John L Frigo | Shaker Heights, OH, USA | 08/09/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In 1963 my Dad purchased a new stereo system and several LP's;
among them was the stereo version of "Golden instrumentals" by
Billy Vaughn, Dot 25016. I was only thirteen then, but that record became, and still is, one of my all time favorites. I have been looking for a reissue of it on CD, and the only way to
get it was to buy this Bear Family box set. Since I like the Billy Vaughn sound, I went ahead and bought it. I was surprised to find out that Billy Vaughn recorded this album in monaural in
1956, and that is the version included in this set. In 1958 he recorded these same tunes in stereo, none of which are included.
After listening carefully, I have decided that I like both versions of these "Golden Instrumentals" recordings equally well, and that all of the rest is icing on a very tasty cake. Mr. Vaughn had the ability to cover a tune and make it his own. After forty years, most of these have stood the test of time. I thoroughly enjoy most of the music on this set. I will purchase the next box set when Bear Family releases it.
If you like Billy Vaughn, buy this set! "Blue Tango", "Petite
Fleur", and the mono versions of "Golden Instrumentals" are highlights.
"
Good start but..
Noah Chelliah | Grand Forks, ND United States | 02/09/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I echo the review done by the first person. I think this was a good start by Bear Records but they missed the mark. Yes, these are all good recordings by Billy Vaughn but what he was famous for is not truly represented here.I wish Bear Records will release all of his Twin-saxophone recordings as a set. I and a lot of my friends have been wanting to buy his twin-saxophone recordings."
Spitfire from North Dakota
D. Geeting | Jamestown North Dakota | 10/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like Billy you'll love this box set, everything is there"
A GREAT AMERICAN INSTITUTION.....Billy Vaughn and his orches
Gregory E. Foster | Portland, ME, USA | 08/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"OK, America....
Can you think of another "band leader" "conductor" with more "hits" during the 50's, 60's, and 70's than Billy Vaughn? I Think NOT!!!
The output from this great man is simply staggering...if you were to lay out all of his many albums, you'd be shocked at how many there were, and nearly every one of them were million-sellers! Everybody remembers "Lawrence Welk", though he in truth made few albums, but he was on tv "forever". Billy Vaughn seldom, if ever, made television appearances, but spent his time touring and recording, refining and polishing his "band" and its "output".
Blue Hawaii, Sail Along Silvery Moon, White Lilacs, Swinging Safari, La Paloma, The Peanut Vender, Theme From A Summer Place, The Sundowners, on and on, I could fill up pages of his "hits", as I'm sure his other fans could, also.
Sadly, with the demise of Dot Records, and MGM in general, tons and tons of great musician's works and masters seem "lost" now. This, then, is the best we seem to have of Billy Vaughn's great mass of recordings. Thanks certainly are due to Bear Family Records for this great treasure-trove of Billy Vaughn's work.
The six CDs in this box include all of Billy Vaughn's recordings from 1954 to early November 1958.
I would request, or "plead", that if you, "BEAR FAMILY RECORDS", can get permission to the rights to release a VOLUME TWO box, PLEASE DO SO, ASAP!!! There are people, like me, out here WAITING and HOPING for the 2nd half of this great musician's output to be preserved and re-released, again!
Of all the "massive" box sets you could invest in, folks, this one is certainly one of the "BEST" by far....many many hours of enjoyment are to be had from this wonderful set. Do Enjoy! ~operabruin
Track Listings (32) - Disc #1
