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Monday, May 12, 2014

Hi-Fi Living

From Billboard - September 2, 1957: RCA Victor has prepared a new $1.79 LP line exclusively for rack jobbers. The label, RCA Custom Records, will be a special continuous promotion deal, which first will be tested with three of the country's biggest rack concerns in different areas. Tests will begin in the next week or two. 

According to Victor's Irwin Tarr, who heads the company's rack and syndicate selling, the recorded material consists entirely of standard pop tunes, newly recorded in hi-fi specifically for this series. The series itself, to be issued on the basis of a disk a week for 12 weeks, will be tagged the "RCA Custom for Hi-Fi Living Series." There will be 12 top standards in each 12-inch set.

This represents the first time Victor has ventured to sell directly to rack jobbers without involving its distributors. The company's Camden line, which includes disks in all categories by name artists, sells at $1.98, and is handled by Victor distributors. The RCA Custom line does not utilize name acts in this initial series.


Vol.1 – I Could Have Danced All Night
Vol. 2 – Hands Across The Table
Vol. 3 – Hits From Hollywood
Vol. 4 – I Married An Angel
Vol. 5 – Love On Broadway
Vol. 6 – Latin Holiday
Vol. 7 – These Foolish Things
Vol. 8 – A Lazy Afternoon
Vol. 9 – The Girl That I Marry
Vol. 10 – Very Hi-Fi Organ
Vol. 11 – A Trip To Romance
Vol. 12 – We're Having A Party

I Could Have Danced All Night

I Could Have Danced All Night
Vol. 1 For Hi-Fi-Living
Hill Bowen and His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1001
1957

I Could Have Danced All Night
If I Loved You
On The Street Where You Live
The Best Things In Life Are Free
All The Things You Are
Button Up Your Overcoat
I Love Paris
Getting To Know You
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
I've Told Ev'ry Little Star
I've Got You Under My Skin
Buckle Down, Winsocki

I've Got The World On A String

Hands Across The Table
Vol. 2 For Hi-Fi Living
Tony Osborne and His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL-1002

Hands Across The Table
Girl Of My Dreams
I've Got The World On A String
I Surrender Dear
Serenade In The Night
Stars Fell On Alabama
Belle Of The Ball
Take Me In Your Arms
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
That's My Desire
Sweet Lorraine
I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You

Laura

Hits From Hollywood
Vol. 3 For Hi-Fi Living
Ronnie Ogden and His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1003
1957

I Feel A Song Comin' On (Every Night At Eight
Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing (Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing)
All I Do Is Dream Of You (Sadie McKee)
Sweet And Lovely (Two Girls And A Sailor)
Laura (Laura)
Be My Love (Toast Of New Orleans)
It's A Most Unusual Day (A Date With Judy)
Three Coins In The Fountain (Three Coins In A Fountain)
Ramona (Ramona)
High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)
I'm In The Mood For Love (Every Night At Eight)
Over The Rainbow (The Wizard Of Oz)

Once In A While

I Married An Angel
Vol. 4 For Hi-Fi Living
Hill Bowen And His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1004
1957

I Married An Angel
Lovely Lady
Taking A Chance On Love
I'll Never Be The Same
Doll Dance
I Love You
More Than You Know
That Old Feeling
Once In A While
Blue Moon
Down Among The Sheltering Palms

September Song

Love On Broadway
Vol. 5 For Hi-Fi-Living
Hill Bowen And His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1005
1957

They Didn't Believe Me
My Ship
Wunderbar
Make Believe
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
June Is Bustin' Out All Over
Love Walked In
Some Enchanted Evening
The Night Was Made For Love
Orchids In The Moonlight
September Song
Falling In Love With Love

Perfidia

Latin Holiday
Vol. 6 For Hi-Fi Living
Don Amore And His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1006
1957

Amor
Cuanto le Gusta
Lisbon Antiqua
Brazil
Frenesi
Tico-Tico
Perfidia
El Cumbanchero
Sweet and Gentle
Besame Mucho
Adios
Green Eyes

When You Wish Upon A Star

These Foolish Things
Vol. 7 For Hi-Fi Living
Jack Sack And His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1007
1957

Love
Yearning
Oh, How I Miss You Tonight
Music, Maestro, Please!
When You Wish Upon A Star
San Antonio Rose
These Foolish Things
Wabash Moon
When They Ask About You
Lullaby Of Leaves
I'd Climb The Highest Mountain
With A Smile And A Song

I'm Always Chasing Rainbows

A Lazy Afternoon
Vol. 8 For Hi-Fi Living
Malcolm Lockyer And His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1008
1957

Deep Purple
You Stepped Out Of A Dream
In A Little Spanish Town
Don't Blame Me
Time On My Hands
The Wedding Of The Painted Dolls
Let Me Love You Tonight
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
Jeannine
At Sundown
I'll See You In My Dreams
Goodnight Sweetheart

Blue Skies

The Girl That I Marry
The Music Of Irving Berlin
Vol. 9 For Hi-Fi Living
Jack Say and His Orchestra
Cover: Murray Laden
RCA Custom RAL 1009
1957

Soft Lights And Sweet Dreams
Remember
Cheek To Cheek
How Deep Is The Ocean
Say It Isn't So
Blue Skies
Say It With Music
Always
Lady Of The Evening
The Girl That I Marry
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
All By Myself

Stormy Weather

Very Hi-Fi Organ
Vol. 10 For Hi-Fi Living
Jocelyn McNeil At The Pipe Organ
RCA Custom RAL 1010
1957

Who's Sorry Now?
Sophisticated Lady
Pavanne
Star Dust
The Creole Love Call
Home
Blue Mirage
Jealous
I Got Rhythm
Emaline
Stormy Weather
The Dream Of Olwen

Love Me Or Leave Me
A Trip To Romance
Vol. 11 For Hi-Fi Living
Tony Osborne and His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1011
1957

The Moon Was Yellow
The More I Saw You
Romance
You'll Never Know
Serenade In Blue
Holiday For Strings
Fools Rush In
Love Me Or Leave Me
Our Waltz
Little White Lies
I Had The Craziest Dream
A Little Bit Independent
Little Girl

We're Having A Party
Vol. 12 For Hi-Fi Living
Malcolm Lockyer And His Orchestra
RCA Custom RAL 1012
1957

I've Found A New Baby
Heartaches
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
Under Paris Skies (Sous le ciel de Paris)
Everybody Loves My Baby (But My Baby Don't Love Nobody But Me)
Undecided
Little Girl
You Know (Tu Sais)
I'll Never Smile Again
The Petite Waltz
Baby Won't You Please Come Home
Now Is The Hour (Maori Farewell Song)

Back cover art for the series

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