Classical Gassers / Various - CD

At first glance the worlds of classical music and pop might seem diametrically opposed - the former signifying straight-backed refinement and the latter youthful rambunctiousness - but as these two dozen tracks attest, there are occasions when these unlikely bedfellows have resulted in a harmonious union. The great composers have never shied away from taking inspiration from each other, so, too, contemporary songwriters have drawn from the well of memorable melodies, often to add gravitas or simply to enhance a song's catchiness. From ELP to Lana Del Rey, Muse to Lady Ga Ga, this is nothing new. Focusing on the 1960s, "Classical Gassers" explores this unlikely meeting of the twain with recordings ranging from rocked-up instrumentals to lush countrypolitan ballads. While some are unabashed in their use of the composer's original, others tread more lightly, giving the piece a new dimension entirely. Recorded between 1960 and 1971, this eclectic selection includes hits by James Darren, the Toys, Waldo de Los Rios, Julie Rogers, Love Sculpture and the Mindbenders, album tracks by Roy Orbison and Harpers Bizarre, and lesser-heard finds by the Cats, Renee St Clair, Lesley Miller and the Pulse.