Search Manic Mark's Blog

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Burt Bacharach Plays His Hits

Trains And Boats And Planes

Burt Bacharach Plays His Hits
Orchestra and Chorus Directed by Burt Bacharach
Kapp KS-3577 (Original Number: KS-3447)
1968

Trains And Boats And Planes
My Little Red Book
Anyone Who Had A Heart
There's Always Something There To Remind Me
24 Hours From Tulsa
Walk On By
Wives And Lovers
Don't Make Me Over
Blue On Blue
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
What's New Pussycat

Far Away Places - Enoch Light

Bali Ha'i (RS 33-882)
Far Away Places
Enoch Light And His Orchestra
Featuring Harpsichord and Exotic Percussion
Originated and Produced by Enoch Light
Associate Producer: Julie Klages
Recording Chief: Robert Fine
Mastering: George Piros
Designed by Charles E. Murphy
Command Records RS 33-882 / RS 822SD
1961

From Billboard March 6, 1961: Here's another standout recording, bound to grab a lot of attention. The sound here features a harpsichord with various types of percussion. Strong wax for sound and mood buyers with a cover which carries out the theme with names of countries set into blocks of different colors and shapes. This one merits a lot of attention.

This set is Light's early 60s light pop twist on many of your late 50s exotica favorites.

Waltzing Matilda
Banana Boat Song
The Third Man Theme
Sunrise Over Sumatra
Bali Ha'i
Mimi
Calcutta
The Cockeyed Mayor Of Kanuakakai
Theme From The Sundowners
Lisbon Antigua
How Are Things In Glocca Morra
The Poor People Of Paris

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Dancing Zither - Carl Swoboda

Gold Finger
Yesterday
Dancing Zither
Carl Swoboda's Fabulous Zither Swings With A Big Band
Philips PHM 200-203
1966

From the back cover: Karl (this is how the copywriter spelled Swoboda's first name in the notes) uses the delicate instrument more like a guitar, in that he has freed the zither from its usual traditional use in a chordal mode with his conception of a free flowing single note melodic line. The zither has many tone qualities which can remind one of the piano, harpsichord, harp or guitar. In the hands of Karl Swoboda it takes on a very warm and personal sound with a timbre on certain numbers not unlike that of the great gypsy guitarist, Django Reinhardt.

Yesterday
Theme From A Sumer Place
Stranger On The Shore
Goldfinger
A Walk In The Black Forest
Ebb Tide
The Sweetheart Tree
Sole, Sole, Sole
Unchained Melody
The "In" Crowd
A Taste Of Honey
Theme From Zorba The Greek