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Friday, June 22, 2018

Erogenous - The Mystic Moods

Erogenous
The Mystic Moods
Warner Communications Company
BS4 2786
1974

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented here to share the cover art and to note that this set was released in 4 channel.

From Billboard - January 29, 1974: Continues recent trends of Brad Miller's studio orchestra to downplay its trademark ocean and storm sound effects and it swooping strings in order to achieve a more contemporary soft-soul effect which has given series its biggest successes yet. Best cuts: "Your Place Of Mine," Sound Of Love."

Your Place Or Mine
Keep Me Warm
The Sound Of Love
Down Easy
The Other Side Of Midnight
Any Way You Want It
Honey Trippin'
The Magician
Fallen Angel
Get It While The Getting Is Good
Midnight Snack

I Can Dream Can't I - Ralph Carmichael

Bewitched
I Can Dream Can't I?
A nostalgic tribute to the wonderful songs and dance orchestras of the '50s
Ralph Carmichael And His Orchestra
Capitol Records T 1819
1963

I Can Dream Can't I
Any Time
Tennessee Waltz
You Belong To Me
It's No Sin
Mona Lisa
Bewitched
Blue Tango
Unforgettable
Because Of You
C'est Si Bon
If

I Miss You So - Chris Connor

Speak Low

Chris Connor
I Miss You So
Arrangements by Ray Ellis
Supervision: Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
Cover Photo: Saul Leiter
Cover Design: Marvin Israel
Atlantic 8014
1958

From the back cover: One of the marks of a true jazz vocal stylist is the ability to use the voice as an instrument. A loving care for intonation, phrasing, dynamics and expression and a complete at-homeness with an instrument, whether a saxophone, clarinet, trumpet or voice is a special part of the jazz artist's makeup. For a singer, instrumental training is invaluable. Chris Connor had the benefit of practice on the clarinet and the violin through her high school years. Only then did she take a serious view of her singing. But not until she was well out of high school and holding down a stenographer's job in Jefferson City, Missouri, did Chris get her first chance to make money as a vocalist. This was with a college dance band at the University of Missouri. Even in this earliest engagement, Chris was not the typical pop singer. She had the flavor of jazz in her voice even then and later when a 19-year-old trombonist, Bobby Brookmeyer, asked her to come back to Kansas City to sing with his band, her modern approach was even more evident.

Chris was already shaping her voice in the Anita O'Day – June Christy tradition. She has high praise for both these artists as she does for Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan and from this quarter came the composite influence that was to develop and establish the Chris Connor style.

With the Missouri University dance band, Chris has much experience singing in front of Stan Kenton, arrangements. Then after "taking the plunge" and heading for New York in 1949, she won an audition to sing with Claude Thornhill's band, which gave her three and a half years of singing with a band with a definitely forward look about it.

The Kenton influence became complete, when Chris actually joined the band in 1952. At this point her reputation suddenly expanded from the limited Kansas City and New York metropolitan areas straight across the country. It was not as easy matter to crack through the tough harmonic and rhythm constructions of the Kenton book. June Christy had already set up a vocal formula for the band that was not easy to follow. But Chris Connor's innate artistry overcame the obvious obstacles and she re-created the basic approach in terms of her own interpretation to the vast satisfaction of not only Kenton, but many new followers as well.

Out of the Kenton collaboration came a touching and offbeat record call All About Ronnie, which had a success completely unexpected by the record mean who brought it out.

In July 1953, following years of back-breaking, sleep-destroying one nighters with the Thornhill and Kenton bands, Chris quit the band business for good, a move that not only gave her a rest, but provided the opportunity to become solidly entrenched as a top single act and recording star as well. She has played the hallowed jazz spots like Birdland in New York and Storyville in Boston as well as a number of the better pop-type clubs. Chris' early LP records proved some of the biggest jazz sellers. And her first three Atlantic LPs, Chris Connor," "He Loves Me, He Love Me Not," and especially "Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac Of Song," have merely served to build a bigger than ever following for the husky voice Kansas City blonde.

I Miss You
Go Away From My Window
Trust In Me
Past The Age Of Innocence
Time Out For Tears
I Love You Yes I Do
My Heart Is So Full Of You
My Ideal
Mixed Emotions
They All Laughed
Speak Low
Radar Blues

All My Love - Monarchs Of Melody

I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You 
All My Love
FDR King Size
Waldorf Music Hall Inc.
MHK 33-1241

I Surrender Dear
Ting-A-Ling
I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You
When My Sugar Walks Down The Street
Don't Worry 'Bout Me
Sweet Lorraine
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Ill Wind
All My Love
Emaline
Lonesome And Sorry
Pardon Me, Pretty Baby

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Ballads For Night People - June Christy

Bewitched

Ballads For Night People
June Christy
Arranged and Conducted by Bob Cooper
Produced by Bill Biller
Capitol Records T1308
1960

From Billboard - February 15, 1960: June Christy, the one and original, comes thur with her own special and attractive interpretations of a group of tunes for that amorphous group of fans known as Night People. The songs include such familiar items as "Bewitched" and "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me" and such unfamiliar efforts as "Night People" from the recent show, "The Nervous Set," and "I Had A Little Sorrow," based on Edna St. Vincent Millay's "The Penitent." Miss Christy with backing by Bob Cooper chants them all endearingly.

Bewitched
Night People
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
I Had A Little Sorrow
I'm In Love
Shadow Woman
Kissing Bug
My Ship
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Make Love To Me

Moments To Remember - Volume 3

Stranger In Paradise
Moments To Remember
Volume 3
The Ink Spots, Vincent Lopez, Bob Eberly and His Orchestra and Enoch Light and His Orchestra
Exclusive Portrait of Lovely Tina Louise
Cover Photography: Barry Kramer
FDR KING SIZE
Waldorf Music Hall, Inc.
MHK 33-1239

Moments To Remember
Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
Until The Real Thing Comes Along
Do I Love You?
Little Things Mean A Lot
No Not Much
The Poor People Of Paris
Mademoiselle De Paris
Over The Rainbow
Stranger In Paradise
Eleventh Hour Melody

The Sawbuck Singers

Black Girl
The Sawbuck Singers
Produced by Jack Lewis
Recording Engineer: Bill Mac Meekin
Colpix Records
SCP 475

From the back cover: "The Sawbuck Singers" are a completely unique vocal group; ten girls now attending the College of New Rochelle. They were originally organized by Mica McCann when she was a freshman and was asked to provide entertainment for the College's annual "Winter Weekend".

During Mica McCann's second year in college, she was placed in charge of a class project to raise money for the school. An inter-collegiate hootenanny was arranged with groups invited from Cornell, Fordham and the University of Virginia. The fund raising program was a huge success, "The Sawbuck Singers" were stars of the show and decided to stay together as a professional group. Many of the songs in this album are performed by the girls in their personal appearances.


Wimoweh
Sixteen Tons
Darlin' Rosalie
Wade In The Water
Black Girl
C. C. Rider
Lookin' On The Bright Side
Un Canadian Errant
They Call The Wind Maria
Love Henry
We Never know
If I Gave You

The Best Songs Of 1970 - The Symphonette Brass

Airport Theme
The Symphonette Brass Play
The Best Songs Of 1970
Produced by Eugene Lowell
Cover Design: Jack Purtle
Produced for The Club by The Longines Symphonette Society
Cover Photos Courtesy UPI

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Daughter Of Darkness
(They Long To Be) Close To You
Let Me Go To Him
The Wonder Of You
Easy Come, Easy Go
Airport Love Theme
Come Saturday Morning
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
Gimme Dat Ding
Smile A Little Smile For Me
That Same Old Feeling
Early In The Morning
Paper Mache
I Just Can't Help Believing
Winter World Of Love
It's All In The Game
United We Stand
Loveland
Hey There Lonely Girl
Everybody's Out Of Town
Mama Told Me Not To Come
Make It With You
Puppet Man

London Swings - The Johnny Scott Orchestra

London Bridge Is Falling Down
London Swings
The Johnny Scott Orchestra
Produced by Ron Richards
Studio 2 Stereo
An A.I.R. (London) Production
E.M.I. Records
Two 118
1966

Personnel
Trumpets: Leon Calvert, Gregg Bowen, Ray Davis, Eddie Blair and Ian Hamer
Trombones: Don Lusher, Jack Baine, Maurice Pratt and Jackie Armstrong
Saxed: Roy Willcox, Al Newman, Bob Efford, Ducan Lamont and Ronnie Ross
Harps: John Marson and Michael Jefferies
Piano: Alan Branscombe
Guitar: Judd Proctor
Bass: Arthur Watts
Drums: Barry Morgan
Strings led by Tony Gilbert

Let's All Go Down The Strand
They're Changing Guard At Buckingham Palace
Chelsea Bridge
Knocked 'Em In The Old Kent Road
The Trees In Grosvenor Square
Limehouse Blues
London By Night
Greek Street, Soho
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
Covent Garden Starts Early
Springtime In Piccadilly Circus
London Bridge Is Falling Down

Double Exposures - Manny Albam

You're Driving Me Crazy - Moten Swing
Double Exposures
Manny Albam And His Orchestra
Top Rank RS 613
1960

Also see More Double Exposure (RCA Victor LSA-2432)

Jersey Bounce - I Found A Million Dollar Baby
Undecided - This Can't Be Love
Take The "A" Train - Exactly Like You
Jada - It's A Wonderfull World
Blue Moon - Mountain Greenery
Crazy Rhythm - Opus
Sweet Sue - Honeysuckle Rose
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart - Don't Get Around Much Anymore
You're Driving Me Crazy - Moten Swing
Perdido - You Can Depend On Me

Destination Moon - Hollywood Cinema

Forbidden Planet
Music From The Soundtrack Of Destination Moon
And Other Themes
Performed by Hollywood Cinema Orchestra
Cinema Records LP-8005

One one plays through as a single continuous band of dramatic orchestrated soundtrack music. Side two features a more vibrant set that offers the listener at least some "space-age" electronic sound effects arranged into the score.

Destination Moon
A. Earth
B. In Outer Space
C. On The Surface Of The Moon
D. Escape From The Moon
E. Finale

Forbidden Planet
Time Machine
Barbarella
Beyond The Moon
Forbidden Island
Moonraker
Master Of The World
The Lost Continent

Mambo Jumbo - Carlos Molina

Love This Night Will Live
Mambo Jumbo
Carlos Molina
Camay Records CA 3017 S

Also see Mambo Jumbo (Caliente Disco CD 1004).

Mambo Jumbo
Love This Night Will Live
Eso No
Lengua Mala
Mambo No. 8
Serenata Espagnol
Silverio
El Compas Del Mambo

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Vagabond Dreams With Buddy Clark

Vagabond Dreams
Vagabond Street
Featuring Buddy Clark Singing
Production: Ozzie Cadena
Mastering: R. Van Gelder
Engraving: Fidelity Engravers, Inc.
Regent Records, Co. - Newark, N. J.
Regent MG-6030

On A Little Street IN Singapore
Hi-Diddle Dee Dee, An Actors Life For Me
I've Got No Strings
Give A Little Whistle
Leaning On The Ole Top Rail
South Of The Border
Turn On The Old Music Box
When You Wish Upon A Star
If What You Say Is True
Vagabond Dreams

Bright New World - Flo Price

Bright New World
Bright New World
Flo Price
With The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra
Cover Photo: Peggy Zarnek - Photo Ideas, Chicago
Word Records - Waco, Texas
WST-8478-LP

Bright New World
Keep Me Where Love Is
A Quiet Place
You're Walking Down Sunshine Lane
He's Listening
My Times Are In Thy Hand
Master Designer
At The Shore
I Searched The World
Try A Little Kindness
Like A Mighty River
Thoughts On A Sunday Morning

Tambó - Tito Puente

Dance Of The Headhunters (LSP-2257)

Tambó
Tito Puente
Produced by Marty Gold
Recorded in Webster Hall, New York City
Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson
RCA Victor LPM-2257 & LSP-2257
1960

From Billboard - January 9, 1961: Drums and bongos provide an exciting tempo for Puente's exuberant ork treatments of dramatic jungle-flavored themes. The exotic lineup includes "Witch Doctor's Nightmare," "Voodoo Dance At Midnight," "Call Of The Jungle Birds" and "Dance Of The Headhunters." Album should appeal to pop sound-LP fans, as well as Puente's loyal Latin-American Buyers.

Dance Of The Headhunters
Call Of The Jungle Birds
Rumba-Timbales
The Ceremony Of Tambo
Velorio
Cuero Pelao
Jungle Holiday
Guaguanco
Ritual Drum Dance
Witch Doctor's Nightmare
Son Montuno
Voodoo Dance At Midnight

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Three Little Words - Andre Previn

Three Little Words

Three Little Words
Andre Previn
Piano with Rhythm Accompaniment
RCA Victor LPM-1356
1957

From the back cover: Andre was born in Berlin in the summer of 1929. His father, a piano teacher, was able to recognize – and knew enough to be astounded at – Andre's gift for perfect pitch when he was only four years old. Two years later, Andre asked his father to teach him how to play the piano. During the next four years the Previn family managed to leave Germany via Paris and emigrate to the States. They arrived in Hollywood in 1939 where Andre's older brother had already preceded them. Andre, who had been studying piano with his father despite all interruptions, enrolled in Beverly Hills High School. Following his strong interest in composition and harmony, he took lessons with such noted musicians as Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Joseph Achron. Even before finishing high school, Andre was earning money as a part-time piano player and doing free-lance arrangements. Soon after graduation, he went to work for M-G-M pictures as as arranger.

His first task was scoring the music played by pianist Jose' Iturbi in a movie called "Holiday In Mexico." By 1948, at nineteen, Andre was already assigned to compose and conduct scores for films; to date he has won three nominations for the Academy Awards.

After hearing the last piano player, Art Tatum, display his jazz skill, Andre became fascinated with jazz which he feels is a "very important and genuine art form." In the past several years he has played with some leading West Coast jazzmen like drummer Shelley Mann and trumpet-player Shorty Rogers as well as with a group of his own. His fondest dream, in fact, is to combine his love for jazz and his feeling for classical music in writing a full score for jazz soloists and symphony orchestra.

But that potential listening pleasure is reserved for the future; right now you can pleasure yourself with Three Little Words – and eleven other perennial favorites in this collection. – Edwin Miller


I Only Have Eyes For You
September In The Rain
This Heart Of Mine
I'll String Along With You
Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
Three Little Words
Jeepers Creepers
I Know Why And So Do You
There Will Never Be Another You
Lullaby Of Broadway
Who's Sorry Now
The Gypsy In My Soul

Percy Faith Plays Romantic Music

Invitation

Percy Faith Plays Romantic Music
Columbia CL 526
1953

Photo credit for third cover variation: Dirone Photography

From the back cover: Born April 7, 1908, Toronto, Canada. The oldest of eight children, Percy Faith began studying the violin at the age of seven. Shortly thereafter an aunt gave him a fine piano, with which he immediately became fascinated. By the time he was ten, he had progressed to the point where he was able to present a double recital, playing alternate solos on the violin and the piano. However, his real love was the piano, and he concentrated on that instrument. During his high school years, he found after-hours employment in a Toronto movie house, playing music to accompany silent films. Here he learned how to improvise and to ad-lib, to fit the mood of various scenes and to stretch-out the music when his cue-sheets proved faulty.

Upon graduation from high school, he joined an orchestra which played in and around Toronto. Suddenly, an offer came from Jack Arthur, a symphonic orchestra conductor known as the "Paul Whiteman of Canada." Impressed with Percy's ability, Arthur lent him to a small band in the area, intending to place him in his own group after Percy found work on several radio programs, and continued to study for concert work under such teachers as Frank Wellman of the Toronto Conservatory, and Louis Waizman. It was Waizman who recognized the young musician's talent for interpretative arranging, and convinced him that he should follow that technique.

By 1931, Faith was conducting his own orchestra – a small string group – on the air. He progressed through larger groups and in 1934 the Canadian Broadcasting System hired him as staff arranger and conductor. He was given a program called "Gaiety in Romance" that at once landed a sponsor, and continued with "Streamline" and "Music by Faith." Early in 1940 he was offered the conductor's post with the "Carnation Hour" in the United States, which he conducted until 1947, until he starred on "The Pause That Refreshes". Shortly thereafter, he joined Columbia Records as a member of the Artists and Repertoire staff, and as a recording artist in his own right. Since that time he has been one of the leaders in the return of the instrumental number to favor.


While We're Young
I'll Take Romance
Invitation
The Girl That I Marry
Valse Huguette
If I Loved You
Carousel Waltz
Easy To Love
One Night Of Love
When I'm Not Near The Girl I Love
Caress
Beautiful Love

Monday, June 18, 2018

Black Coffee - Peggy Lee

Black Coffee
With Peggy Lee
Decca Records DL 8358
1956

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented here to share the cover art and notes excerpt.

Excellent material, outstanding arrangements and Peggy at her absolute finest backed to perfection by a small studio group.

From the back cover: Hollywood is a big and lonely place; it was not even aware of Peggy's arrival. It was all she could do to get a few obscure singing jobs. Discouraged but not disheartened, she headed back to North Dakota, where she managed to get a singing job on station WDAY in Fargo. Her fortunes took a turn for the better. She began getting local night club dates – dates that soon spread throughout the midwest. While playing in Chicago, she was heard by Benny Goodman, who offered her a place with his band.

Touring with the Goodman aggregation for two years was something which Peggy will never forget. It gave her an opportunity to sing with some of the nation's top musicians. Moreover, it was during this period that Peggy Lee became a "name" with her big-selling record of "Why Don't You Do Right."

Since that time Peggy's star has risen higher and higher. Her successes have taken her into the country's leading night-spots, into television, and radio. Her records, such as her remarkable rendition of "Lover," have been sensational, and she received national acclaim when she sang it, among other songs, in her starring role in Warner Brothers' musical, "The Jazz Singer."

The songs in this collection reveal Peggy Lee at her most captivating. Here she displays a versatility which matches her wonderful vitality, emphasizing the quality of her voice as well as the music. The personnel of the instrumental group which accompanies her consists of Cootie Chesterfield, trumpet; Jimmy Rowles, piano; Max Wayne, bass; Ed Shaughnessy, drums.


Black Coffee
I've Got You Under My Skin
Easy Living
My Heart Belongs To Daddy
It Ain't Necessarily So
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
A Woman Alone With The Blues
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
(Ah The Apple Tree) When The World Was Young
Love Me Of Leave Me
You're My Thrill
There's A Small Hotel

Music For Wives And Lovers - Nelson Riddle

Yesterday
Music For Wives And Lovers
Arranged and Conducted by Nelson Riddle
Produced by Sonny Lester
Solid State SS 18013
A Division of United Artists Records, Inc.
1967

Cabaret
Born Free
What Now My Love?
Yesterday
The Shadow Of Your Smile
Somewhere My Love
Winchester Cathedral
Wives And Lovers
A Man And A Woman (Un Homme et Une Femme)
Spanish Eyes
Music To Watch Girls By
Strangers In The Night