Twilight Dance Time - The Velvet Sounds

Tenderly

Twilight Dance Time
The Velvet Sounds
International Award Series
AK-181

Budget "Three Suns" knockoff lounge set.

Canadian Sunset
Tenderly
S'posin'
Blue Velvet
It Looks Like Rain In Cherry Blossom Lane
Song Of India
There Will Never By Another You
We Three
Drifting And Dreaming
It's Been A Long, Long Time
Serenade Of The Bells
Martha

Brass And Bamboo - Tak Shindo

Brass And Bamboo
Tak Shindo
Capitol Records T1345
1960

Available in some downloadable form from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample.

Shindo "east/west" sound makes this Capitol set as fresh sounding today as when it was pressed back in the "space age".

From the back cover: In his sparkling debut as a Capitol recording artist, young Tak Shindo offers a brand-new concept in music, combining the exotic sounds of ancient Japanese instruments with modern, big-band orchestrations, in tempo and moods that range from ballads to swing.

This, indeed, was a mammoth undertaking, as brass, flutes, clarinets, drums, bass, guitar, and vocal chorus were blended with the koto (the thirteen-string zither whose strange, harp-like tones are heard throughout the album), Kabuki drums, the samisen (three-string guitar), bamboo flutes, Buddha temple gongs and an assortment of bell and chimes. To add to the difficulty, Miss Kazue Kudp, featured here on koto and samisen, speaks limited English and reads only Japanese music, having only recently arrived her from her native Japan.

From Billboard - March 28, 1960: To prove there's still opportunity for originality, young Tak Shindo has found a way for East to meet West musically. He had added a few exotic Japanese instruments to a big swinging which includes some top Coast jazz musicians (including Bud Shank and Shelly Manne).

Caravan
Poinciana
The Moon Was Yellow
Skylark
No Place To Go
Bali Ha'i
The Song Of Delilah
Flamingo
I'm Beginning To See The Light
The Lamp Is Low
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
Brass And Bamboo

Misty Moods - Sam Taylor

Flamingo

Misty Mood
Sam The Man Taylor
Tenor Sax with Orchestra & Chorus
Decca DL 74302
1962

From the back cover: Kentucky-born Sam Taylor went to school in Gary, Indiana, where he was taught to play the clarinet. It was at Alabama State Teachers College that he learned how to play the alto and tenor sax. The tenor became his favorite and specialty instrument. From amateur to professional was a quick jump with jobs with the Cab Calloway and Cootie Williams orchestras. Currently he is free-lancing, appearing as a side man soloist and sometimes leader in TV – radio – recordings – night clubs and theaters.

From Billboard - August 11, 1962: Smooth and often pretty, breathy, blowing by Sam Taylor on tenor, helps make this routine background music set stand out above the normal run.
Deep Purple
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'
Darn That Dream
Flamingo
Between Two Lovers
Misty
Come Rain Or Come Shine
When I Fall In Love
Little Girl Blue
"Round Midnight
Warm Valley
Don't Get Around Much Anymore

She Dotes On Dreamy Music - Harry Hermann

Illusion

She Dotes On Dreamy Music
Harry Hermann And His Orchestra
Decca Records DL 8310
1956

From the back cover: The Petty Girl as featured in Esquire / In his portraits of enticing young ladies for Esquire Magazine, Artist George Petty has performed a truly epochal marriage of the physics of the curved line and intangibles of glamor.

Also from the back cover: It is with great pleasure that we introduce The Girl Friend to this album marking Harry Hermann's debut on Decca Records. Viennese-born, Hermann's intensive classical background is pointed up by the fact that at seventeen, he was playing with the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Richard Strauss.

From Billboard - November 17, 1956: Here's a perfect holiday gift package series for men who appreciate pin-up type calendar art. Altho the titles in the series are equally divided between music for "The Girl Friend" and "The Boy Friend" and "The Boy Friend," the covers – feature curvaceous Petty Girl drawings – are strictly for the boys, particularly those who were in their salad days when Petty works of art where in theirs.

Count Every Star
Will You Remember
Georgine
Indian Love Call
Illusion
Premier Rendezvous
Embraceable You
Ninio
You're Too Dangerous, Cherie
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
My Foolish Heart
Sweet And Lovely

Continental Favorites At Cocktail Time - Pietro Dero

Evening Star

Continental Favorites
The Romantic Piano Of Pietro Dero
Somerset SF-29800

Continental Piano Favorites

With Pietro Dero At The Keyboard

Oscar Records OS-134

No track band separation on this disc, a set that plays through as one solid session of lounge piano.

From the back cover: His (Dero) style is relaxed and to quote the maitre de of a leading supper club in Rome – "he sets a wonderful mood in the room, yet his piano stylings never rise above the conversational level of our guests."


Funiculi Funicula
Come Back To Sorrento
Tango For Strings
O Solo Mio
Cielito Lindo
La Paloma
La Golondrina
Shadow Tango
Ay Ay Ay
La Cumparsita
Evening Star
Un Bel Di
Musette Waltz
Celeste Aida
My Heart At Thy Sweet Voice
Martha
Addio Del Passato
Habanera

Sketches On Standards - Stan Kenton

From The Fabulous Dance Library Of Stan Kenton
Sketches On Standards
Capitol T 426

Available from digital vendors so I will not be posting a sample. However, I wanted to share the cover art on this reissue.

Originally release in 1953, the creative big band arrangements sound progressive compared to most period albums I've listened to. More of the "good stuff" from Kenton.

Piano-Leader: Stan Kenton
Trumpets: Buddy Childers, Maynard Ferguson, Conte Candoli, Donald Dennis, Ruben MaFall, Don Paladino
Trombones: Frank Rosolino, Bob Burgess, Keith Moon, George Roberts, Bill Russo, Norm Bartold, Kent Larsen, Bob Fitzpatrick, Frank Strong
Reeds: Lee Konitz, Vincent DiVittorio, Bill Holman, Richard Kameua, Bob Gioga, Jimmy Giuffre, Charley Mariano, Bob Cooper, Lenny Nichaus, Bud Shank.
Drum: Stan Levey, Mel Lewis
Guitar: Sal Salvador, Ralph Blaze
Bass: Don Bagley, Max Bennett
Latin Rhythm: Laurindo Almeida, Raphael Lemos, Jr,. Aluisio Ferreira, Nestor Amaral, Rene Touzet, Jack Costanzo, Joe Guerrero

Sophisticated Lady
Begin The Beguine
Lover Man
Pennies From Heaven
Dark Eyes
Don't Take Your Love From ME
Over The Rainbow
Fascinating Rhythm
There's A Small Hotel
Shadow Waltz
More Love Than Your Love
Malaguena

Golden Favorites - Caterina Valente

Poinciana

Golden Favorites
Caterina Valente

Recorded in Europe by Deutsche Grammophon/Polydor Series
Decca DL 74504
1964

From the back cover: The orchestra of Werner Muller, Kurt Edelhagen and Sy Oliver contribute to the brilliance of the performance – so right in tempo and taste for every national background.

From Billboard - August 6, 1964: Here's a line-up of songs tailor-made for the exciting talents of Caterina Valente. An international favorite herself, Miss Valente's selections in this album prove the reason for her worldwide popularity… versatile talent.

Malaguena
Poinciana
Kiss Of Fire
Mack The Knife
Secret Love
Oho-Aha
The Breeze And I
Temptation
Siboney
C'est Si Bon
Granda
Flamingo

Roger Williams Play Me

Masterpiece

Roger Williams
Play Me
Kapp KS 3671
1972

Roger's 70s groove…

The World Is A Circle
Alone Again
How Do You Do
Play Me
Lady Sings The Blues
The Masterpiece
Ellie's Theme (Sky Jacked)
Black And White
As Time Goes By
Goodbye To Love

Francis Bay Big Band Salutes Les Brown

Bizet Has His Day

Francis Bay Big Band Salutes Les Brown
Omega OSL 25

Sentimental Journey
Baby Don't Cha Go 'Way Mad
Stompin' At The Savoy
Twilight Time
Lover's Leap
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
Coffee Time
Blue Moon
Bizet Has His Day
Leap Frog