"Chicago Musette - John Serry et Son Accordéon" Released: 1958 France
External audio
You may hear John Serry performing his arrangements ofGranada andSecret Love from the albumSqueeze Play as released onChicago Musette: John Serry et son Accordéon in 1958Here on Gallica.BnF
Squeeze Play is an Ultra High Fidelity monaural phonographic album (331⁄3 RPM) which was released on theDot Records label in1956 (DLP-3024)[1] featuringJohn Serry It includes an original composition by Serry, classical works, and popular music of the era.[2]Ben Selvin serves as the musical director/producer for the album. The works were arranged by Serry and performed with his ensemble featuring two accordions, piano, guitar, bass, drum,vibes, andmarimba.[3][4][5][6]
The liner notes of the album claim that
[T]he tunes that Mr. Serry has so expertly recorded are craftily arranged, superbly performed. Each tune is a small production within itself... and look at the variety of material...What Serry has done here is present the accordion as the melodic instrument that is capable of producing beautiful sounds in a legato style...Serry has placed the accent on interpretation and in doing so has come up with twelve sparkling performances that provide a delightful contrast to the much overdone virtuoso style of accordion playing.
The album was cited in a critical review of new popular albums of 1956 inThe Billboard magazine and was described as providing beautiful performances which created a soothing mood, in contrast to common entertainment.[7] The album was also reviewed inThe Cash Box magazine later that year. Serry's performances were noted for establishing a variety of musical moods with grace while also emphasizing a relaxed performance style.[8][9]
In 1958 selected songs from the album were released in France by Versailles records (#90 M 1788) asChicago Musette - John Serry et son accordéon.[10][11][12] Dot Records also released several songs from the album in Japan as part of a compilation recording including performances ofeasy listening music by both the John Serry Orchestra and theBilly Vaughn Orchestra (Ballroom in Dreamland, Dot #5006).[13]
A copy of the album and the composer's original orchestral score have been donated for archival purposes to theEastman School of Music'sSibley Music Library within theRuth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department for the benefit of researchers and students (John J. Serry Sr. Collection).[14][15]
The John J. Serry Sr. Collection - within The University of Rochester'sEastman School of Music Sibley Music Library: Special Collections contains a copy of the albumSqueeze Play (DLP-3024, 1954) for the benefit of researchers and students.[14][21]
^[1] "John Serry cited as the composer of the song "Garden In Monaco" online on BMI Songview at repertoire.bmi.com
^Who Is Who In Music International 1958, Publisher: Who Is Who In Music International, Chicago, IL. Biography File # B11719 for John Serry. SeeInternational Biographical Center, Cambodge, England as the current publisher.
.jpeg)
You may hear John Serry performing his arrangements ofGranada andSecret Love from the albumSqueeze Play as released onChicago Musette: John Serry et son Accordéon in 1958Here on Gallica.BnF
The John J. Serry Sr. Collection ArchiveUniversity of Rochester -Eastman School of Music.