Leroy Anderson was an American composer and conductor of light orchestral music, who wrote many pieces for the Boston Pops Orchestra before starting to record under his own name.

Described by film composer John Williams as “one of the great American masters of light orchestral music”, this collection demonstrates his unique talents. Highly educated and multi-lingual as well as a classically-trained pianist, for many years he combined his composing with his work in military intelligence at the Pentagon and serving in the Korean War. He specialised in short pieces with unusual and specific reference points, with his most successful compositions including The Syncopated Clock, and Sleigh Ride as well as his biggest hits, the US No.1s Blue Tango, The Typewriter and A Christmas Festival. His musical style employs creative instrumental effects and occasionally makes use of sound-generating items such as typewriters and sandpaper.

This 49-track collection comprises A- and B-sides of Decca singles by Leroy Anderson’s Pops Concert Orchestra from this era, and titles from his albums A Leroy Anderson Pops Concert and The New Music Of Leroy Anderson not otherwise released on singles. Alongside Blue Tango, A Christmas Festival and The Typewriter listeners will find Syncopated Clock and the UK hit Forgotten Dreams as well as  titles from his themed work Irish Suite and several tunes from the musical Goldilocks.

For his contribution to the recording industry, Anderson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1988, and his music continues to be a staple of “pops” orchestra repertoire.

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