The Best Of Si Zentner - Volume Two

Burke's Law Theme

The Best Of Si Zentner
Volume Two
Produced by Snuff Garrett
Art Direction: Woody Woodward
Liberty Records LRP-7457
1967

From the back cover: He's been called the man who married the beat to the glide of the trombone. He's been credited with bringing new life into the band business. In truth, Si Zentner has played a key role in the revitalization of popular dance bands principally because he was open enough to realize that today's melodic ditty can be fitted into the repertoire of a modern thinking band.

Zentner's roots go deeply into the band business. When he first released "Up A Lazy River" on Liberty in 1962, he was looked upon as a unique creator, turning an old evergreen into a contemporary popular success. What Zentner did then, and what he is done right through this program of power house selections, is to add a sparkle to what are already intriguing songs of the past happy seasons.

It has been the custom of dance bands in the past to perform only those numbers with which they felt safe – the kind of tunes usually associated with fox trots and lindys. (Remember now, this is the period before the twist was born).

Zentner's curiosity and businessman's acumen propelled him to seek fresher material for his band, a decision which gained for him a spot in the hearts of collegians through constant appearances at their dances and balls. So when the haunting melody "Sukiyaki" broke onto the American popularity charts from Japan, Si rushed to record the tune. When "Burke's Law" became a weeknight fascination of American TV viewers (it was murder watching the old captain fighting those beautiful girls off(, Si cut the "Burke's Law Theme."

If one thing can be said of the trombonist, it is that his ears perk up when he hears a song with staying power. And by transforming the dixielandish "Midnight In Moscow" into a showcase for his band and by saluting the "Peter Gunn" TV series and movieland's "Never On Sunday" and "Charade," Zentner plucked songs recorded by other performers and gave them his own zesty, brassy sound.

Sukiyaki
Those Lazy-Hazy Days Of Summer
I'm Movin' On
Burke's Law Theme
Wonderland By Night
Maria
The Third Man Theme
Midnight In Moscow
Stranger On The Shore
Never On Sunday
Charade
Peter Gunn