So off into the world of Muzak archives we go, to our earliest recording sessions. We know the names of nearly all of the musicians and the songs they recorded on specific dates thanks we call our ‘Blue Books’. These books are filled with session charts or stage reports that document the date, band leader, number of musicians, studio, engineer, master number, composer, publisher, and titles recorded at each Muzak session.

Our earliest stage reports from 1934 lack some of the information registered in later sessions, but they still give us an unprecedented look into the past.  A picture of one of the very first stage reports is captured at left.

Our records show that one of the first Muzak recording sessions featured a touring Italian brass band called the ‘National Fascist Militia Band’. Yes folks, this was just prior to WWII and the band was Mussolini’s own Italian marching band, with their American tour scheduled in mid 1934. The tour’s slogan was “Uniting the Hearts of Italy and America”.  Turns out that Mussolini also booked his band in Nazi Germany. During the National Fascist Militia Band’s one and only American tour in the summer of ’34, Carnegie Hall was one of their first stops, followed by a visit to Muzak’s sound studio in Manhattan.

At this session Muzak’s producer Ben Selvin, recorded over 25 songs and marches, including:  To Arms (Fascist Anthem), Royal Italian March, the Meistersinger Overture, the William Tell Overture and the Star Spangled Banner (ironic).  I’m not sure how often these recordings were played after the war began, but they sure made a power musical statement as part of Muzak’s initial library. After hearing these recordings, current producer and Muzak digitizing expert Joe Carter concludes that they are true masterpieces performed by exquisite musicians.

In 1934 we also recorded the likes of the Metropolitan Opera, Joe Venuti’s Orchestra (renowned jazz violinists, featuring vocalist Louie Prima in “Confessing”, found on our 75th website), Harold Kemp and his Orchestra (first “sweet” dance band), Frank Luther Quintet (legendary Hilly Billy band leader), Edwin Franco Goldman Band (renowned military band that played for over 90 years), the St. Bartholomew Choir, and  the Harry Salter Orchestra (played with Gene Krupa, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw and Jack Teagarden).  All in all during 1934, over 250 tracks in 7 different music genres were recorded by Muzak’s producer extraordinaire, Ben Selvin. Not bad for a company in their first year of operation.

We are currently digitizing many of these tracks from Muzak’s 1934 archive and are excited to give you a taste over the next few weeks.  Stay tuned!

Contributed by Bruce McKagan

Charlotte, NC – April 8, 2010

Loungevty - 2nd Full CD release for Cagle & Nash

“Loungevity” is songwriting/producing duo Cagle & Nash’s second release in less than a year following hot on the heels of their first project “Soul Complete.” Well, unless you count their holiday single release “Celebrate the Holidays.”

The title “Loungevity”is a play on the word longevity that only serves to indicate the mood and tone of these 11 songs. Each of them is uniquely crafted. The lack of an overall theme is intentional. The strategy is to deliver some of the duo’s best arrangement and production yet. Songs from this CD like “If Only,” “I Don’t Mind,” and “Big Ol Empty Room” are destined to receive airplay across at least three genres (smooth Jazz, Soul/R&B, and Pop). The A cappella song “You Remind Me” is a cross between McFerrin and Take 6 with a nice poignant lyric and all vocals supplied by Greg Cagle. Very hip! Very cool! The lead-off track “Straight to LA” delivers plenty of punch and puts the “it’s a brand new day” attitude in your mind. Refreshing! “The Grass was Always Greener” is another up-tempo tune with a full horn section kicking butt and some great solos by Jon Thornton on trumpet, Tim Gordon on alto sax, and none other than French jazz guitarist Daniel Domenge.

This project consists of an all-star line-up of David Rhyne, David Floyd of Floyd’s Produce, Kenneth Leonard Jr. (of Anthony Hamilton band), Jon Thornton, Tim Gordon, and a host of others accompanying Greg Cagle and Rick Nash. Exquisite touches of Robyn Springer and others provide background vocals. Arrangements are Cagle, Nash, and Bobby Aycock. Both Cagle & Nash share production. All compositions are co-penned by Cagle and Nash.

“Loungevity” – Cagle & Nash
PREVIEW ALL 11 TRACKS

We are provided you with a streaming preview for each full song by simply clicking on the hyperlink Song Titles below.  Doing so takes you to our ReverbNation page as well

1. STRAIGHT TO LA  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
2. Dream My Life Away  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
3. I Don’t Mind  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
4. If Only  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
5. The Grass Was Always Greener  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
6. Black Tie Affair  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
7. Big Ol’ Empty Room  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
8. A Little Bit of Attention   (CLICK TO LISTEN)
9. You Remind Me  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
10. Mmmm… Paradise  (CLICK TO LISTEN)
11. Road Kinda Cool  (CLICK TO LISTEN)

Songs Written By:  Gregory Cagle / Richard Nash
Produced By: Rick Nash / Greg Cagle
Arranged By: Greg Cagle, Rick Nash & Bobby Aycock
Recorded By: David Rhyne @ Traffic Sounds

Now Available for Digital Download

Download via iTunes
http://tinyurl.com/LoungevityiTunes

Download via Amazon MP3
http://tinyurl.com/LoungevityAmazon

Download via CD Baby
http://tinyurl.com/LoungevityCDBaby

Download via the facebook
http://tinyurl.com/facebookstore

“Loungevity” is songwriting producing duo Cagle & Nash’s second release in less than a year following hot on the heels of their first joint project “Soul Complete”. Well that is unless you count their holiday single release “Celebrate the Holidays”

The title Loungevity” is a play on the word Longevity that only serves to indicate the mood and tone of these 11 songs. Each of them is crafted uniquely, the lack of a theme is intentional, the intent more to deliver some of the duo’s best arrangement and production yet. Songs from this CD like “If Only”, “I Don’t Mind” and “Big Ol’ Empty Room” are destined to receive airplay across at least three genres (smooth Jazz, Soul/R&B and Pop). The a cappella song “You Remind Me” (except for piano) is a cross between McFerrin and Take 6 with a nice poignant lyric and all vocals supplied by Greg Cagle. Very hip! Very cool! The leadoff track “Straight to LA” delivers plenty of punch and puts the “it’s a brand new day” attitude in your mind. Refreshing! “The Grass was Always Greener” is another up-tempo tune with a full horn section kicking butt and some great solos by Jon Thornton on trumpet, Tim Gordon on alto sax and the none other than French jazz guitarist Daniel Domenge.

This project consists of an all-star line-up of David Rhyne, David Floyd of Floyd’s Produce, Kenneth Leonard Jr (of Anthony Hamilton band) Jon Thornton and Tim Gordon and a host of others accompanying Greg Cagle and Rick Nash. Little exquisite touches of Robyn Springer and host of others on background vocals. Arrangements are Cagle, Nash and Bobby Aycock and both Cagle & Nash share Production. All compositions are co-penned by Cagle and Nash.

Greg Cagle and Rick Nash grew up in small town Concord (NC) back when it was hip to listen to cats like James Brown, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, the Four Tops, and The Temptations. Cagle & Nash crossed paths for the first time at the young ages of 15 and16 respectively. Back then they called them “basement” bands—Doug & The Soul Review, The Tamrons and a host of others. Then there were the “working” bands like Sugarcreek where both Greg and Rick played on more than one occasion. Cagle continued to build his catalog of original material and honed his composing and arranging skills. Meanwhile Nash went on to study studio recording and production under none other than Mark Williams (engineer on projects of R.E.M., Don Dixon, and James Brown fame).

Fast forward to late December when they began work on their critically acclaimed CD project entitled “Soul Complete” which was 11 sons that were each singles in their own right with R&B genre chart action in Cashbox Magazine and Smooth Jazz chart action on smoothjazz.com’s Indie Charts. That release was immediately followed by a Christmas season release “Celebrate the Holidays”

This newest release “Loungevity” is being targeted to those same markets as “Soul Complete” was and is taking the song arrangement and production up a new level for Cagle & Nash. Expect more good things with two additional releases in the works

David Floyd of Floyd's Produce

When it comes to the masters of strings arrangements , David Floyd is one of those folks in the “A” List that immediately comes to mind. He has quite a strong reputation in the Charlotte area for more than 35 years and has built up a large clientele in Nashville as well in the past 10 years.

David and I played in a band together back in the “%&*ties” where he showed his R&B chops on such funky keyboard stuff diverse ad Herbie and Horace to Stevie as well.

When we started contemplating how best to sweeten these tracks of ours for this “Soul Complete” project, the first name out of my mouth was David Floyd of Floyd’s Produce. We’ve given him three of the tracks thus far and got back an incredible score already on “Any Where You Wanna Go” (I’ll try to get a rough mix up in the next few days).

The transparency and the tastefulness he captured with a sixties string sound is beyond compare. We are very excited to have him working on this project with us and cannot wait to share his gift when Cagle & Nash’s “Soul Complete” drops in a few short weeks.

Be sure to check out his MySpace Page and leave a comment and check out some of his fine strings samples on his Nashville Music Pros profile page.

http://www.nashvillemusicpros.com/profile/davidfloyd
http://www.davidfloyd.us
http://www.myspace.com/floydsproduce