Pass in Review

            As the music buying public began to upgrade their sound systems from the old monaural high fidelity systems of the 1950’s to the newer systems that delivered stereophonic sound, record companies sought to fill a need to provide recordings that could be used to show off how much better stereo was than mono.  By the early 1960’s the record buying public began to look for particular labels that were known to provide these “stereo spectaculars;” labels such as Audio Fidelity, Command, RCA’s Stereo Action releases would provide incredible listening experiences to anyone purchasing an album that were on these labels.

            In 1961, London Records (the American label of Decca UK) began a series of albums that are still held in high regard to this very day.  The series was released on a special label known as London Phase 4 and were recorded on a four-track console; this would later be expanded to an incredible twenty-track console.  Though the first dozen releases saw monaural counterparts, London Phase 4 quickly became a stereo only label.  London Phase 4 would also become the longest lasting of the “stereo spectacular” labels lasting well into the 1970’s.

            The debut release on London Phase 4 was simply titled Pass in Review and showed off, quite well in fact, what was to come in the years to come on the label.  Pass in Review, whose production was directed by Bob Sharples, places listeners on an imaginary sidewalk watching a parade passing by (from left to right) with the band playing a bounty of famous songs from Europe, America, and Mexico; the recording gives an even more realistic experience with the sounds of a crowd standing with the listener.  Although there are two dozen songs represented the album contains only two side-long tracks; this was more than likely done to further provide the feeling of being at a real parade.  Pass in Review certainly belongs in any collection of stereo spectaculars.

Pass in Review

London Phase 4 SP-44001 (mono version: P-54001)

Production Directed by Bob Sharples

Released: August, 1961

Track Listing:

       Side 1

1.      Pass in Review [part 1] (17:34)

                     Fanfare

                     Rule Britannia

                     Scotland the Brave

                     Waltzing Matilda

                     La Marseillaise

                     La Ritirata Italiana

                     Meadowland

                     Mexican Hat Dance

                     Wearin’ of the Green

                     Matilda

                     Lili Marlene

       Side 2

1.      Pass in Review [part 2] (17:54)

                     The Caissons Go Rolling Along

                     The U.S. Air Force

                     Buckle Down, Winsocki

                     The Bells of St. Mary’s

                     Yankee Doodle

                     Indian Drums

                     She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

                     When the Saints Go Marching In

                     Dixie

                     Onward Christian Soldiers

                     Anchors Aweigh

                     The Marines’ Hymn

                     Stars and Stripes Forever