Music for Moonlight Madness (1959) by the Monte Carlo Strings is a first-rate LP of orchestral easy listening produced by Enoch Light for his Grand Award label. Light would go on to delight early stereo enthusiasts with his high quality releases for Command Records.
No musicians are credited on Music for Moonlight Madness, but the arrangements are by Lew Davies who would continue to work with Light at Command.
This record seems to attract the attention of a fair number of collectors, probably due in large part to the cover art. It's done by Tracy Sugarman (1921-2013), who illustrated hundreds of books and LP covers during his 50-year career. Most of his album cover work was done for Grand Award and its predecessor, Waldorf Music Hall, a label formed by Light and two partners in 1954. Waldorf's 10- and 12-inch albums were sold exclusively in Woolworth stores until the label ceased operation in 1959.
Among the tunes on Music for Moonlight Madness is These Foolish Things. This standard dates from 1936 when there were no less than five hit recordings of it. Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (with vocalist Helen Ward) had the most success, holding down the No. 1 spot on the charts for two weeks.
These Foolish Things
Music for Moonlight Madness was the only release credited to the Monte Carlo Strings and it has not been released on CD. A download version, which is more than likely taken from a vinyl LP, is available in the U.K. but not in North America.
Here's another sample tune.
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