Prospective 21 Siecle

Transition I - Mauricio Kagel

Prospective 21 Siecle

Realisation: Pierre HENRY
Philips
Gravure Universelle 836 897 DSY
1960(?)

I'm In The Mood To Swing - Ray Ellis

The Continental

I'm In The Mood To Swing
Ray Ellis And His Orchestra
MGM E3820
1960

From Billboard, May 16, 1960: Ray Ellis, an arranger of talent here fronts a band playing bright and sparkling versions of standards such as Cheek to Cheek, (etc.). Elis gets a pleasing sound from orchestra and chorus. Jockeys will find some attractive programming here.

Side one

Lullaby Of Broadway
Comes Love
I'm Sitting On Top Of The World
Cheek To Cheek
All Of You
Heat Wave

Side two

The Gypsy In My Soul
Button Up Your Overcoat
Everything I've Got
The Continental
My Baby Just Cares For Me
Always True To You In My Fashion

Guitars Galore - George Barnes

Jeepers Creepers

Guitars Galore
George Barnes
Mercury Records PPS 6020
1961

Here is another obscure Barnes release. Also see Guitars By George Barnes and Guitar Galaxies.

This is a rocking, jazzy and swinging disc featuring stellar Mercury engineering. This entry follows Guitar Galaxies and competes nicely with the finely engineered light-pop records that Enoch Light was producing at the time on his Command label.

From the back cover: Four guitars tuned in the key of F, designed by Barnes, were built for this session by the Guild Guitar Company. As Barnes explains, the F guitar offers a range pitched four notes higher than the standard guitar range making it possible to play with the trumpets; even up to F above high C. Leader Barnes used the F guitar throughout the date.

Several years ago Barnes had the opportunity to use a special reverberative Chamber. The result was similar to the pizzicato effect of strings in a large hall. As he was planning Guitars Galore, he remembered the effect and ordered portable reverberation amplifiers. Their use was controlled by individual foot switches with each unit. The reverberation, tremolo, and reverberation-tremolo could be turned off and on at will by the player's foot. The ordinary vibrato effects of playing on a stringed instrument are enhanced by the color derived from these more versatile amplifiers.

Side one

Singin' In The Rain
Have You Met Miss Jones
Jeepers Creepers
Runnin' Wild
Indiana
Guitar Galore

Side two

Liza
Sugar
Waitin' At The end Of The Road
Too Marvelous For Words
Should I
Pickin' Plenty

Bill Justis Plays 12 Top Tunes

El Watusi

Watermelon Man

Bill Justis Plays 12 Top Tunes
Smash Records SRS 67036
1963

From Billboard, July 20, 1963: Bill Justis has jumped on a flock of recent top hits here and has given them swinging renditions very much in the manner of the original waxwings. Teens should dig the Justis-styled recordings of Tamure (that's how Billboard spelled the track title), Pipeline, Hot Pastrami, Watermelon Man, Gravy Waltz and Wiggle Wobble.

This album seems to takes its' cue from other "discotheque" LPs on the market at the time. So, the song approaches are varied but good space age fair.

Compulsion To Swing - Henri Rene

Nature Boy

Compulsion To Swing
Henri Rene And His Orchestra
RCA Victor LPM-1947
1959

From Billboard, March 23, 1959: Smart, tasteful, jazz-flavored, instrumental treatments by Rene mark this collection of swingy standards and oldies. Colorful cover gives item solid display value.

The Blues Room
Cry Me A River
Baubles, Bangles and Beads
Compulsion To Swing
It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
Just A Gigolo
'S Wonderful
Nature Boy
The Hot Canary
Blues Chartreuse
The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
Don't Cry Joe

Donald Byrd & Gigi Gryce - Xtacy

Donald Byrd & Gigi Gryce
Xtacy
Trip Jazz TLP-5016

Tracks are available for online purchase so I will not be posting a sample. But the original cover art is somewhat obscure and great fun.

The music is toe-tapping straight forward small combo jazz.

Blue Lights
Onion Head
Isn't It Romantic
Bat Land
Bangoon
Imagination
Xtacy

America The Bountiful

America The Bountiful
Produced For Invest-In-America Councils
Research Craft Corp., Los Angeles, Calif.
RC 485

Obscure LP with no jacket.

Crazy Otto Goes Sentimental

Perfidia

Crazy Otto Goes Sentimental
Vocalion VL 3663
1959

From Billboard, July 20, 1959: This is Crazy Otto which his regular ricky-tick fans will find a stranger. It's society, cocktail lounge piano with traces of the Garner after-the-beat style. Nice performances but rack buyers who go for the Otto standard sound may have a surprise in store when they turn on the set.

The Soul Of Paul Mauriat

You Keep Me Hangin' On

The Soul Of Paul Mauriat
Philips PHS-600-299
1969

This is an album, along with other Mauriat LPs, that you often find untouched in the discount bin. I've blogged a number of Mauriat albums now and find his work, for the most part, unique in easy listening. He creates unusual arrangements and applies instruments and subtle effects in a way that captures and hold the attention.

This album, while all of the tracks aren't as psyched as the sample above, is one of his more awesome efforts.

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
I've Never Loved A Man
I've Been Loving You Too Long
You Keep Me Hangin' On
It's A Man's World
When A Man Loves A Woman
Respect
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
In The Midnight Hour
My Girl
Love Child

Ba Ma Hit Parade - King Eric

Zombie Jamboree

Bama Hit Parade
A Collection Of Favorite Melodies
From The Exotic
Islands In The Sun
King Eric And His Knights
From The Famous Ba Ma Supper Club – Nassau In The Bahamas
Inside The Windsor Inne's Famous Ba-Ma Room
Carib 1960

From the back cover: Here are the chords of Eric Gibson on the guitar, Ronald Butler swinging from vocal to bongo drums, Frankie Adams singing his happy heart out, and Mickey Newbold on the bass. Here is the first album from all of us at the Ba Ma.

Check out the follow-up King Eric/Ba Ma album: Calypso Encores

Zombie Jamboree
Choucoune
Island Woman
Jamaica Farewell
Ah Baby
Day O
Mary Ann
Big Bamboo
Crazy Like Mad
Bahama Lullaby
Mama La
The Conch
Island In The Sun