Howdy Folks! Welcome to The UnEarthed In The Atomic Attic album blog! Here you will find a wide variety of unusual Space Age Vinyl finds that feature good quality cover scans, jacket notes and audio samples for you to enjoy. I'm here to have fun and hope you will share in my process of discovery!
Love Is Blue
Academy Award Orchestra
Somerset SF-29900
This is the second budget album on Somerset I've found featuring the same photo, promoting the same studio group. See Gold Award Hit's 67.
The music is cobbled together from other sources. I recognized a tune titled Malibu Sun which is found on Guitars Galore and credited to Monty Kelly. Even though the record appears to be a collection and reissues from 101 Strings LPs it's sort of fun.
Polynesian Percussion
Chango And The Polynesians
Directional Sound
Premier Albums DM 5012
1962
Budget book-fold album jacket styled based on the minimalist a design trend created by Enoch Light's label, Command. Easy on "space age" percussion, none-the-less energetic and fresh sounding "island" music.
Marcelle A Havine
Tamure
Minoi, Minoi
Vana Vana
Tahitian Festival
Tanga Tika
Papio
Wavine Anamite
Cafe Au Lait
Maruru A Vaw
Impelling Dances Of Our Times
Enoch Light And His Orchestra
Command ABC RSSD 979-2
1973
Here's a two record set released on Command after ABC purchased Light's label and started to cheapen the product. The jacket is a single pocket with the two records inside rather than the fancy book-fold normally produced by Command. The title is lackluster, especially for the early 70s and the cover art is dull and pointless. The music is probably reissued (Re-Produced for Two-Fer's by Don Thorn). However, all of the tunes play as though they were recorded together for this release, rather than cobbled together from various projects.
With all that said, the music is very good. As heard in the samples above, the collection features that 60s light pop Enoch Light touch that anyone who collects his works knows and loves.
A1Dream Lover Down By The Riverside Tintarella Di Luna Hello, Dolly! If I Had A Hammer C'mon And Swim Night Train I Want To Hold Your Hand And I Love Her Ya Ya Lemon Merengue Watermelon Man Want To Be Happy Love Potion Number Nine Downtown Sha-La-La Too Many Fish In The Sea The Girl From Ipanema Come See About Me Feel Fine Goldfinger Eight Days A Week The Jerk Easy Baby, Go Easy Baby Any Way You Want It La Bostella
Everything Is Beautiful
The Living Strings And The Living Voices
RCA R223651
1979
I found another "Voices" album on the stack this morning. In this case, a two record set. Living Voices are yet another guilty pleasure. With one insane exception (Positively 4th Street) the albums are produced as mainstream easy listening. But there always seems to be a gem or two on each record. Usually I'll find a rock/pop song cover that is a tough sell done as easy listening. This album features a few lounge-like vocal tracks. And the luke warm cover of the Strings Theme From Charlie's Angels can't be overlooked.
The Thief Who Came To Dinner
Henry Mancini
Warner Bros. BS-2700
1973
I know... where's the link? There is none because I'm assuming someone somewhere cares about the copyright to this album. Apparently there was a CD released last year, but is now unavailable and at least one track is available for digital purchase download.
Sometimes I just post album covers because the LP is worth looking for. This is another example. Mancini was still grooving in 1973 when he scored this soundtrack. This album features that good and cheesy 70s movie/TV soundtrack vibe I know and love. But Mancini takes that period audio groove and arranges with a depth and variation that other composers can't touch. Great stuff.
Angel Of The Morning
Living Voices
RCA Camden CAS 2307
1969
More 60s easy listening vocal insanity arranged and conducted by Bob Armstrong. The Living Voices are at their best when covers "rock/pop" tunes. For a fantastically crazy Living Voices album check out Positively 4th Street.
Here's an early Liberty album, number 27 as listed on Liberty's discography. And as usual, for Liberty, this is a fine space age album. Of course, the gem of a cheesecake cover (photo by Gene Lesser) was worth the price of the LP to me.
As you can tell from the sample above, the vibe is sort of Three Suns spacey easy listening. The Players may have been studio musicians assembled to make this one album. I couldn't track down any info on the group.
Music Of The Near East
Ali Beirut's Orientales
Promenade 2124
This is a good budget album that may have been released on several other bargain labels such as Pirouette.
But that doesn't take away from the fun. The fabulous cheesecake cover features Nejla Ates. She also appears on a El-Bakker title: Port Said. The music is very good for this sort of album in that the engineering is excellent. The instrument separation is clean and percussion really pops. The LP almost sounds as if it is playing in stereo. The arrangements are inventive and the pacing of album helps hold interest.
