"Columbia, Gem of the Ocean" - Carmen Dragon arranger / conductor

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Composed in the 1840s, this American patriotic song was long used as an unofficial national anthem of the United States. Conductor/arranger Carmen Dragon recorded over 30 LPs for 'Capitol' during the 1950s, firstly with the Hollywood Bowl Symphony and later with the Capitol Symphony Orchestra. All but four of these LPs were made in California but this track comes from one of the four that Carmen Dragon made on a visit to London in 1959. It is splendidly played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, though still listed as the Capitol Symphony on the sleeve, and comes from an LP entitled "Over the Waves." Carmen Dragon collectors will be pleased to know that all his 'Capitol' recordings have now been released on CD by 'Scribendum.'