18 April 2009

The Complete Manhattan Tower


Some time ago, after I featured the original version of Gordon Jenkins' Manhattan Tower, I had some requests for the expanded version that appeared in 1956.

The 1946 original had been so well received that Jenkins added a great deal of music to it for this 12-inch LP. The main performers are the same as on the earlier record - Elliott Lewis and Beverly Mahr.

The second attempt is even more effective that the first; the added music is excellent, and the story doesn't seem so elliptical. True, if this was a movie, it wouldn't have much of a plot and the scenes would seem contrived, but it all works somehow, if only as an evocation of a time when the US in general and New York in particular seemed to represent aspiration and glamour.

Capitol produced some fine sounding recordings in the late mono era, and this is one of them.

I'll be back with more on Manhattan Tower - an addendum to my post of the first version containing the cover of the original 78 album and the insert booklet that came with that issue.

LINK to ambient stereo version, April 2025


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12 comments:

  1. doug18 April, 2009 21:53

    I love this piece, but I'll have to wait until I get my FLAC converter software re-installed. Thank you for posting it.

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  2. mel18 April, 2009 23:43

    I've been waiting a looong time to get this. Look forward to listening to it.

    Thank you so much -also thanks in advance for the cover of the original 78 album and the insert booklet.

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  3. DonHo5719 April, 2009 21:29

    Thanks so much for all the material on Manhattan Tower, a tremendous work by the great Gordon Jenkins!

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  4. arshille23 April, 2009 15:45

    hello again - thanx for posting this recording and thanx for all the wonderful music you have given me the chance to listen to ! -
    best wishes - arshille

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  5. Honored General25 May, 2009 12:57

    Thank you so very much for all the work and effort that went into this! Very much appreciated!

    ReplyDelete
  6. jeronimo22 July, 2012 08:00

    Hi Buster - long time no see :)
    Hope you are well buddy...

    Question - the "new link" leads to this page and not a download link...
    Possible to post the download link too? Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete
  7. gpdlt201025 July, 2012 02:53

    Hi Buster!
    Thanks for the new link!

    ReplyDelete
  8. jeronimo25 July, 2012 15:50

    thanks Buster...You're on fire =)

    ReplyDelete
  9. iracema120 January, 2013 22:02

    "Permission Denied" as some elements are available for purchase. Oh well...

    ReplyDelete
  10. iracema120 January, 2013 22:03

    "Permission Denied" as some elements are available for purchase. Oh well...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Buster20 January, 2013 22:14

    iracema - I'll reup it to Rapidshare, but it may take me a while to get to it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kwork30 December, 2019 23:49

    Nicely done! Thank you for this, the remaster and the new link. Very much appreciated and Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete

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