Soundpower - Marty Gold

Soundpower!
Marty Gold
RCA Victor LPM-2620
1963

This album is one in the series of LPs produced by RCA to help promote "Dynagroove". The series quality is uneven. Some experiments with stereo were annoying and others, like this album... were released in mono. Why RCA would released a mono version of an album designed to promote new technology in 1963... I have no idea. So I can't comment on how RCA manipulated the stereo on this record.

Billboard liked this entry and from the brief, I take it, listening to the album in stereo dramatically improves the experience.

There are some cool tracks on the album but I have to be honest and say that it simply didn't grab me like so many other albums that I've collected from the period. You can find this album on a somewhat pricey CD so I can't post a sample.

Mr. Lucky Goes Latin - Henry Mancini

Mr. Lucky Goes Latin
Henry Mancini
Produced by Dick Peirce
Cover Design: Don Peters
Engineer: Al Schmitt
RCA Victor LSP-2360
1961

Personnel:
Baritone Saxophone: Ted Nash
French Horn: Vince DeRosa
Guitars And Mandolins: Bob Bain, Laurindo Almeida
Organ: Bobby Hammack
Percussion: Frank Flynn, Larry Bunker, Milt Holland, Shelly Manne
Piano: Jimmy Rowles
Reeds: Ronny Lang

From Billboard - February 27, 1961: This should be another smash album for Henry Mancini, the composer of the "Mr. Lucky" TV music, as well as the "Peter Gunn" hit musical albums. On this new set Mancini puts the accent on the Latin beat, using "Mr. Lucky" tunes for a rhythmic, sophisticated musical set, in the groove for either listening or dancing. Tunes include "Mr. Lucky," "Rain Drops In Rio," "Cow Bells and Coffee Beans" and "Speedy Gonzales." Mighty attractive wax, well recorded and bearing the suave Mancini touch.

Mr. Lucky Goes Latin
Lujon
Tinpanola
Rain Drops In Rio
Siesta
The Dancing Cat
Cow Bells And Coffee Beans
The Sound Of Silver
Tango Americano
No-Cal Sugar Loaf
Blue Mantilla
Speedy Gonzales

The Legend Of Pele - Arthur Lyman

The Legend Of Pele
Sounds Of Arthur Lyman
HIFI Record R813
1958

Lyman throws in all the "exotic" bells and whistles... not to mention his bird calls on this set that was recorded in the Aluminum Dome on the grounds of the Kaiser Hawaiian Village Hotel, Waikiki.

What a treat it must have been to see these four guys do this set live. This concept is based on the story of Pele as explained in the back cover copy. Each song blends into the next on the disc to create a flowing sonic impression or story of "The Legend". Terrific stuff.

Fire Down Below
Hana Pele
Cumana
Ye Lai Sian
Hana Maui
Scheherezade
Magic Island
Fascination
Cubana Chant
Tropical
Trombones

Relaxing With Perry Como

Relaxing With Perry Como
RCA Victor LPM-1176
1956

I thought visitors to The Atomic Attic would appreciate this lovely space age cover gracing this Como release.

Vibrations - The 3 Sounds

Fever

Vibrations
The 3 Sounds
BST 84248 BLP 4248
Blue Note / Liberty Records
1967

One of the many albums produced by The 3 Sounds, an American jazz trio, while they were together from 1956 through 1973.

Their wiki page suggests that the group released nine LPs for Blue Note between 1958 and 1962. Apparently they press at least one more in 1967.

There is a nice 60s "vibration" to a number of tunes on this album in addition to a number of more "timeless" arrangements. You can find a few 3 Sounds CDs online, but not this album.

Two Cigarettes In The Dark

Two Cigarettes In The Dark

Two Cigarettes In The Dark

The Jay Stevens Concert Orchestra
Tops L1554

This is one of my favorite "bad habits" covers.

Guitar's Greatest Hits - Tom Tomlinson And Jerry Kennedy

Caravan

Guitar's Greatest Hits

Tom Tomlinson And Jerry Kennedy
Mercury Records MG 20626
1961

This was the first of four albums Tom and Jerry released for Mercury with a general "rock and roll" theme.

Here is Tommy Tomlinson's Rockabilly Hall Of Fame page. And here is Jerry Kennedy's wiki page.

I never thought I find a "rock" cover of Caravan... but here it is.  And there are a few other fine tunes on the LP including a cover of Raunchy.

Gazpacho - Phil Bodner

Gazpacho
The Brass Ring under the direction of Phil Bodner
Dunhill ABC Records DS-50034
1968

I never thought I'd find an album titled after a bowl of cold soup... but here it is.

And I never thought that an album titled after a bowl of cold soup would be available for purchase/digital download from online vendors... it is.

I'm not big fan of brass albums, but this is a good one if you like "Now Sound" (which Bodner is credited with creating) or 60s lounge flavored brass.

On the back cover there is a credit to Annette Burden for the actual Gazpacho Dinner as seen on the cover.

Have You Never Been Mellow - Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra

El Bimbo

Have You Never Been Mellow

Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra

Recorded at Studio des Dames, Paris

Recording Engineer: Dominque Poncet

Assistant Engineer: Herve Hochet

Cover Photo: Pierre Carlotti

MGM Records M3G 4999

1975

El Bimbo

Rock The Boat

Feel Like Makin' Love

Mandy

Angie Baby

I Won't Last A Day Without You

Rock Your Baby

Pacific Holiday

Have You Never Been Mellow

Over The Rainbow/Singin' In The Rain

The Way We Were

I Got A Name

Love Makes A Small World - Enrico With Raoul Meynard

Arrivederci Roma

Love Makes A Small World

Enrico With Raoul Meynard And His Orchestra

Warner Bros. Records W 1288

1959

Enrico, The Young Continental.

From the back cover: Just as the public is deserting the Ivy League and Blue Jean Look for the new Continental Look, so Enrico we hope, will be the New Look in singers.

Also from the back cover: Breaking through language barriers, this album is hearing proof that love is the great leveller, the differences in modes and manners among nations are forgotten when Love Makes A Small World.

Apparently love wasn't enough to help Enrico and Warner's PR copy writer conquer the cold cruel world. Enrico appears to have slipped into obscurity after this release.