Axel Stordahl (August 8, 1913– August 30, 1963) was an arranger who was active from the late 1930s through the 1950s. He is perhaps best known for his work with Frank Sinatra in the 1940s at Columbia Records. With his sophisticated orchestrations, Stordahl is credited with helping to bring pop arranging into the modern age.
Early years
Stordahl was born in Staten Island, New York to Norwegian immigrant parents. He began his career as a trumpeter in jazz bands which played in several dance bands around Long Island and the Catskills during the late 1920s and early 1930s. He also began arranging around this time, and in 1933 he joined Bert Bloch's orchestra in both capacities. Over the next couple of years, Stordahl sang on the side in a vocal trio dubbed the Three Esquires.
Big bands
In 1935, he joined Tommy Dorsey's new orchestra and soon became the band's main arranger. In January 1940, Sinatra joined the group as vocalist, and it became apparent that Stordahl's arrangements were particularly well suited to the singer's voice.
"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as Secret Agent from 1964 to 1966. The song itself peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
History
According to composer P.F. Sloan, the American television network that licensed Danger Man, CBS, solicited publishers to contribute a 15-second piece of music for the opening of the U.S. show to replace the British theme, an instrumental entitled "High Wire". Sloan wrote the guitar lick and the first few lines of the song, with Barri (Sloan's songwriting partner) contributing to the chorus. This fragment was recorded as a demo by Sloan and Barri, submitted to CBS, and, to Sloan's surprise, picked as the show theme, which led to Sloan and Barri writing a full-length version of the song. The original demo of the song used the "Danger Man" title, as shown by the surviving demo of the song, which Sloan sang. When the show's title was changed, the lyrics were also changed. Ultimately, "High Wire" was also retained by CBS, as it played over the episode credits following the "Secret Agent" titles.
Secret Agent Man is a spy-fi television series that aired on UPN in 2000.
The series, created by writer Richard Regen, starred Costas Mandylor as Monk, a gallivanting secret agent, who was one of a team of agents that included Holliday, played by Dina Meyer and Davis, played by Dondre Whitfield. The team reported to Brubeck, played by Paul Guilfoyle. The frequent guest villain is the former agent Prima, played by Musetta Vander.
The series used an updated version of the 1960s Johnny Rivers hit, "Secret Agent Man", performed by Supreme Beings of Leisure, for its theme song. Because the original version of this song was also used as the theme song for American broadcasts of another television series, the 1960s British TV series, Danger Man (primarily broadcast in the U.S. as Secret Agent), there were some mistaken impressions that this series was somehow a spin off or remake of the earlier program, but other than the theme song, no connections were made evident.
Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra ''Dreamtime The Strings of Stordahl'' 1953
Pistas
A1 As Time Goes By
A2 A Blues Serenade
A3 It's Easy To Remember
A4 That Old Feeling
B1 Imagination
B2 What Is There To Say
B3 Love Letters
B4 I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
published: 05 Dec 2019
"Night and Day" (1942) Frank Sinatra with Axel Stordahl
"Night and Day" (1942) Frank Sinatra with Axel Stordahl
published: 06 Aug 2021
DREAM TIME-The Strings of Stordahl(1953)/Orchestra conducted by AXEL STORDAHL
as time goes by
a blues serenade
it's easy to remember
that old feeling
imagination
what is there to say?
love letters
i’m getting sentimental ouer you
published: 21 Dec 2021
Axel Stordahl - Neiani
Axel Stordahl
Neiani
Jasmine & Jade (1960)
Dot Records (DLP 25282)
published: 18 Feb 2013
Axel Stordahl - The Moon of Manakoora (1960)
The Moon of Manakoora
Composer: Alfred Newman
Performer: Axel Stordahl & Orchestra
Label: Dot DLP 25282 - Track A3
Recorded: 1960
published: 08 May 2011
Axel Stordahl - Imagination (1953)
Imagination from the LP 'Dreamtime'
Composer: Jimmy Van Heusen
Performer: The Strings Of Axel Stordahl
Label: Capitol H445 - Track B1
Recorded: 1953
published: 31 Oct 2011
Frank Sinatra - The Coffee Song 1946 Axel Stordahl orchestra
Frank Sinatra - The Coffee Song 1946 - Axel Stordahl orchestra
published: 07 Oct 2012
Over the Rainbow (feat. Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra, the George Siravo Orchestra, Hugo...
Provided to YouTube by Universe Remasterings
Over the Rainbow (feat. Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra, the George Siravo Orchestra, Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra) · Frank Sinatra · Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra · the George Siravo Orchestra · Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra · Edgar Yip Harburg · Harold Arlen · Edgar Yip Harburg · Harold Arlen
The Voice: Songs by Sinatra / Swing and Dance with Frank Sinatra (1942 - 1951 Columbia Years)
℗ Universe Remasterings
Released on: 2013-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 07 Jun 2018
Rick Stephenson - As Vintage As It Gets - Volume 3 - These Foolish Things
Written by Eric Maschwitz and Jack Strachey in 1935, recorded by Frank Sinatra on Columbia Records in 1946. As always, a real joy to add my voice to this Axel Stordahl arrangement.
Pistas
A1 As Time Goes By
A2 A Blues Serenade
A3 It's Easy To Remember
A4 That Old Feeling
B1 Imagination
B2 What Is There To Say
B3 Love Letters
B4 I'm ...
Pistas
A1 As Time Goes By
A2 A Blues Serenade
A3 It's Easy To Remember
A4 That Old Feeling
B1 Imagination
B2 What Is There To Say
B3 Love Letters
B4 I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
Pistas
A1 As Time Goes By
A2 A Blues Serenade
A3 It's Easy To Remember
A4 That Old Feeling
B1 Imagination
B2 What Is There To Say
B3 Love Letters
B4 I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
as time goes by
a blues serenade
it's easy to remember
that old feeling
imagination
what is there to say?
love letters
i’m getting sentimental ouer you
as time goes by
a blues serenade
it's easy to remember
that old feeling
imagination
what is there to say?
love letters
i’m getting sentimental ouer you
as time goes by
a blues serenade
it's easy to remember
that old feeling
imagination
what is there to say?
love letters
i’m getting sentimental ouer you
Provided to YouTube by Universe Remasterings
Over the Rainbow (feat. Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra, the George Siravo Orchestra, Hugo Winterhalter and His Or...
Provided to YouTube by Universe Remasterings
Over the Rainbow (feat. Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra, the George Siravo Orchestra, Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra) · Frank Sinatra · Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra · the George Siravo Orchestra · Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra · Edgar Yip Harburg · Harold Arlen · Edgar Yip Harburg · Harold Arlen
The Voice: Songs by Sinatra / Swing and Dance with Frank Sinatra (1942 - 1951 Columbia Years)
℗ Universe Remasterings
Released on: 2013-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Universe Remasterings
Over the Rainbow (feat. Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra, the George Siravo Orchestra, Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra) · Frank Sinatra · Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra · the George Siravo Orchestra · Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra · Edgar Yip Harburg · Harold Arlen · Edgar Yip Harburg · Harold Arlen
The Voice: Songs by Sinatra / Swing and Dance with Frank Sinatra (1942 - 1951 Columbia Years)
℗ Universe Remasterings
Released on: 2013-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Written by Eric Maschwitz and Jack Strachey in 1935, recorded by Frank Sinatra on Columbia Records in 1946. As always, a real joy to add my voice to this Axel S...
Written by Eric Maschwitz and Jack Strachey in 1935, recorded by Frank Sinatra on Columbia Records in 1946. As always, a real joy to add my voice to this Axel Stordahl arrangement.
Written by Eric Maschwitz and Jack Strachey in 1935, recorded by Frank Sinatra on Columbia Records in 1946. As always, a real joy to add my voice to this Axel Stordahl arrangement.
Pistas
A1 As Time Goes By
A2 A Blues Serenade
A3 It's Easy To Remember
A4 That Old Feeling
B1 Imagination
B2 What Is There To Say
B3 Love Letters
B4 I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
as time goes by
a blues serenade
it's easy to remember
that old feeling
imagination
what is there to say?
love letters
i’m getting sentimental ouer you
Provided to YouTube by Universe Remasterings
Over the Rainbow (feat. Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra, the George Siravo Orchestra, Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra) · Frank Sinatra · Axel Stordahl and His Orchestra · the George Siravo Orchestra · Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra · Edgar Yip Harburg · Harold Arlen · Edgar Yip Harburg · Harold Arlen
The Voice: Songs by Sinatra / Swing and Dance with Frank Sinatra (1942 - 1951 Columbia Years)
℗ Universe Remasterings
Released on: 2013-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Written by Eric Maschwitz and Jack Strachey in 1935, recorded by Frank Sinatra on Columbia Records in 1946. As always, a real joy to add my voice to this Axel Stordahl arrangement.
Axel Stordahl (August 8, 1913– August 30, 1963) was an arranger who was active from the late 1930s through the 1950s. He is perhaps best known for his work with Frank Sinatra in the 1940s at Columbia Records. With his sophisticated orchestrations, Stordahl is credited with helping to bring pop arranging into the modern age.
Early years
Stordahl was born in Staten Island, New York to Norwegian immigrant parents. He began his career as a trumpeter in jazz bands which played in several dance bands around Long Island and the Catskills during the late 1920s and early 1930s. He also began arranging around this time, and in 1933 he joined Bert Bloch's orchestra in both capacities. Over the next couple of years, Stordahl sang on the side in a vocal trio dubbed the Three Esquires.
Big bands
In 1935, he joined Tommy Dorsey's new orchestra and soon became the band's main arranger. In January 1940, Sinatra joined the group as vocalist, and it became apparent that Stordahl's arrangements were particularly well suited to the singer's voice.
There's a man who leads a life of danger To everyone he meets, he stays a stranger Well every move he makes, another chance he takes Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow Secret agent man, secret agent man They've given you a number And taken away your name Beware of pretty faces that you find A pretty face can hide an evil mind Oh, be careful what you say or you will give yourself away Odds are you won't live to see tomorrow Secret agent man, secret agent man They've given you a number And taken away your name Secret agent man, secret agent man They've given you a number And taken away your name Swingin' on the Riviera one day Then layin' in the bomb bay on the next day Oh, you let the robber slip, while kissing persuasive lips The odds are you won't live to see tomorrow Secret agent man, secret agent man They've given you a number And taken away your name