Frank Valdor
Frank Valdor goes Western
Somerset 731
Side 1:
Side 1:
- Bonanza*/My Darling Clementine / She'll be Comin Round the Mountain
(3:54) * Written by R.G Livingstone - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly ** / The Rovin' Gambler
/ Goin' Up Cripple Creek (3:52) ** Written by Ennio Morricone
- Down In The Valley /Beautiful Dreamer***(2:58) *** Written by S. Foster
- Dancing' 'Round The Mountain #/ Little Joe's Cake Walk ## / Puppet's Square Dance #(4.21) # Written by Frank Valdor, ## Written by B. Bonda
- Turkey in the Straw / Maggie / Footprints in the snow
(3:23)
Side 2:
- Wabash Cannonball / Ol' Dan Tucker / Polly-Wolly-Doodle
(3:23) - Django $ / On Top of old Smokey / Hard to Say Goodbye $$(4:16) $ Written by Luise Enriquez Bacalov, $$ Written by Gatino
- Ghost Riders in The Sky £ / On the Ranch ££ / The Yellow Rose of Texas
(3:54) £ Written by Stan Jones, ££ Written by B. Bonda - Tom Dooley / Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie
(3:09) - Red River Valley / Oh Susanna / There's a Tavern in the Town
(3:29)
The original cover credits and notes all tracks marked with * as "trad./arr. Frank Valdor"
For this blog we reversed this, hereby stating that all unmarked tracks are "trad./arr. Frank Valdor"
Presumeably Released: 1966/1967*
We chose the cutoff based on "Django" / "The Good Bad and the Ugly" which both are from 1966.
There are no other specific markers on this album.
We chose the cutoff based on "Django" / "The Good Bad and the Ugly" which both are from 1966.
There are no other specific markers on this album.
Side 1 Synopsis:
Nonetheless, the first medley of "The Theme from Bonanza" and traditionals such as a "My Darling Clementine" and "She'll be comin' round the mountain". It's rambling, jangling and a suprisingly strong start to the album and it's exactly how you would kick off an album like this.
Medley two is firmely fixed on the western-evergreen "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly". Intresting how the guys in the studio make up the lyrics as they go along: "Ooooh.... Wet Clothes". (Note: The original did not have any specific lyrics.) The Rovin' Gamble leaves ample room for Frank to strut his horns, but the ho-down reaches the climax with "Goin' up the Cripple Creek" with all sing-along chorus from the Dynamic singers. The track takes some building up before it gets going. Mostly due to the Morricone track at the beginning.
Third serving is "Down in the Valley" followed by "Beautiful Dreamer" is sadly the weakest track of the first side. It's got the right western feel, but the party is dreaming beautifully when the ill-placed guitar comes on in the later part of the medley.
Track four is a surprise: It's all original material penned by Frank Valdor and the mysterious B.Bonda. There are some good tunes in here. "Puppet's square Dance" is fun as a track and truly does have a western tone to it. This could have been in any western movie (or possibly cartoon).
Side one ends with more traditionals. I specifically want to note the background conversations. "Is it a bird? No! Is it Human (Truman) ? No, it's the Fly...YEAH! A flying badger. You said it!" ... "Back in 97 yeah", "Hee haw back to my dear old mammy", it 's all incoherent.
This actually leads one into one of those thought trains that deal with Franks production technique. How were these tracks recorded? Or more specifically how did Frank make up the dynamic party sound?
I am almost tempted to envision how Frank, the band, maybe a couple of close friends, gathering around the microphone in a small crowded studiobooth. The smoke is dense. It's late Wednesday evening. All 40 dynamic Minutes of music are in the can. Now all we need is that sound of people having fun.
A hangaround girl called Kirsten brings in a tray of drinks for the guys. Frank lights another cigarillo, winks at the recording engineer (presumeably a Jurgen or a Hans) and the tape rolls.
Side 2 Synopsis:
You just can't go wrong with "Wabash Cannonball" and Ol' Dan Tucker which really puts Frank on the fritz. The horns are in focus and warmed up. One need to listen on the sax playing in the changes between the different song in the medley. The sax constantly directs the music tonality. It's quite genius, this is truly a testament to Franks greatness as an arranger. Any key can be played all over the fixed rhythm track, the bass or the Saxophone will arrange for the shift.
Track 2 consist of the albums second flirt with the Spaghetti western themes. "Django" was a hit in 1966 and was reused for the 2012 movie "Django Unchained". This is one of the tracks that doesn't blend with the remaining mix. To my ears it sound to be due to the "spaghetti" track. One might think that Frank should have coupled "Django" with "The Good, Bad & Ugly". Once the opening goes into "On top of old smokey" the train's a-rolling again.
Third medley is spearheaded by "Ghost riders in the sky". It sounds effectful with a whispering cowboy in the back. "On the Ranch" by the mysterious B. Bonda focuses heavily on guitars but fits perfectly. The medley ends with "The Yellow Rose of Texas". Please note the following "I'm a gonna give you five bucks. Get on that honky tonk pian-ee".
"Tom Dooley" is brought down by a tenor harmonica which incidentally makes it sound more cheesy than well played. Frank gets a lot of blow room in between harmonica and saxophones but it doesn't stop the track from being ever so cartooney. When played next to the "Beautiful dreamer" medley on side one this one barely holds up, and beat "Dreamer" to the finish line. It sounds cheesy and brings the party down. This is second worst track on the album.
The album ends with a Dynamic Western Party and the emphasis is on Party with a capitol P.
The guitar playing on "Red River Valley" is breakneck and nearly flawless...nearly!
"Oh Susanna" is ushered on by the Dynamic Singers but the high point is in the final part: "There is a Tavern in Town" - This cornish classic is being handled in a most uncommon manner. It's being fitted with brand new lyrics:
- There is a tavern in the town
- YEAAAY!
- But it's a pub with no beer...
- BOOOO!
- Just Champaigne....
- YEAAAY!
- But...they ain't got not glasses!
- BOOOO!
- Just buckets!
- YEAAAY!
- But the buckets have got holes in them.
- BOOOO!
- At the top!
- YEAAAY!
Artwork:
Here's the short summary of the front side.
1. Frank smokes.
2. Frank is probably hungover.
3. Frank is not worthy of a real gun.
4. Somebody set Frank on fire*.
And here's the short summary of the ENTIRE back side:
5. Let's hide the gun (After all it's a toy gun)!
6. Let's hide the Horse!*
7. Let's hide Frank!*
*Which is perfect because then you won't show how tall Frank really is!
Thus proving that Frank probably was replaced due to hangover when they took him out in to the woods outside Hamburg to shoot this mock-western cover.
Frank Valdor does the Alamo or just plain: goes Western is very amusing and good fun to listen to. I find it hard though to imagine the right type of party to which this album would work. Western partys are hard to come by. It is nevertheless the spritual predescesor to "Frank Valdor in Mexico" which lie just south of the border. But the western feel is fun in comparison to the easy-listening dynamic music that Valdor normaly produces.
It feels like Frank and the band is trying to cash in on the popularity of the mid-60s craze of italian westerns, but with a limited budget Frank only had bucks enough to pay for two track. The rest is traditionals and a few Valdor / Bonda compositions.
In all honesty. This album is so cheesy that it may be considered good. It's the musical equivalent of a Warner Bros. Western Cartoon with Porky Pig as the sheriff.
Track four is a surprise: It's all original material penned by Frank Valdor and the mysterious B.Bonda. There are some good tunes in here. "Puppet's square Dance" is fun as a track and truly does have a western tone to it. This could have been in any western movie (or possibly cartoon).
Side one ends with more traditionals. I specifically want to note the background conversations. "Is it a bird? No! Is it Human (Truman) ? No, it's the Fly...YEAH! A flying badger. You said it!" ... "Back in 97 yeah", "Hee haw back to my dear old mammy", it 's all incoherent.
This actually leads one into one of those thought trains that deal with Franks production technique. How were these tracks recorded? Or more specifically how did Frank make up the dynamic party sound?
I am almost tempted to envision how Frank, the band, maybe a couple of close friends, gathering around the microphone in a small crowded studiobooth. The smoke is dense. It's late Wednesday evening. All 40 dynamic Minutes of music are in the can. Now all we need is that sound of people having fun.
A hangaround girl called Kirsten brings in a tray of drinks for the guys. Frank lights another cigarillo, winks at the recording engineer (presumeably a Jurgen or a Hans) and the tape rolls.
Side 2 Synopsis:
You just can't go wrong with "Wabash Cannonball" and Ol' Dan Tucker which really puts Frank on the fritz. The horns are in focus and warmed up. One need to listen on the sax playing in the changes between the different song in the medley. The sax constantly directs the music tonality. It's quite genius, this is truly a testament to Franks greatness as an arranger. Any key can be played all over the fixed rhythm track, the bass or the Saxophone will arrange for the shift.
Track 2 consist of the albums second flirt with the Spaghetti western themes. "Django" was a hit in 1966 and was reused for the 2012 movie "Django Unchained". This is one of the tracks that doesn't blend with the remaining mix. To my ears it sound to be due to the "spaghetti" track. One might think that Frank should have coupled "Django" with "The Good, Bad & Ugly". Once the opening goes into "On top of old smokey" the train's a-rolling again.
Third medley is spearheaded by "Ghost riders in the sky". It sounds effectful with a whispering cowboy in the back. "On the Ranch" by the mysterious B. Bonda focuses heavily on guitars but fits perfectly. The medley ends with "The Yellow Rose of Texas". Please note the following "I'm a gonna give you five bucks. Get on that honky tonk pian-ee".
"Tom Dooley" is brought down by a tenor harmonica which incidentally makes it sound more cheesy than well played. Frank gets a lot of blow room in between harmonica and saxophones but it doesn't stop the track from being ever so cartooney. When played next to the "Beautiful dreamer" medley on side one this one barely holds up, and beat "Dreamer" to the finish line. It sounds cheesy and brings the party down. This is second worst track on the album.
The album ends with a Dynamic Western Party and the emphasis is on Party with a capitol P.
The guitar playing on "Red River Valley" is breakneck and nearly flawless...nearly!
"Oh Susanna" is ushered on by the Dynamic Singers but the high point is in the final part: "There is a Tavern in Town" - This cornish classic is being handled in a most uncommon manner. It's being fitted with brand new lyrics:
- There is a tavern in the town
- YEAAAY!
- But it's a pub with no beer...
- BOOOO!
- Just Champaigne....
- YEAAAY!
- But...they ain't got not glasses!
- BOOOO!
- Just buckets!
- YEAAAY!
- But the buckets have got holes in them.
- BOOOO!
- At the top!
- YEAAAY!
- But there ain't no women.
- BOOOO!
- Just gals.
- YEAAAY!
- With big long dresses.
- BOOOO!
- That you can see through
- YEAAAY!
- I see.... There is a tavern in the town.
Artwork:
Here's the short summary of the front side.
1. Frank smokes.
2. Frank is probably hungover.
 |
| "Damn idiotic Sunday Photo shoots....." |
3. Frank is not worthy of a real gun.
 |
| "Maybe no one will notice this...." |
4. Somebody set Frank on fire*.
 |
| "Roasted nuts...." |
And here's the short summary of the ENTIRE back side:
5. Let's hide the gun (After all it's a toy gun)!
6. Let's hide the Horse!*
7. Let's hide Frank!*
*Which is perfect because then you won't show how tall Frank really is!
Thus proving that Frank probably was replaced due to hangover when they took him out in to the woods outside Hamburg to shoot this mock-western cover.
 |
| and for posterity A and B-Side label. |
Summary and (F)ranking
Musical Contents:
Musical Contents:
Frank Valdor does the Alamo or just plain: goes Western is very amusing and good fun to listen to. I find it hard though to imagine the right type of party to which this album would work. Western partys are hard to come by. It is nevertheless the spritual predescesor to "Frank Valdor in Mexico" which lie just south of the border. But the western feel is fun in comparison to the easy-listening dynamic music that Valdor normaly produces.
It feels like Frank and the band is trying to cash in on the popularity of the mid-60s craze of italian westerns, but with a limited budget Frank only had bucks enough to pay for two track. The rest is traditionals and a few Valdor / Bonda compositions.
In all honesty. This album is so cheesy that it may be considered good. It's the musical equivalent of a Warner Bros. Western Cartoon with Porky Pig as the sheriff.
"Wet clothes....Oh ah too ta-co."
Artwork:
The artwork is sloppy and uninspired. Frank could have been a contestor to the throne held by Clint Eastwood. His regal precense is clearly present on albums like "Dynamic Man" and "King Size 2". Why couldn't Frank and his croonies mount a frickin' horse or something? Or a dusty street duel with a chich in an orange bikini. ANYTHING but this boring run of the mill cover. It is sloppy and childish. The only reason for the two-face (f)ranking is that Frank indeed showed up for the shoot.
Final note: Frankvaldor.de states that "Frank Valdor goes Western" won Frank his
FIRST GOLD RECORD in 1971. Retroactively congratulations on that!
Artwork:
The artwork is sloppy and uninspired. Frank could have been a contestor to the throne held by Clint Eastwood. His regal precense is clearly present on albums like "Dynamic Man" and "King Size 2". Why couldn't Frank and his croonies mount a frickin' horse or something? Or a dusty street duel with a chich in an orange bikini. ANYTHING but this boring run of the mill cover. It is sloppy and childish. The only reason for the two-face (f)ranking is that Frank indeed showed up for the shoot.
Final note: Frankvaldor.de states that "Frank Valdor goes Western" won Frank his
FIRST GOLD RECORD in 1971. Retroactively congratulations on that!
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