Costandinos & Symphonic Orchestra

[Jeff H]

During a long-overdue visit to my favorite local used vinyl store, I bought an LP titled "Alec R. Costandinos and The Symphonic Orchestra featuring Alirol & Jacquet." <whew!> The cover shows a nearly-nude woman playing a bass (or cello or whatever) that's between her legs--but the suggestive photo is not surprising considering that this is a Casablanca release from 1979.

The LP was produced by Costandinos and arranged by a Raymond Jiminez, and most of the songs were written by "G. Alirol" and "A. Jacquet." I liked Side 1, which has that densely orchestrated sound that Costandinos is known for. (The third cut on Side 1 is titled "Pontius Pilate," and the sparse lyrics seem very timely in light of Mad Mel's controversial film.)

But Side 2??! Three rock-tinged dirges that are almost unlistenable! :o Tuneless and boring; I wish I could offer a better description of these songs, but I really couldn't bear to listen a second time. The huge difference between Side 1 and Side 2 makes me wonder if the record I bought somehow had another LP's songs pressed onto Side 2!

So I'm wondering if anyone else is familiar with this LP and can comment. Thanks.

[Bernie]

Hi Jeff, long time no hear. I have the album you speak of and have the same feelings about Side B as you do-almost as bad as Witchqueen. I do enjoy "Synergy" quite a bit. I was recently playing Vivaldi's "Summe" Concerto and realized that is where Costandinos got the idea for Side A!

PS I thought I had this in the Vault, but I don't so I'll add it shortly.

[DiscoMan]

Nope that was Costandinos' swan song.
When he recorded that LP he was burned out and I don't believe he ever recorded music again. He has been in retirement since.

I love "Romeo and Juliet" and "Accidental Lover" but I remember some of his last music from back in the day and...

[BrunoRepublic]

Nope that was Costandinos' swan song.
When he recorded that LP he was burned out and I don't believe he ever recorded music again. He has been in retirement since.

He did Americana in '81, as well as producing several albums for other artists in the 80s.

[NickNack]

Hi there Jeff,

Oh, yes --- "Synergy" was the only reason for this lp initially touching the turntables. And once Casablanca gave out the 12" edit, I shelved the album altogether.

Funny, it was years later that I realized Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" were the 'force' behind this track. Of course, my lover laughed his ass off when I told him because he thought I knew this from day one. I hate musicians! :D

[Marcio**]

There's also Alec R. Costandinos & The Syncophonic Orchestras's "Hunchback of Notre Dame" LP produced by Alec R. Costandinos and arranged by Don Ray. Both sides are very good and very disco but the side 1 is great :) .

[Pizzazz]

Are we ever going to see Alec's catalogue reissued on cd ? That'll be a happy day, until then i'll continue to treasure the Unidisc 'Greatest Hits' cd. Anybody know anything of Alec's current whereabouts ?

[DiscoMan]

The last I read was that he was living in Paris.

[Bernie]

He is married and living in the US producing commercials...

[Pizzazz]

Hopefully you'll be able to interview him at some stage soon, Bernie ?

[Bernie]

Finally got around to adding this record to the Disco Records Vault A-Z along with cover and label scans.

Alec R. Costandinos & the Synchophonic Orchestra featuring Alirol and Jacquet (LP)

[Jimmy-Michaels]

mannn...this site really needs to be fixed, I cant "log in" to comment on this LP so this is what I say on it:

This record has got to be the worst thing Alec ever produced or put out. Other than the full length version of "Synergy" I really dont care for this at all and I am a die hard fan! "For Amusement Only" however is a hillarious track if ya ask me LOL. Listen close twards the end and you'll hear him say in a strange voice "i didnt wanna play this **** anyway" then follows with some strange noise he made. "Mangariva" I think Costandinos was inspired by the slow version of the James Bond theme to "Moonraker" and Bowie. Then the final song is like..comit suicide music LOL. I think "Americana" was a solid comeback after this garbage although alot disagree.

DJ Jimmy M

[Jimmy-Michaels]

I knew about that...what was happining is its not giving a "log in" option and just throwing me back to the home page.

[Bernie]

I knew about that...what was happining is its not giving a "log in" option and just throwing me back to the home page.

Are you saying that the form to log-in doesn't even appear? That is very rare and has its roots in some type of firewall program such as Norton... Check your settings in that program and report back.

Also, try loggin in through this page and see if that helps...
http://www.discomusic.com/members/login.php

[Chap2Power]

Wow, we're a feisty bunch, aren't we ?

I think at that time period as disco was evolving into new hybrids at the turn of the decade into 1980, everyone was trying something different.

We had Cerrone singing, Claudja Barry adding rock guitars, the intrusion of New Wave records and a ton of other either questionable, unmentionable or unpalatable moments, including "The Wanderer" by Donna Summer.

I'm not saying that anything was bad or good about any of these releases, but let's face facts. Everyone took chances. Costandinos was amongst them.

Vincent

[Jimmy-Michaels]

Wow, we're a feisty bunch, aren't we ?

I think at that time period as disco was evolving into new hybrids at the turn of the decade into 1980, everyone was trying something different.

We had Cerrone singing, Claudja Barry adding rock guitars, the intrusion of New Wave records and a ton of other either questionable, unmentionable or unpalatable moments, including "The Wanderer" by Donna Summer.

I'm not saying that anything was bad or good about any of these releases, but let's face facts. Everyone took chances. Costandinos was amongst them.

Vincent

Well, Costandinos was always diverse with his stuff. I mean he's before this horrable LP done some damn good pop, rock, jazz/funk and even rockish type ballads. Not to mention, he was a French pop producer before his disco days. The LP that came after the Ariol thingie was only released in France..but it was a damn good LP if ya ask me. Had the disco, pop and even closing the LP off with an instrumental Pink Floyd meets Eric Clapton rock ballad type thing.

[Nano]

I have this LP and agree totally with Nicky, that first track is the best one (that girl in the cover ain't bad, either :D ). However I'm not a fan of this genre ("Romeo & Juliet" makes me yawn). I didn't know this was based on Vivaldi, either...
About Costandinos' "demise" I think by 1980 it was already obvious that "funky disco" and more rockish sounds were getting reign and "violin disco" was on the wane. Some guys tried to change teams to survive, most of them to no avail (think KC & The Sunshine Band releasing "Let's go rock and roll" :o ). Probably that was the case with that Costandinos' side B. Other -few- people managed to do better, like Giorgio and Donna, and survived another season.

[usagi-san]

Nice pink dress lady on the cover. I enjoy this album a lot. I always liked Vivaldi and "Synergy" is probably also my favorite on the album. But "The Rite Of King Gymenaud" is almost as good disco." "Pontius Pilate" is cool kind of mysterious midtempo thing with chants. "For AMusement Only" is a lot of fun, strange and cool. "Mangareva" has a pretty into and nide chorus sentiments. "Benedite" is a nice ballad.

[Jimmy-Michaels]

"Mangariva"..the explination for this song I belive (in my oppinion) is Costandinos had just got done listening to the James Bond "Moonraker" soundtrack and ripped off the ballad version of the theme LOL. They sound near identical! If you listen close in the back vocals you can also hear a tinge of Bowie ballads.