Gordon Langford is widely acknowledged as one of England's most prolific
and versatile composer/arrangers. He has written for vocal groups, chamber
ensembles, brass bands, concert bands, jazz bands, 'light' orchestras and
symphony orchestras. Much of his output has been used in films, TV radio
and records. He is featured as pianist, conductor, arranger and conductor.
The concept girls includes girls by name or simply girls collectively.
The album consists of 14 easy listening tracks and begins merrily with the
catchy "Girls, Girls, Girls" and is followed by the equally melodic "Music
to Watch Girls Go By" with the distinctive sound of boo-bams (a set of tuned
bongos). "Stella by Starlight" by renowned film composer, Victor Young, has
the boo-bams too, and marimba. Langford's own relaxed "Pretty Girl by Moonlight"
carries a reference to Debussy's "Clair de lune". Purists will be shocked
at the wayward up-beat treatment of David Raksin's lovely theme from the
film Laura. "Dindi" is a nice melody spiced by subtly sensuous Latin
harmonics. "The Girl that I Marry" looses her innocence in this fast-tempoed
arrangement but Leonard Bernstein's "Maria" is essentially faithful to the
original yet strongly rhythmical with colourful orchestrations with emphatic
Latin brass. "Gwendoline" is a lively, slinky miss who is also a bit undecided
or simply a flirt? Stephen Foster's "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair",
used in a number of movies, is now a classic. "The Girl from Ipanema" is
a really catchy bossa-nova and Richard Rogers' "Have You Met Miss Jones?"
again features the boo-bams in this bright and breezy number. For "Anna"
muted strings play the romantic introduction before the brighter Latin American
rhythms entice Anna and her partner from their secluded corner table up onto
the dance floor - Ole! "Portrait of Jeannie" begins sentimentally again and
a trumpet converses about her with another trumpet on the other side of the
sound stage. They are clearly both ecstatic about Jeannie because the strings
are equally impressed and the drums and cymbals are all a flutter too - what
a girl. The final number is, of course, Girls, Girls, Girls full of enthusiasm
and exuberance.
Easy listening music that bridges the generations. Ideal party music.
Reviewer
Ian Lace
Gordon
Langford and his Orchestra 
