After three belters from Quincy Jones, today let’s move on to full fat funk TV and movie orchestra sounds from the 60s and early 70s, with tracks rarely recognised, but whose still hits home instantly. The first two thumping horn and electric guitar wah-wah heavy numbers are in fact the A and B-sides of the single Money Runner. The former is by Quincy Jones, the latter by Zack Laurence and Gordon Parks.. But let’s concentrate on the players. John Schroeder who died last year, was a British pop / easy listening composer, arranger, songwriter and record producer. In 1961, Schroeder won an Ivor Novello Award for co-writing Walkin' Back to Happiness which was a hit sung by Helen Shapiro. But in the mid-60s he formed the instrumental group Sounds Orchestral with fellow composer and pianist Johnny Pearson, who led the Top of the Pops orchestra for 16 years. Sounds Orchestral became the backbone of many great TV and film themes, and one of their biggest hits, the catchy and evocative Cast Your Fate To The Wind (no 1 in the US in 1965) written by US jazz artist Vince Guaraldi, and used in several films, including Good Morning Vietnam and covered by various artists.
Want to suggest songs for Song of the Day or to say anything about it? Does this song make you think of something else? Then feel free to comment below, on the contact page, or on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube. Please subscribe, follow and share.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...