Ian Whitcomb - Songs Without Words (2012)

Ian Whitcomb, who rose to fame during the British rock "invasion" of the 1960s with his hit "You Turn Me On," has since largely turned his musical attentions to ragtime, Tin Pan Alley, and related styles. For nearly fifty years, Whitcomb has been one of the world's foremost ragtime ambassadors, reviving obscure rags and songs from the early 20th century while also writing his own works firmly grounded in the style that nevertheless retain his own distinctive compositional voice. Known for his humor, versatility, energy, and musicianship, he remains one of the most captivating performers on the ragtime scene today.

This remarkable career-spanning 2-CD set contains 48 tracks -- a generous serving of Whitcomb's instrumental compositions including old favorites like "Sandcastle - A Day By the Sea," "Luscious Slices," and "Lawns of Louisiana" along with newer works like "My Garden," "Unrequited," "Blazing Ambition," and others destined to become classics. While a number of the selections on these two discs have been previously released on various LPs and CDs, a full dozen tracks were recorded especially for this album and are being released here for the first time. For the rest, this set marks the first time Whitcomb's instrumentals have been collected in one package, freshly remastered from the best surviving sources for superior sound.