Compact Discs of two very different Band Organs are reviewed this time, one of American origin, the other originating in Belgium. They are both of great interest and should appeal to many organ lovers. Fortunately the music can also be obtained on cassette.
It is quite astonishing to see the increasing use of the CD for the reproduction of mechanical music. The Compact Disc combined with a well made digital recording can produce a very clear recording and, if handled carefully, the disc should last almost indefinitely. The programming facilities of most CD players allow for the selection of specific tracks or even random play to add variation to listening. For those who enjoy in-car entertainment, I am sure that cassettes will still be the popular choice for many years to come.
New cassettes or CDs can be sent to me for review at 10 Church Lane, Barnwood, Gloucester GL4 3HZ. Please include historical information and a good photograph if possible.
[Please note that prices shown for carriage are usually inland only and you should check if you are ordering from overseas.]
'Good old USA Carousel Music Vol 2' is a further high class recording of Harvey and Marion Roehl's Wurlitzer Model 146A Band Organ. The cassettes are priced at $10, the CD at $15, and a further $3 should be added to each order to cover postage. Payment in US Dollars should be arranged through your bank and should have the name of a correspondent American bank printed on the face of any cheque, draft or order. The address is Marion Roehl Recordings, 3533 Stratford Drive, Vestal, New York 13850 - 2222 USA.
The splendidly restored Wurlitzer was built at North Tonawanda in the late 1920s and then entertained riders on the carousel in Endicott, New York. Using the Wurlitzer 150 scale, the organ is operated from paper rolls; this scale is very limited and requires a gifted arranger to produce a melodious sound. Fortunately for us, there are a number of very competent musicians who can work wonders with the organ; on this recording we can hear a marvellous selection of pieces arranged by Tom Meijer, a native of the Netherlands who will be known by many members. 20 old-time tunes can be heard, most of them well known. Darktown Strutters' Ball is a very pleasant addition to the organ's repertoire - a piece that I have not heard on a recording before despite the fact that it was composed in 1917 by Shelton Brooks. The entire programme comprises music that was popular before the Second World War and is performed to perfection by the organ that has been restored by Tim Westman of New Hampshire. Likewise the recording by John Mersereau is difficult to fault.
All selections on this album are in the public domain.
'Music from the 68-key DeCap Belgian Band Organ' volume four has just been produced and can be heard on CD and cassette. 'Lucy' was built in Antwerp around 1946 for producing live music for dancing and entertainment, coming to England in 1963, imported by the late Charles Hart. The recordings can be ordered from Keith Pinner by Post - CDs at £8.50 and cassettes at £5. His address is 157 Park Street Lane, St Albans, Herts AL2 2AZ.
Almost every book of music featured was new in 1996 from a variety of noteurs. Keith rebuilt the jazz flute and vibratone tremulants last winter and they now sound much better. He also added a rank of stopped pipes on the accompaniment section to strengthen the hitherto weaker sound of string pipes only. The Compact Disc that I received is of a very high standard, is well balanced, reproducing the sound of the band organ to good effect and is a credit to Keith, the producer and to Location Recording Service. The 22 tracks of varied musical styles makes the recording very entertaining, an ideal addition to members' music collections to while away the long winter evenings.
Specification of 'Lucy' 68-key DeCap Organ:
Review © 1996 Michael Morris
Originally published in edition 4 of The Key Frame 1996.