Sounds In The Night

Russ Garcia was a regular in the Los Angeles music scene as an arranger for movies and leading vocalists during the forties and fifties. His 'Sounds in the night' is a lovely example of jazz and pop scoring and seems to be regarded as one of Garcia's best efforts. Originally released on the small Aamco label (ALPS-76) and later picked by Bethlehem (BCP-5006) who released it in 1957 realising that there was a market for an album that wasn't strictly jazz or pop.El Records are to be congratulated on releasing the album but I should qualify that by saying the CD is actually two LPs: 'Sounds...' (thirty-five minutes) and `Mother Magoo suite' (twenty-one minutes). Magoo has an orchestra conducted by Dennis Farnon (the brother of Robert) and the only connection with the Garcia tracks is that Marni Nixon sings on all of them. I thought the Magoo tracks were very uninteresting though they probably work well when you see the cartoon.I think its worth pointing out that the twelve Garcia tracks mostly feature a wordless vocal group, which I love but this style of singing probably isn't to every ones taste. 'I get a kick out of you' 'Music City' and 'Wow' are fine up-tempo tracks with the remaining nine varying between slow blues style and almost easy listening. They all, though, have a distinctive Garcia sound which probably is why the original LP was so highly regarded.If you buy the CD instead of downloads you'll have to struggle with the ridiculous tiny type in the twelve page booklet (though six pages are the EL catalog). The El label might issue some worthwhile CDs but their packaging is just plain amateurish.

"Sounds In the Night" -Russ Garcia's "Sounds In the Night" has often been hailed by critics as one of the greatest choral albums ever made. Featuring the vocal talents of the great Marni Nixon (known for ghosting for everyone from Deborah Kerr in "The King and I", Marilyn Monroe in "Gentleman Prefer Blondes", to Natalie Wood in "West Side Story"), the album transforms traditional jazz/pop standards into wonderfully haunting pieces for a mixed male and female chorus of nine voices. The choir is arranged by Garcia as if it were a string or horn section, with splendid harmonies paired up with legato scales that really showcase the singers' talents (they are even given a chance to show-off their abilities at making various "popping" sounds with their mouths on "Wow"). Garcia's orchestration for the sustaining orchestra is beautifully rooted in the traditional jazz/pop standard of the mid 20th century, with lovely touches of "exotica" for bongo drums and a vibraphone that would make Les Baxter or Martin Denny proud."Sounds In the Night" was originally recorded in stereo for Bethlehem Records in 1957 but was only released in mono by the label that same year (as ALP-309). Soon after this, Bethlehem's general manager Carl LeBow left the label along with band-leader Ted Steele to form the extremely short-lived label Aamco Records, which was bankrupt by the end of the 1950's. Among Aamco's catalog was a release of "Sounds In the Night" in both mono (as ALP-209) and finally in stereo (as ALPS-76) in 1958.Perhaps the stereo master for "Sounds In the Night" became lost along with anything else Carl LeBow took with him from Bethlehem to Aamco, because every modern-day re-issue of "Sounds In the Night", including this one by él Records, has been annoyingly offered in mono (these other mono-only re-issues are by J-Indies and in a digital-only release by Bethlehem Records). A stereo vinyl rip is offered for digital download by the label Trunk Records, but despite the care given to this release the sound is about as great as one would expect from an old vinyl rip, complete with "static".Hopefully, someone at Bethlehem Records can get on the ball and locate the stereo master of "Sounds In the Night" and make it commercially available. This mono offering does Russ Garcia and anyone else who had a hand in creating this wonderful album no justice."Mother Magoo Suite" -Also offered on this CD is the B-side taken from the 1956 children's LP "Magoo In Hi-Fi", being titled "Mother Magoo Suite". The reason for its inclusion are because the great Marni Nixon - featured so prominently on "Sounds In the Night" - sings brilliantly on two of the seven tracks included here ("Very Contrary Mary" and "Sheepish Bo-Peep"). I haven't anything to add on this since I know nothing about it, and likely it will merely serve as filler for everyone who purchased this CD for "Sounds In the Night". J-IndiesBethlehem Records

'Sounds in the Night' is a remarkable album. The choral arrangements by Garcia create a melancholy mood - almost a heavenly, transcendental music, that can not be compared to anything you have ever heard! Remember that these songs are from the Great American Songbook - and others were written by Garcia himself. Garcia understood everything about the music.I can not stop listening to this CD. Oh, Garcia was a Baha'i too. Could this have been the inspiration for his music?David

The vocal and instrumental sounds combined are just amazing. I purchased this record 53 years agoand eventually the record became scratched. Having it back through Amazon is great.

Russ Garcia was a regular in the Los Angeles music scene as an arranger for movies and leading vocalists during the forties and fifties. His 'Sounds in the night' is a lovely example of jazz and pop scoring and seems to be regarded as one of Garcia's best efforts. Originally released on the small Aamco label (ALPS-76) and later picked by Bethlehem (BCP-5006) who released it in 1957 realizing that there was a market for an album that wasn't strictly jazz or pop.El (part of Cherry Red in the UK) are to be congratulated on releasing the album but I should qualify that by saying the CD is actually two LPs: `Sounds...' (thirty-five minutes) and `Mother Magoo suite' (twenty-one minutes). Magoo has an orchestra conducted by Dennis Farnon (the brother of Robert) and the only connection with the Garcia is that Marni Nixon sings on all the tracks. I thought the Magoo arrangements were very uninteresting though they probably work well when you hear them as background to the Mr Magoo cartoons.I think its worth pointing out that the twelve Garcia tracks mostly feature a wordless vocal group, which I love but this style of singing probably isn't to every ones taste. 'I get a kick out of you' 'Music City' and 'Wow' are fine up-tempo tracks with the remaining nine varying between slow blues style and almost easy listening. They all, though, have a distinctive Garcia sound which probably is why the original LP was so highly regarded.If you buy the CD instead of downloads you'll have to struggle with the ridiculous tiny type in the twelve page booklet (though six pages are the EL catalog). The El label might issue some worthwhile CDs but their packaging is just plain amateurish.

Just as in the Les Baxter SPACE ESCAPADES, this Russ Garcis release is the mono version only. Luckily I still have my stereo LP and although this CD is nicely produced, the stereo recording places the singers in the center and spreads out the instruments, just as you might see and hear them on stage. So that presence is lost on this CD...too bad really. Not sure why they decided not to go for the stereo version or BOTH as they did with the Versatile Henry Mancini.