SOUND BOXES – the weird & wonderful equipment we listen to music on…

My Hi Fi listening set up...mostly purchased second hand in Singapore.

My starting point…the NAD Family in 2010.

NAD C355BEE

I had owned this integrated amp for a year and a half, and it never ceased to amaze me how it 'reinvents' old recordings while also plumbing the finer qualities of Digital recordings made in the 1990s and 2000s. There is accurate stage presence, depth to each instrument and it reveals colours in vocal sets. I used the following for 'tests of revelation' - not your usual listening staple - but they prove this amplifier to be a winner in every way. Not at all laid-back but a highly refined sound that puts you right in the recording studio or concert hall.

Paul Mauriat - Love Sound Hits (Philips, Japan 1969/1987)
Barbra Streisand - A Love Like Ours (Columbia, USA, 1999)
Masashi Abe - Playing Love (Pacific Garden, Japan, 2000)
Ronnie Aldrich - Reflections/With Love and Understanding (Decca/Dutton-Vocalion, UK, 1976/1977/2005)
Carpenters - The Singles 1969-73 (A&M, USA, 1991)
Paul Mauriat - Yesterday Once More (Philips, Japan, 1973/2004)

80 Watts of power has been done justice - helped in no small part by a US$150 interconnect and 'Sound Physician' speaker wires hooked up to vintage Sherwood S1800 pinewood speakers. Musical heaven is within reach here - thanks to NAD's focus on that familiar warm Hi-Fi sound that attracted me to their products at first listen. The NAD C545 CD player (upper deck) was characteristic for its ‘slow’ and ‘normal’ digital filter options. The slow filter options produced a sweet sound to virtually all recordings – but only if they were remastered to exacting standards. This slow filter worked well for HDCD recordings that were mostly light jazz in my collection, but produced no wonders for the sound of DECCA Phase Four from the 1960s and 1970s.

Stage Two :

The NAD C375 promised to send 135 Watts into 8 ohm speakers (rather standard). In contrast, the C355 maximised the potential of the Sherwoods with its 80 Watts – yet after upgrading to the C565 CD player, and better, the M5 in NAD’s Masters range, something seemed missing from the sound quality. My upgrade was intended to boost sound quality with more power. Moreover the C375 was touted to be a ‘trickle-down’ Masters level M3 which I am told could match the M5 most perfectly. The C375 ‘sang’ sweetly with the M5 SACD player.

The Totem Sttaf floorstanding speakers – light, walnut brown, shorter towers – were an attempt to experiment with the arrival of the NAD C375 which featured biwiring capabilities for a ‘speaker B’ set-up. My Sherwood initially remained ‘Speaker A’. The Sttafs proved impressive on stereo imaging, tightening up the bass somewhat and the treble saw an almost 100% improvement over the Sherwoods. Nonetheless, the Sttafs seemed to produce no difference whether on spikes or on pure carpet. I opted for the latter to avoid damage to the parquet flooring.

The Focus Audio FS78s (in Piano Black finish) were a chance acquisition - they sounded better than the Zu Audio that the second hand dealer had on hand. The selling point for me was the sound stage imaging. They were a little slower than the Totems (the shorter walnut brown coloured floor standers in the picture above) but in terms of putting every piece of music on a figurative and holographic stage, the FS78s were supreme. One just needed to space them sufficiently apart even against a corner and they sounded simply magical! Some of the denser recordings by the Caravelli Grand Orchestra on the SONY/CBS label in the 1980s were revealed in layers of glorious detail. Could hear everything and now one can fully appreciate why Caravelli's arrangements were a class unto themselves.

For the updated range of Focus Audio high-end speakers, look up: http://www.focusaudio.com/index1.htm

Now, some of you will be wondering what that shoebox-size CD player on the lowest rack was all about? The oddness of the size and the ill-matching lines in contrast to the NAD family are striking. Well, that was a target of opportunity. This was a player I had admired in its early incarnations (e.g. Mission Cyrus products) some 15 years ago when I was still working my way through university. It was exorbitantly priced back then (hence I couldn’t acquire it) but I remember its sound ‘blowing away’ the competition in the early 1990s. CYRUS (UK) is renowned for their trademark shoebox sized designs for Hi-Fi. Amplifiers, tuners, CD players and now digital streamers are all configured in the same shape for a flushed look to their audio stacking. The CD6S, which is on display here, is a warm sounding player whose potential is best maximized with good power cable and higher end audio interconnect cables. Although it was premiered in 2005-2006, and won a WHAT HI-FI Award for that year, it sound remarkably competitive in sound quality to the higher end NAD players I have owned, except for the M5! It plays virtually all CDs printed and remastered from the 1990s onwards with tremendous vitality and detail. Earlier CDs produced from 1982 till about 1987 fared just about OK – until I changed the interconnects to the STRAIGHTWIRE SYMPHONY II which accentuated the sparkle of the mid-range in all recordings. The DECCA/London Phase 4 recordings sounded gloriously analogue on the Vocalion releases! Most interestingly, it partnered the NAD C375 very well. Here are the CD6S’s technical details from the www.cyrusaudio.co.uk site:

Power Supply - Toroidal power transformer feeding 8 regulated power supplies
D/A Converter  - 24 bit current output with integrated digital filter
Outputs - Dual Stereo audio, SPDIF optical
Transport - Integral Isolated Loader Mechanism with monolithic glass LASER assembly
Disc Compatibility - CD, CD-R (closed session)
Display - Custom LCD with subtle green back lighting
Remote Control - Full function Cyrus system remote control facility
Communications - MC-BUS™ System BUS

What CYRUS does best is to control for what their technicians call jitter and timing on music reproduction from the discs, plus a very meticulous approach to regulating the power supply within the player. NAD in turn mostly pays attention to the power supply conditioning.

Wait for my next installment when I separate the CYRUS from the NAD-Focus Audio set-up, and reconfigure the CYRUS around its own amplifier from the same manufacturer. J

Raymond Lefevre Grand Orchestra - on Rock Records (Taiwan)

RAYMOND LEFEVRE GRAND ORCHESTRA – ON ROCK RECORDS (TAIWAN)

Fans of Raymond Lefevre enjoyed a special treat when Taiwan-based Rock Records, licensed Lefevre’s music and compiled them in 1996 into eight volumes of themed selections.
Volume 1:  La Reine de Saba
Volume 2: Yesterday Once More
Volume 3: A Time for Us
Volume 4: French Chanson Best Collection
Volume 5: From Italy with Love
Volume 6: European Famous Screen Themes
Volume 7: Special Dedication to THE BEATLES
Volume 8: The Magic of Broadway Musicals
Plus the rare collaboration between Lefevre and Richard Clayderman playing traditional Japanese romantic songs in a collection titled ‘Autumnal Prayer’.
Here are a few which I have personally owned or sold on eBay:

FULL TITLE: Raymond Lefevre Greatest Hits 2 / Yesterday Once More. Made in Taiwan by Rock Records under license from Raymond Lefevre Productions, Paris. Released simultaneously Asia-wide in 1996 reg. no. ROCK RLD-0002. A rare item from an out-of-print Taiwan-issued CD series of commemorative compilations of Monsieur Lefevre’s recordings. As the title of this collection suggests, this compilation revisits the romantic and nostalgic from Lefevre’s trove of recordings from the late 1960s and 1970s. The Lefevre trademark of lush sighing strings is evident on virtually every track, and the compiler has thoughtfully selected ‘La Maison Est En Ruine’ with its very tender oboe-and-violin arrangements to open the collection with an evocative musical scenery set in a French chateau while ending the musical journey in glamorous Italy with the appropriately titled ‘La Dolce’ with an unforgettable accompanying female wordless chorus. Masterly arrangements from a popular interpreter of French Chanson. Some personal favourites include: My Way, Angie [it is amazing what Lefevre’s strings can do with the lower registers here], Mourir D’aimer, Un Belle Histoire, Il Neige sur Yesterday, Yesterday Once More, She, Que Je T’aime, Les Vieux Maries, Nous Irons A Veron, and Aria [it is almost breathtaking to hear how a grand orchestra blends with the sounds of a moog synthesizer – an instrument popular in the late 1960s & 1970s – the result is almost magical]. What’s more, this special edition comes with a commemorative cardboard sleeve for the jewel case, liner notes in both English and Chinese and a B4 paper size poster depicting the rest of the content of this special series on Lefevre – exactly as shown in the photograph below.
TRACK LISTING:
1. LA MAISON EST EN RUINE
2. MY WAY
3. ANGIE
4. L'AIGLE NOIR DÉDIÉ À LAURENCE
5. MOURIR D'AIMER
6. WE SHALL DANCE
7. UNE BELLE HISTOIRE
8. IL NEIGE SUR YESTERDAY
9. JE VAIS T'AIMER
10. YESTERDAY ONCE MORE
11. MAMY BLUE
12. SHE
13. QUE JE T'AIME
14. LES VIEUX MARIÉS
15. ARIA
16. 13 JOURS EN FRANCE
17. NOUS IRONS A VERON
18. LA DOLCE

Raymond Lefevre Greatest Hits 3 / A Time for Us. Made in Taiwan by Rock Records under license from Raymond Lefevre Productions, Paris. Released simultaneously Asia-wide in 1996 reg. no. ROCK RLD-0003. A rare item from an out-of-print Taiwan-issued CD series of commemorative compilations of Monsieur Lefevre’s recordings. As the title of this collection suggests, this compilation revisits a romantic repertoire from Lefevre’s trove of recordings from the late 1960s and 1970s. The Lefevre trademark of lush sighing strings is evident on virtually every track, and the compiler has thoughtfully selected picked a mix of Lefevre’s less well known arrangements of French chanson to showcase the music of love. Some personal highlights include the Paul McCartney hit ‘My Love’ [the trumpet lead on the main melody makes it stand out], the title track ‘A Time for Us’ [this lends itself to the Lefevre treatment because of its deep emotional notes in the original film score], and ‘Donne Tonne Coeur, Donne Ta Vie’ and ‘Sur le Bords de la Tendresse’.
TRACK LISTING::
1.Sans Toi Je Suis Seul.
2.Apres Toi.
3. My Love.
4. Une Simple Melodie.
5. Loin des Yeux, Loin de Coeur.
6. Lady D’arbanville.
7. Donne Tonne Coeur, Donne Ta Vie.
8.La Bal des Laze.
9.Pour Un Flirt.
10. A Time for Us [From ‘Romeo and Juliet].
11. Mille Colombe.
12.100,000 Chansons.
13. Et Bonjour A Toi L’artiste.
14. Le Sud.
15. Fio Maravilha.
16. Belle.
17. Sur les Bords de la Tendresse.
18. Let Me Try Again…

FULL TITLE: AUTUMNAL PRAYER. RICHARD MEETS RAYMOND. Co-Released in Japan/Taiwan and Southeast Asia by Victor Japan and Rock Records Taiwan in 1995 under catalogue number DED2008. Although the liner notes inside are in Chinese, the back cover states that piano and rhythm tracks were arranged by Gerard Salesses, Mark Minier, Herve Roy and Olivier Toussaint at Delphine Studios, Paris. Orchestral tracks arranged by Jean-Michel Lefevre except for the medley, which was personally arranged by Raymond Lefevre himself at Guillaume Tell Studio in Suresnes, France. The entire Raymond Lefevre Orchestra was conducted by the maestro himself. This line up alone makes this CD a rarity – making it almost one of Lefevre’s last major recordings, and what is more, in collaboration with piano great Richard Clayderman. In fact, based on what is known from Clayderman’s UK-based online fan-site, this same album was released in Japan as 'Japon mon amour'. The titles shown below are, as far as I know, accurate translations of the ones in Chinese shown at the back of this disc. This translated track listing was made available on the same Clayderman UK fan-site. As the titles suggest, they are evocative of a lush moonlit dreamy landscape – a series of gallery portraits, if you prefer – collecting vistas of a romantic journey across time in Japan or anywhere in Korea and China. The arrangements are more typically Lefevre than Clayderman in the sense that they deliver a very clever blend of aural sweep through the sheer majesty of their interplay. If you are a fan of either instrumentalist, you will not be disappointed.

TRACK LISTING:
1.  Moon from a ruined castle
2.   Melody of love on Aoba castle
3.   Memories of Summer
4.   Medley:
(a) The way to myself
(b) Pechika
(c) The red dragonfly
(d) Lullaby Japan
5.  A song of a beach
6.  A night in Kitagami
7.   My home town
8.  Lullaby Takeda
9.  Early in Spring
10.  Melody of a sakura shell
11.  Flower heart.
12.   Think of a trip to Chitoko
13.   Sakura

Updated 12 June 2012

Melodies Moods and Memories – A Reader’s Digest CD Trilogy
Memories light the corners of my mind, misty water, colour memories…and the rest is one pure scenic journey down the avenue of the best of your life… Reader’s Digest has produced for fans of easy listening three compilations of historic proportions.

MELODIES, MOODS & MEMORIES. Various Artistes. Made in the UK and released by Reader’s Digest (UK) Pte Ltd in 1991, with catalogue no. RDCD 331-6. Recordings have been licensed by Reader’s Digest from Castle Communication (UK), EMI Records (UK), Frank Chacksfield Music, Polygram Special Products and SONY Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. This was concurrently released by Reader’s Digest in an 8 LP box set. This is almost the quintessential EASY LISTENER’s ‘reference’ collection, or the ultimate trip down a ‘maple tree-lined memory lane’. Think of a beautiful sunny morning in late Spring or early Autumn – and relive those memories to the sound of these 112 orchestral gems...As far as I know, this is the first of Reader’s Digest’s mixed easy orchestral compilations under the name ‘Melodies, moods, memories...’ It is easy to see why. The tunes are all arranged according to the golden eras of instrumental mood music 1950s-1970s and they are themed after some truly unforgettable songs. Moreover, the digital remastering is nothing short of impressive! Scroll down the list and you will feel the pulse of this wondrous collection. ... Some of my personal highlights: lots of rare unreleased 1970s tracks by Franck Pourcel, Johnny Gregory and his orchestra, Frank Chacksfield, and Manuel/Geoff Love. Plus staple themes from the 1950s-60s interpreted with tender care by Mantovani, Percy Faith, Arthur Fiedler, and a few cameos by Paul Mauriat and his orchestra! I have this in my own easy listening library, you should too! 

DISC ONE: When I Fall in Love 1955-1958; Moon River 1959-1961 (Part One)
1. Around the World – Mantovani.
2. Island in the Sun – Manuel and his Music of the Mountains.
3. Arrivederci Roma – Percy Faith and his Orchestra.
4. Catch a Falling Star – Cyril Stapleton.
5. Love Letters in the Sand – Frank Chacksfield.
6. When I fall in Love – David Rose and his Orchestra.
7. True Love – Mantovani.
8. Just Walkin’ in the Rain – Frank Chacksfield.
9. Blueberry Hill – Bert Kaempfert.
10. My Prayer – Mantovani .
11. Magic Moments – Ronnie Aldrich, his two pianos and the London Festival Orchestra.
12. On the Strret where You Live – Percy Faith and his Orchestra.
13. Witchcraft – Frank de Vol and his Orchestra.
14. Que Sera Sera – Mantovani.
15. Moon River – Henry Mancini.
16. As Long as He Needs Me – Mantovani.
17. La Bamba – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
18. Wonderland by Night – Bert Kaempfert.
19. Never on Sunday – Percy Faith and his Orchestra.
20. Climb Every Mountain – Mantovani.

DISC TWO: Moon River 1959-1961 (Concluded); Softly as I leave You 1962-1965 (Part One)
1. Serenata – Geoff Love and his Orchestra.
2. Theme from ‘A Summer Place’ – Percy Faith and his Orchestra.
3.Blue Moon – Bert Kaempfert.
4. It’s Now or Never (O Sole Mio) – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
5. Are You Lonesome Tonight? – Roberto Mann.
6. The White Rose of Athens– Manuel and his Music of the Mountains.
7. Spanish Harlem – Frank Chacksfield.
8. Theme from ‘The Apartment’ – Geoff Love.
9. Softly as I Leave You – Ronnie Aldrich, his two pianos and Orchestra.
10. Stranger on the Shore – Geoff Love.
11. Blowin’in the Wind – Percy Faith & his Orchestra.
12. A Walk in the Black Forest – Mantovani.
13. On a Clear Day you can See Forever – Franck Pourcel & his Orchestra.
14. Cast your Fate to the Wind – Sounds Orchestral.
15. I Left my Heart in San Francisco – Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
16. Fly Me to the Moon – Mantovani.
17. The Shadow of your Smile – Manuel and the Music of the Mountains.
18. Maria Elena – Percy Faith & his Orchestra.

DISC THREE: Softly as I leave You 1962-1965 (Concluded); Strangers in the Night 1966-1967
1. A Taste of Honey – Geoff Love.
2. Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) – Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra.
3. I Can’t Stop Loving You – Mantovani.
4. I Want to Hold your Hand – Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
5. Strangers in the Night – Bert Kaempfert.
6. The Last Waltz – Les Reed and his Orchestra.
7. Somewhere my Love – Manuel and his Music of the Mountains.
8. Michelle – Frank Chacksfield.
9. A Whiter Shade of Pale – George Martin and his Orchestra.
10. Guantanamera – Nelson Riddle.
11. Tijuana Taxi – Geoff Love.
12. Puppet on a String – Mantovani.
13. Yesterday – Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
14. There’s a Kind of Hush – Paul Mauriat & his Orchestra (1968 version).
15.  This is my Song – Frank Chacksfield.
16. Spanish Eyes – Bert Kaempfert.
17. If I Were a Rich Man – Mantovani.
18. Up, Up and Away – Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
19. Winchester Cathedral – George Martin & his Orchestra.

DISC FOUR: Those Were the Days 1968-1970; Song Sung Blue 1971-1973 (Part One)
1. Those were the days – Mantovani.
2. Delilah – Les Reed and his orchestra.
3. Scarborough Fair – Frank Chacksfield.
4. Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head – Henry Mancini, piano and orchestra.
5. Love is Blue (1968 version) – Paul Mauriat.
6. The Windmills of Your Mind – Henry Mancini, piano and orchestra.
7. Congratulations – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
8. For Once in my Life – Mantovani.
9. This Guy’s in Love with You – Ron Goodwin and his Orchestra.
10. MacArthur Park – Percy Faith and his Orchestra.
11. Bridge over Troubled Water – Frank Chacksfield.
12. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Hugo Montenegro.
13. Something – Bert Kaempfert.
14. (They Long to be) Close to You – Frank Chacksfield.
15. Song Sung Blue – Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
16. Imagine – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
17. Put Your Hand in the Hand – Bert Kaempfert.
18. My Sweet Lord – Ronnie Aldrich, his two pianos and the London Festival Orchestra.
19. Amazing Grace – Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
20. And I Love You So – Mantovani.
 
DISC FIVE: Song Sung Blue 1971-1973 (Part One); Feelings 1974-1976 (Part One)
1. Without You – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
2. Duelling Banjos – Henry Mancini.
3. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree – Mantovani.
4. You are the Sunshine of my Life – Manuel and the Music of the Mountains.
5.It’s Impossible – Ronnie Aldrich, his two pianos and the London Festival Orchestra.
6. The Summer Knows – Geoff Love.
7. Speak Softly Love – Paul Mauriat.
8. Feelings – Bert Kaempfert.
9. Annie’s Song – Henry Mancini with his piano and orchestra.
10. Dancing Queen – Frank Chacksfield.
11. You Make me Feel Brand New – Manuel and the Music of the Mountains.
12. I Write the Songs – Johnny Gregory & his Orchestra.
13. If You Leave Me Now – Ronnie Aldrich.
14. Send in the Clowns – Henry Mancini.
15. Rhinestone Cowboy – Bert Kaempfert.
16. The Way We Were – Manuel and the Music of the Mountains.
17. All by Myself – Henry Mancini.
18. The Most Beautiful Girl – Bert Kaempfert.

DISC SIX: Feelings 1974-1976 (Concluded); When I Need You 1977-1980
1. If – Percy Faith and his Orchestra.
2.Isn’t She Lovely – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
3. Y Viva España – Manuel and the Music of the Mountains.
4. Star Wars Theme – Geoff Love.
5. When I Need You – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
6. Bright Eyes – Manuel and the Music of the Mountains.
7. The Winner Takes It All – Johnny Gregory and his Orchestra.
8. Nobody Does it Better – Frank Chacksfield.
9. You Light up my Life – Roland Shaw and his Orchestra.
10. The Floral Dance – Geoff Love.
11. Just the Way You Are – Ronnie Aldrich, his two pianos and the London Festival Orchestra.
12. The Deerhunter Theme (Cavatina) – Manuel and the Music of the Mountains.
13. Hopelessly Devoted to You – Frank Chacksfield.
14. Love on the Rocks – Johnny Gregory and his Orchestra.
15. Chanson D’amour – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
16. How Deep is Your Love – Ronnie Aldrich, his two pianos and the London Festival Orchestra.
17. You’re the One That I Want – Geoff Love.

FULL TITLE: Melodies Moods and Memories. Various Artistes. Reader’s Digest Association Far East Limited, 2004. Catalogue no. 0350202 E1 CIK. Made in Hong Kong for Reader’s Digest Far East Association and contains 20 colour pages of beautiful liner notes explaining why each disc’s compilation was put together to create a themed mood – an attraction in itself. Compilations of Easy listening instrumentals often try to strike a fine balance between featuring the most popular and introducing some rare beauty either from the current instrumental music carousel, or from the record vaults of re-issued and remastered recordings. Some are a delight because they add a new dimension of ‘mood’ when grouped with other similarly arranged pieces, or they are trying very hard to set new standards for the easy listening genre. This collection blends the romantic sentimental sound of so many 1970s and 1960s classic instrumental love songs with contemporary chart hits and evergreens. What’s more, fans of Caravelli and his Grand Orchestra will find a huge chunk of the maestro’s final studio album A NEW DAY HAS COME (2003) featured in this compilation – and simply not found elsewhere! Plus Francis Goya fans will delight in this compilation because it features some of his older recordings amidst the newer ones with touches of Latin everywhere – and all fully backed by either a string orchestra or a combo. Goya’s piece ‘Dance Me to the End of Love’ nicely captures the spirit of this sentimental light hearted compilation. Plus surprise collaborations between Francis Goya, Clayderman and various others. Damian Luca’s panflute also features heavily on Disc Four, plus Readers’ Digest standard artsites such as Larry Dalton, Ronnie Price, Roger Williams, Gordon Langford, Henry Mancini and Charles Gerhardt. There are in addition, three guest selections each by Paul Mauriat, Franck Pourcel and Johnny Pearson in the final two discs…
DISC ONE
Theme: Love Story
1. Love Story – Henry Mancini, piano and orchestra.
2. Love is a Many Splendoured Thing – Charles Gerhardt and his orchestra.
3. Only Love – Richard Clayderman with Francis Goya.
4. L.O.V.E. – Caravelli and his Grand Orchestra.
5. Beautiful – Francis Goya and his Orchestra.
6. Melodie D’amour – Charles Gerhardt and his Orchestra.
7. Hymne A L’amour – Patrick Mortier, his trumpet and orchestra.
8. With all my Heart – Caravelli and his Grand Orchestra.
9. Everything I Do, I Do It for You – Richard Clayderman and Francis Goya.
10. Je T’aime Moi Non Plus – The Romantic Strings Orchestra.
Theme: Magic is the Moonlight
11. Fly Me to the Moon – The Romantic Strings Orchestra.
12. Blue Moon – Ronnie Price, his piano and orchestra.
13. Magic is the Moonlight – Francis Goya and his orchestra.
14. To the Evening Star – Gheorge Zamfir, panflute and orchestra.
15. Moon River – Henry Mancini.
16. By the Light of the Silvery Moon – The Romantic Strings Orchestra.
17. It’s Only a paper Moon – Douglas Gamley, his piano and Orchestra.
18. Sail Along Silvery Moon – Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra.
19. On this Night of a Thousand Stars – Francis Goya and his Orchestra.
20. In the Chapel in the Moonlight – Pete Moore and his Orchestra.
21. Moonlight Sonata – Henry Mancini.
DISC TWO
Theme: Strangers in the Night
1. Somewhere my Love – Chet Atkins & orchestra.
2. Strangers in the Night – Kenny Kind, trumpet and orchestra.
3. A Man without Love – Francis Goya and Orchestra.
4. Somethin’ Stupid – Caravelli and his Grand Orchestra.
5. Heavenly Blue – Richard Clayderman with Francis Goya.
6.  Can’t Get Used to Losing You – Caravelli and his Grand Orchestra.
7. We’ve Got Tonight – Francis Goya and his Orchestra.
8. Night and Day – Ronnie Price and his Orchestra.
9. Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer – Damian Draghici on Pan Pipes and his orchestra.
10. Oh’ My Papa – Kenny King on Trumpet and his Orchestra.
Theme: Come Closer to Me
11. Come Closer to Me – Larry Dalton & his orchestra.
12. Tenderly – Henry Mancini.
13. Magic Moments – Francis Goya and his orchestra.
14. For the Love of a Princess (from the film “Braveheart”) – James Galway on flute and his orchestra.
15. Always in my Heart – Francis Goya and orchestra.
16. Sometimes When We Touch – Floyd Cramer, his piano and orchestra.
17. You Make me Feel Brand New – Ralph Benatar and his Orchestra.
18. I’ll be There – Richard Clayderman with Francis Goya.
19. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic – Caravelli and his Grand Orchestra.
20. Goodbye my Love Goodbye – Dominique de Marcis, his guitar & orchestra.

DISC THREE
Theme: Those Were the Days
1. Sentimental Journey – Larry Dalton, his piano and orchestra.
2. Nature Boy – James Galway on flute and his orchestra.
3. Try a Little Tenderness – Francis Goya and his Orchestra.
4. Born Free – Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
5.Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head – Wally Stott and his Orchestra.
6. Cheek to Cheek – Ken Thorne and his Orchestra.
7. Early Morning Rain – Richard Abel on Piano with Francis Goya on Guitar, with orchestra.
8. Midnight in Moscow – Charles Gerhardt and his Orchestra.
9. C’est magnifique – Johnny Gibbs and his orchestra.
10. Those were the Days – Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
Theme: Music for Dancing and Romancing
11. Fascination – Hill Bowen and his Orchestra.
12. Blue Tango – the Romantic Strings Orchestra.
13. That’s Amore – Larry Dalton and his Orchestra.
14. How Deep is Your Love – Roberto Menescal, his guitar, and orchestra.
15. Besame Mucho – Don Cristobal and his Orchestra.
16. Les Bicyclettes de Belsize – Charles Gerhardt and his orchestra.
17. No Matter What – Richard Clayderman and Francis Goya.
18. Hear my Song, Violetta – Charles Gerhardt and his orchestra.
19. Three Times a Lady – Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
20. Dance Me to the End of Love – Francis Goya and orchestra.

DISC FOUR
Theme: Straight from the Heart
1. Straight from the Heart – Richard Abel on Piano with Francis Goya on Guitar, with orchestra.
2. Everytime – Wendy Quinlan on flute with orchestra.
3. Amazing – Ralph Benatar & his Orchestra.
4. You’ll be in my Heart (from the film cartoon “Tarzan”).
5. Emanuelle – Francis Goya on Guitar, with orchestra.
6. One Day in Your Life – Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
7. Stardust – Henry Mancini.
8. Caruso– Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
9. All by Myself – Larry Dalton & his Orchestra
Theme: What Now my Love
10. What Now My Love – Kenny King, his trumpet and Orchestra.
11. White Flag – Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
12. If You Go Away – Francis Goya with the Michel Herr Trio.
13. Just When I Needed you Most – Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
14. Ballade pour Adeline ’99 – Richard Clayderman with Francis Goya.
15. The First Cut is the Deepest – Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
16. Stranger on the Shore – Acker Bilk.
17. Love is Blue – Paul Mauriat and his Orchestra (1998 version).
18. Yesterday When I Was Young – Syd Dale and his Orchestra.
19. Mad World – The Lavender Hill Orchestra.

DISC FIVE
Theme: Melodies for Dreaming
1. Fur Elise – Michael Reeves, his piano and orchestra.
2. Johan’s Waltz – Francis Goya.
3. Tristesse – Roger Williams, piano and orchestra.
4.Melody in F – Franck Pourcel and his Orchestra.
5. Romance – Damian Luca, his panflute and orchestra.
6.Serenade – Charles Gerhardt and his Orchestra.
7. Traumerei – Ricci Ferra and his Orchestra.
8. The Last Rose of Summer – Gheorge Zamfir, panflute and orchestra.
9. Clair de Lune – Roger Williams.
10. Barcarolle – Gordon Langford his Piano and Orchestra.
Theme: Morning has Broken
11. Morning has Broken – Acker Bilk.
12. We Have All the Time in the World – Kenny King, his trumpet and orchestra.
13. Alone Again naturally – Roland Shaw and his Orchestra.
14. Killing Me Softly with His Song – Gordon Langford on piano, with his orchestra.
15. Farewell Angelina – Wendy Quinlan on flute, with orchestra.
16. Unchained Melody – Roger Williams his piano and orchestra.
17. Before We Say Goodbye – Francis Goya and his orchestra.
18. Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word – Johnny Pearson and his orchestra.
19. A New Day has Come – Caravelli and his Orchestra.
20. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Francis Goya and his Orchestra.

This 2007 collection rewinds Reader’s Digest ‘Melodies and Moods’ in an unbeatable selection. Sit back and unwind with piano maestros Richard Clayderman and Roger Williams, orchestral greats Geoff Love, James Last and Henry Mancini, plus many more legendary artists. EZ classics such as Unchained Melody, Strangers In The Night, Moon River, The Floral Dance, What A Wonderful World, Magic Moments, Sailing, Around The World, Rainy Days and Mondays, Yesterday Once More and Morning Has Broken are featured on a spread of five discs themed by Romance, Relaxation, ‘Memories are Made of This’, Happy Moods and Moonlight Moods. Unlike the other two collections, this one unabashedly tugs at your yearning to pull out every photo album and reminisce … Even the liner notes take on an unusual design: they profile the artistes rather than the songs – there are biographies of Bert Kaempfert, James Last, Ronnie Aldrich, Acker Bilk, Frank Chacksfield, Richard Clayderman, Roger Williams and many many more. The track listing spells out the 'magic' of this last in the trilogy:

Disc One: Melodies of Love

1.     And I Love You So – Richard Clayderman

2.     Where Do I Begin (Theme from ‘Love Story’) – Henry Mancini and his Orchestra

3.     Somewhere My Love – Manuel and his Music of the Mountains

4.     (Everything I Do) I Do It for You – Richard Clayderman

5.     Annie’s Song – James Galway

6.     Forever and Ever (And Ever) – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

7.     As Time Goes By – Richard Clayderman

8.     Rainy Days and Mondays – Roger Williams, piano & his Orchestra

9.     Tenderly – The Percy Faith Strings

10.                         Raining in my Heart – Frank Chacksfield & his Orchestra

11.                        How Deep is Your Love – Richard Clayderman

12.                        She – Gheorghe Zamfir

13.                        I’ll Be There – Richard Clayderman

14.                        Time after Time – James Last and his Orchestra

15.                        All the Things You Are – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

16.                         The Way you Look Tonight – Gordon Langford, piano and rhythm quartet

17.                         Unforgettable – Floyd Cramer, his piano and Orchestra

18.                        Ballade pour Adeline ‘99 – Richard Clayderman with Francis Goya on guitar

19.                        The Look of Love – Nelson Riddle & his Orchestra

20.                        Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Nelson Riddle & his Orchestra

21.                        The Seduction (Love Theme) – James Last and his Orchestra

22.                         Unchained Melody – Ray Conniff, his Orchestra & Chorus.

Disc Two: Relaxing in Style

1.     Chi Mai – Acker Bilk & his Orchestra

2.     Bali Hái – Ronnie Hazelhurst & his Orchestra

3.     Where or When – Ray Conniff, his Orchestra & Chorus

4.     The Carousel Waltz – Geoff Love and his Orchestra

5.     What a Difference a Day Makes – Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra

6.     Sailing – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

7.     Nature Boy – James Galway

8.      The Lonely Shepherd – James Last & his Orchestra with Gheorghe Zamfir on panflute

9.     It was a very Good Year – Ray Conniff, his Orchestra and Chorus

10.                        Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) – Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra

11.                        Around the World – Geoff Love and his Orchestra

12.                        Cavatina – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

13.                        How Soon – Henry Mancini and his Orchestra

14.                        MacArthur Park – Percy Faith & his Orchestra

15.                        Misty – Henry Mancini & his Orchestra

16.                        Arriverderci Roma – James Last & his Orchestra

17.                        Morning has Broken – Acker Bilk & his Orchestra

18.                        Granada – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

19.                        On a Clear Day You Can See Forever – Roger Williams, his Piano & Orchestra

20.                        I Talk to the Trees – Manuel and the Music of the Mountains

21.                        Bye Bye Blues – Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra

22.                        Concierto de Aranjuez – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

Disc Three: Memories are Made of This

1. Theme from ‘A Summer Place’ – Percy Faith and his Orchestra

2. Thanks for the Memory – Ray Conniff, his Orchestra and Chorus

3.Pennies from Heaven – Harry James & his Orchestra

4. Stranger on the Shore – Acker Bilk

5.Up, Up and Away – Nick Ingman and his Orchestra

6. Mambo Italiano – Georges Jouvin and his Orchestra

7.Softly as I leave You – Ronnie Aldrich & his Two Pianos

8. If – Percy Faith & his Orchestra

9.The White Rose of Athens – Manuel and his Music of the Mountains

10. Congratulations – Phil Coulter & his Orchestra

11. The Fool on the Hill – Acker Bilk & his Orchestra

12. Memories are Made of This – Ray Conniff, his Orchestra and Chorus

13. Ramblin’Rose – Acker Bilk & his Orchestra

14.The Way We Were – Roger Williams, his Piano & Orchestra

15. Eye Level (Theme from ‘Van Der Valk’) – The Tony Hatch Orchestra

16.Yesterday Once More – Peter Hope & his Orchestra

17. Tara’s Theme – Ronnie Aldrich, his Two Pianos and Orchestra

18.Those Were the Days – Shep Fields & his Orchestra

19. Theme from ‘Crossroads’- The Tony Hatch Orchestra

20. Theme from ‘The Thorn Birds’ – Joe Reisman and his Orchestra

21. 500 miles – Kenny King & his Orchestra

22. The Honeymoon Song – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

Disc Four: Cheerful Tunes for Happy Days

1.At the Sign of the Swingin’ Cymbal – Brian Fahey and his Orchestra

2. A Swingin’Safari – Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra

3. I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman – Whistling Jack Smith

4. Baby Elephant Walk – Henry Mancini & his Orchestra

5. Music to Watch Girls By – Ray Conniff & his Singers

6. On the Rebound – Floyd Cramer, his Piano & Orchestra

7. Never on Sunday – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

8. Island in the Sun – Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra

9. Guantanamera – Nelson Riddle & his Orchestra

10. Tijuana Taxi – Ray Davis & his Button Down Brass

11. Magic Moments – Ronnie Aldrich and his Two Pianos

12. My Favourite Things – Ronnie Aldrich and his Two Pianos

13.Summer Set – Acker Bilk

14. The Continental – Ray Conniff, his orchestra and chorus

15. Pepito – Billy May & his Orchestra

16. Raindrops keep Fallin’on my Head – Henry Mancini & his Orchestra

17.Happy Talk – Frank Chacksfield & Orchestra

18.Hello Dolly! – Gordon Langford & his Orchestra

19.Y Viva Espana – Manuel and his Music of the Mountains

20.Side Saddle – Russ Conway

21. On the Street Where You Live – Peter Nero, his piano and orchestra

22. That Happy Feeling – Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra

Disc Five: Moonlight Moods

1. Strangers in the Night Blue Midnight – Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra

2. Moonlight Serenade – Ray Conniff, his orchestra and chorus

3.Blue Moon – Percy Faith & his Orchestra

4. Stardust – Manuel & his Music of the Mountains

5. Moonglow – Richard Alden, his Piano & Orchestra

6.Blue Tango – Geoff Love and his Orchestra

7. Moonlight Cocktail –Richard Alden, his Piano & Orchestra

8.Memory – Roger Williams, piano and Orchestra

9. Moonlight Sonata – Gordon Langford and Douglas Gamley, Twin Pianos & Orchestra

10. Deep Purple – The Percy Faith Strings

11. I Could Have Danced All Night/ I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face – Ray Conniff, his Orchestra and Chorus

12. Some Enchanted Evening – The Percy Faith Strings

13. Ebb Tide – Ronnie Aldrich, his piano and orchestra

14. Rhapsody In Blue – Henry Mancini & his Orchestra

15.Three O’Clock in the Morning – Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra

16. Blue Midnight – Bert Kaempfert & his Orchestra

17. Blues in the Night – Roger Williams, piano and orchestra

18. The Last Waltz – Les Reed and his Orchestra

19. Fly Me to the Moon – Harry James and his Orchestra

20. Echo in the Night – Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra

21. Midnight Cowboy – Percy Faith & his Orchestra

22.Night and Day – Richard Clayderman

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