Enoch Light - Persuasive Percussion

Special edition limited to 1,000 pressings

To modern ears, Enoch Light is known as one of the forbears of the art deco "space-age bachelor pad" scene of the late 1950s and early '60s. This is due to Light's technical collaborations with Terry Snyder's Command All-Stars. Although once a big-band leader and musical arranger in the 1930s and '40s, Light started Command Records, one of the first audiophile-oriented labels. His primary innovations involved extreme stereo mixing as well as recording onto 35 millimeter film, as opposed to the traditional magnetic-based tape. The results allowed for greater fidelity as well as a more permanent and stable method of archiving. Persuasive Percussion (1959) is the long-player that started off the multi-volume releases, which also boasted the companion series Provocative Percussion.

Persuasive Percussion offers listeners songs to test the technical elements of their stereo setups. On "I'm In The Mood For Love," you can hear the two bongos of different tonality from the two different channels. "Whatever Lola Wants" offers the same demonstration of instruments emitting separately from the left and right speakers. Other songs help listeners judge the tracking definition and pickup compliance of their systems.

Each of the albums included a dozen interpretations of popular music standards with highly stylized arrangements centering on full-bodied organ solos as well as significant augmentation from bongos, maracas, and a variety of additional hand-percussion instruments. The melodies were often given light and easy listening interpretations featuring Dick Hyman (keyboards) and Tony Motolla (guitar). For retro fans, the kitschy swirl of "I'm in the Mood for Love" and the dark and edgy "Miserlou" rank among the platter's best.