Rhythm In Motion - Johnny Williams

My Heart Belongs To Daddy

Rhythm In Motion
Johnny Williams And His Orchestra

Cover Photo: Scott Hyde
Columbia CL 1667 & CS 8467
1961

Recorded April 28th, May 2nd and May 4th, 1961, in Columbia Records' new Hollywood California studio. Recording set-up included the use of fourteen condenser microphones. Custom recording console designed and built by Columbia Records Engineering and Development Department. RIAA curve.

From the back cover: Currently, many techniques are being used to satisfy the astute stereo listener, e.g. separation panels used in the initial recording, post-session editing of tapes by which frequencies are boosted, echo added, stereo positions reversed, timbres of the instruments altered, ad infinitum. One is tempted to say that musical content has been made to serve stereo. This album is an attempt to reverse that process.

A few months ago, Columbia signed a talented young composer-conductor-orchestrator named Johnny Williams. His first album on Columbia presented original music from the CBS-TV show "Checkmate." Response to this album was enthusiastic, and although no extraordinary efforts were put forth to tag the production "Stereo," listeners were taken with the unusually creative manner in which Williams tossed musical phrases back and forth "across the speakers." His natural approach to instrumental stereo might well be compared to techniques used by Béla Bartók in "Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta," and by Ralph Vaughan Williams in his "Partita For Double String Orchestra."

Following "Checkmate," Williams turned his attention songs of Broadway and Hollywood that seemed uniquely designed for stereo presentation. And, lest Williams emerge too deadly serious, let i be said that the songs which were most suitable turned out also to be the "happiest," e.g. "Fascinatin' Rhythm," The Variety Drag," "Buckle Down Windsock," "Put On A Happy Face," and the like.

This, then, is a happy album designed for stereo (or should we say stereo was designed for it?) in which you'll hear trumpets and trombones to the right of you, woodwinds, horns, and harp to the left of you, and percussionists prevailing all over th place. But, more importantly, here is an array of great tunes imaginatively arranged and conducted by a bright new musical star, Johnny Williams. – Jim Harbert

Fascinatin' Rhythm

The Varsity Drag

The Surrey With The Fringe On Top

Let's Do It

Put On A Happy Face

Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets)

Johnny One Note

An Occasional Man

My Heart Belongs To Daddy

Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries

Sunny Disposish

Buckle Down Winsocki