Billy Mayerl, Vol. 2: Original Recordings, 1934-1946

by Billy Mayerl

Overview

Arguably, for those who would care to argue about such things, the best introduction to Billy Mayerl (1902-1959) is probably ASV/Living Era's Billy Mayerl Plays Billy Mayerl, released on compact disc in 1995. A different level of Mayerl appreciation was attained a few years later by Shellwood through multiple albums packed with Mayerl's compositions interpreted by pianists Eric Parkin and Peter Jacobs, prime exponents of the patented Mayerl manner. Yet hearing Mayerl himself in action offers an especially delectable thrill that cannot be duplicated by emulators. In 2003 Naxos reissued a marvelous load of Original Recordings in two volumes, each decorated with flowers after which Mayerl had named a special composition. As a sequel to the Marigolds of the first installment, Volume Two displays a bouquet of Sweet William blossoms, but it could just as easily have been Mistletoe, for Mayerl carefully concocted an etude in honor of that toxic parasitic growth and it too found its way onto this collection. Unlike much of the recorded music associated with Billy Mayerl and available today on the digital format, this particular sampling includes vintage radio broadcasts with period banter and other historic recordings with singers and an orchestra under the direction of George Melachrino. The timeline (1934-1946) skips the 1920s but allows for a colorful glimpse of later developments. Mayerl was a master interpreter of melody whose technique was conspicuously facile. In addition to the piano he is heard operating both the harpsichord and a primitive keyboard synthesizer known as the novachord. This charming visitation from London's most successful "nimble-fingered gentleman" includes fishy profiles from the "Aquarium Suite," an aromatic sprig of "Orange Blossom," a procession of "Sandwich-Board Men," and a version of Jerome Kern's "All the Things You Are" complete with the often omitted verse. While Volume One was visited by vocalists Al Bowlly and Pat O'Malley, Volume Two features a regular team of singers in Stanley Lupino, Luanne Shaw, Eric Fawcett, George Gee, Hal Gordon, Billy Scott Coomber, Laddie Cliff, and internationally renowned Austrian tenor Richard Tauber. ~ arwulf arwulf

Product Details

Release Date:	08/19/2003
Label:	Naxos Nostalgia / Naxos
UPC:	0636943265420
Rank:	253489

Tracks

1. Over She Goes, musical play~Side By Side
2. Over She Goes, musical play~Piano Selections: County Wedding - The Dance Goes On - I Breathe On Windows
3. Four Aces, suite for piano~Ace Of Hearts
4. Bats in the Belfry, for piano
5. Nimble Fingered Gentlman, for piano
6. Mistletoe, for piano
7. Crazy Days, musical play~Piano Selections: Stranger In A Teacup - Nice People - You're Not Too Bad Yourself - Do - Spring -
8. Aquarium Suite for piano~Willow Moss
9. Aquarium Suite for piano~Moorish Idol
10. Aquarium Suite for piano~Fantail
11. Aquarium Suite for piano~Whirligig
12. Orange Blossom (A Syncopated Impression), for piano in C major
13. Parade of the Sandwich-Board Men, for piano
14. Phil the Fluter's Ball
15. Runaway Love, musical play~Intro / Two Hearts In Harmony / We Can't Do The Things We Did Before / What A Jolly Little Honeymoo
16. Stepping Tones, suite for piano~Hop-O'-My-Thumb
17. Fools Rush In
18. All the Things You Are, song (from "Very Warm for May")
19. Sweet Nothings
20. Sweet William, for piano
21. Resting, song
22. Fireside Fusiliers, for piano

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Billy Mayerl   Primary Artist,Novachord,Harpsichord,Spoken Word,Piano,Conductor
Eric Fawcett   Vocals
George Elliott   Guitar
Hal Gordon   Vocals
Laddie Cliff   Vocals
George Melachrino   Conductor
Wally Morris   Bass
Stanley Lupino   Vocals
George Gee   Vocals,Vocals
Saville Theatre Orchestra   Orchestra
Luanne Shaw   Vocals
Austin Croom Johnson   Piano
Reggie Mills   Drums
Billy Mayerl Orchestra   Orchestra
Austin Croom-Johnson   Piano,Spoken Word
Billy Scott Coomber   Vocals
Richard Tauber   Tenor (Vocal)

Technical Credits

Billy Mayerl   Arranger,Introduction,Transcription,Composer
C. Lundy   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer,Lyricist
Guy W. Rowland   Liner Notes
Desmond Carter   Composer
Milt Rettenberg   Composer
Austin Croom Johnson   Introduction
Jerome Kern   Composer
Curtis Lundy   Composer
William Percy French   Composer
Frank Eyton   Composer
Rube Bloom   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer,Lyricist
Peter Dempsey   Research,Transfers,Digital Restoration
Neal Hefti   Composer