CHANDOS ‘BIG BAND WIDTH’ - TEST CARD MUSIC CD

Reviewed by Keith Hamer

Yet another amazing CD devoted entirely to BBC Test Card music has been issued within the past few weeks. Chandos Records have released the second in the series which is, apparently, due to run and run!

Unlike the Apollo Sound CD which restricts its music to the Apollo archives and that of Anglo Continental (brilliant as it all is, of course), those clever people at Chandos have managed to raid the archives of several publishers, including Mozart Edition! The result is an amazing collection of big-band music played by a well varied selection of orchestras.

We’re pleased to say that this second release from Chandos does not include the highly irritating false ‘BBC Ident Signal’ and fake off-air announcements by John Ross-Barnard. What is does include are no less than thirty digitally re-mastered pieces of BBC Test Card music.

The only minus point is the total lack of transmission dates for the music. Having said that, some of the dates given on the first Chandos release were hopelessly inaccurate.

Title / Composer / Duration / Orchestra

1. Fings Ain’t What They Used To Be (Lionel Bart) 2:34 The Oscar Brandenburg Orchestra
2. Smiling Fortune (Ronald Sekura) 2:44 Orchestra Alexander Martin
3. The Story Of My Love (Peter Voelkener) 2:59 The George Winters Orchestra
4. Lucky Bounce (Norman Gledhill) 2:14 The Skymasters
5. Here In A Smoky Room (Brian Fahey) 2:27 The Oto Keller Band
6. Waltz Express (Hans Ehrlinger) 2:16 Orchester Joe Scott
7. Slinky (Trevor Lyttleton) 2:38 The Brasshoppers
8. Carry Me Back To Old Virginny (Hans Conzelmann/Delle Hänsch) 2:42 The Delle Hänsch Band
9. Beat-In (Pedro Gonez/Walter Waal) 2:38 Frank Pleyer & His Orchestra
10. Alamo (Henry McIntire/Olaf Norstad) 3:12 Orchester Joe Palmer
11. Small Town (William Gardner) 2:13 The William Gardner Orchestra
12. Take Off (Erich Schneider-Reinerez 2:26 Henry Monza Orchestra
13. Meet Me On The Bridge (Brian Fahey) 2:13 The Skymasters
14. Happy Walk (Ralph Heninger) 2:43 Frank Pleyer & His Orchestra
15. Charleston-Time (Jimmy Thanner/Karl-Hans Ahl) 2:22 Orchester Jimmy Thanner
16. Apron Strings (Ernest Ponticelli) 2:33 Hans Hatter & His Orchestra
17. Scotch Broth (Ernest Ponticelli/Gordon Rees/Neil Richardson) 1:59 The Oscar Brandenburg Orchestra
18. Tele-Vision (Hans Conzelmann/Delle Hänsch 2:20 The Delle Hänsch Band
19. Concerto Grosso ’67 (Ernst Quelle/Rico Mares) 2:47 The Eric Landy Orchestra
20. High Ball (Bill Geldard) 2:12 The Otto Keller Band
21. Hallelujah, Honey (Trad. arr. Frank Valdor) 2:26 Orchester Frank Valdor
22. Soho Swing (Charles Kalman) 2:39 Walt Peters & His Orchestra
23. Daisy (Hans Conzelmann/Delle Haensch) 2:19 The Delle Haensch Band
24. Walking On The Shore (Paul Termi) 2:46 Orchester Franco Taormina
25. Hello Lissy (Fred Spannuth) 3:11 Orchester Joe Palmer
26. Craig Hill Surprise (Harry Leader/Red Budtree) 2:12 The Otto Keller Band
27. Post Haste (Trevor Lyttleton) 2:29 The Brasshoppers
28. Swinging Affair (Ernest Ponticelli/Gordon Rees) 2:14 The Oscar Brandenburg Orchestra
29. Jeff’s Special (Jeff Hasky) 1:59 Orchester Jeff Hasky
30. Indian Boots (Horst Bredow) 2:55 The George Winters Orchestra

Total Time: 77 Mins 10 Secs

Availability

‘Test Card Classics: Big Band Width’ (Ref: FB2001) is a real ‘must’ for all BBC Test Card music enthusiasts and lovers of big-band music. It is available on CD and audio cassette.

Compact Disc: £15.99 Audio Cassette: £10.00

Prices include UK P&P (Airmail prices available upon request).

Please make Cheques/Postal Orders/Eurocheques, etc., payable to ‘HS Publications’.

HS PUBLICATIONS

7, Epping Close, Mackworth Estate, Derby DE22 4HR.

Tel: (01332) 51 33 99.

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