RetroTrash

JAMES LAST



NOTES ON THE ABOVE
Another musician of German origins, like Kaempfert, Last later became known as the 'king of non-stop dancing'. Born in Bremen as Hans in 1929, Last would prove his alacrity at grasping the structure of a song by being able to immediately duplicate it. It was this ability that would stand him in good stead as he went on to record thousands of songs at a prolific rate, some experts estimating that if his output were to be averaged out, his records could have been released one every 11 days. Last started out as a bass player, playing with the Radio Bremen Orchestra, then later joining the staff at Polydor where he would stay for the next 30 odd years. By the early sixties he became a recording artiste in his own right, mixing a variety of styles, including the popular Tijuana style of brass. Having an innate ability to learn medleys straight off, he went on to produce a mixed medley whereby a 5 minute song could be stretched out into a 25 minute monster. It was his foray into these instrumentals that Polydor released under the title of Non-stop Dancing for which he will forever be associated. But like most music of this style, it's all a matter of taste. Europe loved it, America loathed it, thus confining his millions of sales to Europe. Last still makes music and still continues to sell in large numbers, although not as well as during his heyday in the sixties and seventies. Unlike Kaempfert, Last's records are a bit half-and-half; half with him on the cover, half with out, and usually a pretty girl like the small selection above. More to be added. To view larger images use the Database
BACK	GALLERIES	HOME	DATABASE	NEXT