{"product_id":"focus-on-phase-4-stereo","title":"Focus On Phase 4 Stereo","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFocus On Phase 4 Stereo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eOriginally released in 1968 on Decca Records, \u003cem\u003eFocus On Phase 4 Stereo\u003c\/em\u003e is a showcase for the label's celebrated Phase 4 Stereo recording process, bringing together 14 contrasting performances from across the Decca catalogue. The UK edition appeared as BPS 1, with the album specifically designed to demonstrate the spacious, detailed stereo sound that made the Phase 4 series such a popular part of the hi-fi era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eRather than concentrating on one particular musical style, the compilation moves through an unusually broad selection of orchestral pop, easy listening, big band jazz, Latin music, vocal groups, military band music and stage-and-screen themes. Stanley Black opens with the sweeping “I Love Paris”, followed by Ronnie Aldrich and his Two Pianos with the London Festival Orchestra on a lush instrumental interpretation of “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”. Los Machucambos bring a Latin flavour with “El Cumbanchero”, while Harry James supplies classic big-band trumpet on “I've Heard That Song Before”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe programme also demonstrates the sheer variety of artists working within the Phase 4 catalogue. Will Glahé's “The Skaters Waltz”, Les Paul's inventive reading of “Lover” and the Band of the Grenadier Guards' “Washington Post” provide three very different approaches to instrumental music, while Side B continues with The Keating Sound's “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and Edmundo Ros \u0026amp; His Orchestra's lively “La Bamba”. The album's source recordings themselves span several years: the sleeve notes indicate recordings dating from 1964 through 1968, making this a snapshot of the developing Phase 4 catalogue rather than a set recorded at one single session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe second side also includes Frank Chacksfield's atmospheric “Limelight”, Roland Shaw's orchestral treatment of “The Avengers”, Werner Müller's “Two Guitars”, Ted Heath's “More” and Eric Rogers' arrangement of “Camptown Races”. The result is an entertaining cross-section of the polished, highly produced sound associated with 1960s Decca Phase 4 Stereo, with familiar melodies presented for maximum instrumental colour and stereo impact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eFor collectors of 1960s easy listening, vintage hi-fi records, stereo demonstration discs, Decca Phase 4, orchestral pop, big band jazz and lounge music, \u003cem\u003eFocus On Phase 4 Stereo\u003c\/em\u003e is an appealing period document. It also offers a particularly good introduction to the Phase 4 catalogue, with artists including Stanley Black, Ronnie Aldrich, Edmundo Ros, Frank Chacksfield, Ted Heath, Les Paul and Harry James represented across one LP.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStanley Black – I Love Paris\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRonnie Aldrich And His Two Pianos With The London Festival Orchestra – A Whiter Shade Of Pale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLos Machucambos – El Cumbanchero\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarry James And His Orchestra – I've Heard That Song Before\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWill Glahé – The Skaters Waltz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLes Paul – Lover\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBand Of The Grenadier Guards – Washington Post\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide B\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Keating Sound – Swing Low, Sweet Chariot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEdmundo Ros \u0026amp; His Orchestra – La Bamba\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrank Chacksfield \u0026amp; His Orchestra – Limelight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRoland Shaw And His Orchestra – The Avengers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWerner Müller And His Orchestra – Two Guitars\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTed Heath And His Music – More\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEric Rogers Chorale And Orchestra – Camptown Races\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sH3OcG7sI8I?si=_6AM2OSErzytiPTE\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Decca Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55619653075286,"sku":"BPS1","price":3.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_63db2326-997e-434d-9a1e-4654f80f8265.jpg?v=1791293139","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/focus-on-phase-4-stereo","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}