Honore Champion et sa fanfare des Deaux Arts- Bougrement Votre!

Thinking small this week with 10″er’s and the like.  I bought this for $5 not really knowing anything about this other than it was French,  I got all excited as it could be anything. French female pop, chansons, even that crappy French attempt at new wave rock and roll. The possibilities were endless.

Then I heard it.  Really not what I was expecting.  SO let me then explain.  Fanfare des Beaux Arts , from what I can ascertain, is a French carivnval/ festival type activity in which students and former students of the Beaux Arts parade in some fashion.  It began in the late 1800’s and I believe it continues on today, not only in various regions of France, bit in Belguim and Holland as well.

Originally celebrated with cheap cardboard horns, a brass band was incorporated into the celebration in 1888, which I believe this record is part of.  I am sure there is a whole lot more to it.  At this point so close to this month’s finish line, I really am getting tired of reading a poor French translated webpage.  You can fill in any blanks below.  Also, if you know something , please fell free to enlighten me.

Link to Translated Wikipedia page

The Honore Champion band, won one of these fanfares in 1958 and recorded this 10″ record the same year in celebration.  Very much is marching music with horns and some percussion.  When I first listened to this, I was disappointed as I was expecting something else.  But after a few listens, learning a bit if the back story and seeing the pictures, I quite enjoyed this album and wish we had a similar thing here in the US.  

There is a festive aura to this record and I found it quite enjoyable.  Thus for a sample, I went with three songs,  First we have “Hello…Le Soleil Brille” which is a version of Bridge on the River Kwai‘s “Colonel Bogey”.  Next we have a cha cha cha number “Rico Vacilon”.  Finally, we have the Italian number, “Funiculi- Funicula”.  These numbers are quite loose and rather joyous.

I came to really enjoy this record despite being nothing like what I thought it would be.  Satisfactory.

The Mexicali Brass- A Taste of Honey

Here is something I got for $3.20 with the Memorial Day 20% off discount last year, I believe.  Have been wondering how involved I will be in this years Memorial Day Sale.  I am kind of at peak record inventory and really do not want to increase it.  I currently have 3 shelves of unlisted records.  It was mainly due to my hitting up every Half Price Books in town three years ago that caused this inventory to grow.

Well here is this from The Tijuana Brass knock off, The Mexicali Brass.  Chet Baker’s name is not on this which leads me to believe his is not on this album.  Brought to you by Crown Records in 1964, the album tears thru ten tracks with various interest.  A couple of the tracks are pretty good.  Well sort of good at least.  I mean, this is a clear Herb Alpert copy, so much so that I believe Alpert sued to stop these records.  At least that is what I took away from the fellow blog post below.

Music By The Pound’s blog post

 

For a sample, I went with “When The Saints Go Marchin’ In” which borrows its beat and rhythm from “Brazil”.  I really liked the title track which oddly enough was not from the play turned movie A Taste Of Honey.  The song writers just wanted to capitalize on its popularity.  I recently saw the film on TV.  I really liked it but I like that period of British film in general.  Anyway, Rita Tushingham’s performance as the first angry young woman in a genre of angry young men was great.  So with all that, here is “When The Saints Go Marchin’ In”.

I knew well in advance what this when I bought it and for what it is, it really is not that bad.  Satisfactory.

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass- The Brass Are Coming

dscn5302-800x768This was $1.00.  It seems that most of the records posted this week are from artists who have multiple posts on this site.  Makes my job way easier as I do not have to write much expostionary copy.  Anyway, Herb Alpert does attract a wide array of listeners/viewers to this blog.chimp-herb-alpert-1968-4-21

This record, released in 1969, was a supplement to a similar TV special. The album has a western tint to it. I can only assume the TV special followed suit.  This was made towards the end of the life of the Tijuana Brass as Alpert would disband the group shortly thereafter.

dscn5304

As a result, some critics say it falls short and perhaps most of the life has been sucked out of the band at this point.  Some call it a tired effort. That being said, there are some good points to this record.  Highlights inlcude the title track, “Moon River”, the Beatles’ “I’ll Be Back” and “jazz standard “Sunny”.

However, for a sample, I went with one of my favorite songs “Anna”.  I have written about this before and here is a link to an explanation of the song. There is also a video on it that I am very partial to. Again, the fact that I do not have to write about how much I love this song as it has already been done is great.dscn5303-800x782

As far as the record goes, the Brass have done better so I have to give this meh.

The Mexicali Brass- Michelle

DSCN3619This was a dollar I believe.  You can’t go wrong with a good looking female on your cover.

This was released in 1966 by the Mexicali Brass band, Crown Records’ (a budget label) response to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.  Note that The Beatles’ “Michelle” is the only new song on the album.  The rest are from the public domain to cut costs.  I am assuming Chet Baker is not on this or they would have plastered his name on the cover like the  Brass album I posted earlier. Overall the songs are pretty good. Songs such as “Sorrento”, “Estrellita” and “Senorita” add to the album’s mood. I found this album to be okay.DSCN3620

For a sample, I went with the title track, “Michelle”.

Satisfactory record.