"American Serenade blends Great Folk Themes ~ Percy Faith"
J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 07/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Two albums "Great Folk Themes" and "American Serenade", on the same bill is great Americana in anyone's book ~ themes as wide as the Missouri River flowing over this great land of ours. First half of the album features "FIVE HUNDRED MILES", "THE LEMON TREE", "KISSES SWEETER THAN WINE", "THIS TRAIN ADAPTED", "SLOOP JOHN B.", "MICHAEL ROW THE BOAT" and "BLOWIN' IN THE WIND", each cue has the early days of this nation with a young countries growing pains ~ some of the best arrangements ever penned is on this album by Maestro Faith.Second part of this album opens with "SUNSET (FROM GRAND CANYON SUITE), always a particular favorite of mine from Percy ~ "STARS FELL ON ALABAMA", classic opening with strings, then a saxophone joins the full string orchestra, nothing can touch this golden arrangement ~ "TENNESSEE WALTZ", the wonderful Patti Page tune, with a performance from heaven combined with Orchestra and Chorus ~ "MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT", sultry mood sets in for a nightcap and the "Percy Faith Touch" is intact ~ "AUTUMN IN NEW YORK", can remember Sarah Vaughn singing this great standard, but listen to the Faith Strings come floating through the clouds ~ "MOON OVER MIAMI", a Betty Grable musical comes to mind, composer/arranger Percy Faith takes this a step beyond ~ "SHENANDOAH (ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI)", an adaption from Percy Faith makes all Americans proud to be from this part of the country ~ "SWEET LEILANI", a female chorus and strings take us to the islands, as the waves come upon the shore, this takes me back to the old Crosby, Hope and Lamour "Road" pictures ~ gotta love it!Total Time: 75:05 on 24 Tracks ~ Collectables 7479 ~ (9/24/2002)"
GREAT FOLK THEMES/AMERICAN SERANADE (UPDATE)
Jeff Carter | Perry, Ga United States | 10/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"GREAT FOLK THEMES FROM 1963 IS A LOVELY ALBUM.IT CONTAINS 12
FOLK SONGS BUT ONLY 6 OUT OF THE 12 ARE LUSH.THEY INCLUDE
FIVE HUNDRED MILES,THE LEMON TREE,GREENFIELDS,SLOOP JOHN B,
MICHAEL ROW THE BOAT AND BLOWIN'IN THE WIND.FIVE HUNDRED MILES
ENDS SO BEAUTIFULLY.THE REST OF THESE SONGS ARE BRASSY AND OCC
ASIONALLY THROUGHOUT GREAT FOLK THEMES YOU HERE A BANJO MIXED
IN WITH THE STRINGS WHICH I LOVE.DARLIN COREY IS ONE OF THOSE
SONGS WITH THE BANJO.THE ORIGINAL LINER NOTES TO GREAT FOLKTHEMES IS INCLUDED.AMERICAN SERANADE ALSO FROM 1963 IS THE BETTER OF THE TWO ALBUMS.
ALL 12 TRACKS ON THIS ALBUM IS LUSH.SOME OF THE MORE LUSHER ONES
ARE STARS FELL ON ALABAMA,HOME ON THE RANGE,CAROLINA MOON,SWEET
LEILANI,AND MOON OVER MIAMI.THE ORIGANAL LINIER NOTES ARE INCLUDED FOR AMERICAN SERANADE.BOTH ALBUMS ARE WITH THE ORCHESTRA
AND STRINGS BUT YOU CAN HERE THE WOMENS WORDLESS CHROUS IN SOME
SONGS ON AMERICAN SERANADE ESPECIALLY CALIFORNIA.THIS CD IS THE
PERFECT ONE TO ADD TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL MUSIC COLLECTION AND I HIGHLEY RECOMMEND IT."
AN ENCHANTMENT JOURNEY
J. Lovins | 02/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"PERCY FAITH HAS A WAY OF TAKING A HO HUM POPULAR SONG AND MAKE A GORGEOUS CONCERTO OUT OF IT. JUST LISTEN TO THE SONGS "FIVE HUNDRED MILES", "MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT" AND "AUTUMN IN NEW YORK". NO WONDER THAT GREAT SINGERS LIKE TONY BENNET & JOHNNY MATHIS HAD THE PERCY FAITH ORCHESTRA AS THERE ACCOMPANIMENT IN SEVERAL OF THEIR SONGS."
Track Listings (24) - Disc #1