"Beast in the Basement" - Wurlitzer Pipe Organ Music - Audio Only - Leon Berry
1,272 views · Published 28 December 2018 · 34:55 · Indexed 26 October 2026
Channel: pakojoe · 2018 · Music
Thanks for being here! ☕ If you enjoy these videos and want to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee → https://buymeacoffee.com/upmy9cqst9 The Beast in the Basement is the pet name for the Wurlitzer pipe organ that Leon Berry, one of the country's most popular young organists, has installed where most people have ping-pong tables. Neighbors, hooting in derision as Leon struggled to get the full-sized two manual console through his 30-inch back door, gave the organ its name. A few held out for "Berry's Folly," and there were rude cries of "get a harmonica;" it's Leon, however, who has the last laugh—as proved by these first recordings made on this unique instrument. THE BEAST was originally housed in a theatre in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where it crouched, mutely collecting dust and gum wads, until Leon rescued it and gave it a home by his furnace. From then on, every night when he finished playing at the Hub Rink (scene of his memorable Glockenspiels, Traps and Plenty of Pipes recordings) Leon hurried home faster than usual. Pausing only to Iook in on sleeping Linda, age seven, he would disappear down the basement stairs and not emerge until dawn. The Beast is finished (at least until Leon latches onto a new set of pipes somewhere— organ owners practice cannibalism on neglected theatre installations without batting an eye—) and is beautiful to behold. The honey-colored mahogany console looks better than new, with its curved row of colored stop tablets and concealed fluorescent lighting. On the other side of the basement the expression shutters form one wall of the room; when they open, like great vertical Venetian blinds, they reveal the gleaming ranks of pipes sweeping in gracefully curved rows. To the left careful, don't trip over the automatic stoker—is the hardware section: glockenspiels, sleigh bells, xylophone, Chinese blocks, castanets, crash cymbal, bass drum, traps, and all the other accessories so dear to Leon's heart. Hanging in a glided cage beside the expression shutters is a mechanical canary bird who goes into action whenever a button marked "bird call" is pressed on the console. The walls are covered with photographs of famous organs and organists, and —well, you just can't hardly find this sort of basement anywhere. The Shiek of Araby - After you've recovered from the opening cymbal crash, you'll realise that this is neither a revival of "Chandu the Magician" nor the beginning of a J. Arthur Rank film—but just your old favorite, the Shiek, creeping into your tent along with some assorted percussion effects and a caravan of belly dancers. Fun. San Antonio Rose - If you ever thought this particular Rose had gone to seed, Leon has some news for you. She's blooming bigger and rosier than ever in this new and fast-paced version by the "master gardener of the console." Blue Hawaii The Moon of Manakoora Farewell (Aloha-oe) - If you aren't dreaming of little grass shacks and little grass skirts by the time you've heard these three, somebody's been putting something in your pineapple juice. Merry Widow Waltz - Allons, all out for Maxim's! There's a wealthy and incognito stranger from a small-but-powerful Balkan country waiting for you at that dimly-lit table behind the potted palm—and, according to Leon, she loves to waltz. Ukrainian Folk Dance - This authentic bit of folk music is a stranger to the pipe organ, but under Leon's deft handling it seems to belong. It's about as danceable as any music could be and your toes will be wiggling in your socks before you know what's going on. The Pacific Electric Trolley Waltz - This one dates back to the Gay Nineties, and on it our Bad Man of the Wide Open Organ takes us to a tavern on top of a very high mountain, paradoxically known as Mount Lowe, in California. Do You Ever Think Of Me - This one dates back, too, but to a more recent, if equally nostalgic, period. Leon's version has enough ricky-ticky flavor to please the purists who used to dance the Bunny Hug to it on Saturday nights. Red River Valley Cattle Call - Leon lopes along with these two gems from the Old West in fine style. There's a yodel effect on Cattle Call that'll have you saddling up Old Paint. Medley of Anchors Aweigh Coast Guard Song Marines' Hymn - The snare drums introduce this patriotic potpourri with snap and gusto. Play it some morning and watch the family march around the breakfast table. Maria, My Own - Or, as we say south of the you-know-what, Mario Mia. However you say it, here's Leon the Latin, giving the castanets a work-out. This one may bring back the Tango single-handedly, so remember, you heard it here first. Beer Barrel Polka - Leon rolls out the glockenspiels on this one—possibly the zippiest version of this old goodie you've ever heard. This might even bring back the Andrews Sisters.
