Dennis Farnon - Caution! Men Swinging

Dennis Farnon was born in 1923 in Toronto, Canada as John Denis Farnon to Robert and Elsie Farnon (née Menzies). He grew up in a musical family, and learned to play the trumpet at age 12. Through his older brother Robert, he enlisted into the Canadian Army Band, also travelling to Europe to entertain the Allied troops during the last years of the war. In his mid-20s, he moved to Chicago where he played in jazz clubs and pursued studies in conducting, arranging, and orchestration, strongly influenced by the works of Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Béla Bartók and Sergey Prokofiev.

Several years later, he accepted an invitation to Hollywood as musical director for singer Johnny Holiday, and he stayed, continuing to compose, conduct and arrange. In 1956, he was tapped by RCA Records to head their West Coast A&R and signed on as producer, arranger and recording artist. During that time, the Dennis Farnon Orchestra recorded numerous albums, including Magoo in Hi-Fi, over 10 episodes of Mr Magoo cartoon shorts, Chet Atkins in Hollywood, Velvet Carpet with The George Shearing's Quintet, The Enchanted Woods, Songs From The Motion Picture Gigi, While My Lady Sleeps with Phineas Newborn Jr., and Caution! Men Swinging.

This roaring, vibrant album has all the drive, sparkle and vibrancy that characterized swing big bands in their heyday, plus imaginative new ideas. Not only is the swing youthful, but Dennis Farnon's own musical imagination has also brought it up to date and added new lustre and meaning to the idiom. Caution! Men Swinging stands out for its precision and powerhouse sound of the brass and sax sections in the overall set, arranged and conducted by Canadian Dennis Farnon. In addition, there is ample room for solo blowing by Don Fagerquist, who plays all the jazz trumpet; pianists Lou Levy and Jimmy Rowles, guitarist Howard Roberts, tenor Ted Nash, plus the superb lead trumpet work of Frank Beach and George Roberts' bass trombone very present at all times. This 1957 album was the only jazz LP Farnon recorded in his entire career and, possibly thinking he could hardly have surpassed it, he devoted his work primarily to writing arrangements and conducting for pop singers. Enjoy this fantastic swinging big band session! *Jordi Pujol*

Back in the 1950s, as the Big Band Era was slowly dying, the money for musicians was to be made in the studios, with alumni from Herman, Rogers and Kenton playing for TV shows and movies in order to pay off their mortgages in  the San Fernando Valley. Here are a couple swinging albums from Hollywood in the swinging Eisenhower Years.

Canadian conductor Dennis Farron leads a 1957 studio orchestra that includes Pete Condoli/tp, Ted Nash/ts, Bob Enevoldsen/vtb, Howard Roberts/g, Jimmy Rowles-Lou Levy/p and Alvin Stoller/dr for a mix of originals and standards. They sound like a background sound track for a film noir on the swaggering "Caution! Men Swinging" while the muted horns sway on "Lover Come Back To Me". West Coast Cool moods dominate "Why Don’t You Do Right" while big brass is bold on "Just You, Just Me" with the team sounding like Kenton on the hard hitting "Three Little Words". Bright primary colors. *George W. Harris*

Side 1

1 - Caution! Men Swinging

(Dennis Farnon)

2 - Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year

(Frank Loesser)

3 - Lover Come Back To Me

(Oscar Hammerstein, Sigmund Romberg)

4 - Shoo-Shoo Baby

(Phil Moore)

5 - Just You, Just Me

(Jessie Greer, Raymond Klages)

Side 2

06 - Isle Of Capri

(Wilhelm Grosz, James Kennedy)

07 - South Of The Border

(M. Beresford, J. B. Kennedy)

08 - It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

(Duke Ellington, Irving Mills)

09 - Why Don't You Do Right

(Joe McCoy)

10 - Three Little Words

(Harry Ruby)

11 - Resume Speed

(Dennis Farnon)

Pete Candoli, Frank Beach, Don Fagerquist, Paul Geil (trumpets); Tommy Pederson, Joe Howard (trombones); Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombone); George Roberts (bass trombone); Jack Dumont, Brian Farnon (alto saxes); Ted Nash, Gene Cipriano (tenor saxes); Chuck Gentry (baritone sax); Howard Roberts (guitar); Jimmy Rowles [#1, #2, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9], Lou Levy [#3, #4, #10, #11] (pianos); Cliff Hills (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums).

Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California, May 30, 1957.

 

Ralph Marterie and Pete Rugolo - Big Band Time

All the evidence points to one thing in these two albums: Great Listening!

In 1959, after 15 years leading his own dance band, Ralph Marterie confessed he had dreamed of the perfect dance-or-listen date. Working for over a year with Mercury's West Coast recording director, Pete Rugolo, that peak of musical performance became the reality captured here, with Rugolo conducting the orchestra that recorded the two albums, and Marterie displaying the musical leadership qualities that made him America's No.1 Trumpet Star and Orchestra Leader.

On Music for a Private Eye, Pete Rugolo, Skip Martin and Heinie Beau devised skillful arrangements of the best in themes from TV's then top thrillers. Big Band Man showcases a selection of songs by Jimmy McHugh, Hollywood's premier tunesmith, with over two decades of hits to his credit. And properly setting the stage musically were arrangers like Johnny Mandel, Skip Martin, Morty Corb, Bill Holman, and Frank DeVol, again the cream of Cinema City's scorers.

Rugolo —a veteran of hundreds of Hollywood recording sessions— selected for these albums outstanding instrumentalists and soloists such as Don Fagerquist, Frank Rosolino, Bud Shank, Gus Bivona, Bob Cooper, Pete Candoli, Jimmy Rowles, Red Mitchell, Jack Sperling, Conrad Gozzo and Al Hendrickson.

The music in these two albums was arranged with special skill and effect to demonstrate, and take full advantage of, the new stereophonic sound. *Jordi Pujol*

Ralph Marterie And His Marlboro Men

Music For A Private Eye

First, there's the ace musical sleuth of the land, Ralph Marterie, with topnotch assistance from his staff (otherwise known as his Marlboro Men) detecting the best in themes from TV's top thrillers.

Second, two of the best crime lab boys in the business (musical problems their specialty ) —Pete Rugolo and Skippy Martin— have come up with arrangements that make both sides of the case (album, that is) sheer masterpieces.

Third, top-flight experts in the field have contributed their efforts to cover every Pete Rugolo listening angle (scan that list of song writers from top to bottom). 

Fourth, — but why go on when you can reach your own verdict of great listening by playing any and all of MUSIC FOR A PRIVATE EYE. *(Liner notes)*

Side 1

1 - "M" Squad Theme

(Count Basie)

2 - Perry Mason Theme

(Max Steiner)

3 - Richard Diamond

(Pete Rugolo)

4 - Alfred Hitchcock Presents

(Stanley Wilson)

5 - The Thin Man

(Pete Rugolo)

Side 2

6 - Private Eyeball

(Hanson, Marterie)

7 - The D.A.'s Man

(Comstock)

8 - Riff Blues

(Kahn, Lenard)

9 - Peter Gunn

(Henry Mancini)

Ralph Marterie, Ray Linn, Don Fagerquist, Joe Triscari, Uan Rasey (trumpets); Frank Rosolino, Bob Fitzpatrick, Tommy Pederson (trombones); George Roberts (bass trombone); Bud Shank, Paul Horn (alto saxes); Bob Cooper, Gus Bivona (tenor saxes); Dale Issenhuth (baritone sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Al Viola (guitar); Joe Mondragon (bass); Irv Kluger (drums); Lou Singer (percussion). 

Recorded at United Recording Studio, Hollywood, California, May 5, 1959.

Arrangements by Pete Rugolo.

***

Ralph Marterie And The All Star Men

Big Band Man

In his 15 years batoning his own dance band, Ralph Marterie confesses he's dreamed of the perfect dance or listen date. Working for over a year with Mercury's west coast recording director, Pete Rugolo, that peak of musical performance became a reality herein.

It required a number of factors which would meld perfectly. First, the selection of tunes — melodies that had a cohesive quality, yet different enough in quality to avoid monotony. And the selection —JIMMY McHUGH— Hollywood's premier tunesmith, with over two decades of hits to his credit was an easy choice. You'll find McHugh runs the gamut successfully from blues thru ballads, from waltz to fox-trot.  

And to properly set the stage musically, arrangers like Johnny Mandel, Skippy Martin, Morty Corb, Bill Holman, and Frank DeVol, again the cream of Cinema City's scorers. 

Rugolo, a veteran of hundreds of Hollywood recording sessions, selected outstanding instrumentalists, like Buddy DeFranco, Bud Shank, Gus Bivona, Bob Cooper, Babe Russin, Pete Candoli, Frank Rossolino, Jimmy Rowles, Red Mitchell, Don Fagerquist, Jack Sperling, Conrad Gozzo, Vern Friley and Al Hendricks. 

And welding all these important forces into the dream album, BIG BAND MAN, Ralph Marterie utilizes the musical leadership qualities that have made him America's No. 1 Trumpet Star and Orchestra Leader. *(Liner notes)*

Side 1

1 - It's A Most Unusual Day

(McHugh, Adamson)

2 - Don't Blame Me

(McHugh, Fields)

3 - Where Are You

(McHugh, Adamson)

4 - Waltz Medley

• Cuban Love Song

(Stothart, McHugh, Fields)

• Louella

(McHugh, Adamson)

• Whisper Waltz

(McHugh, Adamson)

5 - I Can't Give You Anything But Love

(McHugh, Fields)

Side 2

6 - On The Sunny Side Of The Street

(McHugh, Fields)

7 - Medley

• Anybody For The Blues

(McHugh, Allen)

• A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening

(McHugh, Adamson)

• I Can't Get Enough Of You

(McHugh, Adamson)

8 - I'm Shooting High

(McHugh, Koehler)

9 - Exactly Like You

(McHugh, Fields)

10 - Diga Diga Doo

(McHugh, Fields)

Ralph Marterie, Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Mannie Klein, Conrad Gozzo, Joe Triscari, Ollie Mitchell, Uan Rasey (trumpets); Frank Rosolino, Vern Friley, Joe Howard, Harry Betts (trombones); Tommy Pederson (bass trombone); Gus Bivona (clarinet, alto sax); Bud Shank (alto sax); Bob Cooper, Babe Russin (tenor saxes); Chuck Gentry (baritone sax); Jimmy Rowles, Arnold Ross (pianos); Al Hendrickson (guitar); Red Mitchell (bass); Jack Sperling (drums).

Recorded at United Recording Studio, Hollywood, California, September 27, 1959.

Arrangements by Morty Corb (#2, #5), Skip Martin (#3, #10), Bill Holman (#9), Johnny Mandel (#1), Frank DeVol (#4, #7), Skip Martin (#6, #8).

Pete Rugolo (Mercury Recording Director).