Exciting Sounds From Romanic Places

Strange Enchantment

Exciting Sounds From Romanic Places
Leo Diamond's Orchestra
Cover Design by Matt Schutz
ABC- Paramount
A Product Of Am-Par Record Corp.
ABCS-268
1959

From the back cover: Only a master musician and performer, gifted with the patience and quest for perfections as is Leo Diamond, would and could have attempted the scope of this album. Like many a noted contemporary of his instrument, Mr. Diamond is a graduate of the internationally-famed Borrah Minnevitch and his Harmonica Rascals, and has performed in almost every corner of the world. He is regarded by critics as among the topmost virtuosi of the harmonica, and has, to a great extent, been responsible for the elevation of the mouth organ to a position of prominence in the realm of recognized instruments, as opposed to a mere plaything.

A peerless musician, Mr. Diamond is also esteemed as a composer, having written the score of the beautiful Skin Divers' Suite and the recent musical delight, Off Shore. He has appeared on the concert stage, as guest soloist with leading symphony orchestras, in the world's most exclusive night clubs and in theaters all over the globe, establishing himself as an international favorite.

To add to this formidable alignment of credits, it should be noted that, for this album, Mr. Diamond personally used in the recording, some of which are shown in the photographs at right. (back cover).

From Billboard - February 16, 1959: Diamond is literally a "one-man ban" on this interesting package, which features the harmonica virtuoso playing all 12 parts, via some effective multi-tracking. By recording the entire album on 35-mm motion picture sound film, the over-all effect is smoothly harmonious mood music. Selections are travel-keyed standards – "La Vie En Rose," "Sleepy Lagoon," "Lili Marlene," etc. Fine jockey wax.

La Vie En Rose
The River Sene
Arriverderci, Roma
Domani
Strange Enchantment
Sleepy Lagoon
The Petite Waltz
Lili Marlene
The Girls In Brazil
The Breeze And I
King's Serenade
To You Sweetheart, Aloha