Perhaps that's a little unfair to the bandleader, whose original arrangements on this record are quite witty and enjoyable. But it contains a kernel of truth.
This 1949 release was the first LP devoted to Scott. It contains the records that brought him latter day fame - In an Eighteenth Century Drawing Room, the Toy Trumpet, and especially Powerhouse. I'm tempted to say it's all anyone would need of Scott, but I am sure many people would argue that in his later recordings he was an innovator, iconoclast, etc. And maybe that's true. But to them I riposte by presenting the Society National March, a promotional recording he made for a Cleveland bank in 1960, which I have appended as a bonus of sorts. I love it - but it's about as far away from musical innovation as you can get. The cover is below.
I've followed your advice, and purchased the above 10" at eBay. The 1st one (yes, I had to order it twice!) was completely destroyed, and the one piece I was especially looking forward to, "Huckleberry Duck", had some irreparable skips.
ReplyDeleteCopver & disc are hanging at my wall now as artifacts of a long gone era.
Anyway, I found another copy for a reasonable price. The other LP with Raymond Scott I've discovered contains his more swingin' stuff.
One composition is even moving one to tears: "When Cootie Left The Duke" ;)
Best,
Brew
Thanks, Brew. Hope you enjoy both the music and the artifacts. Makes collecting worthwhile, I think.
ReplyDeleteThis one seems to have gotten away! :(
ReplyDeleteWould there be any chance of a 're-up' of this?
Remastered version (Apple lossless):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mediafire.com/file/8xbsvnxz49kxw77
Please note: "Powerhouse" and "The Toy Trumpet" were originally issued about a quarter-tone sharp, which helps give those tunes their slightly demented quality. I have retained this higher pitch in these transfers, adding pitch-corrected versions for good measure.
Thanks for redoing this Buster, I must have missed it the first time around. Most of the Raymond Scott I find is his later, sappy, string-laden stuff, so it's nice to hear the earlier "cartoon music". :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Buster.
ReplyDelete