When You Wish Upon A Star

Frisell, Bill
Okeh
Jazz | Sep 2016

Reviews

Be Sharp
Reviewed 2016-09-27
JAZZ: ELECTRIC GUITAR

Guitarist Bill Frisell has an amazing ability to use the most varied of source material, covering Classical, country & folk, experimental rock, you name it. On this albums it’s songs and soundtrack portions from old movies and TV shows. Instruments are guitars, viola, bass, and drums. Some pieces have an female (alto) voice.

No FCC issues.


1 * Very slow. Lovely, melancholy duet for viola & electric guitar. (3:10)
2 Very slow. Pretty folk song melody, hidden within a tense, eerie mood. (4:52)
3 Very slow. James Bond theme song slowed way down. Gentle guitar comp. (5:10)
4 Fast. Theme from “Psycho” done in a stark semi-classical manner mostly on viola. Add a bit non-verbal vox. (1:58)
5 * Mid-slow. More from “Psycho”, now with more guitar & voice. Very spooky. (2:07)
6 * Very slow. Hit song from a movie (also done by Tony Bennett) is now slower, soulful, plaintive. Voice (singing the lyrics) accompanied by viola. Lovely guitar bridge. (5:10)
7 ** Fast. What might have been parody is pulled off superbly. Famous Western theme song is done brilliantly on electric guitar. Add a touch of voice for fun effect. (1:35)
8 ** Slow. Warm viola, bright elec guitar, non-verbal vocal. Starkly beautiful. (4:09)
9 Very slow. Depressingly somber. Viola & guitar try to out-mourn each other. (4:30)
10 * Mid-tempo. Lighthearted.viola, guitar, tra-la-la vocal. (4:35)
11 Very slow. Disney song slowed way down. I didn’t care for this as I did #7. (3:08)
12 Mid-slow. Tense, eerie, uncomfortable. Like the scary part of a horror film. (4:59)
13 ** Very slow. Another movie song done with lyrics (like 7 & 11). This one is just voice and guitar, and it’s very nice. (3:46)
14 Very slow. Somber melody on viola, a long drum roll, guitar joins. Hard going. (9:32)
15 * Very slow. Melancholy soundtrack. Peaceful & dreamy, less harsh than the last. (2:56)
16 Mid-tempo. Theme from the Roy Rogers Show. Faux Western Swing. Goofy. (1:49)

Recent airplay

Once Upon A Time In The West (Theme)
RebopDec 02, 2016
You Only Live Twice
No Cover, No MinimumDec 01, 2016
Happy Trails
Everything A to Z week 69Nov 28, 2016
Happy Trails
Clean Copper RadioNov 16, 2016
You Only Live Twice
At the Cafe BohemianNov 16, 2016
Psycho, Part 2, Psycho, Part 1
Everything A to Z week 65Oct 31, 2016

Charting

2016-10-04 — 2016-12-04 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Dec 4 3
Nov 20 2
Nov 6 1
Oct 23 1
Oct 16 1
Oct 9 1

Track listing

1. To Kill A Mockingbird, Part 1
2. To Kill A Mockingbird, Part 2
3. You Only Live Twice
4. Psycho, Part 1
5. Psycho, Part 2
6. The Shadow Of Your Smile
7. Bonanza
8. Once Upon A Time In The West (Theme)
9. Once Upon A Time In The West (As A Judgement)
10. Once Upon A Time In The West (Farewell To Cheyenne)
11. When You Wish Upon A Star
12. Tales From The Far Side
13. Moon River
14. The Godfather
15. The Bad And The Beautiful
16. Happy Trails