Enoch Light
Enoch Light was a popular bandleader of the 1940s and '50s who is best known for his Persuasive Percussion and Provocative Percussion albums of the mid-'50s. They were some of the first albums to exploit the capabilities of stereo recording and the practice of using 35mm film as a recording medium instead of tape.
During the '30s, he headed the Enoch Light and the Light Brigade big band. The Light Brigade primarily played in theaters and on the radio, although they also toured Europe. The band also managed a hit in 1937 with "Summer Night," which was sung by Johnny Muldowney.
After the Light Brigade disbanded, Light became a session musician, playing on various records and radio broadcasts, including Hit Parade. During the '40s, he recorded versions of popular hits for budget labels, for sale in discount stores.
Light's career bounced back in the late '60s, when the Charleston City All-Stars, under his direction, had a series of hit albums entitled Roaring 20's. After their success, he founded the Command record label, which gave him an outlet for his sonically adventurous records. Light happened to begin the label around the time stereo became widely available, and he exploited the new technology to its fullest, creating albums that used the full sonic spectrum of stereo. The first of these albums were Persuasive Percussion and Provocative Percussion, and they were wildly popular, charting in the American Top Ten. One of the most notable features of these albums were their "ping-pong stereo," which featured the music jumping from the left speaker to the right, and vice versa. During this time, Light and Command also pioneered the practice of using 35mm film instead of tape as a recording medium.
Light remained the managing director of Command until 1965. While he was the head of the label, he recorded classical albums, big-band records, and collections of film themes. After 1965, Command was bought out by ABC Records, who in turn was quickly bought out by MCA Records. MCA made Command into a budget label, pressing the albums on poor vinyl and putting them into discount stores. By 1970, the label was no longer profitable and MCA shut it down. Light continued working, both as an arranger/conductor and the head of Project 3 Records. His activity slowed in the '70s, though he did continue to record. Light died on July 31, 1978.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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The Remasters (All Tracks Remastered)
Lounge - Released by Millennium Digital Remaster on 6 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha/Tremendo Cha Cha/Tea for Two Cha Cha/Lover Cha Cha/Yes Sir, That's My Baby Cha Cha/The Sheik Cha Cha/Chiquita Cha Cha/Sweet and Gentle/Cara Mia Cha Cha/How High the Moon Cha Cha/Patricia/Guaglione (Full Album, I Want To Be Happy Cha Cha)
Pop - Released by JB Production CH on 27 Sep 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Big Band Bossa Nova (The New Beat from Brazil)
Bossa Nova - Released by Voices & History Records on 19 Jul 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Persuasive Percussion Volume 1-3
Jazz - Released by Marmot Music on 13 Jul 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Big Band Bossa Nova
Latin America - Released by SINETONE AMR on 6 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Percussion and Brass
Jazz - Released by SINETONE AMR on 30 Jul 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A New Concept Of Great Cole Porter Songs
Enoch Light, The Light Brigade
Jazz - Released by SINETONE AMR on 20 Mar 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Million Dollar Sound of the Worlds Most Precious Violins
Jazz - Released by SINETONE AMR on 11 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want To Be Happy Cha Cha's
Classical - Released by SINETONE AMR on 1 Jan 1958
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Private Life of a Private Eye
Pop - Released by SINETONE AMR on 3 Mar 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Classic
MPB - Released by Fabulous Jazz Records on 30 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Desafinado / One Note Samba (feat. The Command All-Stars / The Light Brigade) (All Tracks Remastered)
Lounge - Released by Hit Singles Records on 15 Apr 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
From Cha Cha Cha's to Bossa Nova's
Jazz - Released by Marmot Music on 17 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of The Original Roaring 20's
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by PnR on 1 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Big Band Bossa Nova - The New Beat From Brazil (Jazz Meets the Bossa Nova)
Jazz - Released by Nova 017 Ltd on 15 Mar 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Come Here Again With My Best Music
Latin America - Released by mbw music capital on 28 Jun 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Provocative Percussion, Vol. 4
Pop - Released by Leverage on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Big Band Bossa Nova - The New Beat From Brazil
World - Released by Itube on 15 Mar 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Percussion & Brass
Jazz - Released by Marmot Music on 13 Jul 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Provocative Percussion Volume 1 & 2
Jazz - Released by Marmot Music on 21 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo