Hawaii Goes A Go-Go - Martin Denny

Hawaii Goes A Go-Go
Martin Denny
Liberty Records LRP-3445
1967

From the back cover: There is no doubt that this is the Go-Go generation. The words Go-Go have become an automatic phrase of this era. There's everything from Go-Go discotheques to Go-Go laundromats and, I am sure, many people have asked themselves "Where does this all come from?" It all started in Paris, France and spread like wild fire to both the east and west.

This is a live recording. I found it odd because the quality reminds me of a boot leg recording, as if someone in the audience had a tape recorder on them. I think this may have been the point (audience interaction) and historically it is interesting to hear Denny perform as though you were sitting in the audience. I don't know how this record went over with the buying public. The sound must have seemed a little rough or cheap to many who were more used to hearing studio recordings.

Come To Hawaii - Harry Hoomele And His Island Orchestra

Pagan Love Song

Come To Hawaii
Harry Hoomele And His Island Orchestra
Grand Award Record Corp.
G.A. 33-405
1959

Another fab Enoch Light disc. The record blends more traditional and pleasant sounding tunes with a few more rocking tunes including Hula Hula Rock. But I couldn't pass up Pagan Love Song as my cherry pick for this post.

I could not find any bio info on Hoomele.

Rhythm In Motion - Johnny Williams

My Heart Belongs To Daddy

Rhythm In Motion
Johnny Williams And His Orchestra

Cover Photo: Scott Hyde
Columbia CL 1667 & CS 8467
1961

Recorded April 28th, May 2nd and May 4th, 1961, in Columbia Records' new Hollywood California studio. Recording set-up included the use of fourteen condenser microphones. Custom recording console designed and built by Columbia Records Engineering and Development Department. RIAA curve.

From the back cover: Currently, many techniques are being used to satisfy the astute stereo listener, e.g. separation panels used in the initial recording, post-session editing of tapes by which frequencies are boosted, echo added, stereo positions reversed, timbres of the instruments altered, ad infinitum. One is tempted to say that musical content has been made to serve stereo. This album is an attempt to reverse that process.

A few months ago, Columbia signed a talented young composer-conductor-orchestrator named Johnny Williams. His first album on Columbia presented original music from the CBS-TV show "Checkmate." Response to this album was enthusiastic, and although no extraordinary efforts were put forth to tag the production "Stereo," listeners were taken with the unusually creative manner in which Williams tossed musical phrases back and forth "across the speakers." His natural approach to instrumental stereo might well be compared to techniques used by Béla Bartók in "Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta," and by Ralph Vaughan Williams in his "Partita For Double String Orchestra."

Following "Checkmate," Williams turned his attention songs of Broadway and Hollywood that seemed uniquely designed for stereo presentation. And, lest Williams emerge too deadly serious, let i be said that the songs which were most suitable turned out also to be the "happiest," e.g. "Fascinatin' Rhythm," The Variety Drag," "Buckle Down Windsock," "Put On A Happy Face," and the like.

This, then, is a happy album designed for stereo (or should we say stereo was designed for it?) in which you'll hear trumpets and trombones to the right of you, woodwinds, horns, and harp to the left of you, and percussionists prevailing all over th place. But, more importantly, here is an array of great tunes imaginatively arranged and conducted by a bright new musical star, Johnny Williams. – Jim Harbert

Fascinatin' Rhythm

The Varsity Drag

The Surrey With The Fringe On Top

Let's Do It

Put On A Happy Face

Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets)

Johnny One Note

An Occasional Man

My Heart Belongs To Daddy

Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries

Sunny Disposish

Buckle Down Winsocki

The Naked City - George Duning

The Naked City
Music By George Dunning
Colpix SCP 505
1958

This is a terrific space age album that blends spoken word (Narrated by John McIntire, Star of The Naked City), vocals, easy listening, light pop and jazz into the story of The Naked City.

The only source for this recording seems to be iTunes/England. You would have to purchase all of the tracks as the album is an original story and not a "soundtrack" from the TV show. Weird that you can't get this LP on CD or by the download in the U.S.

The album is worth searching out. Sorry I can't post a sample.

Electronic Music Vol. V

In Memoriam For My Friend Henry Saia - Peter Glushanok

Electronic Music Vol. V
Music From The Dartmouth International Electronic Music Competitions
1960 and 1970
Turnabout TV-S 34427

From the back cover (concerning the first track which is posted as a sample above): Completed in early 1969, this piece was begun as an experiment in textures from concrete sources, and was developed as an elegy in memory of my friend Henry Saia who died by suicide just a few months before. Henry's transient and restless quality, seen through the eyes of his friends who discuss him interminably; his depressions lightened by a sense of humor, and his life which ended without hope despite the jokes and the friends, broke traumatically into our unawareness.

The entire album is filled with excellent space/SF/dark and moody stuff with titles that include Cambrian Sea, Trip Through The Milky Way – An Electronic Panorama, Divertimento, Ambience and Mutations.

I Love You - The Billy Vaughn Singers

Groovin'

I Love You
The Billy Vaugh Singers
Dot DLP-25813
1967

Living Guitars Flamingo And Other Favorites

Hawaii

Living Guitars Flamingo And Other Favorites
RCA Camden CAS-2123
1967

This is a terrific light jazz pop album. Although not credited on the jacket, this is an Al Caiola project (produced by Ethel Gabriel).

The Big Band Sound Of Sid Ramin

The Syncopated Clock

The Big Band Sound Of Sid Ramin
RCA LSP-2716
1963

Nice bachelor pad big band swing from Academy, Grammy and Emmy award winning composure Sid Ramin.

From the back cover. This record was marketed as Ramin's follow up to his album New Thresholds In Sound. "I wanted a great deal of orchestral weight in this one. Soloists, yes, but with an over-all big-band sound predominating. I wanted to see if the Dynagroove system could handle the ultimate in dynamics. You can hear how we come in a split second from a full-forte orchestral mass to the sound of a single instrument."

The engineering on this record is very good.

Holiday Abroad In Lisbon - Auguste Alguero, Jr. And His Orchestra

Fado Madragoa

Holiday Abroad In Lisbon
Auguste Alguero, Jr. And His Orchestra
RCA Victor LPM-1596
1958

One of the series of "Holiday Abroad" albums. This was a series of records with a promotional tie-in with Sabena, Belgian World Airlines.

I can find no information on Auguste Alguero, Jr. online. The music is pleasant mood with few space age touches, but a good step up from the typical "tourist" promotional recording fare.

That Latin Feeling - Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra

The Latin Feeling
Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra
Decca DL 74490
1964

Available on CD bundled with Blue Midnight. Two Kaempfert records that were apparently released back to back in 1964.

Sweet cover and great now sound light pop album with that latin feeling. Most enjoyable. For exotica lovers there is lovely cover of The Breeze And I on this release.

Read more about Kaempfert and his all too short life (passed away at 56) on his wiki page.