Instrumental Gems of the Fifties

The 1950s was probably the last decade where instrumental songs had a big share on popular music chart. In the years before rock & rolls, many of orchestra bands still found their places on the international level.

This double-CD album collects 40 of most memorable instrumental works of the decade. Many of tracks here are pretty rare on CD. There are several well-known songs such as Anton Karas’ “Third Man Theme”, Perez Prado’s “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White”, Roger Williams’ “Autumn Leaves”, Ray Anthony’s “Peter Gunn Theme”, and Les Baxter’s “Unchained Melody”. There are also several one-hit wonders including Johnny Maddox’s “The Crazy Otto”, Morris Stoloff’s “Moonglow and Theme from ‘Pinic’”, Hugo Winterhalter’s “Canadian Sunset”, and Santo & Johnny’s “Sleepwalk”. Some of the one-hit wonders here are really hard-to-find, such as Joe “Fingers” Carr’s “The Portuguese Washerwoman”, Moe Koffman’s “The Swingin’ Shepherd Blues”, and Frank Pourcel’s “Only You”.

This is an excellent collection for anyone who wants to glimpse the last period when instrumental still at its zenith.