Longines Symphonette Society - who are they?
Posted by Radiocafé on 15 Mar 2009 at 12:33 pm |
Category: 3. Light & Easy
For lovers of light music, many of the recordings of the Longines Symphonette Society are among the finest ever made. In particular, the items that feature on the six record “Evening Serenade” box, produced in the 1960s by the “Symphonette Strings”, set standards for quality and production that have never been bettered.
Fans of Alan Dell’s wonderful “Sounds Easy” radio show throughout the 70s through early 90s will be familiar with a number of these recordings, although they may not have realised it at the time. Alan’s much-missed Sunday show featured the perfect blend of vocal delights and orchestral arrangements, with numerous light music items included every week from arrangers such as Robert Farnon, Paul Weston, Henry Mancini, Frederick Fennell and the “Sounds Easy Symphonette”.
Alan was often asked “who are the Sounds Easy Symphonette?” and his answer was that it comprised a number of different orchestras and arrangements. In fact, his “Sounds Easy Symphonette” recordings were in fact those produced under the Longines label. No doubt the BBC did not wish to provide free advertising for the luxury watch maker that sponsored these recordings! Alan in fact explains all - and makes passing reference to the Longines company - in the sound clip below.
Alan included frequent gems from what he called “our symphonette”. Favourites included lovely arrangements of “April in Paris”, “Lovely to Look At”, “Love Walked In”, “Autumn in New York” and “The Night Is Young”.
Unfortunately, very little information on the Longines Symphonette recordings is available, despite the wide of world of the internet, which even sees Wikipedia somewhat stumped.
The Robert Farnon Society does include an article by Angela Morley on the recordings which she produced for the Symphonette Society (click here to view). Angela mentions something we know too well: none of the artists were ever credited for arranging or conducting. But even Angela concludes that even she knows nothing about “Evening Serenade” .
But we have solved the mystery - in part at least - as these arrangements were the work of none other than… Neil Richardson! It seems that many were the produced by the incredible Netherlands Metropole Orchestra with Neil at the helm, which all makes sense given the extremely high quality of these arrangements.
Copies of the box set are very scarce indeed these days. It is probably worth scouring your local charity shops to see if any can be found, as even eBay presently lists only one (from the USA). For anyone who appreciates fine arrangements, we cannot recommend this collection more highly.
The real shame is that these scarce recordings are unlikely to ever see a full release on CD, and like much of Neil Richardson’s work with the world’s finest orchestras, he receives no recognition for the many masterpieces he has produced. For more on Neil Richardson, please click here to see the Radiocafe feature; click here for our “Talk page” if you wish to pass on any comments to Neil, whom Radiocafe is proud to have as a friend.
Radiocafé
January 2009
UPDATE! FEBRUARY 2009:
We recently purchased a triple CD collection from the US, entitled “Evening Serenade”, which features the “American Symphonette Orchestra”, conducted by Gerald C. Scott. When the CD arrived, these arrangements were instantly recognisable as those of the Longines Symphonette Strings recordings, i.e. the wonderful Neil Richardson arrangements. The quality of the transfer is perfect. All of the classics that Alan played on Sounds Easy are there.
Again, no details of the orchestra or arranger are included, merely a token reference to the titles being under license from “The Symphonette Recording Society”, which we had hoped when we ordered the CD from the states. We are also unfamiliar with Gerald C. Scott. We contacted Neil Richardson who confirmed that the original Longines recordings were all conducted by none other than Geoff Love.
We suspect – and may well be wrong and are happy to be corrected – that there is in fact no Gerald C. Scott and that this is simply a marketing ploy by the label putting these CDs together. The CDs are poorly packaged, and are put out on the Rhino label in the USA. But the musical transfer to CD is superb. They are sold through www.timelessmusic.com, which has other “American Symphonette” items listed (see http://www.timelessmusic.com/instrumentalcategory.htm), but unfortunately Evening Serenade now appears to be all sold out. We have included a sample sound clip below of an original Neil Richardson item from the Radio Orchestra, and also an item from this CD. Apologies for the volume difference, but these are clearly the same arrangements. We are very pleased indeed to have obtained these!
Neil writes as follows:
“…I very much doubt if the longines stuff was re-recorded. I kept all my scores and I can’t imagine anybody taking the scores down from the records! Actually all my stuff is at the Leeds College of Music who leapt on them when I offered them. The producer Gene Lowell was very kind and gave us copies of all the 1/4 tapes that we recorded. All my stuff was conducted by Geoff Love who acted as agent for Longines. Sadly, over the years, 1/4 has deteriotated. Apparently the way to resurrect it is to cook it but no-one will tell me the temperature and the length of time. Once it has been cooked you can only play it once!”
If anyone is able to help out, please let us know!
Like this? Subscribe to our RSS feed
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...
Loading ...
I just found some Longines symphonette society box sets while going through some old albums. Any body know what they are worth? I would like to sell them as I dont think I would be listening to them.
Thanks
We suspect the market value for these is relatively low, as there doesn’t seem to be much of a market for them these days; this is probably because people don’t realise what gems are on these lps, and no longer have turntables on which to play them!
Best way to get an idea of their value is to do a search on eBay and see what these are being offered for on the “Buy It Now” auctions. Most of them seem to come from the States, these days, so the main expense is in the postage! We paid I think around £13 for our Evening Serenade 6 lp set, plus double that on US postage.
If they are in very good condition, we’d recommend placing a small advert in the Robert Farnon Society magazine, Journal Into Melody, where you are more likely to find someone genuinely interested.
Out of interest, which box sets do you have?
Many thanks
Paul @ Radiocafe
I have several of the boxed sets of Longine Symphonette LPs. Some of them still have the intact cellophane wrapping. I need a source of information on these and other old LPs. A friend, who has passed away, left me a huge collection of LPs. Many of them were the ’sample albums’ sent to disk-jockies for promotion purposes during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. My friend was a DJ during that period and kept a large number of the samples.
Any direction you might give me would be appreciated.
Frank - I suspect we have as much information here on the Longines recordings as you will find anywhere. We’ve added a sound clip from Alan Dell in which he explains the origins of some of these recordings, but it seems the detail of many of them remains a bit of a mystery. You could try contacting the Symphonette Society in the USA, who seem to have the licensing rights for these recordings and have licensed them to the Time Life Group, but unfortunately we do not have any further details.
Rhonda/Frank - we’d be interested to know which LPs you have. Perhaps you could provide brief details here? We currently have just the Evening Serenade box set and one other LP, but they are truly excellent LPs and should be collectors items.
Paul
You talk about box sets, but the only Longines Symphonette Society stuff I have comes in individual LPs. I found two in the collection I nabbed of my dearly departed grandfather over the summer, and then a third I got at a charity store yesterday. Here’s the specs:
The first - and perhaps least notable - is simply called Those Memory Years, Volume 1. It has a bunch of songs by Hoagy Carmichael, Glenn Miller, Ted Weems and the like. I’m fairly certain these are pre-existing recordings that the Longines Symphonette Society slapped together (and faked stereo sound on some).
The second album, Theme Songs of the Big Band era, is just that. I’m afraid I can’t tell if these are original arrangements, or a compilation like the previous album. I am leaning more towards original arrangements, but I could be quite wrong. The back of the album has a little portrait of one “Mishel Piastro, Musical Director,” who seems to have been a Russian violinist.
The third and undoubtedly best record is The Longines Symphonette Society Presents Moonglow: A Journey Into Romance With the Symphonette Strings. An attractive brunette looks longingly out a moonlit window. When was it made? Who made it? Damned it I know; the only credits listed are to the original songwriters. From what you say, all the stuff on the back about the Finest Materials, Best Protection and Gold Medal Quality actually means something, and I feel inclined to agree. The arrangement of Dancing in the Dark is absolutely the best I’ve ever come across (Neil Richardson’s, perhaps?). Who in the world is responsible for this?!
Whoever in the world has all these recordings is sitting on a goldmine.
Update: Ahh, it pays to listen to the Alan Dell recording. So some in sets, some individually, and none of the originals exist other than some that Mr. Richardson had?
I just looked at the boxed sets and I have 20 of them. Atleast two of them have the original plastic wrap on them. One of them has a crushed box but the albums seem to be ok. The titles are;
Concert Favorites
Marchs of All Nations
Songs of Faith and Inspiration
Broadway Hits
International Dance Festival
Current Favorites
Nostalgic Melodies
The Symphonette Brass & Choraliers
All American Favorites
Stories in Song
Christmas in Song
Folk Songs of The World
Hollywoods Greatest Themes
Great American Composers (Part 1)
Great American Composers (Part 2)
Halls of Ivy
Americas Favorite Waltzes
Treasury of Waltzes
Great Love Songs
Solo Masterworks
The Longines Symphonette Society (on some albums listed as The Longines Symphonette Recording Society) was “an educational service of the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company.” Their material was sold (exclusively, I think) by mail order. I purchased the albums I have (some single LPs and some double LP sets) by mail order in the mid 1960s. The orchestra and record label had been in business for about 30 years at that time. I don’t know when they ceased to exist.
i have two boxed sets. liberace-candlelight melodies,and,the mexicali brass.
they are brilliant and i consider them priceless.
I have recently come across a boxed set that is copyrighted in 1944 of The Longines Symphonette Recording Society. Gold Medal Recording. It has 6 LP’s and they are all mint. Looks like they’ve never been played.
If anyone knows anything about this particular set let me know.
I have the box set of The Longiness Symphonette Silver Anniversay Treasury Collection 1948-1973, do you have any idea where I can sell the box set and how much it’s worth? Thanks Susie
I am also wanting to obtain the value of the following if anyone can help. They do not appear to have been played.
All are “The Years to Remember” Program
Singles
The Newsreel Theater World Ware II
Madcap Melodies
The Hit Parade of Famous Musical Styles
The Best of The Andrew Sisters
The Big Bad Bands
Sets ( In original sleeves and master box)
The Mills Brothers - Mellow Years - 5 LPs in Set
Jukebox Serenade - 1 LP in Set
The War Years - 2 LPs in Set
All Time Hit Parade - 2 Lps in Set
Hollywood Yesterday - 2 LPs in Set
Greetings, i am in a rather auspicious position… my Grandmother was (in a polite way) an accumulator (as opposed to a collector) of many things, most notably recordings of any and all genres and formats. when she died many years ago the bulk of her collection was willed to me, and except for a handful of “cherry-picked” box sets by one of my aunts, i found myself with a library of music - the scope of which - i may be the only one in the family to appreciate. She was a registered nurse living in a resort town in CT, caring for a few well-to-do families with in-home care. this not only met at home financial needs but further fed her appetite for recordings. once or twice a month, she would purchase the popular tunes at the time and “squirrel” them away for later. Having categorized the lot it is apparent that she did this with regularity from around 1933 through the 1980’s. she was especially fond of The Longines collections - on records, then 8-tracks, then cassettes. regardless of whether she already had the recordings on some other format she continued to buy… but i digress…. i’m 50 years old, i’ve been in broadcasting for 30+ years, and my hope is that somehow i may be able to launch a small network of radio stations (or satellite) to re-present these timeless gems of musical nirvana. given this library - the bulk of which is 78rpm discs and albums - mostly electrical recordings, the 45rpm albums and the LP’s i hope to create the demand for down to earth ear-candy by changing the atmosphere. i wrote this in response to the many inquiries herein by curious submitters looking to unload their copies for a price. in some small way i hope to instill in them the value of keeping them rather than disposing of them. they are a reminder of the time when we were still innocent and they provide a connection to something rooted deeply in a place better than now.
Don’t Let Go… -TCo
I have a bunch of boxed sets that i would like to get rid of but don’t know how to get the value of them. Can you please assist me with this?
Brass Voices
Happy Days are Here Again
Christmas at the Fireside - Complete treasury of holiday music
Stand Up and Sing - Johnny Mann Singers
The Goode Tymes - Limited Preview Edition
The Memory Years 1925-1960
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Buck Owens - Let the Good Times Roll - Limited Preview Edition
The Family Christmas Treasury - Limited Preview Edition
Westward Brass - Limited Preview Edition
Country Cavalcade
Immortal Performances
Hymns of Gold
Silver Bells
I also have many, many single LP’s that i can list if needed. These were my families albums that i found when i settled my dad’s estate 2 years ago and i know i probably will not use them. If anyone can help me with this i appreciate it.
I am also very interested in the Longines Symphonette Society’s box sets of lps. I’ve got 14 box sets and 6 single lp’s. I collect them simply because they are cool!!! All of mine came from rummage or garage sales of used items that people are getting rid of. Out where I live in eastern Washington State, USA, people are throwing lps and these box sets away. Several of my sets have the original paper work and the Longines catalog. All of my lps are in very good to mint shape as well as the covers and boxes. Anymore info on this company and its recordings would be appreciated.
I have some questions???
Where was the Longines Symphonette Society company based? I assume most of the recording was done in England?? Some of the box sets seem to be re-issues of Nat King Cole, Mann Singers…. and so on. I assume under contract with other record companies?
They have a USA address. Was this just a forwarding address or did they have a building in the USA. Looks like some of the lp’s have a picture of a building, I assume this to be in USA?
I just bought a Buck Owens Box set sealed for $3.95. Gotta luv the Salvation Army. Opened it and it’s wonderfull. It’s basically the studio records from Capital Records but produced by Eugene Lowell, Divisional Vice President for the Longines Symphonette Society. 5 lp set. No booklet in the package but extremely nice packaging. Hard box inside a hard outer cover. Sleeves have the plastic inner lining. It’s a great value at $20. I’ll scoop up any I find in the future.
You guys were talking about the Longines Symphonette Society Records, well I have some in excellent condition.
Happy days are here again-6 record set
Tennessee Ernie Ford - a treasury of inspirational songs - 6 record set
Sentimental Journey - 6 record set
Mexicali Brass - 5 record set
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians- The sweetest music this side of heaven - 6 record set
Candelight melodies featuring guest artist Liberace- 4 record set
these are all 33 1/3 rpm records.
If interested contact me.
thanks
i have a large collection of stereo recordings of allan dell’s sounds easy programmes.
i often wondered about the identity of the symphonette offerings. so thanks. in an associated vein, with no particular axe to grind:
what an intelligent and varied programme. his good taste and personal recollections
should be issued on cd. is there still an interest in nelson riddle, billy may, marty paich,neal hefti, et al arrangements which co-incided with availability of the finest studio analogue recording engineering? the bbc would no doubt be horrified at this idea; think of all the releases required! but so worthwhile.
ps what happened to the bbc recordings made of billy may’s national (last) tour of the uk. in a interview with parkinson it was explained that they would be edited for later roadcast?
another idea. the great lena horne made shows with the bbc(tv). any archived material? or was it live broadcasted only?
the bbc sits on archives like bbc2 jazz625 recording of errol garner, licences it to kultur in germany, who promptly marketed it in the usa (only) in dvd region 1 format. grrrr.
Album Number One of The World’s Most Honored Music played by The LONGINES SYMPHONETTE A group of the world’s finest musicians under the leadership of MACKLIN MARROW. John Corigliano, solo violin; Mishel Piastro, world famous violin; Zoltan Kurthy, solo viola. Eight selections from THE WORLD”S MOST HONORED MUSIC radio programms. Sponsored by the LONGINES-WITTNAUER WATCH CO. Issued in an album of 4 shellac 78 RPM records. There were at least 8 volumes of this kind.