Place Pigalle - Stanley Black

 

The Sea

Place Pigalle

Stanley Black and His Orchestre Montmartre

London Records LL 1742

1957

From the back cover: Stanley Black is a master hand at setting the mood and the place of his music. He is especially well-known for his authoritative playing and recording of Latin American music – equally successful have been the fine swinging albums he has made such as the three albums featuring the music or Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. You can be absolutely certain that Black's tours are the best organized in the world.

His long career as a professional musician is well-known. It all started with piano lesson at the Matthay School of Music in London from which he progressed to musical composition in one easy step. At twenty-three, he broke into the highly competitive world of film-music with a contribution to "Rhythm Racketeers" released in 1936. This association with the world of film music continues right up to the present and even into the future. When the current soundtrack is complete he will have 50 to his credit, including the recent "These Dangerous Years" and "Vicious Circle." On the way, at the time of writing are two more film-scores and a series of films for commercial TV.

Even during the war the musical career continued. Although Stanley was quick to volunteer his services as a soldier, it was considered that the most valuable contribution he could make would be in entertaining the Forces and this he did throughout his spell in the R.A.F. After his release, he free-lanced for a while and then became conductor of the B.B.C. Dance Orchestra, an appointment which lasted until 1952. During this time he appeared in the 1951 Royal Command Performance.

Broadcasting, television, films, records, composing, conducting, playing the piano – all these are at his fingertips and in each he is top of his profession, and always moving with the times. Not only in Britain, but in America as well, he is one of the most popular figures in light music today. – Peter Hammond

From Billboard - December 2, 1957: Another in London's far-ranging armchair tours of famed tourist attractions conducted by Black. This one skillfully captures the mood and sounds of Montmartre with fresh instrumental arrangements of Parisian favorites like "At Last," "C'Est Is Bon," "J'Attendrai," etc. Should do nicely with Francophiles, altho the mood music field is especially heavy with this kind of romantic fare. Sound is big and well-balanced, and the "Apache" cover will look well in displays.

Domino

Why Do You Pass Me By

At Last, At Last

Autumn Leaves

C'est Si Bon

The Sea (La Mer)

Waltz Of Paree

Chez Moi

Boom!

Mademoiselle Paree

When The World Was Young

J'Attendrai (Au Revoir)