101 Strings is one of the most prolific easy-listening instrumental music brands of all time. Originally created by Dave Miller of Somerset Records in the 1950s, the franchise was purchased by Al Sherman in 1963. Al Sherman started Alshire Records and proceeded to crank out 101 Strings releases like crazy. This line of albums was so popular that within 10 years, the 101 Strings sold 50 million albums! (Music Weird previously wrote about 101 Strings' best and weirdest albums.)
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| The Alshire logo |
In 1986, Alshire started reissuing the old Somerset and Alshire albums on CD. The CDs typically featured generic graphic design, minimal notes (if any), and little information apart from a list of other Alshire Records titles that were available on compact disc. Between 1986 and 1994, Alshire released over 100 CDs.
In 1995, Sherman sold the Alshire catalog to the budget label Madacy, and Madacy subsequently has released countless 101 Strings CDs with even less appealing packaging than the old generic Alshire CDs. I have a bizarre fascination with 101 Strings' old Alshire CDs and have been trying to collect them all, so I created this CD discography to help me—and people like me, if any such people exist—keep track of the titles.
[Update: My discussion of the variations that occurred between pressings of early 101 Strings CDs on Alshire can be found here.]
The numbered ALCD series
The numbered ALCD series was the main series of 101 Strings reissues on Alshire Records, but a handful of non-101 Strings albums were also included.
Catalog number
|
Title
|
Year of release
|
Artist (if other than 101
Strings)
|
Notes
|
ALCD 1
|
Best of Johann Strauss Jr.
|
The spine and disc say Best of Johann Strauss Jr., but the cover says Johann Strauss Jr. Best Loved Waltzes. The catalog number on the disc is ALSCD-1 but on the front and back cover is ALCD 1
|
||
ALCD 2
|
Hits of the 50’s and ‘60s
|
1986
|
||
ALCD 3
|
Best of the Best of 101
Strings
|
1987
|
Issued with two different
covers but the same catalog number
|
|
ALCD 4
|
Best of Latin
|
|||
ALCD 5
|
The Soul of Spain
|
1986
|
||
ALCD 6
|
Piano Concertos and
Rhapsodies
|
1987
|
||
ALCD 7
|
Love Songs
|
1986
|
A “clean” version of the LP
Sounds of Love with vocals removed
|
|
ALCD 8
|
Million Seller All-Time
Favorites
|
|||
ALCD 9
|
Country Greats
|
|||
ALCD 10
|
Golden Movie Themes
|
1986
|
Issued with two different
covers but the same catalog number
|
|
ALCD 11
|
Richard Rodgers & Oscar
Hammerstein
|
1986
|
||
ALCD 12
|
George Gershwin
|
1986
|
||
ALCD 13
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Was ALCD 13 not assigned because
of superstition?!
|
ALCD 14
|
Irving Berlin
|
1986
|
||
ALCD 15
|
Scheherajazz (101 Strings
with the All Stars)
|
|||
ALCD 16
|
Golden Age of Dance Bands
|
All Star Orchestra Plus
Pipe Organ. Organist: Buddy Cole
|
||
ALCD 17
|
Symphonic Fireworks + Pipe
Organ
|
|||
ALCD 18
|
Plus*Plus*Plus
|
1986
|
||
ALCD 19
|
Famous Themes from Broadway
Shows
|
1986
|
||
ALCD 20
|
Romantic Songs of the Sea
|
|||
ALCD 21
|
101 Strings with the
Alshire Singers
|
|||
ALCD 22
|
More of the Best of the 101
Strings
|
|||
ALCD 23
|
World’s Greatest Standards
|
|||
ALCD 24
|
Strings Have Fun
|
|||
ALCD 25
|
Sophisticated Duke
|
|||
ALCD 26
|
Hawaiian Paradise
|
|||
ALCD 27
|
Nelson Riddle with 101
Strings
|
|||
ALCD 28
|
Magnificent Digital Sound
|
|||
ALCD 29
|
Concerto Under the Stars
|
|||
ALCD 30
|
Cole Porter
|
1987
|
||
ALCD 31
|
Lerner and Loewe: Songs
from My Fair Lady – Camelot – Gigi – Paint Your Wagon – Brigadoon
|
1987
|
||
ALCD 32
|
Pop Concert Favorites
|
|||
ALCD 33
|
101 Strings Plus Guitars
|
1987
|
||
ALCD 34
|
Soul of Greece
|
|||
ALCD 35
|
101 Strings Plus Pianos
|
|||
ALCD 36
|
More Hits of the 50’s and
60’s
|
1987
|
||
ALCD 37
|
The Soul of Poland
|
|||
ALCD 38
|
The Soul of Israel
|
|||
ALCD 39
|
The Power and the Glory
|
|||
ALCD 40
|
I Hear America Singing
|
|||
ALCD 41
|
Conquerors of the Ages
(London Phiilharmonic)
|
|||
ALCD 42
|
Polka Extravaganza
|
|||
ALCD 43
|
Ravel: Bolero
|
|||
ALCD 44
|
Music from Mexico
|
|||
ALCD 45
|
Best of the Great American
Composers, Vol. 1
|
|||
ALCD 46
|
Best of the Great American
Composers, Vol. 2
|
|||
ALCD 47
|
Best of the Great American
Composers, Vol. 3
|
|||
ALCD 48
|
Best of the Great American
Composers, Vol. 4
|
|||
ALCD 49
|
Best of the Great American
Composers, Vol. 5
|
|||
ALCD 50
|
The Best of the Great
American Composers Vol. 6
|
1990
|
||
ALCD 51
|
Electric Classics: Latin
Style
|
The Alshire Electronics
|
||
ALCD 52
|
Favorite Selections from
Handel’s Messiah
|
|||
ALCD 53
|
King of Rock and Roll
|
1990
|
Bill Haley
|
Early, pre-Decca Haley cuts
|
ALCD 54
|
20 Years of Beautiful Music
|
1990
|
||
ALCD 55
|
The Pride of America
|
1991
|
U.S. Armed Forces Symphony
|
|
ALCD 56
|
Noche
|
1991
|
Los Tres
|
Originally released on LP
on Somerset
|
ALCD 57
|
Beer Drinking Songs
|
Zillertal Band
|
||
ALCD 58
|
101 Strings Play Songs of
Italy
|
|||
ALCD 59
|
Gypsy Music
|
|||
ALCD 60
|
With All My Love: Just for
You
|
|||
ALCD 61
|
Million Sellers of the
50’s, 60’s & 70’s
|
Around this time, Alshire switched to generic cover art—only the titles changed
|
||
ALCD 62
|
Romantic Evergreens
|
1992
|
||
ALCD 63
|
Movie & Television Themes
|
1992
|
||
ALCD 64
|
Love Songs
|
1992
|
Same title as ALCD 7 but
different album
|
|
ALCD 65
|
Romantic Latin-American Favorites | 1992 | ||
ALCD 66
|
Symphony for Blues
|
|||
ALCD 67
|
A Tribute to Nat King Cole
|
1995
|
||
ALCD 68
|
“Salutes” the Great American Artists Vol. 1 | 1994 | ||
ALCD 69
|
“Salutes” the Great American Artists Vol. 2 | 1994 | ||
ALCD 70
|
“Salutes” the Great
American Artists Vol. 3
|
1994
|
||
ALCD 71
|
||||
ALCD 72
|
101 Strings Play a Tribute
to the Beatles Greatest Hits!!
|
| ALCD 73 | |||
ALCD 74
| |||
ALCD 75
|
101 Strings Presents a Tribute to Henry Mancini
|
1994
| |
ALCD 76
|
Miscellaneous other Alshire CD series
ALCD SPL
|
Special Sampler
|
1987
|
“24
glorious songs”
|
|
ALCD SPL-2
|
The Worlds Greatest
Melodies
|
1987
|
101
Strings with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
|
|
ALCD SPL-3
|
30th Anniversary
Special
|
|||
ALCD 201
|
Handel’s Messiah
|
The
London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir
|
2
CDs
|
|
EXCD 300
|
The Best of Larry Wolff and
the Streetbeaters
|
Larry
Wolff & The Streetbeaters
|
“Over
one hour of rapdance breakdance.” This release is on the Exact label but was listed among Alshire releases in some of the 101 Strings booklets. Exact has the same address as Alshire International
|
|
CDLX 1400
|
20 Greatest Movie Hits
|
|||
ADCD 1000
|
Waltzing Violins Vols. 1
& 2
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
||
ADCD 1001
|
The Fire and Romance of
Spain/The Fire and Romance of Mexico
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
||
ADCD 1002
|
A Toast to Broadway &
Hollywood Vols. 1 & 2
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
||
ADCD 1003
|
Strings for Lovers/Romantic
Moods Vols. 1 & 2
|
1993
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
|
ADCD 1004
|
Aloha Hawaii Vols. 1 &
2
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
||
ADCD 1005
|
Golden Hits, Vols.1 & 2
|
1993
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
|
ADCD 1006
|
Singalongs/Polkas
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
||
ADCD 1007
|
Hits of the 50s, 60s &
70s, Vols. 1 & 2
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
||
ADCD 1008
|
Accordion Hits/The Best of
John Philip Sousa
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
||
ADCD 1009
|
Inspiration &
Meditation Vols. 1 & 2
|
1993
|
Alshire
double compact disc series
|
|
20DN-135
|
Academy Awards Film
|
Japanese CD release
|
Japanese Teichiku Records CDs
These Japanese CDs were manufactured and distributed by
Teichiku Records but issued under the Alshire imprint. Some of the album covers and titles contained typos, such as the tribute to Elvis Presley below, which spells Elvis' last name "Presly."
TECH-20232
|
A Gentle Breeze from
Waimea: Strings Hawaiian Mood
|
2011
|
|
TECP-20029
|
In a Persian Market/World
Beloved Songs (Around the World)/Ethnic Mood Best 20
|
||
TECP-20030
|
Ethnic Mood-Music from
Spain
|
1990
|
|
TECP-20033
|
Ethnic Mood-Music from
Russian [sic] & Germany
|
1990
|
|
TECP-???
|
History of Screen Music
(5), 1956-1959
|
||
TECP-20311
|
History of Screen Music
(8), 1965-1968
|
1990
|
|
TECP-20313
|
History of Screen Music
(10), 1972-Today
|
1990
|
|
TECP-20521
|
[something] in Music:
Evening Serenade
|
||
TECP-20585
|
Play a Tribute to Elvis
Presly [sic]
|
1990
|
|
TECP-20633
|
A Portrait of Wedding
|
1990
|
|
TECP-20871
|
Broadway Show (1)
|
Print-on-demand CD-Rs on Amazon
Many, many print-on-demand 101 Strings CD-Rs appeared on Amazon in
2014. They're listed as Alshire releases, even though Alshire doesn't exist anymore. I’m not going to list them
all, but here are a few.
S-5088
|
Play Million Seller Hits
|
CD-R allegedly on Alshire
|
2014
|
S-5097
|
Valley of the Dolls and
Other Academy Award Hits
|
CD-R allegedly on Alshire
|
2014
|
S-5105
|
Featuring Hits Made Famous
by the Supremes
|
CD-R allegedly on Alshire
|
2014
|
S-5111
|
Play Hits Written by the
Beatles
|
CD-R allegedly on Alshire
|
2014
|
Other notable 101 Strings CD releases
In no particular order.
Time-Life
|
Instrumental Favorites
|
Licensed
from Madacy
|
1996
|
Scamp SCP 9717-2
|
Astro Sounds from Beyond
the Year 2000
|
Licensed
from Madacy
|
1996
|
Hit Parade
|
Contains
the complete 101 Strings album Back Beat
Symphony (1961)
|
2014 | |
Columbia Japan JXCP-1095
|
Orchestral “The Beatles”
|
||
EMPRCD009
|
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Beautiful Arrangements Performed by the 101 Strings Orchestra
|
Instrumental arrangements of Elvis hits. On Emporio
Records, licensed from Alshire
|
1993
|
