The Hollywood Brass Conducted By Jerry Fielding [1966]

ABC Paramount ABC 542 

An arranger/composer for Alvino Rey, Fielding had his television show and worked with many acts, including the Barry Sisters and Andrews Sisters. Hollywood Brass is in the mod, "now sound" style which followed Herb Alpert. "Yeh, Yeh" and "Satisfaction" display his talent for counterpoint. "You'd Better Come Home," "Cover Me," and "Spanish Flea" give the rhythm section a chance, but even here the chief problem is his brass sound. The trumpets dominate and overall, the brass section is just too high and thin. Production by Bob Thiele notwithstanding, one can not help but think Verve or even Command would have brought out everything between the trumpets and bass. The arrangements are the thing, however, and the original "Ka-Boom-Boom" shines above all else (mostly standard covers). With clunking percussion breaks and an infectious horn figure, this one easily could have been covered and made a mod standard; lyrics could have been added. In Hollywood jargon, it's a sleeper.  [AllMusic]

Jerry Fielding and His Orchestra Magnificence In Brass [1961]

Time Records Series 2000 S/2042

"The seed of a reason so compelling that even the engineers could not resist it took root in Jerry Fielding's mind one Sunday morning in Salzburg, Austria.  He had motored over to Salzburg for the purpose, understandable to any musician, of having his picture taken in Mozart's home town.  Early the next morning an explosion erupted in the town square right under his hotel window.  Fielding looked out and saw a 70-piece brass band blowing mightily." [Excerpt liner notes]

And so, the idea for "Magnificence In Brass" was born!  Read the interesting details of its development in the liner notes.