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Saturday, February 22, 2020

Hawaii Is Waiting For You - Art & Dotty Todd

Beyond The Reef
Hawaii Is Waiting For You
Art & Dotty Todd
The Best Songs of The Island by The Islands' Favorite Singing Team
Produced by Sonny Burke
Art Direction: Ed Thrasher
Reprise 6152
1965

From the back cover: Art and Dotty Todd are two of the nicest people you will ever want to meet. You will find their fans, literally, around the world. They have appeared in The Bahamas, The Hawaiian Islands, Hong Kong, Nassau, and Japan. Wherever they go, they make lasting friendships. And both the Todds are what you might call "born talents."

Dotty studied classical music at an early age, and by the time she was twelve she was playing concert piano and had also won herself a scholarship to music school. Her first job in show business was as a band vocalist in Salt Lake City. Later she met and married Art, and they became a team, scoring a big hit record with a tune titled "My Happiness." Together, they have appeared many times on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and the shows of Arthur Godfrey and Steve Allen.

Art Todd started playing banjo and singing on radio at the tender age of fourteen. After completing his education, he devoted his life to music, and has met with great success. Art, incidentally, is an excellent golfer, having won fourteen tournaments. – Ira Cook - KMPC - Hollywood, California


I'll Never Leave Hawaii
On The Beach At Waikiki
Akaka Falls (Ka Wailele O Akaka)
Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai)
Love Song Of Kalua
The Hukilau Song
My Ukulele And Me
The Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au)
My Take (My Man)
Hawaii Is Waiting For You
Beyond The Reef
Song Of The Islands

I Love Paris - Pete Fountain

Autumn Leaves
I Love Paris
Pete Fountain
Plays The Sweetest French Melodies
With Charles Bud Dant and His Orchestra
Coral Records CRL 57378
1961

From the back cover: Consider for a moment the ingredients that were used to create this most unusual and exciting of all Fountain albums. The basic idea of having Pete record something different from his usual New Orleans Jazz tunes led to the choice of these delightful French songs, all of which he loved and felt he would like to play in his own style.

The selection of a foundation, or rhythm section, was no problem. Naturally, the boys who have always sparked Pete's great style on his previous hit records and TV performances were used – Jack Sperling, the swingin'est drummer, Stanley Wrightsman, the last of the two-handed pianists, and Morty Corb, the bass fiddle player who plays the right notes and the right time. This group can do more in the interest of real imaginative musical back-ground than most larger orchestras.

Then came the first big question; should these songs be recorded with just this rhythm section (as in many of Pete's previous hit albums), or should some new and provocative sounds he introduced to add frosting and excitement. Our being an era of new sounds in recording, it was decided to add French horn (mais oui!), trombones, a large string section, plus another percussionist, namely Pete's own vibe player, Godfrey Hirsch.

The final ingredient was obvious. Since this was now a large orchestra, there was to be a conductor and arranger. The only man for this dual job was Pete's musical and A&R director, Charles Bud Dant, who has been swinging the baton and writing music on all of his big band recordings since Pete left Lawrence Welk.


From Billboard - July 31, 1961: Fountain strays far from the Dixie path on this latest effort, as he applies his sub-tone clarinet sound to a number of popular melodies having to do with France, with a backing by a big ork, highlighting strings. It thus becomes a fine mood presentation, with such tunes as "I Love Paris," featured. Artful cover shows a winking Pet Fountain in typically French attire. Set can do a lot of business.

I Love Pairs
Comme Ci Comme Ca
Frere Jazz
Autumn Leaves
La Vie En Rose
April In Paris
C'est Magnifique
Two Loves Have I (J'ai Deux Amours)
C'est Si Bon (It's So Good)
The Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart)
My Man (Mon Homme)

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Lovely Hula Hands - Bobby Hammack

Lovely Hula Hands
Lovely Hula Hands
Bobby Hammack at The Organ
With Hawaiian Instrumental Accompaniment
Coral Records CRL 57384
1961

Lovely Hula Hands
Ka-Lu-A
The Beauty Hula (Haoheno Keia No Beauty)
Malihini Hula
Pua Mana
Cocoanut Grove
Hawaiian Hula
Makalapua
The Hukilau Song
Princess Poo-poo-ly (Has Plenty Pa-pa-ya)
Maids Of Maui
Remember Hawaii

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The Sound Of The Million Sellers - Don Costa

Dansero
The Sound Of The Million Sellers
Don Costa and His Orchestra
Produced and Conducted by Don Costa
Deluxe 3500 Series
Wall To Wall Sound
United Artists Records WW 3513
1961

Mack The Knife
Lisbon Antigua
Poor People Of Paris
Anna
April In Portugal
Francesca
Serenata
Third Man Theme
Delicado
Dansero
Blue Tango
Never On Sunday

The New Birth Disco

I Wash My Hands Of The Whole Damn Deal
The New Birth Disco
All Selections Previously Released
Produced by James Baker and Melvin Wilson for Basement Productions
A&R Coordination: Marge Meoli
Remixing Engineers: Don Holden and Steve Francisco
Remixed at RCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California
Photography: Nick Sangiamo
Art Direction: Acy Lehman
RCA APL 1-1535 STEREO
1976

Money Runner
Them Changes
We've Got To Pull Together
K-Jee
Comin' From All Ends
Got To Get A Knutt
I Wash My Hands Of The Whole Damn Deal

Broadway Sampler - Stradivari Strings

They Call The Wind Maria
Broadway Sampler
Stradivari Strings
Spin-o-rama High Fidelity
MK 3099

On The Street Where You Live (From "My Fair Lady")
Hello Young Lovers (From "The King & I")
They Call The Wind Maria (From "Paint Your Wagon")
The Night Was Made For Love (From "The Cat & The Fiddle")
Waltz At Maxims (From "Gigi")
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (From "Roberta")
June Is Bustin' Out All Over (From "Carousel")
Why Do I Love You (From "Showboat")
The Sound Of Music (From "The Sound Of Music")
I've Told Every Little Star (From "Music In The Air")