table recorder is your best bet. Other . cartridge combination, have the companies offer similar machines, salesman record portions of your so shop around, but to get the kind record on the deck to be tested, using of performance described, be sure a better-quality cassette. If the the recorder has these minimum recorder has any "noise reduction" specs: Wow and Flutter: no greater circuitry, leave it off for both re­ than .12 % . Frequency response: 40- cording and playback. Most of these 12,000 c.p.s. (down no more than 3 devices tend to introduce side ef­ db at either extreme). Built in con­ fects. With the improvements in denser mike (as opposed to a dy­ both machinery and tape in the past namic mike). Signal-to-noise ratio: few years, these "hiss killers" aren't 45-50 db (no Dolby). A large, usable as necessary as they once were. My VU meter (approx. 1 ½" high and 3" personal opinion, generally speak­ wide). Battery life: at least 4 hrs. ing, is that the less signal processing, (usually 4 "D" cells). Price range: the better. Most moderate priced $140-$190 (list). Also: defeatable cassette decks have a good high end automatic level control (uncom­ for the format, but pedal fundamen­ pressed recordings of music sound tals don't always get through too better). well. Listen very carefully before That top end of 12,000 c.p.s. may making a decision. seem a little restricted, but it gives far Cassette vs. open reel; which one? more openness of sound than you It all depends on your demands. Cas­ would think. And remember, in a settes offer ease of handling, por­ Manufacturers, distributors or indi­ cassette, the tiny 1/8" wide tape is table models are light to carry viduals sponsoring or merchandising crawling across the heads at less than around, but because of the smaller theatre pipe organ records are en­ 2 i.p.s. ! Similar stereo units are on size of the heads, guides and tape, couraged to send pressings to the Record Reviewer, Box 3564, Granada the market, but these generally entail along with slower running speed, HIiis, California 91344. Be sure to the extra purchase of 2 mikes. The alignment is more critical than with include purchasing information (post­ total investment can run to about open reel, and the frequency paid price, ordering address,) if appli­ $400 if you go that route. response and dynamic range are not cable, and a black and white photo of In the realm of component cas­ as wide. Some cassette decks are the artist which need not be returned . sette decks (non-portable), many turning in very impressive wow/ makers have models in the $200 flutter figures, but tests using con­ range that are very good performers, tinuous tones indicate that open reel GEORGE WRIGHT'S SHOW­ but the theatre organ enthusiast may still has the edge in speed stability. TIME, played on the San Francisco find them lacking for his purposes. If Some very expensive cassette decks Fox Theatre 4/36 Wurlitzer. DO you spot one that looks promising, are now being offered, but you could 1417 stereo. THE ROARING '20s. go to the store with a pipe organ re­ buy an open reel machine with Same instrument and organist as cording with some percussion (cym­ superior performance and durability above. DO 1418 stereo. Both avail­ bals, triangles, etc.) and well-re­ for the same price. With open reel, a able by mail from Doric Records, corded 16's (Tibia, Diaphone, etc.) greater area of tape is running past Box 877, Vacaville, Calif. 95696. to check both the highs and response the heads per second (a function of $6.50 each postpaid plus $1.00 post­ down into the region of 30 c.p.s. Us­ both wider tape and higher speed), age and handling per order (not per ing a pair of loudspeakers with clean, giving that format a better signal-to­ record) in the USA. wide-range response, a solid 80-watt noise ratio (which is why you don't amplifier and a good turntable/ see many open reel units with noise Both albums are reissues of con­ reduction circuits). Being larger and siderable historical and musical generally more robust physically, value. Both were recorded about 20 they tend to keep their "sharp edge" years ago and released on the Hi-Fi longer with regard to speed stability label. That was during a period when and frequency response. So if your the resurgence of interest in the the­ budget imposes a limit of about atre organ was burgeoning rapidly. $200, and you need portability, go It was all new, especially the im­ cassette. If you can spend more and proved recording quality (over the want top performance, you'll prob­ old '78s) of an instrument difficult ably be more satisfied with open to capture in grooves. Emory Cook reel. Cassette machines have become had pioneered on the east coast with quite good, but open reel will remain his Reg. Poort series played on the the preference of professionals and Richmond Mosque Wurlitzer. Rich­ serious amateurs for the foreseeable ard Vaughn was not far behind with future. his Hi-Fi label. The first George NEXT: Getting more bass from your Wright organ release by Hi-Fi cre­ loudspeakers ... without muddy­ ated a sensation among enthusiasts. ing up everything else. □ It was played on the 5/21 Wurlitzer

50 THEATRE ORGAN AUG./SEPT./OCT. 1981 from Chicago's Paradise Theatre, tunes, George says all he wants to which had been installed in the usually in two minutes or less. The Vaughn California residence, the in­ ballads get more time , three or more strument heard on most of the Hi­ minutes. The Fox organ in the hands Fi/Wright recordings. But for these of this master glitters audibly. releases, Vaughn moved his 3-chan­ Doric gives much attention to nel equipment to San Francisco's packaging. Hi-Fi rarely provided Fox movie palace. The organ there much information in its jacket notes. was familiar to Wright, who had Doric supplies detailed lore about played it for special events, previews George (especially for the Showtime and spotlight solos during the World album); notes about the music, its War II years. writers, registration used; history of Showtime selections: "There's the theatre and its organ. All this No Business Like Show Business," information is concentrated on the "My Funny Valentine," "The Lady backs of the albums. A uniform de­ is a Tramp," "Little Girl Blue," sign, including a photo of the then "The Man I Love," "Just One of Vaughn console, has been adopted Those Things," Showboat selections: for the front cover for the entire "Make Believe," "Bill," "Can't series of re-releases. Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Why Do I If the reader enjoys the music of Love You," "You Are Love," "01' George Wright playing one of the Man River." great Wurlitzers, enough said. Roaring '20s selections: "Charles­ ton," "Song of the Wanderer," "That's A-Plenty," "It Happened THE MIGHTY PIPE ORGAN in Monterey," "Toot Toot Tootsie PLAYS GOLDEN FAVORITES, Goodbye," "Then I'll be Happy," on 8 records or four 8-track tapes or "You're the Cream in My Coffee," cassettes, $32.96 plus applicable "Mississippi Mud," "You Do Some­ state tax and postage (records $1.55, thing to Me," "Laugh Clown Laugh," 8-track tapes $ .86, cassettes $ .63) "I Wanna Be Loved by You," "Just from Readers Digest, Pleasantville, a Memory," "Varsity Drag." N. Y. 10570, Attn: Mrs. R. Caggiano. The reader may wonder whether he needs the Doric re-issues if he This collection is indeed a monu­ already has his coveted Hi-Fi origi­ mental project. The Digest has re­ nals. It isn't a difficult decision. leased smaller pipe organ sets previ­ Chances are, the 20-year-old press­ ously, notably the selection from ings are a bit scratchy by now. But George Wright's DOT label releases even if they are "mint" there's an­ and before that a set entitled Organ other set of factors. The state of the Memories. All were well done, the transference art (from tape to press­ latter featuring prominent organists ings) has seen much progress over of the USA and Britain. This new the years. The original tapes were 8-record set may seem costly at first made with an ear to the future in glance, but it breaks down to a little 3-track stereo, rather than the usual over $4.00 a record, a very attractive 2-track. That made it easier for price today, especially considering Doric to remaster and re-equalize the calibre of the artists. They are the music to take advantage of to­ Richard Leibert, William Davies, day's pressing techniques. A com­ Billy Nalle, Paul Mickelson, Richard parison on even a "medium-ti" play­ Purvis, Ashley Miller, Don Baker, back will reveal the greater presence Bill Thomson and Robin Richmond. in the music on the Doric rereleases. Some of the organists play their We can't describe the arrange­ music on two instruments, of which ments and performances as "vintage eleven are theatre organs and five are George," because he sounds about romantic classical organs. The pop the same today, whether on records pipes include the Auditorium exclusively represented by or in person. He has consistently Theatre's 4/22 Wurlitzer (Roches­ maintained a high standard of mu­ ter, N.Y.); Strand Theatre Wurlitzer ROBERT C. BIRNSTIHL sicianship over the years and these (Plattsburg, N. Y .); Detroit's Senate management & consultation services two discs provide excellent examples Theatre 4/34 Wurlitzer; Radio City of his playing. One thing we noted in Music Hall's 4/58 Wurlitzer; San 1337 IRISCT reviewing these discs is the difference Sylmar (Calif.) "Tower of Beauty" SANJOSE , (.A 95125 in time he devotes to rhythm tunes Museum's 4/35 Wurlitzer; Brooklyn (408) 29-3-6833 as opposed to ballads. For the jazz Paramount's 4/26 Wurlitzer; Wichi- • AUG./SEPT./OCT. 1981 THEATRE ORGAN 51 ta's 4/38 Century II Wurlitzer; vious releases. For example, the less to say, on a first name basis with Roaring '20s Wurlitzer (Grand organ played by Billy Nalle in the each composer. If the marching toys Rapids); Dick Loderhose's Renwick Plattsburg Strand was moved years in Victor's Toy/and seem wound up a Recording Studio 4/42 Wurlitzer in ago to a Marietta, Georgia, restau­ bit too tight, Gaylord quickly settles New York; Cap'ns Galley Wurlitzer rant. Likewise Dick Loderhose's down to a lovely Vox/Tibia treat­ in Redwood City, Calif.; Odeon Renwick Studio organ recorded in ment of "Kiss Me Again," letting us Theatre's 17-rank Compton organ in New York by Ashley Miller (it in­ know precisely what romantic thea­ London. The romantic classical cludes the 21 original ranks of Jesse tre organ music is all about. The or­ organs heard are the Wanamaker Crawford's Times Square Para­ gan's key response didn't seem quite Store organ in Philadelphia; mount Building Studio organ) will fast enough to catch all the notes in Boston's Symphony Hall Aeolian­ henceforth be heard in the Bay Thea­ "Italian Street Song," but "Gypsy Skinner organ; San Francisco's tre, Seal Beach, California. Love Song'' once again demon­ Grace Cathedral organ; organ in St. The engineers faced a gigantic task strates how sweet music should be John the Divine Cathedral in New in adjusting the various recording played - all honey and no saccha­ York; Royal Albert Hall organ (Lon­ characteristics encountered to a rea­ rine. "Czardas" and "Romany don). sonably uniform frequency re­ Life'' are done in the best Carter There are 103 titles, too many to sponse, and they have succeeded. "chase music" tradition. The re­ list. All are befitting the style of the Thus we are spared the necessity of viewer's personal favorite on the disc player and his instrument. Most constantly adjusting tone controls is the magnificent G.C. arrangement tunes heard are light classics or stan­ during playback. We noticed some of ''Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life.'' dards, some from opera and operet­ ''white noise'' on a couple of the Counter melodies are perf ecto ! ta, show tunes, a few marches (most­ sides, but not enough to affect enjoy­ For his tribute to Sigmund's Stu­ ly classical) and even one hymn. ment of the music. dent Prince Carter uses the snares Most are familiar tunes, long associ­ There is an ample supply of notes judiciously to put a head on the ated with the artist or the instru­ on organists and instruments. The "Drinking Song." One realizes dur­ ment. Two of the organists whose records are attractively packaged. ing "Serenade" just how expertly playing struck sympathetic chords at Those who would like a list of selec­ regulated the trems are, but the tem­ first hearing, speaking from the tions before buying, can request a pos get a bit hectic. The ''Student theatre organ viewpoint, were Robin brochure from Readers Digest. March" struts along at a British Richmond and Don Baker. Their ap­ It's a well produced and elegant set pace. "Deep in My Heart" is the peal was immediate to this reviewer. of records and all who participated most fully developed of the Rom berg We stress here only the immediacy; can be proud of their contributions. ballads. The few seconds of sforzan­ others arrived with fine effect per­ do showed the recording limitations haps a bit later. In fact, we could not Gaylord Carter, CARTER PLAYS of the installation. conjure a more representative group MILLION DOLLAR ECHOES. Rudolf Friml favorites introduce of popular pipe organ practitioners. Available from Film Technology the second side. "Chansonette" is, The same cannot be said for the in­ Company, Inc., 6900 Santa Monica of course, the earlier version of struments if a cross section of pop Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038. $8.95 "Donkey Serenade." Be advised pipe organ brands was intended. postpaid in USA. that Gaylord's donkeys gallop at the Outside of the one Compton all of speed of thoroughbreds. "Allah's the theatre instruments are Wurlit­ If you wanted to release a sure-fire Holiday" sparkles with the superb zers. There are some fine Robert recording of a spanking new home percussions of the Sargent/Stark Mortons, Kimballs, Pages, Mollers installation you'd probably do just creation. "Indian Love Call" with and other makes available for re­ what Ralph Sargent and Alan Stark its Tibias and percussions shimmers cordings, in case the Digest plans have done: call in Gaylord Carter like a clear mountain lake. Gor­ another foray into the organ album and then hedge all bets with thirty of geous! Small wonder that the four world. That comment in no way dis­ the best show tunes ever written. Vagabond King tunes are something parages any of the fine Wurlitzers This Hollywood-based instrument of an anticlimax. heard here. It's just that a little more (dedicated December 27, 1980) is 18 Thirty-five seconds of Berlin's variety would be welcome. ranks of mostly Wurlitzer, plenty of "No Biz Like Show Biz" was Strict theatre organ aficionados percussions plus the Jesse Crawford enough, thank you. Of the ballads may find a little too much of the Deagan Vibraharp and a nine foot "Always" is by far the best, al­ "cathedral echos" idiom among the concert grand piano. Granted, that's though one must admit that "Say It straight organ selections, meaning considerable hardware to pack into With Music" and "How Deep Is The that the popular tastes which must be even a large living room, but the re­ Ocean?" are pretty tunes. Carter's catered to do not allow the classical corded results are most satisfactory, grand finale "God Bless America" music artists to use their instruments if one is not hung up on gobs of came on like "76 Kate Smiths" - a to full classical advantage. The natural reverb. "Million Dollar skipping march tempo. lighter mood in title and style pre­ Echoes" does sound like a million - This is a pleasant record in every vails, which results in a number of but nary an acoustic echo graces the department. The tunes and Carter sound-alike selections. Music to 35 minutes of organ music. arrangements of same are as com­ dream by, which isn't bad at all. Gaylord generously stacks up four fortable as your favorite slippers. It Not all of the music is newly medleys of tunes by Herbert, Rom­ also serves as a gentle reminder that recorded; some is left over from pre- berg, Friml and Berlin. He is, need- Gaylord Carter doesn't need flicks to

52 THEATRE ORGAN AUG./SEPT./OCT. 1981 charm an audience. Though the wrote all the songs on Side 1 - a organ lacks reverb it doesn't lack bluesy "You Let Me Down." Others presence or clarity or richness. Re­ are tunes George likes to play: view pressing surfaces were good; "Swinging Sweethearts," "This is all jacket notes make good reading, and I Ask," "Bells of St. Mary's" and a (ahem) Gaylord, if that really is your Crawford re-creation, "I'm Con­ picture on the front cover, why have fessin." you been under the silver screen all Special mention must be made of these years? Shades of George Brent! one selection, the 1932 depression chaser, "Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing,'' Words fail to do justice to what George does to "Birdies." Where all the other tunes are played with emphasis on attrac­ GEORGE WRIGHT: 42nd STREET tive presentation, this one is simply and OTHER GOODIES, played on grotesque. The first chorus is the Bob Power custom Rodgers or­ straight enough, then the demon in gan. $8.95 postpaid from Banda George takes over with a duet be­ Records, Box 392, Oxnard, Calif. tween tuned canaries and the pedal 93032 Posthorn. After that there's a calliope/merry-go-round with the By now it's an old story how Bob bass in one key, the treble in another. Power commissioned the Rodgers Of course, George is trying for Organ Co. to build him an electronic Lee Sundstrom. He put in a year of five-day weeks adjusting and rebuilding tonal facilities, the Tibia five laughs and this one will generate version of the Wurlitzer style 260 times. Results are illustrated in this album . them. theatre organ. How well they suc­ (Zimfoto) People who avoid electronic organ ceeded is only partially evident on records because they don't sound which is not possible in many this platter because the circuitry has like pipes need have no fear of this brand's stock models. It should also been updated considerably over the one. The versatility in Rodgers cir­ be mentioned that the original "style years, most recently by a gifted elec­ cuitry and the genius of Lee Sund­ 260" design (14 "ranks") has been tronics engineer named Lee Sund­ strom, not to mention George upped to 16. Sundstrom replaced the strom. For this recording, George Wright's musical acumen, have been original Vox Humana with one of his Wright also got into the act by arriv­ combined to provide a fascinating own design, then added a second ing a couple of days early and work­ package. "Sundstrom Vox." The two compli­ ing with Lee to achieve the voicing Recording is good. A minim um of ment one another beautifully. From George desired. The result of this co­ reverb has been added by the pro­ the original Rodgers Vox, Lee used operation between an organist who cessors, K M Records. Jacket notes the tone generators to fashion a knows what he wants and an elec­ reflect the era of the '30s Warner Brass Saxophone. These new voices tronics expert who knows how to get Bros. musicals. A goodie, as the title are heard to advantage in this album. it is little short of phenomenal. The states. [j Rodgers system of tone generation George Wright has long admired must be credited also; it has a versa­ the pioneer Warner Bros. musical tile design which permits both vol­ movies of the '30s with their Busby ume and tonal (quality) scaling, Berkeley overhead shots of undula­ Send in your ting chorus girls making like a flower Copy Now! pattern. When Bob Power planned for ... this recording, George suggested tunes from those wonderful '30s Warner Bros. musicals which brought instant stardom to vocalist Dick Powell and hoofer Ruby Keeler. Despite the album title, tunes are not limited to the original 1933 in the 42nd Street but on Side 1 cover sever­ al Gold Diggers and Lullabye of Nov./Dec. Issue of Broadway movies. THEATRE ORGAN Side 1: "42nd Street," "About a Quarter to Nine,'' ''You're Getting to be a Habit with Me," "Shadow Mail Copy To: Waltz," "Young and Healthy," Len Clarke ATOS Advertising "We're in the Money," "Lullabye 1839 Weeg Way of Broadway,'' and a reprise of Park Ridge, Ill. 60068 "42nd Street." PH (312)-692-9399 Bob Power and his custom "style 260" Rodgers . It Side 2 includes one more by the now has a second Vox and a Brass Saxophone. (Stufoto) Harry Warren/ Al Dubin team which

AUG./SEPT./OCT. 1981 THEATRE ORGAN 53