Hawaii Goes Percussion

Swinging Palm Trees

Hawaii Goes Percussion
Cornet Records CXS 162

The title found on the back cover and label is Hawaiian Moonbeams. I might make the assumption that Coronet changed the name to "Percussion" to capitalize on the early 60s percussion trend. However, this isn't a percussion record.

There isn't a mention on the cover of who the artists are. The album focuses on someone who can rock the steel guitar.

I just found the same album with the "Moonbeams" title...

Staccato

Staccato
A Revue Televison Productions Starring John Cassavetes
Strikingly modern background music composed and conducted by Elmer Bernstein
Capitol Records T1287
1959

From the back cover: Johnny Staccato is a private detective. He works at it because it pays well and he likes to spend money. But for sheer pleasure he's a jazz pianist – highly regarded buy other musicians, but not interested in actually working as a musician.

A fantastic jacket story should make for some fantastic music. The music is "private, playing jazz for dames and drinks, detective" cool.

Jackie Gleason Presents - Night Winds

Alone

Jackie Gleason Presents
Night Winds

Orchestra Conducted by Jackie Gleason

Piano: Lou Stein

Cover Photo by Ken Veeder
Capitol Records W717
1956

When You're Away

What Can I say After I Say I'm Sorry

Alone

Love Letters In The Sand

You Are Too Beautiful

If I Should Lose You

The Touch Of Your Lips

Sleepy Time Gal

Good Night, Sweet Nightingale

Memories Of You

Love Locked Out

Are You Lonesome Tonight

I Apologize

Close As Pages In A Book

Dancing With Tears In My Eyes

A Thousand Goodnights

Hawaii - A Musical Memento Of The Island

Mahina Hoku

Hawaii
A Musical Memento Of The Islands
GNP Gene Norman Presents
1959

This is a compilation album that was "Recorded In Hawaii By Hawaiian Artists".

How Sweet It Is!

How Sweet It Is!
Capitol

From the back cover: This is a Promotional album designed for programming; it is not for sale.

This album was created to promote Gleason's early work from radio programming.

Carlos Salzedo

Steel

Carlos Salzedo Plays Music For The Harp
Original Compositions And Transcripts With Lucile Lawernce
Mercury Classics MG10144
1954

I love the beautiful cover illustration that graces this vintage Mercury album.

From his wikipedia page: Salzedo remains one of the greatest harpists in history, a virtuoso player unparalleled, a virtuoso pianist and conductor, and a primal teacher. He was a progressive spirit, seeking new resources in the harp, inspiring and creating new works and creating new styles of music. His composing progressed from French Romantic to Impressionist to a new style uniquely his own.

The last track on the B side, Steel, is especially "modern" sounding compared to other tracks.

Great Organ Hits - Eddie Layton

By The Waters Of The Minnetonka

Great Organ Hits

Out Of This World
Eddie Layton At The Hammond Organ
Mercury Stereo SR 60639
1961

The September 4, 1961 Billboard gave this album "Moderate Sale Potential".

Read about Layton on his wikipedia page.

This album has a few nice space age moments. Mercury might have engineered the sound with a little more depth. The music doesn't sound as though the music was mixed right to me.

The Return Of James Bond In Diamonds Are Forever

Diamonds Are Forever

The Return Of James Bond In "Diamonds Are Forever"
And Other Secret Agent Themes
Roland Shaw And His Orchestra
London Records 2 BSP 24
1971

This album was the last in a series of "spy" albums made by Roland beginning with Themes from the James Bond Thrillers in 1964. That record was released to coincide with the American release of the film Goldfinger. This record led to More Themes from the James Bond Thriller and Themes for Secret Agents.

Side one gets off to a slow start, but the secret agent business soon picks up and by the end of side two I found it hard to choose a sample.

Sounds Unlimited - Marty Gold

Tonight

Sounds Unlimited
Marty Gold And His Orchestra
RCA Victor LPM-2714
1963

This album was yet another attempt to market RCA's "Dynagroove" technology.

The cover features a nice space age vibe which attracts collectors. But, as with New Thresholds In Sound by Sid Ramin (1963), this album fails to accomplish what I think RCA set out to do and that is to make "Dynagroove" seem new and cool.

For a 1963 release, when so many other labels, both large and small had been releasing exotica, bachelor pad, space age, light pop, percussion and other experimental forms of music, this record comes across as dated sounding. That's not to say that the music isn't pleasant listening... but RCA needed to do something way more dynamic if they intended to impress audiophiles.

Historically, "Dynagroove" was not well received. The engineering on this album is good, but not sparkling good.

The Sounds Of Adventure - Les Baxter

The Sounds Of Adventure
Les Baxter
Capitol Record Club Exclusive
SQBO-90984
1969

This is a two record set, book-fold jacket design.

This nice Baxter collection holds together musically. The jacket notes explain that Baxter experimented with rock and roll, but you will not find any of those tunes here. This is a mood set.

Quiet Village
Normandy
Paris Interlude
Lost In Meditation
Fascination
Dawn On The City
A Distant Star
Our Kind Of Love
Moonlight Stroll
Love Is A Fabulous Thing
Autumn Leaves
Blue Mirage
The Enchanted Sea
Dancing Diamonds
Hong Kong Cable Car
Blue Tango
The Other Side Of The Moon
Tom Dooley
Blue Jungle
Bustin' The Bongos