Johnny Douglas (2)

JOHNNY DOUGLAS - HEARTSTRINGS (1981)

A1.Story Of Love     
A2.Fantasy Island     
A3.Passion Fever         
A4.Serenade D'Amour         
A5.A New Romance         
A6.A Boy And A Girl         
B1.Jubilation          
B2.Growing Love         
B3.Gentle Awakening         
B4.Tingling Fresh          
B5.Moon Over Valencia          
B6.Halcyon Days

Johnny Douglas was a talented pianist, composer and arranger who recorded over 500 titles for Decca, and received many commissions for radio and television work.

JOHNNY DOUGLAS - A HANDFUL OF STARS (1955-1957)

    I won't Dance
    Yesterdays
    A Fine Romance
    The Carioca
    They Can't Take That Away From Me
    The Way You Look Tonight
    I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket
    Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
    Pick Yourself Up
    Night And Day
    Isn't It A Lovely Day
    Cheek To Cheek
    Polka Dots and Moonbeams
    A Handful of Stars
    It Happened In Monterrey
    Sunrise Serenade
    A Cottage For Sale
    Lullaby Of Birdland
    You Are Too Beautiful
    Flamingo
    I'll Be Around
    Begin the Beguine

This album has been digitally re-mastered from two LPs originally recorded in 1955 and 1957.  The orchestra consists of strings, harp, tenor sax (probably Keith Bird, also playing clarinet and bass clarinet), rhythm, etc. and four tenor trombones – Jock Bain, Ric Kennedy, Jack Irving and Jack Thirwell – and what a section they are. I had the pleasure of working for composer/arranger Johnny Douglas for over forty years.  His music was always so good, and this CD is no exception.  The songs are beautiful, the arrangements superb, and the playing is quite sensational.  That the recordings were done before the luxury of edits, overdubs, etc. (that we all take for granted these days) says a lot for these musicians.
Johnny Douglas himself plays the accordion solos on some of the tracks.  How he managed to conduct and strap on the accordion beats me.  The trombone solos, and there’s a lot of them, were played by Jock Bain. You won’t be disappointed with this CD.  Johnny Douglas has given us music that’s a joy to listen to over and over again. Bill Geldard – The Trombonist