George Wright Plays the Pasadena Studio Organ

[wurli239]

Once again the MASTER at work.....No one will ever come close to him.... a true genius !!!

[warmlandlass1]

omigosh, Chuckwsr--you have NO idea how happy this makes me, I am absolutely thrilled to have you share this info with me...thank you with all my heart ;)

[Chuckwsr]

@warmlandlass1- You are welcome! BTW, I was at Borders Books the other night and looked George up on their computer listings. They don't have them in stock but they can get them in a couple of weeks for - now get this- $ 3.99 each. I believe one of the listings has what you are looking for. If someone could tell me how to upload these, I would be glad to post as many as I can. I fortunately have been able to acquire a rather nice collection.

[warmlandlass1]

@Chuckwsr OMG...my local important source wants an absolute fortune for each and every one of the CD's I wanted--and I gave him quite the list (big) PLEASE, STAY IN TOUCH...I am a dyed-in-the-wool fan of this particular man's talents on the mighty wurlitzer--(so very few folks have not a clue what you and I are on to..)

[Chuckwsr]

@warmlandlass1 - I happened across what I believe is a recording of Hernando's Hideaway by George here on YouTube. The poster had no notes at all about the selection but I recognized it from one of several recordings I have. Check it out and see if you agree. In the YouTube search bar type- "ADLER & ROSS - HERNANDO'S HIDEAWAY.wmv" and see if you agree with me that this is one of George's recordings. They are so distinctive they're hard to miss.

[poplarboydavid]

Love it!

[MrVideoRater1]

George Wright...the best ever theatre organist, he knew instinctively what worked and what didn't. If a theatre organ could play itself, through it's own soul, I reckon this is what it would sound like.

[OzzieJohnFerguson]

George Wright's playing was always brilliant and so musical.

[warmlandlass1]

"Quiet Village" "Brazilian Sleigh Bells" "The Honky Tonk Train" are just 3 of many titles I'm looking for--anybody???

[Chuckwsr]

@warmlandlass1 Got'em or many of them. Just got to figure out how to upload them. They are available from Banda Records-where I got some of mine. Others I was lucky enough to either find or buy elsewhere. The George Wright Encores is a double CD along with the one containing Brazil, Ebb Tide, Roller Coaster, Dancing Tambourines, etc.

[slowdog294]

Gotta love Sir George. He was and still is the BEST.

[warmlandlass1]

@slowdog294 absolutely and totally~!

[MrVideoRater1]

@slowdog294 Some organists come close or very near equal on the odd piece of music now and again...but very few [if any] seem to get it "Wright" on everything they play. Also, I've noticed that other organists try to replicate the George Wright sound, they might even use the some registration, yet never quite nail it somehow. Why is that?

[Diapasonic]

Only one LP copy of "Reel George" was ever made,. and that was the property of the late, great Don Leslie. All but four of the tracks on that planned LP made it onto GW's first two Dot LPs.

[wurli239]

George at his best, more PLEASE.

[warmlandlass1]

@wurli239 I cut my musical teeth to the pipe organ genius of George Wright as a small child--does anybody have a CD to upload of "George Wright Encores" ( to name one only of several LP's that are stored at my father's home) and any other titles that come to mind--this music is priceless to me, and I'd value any help or input anyone has--many thanks~!

[Chuckwsr]

@warmlandlass1 I hav many of his recordings on LP & CD. The CD's are available from Banda records. You can find them on google. If I knew how to upload them I would be glad to do so. I want someone to upload the first album with Brazil, Jealousy, and other goodies on it. I have that one on both lp and cd. I also cut my teeth on George's recordings. I love them all!

[521wurlitzer]

I faintly remember an ad in the Schwann Catalog for an album titled " Reel George" that was never actually released. Lady could have been Ruth Carson Bob Carson's wife. For those who don't know, Bob and Ruth Carson rented the home of the late Joe Kearns which contained the Wurlitzer organ used by Lyn Larsen for several recordings and by George for the "Sounds of Love" album.

[RonRizzy]

This album originally, was intended to be "Let George Do It" Vol. II......title never made it, and rumor is speculated that the "lady" in the cover photo in the background is another very famous name in the TO world....

[521wurlitzer]

The song is "Lets Face The Music and Dance" from a Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers movie "Follow The Fleet" (1936). Song was written by Irving Berlin

[chrissand1]

wow, really awesome, which piece is he playing?

[yamaho5]

The organ was owned by Don Leslie and it was in a building at the Leslie factory in Pasadena and one day I was privileged to play it, thanks to Steve Sharp who invited me to play it. It was a miracle from God!

[steamrocks]

@yamaho5 Lucky You! Too bad the technology wasn't in place to SAMPLE it back then!

[TheProudAmerican777]

Have your checked out the 3 manual Wurlitzer at South Pasadena High School? It is a beautiful piece of work and I mean that truly. It has the origional black finish and everything. It almost looks like the organ @ 1:23

[yamaho5]

Thanks for telling me about it, I will try to check it out the next time I am in Pasadena.

[TheProudAmerican777]

There is also a very friendly Allen Dealership near a private ambulance co.

[yamaho5]

It has been a long time, but the fellas name may have been Paul Sharp. He was working at Rodgers in Portland the last time I knew. I will always be grateful to him.

[521wurlitzer]

From the album "George Wright at the Movies". Never rereleased on CD only on LP. Released after organ was destroyed by fire.

[Fergophone]

What a fabulous sound, I have a lot of GW's tracks but I haven't heard this one before. An inspiring rendition!

[TrompenCham167]

He was so lucky to have such a large Wurlitzer instrument in his own studio and also being the organist at the Fox Theatre in San Fransisco he was a very lucky man. I'd do anything for my own theatre organ in my home.

[521wurlitzer]

Did George know?

[yamaho5]

Never had a chance to tell him because he would never return my phone calls.

[yamaho5]

God is good. I got to play this organ in 1969 thanks to the courtesy of a engineer at the Leslie factory where this organ was. It belonged to Don Leslie and was at his factory. George sold the console in 1972 when we were playing for Conn at the Namm show in Chicago for $3500.