Unearthed In The Atomic Attic

Exotica - Ted Auletta And His Orchestra

2012-01-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

Taboo

Exotica
Ted Auletta And His Orchestra
4:35 Channels
Cameo - SC 4008
1962

From the June 30, 1962 issue of Billboard: Attractive and stylish arrangements of a fine collection of tunes could make this album a potent seller with stereo bugs. The arrangements are excellent for stereo and the sound is first-rate too. Strong wax here.

The recording takes on its own personality apart from Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman which the songs are most strongly associated with. The album a nice addition to the exotica collection. And the stereo engineering is very good.

Auletta's orchestra staff includes: Ted Auletta - piano/arranger/conductor, Phil Bodner - flute/alto flute, Frances Corsi - harp, Eddie Costa - vibraphone/marimba, Jack Lesserg - bass, Gary Chester - percussion, Danny Pucillo - percussion and Dennis Regor - bird calls

Side 1
Quite Village
Flamingo
Adventure In Paradise
The Breeze And I
The Sound Of Exotica
Taboo

Side 2
Baia
Voodoo Moon
Makaha
Jungle Drums
Pool Of Love
Return To Paradise

Caribbean Holiday - Lord Russell's Bongo Percussionists

2012-01-27T17:54:00.000-08:00

Day-O

Caribbean Holiday
Lord Russell's Bongo Percussionists
Vocals by Ernesto San Miguel
AL-FI

"Bongo Percussionists" is pushing the cover hype a bit. Sure there is bongo percussion... but it is subdued. The vibe is nice but fairly traditional.

Let's Rock And Roll

2012-01-25T22:34:00.000-08:00

The Screwdriver #2

Steam Roller Blues

Let's Rock And Roll
Allegro 1704

Allegro almost always means better leave well enough alone in the record bin. But I couldn't resist the nice cover and tempting song titles. Well, heck... this is a pretty wild brass rock roll LP until, curiously, the album shifts gears into the second side featuring songs like Shot Gun Boogie. Obviously Allegro, as usually, filled the LP with a little of this and a little of that. But what they found was decent stuff.

There is no indication on the jacket who the artist(s) are.

Kate Smith Salutes Composers Of The Now Generation

2012-01-25T19:22:00.000-08:00

By The Time I Get To Phoenix

Here, There And Everywhere

Kate Smith Salutes Composers Of The Now Generation
RCA LSP-4105
1969

From the back cover: Does Kate Smith know where it's at? You better believe it!

Budget Album Without A Title

2012-01-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

Fever

We Can Work It Out

Modern Sound MS 1019

Here's another Modern Sound album that is so budget that MS couldn't afford a title or cover art (so the trashed cover really isn't much of a problem for me). As with the first MS album I found (featuring a cover of The Stones song Satisfaction)... the song covers can be interesting. There is something about these albums that works on some level... if you are into this budget stuff.

Super Hits 1974

2012-01-22T20:04:00.000-08:00

Seasons In The Sun

Super Hits 1974
Power Pak SA 258

Power Pak did their best to disguise the fact that the "real" artists weren't actually doing their "hits"on this album. Various artists means whoever they could find that sort of sounded like the actual, real artist.

I hoped this would be the case because, with a little luck, there can be a treasures to be found on the vinyl. Seasons In The Sun gets a little whacky once the chorus joins in.

Electronic Music III

2012-01-21T15:55:00.000-08:00

Poem By Orhan Veli Kanik

Animus I

Electronic Music III
Turnabout Vox TV 34177
1967

From Billboard October 14, 1967: A fascinating collection of electronic music styles and collaborations. Pianist George Flynn is expert in Mimaroglu's "Piano Music for Performer and Composer." while trombonist Andre Smith's is equally adept in Druckman's "Animus I." Mimaroglu's "Six Preludes for "Magnetic Tape" also is inventive as is Berio's Thema (Omaggio a Joyce)."

Fascinating? Yup. More good stuff from Turnabout featuring a blend of approaches that, at times, seem more traditional, than "electronic". Six Preludes For Magnetic Tape comes off as very much electronic. That collection sounds as if someone deconstructed any song.... and played it in bits and pieces out of order, backwards. The mood created is somewhat dark. Great stereo engineering.

I especially love a the sixth short track found on side 2 posted above (part of the Six Preludes For Magnetic Tape).

Paradise Village - Al Caiola And His Islanders

2012-01-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

Stranger On The Shore

Music Of The Island
Paradise Village
Al Caiola And His Islanders
United Artists - UAS 6263
1962

This album is a great blend of light pop and what you may have hear on the many "Hawaiian" albums that flooded the market in the early 60s.

Side 1

Stranger In Paradise
Tiara Tahiti
Red Sails In The Sunset
Hawaiian Punch
Bali Hai
Stranger On The Shore

Side 2

Moon Of Mankoora
Hawaiian Wedding Song
Ebb Tide
Diamond Head
Almost Paradise
Follow Me

Big Band Plays Beatles Bag and Bacharach David - Lee Castle

2012-01-21T07:50:00.000-08:00

Walk On By

What The World Needs Now

Big Band Plays Beatles Bag! + Bacharach / David
Lee Castle & The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
Pickwick PTP 2038
1967

This is a 2 record set in a gatefold album. Compared to many Pickwick projects, this seems to have been an expensive release.

I posted a few samples from The Beatles disc yesterday. Beatles covers... tricky business... The Bacharach disc plays much more like a decent period light pop.

Fun record to collect if you can find a copy.

1962's Greatest Hits - Billy Vaughn

2012-01-20T22:06:00.000-08:00

The Lonely Bull

1962's Greatest Hits
Billy Vaughn
Dot DLP 3497

I bet you all thought that I would feature Telstar? I should... but Vaughn hadn't figured how to do the "60s" yet and The Lonely Bull is way cooler. And for way cooler Vaughn check out The Windmills Of Your Minds and Quietly Wild.

Oh what the heck... the sample track is Telestar...

Big Band Plays Beatles Bag and Bacharach David - Lee Castle

2012-01-20T17:12:00.000-08:00

Eleanor Rigby

Penny Lane

Big Band Plays Beatles Bag! + Bacharach / David
Lee Castle & The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
Pickwick PTP 2038
1967

This is a 2 record set in a gatefold album. Compared to many Pickwick projects, this seems to have been an expensive release.

Of course, I skipped right over the Bacharach covers (record one) to get to the good stuff, The Beatle covers found on the second disc. I expected to hear some luke warm big band makeovers, but the tunes are way more whacky sort of "Enoch Light-like" light pop covers. After reading the cover notes, I think Pickwick set out to appeal to traditional big band fans. The notes come across stiff and dry. "A bit of swing with a hint of rock are combined on Fool On The Hill with Carl Janelli soloing." But... the music is so crazy... And there is the "British" cover theme which only makes sense if you connect the acts covered to their country of origin... not to mention the confused album title. Anyway... it all confuses me and of course... we like sonic befuddlement up here in The Atomic Attic.

"Big band lovers rise! We may start a whole new trend of excitement."

Jackie Gleason The "Now" Sound... For Today's Lovers

2012-01-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

Jackie Gleason The "Now" Sound... For Today's Lovers
The Gleason Strings with Sitar & other exotic instruments
Capitol Records SW 2935
1969

I've been looking for this Gleason album for a few years. This album is frequently held up as Gleason's "unusual and possibly most hip" recording. However, in my opinion, this LP features splashes of "exotic instruments" that aren't throughly integrate into his brand of easy listening. Instruments include the Sitar, Tabla, Kanjira, African finger piano, Dharma bells, African and Thai marimbas, Gamelan Gongs, Aung Loung and Chinese bell trees.

Had I not been expecting more... possibly the results would have been enough and it is hard to expect Gleason to dive off the deep end and do something really crazy. Thematically and sonically Gleason takes chances that work better on other albums in his catalog. And don't get me wrong, Gleason's stuff rocks... that why I expected something more or different from this album.

Music It's Happening Now! - David McCallum

2012-01-19T19:45:00.000-08:00

House Of Mirrors

Music It's Happening Now!
David McCallum
Capitol T 2651
1967

Very nice light and groovy 60s pop album. The highlight of the album, for me, is the tune I've posted above. Enjoy!

From Wikipedia: In the 1960s, McCallum recorded four albums for Capitol Records with producer David Axelrod: Music...A Part Of Me (Capitol ST 2432, 1966), Music...A Bit More Of Me (Capitol ST 2498, 1966), Music...It's Happening Now! (Capitol ST 2651, 1967), and McCallum (Capitol ST 2748, 1968). The best known of his pieces today is "The Edge," which was sampled by Dr. Dre as the intro and riff to the track "The Next Episode." McCallum did not sing on these records, as many television stars of the 60s did when offered recording contracts. As a classically trained musician, he conceived a blend of oboe, French horn, and strings with guitar and drums, and presented instrumental interpretations of hits of the day. The official arranger on the albums was H. B. Barnum. However, McCallum conducted, and contributed several original compositions of his own, over the course of four LPs. The first two, Music...A Part Of Me and Music...A Bit More Of Me, have been issued together on CD on the Zonophone label.

Out Of Sight - The Howard Roberts Quartet

2012-01-18T20:29:00.000-08:00

Love Is Blue

Out Of Sight (but "in" sound)
The Howard Roberts Quartet (and some more)
Capitol ST 2901
1968

This is a slightly obscure album featuring guitarist Howard Roberts working his jazz riffs on top of a groovy 60s light pop foundation. Fun stuff... although I have to say that the sound seems a bit "flat" or monochromatic to me. I would say the engineering could have been better. Love Is Blue is a fab tune and the standout track.

Exotic Nights - Andre Kostelanetz

2012-01-18T19:54:00.000-08:00

Fantasy On Japanese Woodprints

Exotic Nights
Andre Kostelanetz
Columbia CL 2581
1967

From the January 21, 1967 Billboard Magazine: Aptly titled, this disk offers a group of unusual selections with the deft Kostelantetz touch. Yoichi Hiroaka is an excellent xylophone soloist in Hovhaness' "Fantasy On Japanese Woodprints," while Shinichi Yuize is expert on the koto in Miyagi's "Sea of the Spring." Another delight is the "Dance of the Persian Slaves" by Mussorgsky.

Kostelanetz seems to be more comfortable with traditional approaches and I didn't find much in the way of "unusual selections" compared to the pile of albums from the same period that we favor here in The Atomic Attic. Fantasy On Japanese Woodprints is a nice extended track and an interesting listen.

Hey! Let's Party - Mongo Santamaria

2012-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

Satisfaction

Hey! Let's Party
Mongo Santamaria
Columbia CL 2473
1966

From Billboard Magazine, June 4, 1966: This is exciting material. The rhythm section, particularly the piano, lays down a precise and exciting beat and sets a great mood for dancing and listening. Full fills the title as a good one for parties.

Side1

Walk On By
I Got You (I Feel Good)
In The Mood
Baila Dance
Louie, Louie

Side 2

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Hey!
Call ME
El Bikini
Shotgun

Surfers Paradise - Alex Keack

2012-01-17T20:04:00.000-08:00

Haunted Love

Surfers Paradise
Alex Keack
Crown Records CLP 5315
1963

This LP was a Crown 99¢ special and their answer to the Martin Denny/Arthur Lyman sound of the early 60s. No bird calls, but very nice lounge laid on a bold foundation of percussion/bongos.

Movie Hits Of '66 - Jimmy Sedlar

2012-01-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

Theme From Our Man Flint

Movie Hits Of '66
Jimmy Sedlar - His Trumpet & Orchestra
Kapp KL-1467

This turned out to be a slightly obscure and outstanding mid-60s light pop album. All the light pop whiz-bangs you know and love are here mixed up with Sedlar's vision of "now sound brass". A comparison on the fun scale would be to listen to a few of my fav 60s light pop Neal Hefti's "Batman" albums.

Great variety in approaches and a must have. Sedlar online info is slim. I looked for additional album (releases) cover images and bio info and came up pretty much empty handed with the exception of one other Knapp release titled Tall Man With A Horn.

Side 1

Thunderball
Moment To Moment
Theme From The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
The Phoenix Love Theme
Dulcinea
Love Theme From Madame X

Side 2

Love Theme From Judith
You're Gonna Hear From Me
Ascot
Mister Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Juliet Of The Spirits
Theme From Our Man Flint

New Songs Of The Seventies - Sounds Of The Seventies Orchestra - Quadraphonic

2012-01-16T04:40:00.000-08:00

Hourglass

Album

New Songs Of The Seventies
Sounds Of The Seventies Orchestra
SQ System/Capitol QL 6876
1973

For my Quad Friend out there, here's a minty fresh copy of an "elevator music" approach to your favorite songs. The orchestra seems to be sleep walking through the tunes, although the sample I've posted has an interesting vibe to it. On the bright side, the engineering is outstanding and the sound is great.

Side 1

Tommy
Alone Again (Naturally)
A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Nights In White Satin
Good Time Charlie Got The Blues

Side 2

Isn't Life Strange
Theme From "Shaft"
Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me
Easy Loving
Hourglass

A Sound Odyssey

2012-01-16T03:48:00.000-08:00

SWAT

A Sound Odyssey
Direct To Disc
Realistic - Radio Shack
Arranged and Conducted Micky Erbe

Radio Shack backed a studio project to help market their(?) new direct-to-disc process. From the back cover: Direct-to-Disc requires very accurate musicians and engineers, since there is no chance to correct even the slightest error!

Yup... this is the most "error free" version of Swat I've ever heard!

The Jazz Excursion Into Hair - Bobby Bryant

2012-01-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

Let The Sun Shine In

The Jazz Excursion Into Hair
Bobby Bryant
Orchestra Arranged and Conducted by Shorty Rogers
World Pacific Jazz Records
ST 20159
1969

Featured soloists in the orchestra: Bud Shank - Flute, Ernie Watts - Tenor Sax, Joe Sample - Electric Piano, Freddie Robinson - Guitar, Bobby Brookmeyer - Valve Trombone and Paul Humphrey - Drums

Blend of late 60s light pop and jazz.

Hair
Aquarius
Good Morning Starshine
Let The Sun Shine In
Where Do I Go
Be-In (Hare Krishna)
Colored Spade

Info about downloads and my blog

Electronic Sonata For Souls Loved By Nature - George Russell

2012-01-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

Electronic Sonata For Souls Loved By Nature
George Russell
Flying Dutchman - FD 10124
Distributed by Atco Records
1971

This album can be had by the purchase digital download. So I will not be posting a sample. The good news is that the entire album can be had, as of this posting, for $1.78. Heck, I might even buy an online copy myself because this copy I bought off ebay listed as VG+... is no where near that condition. I also would say the cover is not VG+...

Any whoooo... the one Amazon review is a good one. But the reviewer claims that "...it's a very challenging listen likely to completely wear you out." I dunno... in a good way? This is avant-grade but there is still plenty of rhythm in the "Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization" (that term came from the liner notes) to carry you through the piece without a lot of work on your part.

I love the record because it is dense in sound, rich with mood and sort of spaced out at times (the science fiction touches always get me).

Joe Harnell And His Orchestra

2012-01-13T06:25:00.000-08:00

Who Am I

Joe Harnell And His Orchestra
Kapp Records KL 1339
1963

Solid space age light pop album.

Side 1

Hud
More
I Only Have Eyes For You
Once In A Lifetime
In The Still Of The Night
The Dawn Of Love

Side 2

Sukiyaki
If Ever I Would Leave You
Harlem Nocturne
Who Am I
Come Away With Me
Dancing In The Dark

Tops In Pops

2012-01-13T05:44:00.000-08:00

Danny Boy

Tops In Pops
Ultraphonic
5020K

Here we have a completely ridiculous pre-printed cover with track titles poorly printed at the top. There are no brass or marching band tunes on the record (I suspected as much from the track list).

The song covers aren't horrible and Danny Boy is pretty cool!

The Theme From Ben Casey And Other Great TV Shows

2012-01-13T05:11:00.000-08:00

Theme From The Hawaiian Spectacular

The Theme From Ben Casey And Other Great TV Shows
Diplomat DS 2269

Studio group or tracks collected from a variety of sources. No credits. Pretty lame...

Side 1

Theme From Ben Casey
Theme From Cheyenne
Theme From The Late Show
Theme From Arthur Murray's TV Party
Theme From The French Review

Side 2

Theme From Dr. Kildare
Theme From Victory At Sea
Theme From The Danny Thomas TV Show
Theme From The Alfred Hitchcock TV Show
Theme From The Hawaiian Spectacular

Soundstage Spectacular - Terry Baxter

2012-01-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

To Sir With Love

Soundstage Spectacular
The Columbia Soundstage Orchestra Conducted By Terry Baxter
Columbia P2S 5284
1969 CBS Direct Marketing Services

Here's one of those albums that most collectors leave in the thrift bin. But I thought covers of 2001: A Space Odyssey, a tune from Barbarella and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Theme might be interesting. I also remembered buying a Terry Baxter three record boxed easy listening set that featured a few wild pop tune covers including a cover of Whole Lotta Love.

This record is fun light pop/easy with weird synth bridges between a few songs that don't seem to have any place in the record.

Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center

2012-01-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

Otto Luening: Gargoyles

Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center
Columbia MS 6566
1961

Out of print and available entirely online, so I'll post a sample here. I searched long and hard to find this album published somewhere as a CD or by the digital/purchase/download. Why? Because apparently this is an early work created, in part on a RCA Mark II Sound Synthesizer delivered to the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center in 1959. The Mark II was built to suit Ussachevsky and Babbit (artists credited on the back cover of this LP). And many luminaries in the field of electronic/avant-grade music have connections to the Center. So the recording seems to have historical value and... well... the music is just damn cool, therefore I thought I might find a reissue.

I personally like the older university electronic recordings because there is a retro science fiction vibe to them. Also, the earlier work is more likely to feature some "natural" sound. I enjoy the blend of the electronic and "real" instruments. Of course, soundtrack composers are influenced by works like this which is why I think I respond to them the way I do.

About My Music Blogs

2012-01-11T05:02:00.000-08:00

There are (almost) no links on my blog that allow for the download of entire albums.

If you don't see an audio sample posted under the image of the album cover the reason is that the album (at the time of the posting) can be found for sale on CD and or by digital download. Ownership of the material may still be questionable but I always err on the side of caution when dealing with rights.

I've received email from relatives who are happy that their family members haven't been forgotten and from folks who enjoy the more obscure recordings I share online. This blog is for those folks and is not a vehicle to distribute entire works in a wholesale fashion to avoid copy protection.

I own the record posted and the cover image is my scan of that record. I set out to make my blogs an introduction to the works I have collected and I hope that, once your interest is perked, that you can find a copy for your own collection.

With all that said, I do try to provide family members with digital files who no longer have a copy of the original record and or to folks who are more throughly researching a particular artist. But you need to email me and give me some reason to help you out. Even in those cases be forewarned that I sometimes don't file entire records digitally and, due to the way I have to store records, it is almost impossible for me to locate any one album without great effort.

I do apologize to everyone else who has been looking long and hard for a recording. I do my best to try and help anyway I can, but I can't respond to all of the requests I've receive.

Music To Strip By Gentleman Jim And The Palace Pit Orchestra

2012-01-11T04:49:00.000-08:00

Temptation

Music To Strip By Gentleman Jim And The Palace Pit Orchestra
Burlesque Party Fun At Home
Alshire S-5150

This record, while not total lounge sleaze, seems closer to me to the budget basement grind fare that you may have heard at an "old fashion" strip club. There are also a few really "upscale" tunes like the sample I posted above.

Info about downloads and my blog.

Ann Corio Presents How To Strip For Your Husband

2012-01-11T04:10:00.000-08:00

Ann Corio Presents How To Strip For Your Husband
Music To Make Marriage Merrier
Orchestra Conducted By Sonny Lester
Roulette SR 25186
1962

Someone is selling a CD online that features this LP and the follow up album "More" How To Strip... And even though Corio passed in 1999 you can find a website promoting her work. So I think that I'll skip posting a sample.

This is just a guess, but I think that this project was arranged by Lester and Roulette and Corio's name was added to help sell records. Strangely... why didn't Roulette use a photo of Corio on the cover? Now the record did come with an "instruction" booklet. The copy I found had been stripped of the book... so I can't say if her likeness appeared on that piece.

The music is an uneven mix of standard big band bump and grind and, thankfully a few more interesting and exotic tunes.

Music To Strip By - Bob Freeman

2012-01-10T06:59:00.000-08:00

Flamingo

Music To Strip By
Bob Freeman
Surprise 101

This obscure album originally came with a real "G" string on the cover. Notches were cut on both sides to hold the underwear in place. I was able an image of the original cover. Which also demonstrates that the album was released in stereo.

Strip Blues

This is bump and grind music... but the sound is not as "sleazy" lounge as it could be. And a few tunes even rise above the hammering drum beat to play more like a 60s private eye TV track.

Fun Music For A Strip Tease Party - Bald Bill Hagan And His Trocaderons

2012-01-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

Koochie Galore

Fun Music For A Strip Tease Party
Bald Bill Hagan And His Trocaderons
Somerset SF-27200
1967

Great cover and the tracks are OK for a budget record even though there really isn't any lounge "bump and grind" sleaze on the vinyl.

James Bond Thrillers - The Film Festival Orchestra

2012-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

Dr. No

Music From The Spy Who Loved Me & Other James Bond Thrillers
As Performed By The Film Festival Orchestra
Springboard SPB-4079
1977

Somewhat obscure budget Bond album featuring a studio group doing covers of many of your favorite "spy" tunes. The first track features a female soloist for some reason. Once that moment has passed, the remainder of the album is all instrumental. The tracks aren't stellar 70s spy/secret agent tunes, but as easy listening goes the arrangements are inventive enough to hold you interest. Dr. No is the stand out track. The engineering/sound (Tom Owen) is very good.

Ti-Toto

2012-01-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

Sur Mars

Ti-Toto (Titoto - Gilles Latulippe)
Franco Elite (Canada)
6908

Obscure album featuring a fun cover photo.

I was able to find the actor from the name provided only on the label. Here is a link to Gilles Latulippe's wiki page.

Nuclear War 1984? - Robin Armstrong

2012-01-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

The Signs Of The Zodiac Interpreted

Robin Armstrong - Professional Astrologer
Narration And Spoken Word Concept David Marsden
Synthesizer Realization - John Mills-Cockell
Kangi Records - Willowdale, Ontario
K-RAR-101
1976

This album features a lurid cover and promises to "shock"... but the pressing is screwed up. If it wasn't for what appears to be the correct label on the record I would have thought the wrong LP was in the jacket. What Kangi appears to have done is to press the "A" side twice...

Unfortunately, the A side is some boring description of the Zodiac Signs and NOT the rant about the Nuclear War expected in 1984. Damn it...

Apparently Armstrong failed to predict that his own record was going to be totally f**ked up... and further more... failed to marshall the forces of The Zodiac to force Kangi to repress the run!

Lovely photo on the back cover is still worth the price of admission.

Love Token - The Mystic Mood Orchestra

2012-01-08T20:03:00.001-08:00

Love Token
The Mystic Mood Orchestra
Produced and Directed by Brad Miller
Warner Bros. Records - BS 2595
1972

Here is another find Mystic Moods album I found today. This one is also available for purchase/download, so I will not be posting a sample.

This is the classic blend of environmental sounds and the unique brand of easy you will come to enjoy if you collect a few Moods albums. More good stuff in a long line of great light pop/easy listening.

Singing While Dancing The Cha Cha - Norman Leyden

2012-01-08T13:02:00.000-08:00

What Is This Thing Called Love

Singing While Dancing The Cha Cha
Chorus and Orchestra under the direction of Norman Leyden
RCA Camden CAL-559
1960

There is an interesting story (maybe just to me)... behind this album. There is a charity store located next to a record store that I visit frequently. On several occasions I've found some good stuff in the charity shop even though picks have been few and far between. I assumed the reason was because the charity shop was located next to a record store so collectors were picking the place clean.

I found this record at the charity shop. It's not a super record, but still the album is fun space age and worth collecting. The point to the story is, that I took the record in with me while I went to the record store next door. I was surprised when the owner saw it, laughed and noted that he just "donated" the album to the charity shop.

So I was bought an album that had been donated to the charity shop because the record store owner thought that he couldn't sell the LP. To extend the story, whenever I take a stack of records to a record shop to trade or sell I almost always hear something like "All I buy is classic rock, because that is what sells." Another shop in town stop taking my gospel cast-offs because "We can't sell them."

Curiously, they can sell them... to me, but maybe not at the turn over rate they sell classic rock. Plus, they have trouble distinguishing from "good" or "interesting" gospel and "space age" and the more run-of-the-mill stuff.

One shop owner even told me that he had thrown out some "cruise ship" records because they were "so bad". I specifically look for cruise ship records...

I guess what this all boils down to is that many recordings that I find "collectible" are still being thrown away... probably by folks off the street after being rejected by the shop owner, or at best... making their way back through the food chain via a charity shop. Strange thing... collecting and what type of music is valued.

Awakening - The Mystic Moods

2012-01-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Awakening
The Mystic Moods
Warner Bros. Records - BS2690
1973

Here's another album in The Mystic Moods franchise. You can find this one at the usual outlet MP3 purchase/download so I will not be posting a sample. Sorry!

I have yet to pick up a Mystic Moods LP I didn't enjoy and this is another example. Early Moods album experimented with environmental sounds blended with easy listening. This album doesn't include that "environmental" touch. The album plays, less like an "easy" concept album in that the tracks don't blend from one into the next. This project plays more like a "standard" LP as in, the tracks are more distinctive, one from another. The vibe is an easy/groove/funk/space thing. A unique blend and a fantastic recording.

Latin Rhythms Featuring Perez Prado And The Cuban Boys

2012-01-06T15:06:00.000-08:00

La Clave

Bongo

Latin Rhythms Featuring Perez Prado And The Cuban Boys
Royale 18146
1955

Junk label 10 inch vinyl featuring very good period Latin by a known artist.

The Sounds & Voices Of Henry Mancini

2012-01-05T05:36:00.000-08:00

Flamingo

The Sounds & Voices Of Henry Mancini
Sunset - A Product Of Liberty Records
SUS-5105
1966

This is a later attempt by Mancini to cover all of the great "exotica" period songs. The vibe of this album is different from his earlier (exotica or late 50s early 60s period) work. The sound, like the sample I've posted above, is soft, slow and quiet. But like the majority of Mancini's work, he creates an approach/sound and makes an excellent record featuring inventive arrangements. Good stuff!

Side 1

Ebb Tide
The Breeze And I
Sleepy Lagoon
Off Shore
Poinciana

Side 2

Naked Sea
Flamingo
The Whispering Sea
Driftwood And Dreams
Moon Of Manakoora

Jessica - Maurice Chevalier

2012-01-04T16:36:00.000-08:00

Vespalero

Jessica

Maurice Chevalier

Film produced and directed by Jean Negulesco

United Artists UAL 4096

1962

There are only a few space age treasures to be found on this early 60s Italian movie sound track.

Film Fame - Enoch Light & The Light Brigade

2012-01-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

For A Few Dollars More

Film Fame
Marvelous Movie Themes
Enoch Light & The Light Brigade
Project 3 Total Sound PR 5013 SD
1967

Gatefold or double fold jacket with the standard Light copy on the inside.

This record features typical outstanding Light engineering. Light did the arrangements and produced the album. The approach, however, is conservative in comparison to many of the Light albums I have collected. For A Few Dollars More and In The Heat Of The Night manage to be interesting but don't expect that vibe on any of the remaining tracks.

Myron Floren - Dizzy Fingers

2012-01-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

April In Portugal

Myron Floren
Dizzy Fingers
Pickwick International
SPC-3142

Myron Floren was best know as the accordionist on The Lawrence Welk Show between 1950 and 1982.

I've got several albums produced by members of The Welk Family. On these albums, the artists step outside of their "musical" Welk Show roles to experiment a little.

This is one of those albums. Overall the tracks are great space age fun.

Side 1

Dizzy Fingers
Volare
Wabash Blues
Everything's Coming Up Roses
April In Portugal

Side 2

I Could Have Danced All Night
Misty
Canadian Capers
Sabre Dance

Teenage Dance Party - Vido Musso Orchestra

2012-01-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

Teenage Dance Party
Vido Musso Orchestra
Crown Records CLP 5029
1957

Available for purchase/download so I will not be posting a sample.

The "orchestra" sounds like a four/five piece band.

Unlike many records sold to teens that don't deliver the goods, this one does.

Vido Musso's group consists of sax, guitar, bass, drums and organ. Apparently recorded in a room with a single mic(?) the sound has a great budget lounge feel to it.

Beautiful Hair Breck Presents The New Sound America Loves Best

2012-01-02T07:07:00.000-08:00

Poinciana - Simon Bernier

Beautiful Hair Breck
Presents The New Sound America Loves Best
RCA Victor SP-33-91
1960

From the January 25, 1960 Billboard: A joint promotion between RCA Victor and Breck, manufacturer of hair shampoo, etc., has resulted in a 38 per cent increase in sales for Breck hair preparations, according to the latter. Promotion offered purchasers of Breck products an RCA Victor LP, containing sides of Harry Belafonte, Perez Prado, Mario Lanza, etc., for $1 (monaural) or $1.25 (Stereo). Victor and Breck publicized the promotion via cross advertising in magazines and on TV shows. Promotion was the largest-scaled premium promotion the company has ever undertaken.

The Best Of The Bossa Nova - The Tides

2012-01-01T08:16:00.000-08:00

Fly Me To The Moon

The Best Of The Bossa Nova
Featuring The Tides
Mercury Wing MGW 12248
1963

Looks like budget Bossa Nova, but it's not. The LP features a variety of approaches that are fun and jazzy.

No mention on the cover of the personnel that made up The Tides. They were one tight session group.

Lure Of The Islands - Hal Aloma

2012-01-01T07:34:00.000-08:00

Tahitian Drums

Lure Of The Islands
Hal Aloma And His Hawaiian Orchestra
Dot DLP 25,057
1957

There are Hal Aloma downloads being sold under this title, but they are not from this album.

This LP pretty straight forward pop/traditional Hawaiian. Tahitian Drums is an unique track on the record.

The tracks list on the side one were reorder so that they do not match the list printed on the back cover.

Side 1 Cover / Side 1 Label

Iniki Malie / Iniki Malie
Pretty Maui Girl / Pretty Maui Girl
Beyond The Reef / Tahitian Drums
When It's Luau Time In Hawaii / Beyond The Reef
The Aloha Waltz / When It's Luau Time In Hawaii
Tahitian Drums / The Aloha Waltz

Side 2

The Hukilau
Hawaiian Paradise
Little Brown Gal
Hawaiian Love Chant
Puanani
Hawaiian Sunset

Wired For Sound - Current Supplied By Marty Gold

2011-12-31T22:46:00.000-08:00

Wired For Sound
Current Supplied By Marty Gold
Vil LX-1054
1956

Available on both CD and by purchase/download so I will not be posting a sample. Sorry!

I had to post this one because of the fabulous cover art! The cover very much reflects the fun nature of the music. This is a great early space age recording.

Sid Ramin worked with Gold on this album. It is noted on the back that both Gold and Ramin also worked together on "...all of the Three Suns and Orchestra albums."

You can hear a touch of The Three Suns more experimental sound on this album.

Limbo Party - Southern Tropical Harmony Steel Band

2011-12-31T20:46:00.000-08:00

Caramelos

Limbo Party
Southern Tropical Harmony Steel Band
Audio Fidelity
AFSD 5967
1962

Here we have another fabulous Audio Fidelity album cover. Someone at AF understood the value of a fun cover. AF also apparently spent more money on printing than their competition. Their covers were printed on the best paper stock The colors still pop to this day.

Also, back in 1962, there was no legal disclaimer to warn buyers not to set fire to limbo equipment in the middle of their living rooms... Ah, the good old days when we could set fire to our dates and not be sued.

Everybody LIMBO!

Electric Love - The Electronic Concept Orchestra

2011-12-31T20:11:00.000-08:00

Misty

Electric Love
The Electronic Concept Orchestra
Limelight LS-86072
1969

Here is another in at least six albums release by The Electronic Concept Orchestra (including this album, there are photos of six albums on the back of the jacket). I have one other Electronic Concept album titled Moog Groove. Check out the post here. There is one album found on the back cover titled "Flowers of Evil LS 86066. That sounded cool to me so I wen looking for a copy online and couldn't even find a cover image. Was this album actually released?

This is an easy listening album. The treatments are pleasant and interesting with Misty being the more unique track.

Side 1

Goin' Out Of My Head
The Look Of Love
Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus
Misty
Romeo & Juliet Theme
Like A Lover

Side 2

Wichita Lineman
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
Stella By Starlight
Love Is Blue
This Guy's In Love With You

Happy Cha Cha Cha - Laurindo Almeida And The Danzaneros

2011-12-31T18:58:00.000-08:00

The Suspense Cha-Cha

Happy Cha Cha Cha
Laurindo Almeida And The Danzaneros
Capitol ST1263
1959

This is a very smart and awesome space age Latin/Jazz record. This is an early release for Almeida who went on to produce many LPs. Visit his wiki page.

Visit this website dedicated to Almeida.

Charge! - Enoch Light & The Light Brigade - Quadraphonic

2011-12-30T04:37:00.000-08:00

Lonely Days

Charge!
Enoch Light & The Light Brigade
Project 3 - Quadraphonic/4 Channel
1972

Here's another fun recording that Enoch Light produced several years before he retired from the music business. Jeff Hest did the arrangements.

Quad engineering on the several Light projects I've found is really outstanding.

Light got help making the LP from old friends and outstanding musicians including Tony Mottola, Vinnie Bell (you can hear his "water drop" guitar on one track), Urbie Green, Marvin Stamm, Mel Davis, Phil Bodner, Arnie Lawrence, Dick Hyman, Julie Ruggiero, Billy LaVorgna, Phil Kraus, Charles McCracken, Paul Faulise, Walt Levinsky, Bob Rosengarden and The Marilyn Jackson Singers.

The Love Affairs Of Don Juan Vol. II

2011-12-29T20:42:00.000-08:00

The Love Affairs Of Don Juan Vol. II
Premier Albums

Oddball album, pressed around 1959(?), featuring a few unsavory and abusive adventures of Don Juan.

Meet Mexie Marlowe

2011-12-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

One For My Baby

Meet Mexie Marlowe
King 799
1962

The only info I could find, while doing an online search for Mexie Marlowe came from a blurb found in Billboard Magazine, November 24, 1962: Mexie Marlowe is a young thrush with a touch of Nina Simone's unusual style plus a few sounds of her own. She has definite possibilities and she show off her vocal stylings on "I Cover The Waterfront," One From My Baby." I Hade The Craziest Dream" and "All The Way." Worth a listen.

From the back cover: From the age of fourteen, she was advised many times to sing like singers who were in the limelight at the time, but even as a youngster, she refused to mimic or copy any other singer, saying, "If you want to hear me sing, you will have to listen to me, as I will not copy any one else. I will always sing naturally in my own style".

Exotic Percussion And Brilliant Brass

2011-12-29T05:52:00.000-08:00

An Occasional Man

Full Album

Exotic Percussion And Brilliant Brass
The John Evans Orchestra
Direction Sound/Premier Albums
DS 5006
1961

The only mention of the group who made the record is on the inside of the gatefold.

This line of records was Premier's answer to the success of Enoch Light's "percussion" LPs. Premier copied the cover graphic/gatefold approach and tried, not always successfully, to capture some of what Light was doing in the studio.

This particular album is good fun if you are a collector of "exotica" Many songs copy Martin Denny/Arthur Lyman style complete with bird calls. The covers are fun, but nothing new. Supporting those tracks are more straight forward Lyman-like Latin/jazz tracks. These tracks carried the album and are very nice. I've posted one as the sample.

Side 1

Bad And Beautiful
Temptation
Eso Es El Amor
Mambo Inn
An Occasional Man
Cuban Caper

Side 2

Quite Village
Caravan
Return To Paradise
Mambo Italiano
Lisbon Antigua
Cool Mambo

Cocktail Time - Ernie Felice

2011-12-28T20:11:00.000-08:00

Street Of Dreams

Cocktail Time
With The Ernie Felice Quartet
Capitol T192
1955

Apparently this album is a reissue of Capitol H-192, 1950. This issue features additional tracks and seems to be the more obscure release.

Million Dollar Motion Picture Themes - Richard Hayman

2011-12-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

Theme From The Exorcist

Million Dollar Motion Picture Themes
Richard Hayman And His Orchestra
Musicor Records MS 3256X
1974

One of my favorite Hayman albums is an exotica LP titled Voodoo! (Mercury SR 60147 - 1959).

Hayman made many albums after Voodoo! that aer more straight forward easy albums. I had to take a chance on this album because of the interesting song titles such as The Exorcist, Theme from Serpico and Theme From 2001 Space Odyssey.

I'm glad I did, because this is a fun and funky 70s light pop LP. Hayman's harmonica solos work on some tracks like the "harpsichord" sound you hear often during this period. Hayman is also credited on the back cover for playing The Conn Electronic Organ.

HI-FI Drums

2011-12-28T04:14:00.000-08:00

Tri-Fi Drums - Stan Levey, Alvin Stoller, Irv Cottler with Billy May

HI-FI Drums
Capitol T926
1957

A few of the tracks off this album seem to be available for purchase/download. The example track I selected doesn't seem to be.

I assume that Capitol collected together the various tracks from a variety of sources to produce the album. The Billy May track above also appeared on a later Capitol album titled Wild Stereo Drums.

Regardless of how the album was produced, all the tracks sound Big Band good together.

Hi Hopes

2011-12-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

Label by Doris Walker

The Impossible Dream & I Believe In Music

Hi Hopes
By The Students Of Hope School
Directed by Doris E. Walker, Music Teacher, Hope School
Educational Activities, Inc. AR 696

From the back cover: Hope School opened its doors in September, 1969 to serve the trainable mentally retarded of the Anaheim Union High School District, Anaheim, California.

The Hi Hopes recordings have to be among my favorites. Whenever I feel grumpy or blue... I just listen to the Hi Hopes and presto, suddenly the sun is shinning on my sad little world and I'm feeling less crappy! Thank you Hi Hopes! Besides couldn't we all learn a lesson from The Label song?

A photo autographed by "Lori" came with this LP as well as the 45 shown above. I believe the full audio file of the album can be found elsewhere online, so I'll just post a favorite track, written by the Hi Hopes Music Teacher, Doris Day. As a treat I'll post the entire 45.

Want more? For a really rare Hi Hope LP I stumbled across (Play And Sing) click the link.

Side One

Everything Is Beautiful
Welcome To My World
Label (Doris Walker)
King Of The Road
La Curcaracha
More

Side Two

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
Some Day
Candy Man
Ability (Doris Walker)
Miracle (Doris Walker)

KVOO Tulsa OK - 1954 Audiodisc

2011-12-26T21:14:00.000-08:00

The Music Maker

Vintage audiodisc recording made for broadcast on KVOO Tulsa, Oklahoma (as near as I can tell from a brief mention of the radio station call letters at the end of the "skit").

Lab '69 - North Texas State University

2011-12-26T19:27:00.000-08:00

Hairy Brouhaha

Composer/Arranger, Cal Lewiston

Soloists: Dean Parks, Alto Sax - Cal Lewiston, Trumpet - Ken Maslak - Flute

Lab '69
North Texas State University
Leon Breeden, Conductor
Century Custom Recording

From the back cover: We appreciate the many letters from those who have our albums and recognize the creativity of our writers and performers. It has been an inspiration to all of us – we hope to give you an album each year which will be such that it stands unique on your shelf, completely apart from commercially-produced records, since our goal is aimed at one thing – the presentation of young writers and performers at our school doing THEIR THING!! – Leon Breeden, Director

Live It Up! - Irving Fields

2011-12-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

Sweet And Lovely - I Cried Fro You and Blue Moon

Live It Up!
With Irving Fields
King 709

Here's an amazing Irving Fields cover.

Here's the first obscure Fields record I stumbled across titled The Fabulous Fingers Of Irving Fields.

If you are into space age you are probably looking for a copy of Fields popular Bikinis And Bongs and Bagel And Bongos, both of which feature wild cover art.

At the time of this posting I found that Mr. Fields has a website and may still playing about town at the age of 95!

Bang Bang - Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra

2011-12-26T07:10:00.000-08:00

Bang Bang

Bang Bang
Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra
Decca DL 4799
1966

This one can be found on a pricey out-of-print CD import. Your best bet is to look for a vinyl copy.

One reviewer I stumbled across didn't care for this Cugat release because it didn't sound like his Mercury stuff. I like Cugat's Mercury stuff, but this Decca album is also outstanding.

I mean... look at the fab cover! The music exactly reflects the space cool vibe of the cover art! What more could you ask for? Cugat, himself said that "I would rather play Chiquita Banana and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve." And here he is, keeping up with mid-60s Chiquita Banana light pop trends.

The album is great fun all the way through!

Boleros Solamente Boleros - Orquesta Serenata Tropical

2011-12-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

Lamento Gitano

Boleros Solamente Boleros
Volumen 4
Orquesta Serenata Tropical
Kubaney
SMT-351

Obscure early 60s import. Outstanding space age Latin.

Lolita - Orchestra Del Oro

2011-12-25T18:06:00.000-08:00

Lolita Ya Ya

Lolita
Orchestra Del Oro
Scores by Don Costa
Session Supervision by D. L. Miller
Trans 34 Sonodor MO-SON 105

Budget easy listening with a creepy cover illustration.

Sweet Hot & Blue - The Skip-Jacks

2011-12-25T17:24:00.000-08:00

Limehouse Blues

Sweet Hot & Blue
The Skip-Jacks (Stella Stevens, Estelle Mann and Morris Redding)
Orchestration - Sid Bass, Al Cohn and Ray Martin
Produced by Ethel Gabriel
RCA LSP-2200
1960

Obscure vocal album featuring great music by some of the top space age arrangers as noted above.

Apparently the "Skip-Jacks" made at least one other album on RCA title Let's Get Away From It All LSP-2060.

Melodic Percussion - Frank Barber

2011-12-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

Theme From "Mr. Broadway"

Melodic Percussion
Arranged and conducted by England's inventive Frank Barber
Capitol ST 2794
1967

The title might suggest an "easy listening" album. What you'll hear are fine light pop tunes that are throw back to Enoch Light's light pop stuff of the early 60s. The vibe of the record is actually "brighter" and more "jangling" than most percussion records I've listened to. The percussion seems more "dense" somehow (probably due to the blending of vibraphone, marimba and xylophone). Some tracks are more dramatic and have more of a "jazz" sound. Well... all that probably made no sense. The sound is unique compared to all the period percussion recordings that I've listened to. Good, inventive stuff.

Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini

2011-12-24T07:43:00.000-08:00

LPM 1956 RE

LPM 1956 RE2

Peter Gunn
Composed and conducted by Henry Mancini
From The NBC Television Series Peter Gunn
RCA Victor LPM-1956
1959

Available for purchase/download/CD so I will not be posting a sample. Sorry.

I happened to dig 2 copies out of my "waiting to be listened to stack...OK stacks(!), and noted jacket differences. For the heck of it, here they are. The only informational differences seem to be the catalog number found on the back (as noted above under each version). The labels were also redesigned for the second pressing.

Of course, as with many early Mancini albums, this one is outstanding and cool!

Paradise Islands Song Of Hawaii - The Ray Charles Singers

2011-12-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

The Cocoanut Wireless

Paradise Islands Song Of Hawaii
The Ray Charles Singers
Originated and produced by Enoch Light
Art Direction - Charles E. Murphy
Command RS 845 SD
1963

Light and easy pop album featuring another great Command minimalist cover design.

A Man And A Woman (Un Homme Et Une Femme)

2011-12-23T15:53:00.000-08:00

A Man And A Woman
Un Homme Et Une Femme
Francis Lai
United Artists SW-91032
1966

Available on CD, so I will be posting a sample. Sorry!

I put this one on the turn table without the intent of blogging the album. But the vocal tracks on the album really grabbed me. so I thought I'd plug the record. The vibe is unique and intimate. The second track, on the B side titled, In Our Shadow, is especially wonderful and mysterious. Good 60s stuff.

Stimulus Progression - Muzak

2011-12-23T03:38:00.000-08:00

Baretta's Theme

Stimulus Progression
Muzak
Specialists In The Physiological And Psychological Applications Of Music
1976

Just in time for last moment holiday shopping. Do you feel the progressive urge to consume? Off to ebay with you!

From the back cover: The result (of the Stimulus Progression) is a sense of forward movement and change, designed to mitigate tension, boredom, melancholy and fatigue.

The Modern Jazz Quartet & Orchestra

2011-12-22T04:15:00.000-08:00

The Modern Jazz Quartet & Orchestra
Atlantic SD-1359
1961

Available for purchase/download so I will not be posting a sample. Sorry!

Billboard Magazine: Here is a fascinating blend of the classical and jazz schools, a much talked about concept where very little has been accomplished at the recording level. The MJQ, working as a sort of concerto soloist all by itself in front of the distinctively classical ork passages to pick up a similar theme in readily identifiable jazz connotations.

Well... that explanation and the rather subdued cover art would not have perked my interest back in the day (as I'm not a jazz or classical music buff). And I don't normally post jazz stuff here (I mean reasonably straight forward jazz stuff), but this album will be of interest to others who collect the same type of music that you see on my blog.

To me, the sound is better explained (so that I get it) as a bridge between dramatic movie soundtrack passages and small combo jazz. Going out on a limb... the vibe is sort of as if Arthur Lyman did something "heavy", without the bird calls. You may also hear a bit of some early 60s private-eye or detective TV show thing happening.

From the back cover: John Lewis (director MJQ) and this writer (Gunther Schuller) do not claim that these works represent the final and ultimate stage in this particular musical development. On the contrary, we feel they mark only a beginning and it is our hope that the music contained herein will stimulate further interest in works of this nature.

Find yourself a copy! You will enjoy the experience!

Dance Discotheque

2011-12-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes - Discotheque Orchestra

Dance Discotheque
Recorded under the supervision of Slim Hyatt
Decca DL 74556
1964

From the May 30, 1964 Billboard: The discotheque is spreading from the society saloons and fashionable private clubs to the home phonograph. The do-it-yourself discotheque is being initialed by Decca Records which is hitting the market with a "Dance Discotheque" album this week.

According to Harry Meyerson Decca artists and repertoire producer who conceived the idea of bringing the current Jet Set vogue to the masses, the LP duplicates the recording program played in the discotheques around the country, especially at Shepheards in Drake Hotel here. In fact, Meyerson had Slim Hyatt, the "disquaire" (disk jockey) at Shepeards assist him in programming the album. At the club, Hyatt spins a variety of records that run the gamut from Louis Armstrong's Hello Dolly to Trini Lopez's "If I Had A Hammer."

Crazy Rhythm - Don Lee

2011-12-21T16:15:00.000-08:00

Crazy Rhythm
Don Lee
Jubilee 1067
1958

Fun cover art! Songs are available for purchase/download, so sorry I will not be posting a sample.

This is one of the few accordion albums that works for me like a Three Suns LP. A bit spacey and swinging.

From the back cover: In the language of the hipster, "Crazy Rhythm" is 'crazy, man, crazY-y-y-y-!... (English Translation: it's Happy, Hearty and Hear-Marked for a hitherto un-new sound).

Side 1

Crazy Rhythm
Caravan
Lover
Cordy Boogie
Lady Be Good
Exactly Like You

Side 2

Echo Echo Echo
Barc-A-Roll
Charmaine
After You've Gone
Stumbling
Bells Of St. Mary's

Spectacular Percussion - Roger King Mozian

2011-12-21T15:33:00.000-08:00

Repercussion

Spectacular Percussion
Arranged and conducted by Roger King Mozian
MGM SE3845
1960

Swinging album that swings between big band, Latin and a touch of "exotica" percussion. Mozian has a good grasp on late 50s/early 60s groove.

Curiously the producer seemed to be worried that Mozian was too far out. This from the back cover: The selection of tunes leans heavily on the rhythmic and exotic but, remarkable enough, almost every one is danceable, particularly South Of The Border and Caripoca.

Mozian wrote the sample, Repercussion.

Great Movie Hits Of '72 - The Cinema Soundstage Orchestra

2011-12-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

Summer Of '42

Great Movie Hits Of '72
The Cinema Soundstage Orchestra
A/S Recording (Alshire)

Here is another budget record most pickers leave behind. But the smart buyer would take noted of the "Theme From Shaft" cover and risk their 50¢.

As budget easy goes, this album isn't whacky or completely lame. The LP features standard easy that includes, on most tracks, a 70s vibe which includes the lead track on the A side, Theme From Shaft. But for some reason, the organ intro featured on the cover of Summer Of '42 grabbed me...

OOPS! The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett

2011-12-21T04:04:00.000-08:00

Lady's Choice

OOPS!
The Swinging Sounds Of Bill Doggett And His Combo
Columbia CS 8614
1963

From the back cover: For the past nine years, Bill Doggett and a Hammon Organ have been transported about the country as the major cargo of a six-passenger bus. On at least 250 nights out of each year, the bus has parked outside of a dance hall somewhere between Vancouver and Orlando, Doggett and crew have unloaded and for the next four hours, hundreds of people have danced and smiled, laughed and sung to the accompaniment of the kind of music you hear on this album.

At the age of 22, Philadelphia-born Bill Doggett was a pianist leading his own band. He worked with the Lucky Millinder band in 1940 and was pianist for the Ink Spots from 1942 to 1944. Later, he worked with Louis Jordan, and in 1951 he took up the organ. Bill then worked with Ella Fitzgerald and has written arrangements for one of the vocalist's recent albums.

Walt Disney Songs For The Family - Joe Reisman's Orchestra And Chorus

2011-12-20T06:21:00.000-08:00

Alice In Wonderland

Walt Disney Songs For The Family
Joe Reisman's Orchestra And Chorus
RCA Victor LPM-1119
1958

Apparently this is a somewhat obscure album. I picked it up because of the great cover image.

Reisman was a prolific producer working on nearly 1,000 recordings.

The Full Spectrum Of Quadraphonic Sound - Realistic Quadraphonic

2011-12-19T20:29:00.000-08:00

Aquarius - Percy Faith And His Orchestra & Chorus

The Full Spectrum Of Quadraphonic Sound
Realistic Quadraphonic
Columbia Special Products 50-2023 CQ-10869
1972

Here's another quadraphonic album I found that was made as a promotion for Realistic (Radio Shack).

Unlike the Popular Science/Enoch Light "Test Record", this album is a straight forward compilation of songs, that may have been recorded in stereo and converted or remastered into quad sound. I don't know. All I can say is the Popular Science LP sounds so much better through my stereo headphones that there is no comparison.

Since these songs are, for the most part, available on CD or by the purchase download, I can't post the album (my apologies to the Quad blogger!). However, the Percy Faith tune seems not to be available, so enjoy the one sample. FYI: The Miles Davis track is killer.

Side 1

Chase - Open Up Wide
Santana - Oye Come Va
Barbra Streisand - Free The People
Johnny Mathis - You've Got A Friend
Bloomfield, Kooper & Stills - Stop

Side 2

Miles Davis - Mile Run The Voo Doo Down
Ten Years After - I'd Love To Change The World
Percy Faith, His Orchestra & Chorus - Aquarius
Lynn Anderson - Rose Garden
Sly And The Family Stone - I Want To Take You Higher

Everybody's Favorites - Jose Melis

2011-12-19T17:19:00.000-08:00

Clair De Lune

Everybody's Favorites
Jose Melis
Mercury SR 60738
1963

Melis's work is usually too conservative for me. There are lots of bongos backing up Melis on this album, but the songs never spill over into that space age sound. However, side one sports an excellent and engaging cover of Clair De Lune featuring a guitarist that blends his/her work nicely with Melis's subdued approach.

This version is not the version available for purchase/download (which appears to be more fully orchestrated and from another album).

Exotic Percussion - Milt Raskin

2011-12-19T15:42:00.000-08:00

Exotic Percussion
Exotic Sounds Of Milt Raskin
Crown CST 212
1959

Here we have a very nice exotica album from Milt Raskin. This album is available for purchase/download so I will not be posting a sample.

I don't know why Crown didn't spend a few dollars to produce a halfway decent cover for this album. The project was worth a flashy cover to help boost sales.

The title is a misleading. I would not lump this album in with all the percussion albums that hit the market at about this time. Raskin's work here is more of a blend between Arthur Lyman, a touch of Lex Baxter and Raskin's own instrumental sensibilities.

Raskin is also responsible for another fine "exotica" recording on Crown Titled KAPU (Forbidden). Crown did spend some money on that cover.

Percussion For Playboys

2011-12-19T15:41:00.000-08:00

Angel Eyes

Percussion For Playboys
Omega OSD 2

This one looks like it was released in... oh, say 1960/61. The LP is a compilation of whatever Omega had on the shelf at the moment... including several weird tracks that include a sound effects track from some automobile race and the track titled A Visit To A Hindu Monastery (that I tacked onto the sample track above)! There are no artist credits and there is precious little "percussion" on the album. Actually this is more of a "jazz" album. Omega slapped the provocative title and cheesecake photo on the cover and they were good to go.

Side 1

Sports Car Races
Mickey Mouse Theme
Take The "A" Train
Dancing On The Ceiling
Island Of Desire
Coop Salutes
Return To Paradise

Side 2

Latin Heat
Limehouse Blues
Laura
Daybreak
Angel Eyes
It Ain't Necessarily So
A Visit To A Hindu Monastery

Big Bold And Brassy - Enoch Light And The Light Brigade

2011-12-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

Big Bold And Brassy
Enoch Light And The Light Brigade
Percussion In Brass
Command Records RS 818 SD
1960

The fab cover art by S. Neil Fujita is not available with the purchase/digital download. I will not be posting a sample because the LP is available online.

This is another fine example of Light's brand of light pop. You've got your bongos, ping pong, throwing audio from left to right channels and humorous arrangements. And, as usual, you get Command's amazing engineering.

Side 1

Great Day
Theme From The Apartment
Rachmaninoff Prelude In C#m
Whiffenpoof Song
Coloney Bogey
No Rest For The Drummer Man

Side 2

American Patrol
Lullaby Of Broadway
Wabash Blues
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
When Yuba Plays The Rhumba On The Tuba
Rambling Wreck From Georgia Tech

Cuban Mist Cha Cha Cha - Eddie Gomez

2011-12-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

Cuban Mist Cha Cha Cha
Eddie Gomez And His American Orchestra
Crown CLP 5032

As with almost all freaking Crown records, this one is available for digital purchase download. So, sorry I will not be posting a sample.

Tracks titled Cuban Mist, Two Guitars and Le Fleur are my recommended downloads. These are nice instrumentals. Other tunes featuring vocal treatments just don't work for me.

Percussion In Hi-Fi - David Carroll

2011-12-16T18:22:00.000-08:00

Discussion In Percussion

Percussion In Hi-Fi
David Carroll
Mercury Records SR 60003
1958

This is the best Carroll album I've run across. The LP is not only cool when compared to other period "pop" albums, but at least one featured extended track (posted above as a sample) plays like a concept peice. The vibe of the record shows that Carroll had a firm grasp on the direction light pop was headed and was ahead of the curve.

Carroll had help on this project from Bobby Christian, Frank Rullo and Mike Simpson.

His later albums, while featuring some very fun stuff, don't grab me like this one. This is fabulous stuff and apparently available only on vinyl. The Mercury stereo engineering is also top shelf.

Bongos Flutes Guitars - Los Admiradores

2011-12-16T15:34:00.000-08:00

Bongos Flutes Guitars
Performances By Los Admiradores
Produced by Enoch Light
Command Records RS 812 SD
1960

Sorry this one is available as digital/purchase download, so I will not be posting a sample.

This is an excellent example of Light's "light pop" "ping-pong" sound. Not too "cartoony" just total 60s fun featuring the terrific Command stereo engineering I've come to know and love.

Side 1

How Hight The Moon
Caravan
C'est Ci Bon
Friendly Persuasion
My Funny Valentine
Making Whoopie

Side 2

Birth Of The Blues
Golden Earrings
East Of The Sun
By The Rive St. Marie
Laura
I Can Dream, Can't I

Sentimental - Enoch Light

2011-12-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Breeze And I

Sentimental
Enoch Light Orchestra
The Fontanna Orchestra
Palace PST-703

I guess Palace managed to secure the rights to several Light songs and felt that they could legally market an album of older, mismatched off the shelf stuff with Light's name on the cover. Some of the filler isn't even credited to Fontanna. Palace went so far as to rip off the Command jacket graphic style in the hopes that buyers would think that they they were getting the good stuff. Even the Light tracks are no where near his best effort.

Place never lets me down as a budget label.

The Bay Big Band Plays Duke Ellington

2011-12-16T04:24:00.000-08:00

Passion Flower

The Bay Big Band Plays Duke Ellington
Omega OSL 24
1960

Apparently the back cover was changed during the pressing. The back cover on this album features a track list and Omega catalog. I found another image of the back cover online that explains that the band is conducted by Francis Bay, who had made at least 12 records on Omega at that time. The cover photo (why I bought the album) was taken by Ray Avery. The sculpture, by Dupagne, was located in the Belgian Congo Pavilion during the Brussels World's Fair.

Francis Bay was a Belgian conductor who was noted in the August 8, 1960 Billboard as having "...fashioned a Big Band that stands among the best around today."

Omega had a flare for releasing budget albums featuring graphically dynamic covers.

The Power And The Glory - Roger Bacon Band

2011-12-16T03:47:00.000-08:00

This Guy's In Love With You

The Power And The Glory
Guth Brothers Post 111 Roger Bacon Band
Recorded by Insight Communications, Inc
Artist Recording Company - Cincinnati, Ohio
6920 - 700651
1969

OK... this one is coming out of left field even for me... but I couldn't resist the great cover image. You are looking from the south shore of The Ohio River, probably from Newport, Kentucky across the river into downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

I live in the area... it's a local thing for me.

My Cup Of Tea - Si Zentner And His Orchestra

2011-12-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hard Day's Night

My Cup Of Tea
Si Zentner And His Orchestra
RCA LSP-2992
1965

Zentner's big band, and at times, light pop approaches to popular tunes of his time including many Beatle songs. Fun stuff.

Side 1

Wishin' And Hopin'
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
And I Love Her
A Hard Day's Night
Forget Him
All Cried Out

Side 2

The House Of The Rising Sun
Ringo's Theme
Twist And Shout
How Do You Do it
I Want To Hold Your Hand
My Cup Of Tea

Shaft In Africa

2011-12-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

Shaft In Africa
Original score composed, arranged and conducted by Johnny Pate
ABC Records BCX-793
1973

From the cover graphic, the best I could have hoped for was some 70s movie musical magic cheese. Yes, there is some of that 70s fun going on. But this album also features a great blend of funk, jazz and little exotica, if you will, along with great Four Tops vocals. Good stuff!

Available as mp3 down loads so I will not be posting a sample. It helps if you search for the mp3 files to add "pate" as a keyword.

Side 1

You Can't Even Walk In The Park
Are You Man Enough
Aleme Finds Shaft
Shaft In Africa
Headman
El Jardia

Side 2

Are You Man Enough
Jazar's Theme
Truck Stop
Aleme's Theme
El Jardia
Are You Man Enough (End Title)

The Screen Scene - Peter Nero

2011-12-15T07:40:00.000-08:00

Help!

The Screen Scene
Peter Nero
RCA Victor LSP-3496
1966

Here we have another one of those album covers that assures that the album will be passed over at the thrift by most pickers. I always check the track titles to see if I should risk, in this case... my 50¢... Spy film titles are always good bet... But the winner on this album is a cover of The Beatles Help!

The album, aside from the sample posted above, isn't "over-the-top" space age fair, but nicely blends easy listening with light pop.

Super Hits - Rock 1976 - 77

2011-12-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

I Wanna Rock And Roll All Night

Super Hits
Rock 1976 - 77
Power Pak SA-302

Many of the Power Pak records I've collected are "comic book" theme projects. This Power Pak is a "covers" record. Featured in super small type on the back cover is the name of the session group, Tommy Hill Music Festival.

Winchester Cathedral - The Palm Beach Band Boys

2011-12-13T18:57:00.000-08:00

Gypsy Caravan

Winchester Cathedral
The Palm Beach Band Boys
RCA LSP-3734
1966

Oddball 60s record by a studio group who attempted to capitalize on the success of The New Vaudeville Band's hit single Winchester Cathedral. Some tracks blend novelty 1920s/30s nasal vocals, apparently sung by an RCA executive who croons while holding his nose and period light pop music.

The arrangements are by Billy (Supersonic Guitars) Mure. The last track on the B side, Gypsy Caravan sure is wild!

Your All-Time Favorite Songs - Bianco

2011-12-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ebb Tide

Your All-Time Favorite Songs
The Rainbow Sound Of Bianco
His Harp And Orchestra
RCA CSP 110
1964

Gene Bianco's first love was jazz. But RCA thought it best to mold Bianco into an easy listening musician. Check out the full story on spaceagepop.com.

Nice easy though...

Percussion Suite - Buster Cooper

2011-12-13T10:37:00.000-08:00

Side B

Percussion Suite
Dances Created By Buster Cooper
Choreo Records - Dallas, Texas CH-200

Curious 10 inch 33 LP with side one divided into tracks and side two playing as one long "song". Both sides playing out much in the same fashion. The record may have been made to accompany some type of printed material, to support Cooper's "dances"?

South Pacific - Les Baxter

2011-12-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

Bali Ha'i

South Pacific
Les Baxter
Capitol Records T1012
1958

The May 5, 1958 Billboard got it right when they wrote: This is an exciting new approach to the famed Rogers and Hammerstein score. Despite numerous recordings, this can score well. Tempos are altered, and the orchestra colors are superb. It's a wonderful mood set and a pleasantly different companion place to the many vocal treatments. Strong possibilities. Attractive cover.

You Can't Hurry Love - The Copy Cats

2011-12-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

Wild Thing

Hungry

You Can't Hurry Love
The Copy Cats
Columbia Record Club Exclusive
D 242

I always buy "copy cat" albums... but I never thought I'd find one released on Columbia or by a session group actually called The Copy Cats.

Of course, Columbia did as good as could be expected making music that almost, sorta kinda... sounds like the "original". Enjoy the copies!

Side 1

Land Of 1000 Dances
Trains & Boats & Planes
Red Rubber Ball
Hanky Panky
Sunny
I Saw Her Again
Wild Thing

Side 2

Bus Stop
Guantanamera
Sunshine Superman
You Can't Hurry Love
Summer In The City
Hungry
Lil' Red Riding Hood

Those Were The Days - The Exotic Guitars

2011-12-12T06:44:00.000-08:00

A Taste Of Honey

Those Were The Days
The Exotic Guitars
Ranwood Records, Inc. R 8040
1968

Solo Guitar - Al Casey
Produced by Randy Wood
Arranged and conducted by Bill Justis

This is another very good and groovy light pop Exotic Guitars LP. The LP features inventive arrangements, guitar sound and light jazz touches.

Lani Laurens - Surfin' At Waikiki Beach

2011-12-12T04:35:00.000-08:00

Waikiki Chant

Lani Laurens And His Royal Polynesians

Surfin' At Waikiki Beach

Spinorama S118