Description: A series of great German recordings around WWI and post war, on exciting labels: Donald PhillipsSkyscraper Fantasy was probably his best-known work, although its transatlantic style sounded more like the work of an American composer, than a Londoner. This was recorded by Mantovani for DeccaBritish composer Charles Williams composed Dream of Olwen for the British film While I Live in 1947It is a Rhapsody for piano and OrchestraMantovani And His OrchestraLabel: London Records – B.12006Format: Shellac, 12", 78 RPMA The Dream Of OlwenWritten-By – C. Williams*4:05B Skysraper FantasyWritten-By – D. Phillips*4:14Soloist, Piano – Ivan Fosello (tracks: A)Superb London Decca 12" 78 rpm record Condition: EXCELLENT close to Pristine faint scuffs, plays very quiet light hissA SUPERB COPY Biography Donald Phillips was born in Dalston, East London, in 1913. He did not have a musical background; his father was a journeyman tailor. His mother paid for some music lessons, but although Donald had to leave school early, his love of music shone through. He was talent-spotted when, as a boy of 14, he was heard playing the piano at a pub in Maida Vale by the musical writer and publisher, Lawrence Wright. As young Donald's success grew, his sheet music was proudly displayed in the window of Wright's music publishing firm in Denmark Street, Soho, centre of the popular music business. He joined the Musicians' Union in 1936 and remained a member for nearly 60 years. During the Second World War, he served in the RAF and was part of a forces entertainment team. He later entertained the troops in Cyprus with Harry Secombe. An accomplished pianist, he was musical director and accompanist for the entertainment stars of the 1940s to the 1960s the Marx Brothers, Beverley Sisters, Dickie Valentine, Shirley Bassey, Donald Peers, Alan Jones, Dick Emery, Anne Shelton, Yana, Jill Day, Joan Regan, Anita Harris, Susan Maughan and, most recently, Ted Rodgers. He took part in the 1954 royal command performance before the Queen at the London Palladium. In 1958 he won the Ivor Novello award for his outstanding contribution to British popular music with "Melody of the Sea". In the early 1960s, he composed entries for Ronnie Carroll and Matt Monroe in the British Eurovision song contest. In 1963 he won an international music competition organised by Radio Prague. His ambition to write a musical was realised in 1977, when "The Barrier," a love story set in Northern Ireland, was performed in Holland and recorded by Elaine Paige. But, partly due to the opening of "Evita" the following year, with Miss Paige in the title role, the show never reached London. Donald Phillips retained his courtesy and professionalism even during his last five years, when he developed Parkinson's disease. During his long career, mostly out of the limelight, he was regarded as a true Tin Pan Alley man. Among his compositions were Old Piano Rag, A Live Show is the Best Show, Broken Date, and To Him Were All The Same. Two major mini-concertos stand out: Concerto in Jazz – recorded by several leading orchestras including Sidney Torch, Mantovani and George Melachrino; and Skyscraper Fantasy was probably his best-known work, although its transatlantic style sounded more like the work of an American composer, than a Londoner. This was also recorded by Mantovani for Decca, although the Charles Williams version on Columbia (coupled with the Spellbound Concerto) will have been the bigger seller. Both of these works have been reissued in recent years on compact discs. Donald Phillips music was played and sung on both sides of the Atlantic by artists, bands and orchestras, including Winifred Atwell, Russ Conway, Lalo Schifrin, Liberace, Billy Cotton, Sid Phillips (no relation) and Sidney Torch. He died in 1994 in a Jewish Care Home in Hemel Hempstead. Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (Italian pronunciation: [an'nuntsi?o 'paolo manto'va?ni]) (November 15, 1905 – March 29, 1980)[1] known as Mantovani, was an Anglo-Italian conductor and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book British Hit Singles & Albums states that he was "Britain's most successful album act before The Beatles ... the first act to sell over one million stereo albums and had six albums simultaneously in the US Top 30 in 1959".[2] Biography Mantovani was born in Venice, Italy into a musical family. His father, Bismarck, served as the concertmaster of the La Scala opera house's orchestra in Milan, under the baton of Arturo Toscanini. The family moved to England in 1912, where young Annunzio studied at Trinity College of Music in London. After graduation, he formed his own orchestra, which played in and around Birmingham. He married Winifred Moss in 1934, and they had two children: Kenneth (born July 12, 1935) and Paula Irene (born April 11, 1939). By the time World War II broke out, his orchestra was one of the most popular in England, both on BBC radio broadcasts and in live performances.[citation needed] He was also musical director for a large number of musicals and other plays, including one composed by Noel Coward. After the war, he concentrated on recording, and eventually gave up live performance altogether. He worked with arranger and composer Ronnie Binge, who developed the "cascading strings" sound (also known as the "Mantovani sound").[3] His records were regularly used for demonstration purposes in stores selling hi-fi stereo equipment, as they were produced and arranged for stereo reproduction. In 1952, Binge ceased to arrange for Mantovani but the distinctive sound of the orchestra remained. Mantovani recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, and then for London Records. He recorded in excess of 50 albums on that label, many of which were Top 40 hits. His single tracks included "The Song from The Moulin Rouge", which reached Number One in the UK Singles Chart in 1953.[2] In the United States, between 1955 and 1972, he released more than 40 albums with 27 reaching the "Top 40", and 11 in the "Top Ten". His biggest success came with the album Film Encores, which attained Number One in 1957.[citation needed] Similarly, Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes made it to Number Two in 1961, with over one million albums sold.[citation needed] In 1958, Mantovani and his family bought a holiday home in Bournemouth in Durley Chine Road, and then in 1961 acquired a new property in Burton Road (now part of Poole). He moved, finally, to a new home in Martello Road in Poole. Mantovani starred in his own syndicated television series, Mantovani, which was produced in England and which aired in the United States in 1959. Thirty-nine episodes were filmed.[4] Mantovani made his last recordings in 1975.[citation needed] He died at a care home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent,[1] and was buried in Bournemouth, in 1980.[citation needed] Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution
Price: 19.99 USD
Location: San Francisco, California
End Time: 2024-11-09T00:19:54.000Z
Shipping Cost: 7.5 USD
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Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Artist: CLICK RIGHT ARROW > FOR CONDITION, Mantovani, Annunzio Paolo Mantovani, Paolo Mantovani, Ivan Fosello
Release Title: WilliamsThe Dream Of Olwen/ Phillips Skysraper Fantasy
Genre: Soundtracks & Musicals, Drama, Classical
Record Label: London
Record Size: 12"
Speed: 78 RPM
Catalog Number: B.12006, B 12006, B12006
Style: Animation Score/Soundtrack, Big Band/Swing, Cabaret/Vaudeville, Chanson, Comedy/Novelty Music, Drama, Educational, Field Recording, Film Score/Soundtrack, Interview/Dialogue, Minstrel, Monolog, Musical/Original Cast, Music Hall, Natural Sounds, Poetry, Political/Conscious, Prayers/Sermons, Public Service Announcement, Radio Play/Show, Schlager, Special Effects, Speech, Stand-Up/Sketch, Story, Storytelling, TV Score/Soundtrack, Vocal, Work Song
Format: Record
Material: Shellac
Language: English
