The World's Finest Music as interpreted by Lawrence Welk

The World's Finest Music as interpreted by Lawrence Welk

Side One :

1 Clair De Lune - Claude Debussy - Arr: Lucien Cailliet

2 Full Moon and Empty Arms - Based on Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto in C Minor
Buddy Kaye - Ted Mossman

3 Stranger in Paradise - Robert Wright - George Forrest
Based on Borodin's Polovetsian Dances

4 Walk With Me
Based on Dvorak's "Large" from Symphony
"From The New World"
Larry Gordon - George Cates - Irving Taylor

5 Till The End of Time - Ted Mossman - Buddy Kaye
Based on Chopin's Polonaise in A Flat

6 Tonight We Love
Based on Tchaikovsky's Piano
Concerto No. 1 in B Minor
Ray Austin - Freddy Martin - Bobby Worth



Side Two :

1 Our Love - Buddy Bernier - Bob Emmerich - Larry Clinton
Based on Tchaikovsky's "Romeo And Juliet"

2 My Reverie - Larry Clinton
Based on Claude Debussy's "Reverie"

3 I Think of You - Jack Elliot - Don Marcotte

4 He'll Be There - Ray Austin - George Cates - Irving Taylor
Based on "Poeme" By Fibieh

5 On The Isle of May - Mack David - Andre Kostelanetz
Based on Tchaikovsky's String Quartet in D Major

6 Moon Love - Mack David - Mack Davis - Andre Kostelanetz
Based on Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony


One of the popular male recording stars of the day, writing a story on the music business for a prominent TV fan magazine and program guide, has pointed up the dominance of singers in today's record market.

"Now that we have that settled," he declared, commenting on the vocal phenomenon, "I leave you with two words that can upset the entire applecart about singers. The two words? Lawrence Welk!"

There are many yardsticks around these days tos how how perceptive the comment really was. Lawrence Welk, who 20 years ago charmed the young pre-war dancers at Chicago's legendary Aragon and Trianon ballrooms, today finds himself - in a world of vocalists - at the top of the heap in the entertainment whirl.

For two hours a week he entertains America with two top-rated television shows. Saturday and Monday evening have become known to millions very simply as the Lawrence Welk nights of the week. Color, youth, vitality, and above all, happy music, abound in his TV productions. The same sure-fire ingredients have made teh "erchestra leader turned master showman" and integral part of the success of Southern California's famous Trianon Ballroom.

But far more noteworthy on the music scene is Welk's unprecedented success with records. An unbroken chain of a dozen Welk Coral albums, all of which obviously have featured the music that both young and adult America wants to hear most, have reached teh best seller lists of the most highly regarded trade papers. All of these previous albums have featured the same danceable, listeneable band as is seen on Welk's weekly ABC-TV shows.

Now Lawrence Welk comes to you in a bold new orchestral dress - in which 75 of Hollywood's most 'in demand" musicians interpret lustrous arrangements of "the world's finest music." The group that you hear on this album closely resembles a symphonic complement. And so important in the west coast recording scene were those present here, that on the day of the recording sessions, other record companies gave up rehearsals and record dates, due to the scarcity of good men.

The vastly augmented Welk brigade is highlighted by a complement of 52 strings - including 33 violins, 8 violas, 8 celli and three string basses. The richness of tone obtainable with such a grouping alone would be impressive. But listen again and hear the sound fully filled in by an additional array of brass, woodwind and rhythm instruments, including 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 4 clarinets, 1 bassoon, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 2 drums and piano, harp and guitar!

Hollywood's top arrangers have brought their skills to bear in this wonderful selection of restful, moodly melodies. Note that particularly the fine scoring of Debussy's "Claire De Lune," by the noted arranger Lucien Cailliet. All these, under the direction of Lawrence Welk and musical supervisor George Cates, have focussed their efforts on this excitingly different package of high fidelity music...for you. And now, quiet please, the concert is about to begin...

Ren Grevatt