The
Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra and Chorus –
Rarities
CD Compilation, 1984
See For Miles
On some days I prefer the Andrew
Loog Oldham Orchestra than say the original Rolling Stones
recordings. As a youngster I would poop over these recordings, but
now, as an adult, I admire their arrangements as well as the vision.
And Oldham is a man of great vision. He not only saw the Stones for
what they were (not are!) but the big picture that they can
eventually do movies and why not do an orchestrated record of their
hits as well?
The
film thing never worked out – especially their “A Clockwork
Orange” film project, but Oldham did in a sense had Jagger and
Richard as the court songwriters in the world of Andrew and his
Immediate record label among other things. A vision I think that the
boys themselves didn't have, but Andrew understood the importance of
an organization and everything being in one house or home. That of
course,didn't last forever. But those years for both the Stones and
Oldham were golden. I love Andrew's orchestration of the Stones an
other songs from that era. Of course he was influenced by Brian
Wilson's work with the Beach Boys as well as with Jack Neitzsche and
Phil Spector's recordings, but I feel Oldham added his own touch to
the art of the orchestration. Maybe a tad more British sounding or
sensibility. The
Rolling Stones Songbook is
the classic album, but Rarities
which
is a combination of the hits from the orchestra as well as the
b-sides and some of the odder work - especially the Lionel Bart
album, is a classic in itself. A throw-away classic but nevertheless
a great one.
Strange enough when he does “Da
Doo Ron Ron” it falls flat compared to the Spector recording, but
his take on the Stones songbook is quite amazing. He really tears
apart the songs and adds a bittersweet quality to the overall work.
With Spector I can see the night, and the Beach Boys the afternoon,
but Oldham converys the British stormy cold bitter weather. And for
me that is what makes the Oldham Orchestra so special to me. The
sadness that creeps into the music adds another element to the world
of the Stones. And again, I don't think Mick or Keith would see it
that way, but the man with the vision truly understands the
depressing aspect that lurks inside pop music.
