The Alley Cats Presents Music For Listening

Raindrops

The Alley Cats Presents Music For Listening

From the back cover: The Alley Cat Band was founded as an experiment with the trainable mentally retarded. It was the outgrowth of a desire to provide a socially stimulating activity that all who wanted could participate in and at the same time disprove a concept that certain categories of the trainable mentally retorted could not be trained musically. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Band of its kind in the Country of trainable retardates.

The Band is an activity of the Workshops, Incorporated, Birmingham, Alabama, a facility for the rehabilitation, training and employment of the physically, mentally and emotionally handicapped.

Alley Cat
Carolina In The Morning
Chicago
San Antonio Rose
Sioux City Sue
Tennessee Waltz
Georgia
Melancholy Baby
Rambling Rose
Cheating Heart
Medley - Million Dollar Baby, Lazy River and Coconut Grove
Lonesome Me
Raindrops

Hollywood Gold - 570

Aids Is Out

We're Going Out Tonight

America, Our Land Over Here

Hollywood Gold
Rainbow Records HG-570

This is one crazy song poem album. The production values are higher than many song poem LPs I've collected... but that doesn't mean the results are any more polished. In some ways, decent vocals, good engineering and what seems to be a full studio band and makes the tracks sound all the more nuts. Good all the way through.

Hollywood Sessions

One More Time

Twinkle, Twinkle In Your Eyes

Bedroom Of Fire

Hollywood Sessions
Sunrise Records HS-130
1988

For more song poem fun on video check out Off The Charts.

Stan Freeman's Piano Sweethearts

Laura

Stan Freeman's Piano Sweethearts
Arrangements by Rufus Smith
Columbia CL 1326
1959

From Billboard June 29, 1956: The package concept here is the collection of girl's names – thus, the sweethearts are all ages and types – from "Estrelita" to "Laura" to "Diane" to "Marquetta." Freeman's piano is sophisticated and the arrangements are suave.

Lushly arranged pieces wrapped in a cover featuring a fab photo that sets the tone for the LP.

Laura
Diane
Frasquita
Alice Blue Gown
Mimi
Ruby
Gigi
Marcheta
Stella By Starlight
Liza
Tangerine
Estrelita

Night Sounds - Joe Bushkin

Night Sounds

Night Sounds - San Francisco
Joe Bushkin
Orchestral Fusions Marty Paich
Decca DL 4731
1966

Smooth lounge piano backed with minimal space age orchestral touches.

From the back cover: Joe is currently living on the big island of Hawaii. He is doing a lot of riding, surfing, swimming, romping with the kids and Franny.

The Good Life
Night Sounds
Sentimental Journey
More
Something's Gotta Give
I Left My Heart In San Francisco
The Second Time Around
Downtown
Who Can I Turn To
Sweet Leilani
I'll Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her
Cool Collins

The Now Sounds Of Today

Behind The Window

I Don't Want To Hear That Melody

The Now Sounds Of Today
Columbine Records NST-51

From the back cover: Columbine Records also endeavors to get exposure for its writers through television and radio promotions. At present we have a musical/variety show called "Columbine Records Presents America Sings." It is an exclusive presentation of songs that have previously been recorded by Columbine. Also in the works is a radio show that is an offshoot of the TV program.

And, once again, here is the link to a great video titled Off The Charts.

The Super Sounds Of Today

My Woman

I Live In A Gay Life

The Super Sounds Of Today
The Trendsetters
Century 21
CTO-3387-S
1978

The Sound Of Gypsy Music - Dick Kesner

The Sound Of Gypsy Music
Dick Kesner
His Magic Stradivarius And Orchestra
Coral Records
CRL 757376

The set is available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample.

Kesner made a number of terrific space age pop albums when he wasn't working for Lawrence Welk. This is a fine example of his mixing "traditional" with period pop "inventions" to create a lively and interesting blend of music.

"Gypsy" co-written by Kesner and Charles Dant is a standout track.

Also check out Kesner's Amor Latino.

Hungarian Rhapsody #2
Two Guitars
When A Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry
The Gypsy With Fire In His Shoes
Golden Earrings
Hungarian Dance #5
Gypsy
Play Fiddle Play
Dolores
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
Zigeuner
Gypsy Love Song

Michelle - Featuring The Trumpet Men

Michelle

Michelle
Featuring The Trumpet Men
Wyncote SW 9137

And now for another journey into the Land Of Budget LPs. This album features a mixed up collection of tracks by The Trumpet Men (not a real band) and the face of a pretty girl on the cover whose real name is not Michelle.

Anita Kerr And The French Connection

Let's Take A Walk By The Sea

Anita Kerr And The French Connection
Vocal Accompaniment by The French Connection
Produced by Anita Kerr and Alex Grob
Arranged and Conducted by Anita Kerr
RCA APL 1-2298
1977

Here's an obscure 60s/70s easy mood set by Anita Kerr. This LP was recorded in Switzerland.

Wiki: Anita Kerr

Website: www.anitakerr.com

A 6000
Michelle
So Far Away From L.A.
Now's The Time For Fun
The World Is Gonna Keep On Spinning
Let's Take A Walk By The Sea
When Summer Is Gone
Et Mourir De Plaisir
Tambourine
There Is No Love Without The Moonlight