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1960 Album 
1. Nellie of Meadow Farm
| 2. The Palazzo Massimi
| 3. Lorenzo il Magnifico
This fourth album of BOB SCHMERTZ’S songs is devoted to his first love, architecture, and to his favorite companions, architects. Yet there is much here for everyone. If architecture is the shorthand of history, these spirited compositions show the broad view of life to which an architect is exposed, particularly one with the sensitivity of Bob Schmertz. The subjects range from “Christopher Wren” to “Hyacinth Harry”, from the Doric to the Lally column and from the “Queen Anne Front with the Mary Ann behind” to the “Architecture de Paris.” Some of the thirteen songs are published for the first time. However demanding his hobby of song writing may be, Bob uses his working hours in the practice and teaching of architecture, in recognition of which he was recently elevated to Fellowship by the American Institute of Architects. Those of us who have followed the maestro’s creations through the years like to hear him sing alone with his banjo, as he does in this recording. What Bob’s voice lacks in coloratura is amply balanced by a deftness all his own. “Spring on the Campus” alone has an additional voice, the delicate obbligato of son Jack’s flute. The lyrics of these songs are unique in music and our profession and have afforded hours of solace to hundreds of architects and their friends. We hope to have still more from this troubadour of the two by four. Charles M. Stotz, May, 1960 Back to TopTHE PITTSBURGH ARCHITECTURAL CLUB The Pittsburgh Architectural Club had its beginning about seventy years ago when its Founding Fathers entertained the novel idea that architects and their friends, sculptors, painters, craftsmen, builders, could gather together for their mutual understanding, interest and entertainment. This durable organization with so broad an objective as “The Advancement of Architecture and the Allied Arts” and with a membership open to almost anyone of such persuasion, may take considerable pride in its various accomplishments over the years - the founding and development of the “Charette” a tri-state journal of architecture; various exhibitions, seminars and competitions, the continuing state board examination course and the fondly remembered Soiree Charettes those successful and heartwarming public entertainments which helped to while away the time during the great Depression. We will firmly deny that we are a social club but we also will have to admit that we enjoy each others company. As a result of this spirit we have held countless Soirees, bizarre bazaars, wassails and pickled picnics where everybody got into the act. Schmertz and his banjo were usually present during the middle years. The bulk of these tunes were spawned at such events or otherwise inspired by them, and while they hold a particular interest for the Pittsburgh Architectural Club they have been enjoyed by generations of students, architects and their girlfriends, wherever Bob has traveled. By re-issuing this record we hope to widen this circle of admirers and to serve notice that the Pittsburgh Architectural Club is embarking on its second 70 years. William G. Swain, President Back to TopABOUT ORIGINAL 1960 RECORDING
Recorded by George Heid Productions 1st label - Corona Records, GHP 480-A & B (M8OP - 5633 & 5634) 33 1/3 RPM - LP
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