Search - Swiss Ballroom Orchestra :: Let's Dance, Vol. 5

Three and a half stars?

J. Wakefield | SLC, Utah | 03/18/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a decent album for dance practice and easy listening. The tempos are appropriate to the suggested dance The waltzes are Viennese tempo (58-60 mpm). There are no slow waltzes here. They must think "New York" is the most boring city on earth. No pep here at all. "Over the rainbow" is played as a cha cha, and it doesn't really work for me.



The Swiss Ballroom Orchestra plays mostly instrumental music. All tracks are played in "strict tempo," and this makes it easier for newer dancers to stay with the beat. Are but four tracks (marked with an *) are included in the SBO three disc box set.



If you have the Graham Dalby & the Grahamaphones "Let's Dance" recordings (volumes 1-4), you will recognize these as near carbon copies, with identical scores, instrumentation, and recording durations (plus or minus two seconds). Could they be the same actual recordings? But then why change orchestra names? Hmm.



Here are the titles, durations, and suggested dance for all 16 tracks:



I get a kick out of you, 2:02, Quickstep (female vocal)

Mais que nada, 2:33, Samba (female vocal)

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La Da, 2:51, Chacha

Olé Guapa, 2:58, Tango

Rock around the clock* 4:01, Jive (male vocal)

Three quarter, 2:52, VWaltz

Spanish gipsy dance, 2:06, Pasodoble

O sole mio, 2:06, Rumba

Black bottom* 1:59, Charleston

In the mood, 2:54, Quickstep

Noche de Estrella* 3:12, Tango

Vienne, mon amour, 2:49, VWaltz

New York New York, 2:07, Foxtrot

Coffee song, The* 3:14, Samba (male vocal)

My prayer, 4:05, Rumba

Over the rainbow, 4:06, Chacha"