Customer Reviews

Circus Music From The Big Top - The Greatest Show On Earth

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

 

 

This collection of exciting arrangements wonderfully executed by professional players is unfortunately marred by old technology and carelessness. The short, twenty nine minute CD seems to be copied from an LP. The pops, clicks, distortion and glitches are all there. At one point you can even hear the annoying pitch wow commonly heard on LPs pressed out of round. The tone arm is obviously being dragged right and then left as the off center groove dictates the key.

Should Legacy International ever locate the master tapes and produce a cleaner version of "Circus Music from the Big Top," I will be first in line to buy. Frankly, Merle Evans deserves better--much better.

If you are adding to a collection of circus music, you do need these arrangements. However, if you are just beginning a circus music library, your first purchase should be "Screamers" from Frederick Fennell. It delivers over an hour of expertly performed circus marches recorded with precision.

My favorite records in my youth were in the Columbia, 78 Album of the real Ringling Brothers Band. I would have worn them out except that they were recorded so loud. This album seems to be the best since. Merle Evans still has the whimsical selections and frenetic pace -- only the Instrumentation and Musicianship is a notch lower.

I just like Merle Evans' arrangements and band conducting, no matter what it is. Merle has the band playing like they mean it!

Merle evans was the greatest since sousa. please come out with more of his albums. Harvey Esto