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July 24, 2009
From Frank’s Vinyl Museum 4
Arthur Fiedler was a hippie!
This is something we never see these days. “Young People’s” music arranged and performed in such as way that the “older folks” can enjoy it.
Can you image this being done with any of today’s “hit” songs? Can you imagine playing an orchestral version of “My Life Would Suck Without You” for your grandma?
Here’s what Frank has to say about this remarkable LP:
Arthur Fiedler “Superstar”
In the 70’s, anyone could be a hippie!
Wow! Check out Arthur Fiedler, dressed up in his best 70's flower power, conducting the Boston Pops in a whirlwind tour of the music of the day.
This all-hit lineup starts with Jesus Christ Superstar and delivers such favorites as Proud Mary, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Let It Be. Those might be standard fare on albums of this type, but you really have to hand it to Fiedler for covering the Partridge Family's I Think I Love You and the Piero Umilani tune Mah-Nah Mah-Nah, both of which are on this album.
Arthur Fiedler is no slouch. A lesser conductor might have taken the conservative road with tunes like these, but Fiedler gives real meaning to the word "interpretation". I particularly like the way he covers Let It Be, taking it all over the map with sudden changes in mood and tempo and extra notes thrown in during the bridge sections for good measure. I guess that's why Fiedler got to appear on album covers with beams of stars coming out of his forehead while his stuffier colleagues stuck to tuxedos and Beethoven. Bravo!
Listen to some examples!
Let It Be (MP3) A great interpretation of the Beatles hit!
I Think I Love You (MP3) Classical music meets the Partridge Family! Did somebody ask for this?
Posted by leonolguin at July 24, 2009 09:35 AM