101 Strings, Ferde Grofé – Ferde Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite – 1958 – Easy Listening (vinyl lp)

Here's a fascinating piece of orchestral history that bridges the gap between classical composition and the golden age of stereo demonstration records. Ferde Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite, originally composed in 1931, stands as one of the most successful examples of American programmatic music, and this 1958 Somerset pressing captures the 101 Strings Orchestra's lush interpretation during the height of the easy listening era. Grofé, who had previously orchestrated Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" for its famous 1924 premiere, was a master at painting vivid musical landscapes, and the Grand Canyon Suite remains his masterwork—five movements that musically depict the vastness and majesty of one of America's natural wonders.

This Canadian Somerset pressing is particularly noteworthy for collectors of both classical crossover and exotica recordings. Somerset Records, though often dismissed as a budget label, actually produced some remarkably well-engineered albums during this period, and their pressings tend to be quieter and more detailed than many contemporaneous budget releases. The 101 Strings Orchestra was perfectly suited to this material, bringing their signature sweeping string arrangements to Grofé's already cinematic composition. For collectors of mid-century orchestral music, this represents an excellent example of how classical works were reinterpreted for the suburban hi-fi market, complete with the kind of spacious stereo imaging that made these recordings popular demonstration pieces for audio enthusiasts of the era.

Retro Revolution Records – Halifax, Nova Scotia

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