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Friday, July 8, 2011

Tragoedia - Andrew Rudin

Tragoedia
Andrew Rudin
A Composition In Four Movements For Electronic Synthesizer
1968

Released for online purchase/download. So sorry, no sample!

The four movements are titled Kouros, Hybris, Peitho and Ate.

From the back cover: All of the sounds heard in this work were produced in the Philadelphia Musical Academy Electronic Music Center on instruments designed by Robert A. Moog. The sounds are white noise, sine, triangle, pulse, and sawtooth waveforms. There are no "live" or concrete sounds in this work.

I actually rather like it when synth is blended with natural sounds. During a period of experimentation with new technology, artists tend to work hard to force the technology to be something it isn't as if they feel the need to impress their peers with their understanding of how to use a "thing". That's natural. But some projects sound stiff or mechanical... or forced. This recording isn't one of those projects. There are enough "pacing" or "theme" shifts in the music to help the piece come across as more fluid or natural.

Each movement is explained on the cover in high-brow college-speak. As an artist myself, I always found it curious how other artists feel compelled to explain themselves in an effort to justify their art. Personally, I think the music or visual art suggests something to the consumer and no amount of explaining the piece can alter that impression.

In other words... Hey! All these sounds and noises make me think of my favorite old science fiction movies!

The Horn Meets The Hornet - Al Hirt Plays Popular TV Themes Of Intrigue

Night Rumble
The Horn Meets The Hornet
Al Hirt Plays Popular TV Themes Of Intrigue
Arranged and Conducted by Frank Hunter
Produced by Jim Foglesong
Recorded in RCA Victor's Studio A, New York City
Recording Engineer: Ed Begley
RCA LPM-3716
1966

From Billboard - December 3, 1966: And what a meeting it is! Trumpeter Hirt gives the current TV season a solid workout on this top-notch LP that can't miss. The show starts swinging with his current single "Green Hornet Theme" and moves through "Get Smart," "The Monkees" and "T.H.E. Cat," making this a top commercial package.

Green Hornet Theme (from "The Green Hornet" television series produced by Greenway Productions, Inc. in association with 20th Century-Fox Television, Inc. for ABC-TV) Arranged by Billy May
The Hornets Nest - Arranged by Bill Walker
Night Rumble - Arranged by Dick Hyman
Get Smart (theme from the NBC-TV Series)
Them from "Run For Your Life"
Batman Theme (from "Batman," A Greenway Production in association with 20th Century-Fox TV for ABC-TV)
The King Kong Theme (from the ABC-TV Series "King Kong")
(Theme from) The Monkees (from the NBC-TV Series)
Tarzan (Trazan's March from the NBC-TV Series "Tarzan")
T.H.E. Cat (from the NBC-TV Production)
(Theme from) Run Buddy Run (from the CBS-TV Series)

Organ In Orbit - Sir Julian

On Green Dolphin Street
Organ In Orbit
Sir Julian
Produced by Leroy Holmes
United Artists UAS 6334
1965

From the back cover: The tremendously talented and versatile Sir Julian (Gould) has developed his unusual abilities into one of the most outstanding and exciting acts in the theatrical and musical world today. Sir Julian has a wide and varied background which he has capitalized on to the benefit of his listeners as well as himself. His thesis on The History Of Rhythm not only earned him a Master's degree at U.C.L.A. but drew great interest and praise from the critics as well. His wide experience as a former member of name traveling bands, accompanist for top name signers and groups, musical director for films, radio and television, and national concert tours has given Julian the understanding and appreciation of delivering just what the audiences want. One of his earliest jobs was with a group called "The Swingsters" headed by a young singer named Frank Sinatra.

Night Train 
Lil' Darlin' Deep Purple 
On Green Dolphin Street
Accustomed To Her Face
Dancero
Movin' At Midnight
Green Jumper
A Lazy River
Confetti
Linda
Abra Dabra


Thursday, July 7, 2011

Westbound Disco Sizzlers

Westbound Disco Sizzlers
Westbound (Warner Bros.) WT6107
1978

What do you get when you cross disco with the trucking industry? A record that we can't resist up here in The Atomic Attic. Oh come on! It's a trucking/greasy babe in a space suit/disco record... what's not to love?

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Slices Of Life - The Ray Charles Singers

Hey Jude
Slices Of Life
The New, Contemporary Sound Of The Ray Charles Singers
Command ABC Records
942 S Stereo
1969

There is nothing better than finding an album by an easy listening vocal group who decided it was time to win over the youth market with Beatles covers...

Hot Butter Popcorn

Hot Butter Popcorn
Stan Free
Musicor Records MS 3242
1972

The song Popcorn was first recorded/released by Gershon Kingsley (Music To Moog By  - Audio Fidelity AFSD 6226 - 1969). The song was re-recorded in 1971 by Kingsley's band First Moog Quartet. Stan Free, a member of that band, then recorded another version that is featured on this album.

Musicor spared no expense in producing this jacket. The popcorn image is printed and embossed on the cover. An actual theater popcorn box (complete box, flat) was then fixed to the cover.

The music is simple 70s electronic (moog). Free understood the limitation of the sound and created an album with a sense of humor.

Popcorn
Day By Day (From "Godspell")
Apache
At The Movies
Tomatoes
Pipeline
Hot Butter
Telestar
Tristana
Song Of The Narobi Trio
Amazing Grace

Bongo Madness - Don Ralke

Bongo Madness

Bongo Madness
Exciting Sounds Presented by Don Ralke & Buddy Collette
Cover Photography: Gene Lesser - Hollywood
Art Direction & Production: Florette Bihari
Crown Records CLP 5019
1957

From the back cover: The word "BONGO" comes from the word "MGOMBO". Both words originated in Africa, as does the music associated with Congo, Bongo, Afro, Cuban, and even American Jazz. These varied forms of primitive music are to be heard in this unusual Hi-Fidelity album in a most colorful and exciting fashion. Don Ralké has called upon the two most basic instruments of African primitive - the flute and drums. Buddy Collette is featured on the flute, and Jack Burger is featured on the drums. These fine musicians are heard independently, in concert, and in musical conversation. Transitions from mood to mood, and style to style, are provid- ed by Don Ralké on the piano, and Don Tosti on the bass. The basic conga drum patterns are played by Tom Wofford.

SIDE ONE

1. BEMBE NEGRO A Nañiga which generates excitement from the opening montuna to the pulsations of the 6/8 rhythm of the conga drums.

2. PASION CALIENTA A Don Ralké original in contrast to the melodic line of Bembé Negro. The basic Afro patterns continue while the melody changes to the American Jazz form.

3. RITMO MARTEO- An African lament which allows Buddy Collete complete freedom to explore the mystries of the Belgium Congo.

4. AFRO-MAMBO ALEGRE - A Cuban Mambo, featuring the conga drums.

5. BELLEZA Y DIABLO - A Don Tosti conception which contrasts the lows of the bass instruments with the highs of the treble


SIDE TWO

1. CALYPSO CUBANO - A happy calypso wanders the streets of Trinidad telling amusing stories. He stops, converses merrily with a friend, and goes on his way.

2. SESION GRANDE - Clave, maracas, bongo, conga, and cow bell join forces to create a Cuban session.

3. NOCHE IN HAVANA-A Don Ralké composition which typifies a Cuban lament.

4. AFRO-BOP-Another Don Ralké original. This is a jazz session which incorporates the Latin rhythm section.

5. MGOMBO-Jack Burger displays a range of bongo patterns which he joins together in a most exciting and interesting solo.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Tennessee Guitars... Go To The Movies

Star Wars
Romeo And Juliet
Tennessee Guitars
Goes To The Movies
Plantation Records PLP-540
1978

I've found a few colored vinyl records in sealed jackets over the past year as if someone had acquired and was selling the NOS from "Plantation Records". In this case, this record looks like a private press for the "father/son" concern of Al Singleton (Sound Studios) and Shelby S. Singleton, Jr (produced by).

Curiously, The sleeve features LPs from The Plantation catalog on one side and The Sun label on the reverse side (yes, that Sun label). The companies share the same mailing address.

The covers of the three records that I've blogged to date are pretty garish (which, of course, is why I bought them). I can see these records being marketed at truck stops in the late 70s.

This isn't a "disco" album, although you wouldn't know if from the lead track, Star Wars. The sound is all over the place. Also, it sounds like "guitars" was one guy who traded off between several guitars and a lap steel.

These records are pretty amazing and hard to define art. Check out Tennessee Saturday Night Fever and An Evening With Chopin.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Project: Comstock - Frank Comstock

Project Comstock
Frank Comstock And His Orchestra
Music From Outer Space
Warner Bros. W1463
1962

Electronic Violin: Elliot Fisher
Theremin: Paul Tanner
Bobby Hammack and Buddy Cole: Novachord and Hammand Organ.

Out Of This World
Stella By Starlight
 Journey To A Star
Deep Night
From Another World
Galaxy
Out Of Space
On The Dark Side Of The Moon
When You Wish Upon A Star
Journey To Infinity
Stairway To The Stars
The Moon Is Blue