Threaded Order Chronological Order
| Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 10:34 am EDT 04/23/20 | |
|
|
|
| The Times has an entertaining romp through the catalogue of composer Leroy Anderson.They've included many examples (Syncopated Clock, Sleigh Ride). I only wish they had included his score for GOLDILOCKS, written with Walter Kerr. Although Stritch always made fun of the show it contains some highly enjoyable songs (I Never Know When to Say When, Who's Been Sleeping in my Bed) | |
| Link | https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/arts/music/leroy-anderson.html |
| reply to this message | |
| re: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson | |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 05:48 pm EDT 04/23/20 | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 05:44 pm EDT 04/23/20 | |
| In reply to: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson - Billhaven 10:34 am EDT 04/23/20 | |
|
|
|
| I love Leroy Anderson (1908-75). His 1958 score to ''Goldilocks,'' with lyrics by Jean and Walter Kerr and Jean Ford, is full of gems. ''I Never Know When,'' which Elaine Stritch originally sung, is a beauty. Every now and then, it pops up in a cabaret act. Tom Andersen does a wonderful rendition, and Karen Akers has recorded it, too. ... Years ago, I threw a cabaret party at Eighty Eight's and asked my N.Y. Daily News colleague, theater critic Howard Kissel, to sing a song, and he did a delightful job with ''Shall I Take My Heart and Go?'' from ''Goldilocks.'' But most of all, I adored the musical miniatures that Anderson wrote for pops orchestras. They only lasted a few minutes but created a whole world of whimsy and wonder. Among my favorites: ''The Waltzing Cat,'' ''Bugler's Holiday,'' ''The Syncopated Clock,'' ''Sleigh Ride,'' ''Belle of the Ball,'' ''A Trumpeter's Lullaby,'' ''Forgotten Dreams,'' etc. His hypnotic ''Blue Tango'' earned him a No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts in 1951 and was the first instrumental recording to ever sell a million copies. As a writer, I was especially tickled by his clever piece, ''The Typewriter,'' a nostalgic novelty number written for the clackety-clack of a typewriter's keys and bell; it still pops up on concert programs around the world. (See YouTube.) You can't listen to Anderson's light and bright music without smiling, and his melodies were lovely and lilting. |
|
| Link | Leroy Anderson & His Orchestra: Greatest Hits (featuring 20 of his classics) |
| reply to this message | |
| re: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 03:58 pm EDT 04/23/20 | |
| In reply to: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson - Billhaven 10:34 am EDT 04/23/20 | |
|
|
|
| And Pat Stanley singing 'The Pussy Foot'! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson | |
| Posted by: jgerard 12:23 pm EDT 04/23/20 | |
| In reply to: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson - Billhaven 10:34 am EDT 04/23/20 | |
|
|
|
| I agree re Goldilocks; I Never Know When To Say When is a gem and Stritch's vocal on it is pre-whiskey marvelous. I also thought it weird that the story didn't mention the ubiquity of Syncopated Clock as the theme for CBS's Early Show and Late Show beginning in the '50s. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson | |
| Posted by: StanS 07:07 pm EDT 04/23/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson - jgerard 12:23 pm EDT 04/23/20 | |
|
|
|
| When I was watching television late at night as a kid and started hearing Syncopated Clock, that tune was my signal that it was past my bedtime. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson | |
| Posted by: Snowysdad 10:47 am EDT 04/23/20 | |
| In reply to: Interesting article about composer Leroy Anderson - Billhaven 10:34 am EDT 04/23/20 | |
|
|
|
| I grew up near Boston and was a Symphony Hall brat, allowed to bail out of school on Fridays to go to whatever was on on Friday afternoons. Attended many Pops concerts under Arthur Fiedler. Being young we had no reservations about hanging around the stage door where we met many people, Harry Ellis Dickson, many soloists. One older gentleman, we never knew who he was was always especially kind to two young kids (my friend and I). When I later found out he was Leroy Anderson, I was amazed. So warm and gracious to us. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.020891 seconds.