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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Holiday In Spain - Lew Raymond Orchestra

Danza
Amapola
Holiday In Spain
Lew Raymond Orchestra
Vocals By Diane Castillo and Nestor Amaral
Tops L1586
1957

From the back cover: On the podium is the gifted conductor-composer, Lew Raymond, who has written especially for this album the composition, Danza. Mr. Raymond is more than ordinarily qualified to organize and conduct an album of Spanish music. Before the war he led the orchestra at the celebrated Benito Collado's El Chico restaurant in New York's Greenwich Village, accompanying such renowned performers as dancers Argentenita and Vicente Escudero; flamenco guitarists Vicente Gomze and Carlos Montoya; and numerous singers in the Spanish tradition.

I bought the album for the bad habits cover, the image of the blue-eyed model smoking. The music is somewhat traditional with period pop touches. The vocal pieces by Diane Castillo are nicely presented.

The sample "Danaz" is from the TOPS mono issue above, and the sample Amapola is from the Mayfair (colored vinyl) issue in stereo (true stereo separation rather than a reprocessed mono application).

El Relicario
Malaguena
Amapola
Inspiration
Granda
La Corrida
Espana Cani
Marta
La Virgen De La Macarena
Danza
Ay, Ay, Ay
Gitanerias

5 comments:

  1. Hi, could you tell me the worth of this 1957 record holiday in spain lew raymond orchestra? Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Prices for records vary so much depending on where you find them, that I tend not to try and guess at any market average.

      Delete
  2. Thank you for your time. Can you tell me where to go to find the value?
    Thanh,s Again,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well... ebay is a good source... search for completed auctions.

      Delete
  3. The model looks amazingly like Anton Walbrook, famous for his role in the movie THE RED SHOES.

    ReplyDelete

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