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Charles Magnante Quartet 5-CD Set

The Charles Magnante Quartet

5 full-length CDs in attractive case
113 tracks
Total Time: 221 minutes
Biographical Notes Included
Label: The Classical Free-Reed, Inc.
Released 2016

Wow! 113 never-before-released recordings of the great American accordionist Charles Magnante playing with his quartet. These are very rare recordings; they were not released commercially for the general record-buying public, but were instead sent to radio stations for airplay. These priceless recordings were acquired over many decades of persistent and patience searching by an avid accordion aficionado and a great fan of Magnante.

About this 5-CD set: Charles Magnante (1905-1986) was an American piano-accordionist, arranger, composer, author and educator. His artistry helped raise the image of the accordion from an instrument considered suitable only for folk music to an instrument accepted in many music genres. Magnante's father was a well-known amateur musician and performed at Italian wedding receptions and other dance venues. Charles sang along with his father beginning at the age of five years and at the age of seven, he secretly learned to play his father's accordion. At the age of sixteen his reputation as an accordionist had grown so much he was receiving many offers to join tours with stage bands, which he declined due to his continuing musical studies.

Charles Magnante started his professional career playing in Italian restaurants and on the Staten Island Ferry. However, he wanted to break free from the ‘O Sole Mio’ image of the stereotypical Italian-American accordionist which his audiences expected to hear. In the 1940s, he was the leader of a successful trio with guitarist Tony Mottola and organist George Wright and played regularly on NBC radio broadcasts. He worked also as a sought-after studio musician. At the peak of his career, he played 30 live radio broadcasts and eight studio sessions each week. He performed also as a solo concert musician and once performed a solo concert at the Civic Stadium of Buffalo, New York for an audience of 40,000. Magnante was one of the twelve founding members of the American Accordionists' Association (founded in 1938), and also served as this organization's president for three terms.

Magnante wrote method books for accordion players and numerous arrangements of contemporary popular standards, polkas and classical pieces. Many of his arrangements can still be found in the standard repertoire of accordionists throughout the world. His most famous original composition is probably the novelty ‘Accordiana’. His arrangements and compositions stretch across a number of musical genres, including easy listening, jazz and boogie-woogie and light classical pieces. Magnante was featured as accordion soloist on more than two dozen albums (many with studio orchestras), released by Columbia, Grand Award, Command Records, Decca Records and other record labels. The quartet members are: accordionist - Charles Magnante; guitarist - Tony Mottola; organist and pianist - George Wright and double bassist - Eugene Ettore or Bobby Haggart.

These records are from a private collection and are all of the 16” transcription type. Sometimes called a broadcast transcription or radio transcription or nicknamed a platter, the official term was Electrical transcriptions, usually abbreviated to E.T. among radio professionals. These records were sent out to various radio stations on a subscription basis and were never meant to be sold but luckily a lot of them survived. A lot of these selections are available on commercial labels but the ones that are not are very rare. Some of these labels are: APS (Associated Program Service), WBS (World Broadcasting System) and WPS (World Program Service). Most of them have no label at all just a hand written label.

Listen to MP3 files:

Tracks:

CD 1, 25 tracks, total time: 48:27

    Dance of the Spanish Onion 12/20/46 APS No. 60,860-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5101)
    In The Mood 12/20/46 APS No. 60,860-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5101)
    Bye Bye Blues 12/20/46 APS No. 60,860-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5101)
    The Donkey Serenade 12/20/46 APS No. 60,860-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5101)
    Twilight in Turkey 2/4/47 APS No. 60,862-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5100)
    Dark Eyes 2/4/47 APS No. 60,862-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5100)
    Caravan 2/4/47 APS No. 60,862-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5100)
    Powerhouse 2/4/47 APS No. 60,862-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5100)
    Minutes with Magnante 2/4/47 APS No. 60,862-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5100)
    Pavanne (Gould) 10/2/46 APS No. 60,869-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5175)
    On The Trail (from "Grand Canyon Suite") 10/2/46 APS No. 60,869-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5175)
    Begin The Beguine (from the musical comedy "Jubilee") 10/2/46 APS No. 60,869-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5175)
    Breezin' Along With The Breeze 10/2/46 APS No. 60,869-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5175)
    Cheerful Little Earful (from the revue "Sweet and Low") 10/2/46 APS No. 60,869-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5175)
    Minuet In Jazz (from picture "Sally, Irene, & Mary") APS No. 60,870-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5176)
    Magnante Boogie APS No. 60,870-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5176)
    Stompin' At The Savoy APS No. 60,870-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5176)
    Wedding Day At Trolhaugen APS No. 60,870-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5176)
    Mexican Hat Dance APS No. 60,870-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5176)
    I Want To Be Happy (from Musical Comedy "No, No Nanette") APS No. 60,870-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5176)
    Caminito 2/12/49 APS No. 60,890-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5335)
    That's A Plenty 2/12/49 APS No. 60,890-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5335)
    12th Street Rag 2/12/49 APS No. 60,890-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5335)
    Lady Be Good 2/12/49 APS No. 60,890-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5335)
    Waltz Mirage 2/12/49 APS No. 60,890-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5335)

CD 2, 25 tracks, total time: 46:42

    The Continental (from Picture "The Gay Divorcee") 5/25/49 APS No. 60,891 (Matrix No. ZZ-5336)
    Stumbling 5/25/49 APS No. 60,891 (Matrix No. ZZ-5336)
    The Jacks Are Jumping 5/25/49 APS No. 60,891 (Matrix No. ZZ-5336)
    Tico Tico 5/25/49 APS No. 60,891 (Matrix No. ZZ-5336)
    Anything Goes 5/25/49 APS No. 60,891 (Matrix No. ZZ-5336)
    Hora Staccato 9/30/48 APS No. 60,904-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5414)
    Toy Trumpet 9/30/48 APS No. 60,904-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5414)
    Fugue - D Minor (Bach) 9/30/48 APS No. 60,904-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5414)
    Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (from Musical Show "Roberta") 9/30/48 APS No. 60,904-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5414)
    Twilight on the Trail 9/30/48 APS No. 60,904-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5414)
    Andalucia (Spanish Suite "Andalucia" arr. Morton Gould) APS No. 60,922-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5247)
    Digga Digga Do (Revue "Blackbirds of 1928") APS No. 60,922-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5247)
    I Know What You Know (Musical Comedy "Oh, Please" APS No. 60,922-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5247)
    I Got Rhythm (Musical Comedy "Girl Crazy") APS No. 60,922-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5247)
    Honeysucke Rose (Revue "Load of Coal") APS No. 60,922-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5247)
    Ol' Man River 1/24/47 APS No. 60,923-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5415)
    The Sheik of Araby 1/24/47 APS No. 60,923-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5415)
    Tea for Two 1/24/47 APS No. 60,923-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5415)
    Siboney 1/24/47 APS No. 60,923-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5415)
    Tumbling Tumbleweeds 1/24/47 APS No. 60,923-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5415)
    I Can't Get Started With You (Revue "Ziegfeld Folllies Of 1936") APS No. 60,937-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5493)
    Somebody Loves Me (Revue "George White's Scandals Of 1924") APS No. 60,937-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5493)
    Dizzy Fingers APS No. 60,937-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5493)
    What Is This Thing Called Love (Show "Wake Up And Dream") APS No. 60,937-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5493)
    Sweet Sue - Just You APS No. 60,937-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5493)

CD 3, 25 tracks, total time: 47:10

    Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away) 6/19/47 APS No. 60,946-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5490)
    La Cinquantaine 6/19/47 APS No. 60,946-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5490)
    Jersey Bounce 6/19/47 APS No. 60,946-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5490)
    Flying Home 6/19/47 APS No. 60,946-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5490)
    Clarinet Polka 6/19/47 APS No. 60,946-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5490)
    Mama Inez 6/20/47 APS No. 60,946-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5491)
    Two Guitars 6/20/47 APS No. 60,946-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5491)
    Magnante Boogie Opus 11 6/20/47 APS No. 60,946-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5491)
    The Way You Look Tonight 6/20/47 APS No. 60,946-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5491)
    Czardas (Monti) 6/20/47 APS No. 60,946-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5491)
    Manhattan Serenade 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5529)
    Huckleberry Duck 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5529)
    Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5529)
    Negra Consentida (My Pet Brunette) 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5529)
    Canadian Capers 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5529)
    Jamaican Rumba 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5530)
    Liebesfreud (Love's Joy) 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5530)
    Danube Waves 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5530)
    Chit Chat With Charlie 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5530)
    Valentine 5/11/49 APS No. 60,963-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5530)
    Ol' Man River APS No. 60,975 (Matrix No. ZZ-5464)
    The Cactus Polka APS No. 60,975 (Matrix No. ZZ-5464)
    Misirlou APS No. 60,975 (Matrix No. ZZ-5464)
    Tuxedo Junction APS No. 60,975 (Matrix No. ZZ-5464)
    In An 18th Century Drawing Room APS No. 60,975 (Matrix No. ZZ-5464)

CD 4, 26 tracks, total time: 49:35

    Espana Cani 12/5/47 APS No. 60,984-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5465)
    Falling In Love With Love 12/5/47 APS No. 60,984-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5465)
    Holiday For Strings 12/5/47 APS No. 60,984-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5465)
    St. Louis Blues 12/5/47 APS No. 60,984-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5465)
    La Cumparsita 12/5/47 APS No. 60,984-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5465)
    The Lady Picking Mulberries 2/26/48 APS No. 61,040-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5726)
    Bem Te Vi Atrevido 2/26/48 APS No. 61,040-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5726)
    Carioca 2/26/48 APS No. 61,040-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5726)
    Buffoon 2/26/48 APS No. 61,040-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5726)
    Orchards in the Moonlight 2/26/48 APS No. 61,040-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5726)
    Tony's Touch 2/26/48 APS No. 61,040-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5726)
    Gitanerias (from Spanish Suite "Andalucia") APS No. 61,051-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5711)
    Frenesi APS No. 61,051-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5711)
    After You've Gone APS No. 61,051-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5711)
    Ragging the Scale APS No. 61,051-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5711)
    Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out The Barrel) APS No. 61,051-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5711)
    Three O'Clock in the Morning 6/4/48 APS No. 61,061 (Matrix No. ZZ-5712)
    Take the "A" Train 6/4/48 APS No. 61,061 (Matrix No. ZZ-5712)
    Norweigan Dance, No. 2 6/4/48 APS No. 61,061 (Matrix No. ZZ-5712)
    Coquette 6/4/48 APS No. 61,061 (Matrix No. ZZ-5712)
    Just You, Just Me (from motion picture "Marianne") 6/4/48 APS No. 61,061 (Matrix No. ZZ-5712)
    Sophisticated Lady APS No. 61,072-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5727)
    The Night Is Young and You're So Beautiful APS No. 61,072-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5727)
    The Volga Boatman APS No. 61,072-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5727)
    Carolina Moon APS No. 61,072-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5727)
    Honky Tonk Train APS No. 61,072-A (Matrix No. ZZ-5727)

CD 5, 12 tracks, total time: 29:32

    I Love You So Much It Hurts 4/11/49 APS No. 61,126 (Matrix No. ZZ-5940)
    I Wish Somebody Cared Enough To Cry 4/11/49 APS No. 61,126 (Matrix No. ZZ-5940)
    (Instead of Breaking My Heart) Please Give My Heart A Break 4/11/49 APS No. 61,126 (Matrix No. ZZ-5940)
    Do You Still Love Me 4/11/49 APS No. 61,126 (Matrix No. ZZ-5940)
    I'm Putting My Dreams All Behind Me 4/11/49 APS No. 61,126 (Matrix No. ZZ-5940)
    Fascinating Rhythm 4/4/49 APS No. 61,127-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5941)
    Rumbalero 4/4/49 APS No. 61,127-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5941)
    It Had To Be You 4/4/49 APS No. 61,127-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5941)
    I Never Knew 4/4/49 APS No. 61,127-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5941)
    Blue Skies 4/4/49 APS No. 61,127-B (Matrix No. ZZ-5941)
    Magnante Boogie Silvertone 9A
    Twilight On The Trail Silvertone 9B

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