Godfather Medley

This is my instrumental arrangement/medley of two of the most famous themes from “The Godfather” which was released in 1972, “The Godfather Waltz” and “Speak Softly Love”.

Both were composed by Italian composer Nino Rota, who is best known for his film scores, notably for the films of Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti. He also composed the music for two of Franco Zeffirelli’s Shakespeare films, and for the first two films of Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather trilogy, receiving the Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Godfather Part II  in 1974.

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The Moldau

This is my guitar instrumental arrangement of The Moldau, a symphonic poem by Bohemian composer Bedřich Smetana that evokes the flow of the Vltava River—or, in German, the Moldau—from its source in the mountains of the Bohemian Forest, through the Czech countryside, to the city of Prague. A devoutly patriotic work, The Moldau captures in music Smetana’s love of his homeland. Completed in 1874 and first performed the following year, the piece is the second movement of a six-movement suite, Má vlast (My Country), which premiered in its entirety in Prague on November 5, 1882.

I was inspired to create this after hearing a 1964 guitar-rock recording of this by P.J. and the Galaxies, a surf rock band from the Los Angeles area.

Albatross

This is my cover of the instrumental, “Albatross”, which was released in 1968 by Fleetwood Mac. It was composed by the group’s founder, Peter Green. Covered by the Shadows in 1980, the song has an “ambient” feel to it, which I have tried to preserve. Perhaps it was intended to convey a sense of the effortless flight of the wonderful birds.

Reef Break

This is my cover of “Reef Break”, originally recorded by the Atlantics, an Australian surf-rock group.

The Millionaire

This is my cover of “The Millionaire” which was as originally released as the “B-side” to “The Cruel Sea” in 1963 by the Dakotas, an English group. Yes, these are the same Dakotas that backed up Billy J. Kramer. “The Cruel Sea” peaked at #18 on the UK singles chart, but never charted in the USA.

Speed Queen Shimmy

“Speed Queen Shimmy” is an original instrumental intended to be in the style of early 1960s guitar rock similar to the Ventures.

Tammy

This is my instrumental cover of “Tammy“, which was written by composer Jay Livingston with lyrics by Ray Evans. It was published in 1957 and made its debut in the film Tammy and the Bachelor. It was nominated for the 1957 Oscar for Best Original Song. “Tammy” is heard in the film in two versions. The one that became a number one hit single for Debbie Reynolds in 1957 is heard midway through the film. The version that used for the film’s main titles was a hit for the Ames Brothers.

In 1961, Duane Eddy used the song as the “B-side” for his single “Drivin’ Home”. The Ventures also recorded a version which can be found on the collection, “In the Vaults Vol. 2”.

The Way You Look Tonight

This is my instrumental cover of “The Way You Look Tonight“,  originally from the film Swing Time. It was written by lyricist Dorothy Fields and composer Jerome Kern. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936.

Frank Sinatra’s 1964 version is probably the best known, but the Lettermen had their first hit with it in 1961.

The Ventures have a very nice version that is based on the Lettermen’s approach. It can be found on their album “In the Vaults, vol 1”.