The Firehouse Five Plus Two Story

Firehouse Five Plus Two | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 3, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Good Time Jazz
• ASIN: B000000XQ0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,397 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

First recorded in 1949, this band was the side project of a group of animators at the Walt Disney studios; this two-CD set collects the group's recordings up to 1954. The Firehouse Five began at the peak of the California revival of traditional jazz, when the music was sharply divided into warring camps and traditions were jealously defended. But there was nothing doctrinaire about the band's enthusiastic, almost frenetic, approach. Owing as much to vaudeville as it did to New Orleans jazz, it invoked the spirit of America's early popular music, including novelty tunes like "Who Walks in When I Walk Out." The sirens and other sound effects that the band added to its music even suggest a kinship with its inspired contemporary Spike Jones. Though these recordings may send traditional purists into apoplexy, the level of musicianship is surprisingly high and the spirit is infectious. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful happy music, December 4, 1999

By 

Daniel R. Lindsay "hilo_dan" (Hilo, HI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Firehouse Five Plus Two Story (Audio CD)

The Firehouse Five Plus Two were wonderful musicians. This is a fact often overlooked, as they clearly played for fun -- both the listeners' and their own. In their early years, their humor and slapstick antics on stage often obscured their excellent musicianship. This double CD of their earlier recordings shows their growth and development, but the goofiness which characterized their live performances is not present in these studio recordings. In my view, they did not reach their peak till the arrival of George Probert and his magnificent soprano sax playing; Probert appears on only a few of these tunes. But the infectious energy and joy of this band was apparent from the start, and these songs can be played again and again with satisfaction and joy.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Master Animators, Amazing Musicians, August 7, 2002

By 

Duane S. Montague "Duane" (WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Firehouse Five Plus Two Story (Audio CD)

I'd been thinking of getting a Firehouse Five Plus Two cd for many years, but it was the recent passing of Ward Kimball (the founder of the group and the animator behind such famous Disney characters like Jiminy Cricket) that made me search for their cds on Amazon.

I have always enjoyed the taped performances I've seen by the group (you can catch them on the "Disneyland, USA" DVD released last year), but listening to the music--a frentic, frantic, and altogether fun collection--one can really sense that these men, so reknowned for their artistic talent, were blessed with a multiplicty of talents.

It's not intended to be listened to as background music for a quiet evening at home--the fire bells at the beginning of Disc One makes that quite clear--but it definitely is meant to be listened to when you feel like smiling, enjoying some wonderful dixieland jazz (one might feel inclined to look for the nearest speakeasy and dance the charleston), and remembering some of the greatest animators who ever lived, put on this collection, which highlights some of their greatest moments.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - You won't regret it !!!!, October 8, 1999

By 

Santiago (Pasadena, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Firehouse Five Plus Two Story (Audio CD)

I bought it without knowing who these guys were. After talking with some older people they told me that Firehouse Five plus Two had been very famous in the 50's. This CD is a great selection. The sound is very good considering that are recordings for the 40's and 50's. If you like this kind of music you'll find here the best.