Larry Green & His Orchestra – Near You: The Singles Collection 1946-50 – 2CD

Pianist Larry Green led one of the many orchestras of the 1940s who played the popular style of “sweet music” aimed at the middle ground of popular music, rather than the swinging big band style of many bands of those times. Coming later to the scene than many of the noted names of the 1930s, he enjoyed a few years in the chart spotlight during the post-war era recording both standards and versions of the hot songs of the moment, before his music was overtaken by the emerging solo stars and the changing market. This 50-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides from his releases on RCA-Victor during this era, and features all his career hits, including the Top 10 hits “Near You” and “Beg Your Pardon”, plus “Bella Bella Marie”, Bewitched” and “Can Anyone Explain (No! No! No!)”. There are a number of characteristic instrumental arrangements, but most of the tracks feature vocal performances by one of his various vocalists and vocal groups, including Gil Phelan, Don Grady, Ray Dorey, Paul Sania, The Honeydreamers and Three Beaus And A Peep, and it also includes releases by Larry Green at the piano with hit trio The Three Suns. He is an artist about whom not much is known or heard about these days, and we trust that will be welcome addition to Acrobat’s range of artists from what some nostalgia buffs call “the golden age of popular music”.

Track Listing:

CD1:
Larry Green & His Orchestra: 1. For You, For Me, For Evermore -   2. Either It's Love Or It Isn't -   3. Sonata -   4. I Haven't Got A Worry In The World -   5. When You Left Me -   6. How High The Moon -   7. Far Away Island -   8. The Heather On The Hill -   9. Almost Like Being In Love -   10. Bewitched -   11. Spring Is Really Spring This Year -   12. Near You -   13. Pic-A-Nic-In' (In The Park) -   14. Sipping Cider By The Zuyder Zee -   15. Song Of New Orleans -   16. Gonna Get A Girl -   17. My Cousin Louella -   18. My Promise To You -   19. Beg Your Pardon -   20. Can It Ever Be The Same? -   21. Thoughtless -   22. Little Girl -   23. Concerto To The Moon (Concierto En La Luna) -   24. Bella Bella Marie -   25. Whistling In The Dark -

CD2:
Larry Green & His Orchestra: 1. A Bluebird Singing In My Heart (The La, La, La, La Song) -   2. It's A Big Wide Wonderful World -   3. You're So Understanding -   4. Lover’s Gold -   5. There's Yes Yes In Your Eyes -   6. Now! Now! Now! (Is The Time) -   7. Give Me A Song With A Beautiful Melody -   8. Follow The Swallow To Hide-Away Hollow -   9. We'll Build A Bungalow -   10. Sunshine -   11. Tea For Two -   12. Carioca -   13. Time On My Hands -   14. Sometimes I'm Happy -   15. I Want To Be Happy -   16. Bright Eyes -   17. Bewitched -   18. If I Had You On A Desert Island -   19. Sunshowers -   20. Francie -   21. La Petite Waltz -   Larry Green With The Honeydreamers: 22. Can Anyone Explain? (No! No! No!) -   Larry Green & His Orchestra: 23. All Dressed Up To Smile -   24. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) -   The Three Suns & Larry Green: 25. Legend Of Glass Mountain -