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Thursday, May 18, 2023

Music From Mission Impossible - Lalo Schifrin

 

The Sniper

Music From Mission Impossible
Arranged and Conducted by The Composer Lalo Schifrin
Produced by Tom Mack
Engineer: Hank Cicalo
Dot ST 91393

Bud Shank appears through the courtesy of World Pacific Records
Mike Melvin appears through the courtesy of Liberty Records

Mission Impossible
Jim On The Move (Piano Solo by Mike Melvoin)
Operation Charm (Piano Solo by Lala Schrifrin)
The Sniper (Harpsichord - Lalo Schifrin; Sitar - Bill Plummer)
Rollin' Hand
The Plot
Wide Willy
Cinnamon (The Lady Was Made To Be Loves) (Jack Urbont-Bruce Geller from "All In Love") (Alto Sax Solo by Bud Shank; Trumpet Solo by Stu Williamson)
Barney Does It All (Alto Sax Solo by Bud Shank; Trumpet Solo by Stu Williamson)
Danger
Mission Accomplished

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Love Is A Song - The Tiffany Strings

 

Love Is A Song

Love Is A Song
The Tiffany Strings
Arranged by Bill Leavitt
Cover Design: Lee
Photo by Photo International
Tiffany Records TR 2001
1960

Love Is A Song
Moonlight Becomes You
I Love You
Poor Pierrot
That's For Me
Isn't It Romantic
My Romance
I'm Glad There Is You
Dearly Beloved
All The Things You Are
For All We Know
Ev'rytime We Say Goodbye

A Night At Chez Vito

 

A Night At Chez Vito

A Night At Chez Vito
Vito Records Ltd. 

From the back cover: Vito Pisa served in the ideal apprenticeship for the connoisseur he is today. Born in Naples, his brother, Francesco, enlisted him while he was still in his teens in the family's famous Pisa Bros. Travel Agency. It became Vito's pleasant mission to serve as good-living guide to meandering American millionaires during the era of golden indulgence. This suave young Metropolitan took to it with an elan that established him throughout Europe as a kind of White Hunter of the safari in search of the best the Continent had to offer. He learned his lesson well as his troops room – Chez Vito – attests

Also from the back cover: The Chez Vito recipe is simple. Take the strains of eight violins, mix lightly with the sweet tones of four opera-trained voices, add candle-light, cardinal red decor and top it all off with superlative Continental cuisine. But, like all recipes, there is always some magic ingredient that remains the chef's secret. What exactly that secret is is hard to say. But, once we've tasted the difference, we're spoiled for any other. Such is the special something about Chez Vito that has converted it in the three short years since its inception into the most romantic nightclub this side of Johann Strauss' Vienna.
"A Night At Chez Vito" is one you'll remember. Form the moment you enter, Vito conveys the impression you are "at home" with him. With its flood of music, candlelit tables and plush red velvet walls – the accent at Chez Vito is always on romance.

When Chez Vito first opened, the cosmopolite clientele used to say it reminded them of Paris' renowned supper clubs. Recently Vito felt a swell of satisfaction when one of his customers explained he was just back from the City of light. "Everywhere my wife and I went," he said, "We suddenly got nostalgic for Chez Vito." This recoding of some of the favorites of Chez Vito repertoire will help assuage that nostalgia.

Ciribiribin
Non Ti Scordar Di Me
Granada
Barcarole
Dans Mon Coeur
O' Marenariello
Play Gypsy, Dance Gypsy
Countess Maritza's Entrance Aria
A La Luz De La Luna
Hora Staccato
Core 'Ngrato
Funiculi, Funicula

College Dance Favorites - Ralph Marterie

 

Big Dip

College Dance Favorites
Ralph Marterie and His Orchestra
Mercury Records MG 20294
1957

Travel At Your Own Risk
Big Dip
Soft Shoulders
Stop, Look And Listen
No Parking
School Zone
Green Light Go
Cattle Crossing
Dangerous Curve
Slippery When Wet
Quiet Zone 
Red Light Stop

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Rugolo Plays Kenton

 

Concerto To End All Concertos

Rugolo Plays Kenton
The Pete Rugolo Orchestra Plays Compositions Introduced By Stan Kenton
Cover Photo: Garrett and Howard
Stan Kenton appears on this record cover through the courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc.
Mercury Records MG 36143
1959

Tracks 1, 7, and 12 recorded in Hollywood, Calif., Oct. 25, 1958. Personnel: trumpets – Al Porcino, Ollie Mitchell, Buddy Childers and Don Fagerquist; trombones – Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Harry Betts and Kenny Shroyer; saxes – Bud Shank, Harry Klee, Bob Cooper, Dave Pell and Chuck Gentry; rhythm – Claude Williamson, piano, Howard Roberts, guitar; Don Bailey, bass, Red Calendar, tuba and Shelly Manne, drums.

Remainder recorded Oct. 26, 1958. Same personnel except Nick Nash, trombone replaces Betts.

Shelly Manne appears by arrangement with Contemporary Records.

Bub Shank and Bob Cooper appear by arrangement with World Pacific Records.

Eager Beaver
Painted Rhythm 
Minor Riff
Concerto For Doghouse
Sunset Tower
Concerto To End All Concertos
Artistry In Rhythm
Southern Scandal
Opus In Pastels
Theme To The West
Artistry In Boogie
Capitol Punishment

Stereo And All That Jazz

 

Harlem Nocturne

Stereo And All That Jazz
Executive Producer: Herman D. Gimbel
Engineering: William Hamilton
Art Director: Rhea Atkins
Cover Painting by Martin Regosir
Audio Fidelity STEREODISC SFSD 6196
1968

Guitar - Tony Mottola & Don Arnone
Vibes - Peter Appleyard & Harry Breuer
Drums/Percussion - Bobby Rosengarden, Philip Kraus, John Rae, Earl Zinders, Eddie Costa, Sol Gubin & Bobby Christian
Hammond Organ - Nicholas Tagg, Sy Mann & John Abney
Piano - Harold Wee, Beryl Rubinstein, Buddy Weed & Andy Ackers
Bass - Sandy Block, Harold Gayler & Frank Carroll
Trombone - Robert Alexander, Melvyn Davis & Raymond Starling
Trumpet - Doc Severinsen
Flute/Saxophone/Reeds - Sam Most, Phil Bonder & Romeo Penque

Percussion-Aire
It's All Right With Me
Just In Time
Tenderly
Mack The Knife
Mambo Inn
Why Don't You Do Right
Lullaby Of Birdland
The Lady Is A Tramp
Harlem Nocturne
Baubles, Bangles And Beads

Harry James And His New Swingin' Band

 

M Squad Theme

Harry James
And His New Swingin' Band
Cover Photo by Garret-Howard
MGM Records SE3778
1959

From the back cover: It's Harry James – And His New Swingin' Band – an instrumental aggression of solid, dunning virtuosity and a sound all its own. This is one of the greatest bands the memorable Mr. James has ever lead – a band with all the flawless perfection one has always associated with the James name, yet a band that has a fabulously new atmosphere and spirit to it. And, the band has a whole flock of new arrangements and "originals" of tempting cut to showcase its versatility.

This album gathers together some oft the best of these new James "Band book" items, selected on the basis of audience reaction in actual performance. For several months, during a series of appearance at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas and in scores of concerts in ballrooms and at colleges through the country, James kept carful tabs on exactly which selection appealed most consistently to a widely-varied spectrum of listeners. The results of this personal poll are the line-up which makes ups this splendid album – a James "first," by the way, on M-G-M Records.

Here, you'll find Shiny Stockings, an "original" which James describes as "a bandstand favorite," one of those nmners which draw crowds from the dance floor up to a listening gathering around the stage. There's Slats, another "Original" that's "a favorite in big city ballrooms," and Walkin', a creation that's "a college prom favorite." From the realm of TV jazz themes comes a great arrangement of Count Basie's M-Squd Theme. S to standards, there are delightfully inventive James stylings of Irving Berlin's How Deep Is The Ocean, Duke Ellington's great, ever green "oldie" Cotton Tail, Peter DeRose's Deep Ourole, and Too Close For Comfort from the Broadway hit, "Mr. Wonderful." And, there's fabulous listening fare on tap in Blue Like, Kingsize Blues and Get Off The Stand – three pulsing "originals" penned by Harry James and Ernie Wilkins.

From Billboard - August 17, 1959: James and crew have a fine big band album that can hit the spot with terp fans or those who like the mildly swingin' sound for listening. In addition to a group of standards and some newer show tunes, the set contains some originals, co-cleffed by the orkster. Stereo enhances the over-all appreciation of the set. Tunes include "M-Squad Theme," "Too Close For Comfort" and "Get Off The Stand." Good prospects.

Shiny Stockings
How Deep Is The Ocean
Slats
Blues Like
Cotton Tail
Too Close For Comfort
Kingsize Blues
M-Squad
Deep Purple
Walkin'
Get Off The Stand

The Many Moods Of Ann Richards

 

Lazy Afternoon

The Many Mood Of Ann Richards
Orchestra Conducted by Ralph Carmichael, Bill Holman, Tak Shindo
Produced by Ed Yelin
Capitol Records T1406
1960

From Billboard - July 11, 1960: Thrush Ann Richards is strongly jazz-oriented. She seems to sense the mood of a song well and she makes good use of an improvisational technique in her phrases. Here, her moods range widely from the happy side ("I'm Gonna Laugh") to a soft offbeat mood ("Lazy Afternoon"). The backings range from Bill Holman's big band group to Tak Shindo's Oriental flavored combo to Ralph Carmichael's strings. Interesting listening.

By Myself 
Be Easy, By Tender
Where Did You Go? (Jordu)
I'm Gonna Laugh
I Gotta Have You
Lazy Afternoon
Something Coming
Every time
When The Sun Comes Out
Poor Little Extra Girl
Seasons Reasons
I'm Late

Written In The Stars - Rod McKuen

 

Written In The Stars

Written In The Stars
The Zodiac Suite
Composed by Rod McKuen
Arranged and Conducted by Dick Jacobs
Coral Records CRL 57339
1960

From the back cover: 

Rod McKuen – The Composer

Until recently, Rod McKuen has been best known as a movie and television actor, but in the past few years his talents as a composer-author seem to have taken over.

His songs now number in the hundreds and have been recorded and featured by the nations top recording artist. He also has many film and television scores to is credit and is the author of several books.

Rod seem equally at home writing such diversified material as "The Mummy" for Bob McFadden, double entente songs for Lesa Lanchester anymore serious music such as a ballet based on the legend of the "Ancient Mariner" he is working on at this writing. 

Rod now resides in New York City where he compose and conducts thematic for Albert McCleery's highly lauded television series, "The CBS Worksop." He commutes to the Coast for his other film and television work.

For Decca, he recorded the album Alone After Dark, and he is represented as half of the team of McFadden and For on Brunswick's Songs Our Mummy Taught Us.

Dick Jacobs – The Conductor

Since 1953, when Dick Jacobs joined Coral Records as an artist, conductor and arranger, he has been a consistent hit maker on his own and backing up such record acts as the McGuire Sisters, Jackie Wilson, Teresa Brewer and the Ames Brothers. But his musical activities have not been confined to making records alone, for he is consistently in demand as an arranger-conductor in night clubs and on television and is all know throughout the music business as a composer in his own right.

His wide musical experiences and background make him keenly aware of the trends and pulse of American's musical tastes. Whether he is arranging for a small vocal group, big band or full string orchestra, his writing laws has that fullness and variety of sound so necessary to support the act he's backing.

As an artist, Dick has been high on the "Hit Parade" (a program, incidentally, he arranged and conducted for, for a number of years) with his recordings of Petticoats Of Portugal and theMain Title of the film, Man With A Golden Arm.

Dick's other Coral albums include The Man With The Golden Baton and The Broadway Song Book. Albums where he is represented as arranger-conductor include virtually a third of Coral's entire catalogue of top selling artists.

Also from the back cover: Man has always believed that the stars have much to do with controlling his life, his love, his destiny. Out of this belief has come the universal language of Astrology.

The interest in Astrology has grown to such a point that hundreds of men and women make their living as Astrologers, thousands of book and magazine articles have been written on the constellations. Astrology guides are sold on every newsstand and no newspaper is complete without is daily horoscope column. In fact, Carroll Righter, the dean of all present day astrologers, has a world syndicated column with an unbelievable audience of one hundred million every day.

I have had more than a passing interest in Astrology for a long time – but then, who can resist scanning the newspaper every day to find out why the star have planned for him. My interesting was further kindled on getting Carroll Righter, when I came to Hollywood a few years ago. Righter is a remarkable man, one look and he can tell if you're an angry Leo or a sad-eyed Aquarius. I still don't know how he does it, but he knows thousands of people by their sing-names alone. Another friend, Bob Diedorff, has been preparing a complete horoscope for me as a birthday present for sometime now, and more than once I've found his predictions hit the nail on the head. It is to these men this album is dedicated.

I have long wanted to compose music typifying the twelve signs of the zodiac and I finally got around to the project this past spring in New York. My work, however, was interrupted when CBS sent me to Europe on a writing assignment. It was there in Paris and in Rome that I was finally able to complete the suite, later in the summer.

I have tied to keep the music 'romantic' in nature, yet descriptive of the zodiac sign the melodies represent. Each selection has a sub-title ("Moon Children" is more romantic than "Cancer") and is meant to further romanticize the suite. Still, if the rhythm of "Pisces" grins to mind Bella Dark begin sacrificed to the Cinemascope god and "Aquarius" with its lazy tempo manages to evoke a slow summer afternoon, I will have achieved what I really set out to do... for I hope this music for the imagination and if I'm lucky, once in awhile as it turns on your rocked machine it will change from background to foreground music.

Several of these themes have already become "pop" songs, since I have a passion for setting words to music. Scorpio has a lyric called Come Back Home To Roma and Leo has become Wait Till The Music Is Done. My own personal favorite in the album in the Aquarius theme and I hope it's indicative of music I'll be writing in the future.

Once the suite was complete, there was the business of finding an interpreter. I have worked with Dick Jacobs on and off for more than a year now an my appreciation of his talent goes far beyond the usual compatibility of an Aries and a Taurus (he's Aries – I'm a Taurus _ very compatible, you know). I regard him as one of the most versatile young arranger-conductors int eh field of popular music, especially when it come to scoring for strings. I am constantly amazed at the many colors he can get out of a single arrangement.

His arrangements here called for a large sting chip, reed and brass instruments, rhythm section, solo voice and piano. The voce belongs to Ann Phillips, (a recording artist in her own right) and we are fortunate in securing the services of the many-faceted Gloria Regency as piano soloist.

Whatever your concern for the zodiac, personal, academic, romantic or skeptic, I hope the music here has something special to say to you. – Rod McKuen - October, 1960

Aries - Until Spring
Taurus - Island Meeting
Gemini - Summer Song
Cancer - Moon Children
Leo - The Jazz Palace
Virgo - Blue Lady
Libra - Say Goodbye
Sagittarius - The Gathering Of The Centaurs
Capricorn - Three Thirty A.M.
Aquarius - The Forum
Pisces - Beneath The Reef