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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Thunderball - The Man From U.N.C.L.E & Other Secret Agent Themes

I Spy
Thunderball - The Man From U.N.C.L.E & Other Secret Agent Themes
Featuring The Jazz All-Stars
Design Records DLP-206
Pickwick International, Inc.

This set features a few cool "jazz" tracks. Selected for the musical sample above, is one of the more campy Space Age sounding selections. Enjoy!

Thunderball
From Russia With Love
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Win, Lose or Spy
Under Cover Agent Theme
I Spy
Ipcress File Theme
Theme From The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
The Saboteur
Majorca Express

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

101 Strings Plus Guitars Galore

Malibu Sun
101 Strings Plus Guitars Galore
The World Largest Recording Orchestra with Six Great Guitarists
Cover Photo: Pickow
Recording Director: D. L. Miller
Alshire S-5065
1966

Girl From Ipanema
Call Me
When Will We Know
Cast Your Fate To The Wind
Malibu Sun
Guantanamera
A Man And A Woman
Maria, Maria
Yellow Bird
Rio Del Mar

Enric Madriguera And His Orchestra

Bongo
Enric Madriguera
Royal EP 160

Link here for Enric Madriguera's brief wiki bio.

The Best Of The New Film Themes - Frank Chacksfield

The Sounds Of The Night - The Cabinet Of Caligari
The Best Of The New Film Themes
Frank Chacksfield
London ffrr PS 347
1964

This album sports cover art that screams "leave me to die in the discount bin!". Also, work by Chacksfield is hit or miss. That said, this album turns out to be a good space age effort. There is a nice blend of inventive approaches with enough of that 60s vibe to hold your attention.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

It's A Blue World - Sam The Man Taylor

Ebb Tide
It's A Blue World
Sam The Man Taylor
Tenor Sax With Orchestra And Chorus Directed By Bill Sanford
Decca 74417
1963

Here's a fun space age album from Sam Taylor, who was the "most requested" 1950s New York session sax player.

Some tunes feature Taylor's sax backed by 60s easy listening vocals. An approach that dates the songs... but we love that vocal layer up here in The Atomic Attic!

Stardust
All Night Long
Lover Come Back To Me
Lonelyville
Song Lonely Nights
Jet
Ebb Tide
It's A Blue World
Go Away Little Girl
Bossa Nova Mas Rolyat
Stormy Weather
Lights Out

Monday, October 3, 2011

Zither Goes Hollywood - Ruth Welcome

Love Letters
Zither Goes Hollywood
Ruth Welcome
Capitol Records ST-1986
1963

Ruth Welcome recorded some of my favorite zither albums. Actually... Welcome recorded the only zither albums I've ever heard. Check out Welcome's Zither Magic.

On this release Welcome's zither is backed by an organ. The zither and organ combo create quirky sounding covers of various movie themes. Some of the tracks on this album approach oddball status.

Song Of The Island - Danny Stewart And His Islanders

Hapa Haole Hula Girl
Song Of The Island
Danny Stewart And His Islanders
Coral Records CRL 57059
1956

From the back cover: When not performing, Danny Stewart is a sportsman. He states that his favorite sports are (in the following order) deep-sea fishing, swimming and golfing. In 1949 he won the Spike Wallace Championship Trophy in the Local #47 Los Angeles Musician golf Club Tournament.

Dick Schory On Tour

Orinoco (Bobby Christian)
Dick Schory On Tour With His Percussion Pops Orchestra
RCA Victor LPM-2806
1964

Recorded live in Chicago's world's famous Orchestra Hall featuring "guest drummer" Joe Morello.

Arrangements and original works by Dick Schory, Mike Simpson, Bobby Christian and Hoyt James.

Approaches include swinging big band, touches of jazz and 60s light pop.

The engineering produced a sound that seems a little "distant" or "flat" to me. But I'm listening to a mono copy. The stereo version of the LP may produce better sound.

The Sound Of Midnight Naked City - Paul Phillips And His Band

Fever

The Sound Of Midnight Naked City
Paul Phillips And His Band
Arranged and Conducted by Joe Harnell
Kapp Medallion ML-7517
1961

From the back cover: An outstanding pianist, arranger, composer and conductor, Joe Harnell has excelled in every branch of music. As a jazz artist, he has appeared with his own groups at several well known Manhattan clubs, delighting audiences with his original and inventive piano styles, while his work in popular music has included musical backing for singing stars Jane Morgan, Jane From an and Bing Crosby, conducting and arranging for Peggy Lee (for whom he wrote the original arrangement at the best-selling "Fever"), and numerous recording and television assignments. Joe's training in classical music encompassed a scholarship to the Trinity College of Music in London, four years with composer Aaron Copland at Tanglewood, and studies with Darius Milhaud, Ernst Toch and Leonard Bernstein. His serious compositions have been performed both here and overseas by major orchestras. This album co-ordinates Joe Harnell's many talents, and is underlined throughout by his genial personality – his fascination for the city, his sparkling sense of humor, and his imaginative ability to create a moody, musical portrait.

From Billboard - February 27, 1961: This is a noteworthy new album in the label's "sound" series and one that will interest stereo and hi-fi fans. The music is arranged brightly for stereo and the orchestra shows off the rhythmic Joe Harnell arrangements via strong performances of the tunes. The songs include "Tenderly," "Harlem Nocturne," and "Fever," and "Route 66," all arranged to show off sounds of the instruments and to test the stereo fan's equipment. Another set made to appeal to the many "sound" record buyers.

Tenderly
Harlem Nocturne
Stardust
I Only Have Eyes For You
Naked City Theme
Fever
Theme From "Route 66"
In The Still Of The Night
I Cover The Waterfront
All Through The Night
There's a Small Hotel
Dancing In The Dark

Witchcraft - Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra

Playboy's Theme
Witchcraft
Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra
Pickwick PC 3007
1965

One of Pickwick's better cover designs. All tracks but Darn That Dream and Blue Safari are tunes  originally found on Nelson Riddle's 1963 LP, Love Is A Game Of Poker (Capitol Records ST 1817).

Witchcraft
Alone Too Long
Red Silk Stockings
It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House
You Fascinate Me
Playboy's Theme
Indsicreet
Darn That Dream
Blue Safari