Serenade For Love - Richard Hayman

Americano

Serenade For Love
Richard Hayman And His Orchestra
Mercury MG 20115

1956

From the back cover: The rich, resonant tone of Richard Hayman's virtuoso harmonica makes this album a fascinating blend of tender romance and lush sensuality; yet not too many years ago the 'mouth organ' was primarily regarded as an instrument for hillbilly bands and parlor buffoons. In fact, many people – including the American Federation of Musicians – didn't consider the harmonica an instrument at all, dismissing it completely as a "musical toy."

In recent years, the once lowly "French harp" has achieved considerable artistic stature in the music world. The AFM officially recognized it a while back, and it is currently enjoying great popularity as off-beat background music for serious TV drama and motion pictures. For example, the award-winning score for "The Little Fugitive" film was played entirely on the harmonica.

Much of the credit for the instruments's rise to legitimacy belongs to Richard Hartman, who's haunting waxing of "Ruby" – a top selling record in 1953 – made the public realize just how moving and exciting the harmonica can be when played by a master. His brilliant technique and expressive phrasing is well showcased here on 12 listenable tunes, among them the oldies  "It Had To Be You," "Oh! How I Miss You Tonight," "Winter "Wonderland," and Hayman's own composition "Skipping Along."

The New England-born Hayman, a self-taught musical genius, mastered bothy the harmonica and piano at an early age. He formed his own harmonica group whirl still in high school, and after graduation joined Borax Minnevitch's famous Harmonica Rascals. During the early forties, Hayman branched out with his own group in Hollywood. The versatile band leader is also an accomplished composer and arranger. He has an impressive list of movie music arrangement credits, and many of his original compositions have become standard repertoire for such famous long-hair aggregations as Arthur Fiedler's Boston Pops Orchestra and NBC Symphony. Listen now and Richard Hayman plays Something Money Can't By, Americano, Valse D'Amour, his own composition, Skipping Along, Oh How I Miss You Tonite, the ever popular It Had To  Be You and six other items designed for your very one "Serenade For Love."

From Billboard - April 14, 1956: Here's another package of lush, listenable mood music by Richard Hayman, highlighted by the orchestra leader's virtuosos harmonica work. Among the 12 selections – offering good jockey programming for romantic segs – are "Winter Wonderland," "It Had To Be You," "Dancer," and Hayman's own composition, "Skipping Along" (a favorite jockey theme disk). The title theme is carried out on the cover in  eye-catching – albeit non too subtle – fashion, with a guy and a gal struggling playfully on a white shag rug.

Something Money Can't Buy

Americano

Valse D'Amor

Skipping Along

Oh! How I Miss You Tonite

It Had To Be You

Dansero

Something To Remember You

Serenade To A Lost Love

Marianne

Tears On Satin

Winter Wonderland