumont Theatre, Manchester:
Medley from Singin’ in the Rain:
Singin’ in the Rain / All I Do is Dream of You / Should I / You Are My Lucky Star / Singin’ in the Rain (Reprise)

Doreen Chadwick at the Christie of the Regal Cinema, Edmonton:
Theme from Love Story

Kevin Morgan at the Compton of Wyton House, Huntingdon:
The Railway Children Theme

Kevin Morgan at the Compton/Christie in the Town Hall, Ossett:
Don’t Laugh at Me

Peter Jebson at the Wurlitzer in The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury:
Intermezzo from Escape to Happiness

Paul Greenwood at the Wurlitzer in the Opera House, Blackpool:
Walt Disney’s “Aladdin” Selection: Prince Ali / A Whole New World / A Friend Like Me

Peter Lish at the Wurlitzer of the Municipal Hall, Eston:
Cavatina

Tracks 1 & 2 previously unreleased.
Tracks 3-13 previously released on LP by Amberlee Records and released here on CD for the very first time.
Tracks 14-21 previously released by Audicord.

UK Theatre Organ Club Newsletter “News North”

“A very nice product at an attractive price”

“Noting the low price, you will realise what a bargain this is, even moreso when you hear it, as the performances are excellent, and despite parts of it being takes from masters of considerable age, the sound quality is good”

“The assortment of organists and organs are brought together here to create what proves to be a rather enjoyable album of music from films”

UK Theatre Organ Club Newsletter “News South”

“…Honestly, this is well worth the ‘mini’ price for a ‘maxi!'”

“The sound level on all tracks is well controlled and you could be listening to the same organ throughout – obviously you aren’t, but it does demonstrate the skill of the transcriber…”

Alan Ashton’s Organised Keyboards Review (from ORGAN1st Magazine Issue 32):

And as my period of employment with ORGAN1st magazine slowly draws to a close (altogether now… ahhh) it is a pleasurable duty to sing the praises of a new series of recordings that will appear in the future. Titled THEATRE ORGAN ECHOES the thinking behind them is to re-issue some recordings that MSS Studios acquired from the former Amberlee and Audicord record companies. Some have already appeared, to pleasant acclaim, but in an effort to make them more widely attractive, the new series will be of a themed nature. Hence the subtitle to this first volume is MOVIE MAGIC (MSSCD08) and it comprises of no less than 73 minutes of music performed by eleven of the UK’s finest theatre organists.

Of the line up only five are no longer with us: Ronald Curtis, William Davies, David Hamilton, Anthony Causier and Peter Lish, so this leaves Mike Hall, Arnold Loxam, Doreen Chadwick, Kevin Morgan, Peter Jebson, and Paul Greenwood. In total there are ten organs, including Comptons, WurliTzers and a Christie. A veritable feast of music, contrasting sounds and musical styles. Some of the organs are no longer in their original homes: the WurliTzers of the Gaumont Manchester and Municipal Hall, Eston for instance, and in the case of the Compton of the Odeon, Hammersmith, although the organ is still in situ and undergoing extensive work, only two organists ever recorded it, namely Andrew Fenner and Ronald Curtis. Interestingly, the first five tracks are by the ‘Compton King’ Ronald Curtis, who was the last person to record it in 1982 and for the first time, we can hear two previously un-issued tracks AH SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE and TEA FOR TWO, as well as the Tony & Cherie Blair annual theme tune SUMMER HOLIDAY!

The rarely heard Blackpool Opera House WurliTzer is heard being played by Paul Greenwood, who seems to be the only person allowed (or interested enough) to record this famous instrument. His contribution is a short selection from the Walt Disney film ALADDIN. Mike Hall, usually associated with electronics, makes a somewhat rare appearance at the Regal, Henley-on-Thames Compton to play OVER THE RAINBOW, and David Hamilton, for so many years associated with Conn organs, is heard playing the lovely Odeon, Leicester Square Compton with PEOPLE and THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM. The only Christie organ is the former Regal, Edmonton installation, played here by Doreen Chadwick and her contribution being the THEME FROM LOVE STORY. Elsewhere in the magazine you can find a full run-down of all the instruments and tunes. One aspect of the ORGAN1st productions that many record producers could well to take notice of is the actual photographic artwork and layout. The finished result is very professional, eye-catching and an added selling point not only to this but all their releases.