Turn On With The World's Most Sensuous Music

Turn On With The World's Most Sensuous Music
Cover Design: Carol Marunas
The Moss Music Group (Canada) TD 1001
1978

Apparently (from the back cover), Moss released at least 8 of these "Turn On" themed LPs. This is the first release in the series.

This set features a stock (unknown artist) classical music compilation. However, the Vox-Turnabout Catalog receives a bold mentioned on the back cover in association with the Bolero track as if there was some business connection at the time between Moss and Vox-Turnabout.

Bolero
Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18
Tristan & Isolde (Love-Death)
El Amor Brujo (Ritual Fire Dance)
Piano Concerto No. 1 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 23
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 430
Sheherazade, Op. 35
Romeo & Juliet (Love Theme)
Salome (Dance Of The Seven Veils)
Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun

Lovers In Rome - Monia Liter

Lovers In Rome
Monia Liter And His Orchestra
Richmond High Fidelity
A Product Of London Records B 20010
1957

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample, however, the jacket art was worth sharing.

From Billboard - August 5, 1957 (London LL-1687 review): Here are 15 bands of Latin-tinged mood music. Well recorded and attractively interpreted, the music highlights strings and a mandolin is contrasting bright and quiet moods. It's similar to a goodly number of others both in quality and selection; also competition in name value alone is substantial. Play it cool on this.

I didn't expect much from this album, but as mood sets go, this is a decent thematic effort along the lines of something you might see produced by Jackie Gleason.

This colorful budget reissue features the price printed as part of the design.

London also released a Liter set titled Lovers In Paris (LL 1643),  which apparently preceded this attempt to create a series of Liter "romantic destination theme" packages.

Chianti Song
Tango Teneriffa
Andalusian Girl
Anna Marie
Italian Street Scene
Canzone D'Amore
Lovers In Rome
The Magic Fountains Of Rome
Tango De Casino
Sicilian Lullaby

Beat Beat Beat - The Spots

That's My Honey Bee

The Spots
Beat Beat Beat
Europa E 174
Miller International Schallplatten GmbH
1967

Gonna Get Me A New Girl
I Just Can't Wait To Be With You
It's Up To You
Cherries And Cream
Can't Set You Free
She... She Doesn't Love Me
I Think About You
I Don't Want To Go
You Didn't Think
I Wanna Spend My Life With You
I Can't Stand It Anymore
That's My Honey Bee

The Lamp Is Low - Robert Maxwell

The Lamp Is Low
Robert Maxwell
His Harp and Orchestra
MGM Records E3308

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

Although I can find no release date for this album, Maxwell's Harp Magic (MGM E3171) is listed on the back cover which was reviewed in a 1955 issue of Billboard.

Well executed orchestral mood arrangements that feature, but are not overwhelmed by, Maxwell's harp. The cover art and title nicely support the tone of the set.

From the back cover: The extensive listing of theaters, night clubs, hotels and television shows which have hosted harpist Robert Maxwell gives a hint of his popularity with the American public. Yet, to all intents and purposes this enormous success of a harpist defies the usual convention. But after a few moments of listening to this youthful entertainer performing on his chosen instrument, all doubt as to the reason of his popular following will disappear. First and foremost, Robert Maxwell is an entertainer. The harp is merely his channel to entertaining an audience. A natural showman as well as a highly trained musician, Bob turns his harp into theatrical property. Specially fitted with a system of colored lights which he operates with his feet to dramatic effect, the harp takes on a brilliant new role in the hands of Robert Maxwell. His repertoire is enormous, including classical selections, show tunes, current novelties and "pop" numbers. He can produce mood music – or he can "swing." His ability to use his instrument for comic effect as well as straight performance has endeared him to thousands of his fans. Bob's study of the harp is both unique and comprehensive – but the manner in which he started study is unique. While a student in a New York grammar school, Bob entered a competition with fellow pupils in a musical aptitude test. He won and was awarded a scholarship to Juilliard School Of Music. A choice of instruments was offered him, but he was so smitten at the sight of a harp that he chose it. His various engagements in orchestras in the vicinity of New York led to his becoming a member of the National Symphony Orchestra. He was seventeen at the time, the youngest member of that stellar group. Recitals in New York and Los Angeles and engagements as Arturo Toscanini and Serge Koussevitsky follow. It was not until Bob became a member of the Coast Guard during the war that featured solo work came his way and the chance to show his individuality on the harp. His C.O. in the Coast Guard was Rudy Vallee, who might be said to have given Bob his first real break. Valley got him the chance to tour the U.S. and the South Pacific as a soloist entertaining servicemen. This gave Bob the experience and composure to go on to becoming a solo performer later in civilian life. He began modestly in radio, passing from there to his present position of fame and demand. He has appeared in motion pictures, on the biggest of TV shows and his recording career has been phenomenal. He is married and the father of two little girls, both of whom he hopes will become harpists.

The Lamp Is Low
I Surrender, Dear
The Nearness Of You
Love By Candlelight
You Belong To My Heart
Should I Believe You?
Sleepy Lagoon
Don't Let Me Love You
I'll Never Be The Same
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Yesterdays

Cool Variations - The Bobby Richards Sextette

Sticks And Stones

Cool Variations
The Bobby Richards Sextette
Cover Design: Burt Portnoy
MVM Mount Vernon Music MVS133

A bit of the "matrix" information on the disc was intentionally obscured. Hand written, but not necessarily meant to take the place of the obscured information, is TLPS- 939A & TLPS-1939B as well as one "impressed or stamped" number TLPS-1939B. Also, from the disk information, the pressing date may be 1961. Seems as though there was some type of issue with this release.

From the back cover: The Bobby Richards Sextette is a group of musicians which have gotten together for the purpose of performing cool music; dance, jazz, Dixieland, smooth or any type of music you care to name. Their repertory is practically limitless and the amazing fact is that all arrangements and music are filed away in their heads; therefore they never use sheet music in a performance. Many, many times they start out on a planned set and end up with a spontaneous, set, for they feel the pulse of the audience and take it from there, performing cool variations.

The arrangements or "spontaneous" nature of the songs do smack of variations or blends of "style" as mentioned in the notes. The fantastic cover design and decent jazz set make for a nice package. MVM is a budget label and my copy, I think sounds less than very good or lacks groove depth which I now associate with cheap production rather than dust or over-play.

Red, White And The Blues
Schroeder
The O S
Narcissus
Sticks And Stones
Monaco
Straight
Nannette
Snoopy
To A Wild Rose Adelita

Latin Dance Date - Irving Fields

Brazil

Latin Dance Date
Designed For Dancing - One Of A Series
Irving Fields And His Group
RCA Camden CAL 350
1958

Apparently RCA released this title/catalog number featuring several cover designs, both of which seem somewhat obscure.

Not thematically consistent, the set features a few vocal harmony tracks and other instrumental tracks that have, to my ear, little or nothing to do with a "Latin" beat. RCA seems to have "designed" this set in a rush. None-the-less, the cover art is well designed and tracks like Brazil, save the day.

Malaguena
Cuban Boogie
Lingering Down The Lane
St. Louis Blues
Brazil
Adios, Mariquita Linda Oye, Negra
Noche De Ronda
Donkey Serenade
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
Por Que?
The Wedding Samba

New Beat Bossa Nova Vol. 2 - Zoot Sims

New Beat Bossa Nova Vol. 2
Means The Samba Swings
Zoot Sims And His Orchestra
Produced by Jack Lewis
Colpix Records SCP 437
1963

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

Strong jazz flavored Space Age jazz Bossa set.

From the back cover: In "New Beat Bossa Nova, Vol. 2" Sims is again supported by a "Who's Who" roster of musicians. Heard on flute are Spence Sinatra, Ron Odrich, Jerry Sandino and Phil Bodner. Sol Schlinger backs him on bass clarinet. Jim Hall and Barry Galbraith are much in evidence on guitar, and Milt Hinton adds his distinctive bass. The percussion section includes Willie Rodriquez, Ted Sommer, Sol Gubin and Tommy Lopez.

Manny Albam and Al Cohn have provided authentic orchestrations of old and new American standards that allow Sims to improvise freely. Over the intricate rhythm patterns of the bossa nova...

From Billboard - March 9, 1963: Bossa nova and Zoot Sims return here for another splendid go. The album contains excellent arrangements from Al Cohn and Manny Albam and smooth and swinging work from tenor saxist Sims. Flutes and guitars with rhythm are in support and the album has distinctive arrangements of "Bernie's Tune," "Lonesome Road" and other standards in the rhythm.

Cancan De Bernardino (Bernie's Tune)
Poquito Cantando
Pies Danzantes (Tickle Toe)
Camino Solitario (Lonesome Road)
Samba Instantanea (Instant Samba)
Llamaron El Viento Maria (They Call The Wind Maria)
Querido Retorna A Mi (Lover Come Back To Me)
Hijo De La Naturaleza (Nature Boy)
Buscando La Luna (Reaching For The Moon)
No Juegues Con El Amor ( Don't Fool With Love)

The George Gershwin Song Book - Buddy De Franco and Oscar Peterson

The George Gershwin Song Book
Buddy De Franco And Oscar Peterson
Cover photo by Phil Stern
Orchestra Conducted By Russell Garcia
Verve MGV 2022

Available from a variety of online sources so I will not be posting a sample.

From Billboard (review of the 1955 Norgren MGN 1016 release) - March 26, 1955: The flashy talents of clarinetist De Franco and pianist Peterson jell neatly here in the well-arranged ork setting. De Franco has won all of the jazz polls for the past nine years, and Peterson usually come close in his department, so these are names to reckon with, The fact that they play Gershwin isn't important, since both men reduce the material at hand into what has become their personal cliches.

Billboard nailed their review. You don't have to like Gershwin to enjoy this set. Gracia's more traditional orchestrations blend with and completely support the jazz passages by De Franco and Peterson. Good stuff.

From the back cover: Concerning the musicians themselves, Boniface "Buddy" DeFranco is the one clarinetist who has assumed the mantle of Benny Goodman's successor. A veteran of such bands as Tommy Dorsey's, Gene Krupa's and Charlie Barnet's, DeFranco is know best for his expressive tone and brilliant technique. He has won any number of magazine polls as the foremost clarinetist of the 1950s. He is a native of Camden, N. J.

Paints Oscar Peterson, a Canadian from Montreal, is another possessed of a dazzling technique and readily identifiable sound. From several years he was featured with the Johnny Holmes band, on of Canada's most popular. Finally, in 1949 Peterson was lured to the United States where he has been heard ever since both on concert tours and with his own trio, comprising Ray Brown, bass, and Herb Ellis, guitar – both of whom are also on this album.

I Wants To Stay Here
I Was Doing All Right
'S Wonderful
Bess, You Is My Woman
Strike Up The Band
They Can't Take That Away From Me
The Man I Love
I Got Rhythm
Someone To Watch Over Me
It Ain't Necessarily So

Whispering - Luis Arcaraz

Whispering

Luis Arcaraz And His Orchestra

RCA Victor LPM-1385

1957

Available from online retailers, so I will not be posting a sample.

Back cover notes, by Richard Broderick, are presented in both English and Spanish and feature curious notes about the tunes, rather than offering us any Arcaraz biographical information.  Notes focus, for the most part, on how each song relates to a war.  For instance, this last paragraph: 1947 – and a new word was added to the dictionary of International Polities, "Cold War." The song – Ballerina – and the artist, Vaughn Monroe.

There are no references in the notes that seem to support the "Whispering" cover theme and the arrangements, while pleasant period big band, are not stylistically "soft or quiet" sounding.

Jalousie

Laura

April Showers

This Love Of Mine

Sentimental Journey

Ballerina

You'll Never Know

Whispering

Sunrise Serenade

It's Been A Long, Long Time

Love Letters In The Sand

You Made Me Love You

Great Adventures Emergency

Great Adventures Emergency
Produced by Tom Cupola and Bob Goemann
Wonderland Records WLP 310
1976