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Friday, March 7, 2014

New Music For Virtuosos

Music for Saxophone and Piano
New Music For Virtuosos
Milton Babbitt
Leslie Bassett
William O. Smith
Charles Wuorinen
New World Records NW 209
1977

Musicians:
Gordon Gottlieb, timpani
Susan Jolles, harp
Jerry Kuderna, Robert Miller and Ellen Weckler, piano
Donald MacCourt, bassoon
Donald Sinta, saxophone
William O. Smith, clarinet
Lynn Webber, soprano.

Millton Babbitt: Phonemena (for soprano and piano)
Milton Babbitt: Phonemena (for soprano and tape)
William O. Smith: Fancies for Clarinet Alone
Milton Babbitt: Reflections (for piano and synthesized tape)
Leslie Bassett: Music for Saxophone and Piano
Milton Babbitt: Post-Partions
Charles Wuorinen: Bassoon Variations

Love Story - Dennis Houlihan

Always Something There To Remind Me
Love Story
Dennis Houlihan At The Lowrey Organ
Concert Recording CR-CR13

From the back cover: Dennis Houlihan at the Lowery Organ… a happy combination of exciting organist and fascinating musical instrument.

Dennis's career got off to an early start when he was selected as one of the "Outstanding Teen Talents of California" in statewide competition.

Ever since, Dennis has maintained a busy schedule of concerts and personal appearances. He has entertained at numerous sporting events from hockey games to baseball – including performances at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

He has also been featured daily on KFSN-TV "Funtime" where has was known as "Uncle Dennis" to his school age audience throughout central California. On the show, he amazed his young guests with the variety of sounds that the Lowery Organ produces.

Dennis has regularly appeared at central California's finest supper clubs. Demonstrating his versatility, he has also presented numerous organ concerts of sacred music for many churches.

Since joining the staff of the Lowery Organ Company, Dennis travels extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico thrilling thousands with "The Lowery Sound". Audiences are continually impressed with his fresh approach and distinctive style.


Love Story
Little Boat
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Happy Heart
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
Up A Lazy River
Always Something There To Remind Me
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
A Time For Us
Here's That Rainy Day
Watch What Happens

Thursday, March 6, 2014

The World Of Peter Nero

Something
The World Of Peter Nero
Produced by Wally Gold
Columbia KG 31982
1973

Book-fold 2-record set featuring lush arrangements, terrific engineering and early 70s light pop sonic treats that you know and love.

For Once In My Life
Wichita Lineman
Scarborough Fair
Rain In My Heart
I Love How You Love Me
I've Gotta Be Me
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
Hey Jude
Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
Goin' Out Of My Head
Without Her
Something
My Way
I'll Never Fall In Love Again
Jean
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Lay Lady Lay
Come Saturday Morning

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Lotus Land - Gene Rains

Africa
Lotus Land
Gene Rains And His Group
Recorded In Hawaii
Decca DL 74064

Apparently this album was left behind, on a well-picked over discount shelf, due to the cover looking a bit like many other vintage budget Hawaiian music LPs most collectors tend to avoid. At least, that was my opinion as I glanced briefly at the cover. Of course, this is a fine (and first, for Rains', according to his wiki page) exotica album.

The tracks are laid down on the vinyl with no "space" between the songs so that blend one into the next as if the record was made in one take, as one piece of music. This effect produces a nice sonic trip for the listener. Likened to Denny and Lyman, Rains work on this album is as engaging as any exotica record you might search out for your collection

Excerpt from the back cover: This (…you can't hide talent) seems to hold up in the case of Gene Rains, who comes to us from Hawaii in the wake of such noted artists as Alfred Apaka, George Kainapau, Mahi Beamer, Sterling Mossman, Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Charles L. K. Davis and others who have made their marks in the recording world. As a matter of fact, it was the late Alfred Apaka who discovered the Rains group in some obscure bar in Honolulu and signed them for the build-up in the famous Shell Bar of the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki. We happened to be there in September '59 on a recording junket, chiefly concerned with recording three albums with Apaka, and Alfred insisted that we listen to Gene and his quartette.

We were very much impressed with what they were doing, as well as the way they were doing it. Incredible as it may seem, the four young men on the stand very often played as many as seven or eight instruments at the same time, thereby amplifying the ensemble sound far beyond the normal expectancy. Then too, the variety of instruments were provocative, not only for their rarity but for the unusual sounds they produced. Among these, used to very effective advantage, are rhythm-logs, conch shells, a samisen or two, nose-flutes, Burmese bells, wind-chimes of both wood and glass and many kinds of percussive implements. – Sonny Burke


Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
Hana Maui
Harbor Lights
Ringo Oiwake
Lotus Land
Africa
The Hawaiian Wedding Song
Jungle Drums
Da Hil Sayo
Danse Arabe
Ebb Tide
The Naked Sea

Sunday, March 2, 2014

The Soul Of The Consolers

The Train Moves On
The Soul Of The Consolers
Sullivan and Iola Pugh
All Songs Written by Sullivan Pugh
Nashboro Records - Nashville, Tenn
7037

From the back cover: While recording this album in the cold dull atmosphere of the studio, Mrs. Pugh forgot herself and shouted and cried out the ending of "Stop by the Church". In fact, throughout the entire recording session, Mrs. Pugh would regularly stop singing in order to dry her eyes. "Now if that ain't soul, what is it?".

Bring Them Home
Lord Bring Me Down
Someone Must Answer
Stop By A Church
Forgive Me For The Wrong I've Done
God Is So Good
The Train Moves On
I Will Go (Where He Wants Me To Go)
The Last Mile Of The Way
He'll Make It Alright
One More River To Cross
I Want To Be A Christian