WAR! STARS! BONUS MP3!

Star Wars Theme Disco Version (3:20)

This being the 30th anniversary of the most important film yet released in my lifetime, I’d be remiss if I didn’t celebrate with a little disco.

This is not the Meco Star Wars Theme, although that is a very obvious influence. This cut comes from The Wonderball Disco Orchestra, and it’s a cover of Meco’s cover. You won’t find the booming brass section that makes Meco’s take so much fun, but there’s plenty of cheesy synth sound effects and a session musician thrashing a bass guitar within an inch of its life. There’s also a few very abrupt edits that suggest this was cut down from a longer version.

Most of the rest of this album can also be found on Peter Pan’s “DUCK WARS” featuring Irwin the Duck, which leads me to one of two conclusions: Either Peter Pan bought out the Wonderland Records catalog, or these tracks were being cooked up by a studio somewhere and sold to any label that would buy them. Ralph Stein is credited as the producer of “SPACED OUT DISCO FEVER,” and that’s it.

Tune in Tonight
Tonight on Hear It Wow it’s WAR! Two hours dedicated to America’s struggle to win and preserve its freedom, packed with things I’m pretty darn sure you’ve never heard before, including a complete Army Day Program transcription from 1948 and Navy recruitment propaganda from the days of the Vietnam War. The show starts at 6PM Eastern and can be heard on 91.5 FM in Boston or through those links up there on the right.

Say Hi on Saturday
If you’re in the Cambridge, Mass., area this Saturday, you could do worse than to stop by The Comedy Studio at 1238 Mass. Ave (third floor of the world-famous Hong Kong Restaurant). I’ll be performing, as will 2006 Boston Comedy Festival winner Dan Boulger and some other top talent. There’s several excellent record stores around the club that are worth your time, so do some digging and cap off the day with a Scorpion Bowl and some great comedy. Doors at 7:30PM, showtime is at 8, admission is $10, and you'll get $1 off if you visit www.thecomedystudio.com and click on "About." A blatant plug? Yes, but the owner's a friend of mine, and compared to the big chain comedy clubs that dominate some parts of the country, the Studio is the little neighborhood record store.

Greater Bostonians in Concert 1973 (mp3s)

Almost Like Being in Love (3:01)
Don’t Sleep in the Subway (2:50)
Living Together Growing Together (3:36)
Begin the Beguine (3:57)
Misty (3:51)
I’ve Got to Be Me (3:44)
I Don’t Know How to Love Him (4:17)
Smile (4:12)
Granada (3:40)
Live for Life (3:40)
Wedding Song (4:04)
Gentle on My Mind (2:43)
I Can See Clearly Now (4:20)
I Believe in Music (2:23)
Theme Music from Love Story – Summer of ’42 (4:33)
Medley from The Sound of Music (7:13)
Finale (5:01)

The fourth, and final, of my Greater Bostonians releases finds us in 1973. Richard Nixon’s second term has begun. War rages in Vietnam. Civil unrest dominates domestic headlines. Not one of America’s happier years, unless you happened to be listening to the Greater Bostonians.

Almost in defiance of the mood of the times, the 1973 album continues the tradition of happy, upbeat songs and arrangements. This is a few million miles away from what was filling FM radio at the time, but the kids give it their all.

David Stuart is joined by two additional arrangers this time out, and a lot of new faces can be found in the orchestra and chorus. There seems to be some strife in the brass section at times, most evident on “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” which may account for the extra arrangers. Indeed, some of the arrangements are more pared down than Stuart’s solo efforts on the previous albums.

I’d prefer live recording artifacts to the ham-fisted production mix on this. “Don’t Sleep in the Subway” suffers from an undermiced chorus, while the orchestra gets buried on “Begin the Beguine.” Someone made an effort to keep everything tidy, except for the drums, which are prominent throughout.

That said, it’s still an excellent album, and one of the finest high-school albums of its kind. Cherry pickers will want to add “Don’t Sleep in the Subway,” “Misty,” and “Granada” to their collections, and I defy you to find a comparable version of “Gentle on My Mind,” which is simply outstanding.

Credits
Jerry Boisen and Richard Laman, Conductors
Dave Stuart, Edward Madden, and Robert Laber, Arrangers

The 1973 Greater Bostonians: Linda Abelahad, Anita Ashur, Mary Lou Baker, Robert Basilesco, Valerie Becker, William Belanger, Judy Brock, Scott Brown, Jeff Browne, Kathleen Buda, Kathy Burkly, William Collins, James Conboy, Barbara Conway, Patricia Corcoran, Betsey Cox, Don Edward Crotty, John Curran Jr., Keith Curran, Allen DeGusto, David Demsey, Russell DiBona, Anne Marie Doherty, Lindsay Dyett, Jane Ezzard, Alan Farwell, Donald Farwell, Robert Flanagan, Ronald Fleischer, Steve Freeman, Danette Gerry, Barry Griffin, J. Riley Hodder, Gail Holmes, Leslie Holmes, Maureen Horgan, Stephen Hylan, Mary Lou Kazmaier, Sheila Killeen, Wayne King, Jeffrey Koch, Betsey Koukol, Donna Leonard, Andrea Lyman, David Magown, Albert Manzelli, Linda Marchi, Mary Maturo, Richard McGrath, Nancy McGray, Paula McGray, William McManus, Warren Michaelsen, Linda Michielutti, Michele Miron, Donald Moultrop, Gary Muise, Deborah Mullen, John Nicholson, Stephen O’Connell, Stephen O’Donnell, Nicholas Palmer, Joyce Perelli, Cindy Perry, Nancy Roche, Kenn Rynne, Ralph Scott, Gwen Seferian, Robert Sheridan, Pamela Sibbald, Charles Smith, Shirley Snyder, Frank Sullivan, Paul Sullivan, Kathleen Sweeney, Francisco Villa, Frank Walker, Connie White, Elizabeth Wilton, Ann Wishart, Gay Wishart, Alison Woods

The First Meeting of the MUZAK Appreciation Society Is Called

It's a double-shot of Hear It Wow starting tonight at 6PM Eastern. First, the MUZAK Appreciation Society will convene to enjoy Stimulus Progression, New Dimensions, and music to help your plants grow.

If you love MUZAK, tune in. If you hate MUZAK, tune in. You might find it's much more interesting than you remember.

At 8PM tonight, the studio fills with local standup comics as we remember Lew's Place and all the great Thursday nights we shared. Seating will be in short supply, but laughter won't.

Greater Bostonians in Concert 1972 (mp3s)

On a Wonderful Day Like Today (2:35)
Raindrops (3:07)
Put Your Hand in the Hand (2:47)
Scarlet Ribbons (4:07)
Alfie (4:39)
For All We Know (3:56)
Heart of the Country (2:06)
Medley from Fiddler on the Roof (6:44)
Medley from Superstar (4:57)
Italian Madrigal “Fa Una Canzone” (1:14)
Until It’s Time for You to Go (4:28)
One Fine Day (3:48)
Try to Remember (3:18)
Danny Boy (5:08)
Medley from West Side Story (5:34)
Give Me Your Tired Your Poor (4:02)

1972 finds a return to form for the youth orchestra built from the top music and choral students of Greater Boston. Gone are the slower, radio-friendly arrangements and clinical recording of 1971’s IF WE ONLY HAVE LOVE. The familiar album cover is back, this time housing a two-album set, recorded live and with audience sounds, running more than an hour in length.

The song selections on this album move closer to the typical high-school repertoire. Here’s “Danny Boy” again, Fiddler on the Roof, and Jesus Christ Superstar, but the arrangements are professional grade and there’s some contemporary tracks added to the mix. Most important, the energy is back. Sadly, the solo credits disappear on this album, which is a shame, as there’s a standout piano performance on “Alfie.”

For you cherry-pickers out there, start with “Put Your Hand in the Hand,” especially if you liked the 1970 album. “Alfie” is as good a version as you’ll find anywhere. I’m partial to the bombastic cover of “Heart of the Country,” and “Fa Una Canzone” is a rare chance to hear the chorus without orchestral accompaniment.

Credits
Jerry Boisen and Richard Laman, Conductors
David Stuart, Arranger

The 1972 Greater Bostonians: Michael Allen, Carol Anderson, Mary Lou Baker, Robert Basilesco, Valerie Becker, William Belanger, Lewis Blair, Scott Brown, Jeff Browne, Kathleen Buda, William Collins, Don Edward Crotty, John Curran, Keith Curran, Marilyn Danby, Allen DeGusto, David Demsey, Russell DiBona, Freyda Epstein, Ronald Fleischer, Jane Fountain, Paul Frantz, Ruth Freedland, Danette Gerry, Paul Giordano, Joel Goldfield, Stephen Goldwait, Bonnie Goodman, Matthew Hanson, Susan Hartshorn, Joan Hinchman, Judy Howe, Patricia Hussey, Patricia Joyce, Sarah Juel, Jeffrey Koch, Loretta Lacorti, Donna Lessard, Debbie MacNeill, Thomas Madden, David Magown, Michael Mandile, Mary Maturo, Paula McGray, William McManus, Warren Michaelsen, Michele Miros, Donald Moultrop, Nancy Mudgett, Marty Muise, Joseph Normandy, Stephen O’Donnell, Nicholas Palmer, Bruce Parisi, Susanne Peck, Ann Peltier, Joyce Perelli, Cynthia Perry, Joseph Reid, Susan Rose, David Russell, Paul Seavey, Gary Seldon, Robert Selfridge, Marie Semas, Dorothy Shaw, Gerald Shrair, Joseph Singer, Charles Smith, Shirley Snyder, Jennifer Spinks, David Stuart, Jr., Virginia Sullivan, David Testa, Joseph Titus, Alan Weiss, Connie White, Robert Wieners, Christopher Wight, Mark Wile, Ann Wishart, Gay Wishart, Matt Zaitchik

If We Only Have Love (mp3s)

For Once in My Life (2:44)
We’ve Only Just Begun (3:22)
Candida (2:17)
Danny Boy (4:49)
Wave (2:39)
Wedding Bell Blues (2:22)
Kismet Medley (7:40)
If We Only Have Love (4:01)
On a Clear Day (1:53)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (4:02)
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (2:31)
Born Free (2:51)
Close to You (3:08)
Battle Hymn of the Republic (4:44)

It’s always sad when a group attains a level of success, then starts to tailor its efforts to meet the supposed expectations of the fans. Music is littered with groups who’ve succumbed to that temptation, only to fade to obscurity. Wait, I’m talking about a high-school orchestra, right?

Something happened in 1971. Gone is Vogt Quality Recordings, perhaps for their decision to abruptly cut the endings off the 1970 album to keep crowd noise off the album. Gone too is the familiar Greater Bostonians cover art, replaced by a pop-art illustration with an intriguing sense of color.

Most of all, gone is the energy that infused the 1970 album, both in the performance and in Dave Stuart’s arrangements. You won’t find the near-rock of “Spinning Wheel” or “Aquarius” here, but you’ll get two Carpenters tunes delivered in a composed fashion reminiscent of the self-conscious sound of The Association.

1971’s IF WE ONLY HAVE LOVE is a clear attempt to broaden the appeal and marketability of the Greater Bostonians by creating something that, at the time, was AM-radio friendly. Unlike the other albums, this recording is a “reproduction” of the soundtrack of the TV broadcast. The lack of a live audience lends a studio feel, but it also cuts the performers off from the energy that an audience supplies. The result is the same as those choral programs that pop up on local television on Christmas morning. You’re getting a tight performance, but you’re waiting for something to break loose, even though you know the environment prevents that from happening.

It doesn’t help that there’s an anesthetic flatness to the recording that respects the VU meter at the expense of breathing some life and variation into the tracks.

What’s most telling about this album, and its purpose, can be found in the time signatures listed on the back cover. Song lengths are listed for the first time on a Greater Bostonians album, complete with parenthetical “Intro” times—a sure sign that this album was intended for radio airplay.

It’s a complement to the talent of the group that they were thought radio-ready, but it shouldn’t have happened at the cost of what made the ensemble great. Fortunately, this was a one-year diversion, and things get back to normal in ’72.

And there are high points. “For Once in My Life” cooks with a great Big Band sound. “Wave” is a worthy piece of easy lounge fluff, and it’s a shame that the soloists aren’t credited, as it’s the best track on the album. “Wedding Bell Blues” will grow on you given the chance, and “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” is a popping jazz-band number dripping with the romance of the Swing Era. Listen to it and remember that these are high-school kids.

Featured soloists are Scott Brown, Diana Bruno, Sue Haas, David Magown, Cynthia Mercaldi, Matthew Oliva, Wendell Purrington, and Virginia Sullivan on “We’ve Only Just Begun”; Bruce Pangborn on “Bridge Over Troubled Water”; and Wendell Purrington on “Danny Boy.”

Credits
Jerry Boisen and Richard Laman, Conductors
David Stuart, Arranger

The 1971 Greater Bostonians: Michael Allen, Mary Lou Baker, Lewis Blair, Cheryl Boggia, Scott Brown, Whitman Browne, Debbie Bruno, Diana Bruno, Cynthia Buzun, Phoebe Carrai, Sue Carrai, Kenneth Cefalo, Steven Colby, Don Crotty, Marilyn Danby, Lee Daum, Carolyn Davis, Russell DiBona, Robert Doucette, Charles Doughty, Robert Flanagan, Ronald Fleischer, Paul Foley, Debra Fought, Ruth Freedland, Priscilla Ganley, Danette Gerry, Burt Gesserman, Leonard Giuggio, Joel Goldfield, Stephen Goldwait, Kaffy Griffin, Sue Haas, Edward Hodge, Joanne Hollis, Judy Howe, John P. Hunt, Patricia Hussey, David Johnson, Sarah Juel, Brad Kaimach, Karen Krag, Norman Lajoie, Ricky Lawrence, Kana Leichtman, Terence Leonard, David Magown, Mark Margolies, Paula McGray, Cynthia Mercaldi, Rene Mills, Donald Moultrop, Martin Muise, Donna Nickerson, Matthew Oliva, Bruce Pangborn, Cynthia Perry, Wendell Purrington, Helen Rand, Gary Richards, Jill Romanow, David Russell, George Scharr, Robert Schmidt, Paul Seavey, Cathy Segal, Gary Seldon, Mary Sergi, Geral Shrair, Joseph Singer, Charles Smith, Joyce Smith, Richard Strangman Jr., Christine Sullivan, Virginia Sullivan, David Teman, Sharon Trott, Alan Weiss, Christine White, Dianne Wicks, Maureeen Williams, Ann Wishart, Gay Wishart, Matt Zaitchik, Brian Zuerndorfer

The Greater Bostonians in Concert 1970 (mp3s)

Our Day Will Come (1:54)
Turn Around Look at Me (3:43)
Spinning Wheel (2:53)
It’s Not Unusual (2:18)
Scarborough Fair (3:55)
Traces of Love (2:58)
Aquarius (3:23)
Summer Turns to Autumn (5:16)
A Time for Us (3:26)
Both Sides Now (3:56)
Climb Every Mountain (2:37)
America (2:47)

Thanks to the hard work and generosity of Otis Fodder and Pastor McPurvis, fans of high school bands and orchestras have a lot to hear online. To those ranks, allow me to add The Greater Bostonians.

Conceived in 1968 by the Boston Herald Traveler Corporation in partnership with WHDH television, the Bostonians was an outlet for those music students who showed exceptional promise and an interest in pursuing music professionally. Auditions were held each year at high schools in the communities inside Route 128, and the best 82 would make the group, comprising a full orchestra and chorus.

Under the direction of Jerry Boisen, Director of Music at Wakefield Public Schools, and his colleague Richard Laman, who directed the chorus, the group would meet each Sunday from October to March to rehearse, with a live television special—quite a big deal back in ’68—and a series of public performances waiting at the end.

The first broadcast was an overwhelming success, and the Bostonians were here to stay. Concert albums found their way into the programming rotations of radio stations around the country—with some unhappy consequences, as we’ll see next week.

Jerry Boisen was a family friend, a kind and effervescent man with a deep passion for music and a relentless belief in young people. His goal was to create a high school orchestra and chorus on par with the professionals—a daunting challenge, to be sure, but one that he achieved year after year with his dedicated young musicians whose age averaged 16 years.

My sister played viola for four years with the group, and this initial collection of albums is from her years, 1970 to 1973. We start with 1970. Throughout, the album is great, but the standout tracks are “Spinning Wheel” featuring Russell Coakley belting out some gravely lead vocals, the instrumental arrangement of Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual,” and the very lively “Aquarius.”

One thing that is unusual is an original composition, “Summer Turns to Autumn,” written by the song’s soloist, Gail Contestabile. Other featured soloists are Cathy Sagal and Thomas Worthley on “Both Sides Now,” Mark Margolies on “Turn Around Look at Me” and Kathleen McKearney and Raymond Nied on “Scarborough Fair.”

This album was recorded live at one of the Greater Bostonians’ appearances and all the songs were recorded in a single take. Many of the problems inherent to live recording are apparent, including tape hum, feedback, and spotty live production mixes. The most notable thing is the attempt to make this not sound like a live performance by eliminating the audience noise, sometimes at the expense of the end of a song.

While some of these problems could be corrected digitally, my goal is to present the album as it sounds, so no alterations have been made apart from a speed adjustment to compensate for a turntable that runs a bit slow at the 0 pitch setting.

Credits
Jerry Boisen and Richard Laman, Conductors
David Stuart, Arranger

The 1970 Greater Bostonians: Kenneth Altshuler, Kenneth Belt, Lewis Blair, Barry Blesedell, Whitman Browne, Debbie Bruno, Diana Bruno, Barbara Buzun, Cynthia Buzun, John Cameron, Phoebe Carrai, Pauline Chambers, Clifford Chapman, Russell Coakley, Gail Contestabile, Carol Craft, Marilyn Danby, Charles Doughty, Leslie Finn, David Fuller, David Gambone, Christopher Gates, Gerald Geffen, Danette Gerry, Burt Glesserman, Leonard Giuggio, Bruce Graham, Kaffy Griffin, Edward Hughes, Judy Howe, John P. Hunt, John R. Hunt, Paul Jackel, Sarah Juel, Susan Kaplan, Ricky Lawrence, Janice Lerro, Scott Lang, Kathleen Lindner, Mark Margolies, Ernet Martins, Kathleen McKearney, Anne McMann, Martin Muise, John Mulcahy, Donna Nickerson, Raymond Nied, Matthew Olica, Joyce Oxman, Lauren Patriquin, Robert Peruzzi, Richard Peterson, Mark Pizar, Wendell Purrington, Gary Richards, Jill Romanow, Christine Rosalbo, Paula Rosenberg, David Russell, Lynne Salomone, Karen Seager, Paul Seavey, Cathy Segal, David Seldon, Gary Seldon, Elaine Shapiro, Catherine Sherman, Janet Smith, Christine Sullivan, Virginia Sullivan, Waldemar Szapiel, David Teman, Paul Trombly, Neal Wallace, William Waste, Leslie Wilfinger, Jane Winsor, Ann Wishart, Pamela Wood, David Wormley, Thomas Worthley