The Sound Of Gypsy Music - Dick Kesner

The Sound Of Gypsy Music
Dick Kesner
His Magic Stradivarius And Orchestra
Coral Records
CRL 757376

The set is available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample.

Kesner made a number of terrific space age pop albums when he wasn't working for Lawrence Welk. This is a fine example of his mixing "traditional" with period pop "inventions" to create a lively and interesting blend of music.

"Gypsy" co-written by Kesner and Charles Dant is a standout track.

Also check out Kesner's Amor Latino.

Hungarian Rhapsody #2
Two Guitars
When A Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry
The Gypsy With Fire In His Shoes
Golden Earrings
Hungarian Dance #5
Gypsy
Play Fiddle Play
Dolores
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
Zigeuner
Gypsy Love Song

Michelle - Featuring The Trumpet Men

Michelle

Michelle
Featuring The Trumpet Men
Wyncote SW 9137

And now for another journey into the Land Of Budget LPs. This album features a mixed up collection of tracks by The Trumpet Men (not a real band) and the face of a pretty girl on the cover whose real name is not Michelle.

Anita Kerr And The French Connection

Let's Take A Walk By The Sea

Anita Kerr And The French Connection
Vocal Accompaniment by The French Connection
Produced by Anita Kerr and Alex Grob
Arranged and Conducted by Anita Kerr
RCA APL 1-2298
1977

Here's an obscure 60s/70s easy mood set by Anita Kerr. This LP was recorded in Switzerland.

Wiki: Anita Kerr

Website: www.anitakerr.com

A 6000
Michelle
So Far Away From L.A.
Now's The Time For Fun
The World Is Gonna Keep On Spinning
Let's Take A Walk By The Sea
When Summer Is Gone
Et Mourir De Plaisir
Tambourine
There Is No Love Without The Moonlight

Sophisticate In Cuba - Stanley Black

It's All Right With Me

Sophisticate In Cuba
Stanley Black And His Music
London Records LL 1781

Here's a smooth Stanley Black set. The title, cover art and music support each other nicely. The vibe is "sophisticated", but pushes beyond mood music into light space age jazz.

From the back cover: The subtly shifting rhythmic accents, the charging moods, the facile switching from jazz to mambo, from baiao to jazz, the piquant exotic flavors combine to form an album of outstanding originality and distinction. Stanley Black has skillfully employed a multitude of novel ideas in this selection. No electronic gimmicks, or subterfuges – just the products of a brilliant musical brain which never ceases to amaze show business with its rich fund of inventive genius.

Should I
Time On My Hands
All Of You
And This IS My Beloved
I've Got You Under My Skin
You're The Top
One, Two, Button Your Shoe
My Melancholy Baby
Yes, My Darling Daughter
Fool's Rush In
Ooh That Kiss!
It's All Right With Me

Big Band Bossa Nova - Enoch Light

Besame Mucho

Big Band Bossa Nova
The New Beat From Brazil
Originate and Produced by Enoch Light
Command Records RS 844 SD
1962

From Billboard November 17, 1962: Enoch Light and his ork light out after the latest catchy rhythm from Brazil, the bossa nova, and they turn in a flock of big, lightly swinging performances of the infectious rhythm with the big band. The sound is excellent, the stereo arrangements sparkle and the band plays with style. Big sales ahead here.

Above is one of the few instances I've found in which a reviewer makes note of the standout engineering that makes listening to Command discs a real pleasure.

From the back cover: The is Enoch Light and his pulsating big band plus the exciting bossa nova treated with the inventive imagination that only Enoch Light can give it plus the bone-chilling, intense reality of Command's miraculous recording technique.

Many of Light's best session musicians played on this disc. Trumpets: Doc Severisen, Bernie Glow, Mel Davis, Jimmy Maxwell and Irvin Markowitz - Drum: Don Lamond - woodwinds: Walter Levinsky, Phil Bodner Al Klink, Stan Webb and Hank Freeman - guitar: Tony Mottola - bass: Bob Haggart - trombones: Urbie Green, Bobby Byrne, Bob Alexander, Paul Faulise and Jack Satterfield - percussion; Bob Rosengarden, Phil Kraus and Eddie Shaughnessy.

Desafinado
One Note Samba
Perdido
E Luxo So
Galanura
Lullaby Of Birdland
Rio Junction
Sem Saudades De Voce
La Puerta Del Sol
Brazil
Besame Mucho
Take The "A" Train

Holiday In Rio - Werner Muller And His Orchestra

Pearlfisher Tango

Your Musical Holiday In Rio
Werner Muller and His Orchestra
Decca DL 8139

From the back cover: The music in this series, suggested by the brilliantly colorful pages of Holiday Magazine, has been especially chosen to invite, encourage, and enhance the holiday spirit.

A nice Latin mood set presented without many space age fireworks, although I like the vocal touches on the sample posted above. Muller would go on to make some fine atomic age discs. Look for a copy of Muller's Percussion In The Sky.

Danke Schon - Bernd Spier

Memphis

Danke Schon
Bernd Spier
Columbia CL 2399

From the bi-lingual back cover notes: As you'll discover when you hear Bernd in Danke Schoen, his approach to a song has been strongly influenced by the best American popular singing styles. But just as clearly, Bernd's persuasive way with a ballad reaches out beyond any of the familiar styles to become uniquely "Bernd Spier".

Bernd Spier's wiki page.

Grade "A" Dance Music With A Swing Beat

Azores

Big Foot

Grade "A" Dance Music With A Swing Beat
Joe Thomas And Band
Al Sears And His Orchestra
Audio Lab (King Records - Cincinnati, Ohio) AL 1540

Here's an obscure budget album which I purchased for the cover art. One track is titled "Raw Meat" but maybe stock art of a "Big Foot" would have worked just as nicely?

The album actually swings like a thick piece of raw meat on a meat hook, Grade "A" or a giant groovy dancing foot.

Al Sears on wiki

Joe Thomas on wiki

Songs Of Kurt Weill Sung By Felicia Sanders

Thousands Of Miles

Songs Of Kurt Weill Sung By Felicia Sanders
Arranged and Conducted by Irving Joseph
Series 2000
Time S/2007
1960

From the inside the book-fold cover: In choosing the music of Kurt Weill for her debut in Time's Series 2000, Miss Sanders has given herself the opportunity to choose from one of the most remarkable repertoires in 20th Century music.

From Billboard - August 29, 1960: Felicia Sanders, who is a pretty good singer usually, on this album overdoes her vocal stylings so that she over powers the tender Kurt Weill tunes. The ork backing by Irving Joseph is in the same mold. The tunes include some of Weill's greatest. Recording is excellent.

Speak Low
This Is New
Remember That I Care
Green Up-Time
September Song
Here I'll Stay
Thousands Of Miles
Foolish Heart
Stay Well
Westwind
Mon Ami, My Friend
Oh Heart Of Love

Easy Jazz On A Fish Beat Bass - Greig McRitchie

Lonely Night

Easy Jazz On A Fish Beat Bass
Grieg McRitchie
Zephyr ZP12005G
1956

From the back cover: Believing Rock and Roll to be a moving beat that is here to stay Greig McRitchie was given the assignment of arranging jazz above the fishnet or backbeat so characteristic of the music most popular with today's young people, Zephyr and McRitchie agreed to try one recording session – four tunes. If the idea didn't work the plan was to be scrapped. To hedge a little further on the experiment (and to get the best possible sound) it was decided to record on three separate tracks as well as the conventional quarter-inch tape. The three track machine made it possible to add or diminish level on each of the sections: rock and roll rhythm, bass and jazz – in the editing.

Set musicians included: Russ Freeman - piano, Joe Mondragon - bass, Shelly Manne - drums, Herbie Harper and Joe Howard - trombone, Ray Linn - trumpet, Larry Bunker - vibes, Buddy Collette - alto and flute, Tony Rizzi - guitar and Marty Berman - baritone.

A well balanced set that still sounds fresh.

Jeepers Creepers
McRitchie Doodle
Sometimes I'm Happy
Runnin' Wild
Fishbeat Blues
Lonely Night
Grieg's Bread
Sally's Back
Sophisticated Swing
Shuffle Off To Buffalo
Robbins Nest
Goodnight!

The Capitol Disc Jockey Album - June 1969

Feeling Good - The Art Reynolds Singers

The Capitol Disc Jockey Album
June 1969

Here's another fun promotional album from Capitol featuring sample tracks from The Art Reynolds Singers, George Shearing, Ralph McTell, Nancy Wilson, Al de Lory and Sandler & Young.