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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Hi-Fi And Mighty - Marjorie Meinert

Un bel di, verdremo (One Fine Day)
Hi-Fi And Mighty
Marjorie Meinert At The Allen Organ
Produced by Herman Diaz, Jr.
RCA Victor LPM-2169
1960

This is an album that I struggle to define. What the cover art suggests, I have no idea. I can't figure out what the "exercise" or "weightlifting" tie-in is all about.

The music is played on an electronic organ that sounds much like a pipe organ. So the music, even though well executed, is slow... sometimes VERY slow and heavy. This is strange especially when you are listening to "pop" song covers, like A Song Of India.  After some adjustment in my expectations... the recording did grow on me.

Check out the last track as found on side 2 that I've posted above. It's a long, quite, slow, strange experiment in recording.

The Movie Hits - The Film Festival Orchestra

Black Sunday
The Movie Hits
The Film Festival Orchestra
Springboard Records SPB-4077
1977

Volume 1. Check out a sample from Volume 2.

Budget movie theme covers album with no real focus. You've got your disco to easy listening to a moog piece (The Sorcerer). The Theme From Rocky sounds like a high school band made the recording. Fun. If you make it to the end of side 2 to you'll enjoy what I thought was the best track, a moody cover of the theme from Black Sunday.

Film On Film Great Movie Themes - Enoch Light

Love Theme From The Blue Max
Film On Film Great Movie Themes
Enoch Light And The Light Brigade
Arrangements By Lew Davies
Originated And Produced By Enoch Light
Associate Producer: Julie Klages
Project 3 Total Sound PR 5005 SD
1966

Book-fold jacket featuring a Charles E. Murphy cover along with a photo of Enoch Light on the back cover.

The soundtrack theme covers are total easy listening, lacking much of Light's typical space-age flavor.

The Sand Pebbles
Born Free
The Alphabet Murders
Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?
Alfie
Mirror, Mirror, Mirror
Hawaii
Paris Smiles
Love Theme From The Blue Max
Khartoum
Lady L.
Two Lovers

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Lost On A Cloud - Ken Griffin

Lost On A Cloud
Ken Griffin
Columbia Records CL 662

This one can be found for purchase/download so I will not be posting a sample. What you don't get with the online downloads is a peak at this great cover!

Griffin pasted away in 1956, so most of his work was released after his death. So this album, amongst others, sounds a little dated to me (in comparison to other space age organists).

Hi Hopes To You With Joy

Proud Mary
Hi Hopes To You With Joy
1978

Here we have another charming album by Special People for Special People.

You might also want to check out my posts of the albums, Hi Hopes and Play & Sing.

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Best Of 68 - Terry Baxter

The Best Of 68
Terry Baxter And His Orchestra
Columbia Musical Treasuries
CBS Direct Marketing Services
P2M 5223
1968

This is a two record set which I was surprised to find online for purchase/download. So, sorry, I will not be posting a sample. The set seems like it would be one of those overlooked and obscure recordings.

I didn't expect much from a Baxter LP. I've got another three record set that features a few decent and whacky tunes amongst many rather standard easy listening tracks. But this album holds interest throughout the four sides and offers up some great 60s groove. Even the more easy tracks are enjoyable featuring nice light pop touches.

The track list, from the back cover as listed in alphabetical order:

By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
The Dock Of The Bay
Gentle On My Mind
Goin' Out Of My Head
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Green, Green Grass Of Home
Green Tambourine
Honey
The Impossible Dream
It Must Be Him
Kiss Me Goodbye
Love Is Blue
Mission: Impossible
Never My Love
Release Me
Sounds Of Silence
Storybook Children
Sunny
Theme From Valley Of The Dolls
To Sir, With Love
Up Up And Away
Windy
Woman, Woman

Beautiful Obsession - Franck Pourcel

Les Indiens
Beautiful Obsession
Franck Pourcel
IR Imperial A Product Of Liberty Records
LP-12322
1966

Beautiful Obsession (Ma Chason Est Pour Toi)
There Is A Time (La Temps)
While I Live (Ma Vie)
Les Indiens
Venice Blue (Que C'est Triste Venise)
Le's Pins Du Bord De L'eau
Circle Of Love (La Rhonde)
Any Old Time Of Day (Chaque Instant De Chaque Jour)
Just You (Avec)
Amour, Excuse-Moi (Amore Scusami)
She'll Come Back To Me (A Benton Nous Deux)

Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Movie Hits - The Film Festival Orchestra - Volume 2

A Piece Of The Action
The Movie Hits
The Film Festival Orchestra
Volume 2
Springboard
1977

More budget fun from The Film Festival Orchestra or you might want to check out a track from James Bond Thrillers.