REGINALD DIXON - "DIXON IN SWINGTIME" - GRANADA CLAPHAM JUNCTION - 3/8 WURLITZER

REGINALD DIXON - "DIXON IN SWINGTIME" - GRANADA CLAPHAM JUNCTION - 3/8 WURLITZER - 1939 *****

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Күн бұрын

This is one of REGINALD DIXON'S finest recordings -
If you think differently you need your ears testing!
His last for REX RECORDS at the fiery GRANADA CLAPHAM JUNCTION WURLITZER !
A cleaned-up version of REX 9552 (matrix nos R3446 & R3447) published in JULY 1939.
The under stage installation of the 3/8 and piano which is very much evident in this 10" 78 rpm recording, packs a real punch which is fully exploited by Reg. Although this record was to be be his last recording at Clapham Junction Granada, he continued recording at Granada Theatres notably KINGSTON, WELLING, TOOTING and SLOUGH for REGAL-ZONOPHONE (Gramophone Company).
Unfortunately this wonderful Wurlitzer was "exported" to Switzerland where it is installed
in a college and used to accompany silent films very loudly I'm informed by an "Eye Witness!"
A damn shame! A complete disgrace! Messed about with and ruined!!!
John Mann was invited over to Switzerland, and so was I. He went but I turned down the offer.
John and the other players were pretty disappointed in the state of the Wurlitzer.
Accomp. pistons removed, and the organ was played at full tilt accompanying silent films!!!
Another example of "Organ in Wrong Hands" - who exported it?
The recordings at Slough were excellent - check out "CLASSICS OF SWING" (February 1942) on ComptonLodgeStudios Channel on KZfaq - another really "Swingy" video by DIXON!
This video Introduces -
"WHISPERING" ; "MARGIE" ; "BUGLE CALL RAG" ; "AVALON" ; "LIMEHOUSE BLUES" & "TIGER RAG"
What more could any Dixon fan wish for!
Most fans rate this recording Dixon's finest recording during his time with "REX RECORDS"!
ComptonLodgeStudios Proudly Present
THE LARGEST SELECTION OF REGINALD DIXON VIDEOS on our KZfaq channel.
Video uploaded by ComptonLodgeStudios, Sapcote, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.

Пікірлер: 43

@michelpointeau6396 4 жыл бұрын

Le Wurlitzer de Clapham Junction est instalé au collège Claparède a Genève en Suisse. Il est toujours en service et toujours aussi bon !!

@ComptonLodgeStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Damn Shame! One of the finest Wurlitzers in the UK where it should have remained!

@michelpointeau6396 4 жыл бұрын

@@ComptonLodgeStudios Comment ce fait -il qu'il a été vendu aux suisses?

@michelpointeau6396 4 жыл бұрын

Comment ce fait il qu'il a été vendu aux Suisses? Que est cette histoire ?

@mainaccount131 5 жыл бұрын

Super excellent with very good interesting video

@ComptonLodgeStudios 5 жыл бұрын

Many Thanks Main Account - This is certainly one of Dixon's best recordings - PAUL

@mainaccount131 4 жыл бұрын

Delightful

@ComptonLodgeStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Many Thanks Main Account. one of my favourite Dixon recordings - PAUL.

@jackraves7363 3 жыл бұрын

1939.... ? I was two then, no idea 😆😆😆 sounds excellent 👏👏

@ComptonLodgeStudios 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jack, I wasn't thought of then! Best Wishes, PAUL.

@johnferguson8993 7 жыл бұрын

Great to hear this instrument once again. I understand that Reg designed the specification of this (and other) theatre pipe organs and that he deliberately left out a Vox Humana and replaced it with a Brass Saxophone. For 8 ranks it was a fabulous instrument.

@ComptonLodgeStudios 7 жыл бұрын

This was a terrific instrument which I played for the Theatre Organ Club a couple of times. It wasn't designed by Reg. but by Ernest Houlden and a couple of others. Saxophone & English Horn replaced Vox and Clarinet, and Gamba strings instead of Violins. Slightly bigger scale Tibia down to 16ft. No (useless) Bourdon ! I have been asked (with others) to go over to play it in Geneva this Summer. Not for me! Should have remained in the UK as it was the best of this series of six instruments. Cheers PAUL.

@johnferguson8993 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Paul, I really had that wrong didn't I? Thanks for setting me straight on the spec. A real gem of an organ and it could really romp. Yes, a great pity that it went out of the UK.

@johnferguson8993 7 жыл бұрын

Paul, regarding the ranks on this instrument, I can account for 7 ranks: 1/English Horn, 2/Diapason, 3/Tibia, 4/Saxophone, 5/Gamba, 6/Gamba Celeste, 7/Flute but what was the 8th? Maybe an Oboe, Kinura or Krumet? I can understand that the 16' Tibia would have given this instrument a solid 16' in the Pedal. An organists organ!

@ComptonLodgeStudios 7 жыл бұрын

Hi John , the 8th Rank is Tuba Horn 16, 8 & 4. (There may not be the top octave of pipes). All the Best PAUL.

@johnferguson8993 7 жыл бұрын

Many thanks Paul, I overlooked that! I should have realised there'd be a Tuba Horn in there somewhere. It would be fun to re-create this specification as a virtual organ for the home.

@robertsteeples7061 4 жыл бұрын

The best

@ComptonLodgeStudios 4 жыл бұрын

I couldn't agree me Robert - Often imitated, never equalled - Thanks for commenting, PAUL.

@wurlitzer895 7 жыл бұрын

I played this organ way back in late 1971 when I was 18. Probably about 0.0000000000000001% as skilfully as Reginald Dixon!! LOL!! Peter A

@ComptonLodgeStudios 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Peter A - Thanks for commenting. I played a show for Ralph Bartlett (Theatre Organ Club) in the late 60's sharing the bill with David Hamilton & John Mann - I wasn't as good as Reg. either! - Regards PAUL.

@wurlitzer895 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Paul! Thanks for your very kind comment. Heavens! I very well remember Ralph Bartlett and his cringe-making compèring of TOC organ concerts! Do you know what happened to David Hamilton? He (Ralph) and I met coincidentally on a few occasions at the Welling Granada (I lived in Eltham, and Welling was my nearest theatre organ). Many more than one guinea from my pocket was exchanged for 'an hour' of Saturday morning 'practice' on that and the lovely Woolwich Wurlitzers. Do you, perchance, remember the name Richard Smithers? He was, I believe, a South African and a very competent player and gave occasional instruction on the Welling organ, although not to me I might add. My father was at the opening of that theatre in 1938 and regaled me with stories of Robbie Cleaver's rendition of 'An Earful of Music; stories which largely triggered my interest in theatre organs in general and this organ in particular. Many stories come back to mind....... Kindest regards, Peter A

@ComptonLodgeStudios 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Peter - Very nostalgic and interesting comments. I played with Len Rawle and Noel Briggs at Granada Slough, and Ralph put me on last! He wrote to thank me noting "the applause was equal if not better than that received by both LR and NB" and would I like to play a shared concert at Abingdon or Buckingham for a fee of £6 - At the time I was getting £40 for four nights in London (East End!) and my dad would have had to drive me to the Sunday night gig. I did do Abingdon with Jimmy Swift, but wasn't thrilled with the Compton. Unfortunately David Hamilton died from a heart complaint many years ago. I do remember the name Richard Smithers, but never met him or heard him play. We had Robbie Cleaver play a show for us at Compton Lodge - despite getting on a bit,! he was terrific - but had to play in his slippers in the second half! My Very Good Wishes - PAUL.

@wurlitzer895 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your reply, Paul. So many memories to share and questions to ask! Sorry!! Is it cheeky to ask your surname? Of course, I readily understand that as this is a public forum, you'd may well rather not say. Very sad about David Hamilton; he would still have been a very young man when he passed away. You must have been a very good player to have been invited to play in public, so well done on that one. It was a tremendous shame that the Welling organ was so unnecessarily silenced. I had on several occasions walked past the back of the building when the organ was playing and you could hear it, certainly, but it was in no way intrusive. People washing their cars with a radio blaring away caused far more of a disturbance. May I ask what you did in the East End for £10/night? Presumably music-related? Sorry if I'm being thick here, but why did Robbie have to wear his slippers in the second half of his concert? Frank Fowler told me an interesting anecdote about Cleaver, but I don't if it was strictly true.... Must go; don't want to bore you unnecessearily, so thanks for uploading so many priceless and wonderful vids. I consider myself truly fortunate to have been around in the 60s and early 70s when so many of the theatres and their organs were still extant and in situ, and the organs for the most part accessible and made available to even an incompetent such as I. All the very best, Paul. Hope to chat again soon; it's been an absolute pleasure. Peter Almond

@ComptonLodgeStudios 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Peter - No problem - I'm Paul Kirner and I've been in the entertainment business since leaving school in 1964. You can work a lot out from that! Yes, very sad about David. I didn't know him very well, but he was on the same circuit working for a guy called Bill Dickson (Electric Organ Hire Co. Ltd). I started off playing Saturday evenings for three months at Granada Rugby - see Movie Palaces Granada Rugby on my channel. I played Hammond C3 backing cabaret at various pubs with music rooms at the back, 4 nights per week - after three months you moved to another - I'm trying to remember names but can't! Robbie's slippers - his feet hurt! Now I'm 69 (interesting number) I can quite understand! All the Best - PAUL.

@gordoncrook1155 4 жыл бұрын

Dare I say the very best Granada Wurlitzer if only Tooting spoke out like this one did, of course Woolwich Wurlitzer was pretty close even if the English Horn was missing, guess the Rex masters are gone, what about the EMI have they gone the same way? Gordon Exmouth

@ComptonLodgeStudios 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Gordon - Thank You for your always interesting and informed comments - Best Wishes from the Rhondda Valley - PAUL.