| Master-No: | 22 737 |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Country: | GER |
| Release Date: | 1964-5 |
| Artist: | Shadows |
| A-Side: | Chattanooga Choo-Choo |
| B-Side: | French Dressing |
| Beschreibung: | Composer A: Harry Warren - Mack Gordon
Length: Matrix No: 7 XCR 50 222 Composer B: Brian Bennett Length: Matrix No: 7 XCR 50 223 Location: Studio 02 at Abbey Road Studios, London Recording Date: 1964-02-13 + 1964-04-08 Musicians: Hank Marvin (lg) Bruce Welch (rg) John Rostill (bg) Brian Bennett (drms) from: A pocket Guide to Shadow Music - Malcolm Campbell See Introduction to 1964 above for comment. This blistering number proved a knockout opener for the main band at two of Bruce Welch’s Shadowmania events, as it had (alternating with [96] IN THE MOOD or [119] BRAZIL) for The Shadows themselves on stage around the mid-sixties period ([93] TONIGHT was adopted as the showcase ballad for Hank). Aspects to savour are the crispness and drive of Bruce’s masterly rhythm accompaniment and John Rostill’s weaving basslines. Contributing to the superb big sound is the location of drums and bass at the centre, thus ensuring that they play back equally through both speakers. It was written in 1941, with lyrics furnished by Mack Gordon, for the film ‘Sun Valley Serenade’ (in which [96] IN THE MOOD was also featured, see below), and performed by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra, who hit No.1 with it in the US (a nine week run, 23 weeks on chart in all). In the film, although the number starts off conventionally enough with a view of singers and a band, it is used for the staging of a spectacular song and dance routine. The piece would go on to become an orchestral favourite of the first order (Ernie Fields, Ted Heath, Joe Loss to name but three). Closer in time to Dance With The Shadows was a version from piano wizard Floyd Cramer, a USA No.36 in 1962, which deserved to do much better than it did. Brian Bennett was involved in the 1963 movie of this name about an implausible series of events in Gormleigh-On-Sea, England, ‘Gormleigh’ surely harbouring a playful reference to manager Peter Gormley! It was directed by Ken Russell (with involvement from Peter Myers and Ronald Cass of ‘Summer Holiday’ fame). The Shadows did not contribute to the actual soundtrack however. Do not be put off by the narrowness of its mono-only soundstage (see on [91] BLUE SHADOWS above): if played at high or, better, very high volume on a good (Digipak) source, it is possible to savour The Shadows at their most fluent, as they all cruise effortlessly through this jaunty, melodic and at times inspired piece. And what a finale! Its impact was such that in 1964 it was put out in France (for jukebox use) as an A-side to [86] THEME FOR YOUNG LOVERS, and in Germany (for purchase) as a B-side to [90] CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO. BB (communication to RB, August 2006) provides some interesting background: “‘French Dressing’! Well, that was Ken Russell’s very first film. It was one of my earliest commissions. There were all sorts of connections – the main ones being Stanley Black and Peter Gormley. Stanley Black is a vastly underestimated composer and arranger. Naturally we’d come into contact with him through ‘The Young Ones’ and ‘Summer Holiday’. Georges Delerue, a fabulous composer who later went on to great things, provided the main score. At that time though, he didn’t sell albums in his own right. The people behind the film just needed a popular theme for younger members of the audience. That’s where I came in, being a composer and a member of The Shadows! I remember that I had to go down to the Elstree Studios soundstage where Stanley Black was rehearsing a big orchestra. He’d do that and Georges Delerue would probably conduct them later. Stanley Black was a formidable character and a hard taskmaster. Anyway, I’d written this ‘Theme For French Dressing’ and I had to play it to Stanley Black on the piano in front of a professional orchestra! Now, I’m not a very good pianist – and I was even worse back in 1963! But, I had youth on my side – but I was very nervous......no, I was terrified. But I did it, just played it through a couple of times. It must have been OK because they did use it, but, as you say I was uncredited at the time – but that kind of thing wasn’t uncommon in those days. That Elstree/ Stanley Black scenario – if someone asked me to do that kind of thing now, I simply wouldn’t have the nerve to do it!!” Re: Gorleston-On-Sea ~ Gormleigh-On-Sea. BB: <laughing>. “Gorleston-On-Sea became Gormleigh-On-Sea. Really?? Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh yes, that would have definitely been an ‘in joke!’ Wonderful! Wonderful! Wasn’t Kenneth Harper the producer? He and Peter Gormley were old mates. We did summer seasons at Great Yarmouth. Gorleston-On-Sea was a quiet little resort not far away. Changing it to Gormleigh-On- Sea.....hilarious ... Do you know, I’ve never seen ‘French Dressing’ – has it ever been out on video or DVD? Plus of course, having written ‘French Dressing’ – it became an ideal candidate for inclusion on The Shadows’ next LP.” Editorial Note It does not appear that this film has ever been released on video or DVD. The internet however provides some visual/ musical references and a number of the film’s original sequences including the main opening title scenes can be viewed. Unfortunately Brian’s number cannot be recognised amongst this limited sample of the incidental music. |
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