Cugat's Favorites - Xavier Cugat

Siboney

Cugat's Favorties
Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra
Mercury MG 20065
1955

I believe that is Cugat's wife, Abbe Lane, featured on the cover. She also preforms vocals on several tracks. No credit for her efforts can be found in the material. There is an interesting interview with Lane on YouTube. She has a few choice things to say about Cugat.

Cugat produces, as usual, another fine space age Latin package.

Green Eyes
Linda Mujer
Walter Winchell Rhumba
Brazil
A Gay Ranchero
Cucaracha Mambo
Yours
Blue Tango
Siboney
Miami Beach Rhumba
Chiu Chiu
Donde Estabas Tu

Music For Two Sleepy People - Jack Pleis

Lullaby In Rhythm

Music For Two Sleep People
Jack Pleis And His Orchestra
Decca Records DL 8763
1958

Terrific mood/bachelor pad theme set. Pleis, like Jackie Gleason, had a knack for producing this type space age project.

From the back cover: Jack Pleis – noted conductor-pianist-arranger – is the man behind the mood. His beautiful instrumental interpretations of the melodies contained in this album, are characteristic of his sensitive, always-appealing and light orchestral touch. A highly talented composer as well, Mr. Pleis has written many popular songs, including Goodnight, Sweet Dreams, heard in this album.

Two Sleepy People
Close Your Eyes
Hit The Road To Dreamland
Land Of Dreams
Out Of My Dreams
Lullaby In Rhythm
I'd Love To Fall Asleep
I'll Close My Eyes
Let's Put Out The Lights
Lights Out
And So To Bed
Goodnight, Sweet Dreams

Zounds! What Sounds - The Polyphonics

The Woman

Zounds! What Sounds
The Polyphonics

Cover - Farmlett-Savalas
Photo - Barry Blum
Liner Notes - Marcia Hillman
The Polyphonics use Hohner Harmonicas exclusively

Seeco Records CELP 448 & CELP 4480 STEREO

From the back cover: Polyphonics which means "many sounds", is quite an appropriate name for the groups represented by this album. As you shall hear, many sounds emanate from each track. And, yet, the Polyphonics number only THREE… Ben Burley and Lou De Santis on the Hohner harmonics and Dick Scholl with, what is lovingly call, "The Monster">

Now, that your curiosity has been aroused, we hasten to explain "The Monster". It can partly be referred to as a multiple track tape recorder utilizing Ampex 960 machines. All other electronic equipment which is used for the purpose of providing the acoustical effects on this album was built by Dick Scholl. The Ampex Model 960 Stereophonic Recorder/Reproducer is capable of essentially distortionless frequency response from 30 to 20,000 cycles per second at the operating speed of 7 1/2 inches per second, and from 30 to 15,000 cycles per second at 3 1/4 inch per second.

These, then, are The Polyphonics

Dick Scholl… audio technican… started on his musical career by playing professional accordion. He was able to fit in 7 years of mechanical experience before the brand new field of electronics opened up. Combining his mechanical experience and his study of electronics, Dick became a leading man in the electronics field. Dick collaborated with John Newit who was responsible for most of Dick's electronic training, to produce "Practical TV Servicing", a text which is used today in TV training schools. Besides being a member of The Polyphonics, Dick Scholl is the owner of one of the few audio custom houses specializing in Audio component sales and service.

Ben Burley began playing the harmonica at a fairly early age and received quite a bit of training with the famed original Borah Minevitch Harmonica Rascals. In his travels, Ben earned the distinction of becoming an expert at the unusual and rarely practiced trade of harmonica tuning. While working with the Borah Minevitch group Ben met…

Lou De Santis, who has been making music with the harmonicas for a number of years. Lou also has a flair for writing and arranging. The arrangements for this album are Lou's brain children, as is the song "The Woman".

Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland
Out Of Nowhere
El Cumbanchero
A Woman
September Song
Under The Paris Skies
Caravan
La Rififi
Pennies From Heaven
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Trischt-Trascht
St. Louis Blues
Lover

For Grieving Lovers - Ted Steele

When Your Lover Has Gone

For Grieving Lovers
Music and Narration By Ted Steele
Aamco Records ALP-318
1958

From the back cover: Many years ago, Franklyn MacCormack grained great popularity with his spoken interpretations of poems and love songs of the day to musical backgrounds. He was one of the best known personalities of his day.

What Ted Steele achieves on this record, a modern day version of the great "grieving" love songs of this and past decades is dedicated to those who have loved and lost

These songs, "from the heart", performed with dignity and sincerity in the inimitable "fresh" Steele manner, could easily establish Ted as the spokesman for all lovers and losers of our generation.

When Your Lover Has Gone
A Ghost Of A Chance
Goodbye
You Don't Know What Love Is
Easy To Remember
I'll Never Smile Again
This Love Of Mine
These Foolish Things
Gone
Grievin'

Drum Fever - Saka Acquaye

Drum Fever
The High Life Music Of Saka Acquaye And His African Ensemble
Production supervisor – Jac Holzman
Cover Designer – David B. Jones
Cover Photo – George Pickow
Crestview Records CRV-805

This somewhat obscure press is released digitally as "Ghana High-Life" without artist credit so I will not be posting a sample. This press seems to have been released for the first time by Crestview in 1963 (receiving a mention in the May issue of Billboard). There is a 1959 copyright coving the "words and music" printed on the back cover. So, the music seems to have been created during same year that Martin Denny released Hypnotique, Afro-Desia, Exotica Volume III and Quiet Village and perhaps then recorded and or released sometime later (1963?). The sample track above reflects the "exotica" musical trend of the late 50s by the inclusion of "natural" sound effects. The rest of the album is handled more like a "traditional" African folk even thought the set is infused with period mood/jazz flourishes added by instruments, such as the vibes.

The entire set is arranged to keep you engaged by mixing up tempos and approaches to the percussion sound.

From the back cover: Saka Acquaye, first known as a hurdler representing his country in international track meets, later taught school and lead a dance band in his native Ghana. Coming to the United States on a scholarship from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Saka specialized in sculpture and won all the prizes given by the Academy in that field. He organized his African Ensemble in 1954, and since that time, in addition to numerous radio and television performances, the group has played in concert halls and universities throughout the East. His New York appearances include a Town Hall concert and a banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria in honor of Ghana's Prime Minister

Saka Acquaye plays the drums, flute, and tenor saxophone. Other members of the group are Garvine Masseaux, vibes and drums; George Brooks, bass; Edward Cooper, trumpet and mellophone; Wilfred Letman, trumpet' Charles Earland, tenor saxophone; Walter Miller, guitar; and Robert Crowder, Joseph Acquaye, Benny Parkes and Sunny Morgan, drums.

Sugar Soup
Down The Congo
Saturday Night
Drum Festival
Concomba
Beyond Africa
Congo Beat
Echoes Of The African Forest
Bus Conductor
Ebony
Kenya Sunset
Awusen
Akudonno

Rock And Roll With Joe Houston

I Woke Up This Morning

Rock And Roll
Joe Houston And His Rockets
Tops L1518
1958

From the back cover: Out of the West Coast rode Joe Houston, WILD MAN OF THE TENOR SAX, on a rock and roll beat that's sent the nation's teen-agers into a stomping' stomping', frenzied panic. In the short span of two years, Houston has catapulted from the ranks of the unknown into a top box-office attraction, and one of the nations most talked-about musicians of the day.

When Joe gets into a solid groove, his tenor sax plays a powerhouse music that literally blow away inhibitions, producing an emotional condition among his rabid listeners that can be mildly described as mass hysteria. Shouting, stomping, whistling, and screaming jazz concert and jazz crowds are whipped into unbelievable excitement by the raw, primitive, rhythmic patterns.

Off Beat
Rock That Boogie
No Name Rock
Goofin'
Joe's Rock
Tall Gal Blues
All Night Long
Movin' And Groovin'
Corn Bread And Cabbage Greens
I Woke Up This Morning
Flying Home
Teen-age Boogie

Piano Roll Rock 'N Roll - J. Lawrence Cook

Wake Up Little Susie

Piano Roll Rock 'N Roll
J. Lawrence Cook
Mercury SR 60083

From the back cover: Cook happens to be one of an almost deceased profession. He's a piano-roll-perforator-arranger-musician!

J. Lawrence Cook came to New York from Pittsburgh in 1920, after completing a college preparatory course in piano technique. He's been fascinated by the player piano from childhood, recalling sitting through three or four runs of a silent flicker just to hear the player-piano background. In the spring of 1921, he purchased a simple, hand-operated music roll perforator and studied the work of contemporary piano roll artists. He also took courses in harmony and composition. His first piano roll were made for U.S. Music Rolls in 1921 and continued thru 1923, when he joined the staff of Q.R.S., with whom he is still associated today.

Rock Around The Clock
Bernadine
All Shook Up
Searching And Dreaming
Why Do Fools Fall In Love
My Ship
Hound Dog
Oh Yeah
Wake Up Little Suzie
The Swinging Shepard Blues
The Walk
Nice Little Girl

Abuglubu Abuglubu Cha Cha Cha - Norman Maine Y Su Orquesta

I Sing "Amore"

Abuglubu Abuglubu Cha Cha Cha
Norman Maine Y Su Orquesta
Columbia EX 5037

Swinging big band space age Latin. The copy I found is a Columbia "demonstration" issue.

Abuglubu Abugluba Cha Cha Cha
Champagne, Amour And Cha Cha Cha
Vendiendo Agua
I Sing "Amore"
Bonne Bonne Fete
Ven Pronto A Mi (Come Softly To Me)
Demasiado Tequila (Too Much Tequila)
C'est Si Son
Littl' Quin Quin Cha Cha
Si, Si, Si, Si
Trabajando (Travaille)
Pulque

Million Seller Hits Of The 40s - Carlini's World Of Strings

Laura

Million Seller Hits Of The 40s
Carlini's World Of Strings
Recorded Under The Direction Of D. L. Miller
Manufactured By Haddon Record Corp.
Gold Award GA-1

Well executed budget lush strings set.

Some Enchanted Evening
Nature Boy
Ay, Ay, Ay
Anniversary Song
Sentimental Journey
Laura
Heartaches
Johnson Rag
I Dream Of Jeannie
Long Ago And Far Away

The Best Of Al Caiola

Antony And Cleopatra Theme

The Best Of Al Caiola
United Artists Records
UAS 6310
1963

Cover designed by Norman Art Studio, Chicago

The Magnificent Seven
Calcutta
Guitar Boogie
The Guns Of Navarone
Antony And Cleopatra Theme
Quando, Quando, Quando
Bonaza
Moon River
Experiment In Terror
Bali Hai
Love Is Like Champagne
Theme From The Brothers Grimm