Nelson Riddle Plays “Time Was”

"Time Was" was one of the many Spanish songs imported to America during a strike by publishers against the radio networks in 1941. Although the strike was brief, it yielded a gold mine of Spanish language songs which became popular overnight. One of these songs was "Duerme" with lyrics by Gabriel Luna and music by Miguel Prado. With a set of English lyrics by Sidney Keith Russell, it became "Time Was," recorded by major singing stars of which the most effective was by Vikki Carr in her 1999 concert album "Memories, Memorias." Nelson Riddle writes a very easy going, listenable chart with syncopated chords on flutes with an exchange between saxes and brass before the tightly muted trumpets and solo flute play unison passages before the trombones play the main melodic line. Contrasting solos by Harry Klee on flute and Harry "Sweets" Edison on tightly muted trumpet lead into Edison getting a substantial performance before resorting to his pungent commentary fillers between string phrases. Next saxes trade phrases with the grass before ensemble brass passages. Brief fillers by Klee, Edison and George Roberts on bass trombone round up this classically colored arrangement by Nelson Riddle.