I'm In The Mood For Strings - Ray Ellis

Secret Love

I'm In The Mood For Strings
Ray Ellis and His Orchestra
MGM Records SE3779
1959

From the back cover: Besides being the sorcerer behind such evocative music making as that offered in this album, Ellis is the imaginative arranging-conducting talent responsible for the accompaniments to dozens of hit recordings by such a stellar and varied listing of vocal luminaries as Connie Francis, Jaye P. Morgan, Clyde McPhatter, Johnny Mathis, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Frankie Laine, The Four Lads, Ivory Joe Hunter, Bobby Darin, Sal Mineo, Chris Conner, Mahalia Jackson, Guy Mitchell, The DeJohn Sisters and Brook Benton. Master of many a musical style, he could, by early 1959, point with pride to a quite fabulous accomplishment in the recording industry – over forty records which placed in the "Top Twenty" during a three year period. Mr. Ellis is Artists and Repertoire Director of the popular music division of M-G-M Records.

Secret Love
There Goes My Heart
The Nearness Of You
The Touch Of Your Lips
The Night We Met
Someone To Watch Over Me
If I Should Lose You
You're My Everything
I Get The Blues When It Rains
Very Much In Love
Melancholy Serenade
Don't Worry 'Bout Me

Jazz Meets The Folk Song - Paul Winter

Lass From The Low Country

Jazz Meets The Folk Song
The Paul Winter Sextet
Produced by John Hammond
Cover Photo: Columbia Records Photo Studio / Henry Parker
Columbia CS 8955
1964

Personnel:

Paul Winter: Soprano and Alto Sax - Replaces Dick Whitsell on Lass From The Low Country, The Legend Of Lord Thomas and Gotta Travel On.
Jay Cameron: Baritone Sax, instead of Sam Brown on Greenwood Side, Blue Mountain, Repeat, John Henry and We Shall Overcome
Jose Cigno, Latin Drums on Aruanda and Guantanamera

From the back cover: Over the past two years or Sextet has been fortunate to visit and play in twenty-five countries of this half of the world. Probably the most notable contribution of these travels to our musical education was the exposure to a great variety of folk melodies and rhythms. Usually, after leaving a country, it was the folk music that lingered longest in our memories, and often, it was the most impressive music we heard.

During our visit to Haiti, in 1962, at the beginning of a tour of Latin America for the State Department, we heard a striking folk song in 5/4 time called "Papa Zimbi." We adapted it for the group, and it became one of our most distinctive concert numbers – it was included in our White House concert following the tour. ("Jazz Premiere: Washington," CL 1997/CS 8797.) Also on that program was the folk song "Shenandoah," which we've played since the formation of the group.

For a long time we had wanted to do an entire album of various folk tunes, and now we had that opportunity. Having had a brief experience in using folk material, our interest was stimulated buy our travels. I don't believe it would have come from attending current hootenannies.

In this album we did not want to restrict ourselves to tunes we heard in the countries we visited (We had already recorded an all-Brazilian album "Jazz Meets The Bossa Nova," CL 1925/CS 8725) We've done here ten folk melodies we like very much, plus two originals we thought appropriate.

While considering instrumental versions of these songs we thought about two questions: first, what really is a "folk song"? And second, what is the value of these "songs" without words?

Music that is branded "folk," is, to my mind, music that originated among the common people of a country, or is in the native musical style of those people. Lyrics, of course, often precede the musical elements, but when a song is well known the melody becomes the implied expression of the words. Those who love instrumental music can appreciate the melodies equally well without lyrics.

We saw this in Latin America, where we played to many audiences who knew no English. In Cochabamba, Bolivia, the people were wildly enthusiastic when we played the "St. Louis Blues." They knew the melody, but the words would have been of little value. (One well known U.S. folk-singing group that toured Latin America shortly before we did was hooted off the stage in Maracaibo, Venezuela by an audience shouting "Espanol! Espanol!" in reaction to their English lyrics.) In the same manner, when we heard their songs, it was the music alone that mattered.

From Billboard - May 2, 1964: The music is as provocative as the title, and both should attract new listeners as well as those who have already become fans of this continually publicized group. Both the folk and the jazz are treated first carefully and, then, experimentally.

Blue Mountain
Scarlet Ribbons
Guantanamera
Greenwood Side
Lass From The Low Countrie
Aruanda
Repeat
Waltzing Matilda
The Legend Of Lord Thomas
John Henry
We Shall Overcome
Gotta Travel On

Out Of Limits! - The Marketts

Other Limits

Out Of Limits
The Marketts
Arranged by Ray Pohlman
Produced by Joe Saraceno
Production Supervisor: Mike Gordon
Recorded at United Recorders
Engineer: Dayton (Bones) Howe
Warer Bros. Records W 1537
1964

Out Of Limits
Love 1985
Collision Course
Hyper-Space
Other Limits
Bell Star
Twilight City
Borealis
Bella Delena
Limits Beyond
Saturn
Re-Entry

Jazz Voices In Video - Dave Pell

Holiday For Strings

Jazz Voices In Video
Dave Pell
Arranger: Bob Florence
Engineer: Dave Wiechman
Cover Design / Photography: Studio Five
Liberty LRP-3321
1960

This Could Be The Start Of Something
Like Young
Sing Along
Over The Rainbow
Thanks For Dropping By
Moon River
Thanks For The Memory
Lively One
Dream Along With Me
Holiday For Strings
Melancholy Serenade
See The U.S.A.

Satin Doll - Shirley Scott

It Don't Mean A Thing

Satin Doll
Shirley Scott
Supervision: Esmond Edwards
Recording Engineer: Rudy Van Gelder
Notes: Les Davis (July 1963)
Prestige Records 7283

Shirley Scott - Organ
George Tucker - Bass
Mack Simpkins - Drums

From Billboard - November 16, 1963: Organist Scott is back with another light, easy album of swinging sounds. It's just a trio here, with George Tucker, bass, and drummer Mack Simpkins. The title tune, "Don't Mean A Thing," and "Perdido," give a clue to things – the LP is composed of music written by Duke Ellington.

Satin Doll
It Don't Mean A Thing
C Jam Blues
Perdido
Mood Indigo
Things Ain't What They Used To Be
Solitude

Surf City - The Lively Ones

Tranquilizer  

Surf City
The Lively Ones
A Bob Keene Production
Del-Fi Records DFLP-1237
1963

From Billboard - July 13, 1963: Sea or No, Chicago Goes Surf

The surfing craze has hit the city. Unfortunately there's no surf to go along. But this isn't bothering anyone. Least of all the teenagers.

They're dressing like surfers, talking like surfers, even looking and acting like surfers. They're also dancing like surfers and burying records like and about surfers.

Record stores are putting in special surfing promotions. Radio stations are pushing the surf sound.

Dick Kemp, popular teen-idol at WYNR, the big McLendon Corporation rocker, has been walking around with a surfboard for the past week. He carries it everywhere, into restaurants, offices, stores, on the street, and claims he even sleeps with it at his bedside.

Kemp has been asking the kids on the air to tell him where he can go surfing. Some of the replies are classic. It all boils down to "there's no surf in the Windy City," but so far nobody seems to care.

Win a Hearse

The radio promotion is all part of a "Win a Hearse" contest being sponsored nationally by Del-Fi Records. For those who don't know, a hearse or woodie, is the chick way for a surfer to arrive with his board.

Potter, the local Del-Fi distributor, is placing coupons in local records stores. Kids are being asked to fill in their names. In a few weeks, Kemp will announce the winners on the air.

First prize is a hearse, second prize a surfboard (in fact, there'll be a number of surfboards) and after that a number of Del-Fi surfing albums.

Kemp, like any good surfer, already owns a hearse, and is using it to drive around the city. He makes quite a sight pulling up at the London House, stepping out with his surfboard, and going inside to eat a surf-burger.

Reaction Excellent

Retail reaction to the surfing craze has likewise been excellent. Both Fred Sipiora at Singer One Stop and Russ DiAngelo at Music Box report strong action.

Hottest seller, according to both one-stops, are "Surfin' USA," the Beach Boys on Capitol, and "Surfing' With The Astronauts on RCA Victor.

Singer and Music Box also reported calls for "Surf Ciyt" LP by Jan and Dean on Liberty which hasn't even been issued. The album is a follow-up to Jan and Dean's "Surf City" single which is doing very well.

Sipiora reported good action on "Wipe Out" by the Surfaris on Dot (a single). DiAngelo, who last week kicked off a "Go With Surfing' for Summer Sales" campaign in his one-stop, also reported action on the following list of albums; "The Original Surfer Stomp," "Surf Stompers, Del-Fi; Surfin' Safari," Beach Boys, Capitol; "Wipe Out," Impacts, Del-Fi; "The Original Surfer Stomp," Bruce Johnston, Del-Fi; "Surf Rider," the Lively Ones, Del-Fi; and Surf Drums, the Lively Ones, Del-Fi.

But There's No Surf

Just how far the surfing kick will go is, at this point, anyone's guess. To be coldly practical, the biggest body of water in the area is Lake Michigan. It's known for swimming, fishing, sailing, big waves, but no surf. Not even a small one.

A surfboard might be used for paddling around, but that's about all. But then, who's coldly practical. Certainly not the teen-agers. They think it's all a great idea, and if there's no surf, so what? There'll always be other things they can do.

They dress like surfers (White duck pants and sport shirts have become very "in"). They dance like surfers. They dig the surfing records and music "the most." And as for the part about going to the beach, what else does anyone do in Chicago during the summer – especially if you're a teen-ager.

To sum it up, surfing seems to have a good, healthy appeal, and the betting is that the landlocked Midwest will get as much mileage out of it as any area.

Surf City
Telstar Surf
Heads Up
Malibu Run
Miserlou
Surf Rider
Soul Surfer
Sleep Walk
Crazy Surf
Livin'
Tranquilizer
Forty Miles Of Bad Surf

Songs From Goldfinger And Other James Bond Favorites - The Cheltenham Orchestra And Chorus

Goldfinger

Songs From Goldfinger And Other James Bond Favorites
The Cheltenham Orchestra And Chorus
Wyncote STEREO SW-9086
1964

Goldfinger
The James Bond Theme
From Russia With Love
Theme For Guitar
Fran
Chuck's Monster
Riff
Funky

Let's Dance With Tony Pastor

Let's Do It

Let's Dance With Tony Pastor And His Orchestra
Vocals: Tony Pastor, Guy Pastor & Beth Harmon
Forum F 9009
1957

From the back cover: In any history of the dance band business, an important spot must be reserved for Tony Pastor. Tony's verve and vigor have never diminished, and as this album so aptly demonstrates, he is still a vivid vocalizer and a bandsman who delivers a solid, danceable beat. Tony's inimitable vocal styling comes through on such well known Pastor favorites as Robin Hood, Rosalie and Makin' Whoopee. There are also swinging vocal renditions by Tony's son, Guy Pastor and by Beth Harmon. Let's Dance with Tony Pastor puts the accent where it belongs... on infectious dance rhythms and melodic refrains. It's big band sounds at its best, presented by one of America's all-time favorites – Tony Pastor.

From Billboard - November 4, 1957 (Review of Roulette R 25024): Pleasant, plug-worthy dance set by Pastor's big band with vocals by the maestro, Beth Harmon and son Guy Pastor – all quite appealing. A couple of Pastor's old Artie Shaw vehicles – "Rosalie" and "Let's Do It," add appeal to the older fans. It's not the greatest band around, but Pastor's warmth still carries weight.

Robin Hood
Fools Rush In
Rosalie
This Is My Lucky Day
Let's Do It
Two-For
Makin' Whoopee
Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
Sweet Lorraine
You Make Me Feel So Young
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
Tony's Chance

Strange Enchantment - Vic Damone

Flamingo

Strange Enchantment
Vic Damone
Orchestra Conducted by Billy May
Produced by Dave Cavanaugh
Cover Photo / Capitol Studio / Ken Veeder
Capitol Records T 1691
1962

From Billboard - April 14, 1962: Here's the rich-voiced Vic Damone in a selection of moody, haunting, far-away type songs. The orchestrations are lush as he sings "Hawaiian Wedding Song," "Beyond The Reef," Bali Ha'i," "Moon Of Manakoora," etc. An exotic set full of the percussion and flavor of the Islands. A lot of good music programming fodder here.

Strange Enchantment
The Hawaiian Wedding Song
Shangri-La
Humming Waters
Poinciana
Flamingo
Beyond The Reef
You're Loveable
The Moon Of Manakoora
Bali Ha'i
Forevermore
Ebb Tide

Hawaii World's Fair Album

Pua Maeole

Hawaii World's Fair Album
Sounds Of Hawaii, Inc.
SH5011

From the back cover: It's been estimated that the Hawaii Exhibit at the New York World's Fair will cost the state close to five-million, and you'll get about that much worth of enjoyment out of this special Sounds Of Hawaii album created especially to mark the big fair and the 50th State's entry into it.

This is a prized record album in every respect of the word. Here, in one complete package, are the 16 songs most requested by Mainland people who visit Hawaii; these are the songs they enjoy the most and by some of the top recording artists Hawaii has produced.

You'll note that many of the melodies are very familiar. But you'll also note that only about a half dozen have soloists singing lyrics. But as we said before, the soloists singing the lyrics are tops in their fields.

Such long-time favorites as Beyond The Reef, Little Grass Shack, Hilo March, Red Sails In The Sunset, Lovely Hula Hands, the ever-popular Hawaiian War Chant, Sweet Leilani, Blue Hawaii and Aloha Oe are included in this rare album.

On the first side is the plaintive Hawaiian Wedding Song – long a melody people could identify with Hawaii. The vocal end of this unusual rendition of the traditional Hawaiian favorite is handled most ably by Bill Kaiwa. It is truly one of the finest versions of the song we have ever heard.

These are Hawaiian songs sung the way they should be.

Another outstanding example of the rendition of Paua Maeole by a family of Island singers, the Ii Sisters. These three women impart a special meaning to the music that was composed by veteran Island songwriter John "Squeeze" Kamana. This is truly an outstanding version fo the song.

It's all here – the best of Hawaii – to mark a special occasion, the 1964 World's Fair. It's another offering of Hawaii to its sister states and to American sister national that make up the world family.

And it's natural that the top musicians in the 50th State should be represented on this album, which is bound to become a collectors item in the years to come . – Jack Williams, Honolulu Star Bulletin

Hawaiian Wedding Song
Malihini Mele
Beyond The Reef
Kai Mana Hila
Little Grass Shack
Pua Maeole
Hilo March
To You Sweetheart, Aloha
Hukilau Song
Red Sails In The Sunset
Lovely Hula Hands
Hawaiian War Chant
Sweet Lelani
Pidgin English Hula
Blue Hawaii
Aloha Oe