Big Band Plays Beatles Bag and Bacharach David - Lee Castle

Eleanor Rigby

Penny Lane

Big Band Plays Beatles Bag! + Bacharach / David
Lee Castle & The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
Pickwick PTP 2038
1967

This is a 2 record set in a gatefold album. Compared to many Pickwick projects, this seems to have been an expensive release.

Of course, I skipped right over the Bacharach covers (record one) to get to the good stuff, The Beatle covers found on the second disc. I expected to hear some luke warm big band makeovers, but the tunes are way more whacky sort of "Enoch Light-like" light pop covers. After reading the cover notes, I think Pickwick set out to appeal to traditional big band fans. The notes come across stiff and dry. "A bit of swing with a hint of rock are combined on Fool On The Hill with Carl Janelli soloing." But... the music is so crazy... And there is the "British" cover theme which only makes sense if you connect the acts covered to their country of origin... not to mention the confused album title. Anyway... it all confuses me and of course... we like sonic befuddlement up here in The Atomic Attic.

"Big band lovers rise! We may start a whole new trend of excitement."