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Saturday, August 25, 2012

The Astromusical House Of Taurus

Work Song
The Astromusical House Of Taurus
Sign Of The Bull Or Producer
Astrological Series Volume 1
Produced By Paul Robinson
Booklet The Astrological Series / Volume 1 by Carroll Righter
Fashion Designer: Oscar De Larenta
Cover Photograph: Francesco Scavullo
Designer & Art Director: Bob Cato
GWP Records
ASTRO 1002 Stereo
1969

The Sound Of Music
Work Song
Lover
The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)
Love For Sale
A Taste Of Honey
Granada
A Lover's Concerto
More (Theme From "Mondo Cane")
I've Gotta Be Me
Can't Take Me Eyes Off You

Clair - Percy Faith

Super Fly
Clair
Percy Faith
Columbia KC 32164
1973

This is the first Percy Faith album that I've stumbled across that seemed promising to me. The cover graphic is mysterious and the track list is interesting.

Thankfully, there is enough early 70s light pop sass on the vinyl to make the discount bin 50¢ I paid for  money well spent.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Perez Prado And Other Latin American Favorites

Heat Wave
Perez Prado And Other Latin American Favorites
Spinorama Records M-78

I'm not sure what the deal is with this album. From the back cover: "...as a fitting companion to Perez Prado's exciting orchestra is the Latin Group of Eddie Maynard."

It is hard to tell if "Maynard" was playing under Prado's direction, or as a part of Prado's group or if Spinorama included tracks from two sources on the LP (seems more likely as I listen).

The back cover also seems to be repurposed from another jacket as the title treatment and art can also be found on the back of a "Celebrity Records" release. Also the album title seems to be referred to in the back cover copy as "Dance Party".

All that said, the overall vibe is mild space age and enjoyable.

Flamingo Cha Cha
Cha Cha No. 5
Blue Tango
Miami Beach Mambo
La Paloma
Heat Wave
Umpaquita Cha Cha
Cha Cha No. 8
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Carribean Mambo
Anvil Chorus
La Clave

Walt Solek and Larry Chesky

Hey Jude
Walt Solek and Larry Chesky And His Orchestra
Live Sound Series Tifton International TS-87

What do you get when you blend a duck taped violin, clown nose and Hey Jude? An irresistible pick at Goodwill on 50% off day.

Chesky's page on International Polka.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Stereo Action Goes Hollywood - Marty Gold

Invitation
Stereo Action Goes To Hollywood
Marty Gold and His Orchestra
Arrangedments by Marty Gold
Cover Photo by David B. Hecht
Recorded at Webster Hall, New York City
Recording Engineer: Bob Simpson
Mastering: Dick Gardner
RCA LSA-2381
1961

From the sleeve: The Story Of The Album

Marty Gold quite justifiable has been called a Flying Sorcerer of Sonic Surprises – now firmly in orbit and not likely to come down to earth very soon. Marty was in attendance when RCA Victor's Stereo Action recordings technique was developed and was one of the first to recognize its potential as an existing new medium of recorded entertainment. He was a prime mover in bringing it into reality – as anyone who has heard his album It's Magic (LSA-2290) will attest and a lot of people have already purchased this initial Stereo Action release.

In Stereo Action Goes Hollywood Marty has taken some of the film capital's best and most popular soundtrack themes and has bien then a compelling new sense of movement and dimension that never could have been attained by any of the various 3-D see screen films that were shown on motion picture screens. Where each selection was originally underscored to enhance the movie's motion through sight, Marty Gold has found music with natural affinity for Stereo Action's unique sound-in-motions. Even without a scenario to guide him, Marty found that each one practically arranged itself; it was just a matter of selecting the material with the widest range of musical content, tonal color, motion and emotion.

To capture every facet of the Stereo Action potential, Marty has utilized three different instrumental groups. One features a full string ensemble (of violins, violas and cellos), three reeds doubling on everything from piccolo down to bassoon, French horn, harp, accordion, two guitars, bass, drums, celesta and chromatic bells. Another has violins, soprano voice, four trombones, French horn, four reeds, harpsichord, two guitars, rhythm drums and percussion. The third group presents four trumpets, four trombones, three reeds, harpsichord, two guitars, accordion bass, rhythm drums and percussion.

Engineer Bob Simpson seated the musicians in the studio for the best possible spatial effect. Though the musicians changed positions from selection to selection, the close microphoning on the instruments never changed. Separate RCA 77DXs were used on the French horn, guitars, bass, harp and percussion instruments. The accordion, harpsichord, toy piano, celesta and chromatic bells were each picked up by RCA 10,001 microphones. An RCA BK5 was used on the rhythm drums and the reeds were picked up by an RCA 44BX. Trumpets and trombones were recorded by separate Telefunken U49 condenser mikes while U47s were used oil the soporano voice, violins, violas andcellis. For distant brass pickup as well as for added stereo depth, two Telefunken KM56 condenser microphones were placed about fifteen feet apart in the back of Webster Hall, where this album was cut.

From Billboard - May 29, 1961: In a brief period of several months, RCA Victor has successfully established its line of Stereo Action albums. It is known that each of the first four packages which were released during February and March sold about 35,000. – The Stereo Action line was RCA Victor's concept of Music In Motion and entails a deliberate effort to move the sound of instruments or voices from speaker to speaker to suspend the sound between speakers, etc. The packaging is deluxe, with detailed notes on studio equipment and a track by track breakdown of the music. – I recently debuted lines based on a concept of sound, it has been customary for the manufacturer to establish a monaural counterpart of the stereo version. RCA Victor has decided not to do this with Stereo Action.

Around The World
The Children's Marching Song
Song Of The Barefoot Contessa
Song From Moulin Rouge
The 3rd Man Theme
Gigi
Coloney Bogey
Moonglow and Theme From Picnic
The High And The Mighty
Tara's Theme
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Invitation

Friday, August 17, 2012

I Shall Be Released - Freddie Scott

With A Little Help From My Friends
Freddie Scott
I Shall Be Released
Produced by Freddie Scott and Tommy Kaye
Cover Photos & Design: Jim Cummins
Command/Probe ABC Records
CPLP-4517-S
1970

From the back cover: Freddie Scott, holder of two gold records ("Hey Girl" and "Are You Lonely For Me Baby?"), sat in my office on a sunny Spring afternoon, explaining his reasons for re- turning to the record business – a world he had given up for two years - almost forever.

Freddie's always been heavily into composing and producing.

"This record is the kind of music I'd like to do", Freddie said, speaking softly, "the kind of artist I'd like to be. I think it's important today to have something to say, and that's what I'm trying and that's what I want to do.

"I've been writing message songs long before this whole movement started. I was told at that time we could never release a record like: people get together now - get your heads together. The message on this album is about love – strictly about love. It's not a planned album – it just fell into place."

In co-producing the album with Tommy Kaye, Freddie took special care to make sure it would truly be a reflection of his feelings, his art:

"The way I do everything is to go into the studio with two or three pieces. Everything else is overdubbed. This is the only way that the true art can come out – if there really is any art there at all. You don't clash with all the other instruments."

While trying to put music and art into words is a risky business at best, Freddie spoke with great enthusiasm about several of the songs on the album.

"It's hard to pass up a song like 'I Shall Be Released'. I like the song – melody and lyric. I think Dylan's just one of the heaviest people around as a writer. He's gotten right down to the crux of reality.

"I think it's time for people to hear a song of the caliber 'If Tomorrow Never Comes'. It may ease some of the ten- sions of today.

"I recorded 'Don't Let Me Fall' because it reminded me of things I did two and three years ago.

"And 'Girl I Love You' was inspired by seeing a young couple walking in the park."

One of Freddie Scott's most unique qualities as an artist is his ability to touch you with his message of love and truth. Listen to his message – all of it – as he reaches out and touches you. – Sue Clark

If Tomorrow Never Comes
I Shall Be Released
Girl I Love You
I'll Be Leaving Her Tomorrow
Learin' How To Fly
With A Little Help From My Friends
Don't Let Me Fall
Out Of My Mind

The Guitar Ramblers - Jack Marshall

Malibu Caravan
Happy, Youthful New Sounds Of The Guitar Ramblers
Under the Direction of Jack Marshall
Produced by Jim Harbert
Columbia Special Products
Special Archives Series
CSRP 8867
1963

Malibu Caravan
El Torito
Alley Cat
After You've Gone
Wildwood Flower
Midnight In Madrid
Surf Beat
Walk Right In
Bugle Call Rag
Pick Now, Pay Later
Mother, Please! Let Me Do It Myself!
It's A Man's World

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Keys And I - Eddie Heywood

Caravan In The Night

The Keys And I
Eddie Heywood
With Joe Reisman And His Orchestra
Conducted and Produced by Joe Reisman
Recording Engineer: Ray Hall
Supervised by Hugo Winterhalter
Recorded in New York, September and October, 1958
RCA LPM-1900
1959

Witchcraft, All The Way, The Piccolino and Land Of Dreams arranged by Eddie Heywood. Hurricane arranged by Sid Ramin. St. Louis Blues, Virgin Isle Vamp and Rendezvous arranged by Joe Reisman. Caravan In The Night, Cappuccino and Pom-Pom arranged by Jimmy Mundy. 

From the back cover: The sly and crafty fingers of Eddie Heywood, which have drawn from the keys of innumerable pianos a variety of music, take us on a versatile musical excursion in these selections. To give each piece its most appropriate frame, Eddie has used a multitude of imaginative backgrounds in this album. Weaving in and out of the various instrumentations are Eddie and the piano keys that have formed such a rewarding partnership over the years.

The tunes Eddie has chosen for this collection reflect the diverse paths that he has followed since the day he became the piano soloist in a theater band in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 14. Heywood first gained fame as a jazz pianist, a period which he recalls in W. C. Handy's St. Louis Blues and more specifically in Pom-Pom, which was written by the great jazz saxophonist and trumpeter, Benny Carter. Irving Berlin's The Piccolino is a tune that Eddie featured with great success in the Forties when he was broadening his base from jazz to a wider audience, and his inclusion of such recent popular hits as All the Way and Witchcraft show how he has sustained that early talent for bringing his own personal touch the inimitable Heywood sound – to songs of every period.

More recently Eddie has had great success in exploring the more exotic side of music, a side which he shows off in the insistent eeriness of Caravan in the Night, the soulful Rendezvous, and two suggestions of foreign lands, Madeira and Cappuccino. And, of course, since he wrote Canadian Sunset Eddie Heywood has been counted among the most melodic of popular composers. So, to provide the complete decoration for this rounded picture of his adventures with the keys, he has included three strikingly different samples of his compositions – Hurricane, Virgin Isle Vamp and the apt closing theme, Land of Dreams.

One key to Eddie's popularity is the multiple facets of his talent, but there are 88 other keys that unlock the door to his special world. Fortu- nately, they are right at his fingertips. – WATSON WYLIE


St. Louis Blues
Hurricane
Witchcraft
Virgin Isle Vamp
All The Way
Caravan In The Night
Rendezvous
The Piccolino
Maderia
Cappuccino
Pom Pom
Land Of Dreams

Strange Interlude - Lew Davis And His Orchestra

Old Devil Moon
Strange Interlude
Lew Davis And His Orchestra
Originated and produced by Enoch Light
Arrangements by Lew Davies
Associate Producer: Julie Klages
Recording Engineer: Robert Fine
Mastering: George Piros
Art Direction by Charles E. Murphy
Cover Art & Design by S. Neil Fujita
Command RS 829 SD
Grand Awards Record Co, Inc.
1961

Personnel:
Bass: Jack Lesberg & Bob Hagars
Reed: Stanley Webb, Phil Bodner, Ezelle Watson & Al Klink
Drums: Phil Kraus & George Devens
Ondioline: Sy Mann
Trombones: Bobby Byrne, Urbie Green & Dick Hixon
French Horn: Tony Miranda & Paul Faulise
Guitar: Tony Mottola
Theremin: Walter Sear & Paul Lippman
Cymbalum: Michael Szittai

Riders In The Sky
Strange Interlude
In A Mist
Gone With The Wind
Wild Goose
Intermezzo
Old Devil Moon
Ebb Tide
The Riddle Song
The Witching Hour
Laura
Spellbound

On The Beach - Frank Chacksfield

On The Beach
On The Beach
Frank Chacksfield And His Orchestra
London PS-203
1959

From the back cover:  ABOUT FRANK CHACKSFIELD - Born in Sussex, England, Frank Chacksfield's first public appearance was at the age of 14 as a church organist seven miles from his home. After a brief period in a law office, Frank achieved his real ambition and formed a dance band, securing a number of local dates. However, before the band could play the first date, England was shocked by the death of George V and all "entertainments" were cancelled. Later, after a few successful appearances, war was declared and Frank, along with many members of his band, enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps.

While he was recuperating in a Scottish hospital he made his first BBC broadcast, playing and singing popular favorites from the piano. Later, stationed in Southern England, he was appointed staff arranger for the Army review "Stars In Battledress" which was the British equivalent of our own "This Is The Army." One of his first jobs after the war was arranging the music for the show's popular civilian version.

He made his first record in 1948, and has directed the accompaniment for a number of the leading singers of radio and records. Among many very fine recordings, his versions of Ebbtide and Limelight (featured in this album) became best sellers.

The success story continues. . . this present collection presents the very best of Chacksfield. and features a great arrangement of the title song, "On The Beach."

On The Beach
April Love
Love Is A Many Splendored Thing 
I Loves You Porgy
Oklahoma
High Noon
Limelight
Three Coins In The Fountain
Night And Day
Laura
The Student Price
Friendly Persuasion