Discogs tells us that the Spencer-Hagen Orchestra made three and a half LPs on its own (splitting one with Richard Maltby) and backed singers on an additional three. I have all those records, so more of their work may appear here as time goes by.
That's a good thing for those of you who like lush Hollywood-style orchestrations. Spencer and Hagen, who were masters of their craft, both had long careers in film and later television. They worked together throughout the 1950s.
 |
| Herbert Spencer and Earle Hagen |
The cover notes of this LP imply that "X" Records suggested the formation of the orchestra for recording purposes. Label "X" started up in February 1954, and I Only Have Eyes for You is actually the first record issued by "X" in its LXA series. "X" was set up as a subsidiary of RCA but run separately and distributed independently. The name apparently came from Billboard's 1953 stories about RCA's plans for the then-unnamed entity, which the magazine dubbed Label "X" for want of another term.
"X" was a short-lived enterprise. RCA closed it at the beginning of 1956 and transferred some of its catalog to the new Vik label, including this LP. Vik replaced the "I Only Have Eyes and a Mouth for You" cover with a more conventional pretty-girl motif (see below). The unusual "X" cover design was no doubt inspired by a famous 1950 Vogue magazine photo by Erwin Blumenthal (at right).
The disc pays tribute to the prolific Hollywood songwriter Harry Warren. Even though Warren was still active and producing hits ("Zing a Little Zong," "That's Amore") when the record was made, the most recent song covered dates from 1937. Most of the tunes will be familiar to people who enjoy the music of that era, with the possible exceptions of "Summer Night" and "Where Am I?"
Good sound on this fine record. The download includes front and back scans from both the "X" and Vik LP, plus a brief history of those labels from the excellent Both Sides Now discography site.
The disc pays tribute to the prolific Hollywood songwriter Harry Warren. Even though Warren was still active and producing hits ("Zing a Little Zong," "That's Amore") when the record was made, the most recent song covered dates from 1937. Most of the tunes will be familiar to people who enjoy the music of that era, with the possible exceptions of "Summer Night" and "Where Am I?"
Good sound on this fine record. The download includes front and back scans from both the "X" and Vik LP, plus a brief history of those labels from the excellent Both Sides Now discography site.
Note (October 2024): This has now been remastered in ambient stereo.
Awesome sauce! I'm game for anything from X or Vik, I try to buy them on sight!
ReplyDeleteJust for the original cover alone, you are to be thanked profusely.
ReplyDeleteThanks, gents - glad you approve!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Buster. As always something very rare and very enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Buster! You know where to find the wheat amid the postwar instrumental chaff (of which there is so, so very much...) - Jeff
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ron and Jeff.
ReplyDeleteJeff - I have plenty of the chaff, too.
i’d say that the vogue cover did not merely inspire the cover art, but the entire project as well. you’d think that the music of harry warren wouldn’t need a joke to initiate a tribute album.
ReplyDeleteI have everything Spencer Hagen except this one. It's been on my want list for years!
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you
Whoops, don't have the Maltby combines one.
ReplyDeleteDoug - I'll put that one on the list.
ReplyDeleteThanks..but I could not use the m4a files on
ReplyDeletemy computer. can you put up mp3 files?
sam - Most audio programs (e.g., iTunes) will play m4a files. Or you can get any number of utilities that will turn them into mp3 files. But here is a link to a set of mp3 files:
ReplyDeletehttps://www27.zippyshare.com/v/s1mMK6Cm/file.html
Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea this existed. What a treat - a smartly attired treat at that. Many thanks Buster.
ReplyDeleteI just read the Harry Warren book. This will be a nice "accompaniment"!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Buster!
Many thanks dear Buster for this new surprising discovery !!
ReplyDeleteAlthough the Billboard story in the 11 April 1953 issue said the label was "called label 'X' for the purpose of this story", this was in fact RCA's in-house name for it.
ReplyDeleteWhen RCA started work on developing the 45 RPM record (as early as 1940, although it was launched commercially only in 1949), this project was similarly referred to by the engineers as "Madame X"!
I'm not familiar with this group, Buster, and am looking forward to giving hem a listen.
ReplyDeletereally wonderful music, thanks YET again!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks again, everyone, for the comments!
ReplyDeleteReally appreciate the label "X" info, and the lp. Thanks, Buster!
ReplyDeletenice treat! I believe this is the Herbert Spencer who later worked with John Williams on the orchestrations for some of Williams most famous movie scores
ReplyDeleteHi, SD - That's right, he worked extensively with Williams.
ReplyDeletethx!
ReplyDeletej.