Customer Reviews

Magic Harp of Robert Maxwell

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I had forgotten how much I loved Robert Maxwell and his Magic Harp from my younger days. I came across him accidently while searching the Internet for something else. I ordered this CD from Amazon.com and have just finished playing it. It is going to be one that I will play over and over and over.... My favorite song was and still is Shangri-La. He adds a haunting touch to an already great song. This Cd borders on Exotica which the young people are just now discovering!! I would recommend this CD for anyone who likes Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman or Les Baxter. I was shocked, however, that everything is written Japanese!! But, I guess that's what you get with a Japanese Import. The song titles on the CD label are written English, Thank Goodness. But, I hope an English version appears on the market soon.

cjay43-New Orleans, LA

If you have never had the pleasure of Robert Maxwell this is a good place to start.

These songs are not the multiple harp track gems I remember as a kid. Must be later versions of the songs. I would skip until the real thing comes along.

Robert Maxwell, born 1921 in New York City, is credited with introducing the harp to the world of popular music. Previously the harp was thought useful only in symphony's. With Maxwell's top twenty pop hit of "Shangri-La" in 1964, his name became commonplace on television, in night clubs, theatres, and on the concert stage. A brilliant musician, he was with The National Symphony Orchestrs at age 17. Maxwell is responsible for the harp being recognized as a vital and intertaining musical medium.

Two beautiful songs that have become exotica standards are "Ebb Tide" and "Shangri La", both were composed by Robert Maxwell. The later was the theme song for "The Jackie Gleason Show" for many years. Both are here within this wonderful collection of gorgeous music.

If you are someone that remembers that classic 1964 hit, you should find these 24 tracks pure pleasure.
Five of these songs are on the original 1964 vinyl L.P. "Shangri-La, Robert Maxwell, his Harp and Orchestra" on Decca Records, DL 74421 (which was also released titled "Bewitched"). Still haveing my copy from back in the day, I compared those 5 tracks to hear if there would be a difference.

The five songs on the vinyl L.P. and also on this collection are:
1. "Bewitched"
2. "Shangri-La"
3. "Magic in the moonlight"
4. "That old black magic"
5. "The breeze and I"
The songs sound alike musically, except the C.D. has more clarity and depth. The needle dosen't seem to convey the same boldness that is brought out in this stereo C.D. Part of what brought me to that evalution is the very noticeable greater volume the C.D. had when switching the source button from the phonograph to the C.D.
My feeling is that these are the original recordings, but even if they aren't, they are so close that they will do for me. If anything, this full rich sound is better then the original L.P. This is well worth owning, Maxwell music is either difficult to find, or cost lots.
This collection is VERY pleaseing.

Maxwell Had three songs on the pop chart, they are:
1. "Little Dipper" b/w "Mexican hop" -- top 40 hit in 1959.
2. "Shangri-La" b/w "That old black magic" -- top 20 hit in 1964.
3. "Peg O' my heart" b/w "Little Dipper" -- didn't make it into the top 50.
The A & B sides of #2, and the A side of #3 are in this collection.

This is a 1993 compilation by M.C.A. Records,Inc./Universal International, previously Decca Records. Made in Japan.
The white paper to the left front of this C.D. show in the above picture, on my copy was part of the wrapper and came off when opening, so you see only the girl, dog, golden ocean and the words in English, "MAGIC HARP of Robert Maxwell".
The six page booklet is all Japanese.
The C.D. it's self has all 24 titles of the tracks, and the product information ALL in English.
The back side lists all the tracks in both Japanese and English.
This compilation is all stereo recordings, and has excellent sound.