A Night At Count Basie's Featuring Joe Williams

Sent For Yesterday

A Night At Count Basie's
Featuring Joe Williams, Blues and Ballad Singer
Vanguard Recording Society, Inc. VRS-8508
1957

Emmett Berry - Trumpet
Marlowe Morris - Organ
Bobby Donaldson - Drums
Vic Dickenson - Trombone
Bobby Henderson - Piano
Aaron Bell - Bass

From the back cover: Joe Williams, that fine singer with the Basie band, had a big "Welcome Home" party there on the night of October 22, 1956, and Vanguard was on hand with its recording equipment for the entire evening. Count Basie (courtesy of Clef Records and Norman Granz) was master of ceremonies, host, and organizer of the musical proceedings.

Ordinarily, a small, crowded bar would be the last site in the world for a recording session. The sounds of telephones, cash registers, customers, and even plumbing are just as likely to be picked up by the microphones as the music itself. Vanguard has recorded it all for posterity, and the lisetener is cautioned not to rush for the phone during "Canadian Sunset". The bartenders were just too busy serving drinks to answer it.

Joe Williams has been voted singer of the year by Down Beat and many other magazines. He joined the Basie band less than two years ago, and almost immediately captivated the music world with his singing of blues and ballads. This is the very first time he has been recorded on location with a small group of blues specialists like Marlowe Morris on organ, Vic Dickenson, trombone, Emmett Berry, trumpet, and the drums and bass of Bobby Donaldson and Aaron Bell. There is also a rented Mason and Hamlin spinet, which was played some of the time by Bobby Henderson, Billie Holiday's first great accompanist. – Notes by John Hammond
Also from the back cover: The Vanguard Jazz Showcase was produced under the supervision of the distinguished jazz critic and commentator, John Hammond. The Vanguard Jazz Showcase was instituted in cooperation with the noted jazz magazine, Down Beat, to record creative jazz for the first time with wide range high fidelity reproduction. Its aim is also to give full range to musical ideas of the best contemporary jazz performers, and to win attention for previously unrecognized talent.

From Billboard - February 23, 1957: John Hammond taped a sensational session at Count Basie's Bar in Harlem and this disk is the result. Basie himself serves as a informal emcee on the disk, introducing the numbers and the blowers and at one point, even introducing Leonard Feather, who in turn opens the curtain on Joe Williams. Williams contributes three great blues jobs in "More Than One For My Baby," "Sent For You Yesterday," and "I Want A Little Girl." Then the sitters-in – Emmett Berry, Bobby Donaldson, Vic Dickenson, Aaron Bell with some outstanding ad lib blowing by Marlowe Morris on organ and Bobby Henderson on piano, take their turns in five other swinging improvisation. Sound on this disk is superior and it's very solid, salable stuff.

Indiana
More Than One For My Baby
Too Marvelous For Words
Sent For You Yesterday
Perdido
I Want A Little Girl
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Canadian Sunset

Jackie Gleason Plays Today's Romantic Hits For Lovers Only

Midnight Sun

Jackie Gleason Plays
Today's Romantic Hits For Lovers Only
Produced by Dick Jones
Cover Photo: Capitol Photo Studio / Ken Veeder
Capitol Records SW 1978
1967

From the back cover: When next someone asks you, as people are always asking me, "Why aren't great standards being written anymore... where are tomorrow's 'old favorites' going to come from...? – just take this album from your self, and say, "Here they are." Then play them – because these tunes really deserve to last. – Jackie Gleason

Danke Schöen
The Good Life
I Left My Heart In San Francisco
Desafinado
What Kind Of Fool Am I?
Fly Me To The Moon
Make Someone Happy
As Long As He Needs Me
Midnight Sun
More (Mondo Cane)
Theme From "The Unforgiven"
Misty

The Mancini Sound - Special Club Edition

The Mancini Sound
Henry Mancini - His Orchestra And Chorus
Special Club Edition
RCA Victor LSP 3943
1968

A "budget" compilation set that offers a wide variety of Mancini's work that includes not the original Peter Gunn but a "powerful new version" which may have been produced for the film score: Gunn! Number One! (LPM-3840).

The front jacket track list is accurate.

The track list as ordered on the back cover:

Two For The Road
The Shadow Of Your Smile
Something For Audrey
Call Me Irresponsible
Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars
Arabesque
Satin Doll
Something For Sophia
In The Arms Of Love
Tiny Bubbles
Over The Rainbow
Peter Gunn

Liberace At Home

Solitude

Liberace At Home
Columbia CL 896
1956

From the back cover: Although the music Liberace offers here is frankly popular, it has been chosen from among the best of popular music, and each of the songs has attained the stature of becoming a 'standard' song, one that is played year in and year out, long after its first flush of popularity has vanished. Song such as these never grow old, partly because audiences never tire of them, partly because performers find endless challenges in the musical structure. In this spirit Liberace has approached his program, relaxing as he does at home, yet spurred on by the pleasure he takes in playing such fondly-remembered tunes.
My Melancholy Baby
She's Funny That Way
They Say It's Wonderful
Manhattan Serenade
Don't Blame Me
Smokes Gets In Your Eyes
Tenderly
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
The Way You Look Tonight
Someone To Watch Over Me
How Deep Is The Ocean
Solitude

Marcy Tigner - Trombone

All That Thrills My Soul

Marcy Tigner
Trombone
With Harp, Violin and Pipe Organ
Verlye Brilhart: Harp
Roberta Nowlin: Violin
Lorin Whitney: Pipe Organ
Christian Faith Recordings
Alma Records, Inc. - Reseda, California

From the back cover: Marcy began her study of the trombone when about eight years of age, and became a top-ranking performer with her chosen instrument during her school years, winning first place in two state and two national contests. She played in the high school band and orchestra and also in the Portland, Oregon Junior Symphony. Numerous calls came to her to play at schools, churches, banquets, and on radio programs. After high school she attended Multnomah Collage (Portland) and the University of Oregon where she continued her study of music.

In addition to her many appearances in Christian meetings, Mrs. Tigner has conducted her own radio program in Seattle, Washington "Marcy Tigner's Hymntime."

Better known to vinyl collectors for the "Little Marcy" phase of her career.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
Close To Thee
Jesus Is All The World To Me
Saviour, Thy Dying Love
Abide With Me
No Longer Lonely
All That Thrills My Soul
Oh, How I Love Jesus
Harbored In Jesus
We Shall See His Lovely Face
Near To The Heart Of God
Day By Day

Latin From Manhattan - Ethel Smith

Cose, Cose, Cose

Latin From Manhattan

Ethel Smith
Organ Solos With Instrumental Accompaniment
Decca Records DL 8457
1958

From the back cover: Louis Sobol informed his readers in the New York Journal-American: "First Nighters wouldn't let her off. Certainly, this is one of our most versatile entertainers. She delivered organ solos – and then in a hilarious patter, explained how the organ operates. She sang, she played the guitar, she demonstrated how various noisemakers are employed, and put new life into everything." In Variety, the Bible of the entertainment world, Abel Green added: "Decca dicker, Ethel Smith, is a comedienne as well as a virtuoso of the organ... In somewhat the same vein as Victor Borge's tongue-in-cheek humor, Miss Smith makes with the quips and the linguistic ad libs... A novelty on any rostrum, podium, and salon floor." When she appeared as guest performer with The Milwaukee Pops Orchestra, the Milwaukee Journal's Harry S. Pease wrote: "She kicked more rhythms out of an electric organ with her dainty left foot than other musicians extract with all ten fingers.

Tico Tico
Lero Lero & Bem Te Vi Atervido
Toca Tu Samba
Dinorah
April In Portugal
Brazil
Alla En El Rancho Grande & Las Altenitas
The Breeze And I
The Parrot (On The Fortune Teller's Hat
Paran Pan Pin & Cachita
Hernando's Hideaway (from the Broadway production "The Pajama Game")
Cose, Cose, Cose

The Cat - Jimmy Smith

Theme from "Joy House"

The Cat
The Incredible Jimmy Smith
Arranged & Conducted by Lalo Schifrin
Produced by Creed Taylor
Cover Photos: Ken Whitmore
Inside cat photo credit: Steve Shannon
Recorded April 27 & 29, 1964
At Van Gelder's Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Verve V/V6-8587
1964

From the inside cover, lower right under the photos: On his last European trip, Jimmy Smith met and became friends with French actor Alain Delon. Jimmy has written and dedicated one of the tunes on this album to the movie star, Delon's Blues. He is featured in the film Joy House. Two Lalo Schifrin tunes from the picture are also featured in this album, the hit recording of The Cat and Theme From Joy House.

Personnel:

Jimmy Smith: Organ
Ernie Royal, Bernie Glow, Jimmy Maxwell, Mark Markowitz, Snooky Young, Thad Jones: Trumpet
Ray Alonge, Jim Buffington, Earl Chapin, Bill Chorrea: French Horn
Billy Byers, Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green: Trimbone
Tony Studd: Bass Trombone
Don Butterfield" Tuba
Kenny Burrell: Guitar
George Duvivier: Bass
Phil Kraus: Percussion
Grady Tate: Drums

Theme from "Joy House" (From the MGM Motion Picture "Joy House"
Basin Street Blues
Main Title From "The Carpetbaggers"
Chicago Serenade
St. Louis Blues
Delon's Blues
Blues In The Night

John Hancock And His Piano - Accordion

Trees

John Hancock And His Piano - Accordion
The Golden Voice Series
Cover Design by John Hancock
Chapel Records ST 069
A Division Of Pacific Press Publishing Association - Mountain View, California

Trees
Worship Of God In Nature
Onward, Christian Soldiers
The Holy City
Largo
Were You There?
Beyond The Sunset
The Palms
Stand Up For Jesus
The Captain Calls For You
We'll March Along Together
He Is Mine
Agnus Dei (Lamb Of God)
Master, The Tempest Is Raging

Music To Make You Feel That Certain Way - Dick Barlow

Swedish Rhapsody

Music To Make You Feel That Certain Way
Dick Barlow And His Orchestra
Mercury MG 20168
1957

I've collected a number of 1950s Mercury covers that display odd aging issues. This is the strangest jacket, as far as aging issues, that I've seen yet. Perhaps certain inks are reacting with the laminate or paper stock. Or maybe Mercury printed covers in a 5 color process to include a base layer of white which is reacting with the other inks. Or maybe they printed on a specially prepared paper stock that is reacting to the ink or the plastic finish? I do not know, but the original cover certainly looked better.

From the back cover: Dick Barlow, when he's not at the keyboard where he's happiest, most enjoys working at a canvas with brush and palette in hand. Perhaps that's why fellow musicians who have come to envy his superb musicianship began to call him "The Rembrandt of the Piano." The romantic-styled orchestra he leads from behind the glistening grand piano is a favorite at New York's most exclusive celebrity parties and he has played America's swankiest hotels and clubs. Dick Barlow has composed extensively in a semi-classical style, and Devastating Love in this album will show you why his recognition as a creator rivals his fame as an interpreter.

Yesterdays
What Is There To Say
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Suddenly It's Spring
Have You Met Miss Jones
What's The Use Of Wond'rin
Long Ago And Far Away
The Boy Next Door
Swedish Rhapsody
All The Things You Are
This Is New
Devastating Love

Fiesta In Italy

Ritorna Sorrento

Fiesta In Italy
Mario Russo (disc label credit)
Coronet Records CXS 61
1961

Three Coins In The Fountain
O Sole Mio
Mamma
Arrivederci Roma
Oh Marie
Ritorna Sorrento
Chitara Romana (Guitara Romana on disc label)
Mattinarello
Santa Lucia
Veni Sul Mar

Love Is A Game Of Poker - Nelson Riddle

Game Of Poker

Love Is A Game Of Poker
Nelson Riddle And His Orchestra
Produced for Capitol Records by Albums, Inc.
Cover Photo: Capitol Records Studio/George Jerman
Capitol Records ST 1817
1963

From the back cover: Nelson Riddle has been a consistent winner in nearly every phase of musical endeavor over the past several years. In addition to his own albums on Capitol, Nelson's superb backings for some of the nation's top singing stars have helped to account for scores of hit recordings. And he has also experienced more than his share of film and TV musical triumph, having created the music for such shows as "Route 66," "The Untouchables," and "Naked City." Here he offers every further proof that his success is on a pretty sound basis.

The song form which the album derives its pasteboard theme is a Harold Arlen gem entitled A Game Of Poke, written by that celebrated gentleman for the Broadway show, "Saratoga." Others in the collection were penned by such top-flight tunesmiths as Jimmy Van Heusen, Dorothy Fields, Howard Dietz, and Cy Coleman, while maestro Riddle sweetened the melodic pot with four numbers of his own.

There's also some outstanding solo work throughout, as the dealer's choice turned up stellar instrumental performers Don Fagerquist, Cappy Lewis, and Shorty Sherock, tumpets; Dick Nash and Tommy Shepard, trombones; Buddy Collette, Ronnie Lang, and Willie Schwartz, reeds; Frank Flynn, vibes; and Ray Sherman on piano.

From Billboard - January 12, 1963: Nelson Riddle, best known perhaps as the arranger of many Sinatra sides, has become even better known more recently as the cleffer of the theme and background material for TV's "Route 66," "The Untouchables" and "Naked City." The album consists of instrumentals of such items as "Witchcraft," "A Game Of Poker," "Indiscreet" and "Playboy Theme." Smart stylings and good sound are bound to find a brisk market. Nice mood programming items too. Best track: "A Game Of Poker"

Playboy's Theme
Alone Too Long
Queen Of Hearts
Red Silk Stockings And Green Perfume
Finesse
A Game Of Poker
It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House
Witchcraft
Two Hearts Wild
You Fascinate Me
Penny Ante
Indiscreet

Mardi Gras Time With The Dukes Of Dixieland

Mardi Gras Time
With The Phenomenal Dukes Of Dixieland
Volume 6
You Have To Hear It To Believe It!
Audio Fidelity AFLP 1862
1958

Scans include the front and back of a 6 page (fold-out) AF advertising brochure found stuffed inside the jacket.

Personnel:

Frank Assunto - Tumpet
Fred Assunto - Trombone
Jacket Assunto - Trombone and Banjo
Jack Maheu - Clarinet
Stanley Mendelson - Piano
Tommy Rundell - Drums
Bill Porter - Tuba and String Bass

From the back cover: The Dukes Of Dixieland are building themselves a niche in jazz history which will certainly go down alongside many famous combos who have played prominent roles in the growth of popular music. The success story of The Dukes began back in 1947, when two mainstays in the combo, the brothers Frank and Fred Assunto, formed a high school band to play Dixieland in their native New Orleans. The band took the name Basin Street Four, Five, Six, etc., depending on how many members of the group they could corral on short notice whenever they landed a playing date, and they played in various places on the outskirts of the city, including one eating place where they enjoyed a long run.

For a while nothing much happened to change their course. Then one day they learned that the Horace Heidt radio program was due to visit New Orleans on a talent hunting stopover. Fred and Frank Assunto got together seven players, practiced furiously, and appeared on the program. The reception they got was so favorable that they were invited to join the show on tour. This they did, and they have traveled with Heidt as the Junior Dixie Band, winning such acclaim that they decided to become professionals.

After getting together a little money, the combo quit the Heidt show, returned to New Orleans, served notice on everyone concerned that they had become pros, and bought themselves uniforms. They also changed their name to The Dukes Of Dixieland, and shortly afterward they filed an engagement at her Famous Door night club which lasted 44 months. This marked the beginning of a career that has led them across the nation appearing in extended engagements at top establishments.

In addition to Frank and Fred Assent, The Dukes boast still another "spark plug" in the person of Mac Assunto, their father, who is known by the combo as "Papa Jac." Besides serving as musical "rock of Gibraltar" in the band, Jac runs the combo's business affairs. In fact, although he tries to keep it a secret, he holds a degree from Tulane University in business administration.

Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
Louis-i-an-a
New Orleans
Do You Know What It Means
Louisiana
At The Mardi Gras
King Zulu Parade
If Ever I Cease To Love
Panama Rag
Loveless Love
The Second Line
Down In Honky Tonk Town

Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love

James Bond Is Back
Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love
Original Motion Picture Sound Track
Title Song by Lionel Bart, Sung by Matt Monro
Music Composed, Arranged and Conducted by John Barry
Cover Design: Jack Kaufman
Published by Unart Music
United Artists Records UAL 4114
1964

From Billboard - April 11, 1964: With some 11 singles already recorded of the theme from this flick, the presence of the album will certainly not be a secret for long. The movie promotion plus air play on the singles could make this album a heathy seller.

Opening Titles – James Bond is back – From Russia With Love (Bart) and James Bond Theme (Norman)
Tania Meets Klebb (Barry)
Meeting In St. Sophia (Barry)
The Golden Horn (Barry)
Girl Trouble (Barry)
Bond Meets Tania (Bart)
007 (Barry)
Gypsy Camp (Barry)
Death Of Grant (Barry)
From Russia With Love (Sung by Matt Monro) (Bart)
Spectre Island (Barry)
Guitar Lament (Barry)
Man Overboard - Smersh In Action (Barry)
James Bond With Bongos (Norman)
Stalking (Barry)
Leila Dances (Barry)
Death Of Kerim (Bart - Barry)
007 Takes The Lektor (Barry)

From Russia With Love - Larry Keyes

From Russia With Love

Featuring The Movie Theme
From Russia With Love
Continental Orchestra - George Singer, Conductor
Larry Keyes, Organ Solo
Palace PST-820
Buckingham Records - New York City

This budget album features one "Larry Keyes" organ tune, From Russia With Love. The rest of the LP offers nothing more than classical music filler.

From the back cover: Larry Keyes and the Continental Orchestra play the above selections on the Wurlitzer organ with rhythm accompaniment. This organ, the Wurlitzer 4300 is a new and exciting concept in club and home style organs. In addition to the usual registration possible on the Wurlitzer 4300, it has the added advantage of many unusual effects, such as sustain, echo, slide and percussion.

Mr. Keyes is a well-known jazz composer, artist and arranger. Although he performs on several instruments, arranges and writes some of his own numbers, it is his exciting, unique style on this organ that has made him a favorite with New York club habitués.

From Russia With Love
The Sea And Sinbad's Ship
The Story Of The Kalandar Prince
Introduction To Le Coq D'Or
Lullaby And King Doyon's Dream
The Queen Of Shemakha
Procession Of The Queen

More Themes From The James Bond Thrillers - Roland Shaw

Miami

Arrival Of The Bomb And Countdown

More Themes From The James Bond Thrillers
The Roland Shaw Orchestra
Produced by Tony D'Amato and Rodger Bain
Engineer: Arthur Bannister
London PS 445 & LL 3445
1965

Thunderball
Pussy Galore's Flying Circus
Kingston Calypso
Gypsy Camp
Arrival Of The Bomb And Countdown
Tania Meets Klebb
Miami
Spectre Island
Underneath The Mango Tree
Guitar Lament
Death Of Goldfinger

Portraits In Stereo - Henry Mancini

Portraits In Stereo
Henry Mancini
Five Complete Albums
RCA Victor PRS-159
1964

Boxed 5 record stereo set.

1. The Music From "Peter Gunn"

Peter Gunn
Sorta Blue
The Brothers Go To Mother's
Dreamsville
Session At Pete's Pad
Soft Sounds
Fallout!
The Floater
Slow And Easy
A Profound Gabs
Brief And Breezy
Not From Dixie

2. Breakfast At Tiffany's

Moon River

Something For Cat
Sally's Tomato
Mr. Yunioshi
The Big Blow Out
Hub Caps And Tail Lights
Breakfast At Tiffany's
Latin Golightly
Holly
Loose Caboose
The Big Heist
Moon River Cha Cha

3. Mr. Lucky Goes Latin

Mr. Lucky (Goes Latin)
Lujon
Tinpanola
Rain Drops In Rio
Siesta
The Dancing Cat
Cow Bells And Coffee Beans
The Sound Of Silver
Tango Americano
No-Cal Sugar Loaf
Blue Mantilla
Speedy Gonzales

4. The Mancini Touch

Bijou
Mostly For Lovers
Like Young
My One And Only Love
Trav'lin Light
Let's Walk
Snowfall
A Cool Shade Of Blue
Robbin's Nest
Free And Easy
That's All

5. Charade

Charade (Main Title)
Bistro
Bateau Mouche
Megeve
Bye Bye Charlie
The Happy Carousel
Charade (Vocal)
Orange Tamoure
Latin Snowfall
The Drip-Dry Waltz
Mambo Parisienne
Punch And Judy
Charade (Carousel)

The Most Beautiful Horn In The World - Bobby Hackett

Blues In The Night

The Most Beautiful Horn In The World
Bobby Hackett and His Cornet
With Glenn Osser's Orchestral Pipe Organ Moods
Produced by Bob Morgan
Cover Photo: Columbia Records Photo Studio - Henry Parker
Notes by Curtis F. Brown
Columbia Records CS 8529
1962

From the back cover: Now, The Most Beautiful Horn In The World again presents Hackett in an unusual setting. Glenn-Osser and Fred Mendelsohn accompany Bobby on a four-manual pipe organ in Osser's warm enveloping, multi-layered arrangements. Mendelsohn suggests violins, Osser hints at violas and cellos. With further enrichment of piano (Dave McKenna), bass (Joe Williams), drums (Jake Hanna) and guitar (Al Casamenti), the resultant sound is as restful as its technical conception is ingenious.

Also from the back cover: Born in Providence, Rhode Island, at fourteen Bobby was playing guitar, banjo and violin with small restaurant combos and hotel orchestras. After appearing with such outstanding men as Teddy Roy and Pee Wee Russell in various clubs, he went to New York where he later joined Glenn Miller, playing guitar and trumpet. Besides his work with Gleason, in recent years Bobby Hackett has been on the musical staffs of two major networks. Evenings are sometimes spent jamming with neighbor Dizzie Gillespie.

From Billboard - February 17, 1962: A strong entry in the mood album area. Hackett's mellifluous trumpet is surrounded by two organs, piano, bass, drums and guitar in gently paced, sweet-sounding arrangements which occasionally give Hackett a chance to show off his virtuosity. Fine tracks are "Love Letter," "Lazy Afternoon," " It's Magic" and "Indian Summer." Dealers can recommend to bachelors as music to woo by.

Lazy Afternoon
Can't Get Out Of This Mood
Love Letters
Moonlight In Vermont
Like Someone In Love
Polka Dots And Moonbeams
Blue Is the Night
Chances Are
It's Magic
When I Fall In Love
Midnight Sun
Indian Summer

Music For Mixed Emotions

Music For Mixed Emotions
High In-Fidelity Records
Photography by RA CANTU
1962 Kanrom

Gag gift. Full sized LP jacket issued with no vinyl, only the die cut cardboard "disc" as shown above.

Mark Murphy's Hip Parade

Lonesome Town

Mark Murphy's Hip Parade
Arranged and Conducted by Bill Holman
Produced by Tom Morgan
Comments (notes) by Peggy Lee
Capitol Records T1299
1960

From Billboard - February 1, 1960: Murphy has chosen a group of tunes – hits of this and recent seasons. His approach has jazz overtones. Support from Bill Holman, who did the arrangements, is first rated. The album is an excellent jockey programming item. Tunes include "Personality," "Kansas City," and "Firefly." Quality item. Cover will help.

Personnel indicated by number after each tune:

Firefly (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Lonesome Town (2, 7)
Kansas City (2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9) plus Bill Holman, tenor sax)
Come To Me (6, 7, 8, 10, 11) horsemen playing Latin percussion instruments)
Catch A Falling Star (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
All The Way (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Personality (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Witchcraft (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 19, 11) plus Bill Holman, baritone saxophone
It's Not For Me To Say (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Send For Me (2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9) Holman, baritone saxophone
I Only Have Eyes For You (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)

(1) Jud Conlon Singers with Gloria Wood
(2) Gloria Wood
(3) Conte Candoli - Trumpet
(4) Pete Condoli - Trumpet
(5) Lee Katzman - Trumpet
(6) Jimmy Rowles - Guitar
(7) Joe Mondragon - Bass
(8) Bob Gibbons - Guitar
(9) Stan Levy - Drums
(10) Mel Lewis - Drums
(11) Larry Bunker - Bongos, Congas, or Vibes

The King Plays Some Aces - Xavier Cugat

Night Must Fall

The King Plays Some Aces
Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra
Produced by Fred Reynolds
Recorded in New York, June 27 and 28, 1958
Engineer: John Norman
Baia And Adios arranged by Sid Ramin
RCA Victor LSP-1882
1958

From the back cover: There is no doubt my father never dreamed I'd succeed in the entertainment world. For if he did, would he have christened one of his three sons Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deulofeo? Who's that? Caramba, it's me! Such a name would certainly take up a whole album cover, theater marquee and movie screen. So I excerpted the Javier Cugat, exchanged the Spanish "J" for the English "X" in my first name, and went to work.

I began pursuing a musical career in childhood, in my birthplace of picturesque Gerona, Spain. Fo me, it was years of studying the violin with visions of becoming another Jascha Heifetz or Mischa Elman. I had a brief career as a concert artist. However, the critics' cool reception to my fiddling on Carnegie's staid stage perhaps left Heifetz, Elman and their ilk breathing easier, but it certainly left me with the sad realization that I was never to become a great concert violinist. To earn my bread and room rent and keep myself in suits costing two dollars each, I took jobs as a dance band musician. Then I finally formed my own orchestra and things began to click pronto.

My first orchestra made its debut at the famed Cocoanut Grove of the Hotel Ambassador in Los Angeles. It was there I began to popularize authentic Latin-American and Spanish music. That was a long time ago, and I have had many beautiful memories ever since. Some of the fondest memories are inspired by the great Latin stars I started off to fame. These include Design Arnaz, the superb dancers Rosario and Antonio, and such singing stars as Yma Sumac, Miguelito Valdez and Carlos Ramirez.

Oye Negra
Dance des Mirlitons
Caricoca
Night Must Fall
Linda Mujer
Cuban Mambo
Green Eyes
Chiu Chiu
Danse Arabe
Baia
Mambo No. 5
Adios