101 Strings Orchestra - Western Themes, Vol. 1-2 '1972/1973/2021

Tracks list

The 101 Strings Orchestra established a reputation as one of the finest
ensembles in the easy listening genre. Yet the group actually never existed as a
performing orchestra: it was a recording-only ensemble made up of musicians
whose personnel often changed from one recording to the next. Moreover, many
early albums released under the name 101 Strings were actually reissues of
recordings made by such groups as the Rio Carnival Orchestra, New World
Orchestra, and others. Under its now-familiar name, more than 100 recordings
were issued by two labels -- both of which owned the name, hired the players in
the ensemble, and, most importantly, provided for the music arrangements that
have been crucial to maintaining the orchestras familiar sound -- a dreamy,
silken sound not dissimilar to that of Mantovani. Some 101 Strings albums
featured brass instruments, piano, and guitar, though the string section always
remained the dominant part of the sonic fabric. Occasionally, too, the musics
character veered into more popular styles, including rock.
In 1957 innovative record label executive David L. Miller founded the 101
Strings Orchestra in an attempt to compete in the lucrative market occupied by
Mantovani and a few others. Millers first release came out on his Somerset
label, using musicians from the Hamburg Orchestra; later ones typically employed
European musicians of reasonable, perhaps even considerable skills.
Miller used an unusual but successful strategy to market his records: some were
sold in grocery stores and all, because of lower labor costs, were priced below
most competitors offerings. 1958 was a bumper-crop year for him: he released 24
titles under the 101 Strings name, including some reissues made originally by
other orchestras.
Much of the success of the enterprise was due to the work of the arrangers,
Robert Lowden, Joseph Kuhn, and Monty Kelly. In 1964 Miller sold 101 Strings to
lyricist/businessman Al Sherman, who based his operations in London and began
issuing new titles (and eventually older ones) under the Alshire label. Among
the ensembles more popular records from the 1960s and 70s were Concertos U.S.A.,
Hawaiian Paradise, and East of Suez.
The last original 101 Strings recording was issued in 1981. In 1995 Madacy, Inc.
bought the 101 Strings enterprise and began reissuing old recordings. An
offshoot group, New 101 Strings Orchestra, was formed around that time and
modeled on the style of the original ensemble.

1972 - Western Themes, Vol. 1 (Remastered from the Original Alshire Tapes) FLAC
Tracklist:
01 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Theme from The Big Country (2:33)
02 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Theme from Gunsmoke (3:04)
03 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Bonanza (From Bonanza) (2:08)
04 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Theme from The Virginian (2:24)
05 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Wagons West (2:30)
06 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Theme from Cades County (2:08)
07 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Shenandoah (3:18)
08 - 101 Strings Orchestra - High Sierra (From High Sierra) (4:08)
09 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Medley: Red River Valley / Round Her Neck She Wore
a Yellow Ribbon / Streets Of Laredo / Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie (9:00)

1973 - Western Themes, Vol. 2 (Remastered from the Original Alshire Tapes) FLAC
Tracklist:
01 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Theme from How the West Was Won (2:17)
02 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Theme from Wagon Train (2:50)
03 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Theme from The Magnificent Seven (2:10)
04 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Theme from High Chaparral (2:21)
05 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Ballad of Paladin (From Have Gun - Will Travel)
(2:13)
06 - 101 Strings Orchestra - A Cowpokes Dream (2:39)
07 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Oh, Susanna (2:43)
08 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Smokey Mesa (2:16)
09 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Get Along (2:16)
10 - 101 Strings Orchestra - Prairie Trails (From Prairie Trails) (2:48)

Related artists