By any metric, 2020 has been a challenging year. But fans of Andy Williams have had some rays of sunlight with a number of releases. Demon Music Group's Crimson Productions released the late vocalist's Gold, a 3-CD, career-spanning anthology of many of his finest recordings. Real Gone Music issued Emperor of Easy: The Lost Columbia Masters 1962-72, premiering 20 outtakes and rare singles on CD from Williams' first decade at the label. Now Demon's Edsel label is turning back the clock for a new Williams box set.

The Cadence Albums, due on June 12, presents on 8 CDs all of Andy's albums for Archie Bleyer's independent label, plus 15 bonus single sides. At Cadence between 1955 and 1961, Andy developed his smooth, relaxed style and established his reputation for vocal excellence. He scored some of his most beloved hits at the label including "Canadian Sunset" (No. 7 U.S., 1956), "Butterfly" (No. 1 U.S. and U.K., 1957), "I Like Your Kind of Love" (No. 8 U.S./No. 16 U.K., 1957), "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" (No. 11 U.S., 1958), "Lonely Street" (No. 5 U.S., 1959), and "The Village of St. Bernadette" (No. 7 U.S., 1959). He also recorded his very first Christmas songs at Cadence; the single "Christmas Is a Feeling in Your Heart" b/w "The Wind, The Sand, and The Star" was actually his debut for the label.

At Cadence, Andy showcased his versatility.  He gamely tackled everything from pop and jazz to rockabilly, showtunes, and gospel, bringing to every genre his crystalline tone and innate warmth. Notably, he explored "concept albums" and various musical styles under Bleyer's direction, devoting entire albums to the songs of Steve Allen and Rodgers and Hammerstein; Hawaiian songs; inspirational material; and chansons, both authentically French and in that tradition. The latter set, Under Paris Skies, remains one of Williams' most beguiling with spellbinding arrangements by the young Quincy Jones.

The box includes the following eight original albums, all with Cadence replica labels, packaged in mini-LP replica sleeves:

• Sings Steve Allen
• Andy Williams plus bonus tracks
• Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein
• Two Time Winners plus bonus tracks
• To You Sweetheart, Aloha
• Lonely Street plus bonus track
• The Village of St Bernadette
• Under Paris Skies plus bonus tracks

The 111-song collection also includes a 28-page booklet with original liner notes as well as new ones by Alan Robinson. Andy Williams signed with Columbia Records in 1961, beginning a new chapter of his career that would bring him even further renown both on records and on television. But the Cadence recordings always occupied a close place in his heart. When he desired to see them reissued on Columbia, he simply bought the label! While Andy's Cadence recordings have been previously released on CD from various labels in various formats, this package presents them in album-by-album fashion.

Look for Andy Williams' The Cadence Recordings box set on June 12 from Edsel.  Currently this title is only available via the Amazon U.K. storefront.  American customers, please note that due to COVID-19, Amazon U.K. is not currently shipping to the United States.  As we get closer to the release date, TSD will try to help out with other options for order!

Andy Williams, The Cadence Albums (Edsel EDSL0064, 2020) (Amazon U.K.)

CD 1: Sings Steve Allen (Cadence CLP 1018, 1956) (Mono)

1. Tonight
2. Meet Me Where They Play the Blues
3. Stay Just a Little While
4. Playing the Field
5. Impossible
6. Young Love
7. Picnic
8. An Old Piano Plays the Blues
9. Spring in Maine
10. All the Way Home
11. Lonely Love
12. Forbidden Love

CD 2: Andy Williams (Cadence CLP 3002, 1957) (Mono)

1. Canadian Sunset
2. I Like Your Kind of Love
3. Walk Hand in Hand
4. Lips of Wine
5. Not Anymore
6. It Doesn't Take Very Long
7. Baby Doll
8. Butterfly
9. High Upon a Mountain
10. Stop Teasin' Me
11. Since I've Found My Baby
12. Straight from My Heart
13. Christmas Is a Feeling in Your Heart (Cadence single 1282, 1955)
14. The Wind, The Sand, and The Star (Cadence single 1282, 1955)

CD 3: Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein (Cadence CLP 3005, 1958) (Mono)

1. Some Enchanted Evening
2. If I Loved You
3. Getting to Know You
4. This Nearly Was Mine
5. Bali Ha'i
6. I Have Dreamed
7. People Will Say We're in Love
8. Younger Than Springtime
9. I Whistle a Happy Tune
10. We Kiss in a Shadow
11. The Surrey with the Fringe on Top
12. Hello Young Lovers

CD 4: Two Time Winners (Cadence CLP 3026, 1959) (Mono, except where noted)

1. Sail Along, Silvery Moon
2. Twilight Time
3. So Rare
4. Hawaiian Wedding Song
5. Blueberry Hill
6. Sweet Leilani
7. Love Letters in the Sand
8. It's All in the Game
9. Blue Hawaii
10. Be Mine Tonight
11. My Happiness
12. Near You
13. Are You Sincere? (Cadence single 1340, 1958) (stereo)
14. Promise Me Love (Cadence single 1351, 1958) (stereo)
15. Your Hand, Your Heart, Your Love (Cadence single 1351, 1958)
16. The House of Bamboo (Cadence single 1358, 1958)

CD 5: To You Sweetheart, Aloha (Cadence CLP 3029, 1959) (Mono)

1. To You Sweetheart, Aloha
2. Blue Hawaii (Alternate Version)
3. I'll Weave a Lei of Stars for You
4. Sweet Leilani (Alternate Version)
5. Moon of Manakoora
6. Hawaiian Wedding Song
7. Song of the Islands
8. A Song of Old Hawaii
9. Love Song of Kalua
10. Beyond the Reef
11. Ka-Lu-A
12. Aloha 'Oe (Farewell to Thee)

CD 6: Lonely Street (Cadence CLP 25030, 1959) (Stereo)

1. You Don't Know What Love Is
2. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
3. When Your Lover Has Gone
4. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
5. Gone with the Wind
6. Summer Love
7. Say It Isn't So
8. Unchained Melody
9. Autumn Leaves
10. Willow Weep for Me
11. I'm So Alone
12. Lonely Street
13. Lonely Street (Single Version) (Cadence single 1370, 1959)

CD 7: The Village of St. Bernadette (Cadence CLP 3038, 1960) (Mono)

1. The Village of St. Bernadette
2. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
3. Suddenly There's a Valley
4. Count Your Blessings
5. He
6. You'll Never Walk Alone
7. Our Lady of Fatima
8. The Three Bells
9. Climb Ev'ry Mountain
10. Sweet Morning
11. I Believe
12. Look for the Silver Lining

CD 8: Under Paris Skies (Cadence CLP 25047, 1960) (Stereo, except where noted)

1. Under Paris Skies
2. Let It Be Me
3. April in Paris
4. Mademoiselle de Paris
5. I Wish You Love
6. Domino
7. I Love Paris
8. Mam'selle
9. Comme Ci, Comme Ca
10. La Valse des Lilas
11. Boum!
12. Au Revoir, Paris
13. Wake Me When It's Over (Cadence single 1378, 1960) (mono)
14. We Have a Date (Andy's Theme) (Cadence single 1378, 1960)
15. Do You Mind? (Cadence single 1381, 1960)
16. Dreamsville (Cadence single 1381, 1960)
17. (In the Summertime) You Don't Want My Love (Cadence single 1389, 1960)
18. Don't Go to Strangers (Cadence single 1389, 1960)
19. The Bilbao Song (Cadence single 1398, 1961)
20. How Wonderful to Know (Cadence single 1398, 1961)