Sometimes it seems as if orchestral instrumental pop music fell into a black hole -- oldies radio doesn't play it, the "beautiful music" stations of the '70s are history, and the major labels that own the rights seldom reissue it themselves. Consequently, independent labels such as Taragon are left to anthologize major orchestral leaders like Hugo Winterhalter, who crafted an impressive array of instrumental and vocal hits between the late '40s and late '60s. The Very Best of Hugo Winterhalter offers a good deal of variety ...
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Sometimes it seems as if orchestral instrumental pop music fell into a black hole -- oldies radio doesn't play it, the "beautiful music" stations of the '70s are history, and the major labels that own the rights seldom reissue it themselves. Consequently, independent labels such as Taragon are left to anthologize major orchestral leaders like Hugo Winterhalter, who crafted an impressive array of instrumental and vocal hits between the late '40s and late '60s. The Very Best of Hugo Winterhalter offers a good deal of variety among its 20 tracks, with an assortment of instrumental cuts ranging in tone from moody to dramatic to whimsical, a smattering of vocal choruses, and lead vocals from the Fontane Sisters, Johnny Parker, and an originally uncredited Eddie Fisher. It's a chaotic mixture at times, veering between the football novelty "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A.," the sweeping strings of "Blue Violins," the kazoos and wordless vocals of "Little Musicians," and the Eddie Heywood piano balladry of Winterhalter's biggest hit, "Canadian Sunset." "Velvet Glove" is a ringer for Lawrence Welk, and a few tunes make use of subdued Latin rhythms. The anthology bypasses a number of chart hits in favor of rarities such as the ear-tickling "Music Box in Blue" and a different arrangement of Ron Goodwin's minor orchestral pop hit "Swingin' Sweethearts," both of which are so enjoyable it's hard to complain about what was left off. Excellent sound quality and liner notes by author Joseph Lanza round out an exemplary retrospective of the many moods of Hugo Winterhalter. ~ Greg Adams, Rovi
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Add this copy of The Very Best of Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra to cart. $5.23, good condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Taragon Records.
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