My twinster Jean spotted this eBay auction for an original 1966 LP copy of George Martin Instrumentally Salutes the Beatle Girls. Sir George as Hugh Hefner!
I can’t find reference to this record in George Martin’s autobiography, “All You Need is Ears”, nor do I see mention of Martin’s better-known instrumental recording, “Off the Beatle Track”, from 1964. The book is poorly indexed, so I’ll keep looking.
The American soundtrack to A Hard Day’s Night included instrumentals arranged and conducted by George Martin. Here’s one of them, taken from an ancient US LP. Sounds so-so.
[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/MAR07/AHDN_Instrumental.mp3]The year 1964 was a very good one for George Martin. Undoubtedly his best-known non-Beatles production of that year, and perhaps any year, is this one, taken from an old UK LP. Sounds super.
[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/MAR07/Goldfinger.mp3]
I remember that instrumental take on “It’s a Hard Day’s Night!” WABC or somebody must have played it. Yes, old George looks like he’s in that infamous scene from the only George Lazenby Bond film where the girls eat, the um, fruit. Speaking of Bond, Shirley Bassey was (is) a tiny little thing who could really belt it out. She was even on Soupy Sales! Remember? Tom and I both love all the Bond themes (up to the last Moore pix, anyway). We affectionately make fun of Shirley’s accent by singing: “This hot is cold!” Tom can do a pretty fair imitation of Matt Munro singing “From Russia With Love!”
Yes, I hear the similarity in the horns and overall feel, now that you mention it. Goldfinger is interesting, as well, because it has that John Barry sound, consistent with the rest of Bond atmosphere. In fact, the EMI/Liberty LP I took the song from incorrectly lists Barry as producing and conducting the song. And as far as the fringe benefits go of instrumentally saluting the Beatle girls, I suppose that depends on the instrument.
Believe it or not, I have both of these LPs on CD! They were released in the mid-90’s by One Way Records, a budget line. I assume that they are now out of print – CD and of course LP. The cover shows that there were certain side benefits to being the Beatles’ producer! On a side note, go back and listen to the “Grasshopper Jump“, the Scott Muni Theme posted way back in September, I believe. The George Martin song sampled here has the same feel as that one, to my ears, mainly the horn part. Of course, the beginning of the song from AHDN starts off like “Take Five”, as opposed to a grasshopper!