Decca Tango

After achieving a reluctant Top Ten hit with a rock version of the traditional Irish pub ballad "Whiskey in the Jar," Thin Lizzy began work on Vagabonds of the Western World – their third, and ultimately last album for Decca Records. The single's surprise success gave the band bargaining power to demand more money and time to record, resulting in their first sonically satisfying album…

The expertise and professionalism of the musical genius of Edmundo Ros and his orchestra on an album released in Spain reissuing the original released in England in 1963. The LP collects twelve songs that invite us to dance to Latin music. The musical arrangements are careful adaptation of all subjects to Latin American rhythms, including those of foreign origin. Above the musical style of some of the original scores Ros just offers styles like cha cha, mambo, merengue and even samba, tango, rumba and conga, that are a delight performed by this orchestra.

Album releasing a recording of the author, composer, arranger and German conductor Werner Müller (Berlin, 1920-98) and his orchestra. The Müller orchestra made forays into television and film, being famous during years 50 to 70. Müller reached to make numerous performances and recordings of music for dancing and tango. In this LP meet 12 items, chosen among the most interpreted and known classics.

"Beautiful Music" used to be a genre in the realm of popular music. It's also been called "easy listening" and then morphed into "adult contemporary". But today's adult contemporary is really just soft rock (albeit today's soft rock is harder than a lot of Top 40 was in the late 70s and early 80s). There used to be stations that played "beautiful music" exclusively: Stanley Black, Ray Conniff, Percy Faith, Frank Chacksfield, etc. Most of the playlist would be recent contemporary hits covered by choral groups, pianists, and orchestras. During that time, London Records sold a lot of their patented Phase 4 Stereo LP records and reel-to-reel tapes. The series was renowned for it's technical brilliance, using state of the art recording, mixing and mastering techniques. Ronnie Aldrich was among London's best selling artists and Tony D'Amato produced many albums using Aldrich's twin pianos backed by The London Festival Orchestra. These albums were not only known for their technical brilliance (which is still quite impressive even in the 21st century) but also for their glossy, gatefold covers featuring colorful artwork and graphics and maybe a sexy model or two. The two LPs featured on this CD were originally released in 1973 and 1972, respectively.

Dances is a dazzling display of solo works for piano from Bach to Boogie Woogie; via Chopin, Granados, Albeniz, Scriabin and the Blue Danube. For his second solo album on Decca, Benjamin Grosvenor has assembled a typically imaginative and appealing programme of piano music inspired by the dance form.