Reviews...

ROBERT FARNON SOCIETY - JOURNAL INTO MELODY Newly recorded albums of genuine light orchestral music are few and far between in this country.  I use the word "genuine" as I discount the various albums of pseudo-symphonic rock-type music recorded by assorted symphony orchestras augmented by rhythm sections and guest soloists which appear fairly regularly, usually on TV-promoted albums.  Johnny Douglas has returned to Whitfield Street Studios and produced another superb album of light music and this time all the tracks feature Ronnie Prince on piano.  Ronnie has been one of Britain's best known session players for many years and an album showcasing his talents was long overdue.  Johnny Douglas' arranging skills allow Ronnie's stylish playing to be enjoyed to the full and it is good to have new recordings of such favourites as Tony Osborne's Window of Paris - famous as the signature tune of the BBC programme Roundabout many years ago and an intriguing arrangement of Moonlight Serenade which makes a refreshing change from the endless big band versions.  Five of Johnny's own compositions are featured including music from The Railway Children, Crack in the World and Dulcima, the arrangement of which is not the same as the one featured on another Johnny Douglas album ON SCREEN.  We must be grateful that, despite the conclusions of the major record companies that there is no market for light music these days, companies such as Dulcima have sufficient faith to produce new albums of the calibre of this one which is highly recommended.                                                                           Alan Bunting

Public Reaction I have always enjoyed listening to your many excellent recordings and have recently received your stunning 'It's Magic' CD as a birthday present.                                                                           Simon Endacott, London   I am wild about your three CD's - 'On Stage', 'On Screen' and 'It's Magic'!  Since Andre Kostelanety, Percy Faith, David Rose, Henry Mancini etc left the stage, and pop rubbish is all over the place I never thought I would be buying again such perfectly lovely orchestral music.   But oh those beautiful colourful orchestrations of JD's with lovely beginnings and endings; wonderful solos by flute, oboe, tenor sax, piano!  And those horns, oh those horns!! - forgive me but these Johnny Douglas orchestra and strings CD's are just what I've wanted for years!!  Moonlight Serenade with Ronnie Price's piano makes this version the best we've ever heard.                                                                          Thomas H Russell, Sussex