Jerry Murad's Harmonicats - The Soul of Italy - L'Anima D'Italia (1963)

The album is a striking example of the "instrumental tourism" popular in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. The soundscape is built on the signature interplay of three types of harmonica (lead chromatic, chordal, and bass), but in this case, they are complemented by a lush orchestral accompaniment with strings, mandolins, and delicate percussion. The music combines American pop polish with the passionate, melancholic melodies of Italian folk.

In the early 1960s, following the resounding success of their release "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White," the trio, led by Jerry Murad, recorded a series of thematic musical journeys. The album "The Soul of Italy" became a recognized masterpiece of this series.

The album's concept was to transport American listeners to the sun-drenched streets of Rome, the coast of Naples, or aboard Venetian gondolas. The band selected the most recognizable, romantic, and emotional Italian songs—from classic Neapolitan canzones to operatic arias and the then-fresh pop hits of San Remo (such as "Al Di La" and "Volare").

Murad masterfully imitates the manner of Italian opera singers, producing melodious, deep legato notes on the chromatic harmonica, while the cascade of mandolins and Don Les' bass harmonica create a dense, rolling Mediterranean backdrop.