Customer Reviews

Magic Music of Far Away Places

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4 star:		(1)
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I have heard this CD with some nostargia which brought me back to the times when this original (LP) was released. There was another similar purposed LPs such as titled "Bon Boyage" by Percy Faith which are featuring music around the globe as well(1960) or Mantovani's similary titled momorable album "Mantovani Magic"( hit numbers with strings ) which was released same year as this Kaempfert's. Needles to say they were all spectacular respectively, however on this CD Bert Kaempfert plays at his best the music of Europe,Asia ,and the rest with his unique style for rhythm,strings and ofcourse, the trumpets as well. The playback range of this well remastered CD is superb that quite unbelievable to think of being this original was recorded more than 30 years ago. Also the bonus track numbers are as excellent as all the rest. This was recorded during his heyday of the late maestro Bert Kaempfert, and so why not all of us listen to it?

This album by Bert, released around 1965, is a tremendous potpurri of different world sounds, from the Germanic melodies, to the tremendous Latin sounds, all done to perfection by the Maestro himself, Bert Kaempfert. These interpretations are quite a departure from earlier recordings by Bert, which were bacically of one theme, for entire albums. Here, you will find a mix of brass and STRINGS, all punctuated with Bert's trademark, a strong bass guitar, BOFFO!!! I have gone through a couple of L.P.'s but now have this very CD on Taragon. AND the bonus tracks are as great as those on the original L.P. For the Kaempfert fan, this album is a must! Also, you will get the absolute best version of "Spanish Eyes" done by the composer himself (titled: "Moon over Naples")

For 35 years, this album has been THE basement lounging album. Long in my parents record collection, It is now mine, on cd. To listen to it brings back memories of my parents swaying and swinging together. The highest quality in production, with a fat bass sound way ahead of its time. A gem.

My dad bought this LP back in the 60's and played it quite a bit. I think it was one of his favorites. Its nice to hear this music again in CD quality. For some reason, track #6 (Monte Carlo) is a different version than on the original LP. I'm not sure why they switched it. I think the original version was better.

Bert Kaempfert's name makes too many eyeballs roll -- easy listening, lounge music, "Strangers in the Night," Wayne Newton singing "Danke Schoen," the theme from the old "Match Game," Elvis's silly song from "G. I. Blues," the man who passed on the Beatles, the whole ball of wax. But those who dismiss Kaempfert obviously haven't heard him. While the German Henry Mancini (and really, that's an insult to Kaempfert) ultimately got into a rut with his unmistakable sound, particularly his rhythm section with its doubled bass and the strident padoom-padoom of the drums, in fact he made much distinctive and memorable music, and this 1964 album (released the following year in the U.S. by Decca, though not on his home label Polydor) has a bit of it. If the schmaltz sometimes flows freely, and the opening track "Spanish Eyes" can't escape it being the signature tune of too many tired Jerry Vales, he could nonetheless produce tracks at once eloquent and eye-opening. The band was best when it stuck with what it did best: playing simple, efficient dance arrangements, like "On a Little Street in Singapore," or the truly wonderful "Mambossa," which, though typically Kaempfert-minimalist, is minimalist with a wallop. I submit his rendition of "Star Dust" is its definitive instrumental take. The thing does schmaltz out toward the end, and some of the bonus tracks could be called semi-classical, a word not often used of Kaempfert but befitting his roots; still this ranks with "A Swingin' Safari" (aka "That Happy Feeling") as one of his best albums, and I should like to know more of him.