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Friday, September 24, 2021

Melachrino On Broadway - George Melachrino

Wouldn't It Be Lovely / The Rain In Spain

Melachrino On Broadway
Selections from My Fair Lady and Other Great Show Hits
The Melachrino Orchestra
Conducted by George Melachrino
RCA Victor LPM-1307
1956

From Billboard - February 9, 1956: Maestro puts his best foot forward in these arrangements of a dozen show tunes. Treatments are original and the sound is lush. One side is given over to seven items from "My Fair Lady." The other includes a number apiece from "Guys And Dolls," "King And I." "Damn Yankee," "Can-Can," "South Pacific," "Pajama Game" and "Carousel," Taste thruout is impeccable for sustained, fine listening. This set looks bound to click, especially with the big up-coming Melachrino promotion.

My Fair Lady
On The Street Where You Live
I Could Have Danced All Night
Wouldn't It Be Lovely
The Rain In Spain
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
With A Little Bit Of Luck
Guys And Dolls - A Woman In Love
The King And I - Hello Young Lovers - Damn Yankees - Whatever Lola Wants
Can-Can - I Love Paris
South Pacific - Some Enchanted Evening
Pajama Game - Hey There
Carousel - If I Loved You

Collaboration - Rogers & Previn

 

40º Below

Collaboration
Rogers & Previn
Shorty Rogers and Andre Previn
RCA Victor LPM-1334
1955

From the back cover: This is a really unusual album. It presents two of the country's top arrangers in collaboration – as the title suggests – but it also pits them against each other in competition. In a sense it's sort of an arranger's challenge, a la the challenge routines you've seen by dancers, when first one will hoof a few steps and then the other will step out and try to outdo him.

The routine here is pretty simple. Both Shorty Rogers and Andre Previn wrote for and led exactly the same group of musicians. On the first side, Shorty leads off three different standards songs, via his arrangements of them. Following each of these, Andre presents an original instrumental, based on the same chords, but with, of course, numerous variations. On the second side of the record, this procedure is reversed, with Andre arranging the standard and Shorty producing the original based on its chords.

Ether to show that there are no hard feelings – or else because each has so much respect for the other as an instrumentalist – Shorty plays trumpet on the Previn pieces, and Andre plays piano on the Rogers arrangements. The rest of the group includes Bud Shank on alto and flute; Bob Cooper on tenor and oboe; Jimmy Ginffre on baritone sax; Milt Bernhart on bass (except on Glaudio, 40º Below, Some Antics and General Custer, where Curtis Counce takes over), and Al Hendrickson on guitar (except on It's Delovely, Poterhouse, You Do Something To Me and Call for Cole, on which Jack Marshall appears instead).

It's Delovely
Porterhouse
Heat Wave
40º Below
You Stepped Out Of A Dream
Claudia
You Do Something To Me
Call For Cole
Ev'rything I've Got (Belongs To You)
Some Antics
It Only Happens When I Dance With You
General Custer

Night Flight - Gil Fuller & James Moody

 

Latin Lady

Night Flight
Gill Fuller & James Moody
The Monterey Jazz Festival Orchestra
Pacific Jazz LN-10128 (Reissue)

Tin Tin Deo
I'm In The Mood For Love
Night Flight
Seesaw
Batucada
17 Mile Drive
A Patch Of Blue
Latin Lady (from Angel City Suite)
Blues For A Debutante
Wild Chestnuts

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Themes From The Movies - Volume 2 - James Verity

 

The Last Time I Saw Paris

Themes From The Movies
Volume Two
James Verity Conduct The 110 Strings Orchestra
Cover: Betty Grable - Star Of The Columbia Picture Three For The Show
Album Production by Dave Pell
Tops Records L 1642
1958

The Moon Is Blue
The Bells Of St. Mary's 
My Foolish Heart
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Spellbound
Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
The Merry Widow Waltz
The Third Man Theme
The Quiet Man Theme 
The Last Time I Saw Paris

Voz y Percusion - Tona La Negra

Lamento Jarocho

Tona La Negra
La Sensación Jarooha
Voz y Percusion
Coros: Cuarteto Armonico y Scala Anahuao
Direccion y Arreglos Musicales de Tono Escobar
Discos Peerless LD 607 M

Babalu
Rosa
La Cumbancha
Palabras De Mujer
La Clave Azul
El Panquelero
Lamento Jarocho
Mujer
Oracion Caribe
Palmera
Noche Criolla
La Negrita Concepcion 

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Flamenco Guitar - Pepe Romero

 

Fiesta en Jerez

Flamenco!
Played by the Spanish Guitarist Pepe Romero
Cover Design: George Maas
Mercury Records SR90297
1963

From the back cover: The session which produced this album took place in Fine Recording Company's Studio A, which was at one time a small ballroom with a tiny stage at one end. Here Mr. Romero sat, facing the microphones (three for the stereo version, one for the monaural) which had been hung so as to preserve the proper intimate atmosphere. Once the controls were adjusted to the delicate sound of the guitar, Mr. Romero bent his head to his instrument and began to improvise the music recorded on this disc. No controls were changed, no microphones moved for any special effects. This is exactly the way the artist sounded.

Harold Lawrence was the musical director for the session, and Clair Van Ausdall was his associate. The basic set-up was supervised by Wilma Cozart and C. R. Fine. The chief Engineer was William Blachly. George Piros made the tape-to-disc transfer for the stereo version. John Johnson for the monaural.

From Billboard - January 19, 1963: A first-rate flamenco guitar album by Spanish guitarist Pepe Romero. He plays a variety of flamenco styles of dance music, including the garrotin, the fandango, tango and farruca. Nice taste and musicianship. Set is finely recorded and should appeal to the solid group of flamenco guitar fans.

Fiesta en Jerez
Fandangos von Verdiales
Garrotin
Targuillos
Jota
Carabana Gitana
Farruca y Rumba
Lamento Andaluz
Zorongo

Let's Get Away From It All - The Skip-Jacks

 

Blue Skies

Let's Get Away From It All
The Skip-Jacks
Produced by Herman Diaz, Jr.
Recorded in RCA Victor's Studio A, New York City
Engineer: Ray Hall
RCA Victor LPM-2060
1959

From the back cover: That they were on the right track with their modern, but definitely not far out, ideas has been proved by their quick acceptance. With only one rehearsal under their belts, the Skip-Jacks auditioned for Robert Rothafel, president of Roxy Theatre Enterprises, who was looking for a quintet to do the vocal chores and production numbers at his Roxy Theatre in New York. They got the job.

From Billboard - December 21, 1959: The Skip-Jacks, a new group, have a modern sound that has touches of the Ho-Lo's, the Modernaires, the Pied Pipers and other of that ilk. Complement includes three men and two fems. The group has a good zingy sound and the get fine freewheeling band support on such tunes as "Blue Room," "Let's Get Away From It All," "I've Got The World On A String," etc. For fanciers of the modern chorus, this is welcome stuff.

Let's Get Away From It All
The Blue Room
Lazy River
It Might As Well Be Spring
I've Got A Pocketful Of Dream
Breezin' Along With The Breeze
I've Got The World On A String
Let The Rest Of The World Go By
Blue Skies
Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away)
Serenade In Blue

Vaughan And Violins - Sarah Vaughan

 

The Thrill Is Gone

Vaughan And Violins
Sarah Vaughan
With Orchestra Arranged and Conducted by Quincy Jones
Mercury Records MG 20370
1959

From Billboard - March 23, 1959: The sultry thrush's first Paris-cut session is a romantic package of standards with tasteful, jazz-flavored stringed backing by Jones and below, expressive chanting by Miss Vaughan. Selections include "That's All," "The Thrill Is Gone," "Day By Day," etc. Strong dual-market item and solid wax for hip jocks.

Gone With The Wind
Day By Day
Please Be Kind
Live For Love
I'll Close My Eyes
Misty
The Midnight Sun Will Never Set
That's All
I'm Lost
Love Me
The Thrill Is Gone

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

A Cozy Conception Of Carmen - Cozy Cole

 

Seguidilla

A Cozy Conception Of Carmen
Cozy Cole
Arrangements: Dick Hyman & Bob Hammer
Music Composed by George Bizet
Title: Joan Moskatel
Cover Idea: Doris Parker
Cover Photo: Maurice Seymour
Cover Design: Reiss Art Studio
Recorded at RCA Victor Custom Studios
Engineer: Bob Simpson (RCA)
Produced by Aubrey Mayhew
Charlie Parker Records PLP-403-S
Manufactured by Apex Record Corporation
1962

Personnel:

Cozy Cole - Drums
Bernie Privin - 1st Trumpet, Flugelhorn (soloist - Flower Song)
George Holt - 2nd Trumpet
Bob Hammer - Piano & Glockenspiel
Al Klink - Tenor Sax & Bass Clarinet
John Hafer - Tenor Sax
Jerome Richardson - Bariton Sax, Bass Clarinet & Clarinet
Phil Kraus & Douglas Allen - Percussion 
Milton Hinton & Jack Lesberg - Bass

Perlude
Chorus Of Street Boys
Habanera
Seguidilla
Entra'acte (Acts 1 & 2)
Gypsy Song
Castanet Dance
Flower Song
Sextet
Entra'acte (Acts 3& 4)

Holiday Greetings - Bill Doggett

 

Blue Christmas

Holiday Greetings
Bill Doggett
12 Songs Of Christmas
Cover: Record Design Studios
King Records KING 600
1958

From the back cover: Starting at the age of nine, he (Doggett) put in long hours of study, practiced until he became so accomplished that he joined the Jimmy Gorman orchestra upon graduation from school. In 1938 he formed his first orchestra. In a short time he sold the entire outfit to Lucky Millinder and devoted his time to arranging and writing music.

In 1943, Bill became pianist and arranger for the famous Ink Spots, and during his tenure with them arranged many of their long to be remembered hit records. In 1947, his entire musical life changed. He joined Louis Jordan's orchestra as pianist. At this time he came to recognize the Hammond organ as a jazz instrument. In six months he made the decision to leave Jordan and devote his time to studying style and technique as lead organist.

Before long, he made his first record, accompanying Ella Fitzgerald on "Smooth Sailing." The record became a big hit, and the word began spreading around about the terrific organ background, resulting in almost immediate popularity for Doggett. After making two more records with Ella, "Rough Riding" and "Air Mail Special," he formed his own combo in 1952 and they played their first date at New York's famed Baby Grand. The rest is musical history.

The  Christmas Song
Jingle Bells
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
Silent Night
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause
I'll Be Home For Christmas 
What Child Is This
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Joy To The World
Blue Christmas
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

In The Mood - Dick Contino & Eddie Layton

 

Misirlou

In The Mood
Dick Contino at the Accordion & Eddie Layton at the Hammon Organ
With Vibes and Rhythm Section
Mercury Records SR 60153

From the back cover: With yearly surveys by The Billboard indicating that an average of 7,500 single records are released yearly, at least a quarter of which are pointed towards instrumentals for dancing, Dick Contino and Eddie Layton have chosen the best from the band libraries of names like Woody Herman (Woodchopper's Ball): Les Brown (Sentimental Journey): Duke Ellington (Perdido and Mood Indigo); Benny Goodman (A String Of Pearls); Charlie Barnet (Cherokee); and Glenn Miller (In The Mood).

Woodchopper's Ball
Blues In The Night
In The Mood
Misirlou
Johnson Rag
Sentimental Journey
Perdido
Mood Indigo
Jersey Bounce
Cherokee (Indian Love Song)
Come Back To Sorrento
A String Of Pearls

Monday, September 20, 2021

Navy Blue - Diane Renay

Unbelievable Guy

Navy Blue
Diane Renay
Arranged and Conducted by "Calello"
*Arranged and Conducted by Sid Bass
A Bob Crewe Production
20th Century-Fox Records TFM 3133
1964

From the back cover: When a talent like Diane Renay comes along with an unmistakable smash sound like "Navy Blue" it doesn't take long for the world to shout, "A star is born!" But we here at WORC feel (and correct us if we're wrong) that we were the first station to spot Navy Blue's potential. It not only became a champion WORC contest winner, but rapidly established itself as #1 in our area for many weeks, remaining near the top for a long time afterward. We're happy to have played a small part in Diane's record success – Dick Smith, Radio Station WORC, Worchester, Mass.

Kiss Me, Sailor
Soft-Spoken Guy
Please Forget Me
Hello Heartaches*
Man Of Mystery
Navy Blue
Bell Bottom Trousers
Solidier Boy
A Present From Eddie
Sooner Or Later
He Promised Me Forevermore
Unbelievable Guy

Jody Miller Sings The Great Hits Of Buck Owens

 

Together Again

Jody Miller Sings The Great Hits Of Buck Owens
Arranged and Produced by Steve Douglas
Cover Photo: Capitol Photo Studio / George Jerman
Capitol Records T 2446
1966

Act Naturally 
Love's Gonna Live Here
Crying Time
I Don't Care
Don't Let Him Know
I've Got A Tiger By The Tail
We're Gonna Let The Good Times Roll
Under Your Spell Again
Only You (Can Break My Heart)
My Heart Skips A Beat
Before You Go
Together Again

Big Band Beatlemania - Buddy Morrow

 

I Saw Her Standing There

Big Band Beatlemania
Buddy Morrow and His Orchestra
Arranged and Conducted by Stan Applebaum
Produced by Bob Morgan
The Big Hits Of 1964
Epic LN 24095

Please Please Me
I Want To Hold You Hand
Roll Over, Beethoven
Bits And Pieces
All My Loving
Bonnie
She Loves You
Twist And Shout
Can't Buy Me Love
Needles And Pins
Glad All Over
I Saw Her Standing There