New York's A Song - Ralph Burns

 

New York's A Song

New York's A Song

Ralph Burns and his Orchestra and the Sounds of The City

Sounds by Joan Franklin

Photo Essay of The City by Ed Hamilton

Decca Records DL 79068

1959

From the inside (blue colored booklet): About Ralph Burns - How, in one musical language, do you interpret the pulse of a city as complex and contradictory as New York? In this exciting new album, the music of Ralph Burns gives the answer. You don't. You can only portray this city, musically or graphically, in as many varied languages, colors, contrasts and moods as it continually reflects. Here, in a collection of songs culled from the almost inexhaustible store of melodies inspired by New York, are those most broadly and vividly representative. And, through the extraordinary arranging skill and fruitful imagination of Ralph Burns, one of the most modern and perceptive musicians of our time, we present a unique musical portrait of New York ... at times elaborately coiffured, more often with its hair down. The authentic sounds of the city give added color.

Ralph Burns, composer-conductor-arranger-piano soloist, was classically trained, but his experience runs the gamut of musical expression. His most recent plaudits have been garnered in television, but he is equally well known, in each of his outstanding musical func- tions and capacities, in the fields of jazz and popular music.

In attempting to define or classify the music in this collection, we can only say its scope is as broad as the fantastic potpourri of human activity and emotion of the city. In short, if it's a part of what makes New York a song... it's a part of this album

Side One

1. Sound: Sightseeing Bus Guide
Music: "I HAPPEN TO LIKE NEW YORK" Sound: Traffic jam-Times Square

2. Music: "LULLABY OF BROADWAY"
Sound: Broadway theatre crowds, taxis, newspaper vendor

3. Sound: Children in playground
Music: "MELTING POT" – Medley
Sound: More children in playground

4. Sound: Subway train loading at station and departing Music: "TAKE THE 'A' TRAIN"
Sound: Independent Subway "A" Train leaving station.

5. Sound: Harlem street sounds and voices
Music: "HARLEM NOCTURNE"

6. Sound: Puerto Rican children singing in church Music: "RICO VACILON"

Side Two

1. Sound: Herald Square street sounds at Christmastime Music: "MANHATTAN"
Sound: East side street traffic and fire engines

2. Sound: Rain and thunderstorm - Manhattan penthouse Music: "PENTHOUSE SERENADE"
Sound: Thunder-Manhattan roof-tops

3. Sound: New York harbor and waterfront sounds Music: "I COVER THE WATERFRONT"
Sound: More New York harbor and waterfront sounds

4. Sound: Third Ave. Elevated train and horse-drawn vehicle Music: "LITTLE OLD NEW YORK"-Medley Sound: Hansom cab in Central Park

5. Music: "AUTUMN IN NEW YORK" Sound: Hansom cab in Central Park

6. Sound: Chinatown "Double Ten" celebration - fireworks Music: "CHINATOWN MY CHINATOWN" Sound: Chinatown fireworks and street parade

7. Sound: Ticker tape machines-Wall Street customers room Music: "TICKER TAPE TOWN"
Sound: Sightseeing bus guide