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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Cookie Carr Play Cool Organ With A Solid Beat

Lover
Cookie Carr
Play Cool Organ With A Solid Beat
Grand Award Records
G.A. 239 S.D.

I can't find any info on Cookie Carr. Al Caiola plays the guitar and steals the spotlight. Enoch Light originated and produced the album. You can hear a bit of that Enoch Light "ping-pong" sound happening.

Grand Award was a modestly successful Light label that preceded and then apparently continued along with his Command label operation. Grand Award (Light) marketed "Phase X" technology which let listeners hear a "phantom" third channel in between the standard left and right channels. This was a common recording technique, but Light was the first person to market it (perfection... in spectacular stereophonic sound).

Grand Award LPs were phased out by 1961, but the label name was kept for reissues at least until 1966. I can't date this album although it sounds, for sure like a 1960 or 61 recording.

As usual the engineering is excellent.

Cocktails With Cavallaro

Return To Me
Cocktails With Cavallaro
Piano with Rhythm Accompaniment
Decca Records DL 8805
1960

According to a story in the April 4, 1960 issue of Billboard, Decca designated the month of April as Carmen Cavallaro Month, in honor of the pianist's 20th year with the company, and in honor of his new album (this one).  The article goes on to mention that special "kits" have been made up for salesmen to promote Cavallaro sets (of "pre-packed") records.

A Very Precious Love
Arrivederci Roma (Goodbye To Rome)
Till
Witchcraft
All The Way
Twilight Time
Another Time, Another Place
Just In Time
Say Darling
I Remember It Well
Lida Rose
Return To Me

Miss America Presents - A Collector's Album

Miss America Presents

Miss America Presents
A Collector's Album
Columbia Record Productions
Custom Pressed for Philco
A Custom Service Of Columbia Records

Back cover is a duplicate of the front cover and features Nancy Anne Fleming - Miss America 1961

Tenderly - Rosemary Clooney
Take The "A" Train - Les Elgart
Autumn In New York - Hi-Lo's
No Moon At All - Jerry Vale
Night And Day - Ray Conniff
I've Got The World On A String - Jo Stafford
Perdido - Duke Ellington
Just In Time - Tony Bennett
Gigi - Les Brown
You'll Never Walk Alone - Norman Luboff Choir
Moonlight In Vermont - Polly Bergen
April In Paris - Michel Legrande

Atlantis In Hi-Fi - Carl Wolfgang

Rapture Of The Deep

Atlantis In Hi-Fi
The Bavarian State Symphony Orchestra
Directed by Carl Wolfgang
Composed and scored by Alexander Laszlo
Carlton Record Corporation LP 12/106
1958

From the back cover: While atomic submarines plumb the depths beneath the Polar Cap; while frogmen descend deeper into the sea trenches that was deemed possible; while marine mysteries daily yield to scientific fingers pointed at distillation of the salt waters and nutritional conversion of the marshy grasses; while these exploits become more daring and wonderful the legendary Atlantis becomes a fresh topic of consideration. 

Atlantis... the fabled Lost Continent! Figment of mythology or smoky illusion that many revert to some actual volcanic explosion of many thousands years ago... quien sabe? But the picture of an undersea world in existence now teases the fancy as never before! The sound of the sea; the power and enchantment of the brooding bottom waters... these inspire new symphonies of the submariners universe.

Thus, we come to the motif of Atlantis In Hi-Fi, scored and composed by Alexander Laszlo as the result of an unusual motion picture assignment. The film, Columbia Pictures' "Forbidden Island", produced by C. B. Griffith, almost wholly deals with underwater sequences. For his soundtrack setting, Laszlo has painted a modern audio picture in symphonic hi-fi of the now still, now stormy subterranean world where perhaps today (what fantasies of science fiction have not already become realities) the fabled Atlantis dies exist and breathe... e'en with gills.

Mr. Laszlo's scoring is executed brilliantly and reverently by the 63-piece Bavarian State Symphony orchestra conducted by Carl Wolfgang. The Bavarian State Symphony orchestra of course, is world-renowned with prominent recordings of major works in the libraries of most recordphiles. Mr. Laszlo's credits include: Solo recitals on concert piano with Eugene Ormandy, the Berlin Bluethner orchestra and the Hollywood Bowl orchestra. In addition he has composed over thirty sound track scores for all major studios as well as over fifty major symphonic publications – Jay Arcy

From Billboard - December 15, 1958: This set contains the score from the sound track of the flick "Forbidden Island." It is interesting and listenable background music, played lushly by the large Bavarian State Symphony orchestra under the direction of Carl Wolfgang. Those who see the flick will be prime customers for the album and it makes a good display piece for dealers when the pic plays their town.

The Coral Empire
Temple Of Poseidon
Traffic Of A Sunken City
Sunset On The Ocean Floor
Night Below The Reef
Conference Of The Sea Gods
Rapture Of The Deep
War At Ninety Fathoms
Exiles Of Atlantis

Touch Typing Made Simple

Touch Typing Made Simple
A Sound Teaching Method
Brother International Enterprises

Friday, November 26, 2010

Hawaii The Fabulous Fiftieth State

Kaimana Hila - Kalena Kai
Hawaii The Fabulous Fiftieth State
Sam Makia And The Makapuu Beach Boys With Orchestra Directed By Frank Hunter
KAPP KL-1144
1959

Frank Hunter released a classic exotica album on KAPP titled White Goddess (KS-3019 - 1959).

This is an a trip to the mood music side of Hawaii.

The Little Red Wagon

Chocolate Train
The Little Red Wagon
Rocking Horse Orchestra & Chorus
Tinkerbell & Rocking Horse Records 3326

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Switch-On Rock - The Moog Machine

Jumpin' Jack Flash
Switched-On Rock
The Moog Machine
Columbia CS 9921
1969

Each and every track is Moogalicious!

Christmas Electric - The Moog Machine

Carol Of The Bells
Christmas Electric
The Moog Machine
Columbia CS 9959
1969

The moog "broke"on the music scene after it was demonstrated at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Apparently the fad lasted from about that time through the mid 70s.

Tribulation

Tribulation
Jack W. Hester
Triumphant Records 413
1974

I stood before the record bin today at the thrift for a moment trying to decipher the cover graphic. I took a moment to figure out that I had a hell fire evangelical sermon on my hands.

Well, no, that's not exactly what this is. This recording is based on The Tribulation (events referred to in Matthew 24:21). The story telling style is after the War Of The Worlds radio broadcast. It actually reminds me more of a Peter Pan comic book album. The recording, however, is marketed towards adults.

This recording, according to the back cover, is a sequel to The Rapture an earlier dramatic production (album).

I've posted the last part of the B side, which features for some reason, the only song on the album.