Close Your Eyes - Frank Chacksfield

 

I Didn't Know What Time It Was

Close Your Eyes

Frank Chacksfield and His Orchestra

Featuring Bobby Pratt (Trumpet)

London Records LL 1440

1956

From the back cover: Frank Chacksfield is one of this country's leading conductors in the field of light music. Since making his first records for London, Ebb Tide and Limelight (which earned him the "New Musical Express" Record of the Year award) he has gone from one success to another. In America, in 1953, he was voted by the juke-box operators in a nation-wide poll to have the most promising new orchestra of the year, a prophecy well justified by the magic of his latest recordings. He has now craved a special place for himself as one of the most successful exploiters of the new proportions and needs of the long playing record; obviously the shape of much music to come will be dictated by Frank Chacksfield's experience and skill.

He was born in Battle, Sussex, and studied music from the age of seven, displaying an unusual interest in musical theory from a boy of that age. He learned to play the piano and the organ, passed the Trinity College exams, and appeared as a soloist at the Musical Festival in Hastings, by the time he was fourteen. At the same time he was deputy organist at Salehurst Parish Church, near Robertsbridge, Sussex. He formed his first dance band at the age of fifteen, but his parents were against a musical career and he entered a solicitor's office. It became a case of working all day at the Law, and working all night at Music until ever-increasing popularity convinced him that music was to be his career – a happy decision for his now international legion of admires. The war broke out and Frank joined the Army in 1940. During a period of convalescence from an illness, he made his first broadcast from the B.B.C. Glasgow studios, singing songs at the piano.

Transferred to the Southern Command Entertainment Section of the R.A.S.C. at Salisbury, he became staff arranger to the War Office show "Stars in Battledress", and shared and office with Charlie Chester both being demoted on the same day. This led to a job with "Stand Easy" at Blackpool, with Frank conducting the orchestra. Later be became composer, conductor and arranger for the B.B.C., working with shows such as John Pertwee's "Puffney's Post-Office", the "Frankie Howerd Show", and "Up the Pole!" He made his first record in 1948, and has recorded with, among many, Charlie Chester, Petula Clark, Bill Johnson and the Radio Revellers. After many successful recordings he recorded Limelight for London in April 1953, and so the success story continues.

Mean To Me

I've Got The World On A String

Lullaby Of The Leaves

By The Fireside

Close Your Eyes

The Call To Arms

Love Is The Sweetest Thing

A Blues Serenade

I Didn't Know What Time It Was

My Own

Let's Put Our Heads Together

Where Are Your?