Customer Reviews

Carousel Memories

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a recording by and for merry-go-round lovers. It assembles 23 tracks of mostly characteristic carousel music, played upon a newly constructed band organ handmade by Belgian Johnny Verbeeck to replicate the old Wurlitzer 165 destroyed by a fire around 1995. The fire also claimed most of the carousel itself, which was rebuilt using some restored parts from the original (PTC#36). The recording site is Seabreeze Park on Lake Ontario in upper New York.

In another review I mentioned that that CD offered a partial and rather idealized carousel experience, for it could only provide the sound, and that sound was much more refined and free of ambient noise than would be encountered during an actual carousel ride. That comment applies as well to this recording, and perhaps more so, for the band organ in a typical operating carousel never sounded so good as the one here. This instrument has a remarkably lovely, sweet tone and, being brand new, is in perfect condition. The rolls used were obtained from no less a source than the Library of Congress, and represent a very choice selection.

The music itself includes mostly waltzes, marches, polkas, and one-time popular songs, such as Beer Barrel Polka, Sweet Rosie O'Grady, Liberty Bell, and Scatter-Brain. Less to be expected, but supremely apt, is the fine waltz from Richard Rodger's overture to the musical show Carousel. This last was experimentally recorded on the moving carousel, and thus provides an especially realistic auditory image.

For merry-go-round and band organ enthusiasts this recording might well occupy a place of honor in their CD collection. For those who desire a more realistic, though less ideal, recording I would recommend the old 1973 Takoma Records release "Last Chance on the Merry-Go-Round" (# A 1038), which I believe is no longer in the catalog. (Takoma Records was acquired in 1995 by Fantasy Records.) My personal copy of A 1038 is an LP, and I suspect no CD version was ever released. That recording was made at the carousel on the pier at Santa Monica, California, shortly before the pier was to be demolished. (Thus the title of the recording.) Since it was made while the carousel was actually in operation, the sounds of bystanders and children, along with the carousel drive motor are included. I don't know what ever became of that carousel or its band organ, but would guess they were moved to some collection somewhere. In any case, I have fond memories of wandering along the pier on a fine Saturday afternoon and watching and listening to the carousel and its excited young customers.

A beautiful CD of the most popular carousel music. It evokes wonderful childhood memories with the atmosphere of a true carnival setting.

I recently purchased this CD on Amazon and was initially shocked at the shoddy packaging quality of this title. The inserts in the case were literally printed off of a pretty bad ink jet printer (at low resolution, I might add) and the CD itself was burned off of a computer with a stomper-type label affixed to it. The recording itself was just okay, but easily gets muddy in musical segments with strong percussion. Sound definition and overall mixing is weak to say the least (perhaps the instrument wasn't mic'd properly). Too bad, because considering the esoteric nature of the subject matter, it makes this disk the only real choice available.

Let's face it, for kiddy parties and circus type events, it's probably fine. It's a historically interesting recording, but I cannot recommend it for people with just a passing interest in carousel music. I also can't justify a $13.99 price tag for something that looks and sounds like it was created on a pitiful 10 year old home PC. I think the subject matter is extremely cool and has the potential of being not only special, but truly great in the right hands. It's a shame this CD comes off like a bad bootleg that you'd find on a blanket at the local flea market.

Carousel Memories does not have the luster that I had expected. The music is not as clear as I would have liked, however, it does have some good qualities that make it worth while to listen.

The band organ on this recording was made in Belgium specifically to play the rolls of the 1926 Wurlitzer that was destroyed in the 1994 fire at Seabreeze Park in Rochester, NY. The CD captures the clean bright sound of the band organ when it was brand new and has the BIG sound of the 250+ pipe organ. The long song list has selections of waltzes, foxtrots and marches, and the CD is over an hour play time.

Songs from this CD have been used in the television shows "Medium" and "America's Got Talent" - that speaks pretty well to the quality of the recording!

Short review.

The Carousel Waltz did it for me. I have loved the Musical by R&H, but never heard the waltz performed by a band organ.

This is a lovely rendition performed with a misty, nostalgic atmosphere, just as the writer above said, taking a stroll and hearing the carousel music wafting on the air from distance away.

Now, no, it is not miked perfectly for everyone. But this track did it for me. OK?

I even want to see the darned instrument in person one day!

The CD was used on a Saturday in August for an all day Super Saturday event at our church.We wanted a sound reminiscent of a County Fair or Carnival with Merry- go- rounds,etc.We played the CD over 2 large speakers in our parking lot and the effect was what we wanted.