CD REVIEW – out of this world !
THE SPOTNICKS/RON GOODWIN/RUSS GARCIA
él ACMEM294CD (TT 79:35)

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Regular readers will know that normally we only review new releases but this from 2015 is at such a bargain price that, brand new for £3.64 from eBay, it is an absolute steal.

Ron Goodwin’s 12-track album 'Out Of This World' (39:21) first saw the light of day as a mono Parlophone long-player in 1958, with the stereo version following later that year. It is a very imaginative brilliantly orchestrated suite of pieces, composed by Goodwin and conducted by him with a 40-piece orchestra, depicting an imaginary trip around the galaxy. It was produced by the legendary George Martin.

A delightful listen from start to finish, the opening Departure grabs the attention with some fabulous French horns, continues with some nice string writing and includes the likes of Mercury Gets the Message, Jumping Jupiter, Martians On Parade and Playtime On Pluto, where Goodwin's genial personality keeps breaking through in the use of woodwind, brass and percussion.

The CD's main attraction for us is topped by a trio of fun tracks (recorded at Oriole Studios, London, in 1962) from the Swedish group, The Spotnicks: Rocket Man, Moonshot and Joe Meek's Telstar; and tailed by a 1958 American Liberty label release, 'Fantastica - Music from Outer Space', written and recorded with his Orchestra by Russ Garcia, famed arranger for a myriad of star vocalists. This is slightly left field replete as it is with electronic effects, nevertheless not unenjoyable. I particularly liked Goofy Peppl Of Phobus. Another of the 12 tracks, Volcanoes Of Mercury, features the voice of the wonderful Marni Nixon, ghost singer for Deborah Kerr, Natalie Wood, Audrey Hepburn et al. The original sleeve notes from both LP releases are retained in the 12-page booklet.

If, like me, you missed adding this to your collection, you are urged to grab it while you can. It is also available at a still low but higher price from Amazon Marketplace – see best-cd-price.co.uk

© Peter Burt 2022

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