Anderson,Leroy Blue Tango: The Leroy Anderson Collection 1951-62 CD

Leroy Anderson was an American composer and conductor of light orchestral music, who wrote many pieces for the Boston Pops Orchestra before starting to record under his own name. Highly educated and multi-lingual as well as a classically-trained pianist, for many years he combined his composing with his work in military intelligence at the Pentagon and serving in the Korean War. He specialised in short pieces with unusual and specific reference points, with his most successful compositions including "The Syncopated Clock", and "Sleigh Ride" as well as his biggest hits, the US No. 1s "Blue Tango", The Typewriter" and "A Christmas Festival". This great-value 49-track 2-CD collection comprises A and B sides of Decca singles by Leroy Anderson's Pops Concert Orchestra from this era, and titles from his albums "A Leroy Anderson Pops Concert" and "The New Music Of Leroy Anderson" not otherwise released on singles. It features the US No. 1 hits "Blue Tango", "A Christmas Festival" and "The Typewriter", plus "Syncopated Clock" and the UK hit "Forgotten Dreams". It includes the titles from his themed work "Irish Suite", plus several tunes from the musical "Goldilocks" for which he wrote the music. Film composer John Williams called him "one of the great American masters of light orchestral music", and this collection demonstrates his unique talents in this genre.

1. The Syncopated Clock 2. The Waltzing Cat 3. Blue Tango 4. Belle of the Ball 5. Horse and Buggy 6. The Penny Whistle Song 7. Serenata 8. Plink, Plank, Plunk! 9. Fiddle Faddle 10. A Trumpeter's Lullaby 11. Sleigh Ride 12. Saraband 13. A Christmas Festival (Part One) 14. A Christmas Festival Concluded) 15. The Phantom Regiment 16. China Doll 17. The Typewriter 18. The Girl in Satin 19. Promenade 20. Jazz Pizzicato 21. Jazz Legato 22. Bugler's Holiday 23. Summer Skies 24. Song of the Bells 25. Sandpaper Ballet 26. Forgotten Dreams 27. The Bluebells of Scotland 28. Lady in Waiting 29. Pyramid Dance (Heart of Stone) 30. Irish Washerwoman 31. The Minstrel Boy 32. The Last Rose of Summer 33. The Rakes of Mallow 34. The Wearing of the Green 35. The Girl I Left Behind Me 36. Turn Ye to Me 37. First Day of Spring 38. Clarinet Candy 39. The Golden Years 40. Lazy Moon 41. I Never Know When 42. Arietta 43. The Pussy Foot 44. Home Stretch 45. Balladette 46. Shall I Take My Heart 47. The Captains and the Kings 48. Town House Maxixe 49. Pirate Dance