1954 HITS ARCHIVE: Lady Of Spain - Dick Contino

[@pgh45rpms]

The fingers are flying but they never leave the hand.

[@mrtchaikovsky]

This is such a nice comment.

[@francesco-veronese]

Bellissima performance! Quando chi suona è un puro sangue. Grande merito al compositore

[@Bongofurry]

FIRE !

[@alanbuxbaum3190]

My memory is that every accordion player would play this on Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour.

[@geneklosinski348]

Yes, I too played Lady Of Spain, Dick Contino style, and won the Ted Mack Show 3 times. back in 1962. My 1st and 3rd show was Dick's arr. of Lady of Spain, and show #2 was Around the World in 80 Days, but a flashy arr. containing quick-paced Latin and ending with a modulation, up to a bang. Dick Contino was, and still is, the GREATEST SHOWMAN playing the ACCORDION!

[@steveknows62]

Brilliant!

[@susanp.collins7834]

How many fingers has this guy?

[@odg8820]

James Ellroy favorite

[@joecharrette9335]

I couldn't find any chart info on this version by Dick (at least on Billboard and Cash Box. Have no info on whether it charted on Music Vendor)

[@steveknows62]

He refused to go to fight in Korea, following which his career was derailed. As in, Who?

[@geneklosinski348]

This arrangement is the one Dick Contino that heused on his LP album titled Record Album LP Dick Contino: at the Fabulous Flamingo in Las Vegas VG+ Vinyl | eBay Dick was so talented. that he would present with many of several of his own arrangements, each slightly different to keep it fresh, although they all were with orchestration! One of my favorites was Ciriberibin!!s

[@arturocamillacci]

​@@steveknows62 That's not quite correct. He was hazed and bullied during pre-induction due to anti-italian prejudice and racism of his training officers, to the point that he went AWOL. He was court-martialed and spent some time in military jail, but was eventually readmitted into service and honourably discharged.

[@albertnevaras3465]

Dick Contino

[@susanp.collins7834]

Sounds like a cross between Myron Floren and Spike Jones and his City Slickers!