Hawaii Calling - The Polynesians

Hawaii Calling
The Polynesians
Photography by Joseph Tauber - Cover design by Hobco Arts
Crown Records CLP 5206 & CST 223

Harry Baty, Sam Kaapuni, Bob Nichols with Bernie Kaii, Ernie Tavares and Marie Terangi

Terrific "islands" set featuring, on the cover, the artists, including Marie Terangi.

The set features space age swing tempo tunes mixed with jazzy passages and Terangi's terrific numbers, one at the end of each side of the disc.

As with most of Crown's catalog, this one is available from online vendors.

From the back cover: Harry Baty, leader of the group, is a master of Island melodies. Not only has he achieved remarkable success on recordings, but in motion pictures and television as well.

Harry is backed by arranger-guitarist Sam Kaapuni, and Bob Nichols, steel guitar.

Making her debut for CROWN records is the remarkable Marie Terango – Tahiti's most famous folksong interpreter. Marie performs brilliantly on two selections, showcased by percussion only.

Little Grass Shack
My Yellow Ginger Lei
Princess Purple
Lullaby Of Birdland
Tanga Ta Hura Hura
Little Brown Girl
Lehua
At The Barefoot Bar
Hawaiian War Chant
Tahiti Nui

Soft And Sweet - Guy Lombardo

Golden Earrings - chorus by Don Rodney

Soft And Sweet
Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians
Photo by Larry Gordon
Decca Records DL 8135
1955

From the back cover: In the musical world, when one speaks of a fabulous family that has remained a fabulously successful organization, everyone immediately things of the Lombardos. There were, to begin with, Carmen, who plays flute and saxophone, and is also a composer as well as singer; Lebert who fell in love with drums when he was a kid, but who now has the lead trumpet spot; Victor, youngest of the brothers, a virtuoso on sax; and Guy who, as a boy, studied the violin but got few chances to play it after he organized the Royal Canadians.

Guy was a youngster of eleven when, in his native town of London, Ontario, he got together the nucleus of the band which, many years later, was to climb to the peak of popularity in America. A neighborhood youngster by the name of Kreitzer was persuaded to join the band, and he is still with him.

Guy tried to settle down to a job in a bank when he finished school, but music was an overwhelming urge and, in 1921, he surrendered to it and began rehearsing his first band, which he then called "The Lombardo Brothers and Their Orchestra." In the meantime, he kept his job with the bank and worked with his musicians during every spare moment. Guy was, and still is, a perfectionist. Up until 1924 he played nothing but local dates, refusing to push the band too fast until he felt it was ready. After that his group was heard in Cleveland and Chicago by enthusiastic audiences.

Then in 1929, Guy accepted the invitation of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. Here the band, renamed The Royal Canadians, definitely established themselves as the nation's number one "sweet" band – a title they still hold today. The Lombardos have made their headquarters at the Roosevelt Grill, returning year after year.

All The Things You Are
Long Ago
Intermezzo
Star Dust
Golden Earrings
Where Or When
If I Had My Way
How Deep Is The Ocean
Honest And Truly
La Vie En Rose
With A Song In My Heart
I'll See You In My Dreams

An Evening At The Pump Room - David Le Winter

Rhumba Rhapsody

An Evening At The Pump Room
Dance To The Music Of David Le Winter And His Orchestra
Mercury Records MG 20280
1957

From Billboard - November 25, 1957: As a society band maestro, Le Winter is well known in the Chicago area. For that reason, this set, which is another in a growing series of society packages, can do a brisk business there with the expectancy of buy minor action elsewhere. Current competitors outdo this in both quantity of tunes and liveness of sound. A doubtful addition to inventory.

Competition in the 1957 market would be heavy, but this LP is as good as many piano driven big band club room sets found in stores at the time. The album's theme, music that was actually performed at The Pump Room, is probably why the reviewer felt that the sound lacked "liveness" in that some arrangements seem "soft" or the set lacks stylistic drive because the music was meant as dinner entertainment and not for the concert hall.  If Le Winter had strayed from his authentic dinner club sound then the album theme would have made no sense and his Chicago market would have been turned off.

Also see: Latin Melodies

Rhumba Rhapsody
Malaguena
Cumana
Nosotros
Tea For Two
I've Got You Under My Skin
Falling In Love With Love
I Concentrate On You
My Funny Valentine
Autumn Leaves
Tenderly
Hand To Mouth Boogie

Melody Cruise To Paris - Irving Fields

Side one sample

Melody Cruise To Paris
With Irving Fields And His Trio
Oceanic Records OCP 512

Songs are arranged into a continuous medley per side, played through as you would likely have heard the Trio perform them in a club.

From the back cover: The keyboard versatility of Irving Fields in personal appearances on the radio, in TV and via his numerous recordings has won him the reputation and ranking of "foremost among modern popular pianists."

Irving Fields was born in New York on August 4th, 1915. He started playing piano at the age of nine and in the incredibly short space of three years, gave a recital in Carnegie Hall. His debut was so impressive that he was awarded a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music. Another scholarship enabled him to continue his studies at the Master's Institute in New York.

At the conclusion of his studies, Irving began his professional career by playing with a small combo in a night spot in the Adirondacks. From there Fields took a job on a luxury liner cursing to South America. It was during these trips that he familiarized himself with Latin music to the extent that years later Xavier Cugat was amazed to learn that Fields was a North American!

It was shortly after this that the Army beckoned and Irving Fields was employing his "fabulous fingers" in the medical corps rather than at the keyboard.

After his honorable discharge, Irving really bounded into the limelight by writing such smash hits songs as "Managua, Nicaragua," "Miami Beach Rhumba," " Wedding Samba," "Take Her To Jamaica" and "Come Away To Comaguay" among others.

The Irving Fields Trio has appeared at the Roxy Theatre in New York, Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas, Versailles in Miami Beach, Traymore Hotel in Atlantic City, Park-Sheraton in New York, Gray's Inn in New Hampshire and many other of the nation's top night spots. On television he has been featured on the "Colgate Hour," "Cavalcade Of Stars" and "Startime." The name of Irving Fields has long been a radio byword because he and his Trio have been broadcasting over full network shows on NBC, CBS and MBC for some years.

In addition to being a songwriter and performer, the highly versatile Fields has also been vocal coach and arranger for such stars as Carol Bruce, Nancy Walker and Mary Jane Walsh. He was a musical director for ABC and at one time conducted his own large orchestra.

It's Delightful To Be Married
Parlez Moi D' Amor
Autumn Leave
La Vie En Rose
Valentine
Darling
Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
The Last Time I Saw Paris
All My Love
Mini
Madelon
Symphony
Ta-Ra-Ra Boom Ti Aye
Dreams Of Paris
Mon Homme
Will Anybody Buy My Violets
Place Pigalle
Domino
J'Attendrai
I Love Pairs

Slightly Latin - Paul Smith Quartet

Palos Versdes

Slightly Latin
Paul Smith Quartet
MGM E/SE 4032
1963

From Billboard - February 2, 1963: This is a smooth individualistic tour-de-force for Paul Smith and the other members of his quartet. The feeling is "commercial Latin" (various rhumba and bolero tempi), but the numbers run all over the hemisphere, from Lecona's "Malaguena" to the R&H "Surrey With The Fringe On Top." Smith is front-and-center as the album's star on piano, celeste, electric organ and the slick backing, and percussion work is all he could ask for. A nice platter for middle-road radio programmers.

From the back cover: Paul Smith is the Stan Musial of popular music: a versatile, reliable, inventive performer whose very presence on any record date is invaluable. A native Californian (he was born in San Diego), the 40-year-old keyboard master has had experience in many facets of the music whirl. His father, a trumpeter, and mother, a vaudeville performer, provided the initial impetus. At age 19, Smith was a member of Johnny Richards' band. A year later, in 1942, he joined veteran Ozzie Nelson's crew. Summoned to army service in 1943, he served as an MP with our forces in Germany, doubling with a band headed by trumpeter Ziggy Elman. After the war, Smith returned home, to work with Les Paul's trio, as accompanist to the Andrew Sisters and with Tommy Dorsey's band. In 1949, he decided to settle in Hollywood, probably the wisest decision he ever made.

Few musicians have become as sought-after as Smith in Hollywood's diversified circles. On assorted keyboards (piano, organ, harpsichord and celeste), he's become a stalwart on many radio and TV shows originating in Hollywood (occasionally he can be seen on camera backing Dinah Shore on that kiss-dispenser's television show).

On innumerable record dates, from jazz sessions to large orchestra pop tapings, he's been the pianist whose skill enables him to match perfectly with the chosen setting. On his own time, when the demand for his services abates (and that rarely occurs), he's fronted his own combo, in person and on records. In recent years, he's taken time off to server as accompanist to Ella Fitzgerald. The fact that he fulfilled the duties of that assignment so well provides added endorsement of his artistry; few musicians could satisfy the requirements of the Queen of jazz singers and those of the radio-TV production executives.

Malaguena
When I Fall In Love
The Desert Song
My Romance
My Reverie
Promises
Saturday Night
Palos Verdes
I Could Write A Book
For All We Know
Surrey With The Fringe On Top
You Stepped Out Of A Dream

This Love Of Mine - Eddie Baxter

Flamingo

This Love Of Mine
The Unique Artistry Of Eddie Baxter
Cover photo by Phil Howard
Rendezvous Records RLP 1303

From the back cover: As in his albums "Speak Low" and "Temptation," Every note you hear is played by him on a keyboard instrument. The instruments heard are piano, organ, celeste, electronic piano, electronic celeste. The lush tones of the Hammond organ are further enhanced by the use of Leslie speakers and a special electronic bass attachment. An assembly of keyboards adds new distinctive sounds and a full orchestral feeling.

Eddie's unique artistry is the culmination of many years of varied experience in the music field. He began his career at the early age of eleven by playing for dancing classes, and has since accompanied top-notch singers, dancers, and all types of theatre acts. His years on the road with orchestras such as Glen Gray and Frankie Masters contributed to his vast backlog of experience and are evident in his piano and organ arrangements.

The Eddie Baxter ballad style became familiar to television audiences of "The Continental." with Renzo Cesana, when it originated in Hollywood in 1951, and his arrangements of "up" tunes were heard daily on the Jack Elroy show for over three years. As a staff organist at NBC for four-and-a-half years, he played for a number of varied types of radio and television shows.

Working as a single in clubs and restaurants he has gained keen insight into the kind of music people want to hear. Listeners' requests and their reaction to tunes, play a great part in helping him select the numbers for his albums.

This Love Of Mine
To Each His Own
Star Eyes
Mamselle
Over The Rainbow
Flamingo
Afterglow
Because Of You
Where Or When
Dream
What's New
That Old Black Magic

Romantic Strings - Helmut Zacharias

Love For Sale (Stereo)

Romantic Strings
Helmut Zacharias And His Magic Violins
Recorded by Deutsche Grammaphon / Polydor R Series
Decca Records - A Division of MCA Inc.
DL 8949 & DL 78949 (STEREO)
1959

From Billboard - November 30, 1959: Violinist Zacharias is much in evidence on this group of standards, many of which are show tunes. He is backed by massed violins which all adds up to a listenable program of background music. Salable product, recorded in Germany by Duetsche Gramophon.

Love For Sale
I've Got You Under My Skin
Embraceable You
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Moonglow
April In Paris
You Go To My Head
Body And Soul
Makin' Whoopee
Dream
Love Is Here To Stay

Music For The Cocktail Hour - Page Cavanaugh

Music For The Cocktail Hour
Page Cavanaugh
Craftsmen C-8037
1960

Star Eyes

Music For The Cocktail Hour

Page Cavanaugh

Tops L1523

1957

From the back cover: Page Cavanaugh began his musical career at the age of ten in his home state of Kansas, winning highest honors in inter-state piano contests.

In 1940, Page went to Hollywood, and quickly became known on the West Coast. In 1942 he joined the Bobby Sherwood band and after touring for seven months, Page cut his career short by enlisting in the Army. It was during this three year Army stretch that the Page Cavanaugh Trio was formed. Discharged in 1945, Page took his trio to Hollywood and was placed in such leading clubs as the Trocadero, Ciro's, etc. which resulted in the rapid rise of the Trio to national fame. Frank Sinatra heard the group and took them to New York to accompany him at the Waldorf-Astoria, as well as on Old Gold series.

The latter part of 1947 found the trio playing practically every part of the United States, Canada, Honolulu and Europe.

Page likes "the road" and enjoys making new friends. He has made several trips overseas to entertain the Armed Forces.

The Page Cavanaugh Trio are known as a perfect group for vocalists. The group is augmented with four-way vocal arrangements which, in combination with clever instrumentation, makes for a style that is excitingly different, proof of which can be quickly found in this great new full range Hi-Fidelity.

From the back cover (TOPS L1523): Page Cavanaugh began his musical career at the age of ten, and has been going strong ever since. Even as a youngster in his home state of Kansas, Page carried off more than a dozen trophies and a like number of medal's winning highest honors in interstate and intra-state piano contests.

In 1940, Page went to Hollywood, and, during the next two years, he became widely known on the West Coast as a brilliant young pianist. In 1942, he joined Bobby Sherwood's band. After seven months of touring with Bobby, Page cut his career short by enlisting in the Army. It was during this three-year Army stretch that the idea for the Page Cavanaugh Trio was born. Discharged in 1945, Page headed for Hollywood with his trio to try to make a niche for himself in the entertainment field. He was almost immediately placed in such leading Hollywood clubs as the Trocadero, Ciro's, etc. – engagements which resulted in the rapid of the Trio to national fame in the entertainment world. Frank Sinatra heard the group and took them to New York to accompany him at the Waldorf-Astoria, as well as on a series in the Old Crow Show.

Walter Winchell, on their arrival in New York, proclaimed them to be "the greatest thing to hit New York since kissing."

Page's Trio aired on the Jack Benny program replacement show in the summer of 1947 from Hollywood, and it was during that time that many movie opportunities appeared.

The latter part of 1947 found the Trio playing practically every part of the United States, Canada, Honolulu, and Europe. Page likes "the road" and enjoys making new friends and renewing old acquaintances. He has made several trips overseas to entertain the Armed Forces.

The Page Cavanaugh Trio are known as a perfect group for vocalists as evidenced by their platters with Frank Sinatra, Johnny Desmond, Martha Tilton, Jane Harvey, Connie Haines, Doris Day and Mel Torme.

The Trio consists of Page on the "88", Jack Smalley on the string bass, Rod Leftwich on the electric guitar, and Bob Stava on drums.

Page has augmented his group with four-way vocal arrangements which, in combination with clever instrumentation, makes for a style that is excitingly different, proof of which can be quickly found in this great new Page Cavanaugh album.

From Billboard - October 17, 1960 (Craftsmen review): The piano man and group perform with a vocal quartet in offering nine listenable sides. "Nobody's Sweetheart," "My Ideal" and "Cuckoo In The Clock" are samples. some danceable material, too, but the accent is on providing a pleasant background sound.

Nobody's Sweetheart
The Way You Look Tonight
My Ideal
Moonlight On The Ganges
Two Sleepy People
Junior Hop
Something In The Air
Cuckoo In The Clock
Lazy Lover

Pink Hawaii - Billy Mure

Return To Paradise

Pink Hawaii
Billy Mure And The Islanders
Strand Records
SL/SLS 1070
1962

On this set you will hear a mix of space age "Island" approaches, all of which blend nicely together. From the more traditional "steel guitar sound", to "exotica", to that early 60s light pop "sound". A representative example was hard to choose. My personal favorite was the "exotica-flavored" (bird calls) Return To Paradise which is a perfect soft blend of instruments, choral accents and environmental sounds.

Mure didn't create a "guitar" album, rather, he made a balanced light pop space age set.

From the back cover: A while back, when a popular television show was being filmed in Hawaii, the host of the show, along with the members of the cast, were enthusiastic in their appraisal of the beauty of the state.

They expressed it in terms of of everything looking so "PINK" and lovely. Therefore, the noted guitarist and composer BILLY MURE wrote a song to express this beauty, and thus "PINK HAWAII", an extremely delightful album of popular Hawaiian melodies.

Pink Hawaii (Pompadour)
Sweet Leilani (Joy)
Blue Hawaii (Famous)
Flamingo (Tempo)
Song Of The Island (Miller)
Hawaiian War Chant (Miller)
The Moon Of Manakoora (Franck)
Return To Paradise (Remick)
I Found My Wahine (Pompadour)
Hawaiian Drums (Heatherfield)

Thinking Of You - Les Baxter

Thinking Of You

Les Baxter

Cover Photo by Sam Offee

Capitol Records T474

1954

Seems like a more obscure or out-of-print Baxter, but I found the set on Spotify. Offered here to present a scan of the back cover which features an image of Baxter

Nice period mood set.

Thinking Of You
Speak Low
Because Of You
With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming
I Love Paris
Miss You
Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)
Lost In Meditation
Mine
The Nearness Of You
Vieni, Vieni
Little White Lies

Cugat's Favorite Rhumbas - Xavier Cugat

Besame Mucho (Vocal by Del Campo)

Cugat's Favorite Rhumbas

Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra

CL 6021

1948

This is the more obscure release (10 - inch LP) of this set.

Begin The Beguine

Estrellita (My Little Star)

Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes)

La Paloma (The Dove)

Say "Si Si" (Para Vigo Me Voy)

La Golondrina (The Swallow)

Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much)

Celito Lindo (Blue Skies)