Pop Goes the Ivories (CD)
$12.99
- Hungarian Dance #5
- Claire de Lune/Lara’s Theme (from Dr. Zhivago)
- Take the A Train
- Embraceable You
- Girl from Ipanema
- Talk to the Animals
- Born Free/Star Wars
- GABA
- Groovin’ High
- Spanish Eyes/Theme from Love Story
- Lonely Ones’ Medley: Rachmaninoff’s 18th Variation on a Theme by Paganini/Somewhere In Time/My Heart Will Go On (from ‘Titanic’)
- Autumn Leaves
In stock
In 1999, Roger Williams released “Pop Goes the Ivories,” recorded live at the historic Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis with his exceptional band: Michael George, David Johnson, Ed Finn, Gary Nesteruk, and Jimmy Carnelli. This album, his 115th, showcases Williams in his prime, mastering pop, be-bop, jazz, bossa nova, and classical styles with unmatched skill.
Unlike most of his recordings, “Pop Goes the Ivories” is a live album, with only two previous live recordings in his extensive discography. Williams’ brilliant arrangements, engaging medleys, and heartfelt performances on this album highlight his virtuosity, culminating in a rousing rendition of his iconic 1955 hit, “Autumn Leaves.”
1. Roger’s brilliant arrangement of Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5 features a dazzling blend of rapid fingerwork and jazz influences.
2. He engages the audience before performing a captivating medley that combines Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” with “Somewhere My Love (Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago”.
3/4. Next, Roger delivers Duke Ellington’s signature jazz tune, “Take the ‘A’ Train,” followed by a heartfelt rendition of George Gershwin’s “Embraceable You.”
5/6. To elevate the energy, Roger presents a jazzy take on the 1965 Brazilian hit and Grammy winner “The Girl from Ipanema,” followed by the lively “Talk to the Animals.”
7/8. Roger humorously reveals that the “Star Wars” theme is essentially his hit “Born Free” played upside down! He also shares his own composition, GABA, inspired by government lobby legislation.
9. The concert continues with a jazz classic, Dizzy Gillespie’s “Groovin’ High.”
10/11. Describing himself as an “Old Sentimental Fool,” Roger delights with a medley of love songs that touch the heart. He plays “Spanish Eyes,” “Love Story,” his hit record and movie soundtrack “Somewhere in Time,” Rachmaninoff’s 8th Variation on a Theme by Paganini, and Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On.”
12. Roger concludes the concert with his iconic 1955 hit, “Autumn Leaves,” which remains the best-selling piano instrumental recording of all time.
Roger Williams burst upon the music scene in 1955 when he recorded Autumn Leaves, the only piano instrumental recording to reach #1 on the Billboard singles charts with more than 2 million sold. It has become an American classic and still stands as the greatest selling piano recording of all time.
Known as “Mr. Piano”, Roger Williams went on to receive 21 Gold and Platinum albums. He was the first pianist to receive a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
On Roger Williams’ 80th birthday, Steinway presented him with the first art case piano ever built to honor a Steinway artist, known as the “Roger Williams Limited Edition Gold Piano.” Designed in art deco style by Joseph Sidorowicz, the piano “beautifully reflects the spirit and genius of this celebrated pianist.” Lyrics to the first verse of Autumn Leaves decorate the piano’s stunning gold metallic finish perimeter and falling autumn leaves appear between each line of the verse. Inside is an exquisite custom-painted landscape reflecting brilliant colors and hues of autumn foliage.
Williams was the first pianist Steinway & Sons honored with their “Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award” and was a featured artist in Steinway and Son’s 150th Anniversary at Carnegie Hall.
“His sweeping, sparkling arpeggios, fluid technique, and velvety smooth arrangements have made him, according to Billboard Magazine, the greatest selling pianist in history.”
— PAUL SCHAFFER
Over five decades, Williams’ hits charted on Billboard, including Born Free, Impossible Dream, Maria, Lara’s Theme, Till, Near You, Almost Paradise, Two Different Worlds, Nadia’s Theme, and Somewhere in Time. Over his career, Williams recorded over 100 albums, with 38 hit albums and 22 hit singles.
His recent successes were the recordings, Roger Williams Plays Your All-Time Favorites, and the two-part CD The Legendary Roger Williams, which became Reader’s Digest’s biggest-selling items.
“Undeniably one of the greatest pianists of the 20th Century. His illustrious career in music is unparalleled.”
— READER’S DIGEST
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