Paul Eakins – Big Bertha Band Organ

Paul Eakins – Big Bertha Band Organ

A charming and nostalgic collection of band organ arrangements, Big Bertha Band Organ captures the distinctive sound of fairground and carousel music as performed on large mechanical instruments designed to entertain at amusement parks and travelling fairs. Led by Paul Eakins, this recording showcases the bright, reedy tones and rhythmic charm of the classic “Big Bertha” style organ.

The album draws from a wide range of popular early 20th-century tunes, marches, waltzes, and novelty songs, all reinterpreted through the unmistakable timbre of band organ instrumentation. From stirring marches like Colonel Bogey to sentimental ballads such as My Melancholy Baby and Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella, each track is delivered with mechanical precision and nostalgic warmth.

Side B continues the journey through fairground favourites and communal singalong classics, including the playful novelty of I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream and the sweeping elegance of Skaters Waltz. The result is a lively and immersive listening experience that evokes carousel rides, seaside piers, and vintage amusement halls.

Perfect for collectors of mechanical music, carnival history, and unusual instrumental recordings, Big Bertha Band Organ stands as a delightful preservation of a fading but beloved musical tradition.

Tracklist:

Side A

1. Colonel Bogey
2. When It’s Springtime In The Rockies
3. The Stein Song
4. My Melancholy Baby
5. Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella
6. Away Down South In Heaven

Side B

1. All By Myself In The Moonlight
2. I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream
3. Skaters Waltz
4. Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine
5. Queen City