If anything, the I Got Rhythm Variations are even better done. This is just great stuff, and the Three Preludes are a classic performance of one of Gershwin's finest pieces. Too little known for such a famous composer.
Like Levant, Morton Gould had many talents. He wrote concert pieces in a mostly accessible vein, light music, musical comedy, and film music, and conducted a long string of easy listening records. He also was president of ASCAP for several years. We'll be linking to some of his own music in a little while.
This item has a cover by Alex Steinweiss, one of the most famous LP designers. This one uses the contrasts of typeforms and the posteresque techniques characteristic of his work. He used the cover as a point-of-sale ad; that is one of the LP's most endearing features and one reason why they will continue to be collected when CDs are dumped into bioundegradable piles of silver and plastic.
9 comments:
Thank you for the heads up to your fabulous blog on franklynot. What memories 10" LPs always bring to me. Being a Gershwin specialist I was of course immediately drawn to the Levant, which I'n dling now and look forward to listening to. Thank you for sharing it.
I wish you ever success.
Mel - Thanks for your encouraging comments. Most appreciated. And best wishes on your new place over at franklynot.
Please, please. Could you fix the LINK?
Thank You
Oscar's Gershwin is well-nigh definitive, though the composer himself is the last word for me. I've enjoyed these performances, though I don't remember if I'm listening to your rips when I hear them or not.
I'm in the middle of re-reading THE THIN MAN, and I'm always taken by surprise at the party scene where everybody has to shut up because "Levi Oscant" is playing the piano. Sadly, it's not a speaking part, and even when someone passes on a barbed story Levi told, it's not quoted in full. Oh, Oscar! Too bad you're not around now. You could be a TV detective.
I don't recall that in The Thin Man, but I haven't read it for many years. However, I am old enough to remember seeing Levant many times on American talk shows.
Remastered version from mp3 originals (Apple lossless):
https://www.mediafire.com/?jbo3x3bdcpy30ny
Alternative link:
http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/w6Ix9JDm/file.html
Buster, here's a Gershwin album I wasn't aware of until recently: Leonard Pennario (usually not one of my faves, but in great form here) doing the Concerto in F, with Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony, c.1953, from Capitol: in nicely balanced sound.
https://www65.zippyshare.com/v/YyWH99jL/file.html
(63 MB lossless FLACs, with cover pic)
Limited to 30 day availability after 7/23/18.
8H Haggis
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