Sounds Of Africa

Mocambique

Sounds Of Africa
From The ABC News Television Production Africa
Executive Producer: James Fleming
Edited by Andrew Tracey
Produced by Andrew Tracey
Engineer: Frank Greenwald
Production Supervisor: Jerry Schoenbaum
Director of Engineering: Val Valentin
Cover Design: Jack Anesh
Verve Forecast FT 3021
Manufactured by MGM Records Division, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.
1967

From the back cover: Introduction by Andrew Tracey - In June 1966, ABC Television News, New York, sent ten camera crews to Africa to make a full-length feature film covering every aspect of modern Africa – everything from politics to big game. Eight months and more than a million dollars later they came back with probably the most fascinating and complete film coverage of a continent ever made. In the course of traveling this most musical continent it was inevitable that they should have filmed a rich variety of its music makers or all kinds, hence this record... a selection from the many hours of music recorded by the "Africa Project" teams. I have chosen numbers that I consider to be most representative of the enormous variety of the musical sounds and moods of Africa. Obviously there are gaps, but it would take many more years, and dollars, to do justice to the music alone.

Most of the music on this record was recorded with folk performers who were unaccustomed to directing their attention to a microphone, and by camera teams whose first interest was generally visual rather than aural, so naturally many of the tracks do not have the quality of studio recordings. Note that the final version of the "Africa" film may not include all of the music on this record.

Nigera
a. Folk Opera
b. Egungun

Nigeria
a. Ibo Dance
b. Lagos Police Band

Mali
a. 3-string lute
b. 2-string fiddle
Upper Volta
c. Song with lutes

Senegal
Kora

Ghana
a. Stand up for Jesus
b. Mammy wagon

Cameroon
Don's flutes and drum

Congo (Kinshasa)
a. Swahili plainsong
b. Two moires

Congo (Kinshasa
a. Ayilongo
b. Afro-Mogambo

Mozambique
Chibudu

Uganda
Ending

Uganda
Bwola

Unganda
a. Amadinda
b. Ganga

Ethiopia
1-string fiddle
Kenya
Kamba drummers

South Africa
Bombing
Lisotho
Lesbian

Botswana
a. Bushman mbira
b. Bushman dance

The Swinging Seasons - Dick Hyman & Leonard Feather-Ralph Burns

Early Autumn

The Swinging Seasons
MGM E613
1958

The Dick Hyman Trio plays

Dick Hyman's
"The Swingin' Seasons"

Leonard Feather's
"Sound Of Spring"

Ralph Burns'
"Summer Sequence"
"Early Autumn"

Personnel:
Dick Hyman - Piano and Organ
Don Lamond - Drums
Eddie Safranski - Drums

The Leonard Feather - Ralph Burn's Orchestra plays

"Winter Sequence" A Seasonal Suite for Rhythmic Reindeer featuring

Herbie Mann as Dasher
Danny Bank as Dancer
Ralph Burns as Prancer
Kai Winding as Vixen
Oscar Pettiford as Comet
Billy Bauer as Cupid
Osie Johnson as Donner
Joe Wilder as Blitzen

Music by Leonard Feather

Arranged by Ralph Burns

Personnel:
Joe Wilder - trumpet
Kai Winding - trombone
Jim Buffington - French horn
Bill Barber - tuba
Vinnie Dean - alto sax & flute
Herbie Mann - tenor sax & flute
Danny Bank - baritone sax & flute
Ralph Burns - piano
Billy Bauer - guitar
Osie Johnson - drums
Oscar Pettiford - cello & bass

From Billboard - April 28, 1958: Collection consists of jazz interpretations of the four seasons. Side one finds Dick Hyman and some virile performances on "Early Autumn," "Summer Sequence," etc., with rhythm help from Don Lamond and Eddie Safranski. Folio side is devoted to "Winter Sequence," a suite is eight parts, one for each of Santa's reindeer. Imaginative jazz tone poems done for an 11-man group, which features French horn, flute, piccolo and cello among a group of more conventional instruments. Interesting sounds will played, tho the cover doesn't do much for the set.

Africana!

Africano

Africana!
Strand SLS 1024
1961

From a February 27, 1961 Strand Billboard ad: Horst Wende conducts the orchestra in a breath-taking presentation of African music. Tremendous stereo.

What is breath-taking about this budget set is that there was almost no attempt made by the arranger to create music that reflects "Africa" in any way... Of course... Strand employees or the people manufacturing the disk may have mistakingly applied the Africana disk labels to another project.

From the back cover: Throughout this album many of the basic folk chants and melodies are combined with the continental flavor. This gives the album a diversified listening appeal. As you listen, you can visualize the vast, beautiful country, shrouded in an aura of mystery. You can picture the influence that this Africa continent, far removed in its culture, from the rest of the world, has in its music, on the peoples of this outside world.

Zambesi
Kwela-Dance
Warm Patat
Sarie Marais
Skokiaan
Boetjie Na Kammaland
Alibama
Sugarbush
Africano
Hamba Kahle
Fanagalo
Princess Waltz
Die Graskop Polka
Kanimambo

Dutch Sax - Dolf van der Linden & Cees Verschoor

Passion Flower

Dutch Sax
Cees Verschoor's Alto
With Seductive Strings And Orchestra Of Dolf van der Leinden
Photo of Dolf van der Linden on back cover by Paul Huf
Capitol Records T10061
1957

From the back cover: Dolf van der Linden is partially responsible for the remarkable Dutch empathy with North Americans, at least music-wise. As the conductor of the brilliant studio orchestra broadcasting daily over Radio Hilversum, the Netherlands government station an hour's drive from Amsterdam, his influence is powerful. A tall and energetic maestro with the same physique and skilled musicianship as Stan Kenton – and the same age – Dolf is the driving force behind popular music in Holland today.

He made his debut on Capitol in early 1957 on album T-10058, "Ongetrouwd Man Kamer," a daring presentation of American standards that neatly translated into "Music For A Bachelor Apartment." The superb van der Linden strings that performed so sensually in that album are, of course, heard again throughout Dutch Sax. But here, Dolf has augmented the 30 violins with the sexy alto of Mr. Verschoor, the finest soloist in Holland and perhaps all of Europe.

"I chose six of the all-time best Duke Ellington melodies," Dolf says, "because no composer in the world conceives songs so imaginatively, and composes such emotional and sexy melodic lines, as does he. Even Gershwin could never have produced an All Too Soon or a Warm Valley. Vernon White is younger, perhaps less sophisticated and urbane than Ellington, but his Mood Nocturnal in the Ellington manner will surely become a world-wide standard."

The van der Linden orchestra, and the golden Verschoor saxophone, recorded the selections heard here in a large, almost-ancient church in Hilversum with the most modern high fidelity microphones and tape recorders in use. A special crew of E.M.I. engineers, producers and monitors headed by Stanely Stern accomplished the feat in two days. "Dutch Sax" will be released in long-play form in 31 nations throughout the world, so extraordinary are the combined talents of van der Linden, Verschoor, Ellington and White regarded.

I Didn't Know About You
Mood Nocturnal
Passion Flower
Promises
I Never Felt This Way Before
Caress
Lost In Meditation
Kisses
Warm Valley
Passionata
Mood Magenta
All Too Soon

Soft And Subtle - The Guitars, Inc.

Lazy Afternoon

Soft And Subtle
The Guitars, Inc.
Cover Photo: Peter Samerjan
Warner Bros. Records, Inc. BS 1246
1959

From the back cover: Numerous requests to identify The Guitars, Inc., prompt us at this time to reveal them. Individually, they represent the finest guitarists on either coast. Collectively, the music they make is even more appealing. Included are Al Hendrickson (courtesy Columbia Records), Bob Howe, Bobby Gibbons, Tommy Tedesco and Bill Pitman – quite an aggregation you'll agree.

From Billboard - February 2, 1959: A mellow guitar sound by the string quartet is their distinguishing feature. Tho tempos and types of tune are varied, the set becomes a bit dull after a few tracks. In stereo an appealing effect is achieved on some of the ballads. Fair prospects.

El Cumbanchero
Hajji Baba
Lazy Afternoon
In An Eighteenth Century Drawing Room
Nature Boy
Get Happy
Snowfall
It Don't Mean A Thing
Oasis
Our Waltz
Paganini's Progress
Good-Bye

Spanish Love Songs - Nito San Miguel

A Day In The Life Of A Fool

Spanish Love Songs

Sung By Nito San Miguel
Diplomat DS2404

A Day In The Life Of A Fool
What A Difference A Day Makes
Sabor Ami
Llanto De Luna
Prisoner Del Mar (Prisoner Of Love)
Mujer (Woman)
Historia Un Amor (History Of Love)
Melody Of Love
I Love You Truly
Neustro Vidas (Our Lives)

Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tales

Thumbelina

Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tales
Directed by Catherine Faulconer
Produced by Maury Laws
Technical Supervisor: Bill Schwartau
Special Effects: Frank Andriello
Robin Hood RH LP-1011
A Blue Ribbon Product
1957

From Billboard - Decemeber 30, 1957: Delightfully told, this group of four stories includes the favorites, "The Ugly Duckling," "The Emperor's New Clothes," "Thumbelina," and "The Steadfast Tin Soldier." Robin Hood Players consist mainly of narrator with limited dialog by character players. Unusually well done group of selections with a cover of a little girl and a lamb that any dealer can put in a prominent spot for extra profits.

The Emperor's New Clothes
The Ugly Duckling
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Thumbelina

Gisele MacKenzie

Beyond The Sea

Gisele MacKenzie
Arranged and Conducted by Sid Bass, Neal Hefti and George Siravo
Produced and Directed by Herman Diaz, Jr.
Recorded at Webster Hall, New York City, June 20, 22 and 23, 1956
Recording Engineer: Fred Elsasser
Vik - RCA Victor LX-1055
1956

From the back cover: Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Gisele speaks French with an impeccable accent. (e.g. Listen to the French lyric portions of "Foolish Things" and "Beyond The Sea" in this album.) Her mother was a concert pianist and singer (billed as Mme. Marietta Monseau) and Gisele's earliest childhood memories revolve around music.

At three she began to study the piano, and at seven, the violin – largely because it was the favorite instrument of her physician-surgeon father. By the time she was 12, Gisele had given her first public violin recital, and two years later she enrolled at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music.

Although Gisele has always possessed her rich, contralto voice, she never seriously considered becoming a singer, until she joined Bob Shuttleworth's band in the middle forties. Shuttleworth (Gisele's manager today) hired her as a combination violinist-pianist-vocalist, but advised her to concentrate on singing.

At the same time, Gisele's valuable Ceruti violin was stolen, so she bowed to the fates and took his advice. Within a week, she was the star of her own 15 minute show over the Canadian broadcasting network, and four years later she moved to the U.S. as featured singer on Bob Crosby's Club 15 and the Mario Lanza program in NBC.

In 1953, Gisele joined NBC-TV's Hit Parade, where her vibrant vocal chords, piquant brunette beauty and extraordinary versatility made her an immediate favorite with American audiences. Whether she is kicking up her he heels in a can-can or solemnly singing a Christmas carol, Gisele's solid showmanship and personal magnetism always register strongly on the screen.

Last year she surprised and delighted the public by blossoming out as an ace comedienne (on Jack Benny's CBS-TV show) and a fine dramatic actress (on Kraft Theater, Studio One, and Justice). Incidentally Gisele's first big Vik record, Hard To Get, was originally introduced on a Justice drama.

Off-stage Gisele is a handy with a skillet as she is with a Stradivarius. Cooking is her hobby, and – at the moment – the only important man in her life is Wolfgang von Bagel. Wolfie and Brunhilda, Gisele's pet dachshunds – long-haired of course – are pictured with her on the cover. The pups go everywhere with their mistress, and when she played a Las Vegas, Nevada, night club last year, it was specified in her contract that the canines would be persona grata at the nitery.

The "kids" most recent jaunt was to the Dallas, Texas, State Fair last summer, where Gisele scored her greatest personal triumph to date as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific. The critics raved about her musical comedy debut, and unanimously described her as a "natural" for Broadway stardom. TV and record fans, of course, have know it for a long time. – Notes by June Bundy

These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You
You're My Everything
Swinging Down The Lane
On Top Of The World, Alone
Don't Worry About Me
Tiptoe Thur The Tulips
Overtime We Way Goodbye
Do You Ever Think Of Me
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Beyond The Sea
You Are My Lucky Star
At Sundown

In A Dancing Mood - Kenton/Hackett/Gray/James/Jones

In A Dancing Mood

Five Great Dance Bands Play Favorite Melodies For Romantic Dancing

Stan Kenton

The Bobby Hackett Quartet

Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Quartet

Harry James

The Jonah Jones Quartet

Collector's Album - Limited Edition

Creative Products

Capitol Records SL-6525

(GPC logo is a sticker fixed to the cover)

Compilation set with tunes available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample.

The Things We Did Last Summer - Stan Kenton

Love Letters - Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra

I Want A Little Girl - Harry James

Sleepy Lagoon - The Bobby Hackett Quartet

They Can't Take That Away From Me - The Jonah Jones Quartet

A Sunday Kind Of Love - Stan Kenton

Golden Earrings - Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra

(Do You Know What It Means To Miss) New Orleans - Harry James

No Moon At All - The Jonah Jones Quartet

The Call Of The Tropics - Gene Rains

Jungle Drums

The Call Of The Tropics
Gene Rains And His Group
Recorded by Deutsche Grammophon/Polydor Series
Vocalion VL 73785
A Product of Decca Records
1966

Ebb Tide
Harbor Lights
Strange Cargo
Bird Of Paradise
Tropic Trade Winds
Jungle Drums (Canto Karabali)
The Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au)
Tangi Tahiti (The Call Of Tahiti
Far Across The Sea
Sayonara