Squeeze Play (album)

Squeeze Play is an Ultra High Fidelity monaural phonographic album (331⁄3 RPM) which was released on the Dot Records label in 1956 (DLP-3024)[1] featuring John Serry Sr. It includes an original composition by Serry, classical works, and popular music of the era.[2] Ben Selvin serves as the musical director/producer for the album. The works were arranged by Serry and performed with his ensemble featuring two accordions, piano, guitar, bass, drum, vibes, and marimba.[3][4][5][6]

Squeeze Play
Studio album by John Serry Sr.
Released	1956 New York City
Recorded	1956 New York City
Genre	Pop, Classical, Instrumental
Length	30:14
Label	Dot Records
Producer	Ben Selvin
John Serry Sr. chronology
RCA Thesaurus - RCA Victor Transcriptions (1954) Squeeze Play (1956) Leone Jump Sonora Records Jukebox single (1945)
Singles from Squeeze Play
"Chicago Musette - John Serry et Son Accordéon" Released: 1958 France

External audio
You may hear John Serry performing his arrangements of Granada and Secret Love from the album Squeeze Play as released on Chicago Musette: John Serry et son Accordéon in 1958 Here on Gallica.BnF
You may hear the complete album Squeeze Play (Dot,1956) Here on Archive.org

The liner notes of the album claim that

[T]he tunes that Mr. Serry has so expertly recorded are craftily arranged, superbly performed. Each tune is a small production within itself... and look at the variety of material...What Serry has done here is present the accordion as the melodic instrument that is capable of producing beautiful sounds in a legato style...Serry has placed the accent on interpretation and in doing so has come up with twelve sparkling performances that provide a delightful contrast to the much overdone virtuoso style of accordion playing.

The album was cited in a critical review of new popular albums of 1956 in The Billboard magazine and was described as providing beautiful performances which created a soothing mood, in contrast to common entertainment.[7] The album was also reviewed in The Cash Box magazine later that year. Serry's performances were noted for establishing a variety of musical moods with grace while also emphasizing a relaxed performance style.[8][9] In 1958 selected songs from the album were released in France by Versailles records (#90 M 1788) as Chicago Musette - John Serry et son accordéon.[10][11][12] Dot Records also released several songs from the album in Japan as part of a compilation recording including performances of easy listening music by both the John Serry Orchestra and the Billy Vaughn Orchestra (Ballroom in Dreamland, Dot #5006).[13] A copy of the album and the composer's original orchestral score have been donated for archival purposes to the Eastman School of Music's Sibley Music Library within the Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Department for the benefit of researchers and students.[14]