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Tuesday, August 6, 2019

The Wildest Comes Home! - Louis Prima

Three Handed Woman
The Wildest Comes Home!
Louis Prima
With Sam Butera and The Witnesses
Produced by Voyle Gilmore
Cover Photo: Capitol Photo Studio - Ken Veeder
Capitol Records T 1723
1962

Personnel:

Louis Prima - Trumpet & Vocal
Sam Butera - Sax & Vocal
Rally Dee - Bass
Lou Sino - Trombone
John Nagy - Piano
Morgan Thomas - Trumpet
Allan Seltzer - Guitar
James Vincent - Drums

From Billboard - June 23, 1962: Louis Prima has another one of those wild, uninhibited LP's in hand here. He plays a bit of trumpet, sings a lot and gets pounding support throughout from Sam Butera and the Witnesses. Besides Butera, a number of other Witnesses are featured. Prima fans might find a few dead spots in the set but Louis' "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans," "Sam's "All Night Long," and Louis' "St. Louis Blues" should keep 'em happy.

You're Just In Love
All Night Long
Glow-Worm
Twist All Night
Three Handed Woman
St. Louis Blues
Just One Of Those Things
Harlem Nocturne
Everybody Knows
Lover, Come Back To Me!
Medley: Ain't Misbehavin' 'Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

Monday, August 5, 2019

Rita Pavone

Don't Tell Me Not To Love You
The International Teen-age Sensation
Rita Pavone
Produced by Joe Rene
Recorded in RCA Victor's Studio A, New York City
Recording Engineer: Mickey Crofford
RCA Records LSP-2900
1964

From the back cover: Rita's phenomenal success began in September of 1962 when she won the much-publicized "Competition of the Unknown" in Ariccia, an Italian town outside of Rome. Her competition was immense – but suddenly, when this shy and almost gawky little girl with the Jackie Coogan eyes and the expressive hands stepped onto the platform – something happened. She opened her mouth, and before the first song was over it was quite evident – here would be the unbeatable winner.

In her first year as recording artist with RCA Italiana, Rita's disc sales passed the 3,000,000 mark, an unprecedented feat for Italy. In Germany, her first single recorded in the German language quickly moved to the top of the hit parade. In Argentina, Rita's records ranked one and three on the charts and, as she was heard in Italian, in this case not even the language barrier could stop the tiny trooper from Torino. Festivals are being planned around her personal appearances and, before long, Pavone will assume her first motion-picture role.

Early in 1964, Rita was able to fulfill a long-wished for dream; to visit New York – the mecca of all young popular artists of the day.

She cut this album, her first American-language LP, in the RCA Victor studios on New York's 24th Street, under the supervision of producer Joe Rene. From the very first session, enthusiasm ran high. When you hear this finished product, we believe you will agree that Italy's Rita Pavone has much more than a good pair of lungs and a face that is all eyes – except fo the freckles. Italy's Rita Pavone has a very special kind of talents for singing her heart out.


From Billboard - May 9, 1964: Rita Pavone, Italy's teen-age top-seller, arrived here Friday (1) to start a nationwide promotional tour as part of RCA Victor's all-out U.S. star build-up in her behalf. She is set to appear on the Ed Sullivan show on May 17, and will launch her cross-country tour on May 20.

During her first week here she will start rehearsals with artist and repertoire producer Joe Rene on a single and an LP. The single is scheduled for release May 12, and the album will be issued early in June. According to RCA Victor, Miss Pavone has sold more than 8,000,000 records during the past 14 months, including her sales in Italy, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Japan and other markets.

During her U.S. promotional tour, she will participate in disk jockey hops, on-the-air and press interviews. Some of the cities set at press time include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Boston, Detroit. Other prime markets visits are being arranged.

RCA Victor had launched a teaser ad campaign a month ago heralding Miss Pavone's arrival. Last week, the label started flooding the trade with "Think Rita Pavone" stickers. She is being greeted to this country with a heavy consumer mag publicity campaign arranged by RCA Victor and keyed to the theme that she's Italy's answer to the Beatles.


Remember Me (Arranged and Conducted by Teach Wiltshire)
Wait And See (Arranged and Conducted by Stan Applebaun)
Big Deal (Arranged and Conducted by Teach Wiltshire)
Don't Tell Me Not To Love You (Arranged and Conducted by Stan Applebaun)
I Can't Hold Back The Tears (Arranged and Conducted by Garry Sherman)
Kissin' Time (Arranged and Conducted by Teach Wiltshire)
Just Once More (Arranged and Conducted by Teach Wiltshire)
Like I Did (Arranged and Conducted by Stan Applebaun)
The Boy Most Likely To Succeed (Arranged and Conducted by Stan Applebaun)
Little By Little (Arranged and Conducted by Garry Sherman)
Too Many (Arranged and Conducted by Garry Sherman)
Say Goodbye To Bobby (Arranged and Conducted by Garry Sherman)

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Ole' Caterina - Caterina Valente

Aquarelo Do Brasil
Ole' Caterina
Caterina Valente - Silvio Fransesco & Their Guitars
Vocals Sung In English
Recorded by Deutsche Grammophon-Polydor Series
Decca Records DL 8436
1957

From the back cover: Here is a record which is as fascinating as it is unique. It unites the extraordinary talents of the sensational Caterina Valente and her remarkable brother, Silvio Francesco. Both artists come form an unusual family with an even more unusual background. Their father, an artist of Spanish descent, is known as an accordion virtuoso throughout Europe, where he gave concerts of serious works. He was especially at home in Sweden, Finland, and Russia, where he remained for five years and where he met his wife, an Italian by birth. Their life together was enriched by public success and four children, all of whom were gradually incorporated in an act which Madame Velente and her husband organized and which toured the continent.

Caterina became the most famous of those children. Widely known abroad, she captured America through the medium of one exciting recording. It was Lecuona's "Malaguena," and it proved to be the most stirring interpretation of the song ever recorded. It won the immediate acclaim of music critics, disc jockeys and, most important, the listening public.

Caterina herself was born in Paris – as already indicated her heritage was both Spanish and Italian – but in 1952, when she married, she became a German citizen. Her electrifying musicianship was proved by the enthusiastic reception accorded to her first Decca album: "The Hi-Fi Nightingale" (DL 8203).


Although not – at least not yet – as famous as his sister, Silvio Francesco is a top-ranking artist. He was little more than a child when he joined the family vaudeville act which was built around a tap-dance and a few songs. The war interrupted his career, and he found himself in Italy, where he was registered as an Italian citizen.

In 1944, Silvio was back in Germany and since there was no work there for the artist, he got a job in a munition factory in Essen. In Breslau he worked as a waiter, while Caterina and his mother were employed as wardrobe girls, and his father sold cigarettes. When the Russians swept over Germany it was impossible to escape, and he spent some time in Russia. The occupation forces made it possible for Silvio and his sister to re-enter the entertainment field, and then they had to start from scratch. Meanwhile he had perfected himself in the technique of the saxophone, clarinet and guitar, playing flute as a hobby. Soon he was giving concerts, making records, and winning friends everywhere.

Here, then, is a double portion of Caterina and her brother Silvio, interpreting some of the finest music ever composed for their favorite instruments and glorified by Caterina's phenomenal voice. Here is a record which could not be duplicated – except by Caterina Valente and Silvio Francesco.


Maria Cristina
El Cumbanchero
Babalu
Quien Sera
No Te Importe Saber
Te Quiero Dijiste
Anna
Por Un Capricho
Ah Si, Ah Si
Aquarelo Do Brasil
Quiereme Mucho
Bres Clavelas