The Basement Tapes, Vol. II: Home Recordings 1958-1959 EP features unreleased demos and alternates by New England rock and roll band Hap Snow’s Whirlwinds made in a basement home recording studio in Weston, Massachusetts. The opening track, “Where’s Harry?,” is an original composition by saxophone player Harry Lewis.
Hap Snow’s Whirlwinds – The Basement Tapes, Vol. II: Home Recordings 1958-1959 EP
The second track is an alternate version of “Chop It,” a Hap Snow tune again featuring the wailing sax of Harry Lewis and some of pianist Art Bearon’s most spirited play. “Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay” and “St. Louis Blues Mambo,” two covers, are also included. Snow sings lead vocal on the former, the only non-instrumental in this collection. The final track is a semifinal version of “Banshee,” the single Hap Snow’s Whirlwinds later released on Fleetwood Records in 1959.
Hap Snow’s Whirlwinds – The Basement Tapes, Vol. II: Home Recordings 1958-1959 EP back
Like Volume I of The Basement Tapes, the musicians featured from the early years of the band include pianist Art Bearon, saxophone player Harry Lewis, guitar player James K. “Hap” Snow, and drummer Stefano Torossi. Here’s a video album featuring all five tracks:
DOWNLOADS
The Basement Tapes, Vol. II: Home Recordings 1958-1959 EP
a zipped file with album art is available in MP3 format:
Two recent collections from Hap Snow’s Whirlwinds are also available for download.
The Basement Tapes, Vol. I: Home Recordings 1958-1959 EP
Hap Snow’s Whirlwinds – The Basement Tapes, Vol. I: Home Recordings 1958-1959 EP
featuring:
- Banshee (Early Take) (Instrumental) 2:20 (Snow/Bearon/Torossi)
- Chop It (Instrumental) 2:41 (Snow)
- Piano Blues (Instrumental) 2:54 (Bearon)
- Sweet Little Sixteen 1:32 (Berry)
- Macabre #2 (Banshee Early Version) (Instrumental) 2:11 (Snow/Bearon/Torossi)
a zipped file with album art is available in MP3 format:
In The Studio: The Complete Recordings 1959-1964 EP
Hap Snow’s Whirlwinds – In The Studio: The Complete Recordings 1959-1964 EP
featuring:
- Banshee (Instrumental) 2:14 (Snow/Bearon/Torossi)
- Bottoms Up (Instrumental) 2:31 (D’Angelo/Bearon)
- Let’s Have a Party 2:42 (Snow)
- Len’s Hassle (Instrumental) 1:57 (Hochman)
- Back Again 2:31 (Fradkin)
a zipped file with album art is available in MP3 format:
Some Early Holiday Music From Stefano Torossi
The drummer on the five Basement Tapes’ tracks, Stefano Torossi, has eight compositions with long-time musical collaborators songs on the just-released Xmas Party – Alternative Version of Classical Xmas Songs on Flippermusic.
Various Artists – Xmas Party – Alternative Version of Classical Xmas Songs (2013) Flippermusic
Songs listed below include the opening track with pianist Amedeo Tommasi, four with fellow composer Claudio Gizzi, two written with vibraphonist Romolo Forlai (who first played with Torossi in The Flippers in 1960), and the final piece with guitarist Giuseppe Natale:
- Christmas Is Here
- Tu scendi dalle stelle
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Angels
- Happy Sleigh
- Christmas Star
- Silent Night
- Christmas Fever
Xmas Party – Alternative Version of Classical Xmas Songs is currently available as a Digital Download at Amazon USA among other popular music retailers.
These songs are also found on the Season’s Greetings collection put out by Italy’s Primrose Music a few years ago.
Various Artists – Season’s Greetings (2000s) Primrose Music
Season’s Greetings is still available as a Digital Download at iTunes USA among other popular music retailers.
The Flippers’ “Bianco Natale Cha Cha” from 1960
Torossi’s first recorded holiday music was “Santa Notte E Cha Cha,” and “Bianco Natale Cha Cha,” a 45 with The Flippers in 1960. Torossi’s given co-writing credit for “Santa Notte E Cha Cha Cha,” with original author Franz Gruber, on the A-side and he arranged “Bianco Natale Cha Cha (White Christmas)” on the B-side.
The Flippers’ “Bianco Natale Cha Cha (White Christmas)” is on YouTube:
hap snow's whirlwinds 