The Sounds Of Martin Denny

Lotus Land

The Sounds Of Martin Denny

Exotica
Liberty LRP 3034 & LPR 3034 (Spectra-Sonic-Sound cover variation)
1957

This pressing is the early mono recording (top image). The set proved so popular that during the following year Liberty brought Denny and his group back into the studio to record a stereo version a stereo version.

Autographed by Denny himself along with, Arthur Lyman (vibes), August Colon, bongoes and John Kramer, bass.

Quiet Village
Return To Paradise
Hong Kong Blues
Busy Port
Lotus Land
Similau
Stone God
Jungle Flower
China Nights
Ami Wa Furi
Waipio
Love Dance

Piano Magic

Stormy Weather

Piano Magic
Eric Silver
Allegro Royale 1535

The album cover was created by "Design House" the same designer who created several of the Plymouth covers which are all very graphic cover designs.

There is a "Royale" discography online, but this LP isn't listed although the catalog number would fit into the list.

An Hour Of Hawaiian Melodies

Eleu Mikimiki

An Hour Of Hawaian Melodies

Plymouth Hawaiian Orchestra

Plymouth Merit P12-86 - 19??

Hawaiian is misspelled on the cover of this album! I guess this was the last job "Design House" did for Plymouth (Design House credit on the cover).

I the only thing I can find on the Plymouth Record Corporation is that they filed a lawsuit in 1955 for money not received for records delivered to the party of "Brooks".  Imagine finding details of an ancient lawsuit online but nothing else.

Great color and artwork on the cover!

Enjoy!

Passion In Paint

Passion In Paint
Henri Rene and His Orchestra
RCA LPM-1033 1955

The work is symphonic in nature and perhaps not as arty or "splashy" as the cover suggests. By way of example listen to the track that puts Salvador Dali's "The Persistence of Memory" to music. If any track on this album is expected to have "flare" to it, I guess it would be the Dali track.

From the back cover: Passion in paint, passion in music…how differently they are expressed, and yet how closely akin are they! Music has color and paintings have rhythm, and both convey to us beauty and emotion.

Here, as far as I know, is the first attempt to link popular paintings with what is usually called "popular" music. I am not sure I know precisely what popular music is: I am certain that these original rhapsodies by Henri René are music which everybody can enjoy, which everybody can understand and from which everybody can experience an emotional lift.

Henri René has, of course, not attempted any literal description of the paintings. That would be impossible in music. Ha has given us impressions. These very sensuous mood of Botticelli's The Birth of Venus to the famous and still controversial Duchamp Nude Descending the Stairs, a painting which no longer "describes" or"tells a story" but is all impression and emotion. What you have here, therefore, is amood music album with many moods.

Many of the paintings treated musically by René are familiar favorites. Several of them can be seen in our country. To see others you will have to travel as far as Florence, Madrid and Paris. To enjoy René's music you don't have to travel at all: you can "see" the paintings from your armchair.

This latest work of Henri René follows a series of highly successful albums composed, arranged and conducted by him in his own individual style. That style is Continental, which is quite natural considering that René has spent much of his life abroad. Among the albums which have become best sellers are Listen to Henri René and Music for Romance…

Here, then, is passion in paint translated into passion in music. Whatever you play the album one "painting" at a time or whatever you play the whole album together I think you are in for a new kind of enjoyment."

George R. Marek
Director of Artists and Repertoire
Copyright 1955, Radio Corporation of America

TANGO

TANGO
Pedro Garcia and his Del Prado Orchestra
Audio Fidelity AFLP 1838 - 1957

Gorgeous cheesecake jacket art. The models (or dancers) are credited on the back cover as: Carol Lawrence and Tony Franco.

Cha-Cha - Jose Madeina and his Orchestra

Let's Cha Cha Cha
Jose Madeira and his Orchestra
Palace (Buckingham Records) PST 606 195?

Great cover... but look at the cover below. Interesting to note that Palace was recycling cover elements. But after all, that's one hot model and they saved money and that is one hot model!

Again, like the other record, I can't locate much info. Apparently "Joe Madeira" released a few albums, but I can't even find a date of release for this LP.

Cha Cha Ritmico

Dance Band Cha-Cha
Jose Madeira And His Orchestra
Palace M 631

Maysa - The Sound Of Love

No Medio Da Noite

Maysa
The Sound Of Love
Orchestra Conducted By Simonetti
UA (UAL 3034) 1959

Here we have an exotic artist from Brazil. From the jacket notes, United Artists apparently discovered Maysa and produced this album for the U.S. market. I did attempt to research Maysa and this album and came up with zero.

She was stunning, as you can tell from the jacket photo. She preforms in her native language, which of course, is exotic. The arrangements are a cool mix of mellow jazz, mood and "Brazilian" music.

I wonder whatever happened to Maysa (pronounced Mahee-za)?

This tidbit from the jacket: A young woman of unusual beauty, very little is known of Maysa. Unlike its curious North American counterpart, the Brazilian public seems able to respect the wish for privacy of its star performers. It is known, however, that she is from a well-to-do family in Rio, a "society girl" with a beautiful voice who had no need nor desire for a career.

Liberace and Paul Weston

Liberace & Paul Weston - Concertos for You

Columbia Masterworks (ML 4764) 1953

Terrific cover signed and dated by Liberace - 1954.

I also love the music. Over-the-top numbers with all the fireworks Liberace was known for.

Cocktails For Two - Louis Martinelli

Cocktails For Two

Louis Martinelli And The Continentals
Crown Records CST 126

1959

Arrivederci Roma
Gamin De Paris
La Gondolier
La Mer
Cocktails
Histoire D' Un Amour
Around The World In 80 Days
Lovely
Maria Dolores
Johnny Guitar
Goodbye To Libson

Morton Gould - Jungle Drums

Jungle Drums

Morton Gould and His Orchestra

Photo by Ben Rose
RCA Victor LM-1994 - 1956
RCA LSC-1994 1960 (stereo release)

RCA Victor LM-1994 - 1957

Jungle Drums

More Jungle Drums
Morton Gould
RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2768
1964

From Billboard - September 22, 1956: High fidelity fans should welcome Morton Gould's new LP, spotlighting some effective hi-fi instrumental interpretations of such highly rhythmic selections as "Ritual Fire Dance," "Hawaiian War Chant," and "Caravan." Percussion instruments are featured thruout, and Gould's impressive arrangements consistently stress the beat. Interesting cover art should be a display plus.

Jungle Drums

La Comparsa

Gitanerias

Andalucia

Malagueña - Arranged by Morton Gould

Danza Lucumi - Arranged by Gunther

Cordoba

Rhapsodia Negra - Laura Newell, Harp Soloist

HawaiianWar Chant (Noble and Leleiohaku)

Caravan (Ellington)

Ritual Fire Dance (Falla)

Tropical (Gould)

The Little Train Of The Caipira (Villa-Lobos)

Swamp Fire (Mooney)

Batuque (Fernandez)

Martin Denny - Enchanted Sea

The Enchanted Sea

The Exotic Sounds Of Martin Denny
The Enchanted Sea
Producer: Si Waronker
Cover Design: Pate/Francis
Photography: Garrett-Howard, Inc.
Liberty Records
LRP 3141 & LST 7141
1960

From Billboard - January 18, 1960: Denny's latest LP should follow the hit sales path of his previous releases. The theme of the set, as the album title tune might imply, is a mixture of songs suggesting fantasy or the sea. Included in inventive and attractive instrumental settings (with many colorful ork effects) are "Beyond The Sea," "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" and "The Enchanted Sea." Sound and the attractive cover are assists.

Trade Winds
My Isle Of Golden Dreams
Stardust
Song Of The Islands
Flotsam And Jetsam
Beyond The Sea (La Mer)
Off Shore
Sentimental Journey
Beyond The Reef
Baubles, Bangles And Beads
Cross Current
The Enchanted Sea