Customer Reviews

Leroy Anderson: Orchestral Favourites

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The contemporary music for young people is, among others: hip hop, house, heavy metal and dj-music. A few years ago people could be excited by the sound of light-hearted easy listening orchestras. This excellent performance of Leroy Anderson's Favourites is a true delight for the hearing. It would take you to feelings of joy and happiness. This CD is highly recommended for anyone who wants to feel comfortable and pleased with this beautiful music. Also fine nostalgic memories, where tracks like: "Blue Tango" and "Sleigh Ride" nowadays still are often interpreted.

I remember Leroy Anderson's music as an integral part of my first TV and Radio experiences. I heard many of them so often, I was imprinted with the style and verve of the original 1950s recordings. I heard them over and over and over again on variety shows, in commercials and as intro music for The Early/Late Show Movie on CBS. But this disc does not have those spectacular performances. This disc only has the "cutsie," not the "gutsy" Leroy Anderson I had loved as a kid.

Now, I respect and love the work that the Anderson family has done on the commemorative site for Professor Anderson, which includes this disc. But sadly, not all performances are equal. I had found several tracks of the original Anderson-conducted performances, these being the very ones etched into my musical memory. And while many people's impressions of Leroy Anderson's music are that it is so sweet and cute, I think Anderson's music is hilarious, gutsy and satirical, which is why I remember it so well.

I compared the tracks of both conductors. Anderson's Blue Tango is a strong, masculine performance, but Hayman's misses the whole point of Tango. Anderson's Sleigh Ride is like a roller coaster ride, but Hayman's rendition is more like a tame Kiddieland ride. Anderson's Syncopated Clock, Typewriter and many others state unapologetically what he thought of his "marks", but Hayman's performances don't even know what the jokes really are.

I have to say, not having read any of the other reviews of this disc, that Hayman believed in the cutsie of Leroy Anderson, but he never got juiced up enough to demonstrate the gutsy side of Anderson's compositions. The Hayman realizations are tame, suitable for elevator music or some inoffensive high school concert. It's really too bad. I like to lust and snicker along with Anderson, but all I can do is wave my finger and laugh with the Hayman performances.

However, for a complete survey of Leroy Anderson, this disc is adequate for first listeners. For someone who wants to truly revisit the era, find the original 1950s performances led by Anderson himself.

Cheers!

For any baby boomers growing up in the late 1940's - 50's this is the sound that evokes the mood of those by-gone days.

Your radio was filled with these wonderful melodies. A time recreated with this cd music by the great Leroy Anderson. Wonderful. Be happy again!