Doctor Zhivago - The Peter Kasanewitz Trio

Yuri Escapes

Doctor Zhivago
The Peter Kasanewitz Trio
Diplomat DS2382

Here's a curious album from the budget label, Diplomat. The recording was made by a small lounge combo executing their interpretation of songs from the movie Doctor Zhivago. Three tracks to a side seems almost like a concept album for this label. The approach is simple and dramatic.

Peter Kasanewitz seems to have made this record and then vanished.

Enoch Light And The Brass Menagerie

Enoch Light And The Brass Menagerie
Originated and Produced by Enoch Light
Arrangements by Dick Hyman
Associate Producer, Julie Klages
Engineering by Phil Ramone
Project 3 Total Sound
The Total Sound, Inc.
Allied Radio Shack - PR5036SD
1969

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented here to share the cover art.

From the back cover: Arranged for 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 4 French horns, 2 reeds, 2 guitars, 3 percussion, keyboard and tuba.

I'm not sure when Radio Shack got their hands into Project 3. I've not seen a "Realistic" logo on any Light album until now.

Even though the cover images suggestion something more, this is a straight forward, "tastefully" done 60s brass album.

The engineering is excellent. The sound is outstanding.

Blowin' In The Wind
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
My Favorite Things
Wichita Lineman
I've Gotta Be Me
Touch Me
California Dreamin'
Both Sides Now
Happy Ever After
Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Soulful Strut

Above is yet another version of the cover, a book-fold featuring the same back cover design, but with a "4 Channel Stereo" sticker fixed to the front.

I Wish You Love - Caternia Valente & Stanley Black

Scandinavian Song

I Wish You Love
Caternia Valente & Stanley Black
London LL 3275
1965

This is a wonderful, if an somewhat obscure, album featuring a blend of the classical vocal stylings of Valente and Stanley Black's pop approach.

There's some peppy, "space age" stuff on this album, but I was drawn to the more melancholy and mysterious sounding tune that I've posted above as a sample.

The Many Shades Of Georgia Brown

The Blues

The Many Shades Of Georgia Brown
Capitol Records T 2329
1965

This LP seems to be a forgotten Georgia Brown album. Read about Brown (Lillian Claire Laizer Getel Klot) who passed away in 1992 of surgery complications at the age of 58 on her wiki page.

Georgia Brown was a British singer and actress who has that "Broadway" vocal quality and power to her voice. However, she manages unlike other artists, to not to overpower the pop tunes on this album with drama and projection.

The album delivers nice space age jazz/blues/light pop feel.

The Asphalt Jungle - Joe Harnell And His Orchestra

Midnight Madness

The Asphalt Jungle
Joe Harnell And His Orchestra
KAPP Records MS-7518
1961

Here is Harnell's follow-up to his outstanding KAPP album titled Naked City.

This is an outstanding big band, jazzy space age LP. The engineering is excellent.

From the back cover: As a jazz artist, Joe has appeared with his own groups at such well known Manhattan night spots as The Waldorf and The Embers, while his classical background has encompassed studies with Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Ernst Toch and Darius Milhaud, as well as a year at the Trinity College of Music in London.

Midnight Madness is a Harnell composition.

Music Of Mystery, Mayhem And Murder - Danny Davis

Red-Eyed Rats

Music From 007 - James Bond Motion Pictures
Music Of Mystery, Mayhem And Murder
Danny Davis And His Orchestra
Produced by Irv Stimler
Creative Consultant: Ben Bernstein
Director of Engineering: Val Valentin
Metro M/MS-520
1965

This is a fantastic Bond set (aren't they all?). The record kicks off with the typical cover of Goldfinger but then picks up speed during The James Bond Theme followed by a terrific version of Peter Gunn . Davis then crosses over into Creed Taylor territory (Shock/Son Of Shock) by adding groans, moans and assorted sound effects to Monster Meeting.

Side two begins with several more Bond covers, From Russia With Love and Dr. No. followed by a killer cover of Fall Out (from Peter Gunn). Next up is another "Creed Taylor influenced" tune, Red-Eyed Rats. The set finishes with one last wild tune, The Chase.

Good stuff!

Goldfinger
007 (James Bond Theme)
Peter Gunn
Chamber Of Horrors
Monster Meeting
From Russia With Love
Dr. No
Fall Out
Red-Eyed Rats
The Chase

That Latin Beat! - Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra

Mo Sombrero

That Latin Beat!
Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra

Designed For Dancing / One Of A Series
Photo by Ben Rose
RCA Camden CAL-323
1959

Cancion Del Mar
Mi Sombrero
La Golondrina
Eso No Es No
Le Tango Du Reve
Noche De Rona
Perfidia
En El Rancho Grande
Los Palmeras
Para Vigo Me Voy
Como Arrullo De Palmas
Blen Blen Blen

Hollywood Guitars - Warren Baker

Warren Baker's Hollywood Guitars
With Strings And Orchestra
Mira Recordings LP-3001
1965

This was the second release for the short-lived Mira label. The recording is available for purchase/digital download so I will not be posting a sample. With the download however, you don't get the original cover and for some reason, Hollywood Guitars becomes a secondary title.

The music is a great blend of orchestrated easy listening and groovy 60s light pop.

Apparently (if this is the same Baker) Baker is best known for composing incidental music for the hit 1960s TV series, Bewitched as well as the theme for The Flying Nun. He also wrote the second season theme for Lost In Space (1966), but it was rejected.

Music With Sound - Time Series 2000

Ritmica No 5 Tiempo de Son

Music With Sound
Time Series 2000
TSD-3

Demonstration records can be interesting because they generally feature a selection of tunes from the label's period catalog including the surprise track is from the TIME album Concert Percussion.

Teenagers Love The Twins Jim And John

Teenagers Love The Twins Jim And John
RCA LPM-1708
1958

Here's a fun album I picked up today. The tracks are available for purchase/download so I will not be posting a sample.

Don't let the teeny bopper cover fool you, there are some finely crafted pop tunes on this album.

It took some doing but I eventually found an autographed copy online, a last name and then a comment on a post left by John. I thought it might be nice to combine the cover image above and the comment.

I could not, however, find a photo of vintage motor scooter that exactly matched the one found on the cover. I'm thinking Vespa... but?

John G. Cunningham Sr. wrote at 2010-08-22 15:53:16

Hi All,

Just a line to let you know that ( we )the twins both live in Arkansas , and love it here.

It reminds me of Hicksville in the late 40's.

The truth be known , we both got tired of the miserable show business grind , and wanted a simpler life.

The compulsory draft was catching up and we had signed with Lancer Records ( our contract with RCA was ended by mutual agreement ).

We had a single out on that labile ( Lancer Records ) as The Twins , but I can't recall the title of that song.

I enlisted in theUSAF ( served 4 years active duty)and have been an aircraft buff ever since.

I am currently building a Light Sports Aircraft ( a Hart Bird II at the Hart Aero shop in MO ).

I still write songs and have a small home studio.

Jim and I have very different lives and pursuits.

I can say that the recording experience was fun for the few years Jim and I were doing that , but it was much to demanding for us.

Jim was drafted into the ARMY while I was still serving in the USAF.

We are both well , and enjoy our rural Arkansas lives.

Sincerely
Johnny