Frank (Ebb Tide) Chacksfield and His Orch., performing The First Hits of 1965 in, of course, 1965. And by "faithful," I of course mean faithful to the source, even as Chacksfield's arranger (very possibly, Frank himself) keeps everything in an excellent easy-listening vein. A well-done balancing act, stylistically. One less faithful take, however, is Dear Heart, that fine Henry Mancini tune for the equally fine movie (one of my all-time favorites), which is rendered here in a country style, and for unknown reasons. It works well enough, but it departs from the feel of Andy Williams' hit. Then again, nobody was harmed in the process.
But Frank does total justice to the Beatles classics I Feel Fine and She's a Woman--and I'd have expected nothing less, because for some time I've owned a 7" Chacksfield LP containing other 1960s r&r hits, and they are presented quite effectively, too.
The Fab Four attribution reads "McCartney-Lennon," and we've encountered this credit reversal before on pop instrumental efforts like this. Of course, I Feel Fine was primarily a John song, and the latter a mostly Paul number, so we can't conclude that Decca/London had gotten any inside song info. Too bad, because that would have been intriguing.
And we get equally dynamic versions of Downtown (love the original!), Hawaii Tattoo (a hit for the Waikikis), and especially Goldfinger--all benefiting from the outstandingly crisp and very stereo-sounding Decca/London stereo. (It's great whenever stereo sounds especially stereo.) And the original moods of the hit singles are superbly recreated for The Wedding (Julie Rogers), Mr. Lonely (Bobby Vinton), Willow Weep for Me (Chad and Jeremy). and Have You Looked Into Your Heart (Jerry Vale). Exceptions are I'll be There (Gerry and the Pacemakers), which lacks the drive of the Pacemakers single, and Walk Away (Matt Monroe), which steps up the tempo and thus shaves some of the sadness from the tune--but Chacksfield does such a terrific job as a whole, we can allow him some license.
I'd have preferred a greater number of rock and roll numbers, but the Beatles and Petula Clark covers, not to mention the forceful rendering of Goldfinger, leave this blogger with no complaints. Five stars. Enjoy!
DOWNLOAD: The First Hits of 1965--Frank Chacksfield and His Orchestra (London PS 316; 1965)
I Feel Fine
The Wedding
Downtown
I'll Be There
Mr. Lonely
Goldfinger
Willow Weep for Me
She's a Woman
Dear Heart
Hawaii Tattoo
Have You Looked Into Your Heart
Walk Away
Lee