Frank De Vol – Classic Albums 1960-61 – 2CD

Frank De Vol was one of the top arranger/conductors of the post-war pop era, providing the accompaniment for singers on dozens of hits from the 1940s through to the ‘60s. However, he was also a notable composer and artist in his own right and released a number of successful albums under his own name. He created an orchestra called Frank De Vol & His Rainbow Strings, devising a style of music which appealed to the middle ground of buyers, and which was ideal for presenting on the burgeoning medium of vinyl long-playing albums at the start of the 1960s. This 48-track 2-CD collection comprises the complete contents of four of his albums on the Columbia label from this era. The first three of those, all of which feature a selection of medleys of popular standards, are “The Old Sweet Songs”, “More Old Sweet Songs” and “Radio's Great Old Themes”, all featuring De Vol with His Rainbow Strings, and the last one is his rare album of music from the then-current stage musical “The Happiest Girl In The World”, with lyrics by E.Y. Harburg based on the compositions of Jacques Offenbach, with “Music By De Vol”. The music featured here is rarely heard these days but still resonates with lovers of top quality orchestral music, and this is an especially enjoyable collection in that idiom.

Track Listing:

CD1: Frank De Vol And His Rainbow Strings: 1. Medley: Let The Rest Of The World Go By ; Mother (A Word That Means The World To Me) -   2. Medley: Mary's A Grand Old Name; I Love You Truly;Take Me Out To The Ball Game -   3. Medley: By The Light Of The Silvery Moon; In The Gloaming -   4. Medley: In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree; Annie Laurie; Listen to the Moking Bird -   5. Medley: The Band Played On; Dear Old Girl;When You Wore A Tulip (And I Wore A Big Red Rose) -   6. Medley: Peg O' My Heart; Come Back To Sorrento -   7. Medley: Varsouviana;Mighty Like A Rose;Wait Till The Sun Shines Nellie -   8. Medley: Let Me Call You Sweetheart; Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider -   9. Down By The Old Mill Stream -   10. Medley: Roses Of Picardy; My Wild Irish Rose -   11. Medley: The Glow-Worm; There's A Long, Long Trail; Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home -   12. Medley: Honeymoon; While Strolling Through The Park One Day; My Sweethaert’s The Man In The Moon -   13. Medley: Moonlight And Roses; Kentucky Babe -   14. Medley: Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland; Harrigan -   15. Medley: Cuddle Up A Little Closer; O Sole Mio -   16. Teddy Bear’s Picnic -   17. Medley: I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now; Paper Doll -   18. Medley: After The Ball; I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen -   19. Medley: The Yankee Doodle Boy; Give My Regards To Broadway; Your A Grand Old Flag -   20. Medley: Marcheta; It's Delightful To Be Married -   21. Medley: Alice Blue Gown; In The Evening By The Moonlight; At A Georgia Camp Meeting -   22. Medley: You Tell Me Your Dream; A Perfect Day -   23. Medley: I Don't Want To Play In Your Yard; Just A Wearyin' For You -   24. Medley - Kiss Me Again; When You Were Sweet Sixteen -

CD2: Frank De Vol And His Rainbow Strings: 1. Medley: On The Radio; Seems Like Old Times; When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain -   2. Medley: Contented; Manhattan Serenade; Blue Moon -   3. Medley: Marta; Manhattan; Love's Own Sweet Song -   4. Medley: The Waltz You Saved For Me; Rainbow On The River; Thinking Of You -   5. Medley: On The Trail; (Was I To Blame For) Falling In Love With You -   6. Medley: One Hour With You; Anyone Can Dream; Thanks For The Memory -   7. Medley: Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms; Angel’s Serenade ; Jolly Coppersmith -   8. Medley: Sunbonnet Sue; Londonderry Air; Funiculi Funicula -   9. Medley: Toselli's Serenade; Red River Valley; Au Matin -   10. Medley: How Can I Leave You; Drigo's Serenade; Darling Nellie Gray; Polly Wolly Doodle All Day -   11. Medley: Valse Bluesette; Juanita; Kerry Dance -   12. Medley: Two Guitars; Chanson Bohemienne; Andante Cantabile -   Music By De Vol: 13. The Happiest Girl In The World -   14. Eureka -   15. Vive La Virtue And never Trust A Virgin -   16. How Soon, Oh Moon -   17. Shall We Say Farewell -   18. Never Bedevil The Devil -   19. Cheers For The Hero And The Oath -   20. Adrift On A Star -   21. The Glory That’s Is Greec and The Greek Marine Hymn -   22. Five Minutes Of Spring -   23. Whatevber That May be -   24. Hup-Two-Three -