Wednesday 27 January 2016

April Orchestra Part I: Vol.'s 31 to 40 [1978 to 1980]


These records all of the same pattern but different bright colors remind me so vividly of my childhood stamp collection...  Countries would put out pictures with varying background colours all of which we then had to gather.  Does anybody still indulge in such an apparently hopeless hobby?  

Well let's admit this hobby we have now is no less useless...






Volume 31 is a masterpiece in terms of easy listening, romantic, accessible compositions.  To me Dany's Love Song is just pure heaven, clearly evoking those blissful classic euro-seventies movies full of laughter, summer scenes, and tasteful nudity:





Compositions by Vasori (above track) and Caravelli.  This, as far as I can tell, was their 'magnum opus' since the quality of their compositions suffers both before and after.

Volumes 32 and 34 I posted in the preceding here.  They are highly recommended for fusion fans.




Volume 33 being classical-oriented is seemingly of little interest, but features the stunning Morricone.  Unfortunately-- despite being from 1976, His Desert of Tartars OST is completely forgettable, surprisingly, for this Italian genius.  All three soundtracks that were borrowed for this edition are actually easily available online.  Thus 33 not worth the purchase.





Volume 35 is fusion stolen from two easily accessible albums: Imán, Califato Independiente's Camilo del Aguila and  Pražský výběr's Thirst (truly a masterpiece!).  No interest in purchasing this.





Volume 36 is electronica written by Daniel Borreau and Francis Rimbert.  This kind of music drives me to distraction but I know boasts many fans out there.




Volume 37 was mentioned earlier as recycled music from Progres 2's masterpiece Dialog S Vesmiren and mastersmallerpiece's Combo FH's Veci.




Volume 38 features the amazing Jannick Top and has enough fusion for once to really drown out the complaints.  Wonderful, and recommended.  Another top album from the franchise, as they say in Hollywood.




Volume 39 returns to the romantic but very accessibly enjoyable soundtracky music of the volume 31.  Many good tracks.  Compositions by a host of artists I am not familiar with.  Check the database.




Truly stuck in the 80s now, like quicksand, with no hope of extricating oneself,  Volume 40 is sure to disappoint us a little, despite the involvement of the preceding duo of Vasori-Caravelli, now having abandoned most of their progressive thoughts.

Perhaps in later posts I will attempt to cover the earlier volumes to 30, though the boredom of slogging through so many tepid tracks is the true constraint here, or rate-limiting reaction as they say in chemistry.  Quick review though: the first ten volumes were squarely in the soundtrack-easy listening category, with many compositions to my surprise by Catherine Lara, well-known in progressive circles.  (It's important not to confuse these with the RCA Sound editions with same numbers but entirely different (mostly Italian) music, it only went up to no. 16.)  Subsequently in the late teens, as if having some odd rebel-against-the-parents stage, the editions feature funk-soul music from Philly, with band MFSB featuring.  Really bizarre.  Then by the twenties we are suddenly treated to modern classical artists blasting out a full orchestra all from the former Czechoslovakia-- why?  Who knows?  Notable is Vol. 28 with fusion from Jiri Stivin and Klapka posted on pnf before.  Not until the Volume 31 below do we return to earth for some 'normal' music.  What a relief.  So that series of AO's 23-30 (obv. except 28) is not only not available, but hopefully, never will be available.  Anyone who wants can request the editions already avail.


19 comments:



  1. Volume 31
    https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/kakw7l

    Volume 32 (from before)
    https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/73qnod

    Volume 33 N/A yet

    Volume 34 (from before)
    https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/2di80z

    Volume 35 N/A

    Volume 36
    https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/d0qk1j

    Volume 37
    https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/dj8szi

    Volume 38
    https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/gjkc04

    Volume 39
    https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/gez0n5

    Volume 40
    https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/fvlabg

    phew!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. New upload of volume 36, which was missing a track, and thanks to all the work of those who ripped these records:
      https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/10mmw4

      Delete
    2. volume 32
      https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/oqjf1y
      and 36
      https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/tfcnwy

      Delete
  2. Could you get Vol. 41, please? thx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Could you get Vol. 41 please? thx

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a treat! Thanks for sharing such a large chunk of the April Orchestra output, and thanks doubly for 'contextualizing' the releases a bit, their origin has always confused me.

    The "Présente RCA Sound" releases were all licensed from RCA Italiana.

    ReplyDelete
  5. wow! that's fantastic, ta. do you have Pražský výběr's Thirst ? (btw I noticed that track 12 is missing from vol. 36) thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll post Thirst down below-- I'm glad you noticed track 12 is missing from 36 I reuploaded it!

      Delete
    2. Pražský výběr's Thirst:
      https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/n9g11n
      Enjoy it

      Delete
  6. WOW! I love the April Orchestra releases and many here I haven't heard before - thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sorry no I don't the reason is this.
    This 33, which is here:
    https://www.discogs.com/E-Morricone-N-Piovani-A-Trovaioli-April-Orchestra-Vol-33/release/979076
    I have all the original soundtracks from each of the three composers that is featured here (Morricone, Piovani, Trovaioli).
    If you want, I can upload all 3 OSTs, but for this reason I don't want to buy the Vol. 33, there are no new tracks in there. Instead I'll focus on some of the other missing ones first with original songs.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wonderful serie of albums, with some great moments and others not so great of course.

    - 31: cool and tripping, fresh and relaxing

    - 32: crazy horns arrangements !

    - 34: one has to love big bands when they play like that !
    What a whistler on "Rumania" and "Gringo" !
    I love "Ca coule de source", wonderful groovy theme and arrangements.

    - 36: "Gift for you" -> much too 80's to my ears ! :)
    Some nice moments though.
    "Voices of Paradise" reminds me of the music of ...Zelda (01:34) ! :D

    - 37: the first track "impactissimo" is insane !
    ...which has nothing to do with the 2nd track which has some kind of a medieval taste :)
    "Robotissimo" is awful...
    Some "sound-interesting" songs I'd say, but not ready listenable.

    - 38: quite pop, a little dull I would say.

    - 39: I enjoyed very much "...Accord Parfait", what a synth sound, and "Arpèges d'Avril" which ...well I don't know but I like it :)

    Thank you very much for sharing thoses rarities Julian, that's very nice man !

    ReplyDelete