I Swing For You - Vicky Lane

They Say It's Wonderful

I Swing For You
Vicky Lane
Orchestra Arranged And Conducted By Pete Candoli
RCA Victor LSP-2056
1959

From Billboard - December 28, 1959: Lane is a new singer who could go far on wax. She handles a group of standards with a refreshing, jazz oriented style that is both novel and exciting. And the arrangements behind her by the Pete Candoli Combo are attractive. Selections range from "The Trolly Song" to "They Say It's Wonderful," and every song is a delight to hear. Watch this girl, she has talent.

Band credits: Pete Candoli - trumpet, Barney Kessel - guitar, Joe Mondragon - bass, Jimmy Rowles or Johnny Williams - piano and alternating on drums and the other percussion instruments – never more than four of them appearing at one time: Alvin Stoller, Larry Bunker, Milt Holland, Lou Singer, Ralph Hansell, Johnny Cyr and Gene Estes.

This was Lane's first and only album. She was married to Candoli from 1953 to 1958. She passed away in 1983 at the age of 57.

The Trolley Song
Our Very Own
My Romance
You Hit The Spot
Love Isn't Born
My Heart Stood Still
They Say It's Wonderful
The Song Is You
Long Ago And Far Away
I love You
Right As The Rain
This Heart Of Mine

Fiesta! - Charles Magnate

Jungle Drums

Fiesta!
Charles Magante His Accordion And Orchestra Go South Of The Border
Originated And Produced By Enoch Light
Art Director Charles E. Murphy
Command/ABC (Grand Award Record Co.) RS 869 SD
1964

The quality of the (Command) engineering is promoted on the back cover: The World famous engineering techniques of Command Records which have kept Command the trail-blazing pioneer in the most advanced stages of sound recording.

The LP comes in a single jacket, not the typical Command book-fold. ABC reduced printing costs by producing some single jackets, although I have found other ABC/Command book-folds.

El Cumbanchero
La Paloma
Malaguena
Jungle Drums
Amapola
Brazilian Nocturne
Ritual Fire Dance
Rosita
Carmen Opera Medley
Cielito Lindo
A Gay Ranchero
Yours

At A Sidewalk Cafe - Ruth Welcome

At A Sidewalk Cafe

Ruth Welcome
The Milt Shaw Trio
Capitol Records ST 1209
1959

Available from a few vendors so I will not be posting a sample.

Posted here to share the back cover. Another professionally presented zither concept album from Welcome's catalog.

From Billboard - July 15, 1959: A lot of charm here. Material is continental in flavor. Miss Welcome's zither is accompanied by the Milt Shaw Trip (violins, bass and accordion) – providing instrumentals redolent of Paris, Rome and Vienna.

From the back cover: Having spent her early childhood in Germany and Switzerland, Ruth Welcome is especially found of Continental music and, in particular, the old Viennese favorites...

Arrivederci Roma
Under Paris Skies
My Heart Is A Violin
Anema E Core
Domino
A Little Cafe Down The Street
Guaglione
J'Attendrai
Ja Ja Der Wein Ist Gut
Non Dimenticar
Im Prater Bluh'n Wieder Die Baume

30 Latin American Favorites - Eddie Cano

30 Latin American Favorites

Eddie Cano And His Orchestra
Pickwick PC-3017 & SPC-3017

The front cover implies that Pickwick jammed together 15 tracks to a side to produce a budget set of recycled tunes. However, the record actually features 4 medleys. Each track plays through, sounding like single arrangement rather than a string of songs that Cano stitched together. While each of the 4 tracks sounds pretty much alike in tone, the record makes for a good dancing or background music companion.

From the back cover: Cano started it all in a little after-hours club in Hollywood, P. J.'s, where the top stars gathered to cool out after a hard day's work before the cameras. But as the nightcaps were cooling off on the rocks, Cano sat down at his piano and, with his band, picked up the tempo on some Latin melodies. Before you could say "Rio Grande," the joint was rocking like an earthquake hit it.

The Sweet Language Of Love - Jacqueline Francois

Rio

There's A Small Hotel

The Sweet Language Of Love
Jacqueline Francois
Sings In French And English
Columbia CL 1076
1958

This is LP features a fine "cross-over" artist and a fab late 50 space age set featuring the following musicians: French jazz pianist; Claude Bolling, American pianist; Jack Elliott; Don Elliott, vibes and mellophone; Milt Hinton, bass; Kenny Burrell, guitar; and Osie Johnson, drums.

Credits continue and include: Conductor: Fank Aussman. Sessions were made in New York under the supervision of Mitch Miller and Nat Shapiro.

Love Is A Child, was composed by Jean-Jacques Tilche, Miss Francois' regular guitarist, and the accompaniment is conducted by Percy Faith

Les Fontana orchestra backed by Francois on Serenata.

From the back cover: Although she has been in America previously, Jacqueline Francois did not undertake her first extended singing engagements in this country until the spring of 1957. She played such opulent recreation rooms as the Bai Masque of the Americana in Miami Beach; the Persian Room of the Hotel Plaza; and also found itinerary-space for Las Vegas and Mexico City. She was highly successful everywhere in terms of audiences attracted by her name and recordings and audiences drawn to return again by the impact of her commanding presence.

From Billboard - March 31, 1958: Jacqueline Francois, who has charmed audiences in swank supper clubs here and abroad for many years, will add to her following with this new set. She sings half of the songs in French and the other half in English and is good in both languages, altho a trifle more exciting in Francaise. She is backed on many tunes by top jazz names, both French and American, adding much to the impact of the set.

Le Ciel (The Sky)
Rio
Ou Vont Les Etoiles
Serenata
Sa Jeunesse...Entre Ses Mains
Qu'est-ce Que T'as Fait
The Sweet Language Of Love
Taking A Chance On Love
Spring Is Here
Easy To Love
There's A Small Hotel
Love Is A Child

Bagdad Cabaret

Bagdad Cabaret
The Seductive Sounds Of Lebanon, Turkey And Egypt
Yousef Kouyoumjian And His Bagdad Ensemble Presents Music From An Authentic Full-Length Belly Dance
Cover Photo: David Goodyears, Yousef and Rayna at The Bagdad Cabret - San Francisco, Calif.
Stereo Synthesized and edited at Capitol Records
Bagdad Cabaret BG 1002

From the back cover: Yousef Kouyoumjian, born in Bagdad, Iraq, has done much to revive the classical art form of belly dance which is the visual part of Mid-Eastern music. His Bagdad Cabaret on Broadway, San Francisco has been a gathering place for musicians and dancers for over a decade. Youself has toured extensively with his ensemble in Mexico and the Mid-East as well as the U.S. Yousef's first recording (Bagdad BG 1001) continues to be a favorite with professional belly dancers as well as those who are just learning this ancient art.

Una Noche En Buenos Aires

Brindis De Tango

Una Noche en Buenos Aires
(One Night In Buenos Aires)
Seeco Gold Series
Seeco Records SCLP 9057
1955

Inspiration (Inspiration)
Adios Muchachos (Goodbye, Old Friends)
A Media Luz (Twilight)
Precio (My Priceless One)
La Ultima Copa (The Last Drink)
Brindis De Tango (Here's ToTango)
Don Jaun (The Gay Lover)
Se Va La Vida (Such Is Life)
Cupas Ajenas (Anyone's Mistakes)
Che Bandoneon (Sittin')
La Cumparsita (The Gay Little Tango)
Jorge Duval (George Duval)

Greek Soul - Gus Vali

Aquarius

Greek Soul
Gus Vali
Produced by Gus Vali and Chet Amsterdam
Arranged and Conducted by Gus Vali
Art Direction: Frank Gauna
U.A. International
UNS 15563
1970

Vali blends period light pop with traditional Greek music instruments.

Those Were The Days Aquarius (From The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical "Hair")
Istes Ginekis
Mi Tharis
Ela Ela
Good Morning Starshine (From The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical "Hair")
Vatikiottisa
Silver And Gold
The Windmills Of Your Mind (Theme From "The Thomas Crowne Affair")
Popi (From The United Artists Motion Picture "Popi")

Hot Rod Jazz - Tuff Saxes And Twangy Guitars - Larry Wilcox

Hod Rot Jazz
Tuff Saxes And Twangy Guitars
Larry Wilcox And His Orchestra
Columbia Specialty Products CS 8947
1964

Not widely available at this time, but the set can be found for purchase from one vendor, so I will not be posting a sample.

From the back cover: Larry Wilcox has created scores for Johnny Tillotson, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Vic Damone, Teri Thornton, Tommy Leonetti and many other top recording artists. Now, he zooms down the track with his own orchestra of great jazz artists including Bobby Scott (organ), Jerome Richardson (flute), Billy Mitchell and Joe Farrell (saxes), Joe Newman (trumpet) and Jimmy Raney (guitar).

This is a terrific "hot rod" set that sounds nothing like the typical "hot rod" records I've collected. "Jazz" is the keyword in the title and swinging vibe added to create more of a space age bachelor pad set with moments that seemed to influenced by period "Enoch Light, Command label-like" light pop. Terrific engineering tops off the tank and makes for a great listen!

Also see: Paul Simon Interpreted - The Sound Symposium (Wilcox arrangements)

Big Deuce
Theme From "Who Did You Kill"
Magda's Song
Little Red Rod
Loddy Lo
The Nitty Gritty
Jet Propelled
Dominique
Draggin' Lady
Hobo Flats
Tunga
Organ Grinder's Swing

The Look Of Love - Laurindo Almeida

Angel Eyes

The Look Of Love
And The Sounds Of Laurindo Almeida
Produced By Lex de Acevedo
Conducted And Arranged By Lex de Acevedo
Cover Photo: Capitol Photo Studio/Ed Simpson
Capitol Records ST 2866
1968

From the back cover: With superb skill, feeling and artistry, Almeida performs a collection of the new and lovely songs of today. Backing him are velvety strings, woodwinds, and the percussive voices of vibes, piano, celeste, bass, and drums. The arrangements are by Lex de Azenedo, Clare Fischer, and Dick Grove. The Look Of Love, ardently painted in the incomparable colors of the Spanish guitar, is by Laurindo Almedia.

Windy
Angel Eyes
I Love You
Up, Up And Away
Don't Sleep In The Subway
The Look Of Love
When I Look In Your Eyes
Alfie
A Beautiful Friendship
Simplicidade
My Own True Love