From Google's AI Overview: "(The Stradivari Strings) recordings were actually made by uncredited, anonymous studio orchestras. While the musicians were competent professionals, they were churning out cheap, easy-listening covers of show tunes, waltzes, and movie themes rather than premium classical performances." This is true, but I think the performances here are exceptional, considering. Or, at least, much better than we might expect. It helps to not expect the utmost, though the liner notes are no help in that regard: "For you who dine by candlelight and toast your conversation with champagne...here are unforgettable moments...hauntingly beautiful melodies played with the romantic fervor captured only by superb strings in the hands of marvelous performers."
Yes, nothing complements dining by candlelight like 99-cent vinyl. That is, if we've already blown the budget on lighting and beverage...
And ping pong percussion in monaural? Is that even possible? Well, yes, obviously, since the Spinorama label did so here, but it's not logically possible, since ping pong percussion is, by definition, a two-channel effect. It consists of the audio engineer panning between the right and left channels, which of course requires at least a pair of audible groove sides. Monaural ping pong percussion is simply... percussion, I guess.
Of course, the clever cover design--courtesy of Harry and Marion Zelenco, Inc.--is just as fine in stereo or mono. Meanwhile, savor the typical rack-jobber carelessness: "M-32" on the cover, but the longer matrix numbers on the label. Also, the mismatched titles: The Sound of Leroy Anderson (jacket) versus The Music of Leroy Anderson (label). At least the artist credit stayed the same, though "The Magic Strings" were credited on the first edition (on Promenade) of this work.
Suppose someone spent years performing in The Stradivari Strings, but since there was (technically) no such group in real life, that person's career would be unqualifiable, since there were no specific "Stradivari Strings" ensemble or ensembles. Just whomever was available for a given gig. ("I was a member of the Stradivari Strings." "Who were they?" "Um... Well, they never actually existed. On the other hand, we were also known as The Magic Strings, Al Goodman and His Orchestra, and The Limelight Strings. I played in all of those.") It could be a thing for bragging... or not.
"Ask for 'Stradvari Strings' when you want the best in recorded enjoyment!" the liner notes invite us to do. I'll have to remember that the next time I visit Giant Eagle. I suppose I should take this album along.
DOWNLOAD: The Music of Leroy Anderson.zip FLAC
Blue Tango
Summer Skies
China Doll
Saraband
Fiddle Faddle
A Trumpeter's Lullaby
The Girl in Satin
The First Day of Spring
Syncopated Clock
The Blue Bells of Scotland
The Sound of Leroy Anderson (Aka, The Music of...)--The Stradivari Strings (Spinorama M-32)
Lee
