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Monday, January 30, 2017

Andres Segovia Plays J. S. Bach

Partita - No. 2 in D for Violin, BWV 1004: Chaconne
Andres Segovia
Plays J. S. Bach
Cover Design by Frank Daniel
Annotation by Robert N. Angus
Allegro Records
A Product of Pickwick International
LEG 9006

Obscure Segovia on budget Allegro/Pickwick (white) label.

Bach (arr. Segovia) - Suite for Guitar
Cello Suite No. 6 in D, BWV 1012: Gavottes
Lute Suite in E, DWV 996: Sarabande and Bourree
Prelude No. 3 in C for Lute, BWV 999
Lute Sonata No. 1 in G, BWV 1000

Bach (arr. Segovia) - Chaconne
Partita - No 3 in E for Violin, BWV 1006: Prelude
Partita - No. 2 in D for Violin, BWV 1004: Chaconne

Mary Poppins - Lawrence Welk

A Spoonful Of Sugar
Mary Poppins
Featuring selections from the Walt Disney motion picture by Lawrence Welk and members of the Lawrence Welk organization
Arranged by George Gates, Lyn Murray, Bob Ralston, Curt Ramsey, Joe Rizzo, Frank Scott, Jerry Zervic
Produced by George Gates, Lawrence Welk and Randy Wood
Hamilton - A Division of Dot Records, Inc.
HP 152

Chim Chim Cheree - The Lennon Sisters
Step In Time - The Lawrence Welk Singers
I Love To Laugh - Aladdin
The Perfect Nanny - Peggy Lennon
Super-Cali-Fragil-Istic-Expi-Ali-Docious - Bobby & Barbara
Jolly Holiday - The Lawrence Welk Singers
A Spoonful Of Sugar - Larry Hooper
Sister Suffragette - The Lawrence Welk Singers
Feed The Birds - Natalie Nevins
The Life I Lead - Bob Lido
Stay Awake - Norma Zimmer
Let's Go Fly A Kite - The Lawrence Welk Singers

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Emery And His Violin Of Love

Vurria
Emery And His Violin Of Love
With Orchestra And Chorus
Produced by Arnold R. Deutsch
Notes by Natt Hale
ABC-Paramont ABC-281

From Billboard - February 8, 1960: The erstwhile Park Avenue Gypsy is quite effective on his latest offering. Here he is backed by a chorus which is heard from time to time in the background with key phrases of the lyrics. But Deutsche's lyrical fiddle is the feature and he uses it effectively in his style of mimicking the sound of the words. Heavy emphasis on pop numbers.

From the back cover: Born in Hungary, Emery was early attracted to the romantic music that has become his (Emery Deutsch) trademark. In his late teens he became a musical director of Columbia Broadcasting System and starred, with his violin, on scores of coast-to-coast programs. Since then Emery has brought his music and romance to such places as the Rockefeller Center Rainbow Room, New York's Music Hall and Paramount Theater, and intimate night spots throughout the country.

Be My Love
A Very Precious Love
I Heard A Song
An Affair To Remember
Vurria
If You Love Me
Stella By Starlight
I Love You Much Too Much
Where Is Your Heart
My Lost Love
Summertime In Venice

Happening! - Dick Hyman

Michelle
Happening!
Dick Hyman & Harpsichord
Originated Any Produced by Loren Becker, Robert Byrne and Julie Klages
Art Director Charles E. Murphy
Command Records RS 899SD
1966

From Billboard - August 13, 1966: The initial recorded meeting of Dick Hyman and the harpsichord is an unqualified success. Hyman's arrangements with trumpet and woodwinds also come off well.

From the inside cover: He (Hyman) used three different combinations of instruments. On three selections (Themes From Zorba The Greek, The In Crowd, Topolobampo), he has assembled two trumpets (Bernie Glow and Ernie Royal) and a rhythm section made up of Tony Mottola, guitar, Bob Haggart, bass, Bobby Rosengarden, drums, and Phil Kraus, percussion. The same group (with Doc Serverinsen replacing Ernie Royal on trumpet) is augmented by Phil Bodner's various woodwinds on The Shadow Of Your Smile, England Swings, Lady Fingers, Yesterday and the Main Theme From Tom Jones." For the remaining selections – Michelle, The Phoenix Love Theme, Take, Oh Take, Those Lips Away and The Ballad Of The Green Berets – Hyman and his rhythm section are joined by both Bodner and Stanley Webb on woodwinds as well as the girl trio, made up of Lillian Clark, Lois Winter, Elise Bretton, who were heard with him on The Man From O.R.G.A.N.

Tom Jones
Lady Fingers
Enland Swings
The Shadow Of Your Smile
Take, Oh Take Those Lips Away
Topolobampo
Theme From Zorba The Greek
The Phoenix Love Theme
The In Crowd
Michelle
Yesterday
The Ballad Of The Green Berets

Friday, January 27, 2017

As Long As He Needs Me - Shani Wallis

As Long As He Needs Me
As Long As He Need Me
Shani Wallis
Produced by Hy Gill
Orchestra Arranged and Conducted by Ralph Carmichael
1968

From Billboard - September 28, 1968: The Lionel Bart hit from the foredooming film version of "Oliver" is delivered in top form by Miss Wallis, co-star of the film.

As Long As He Needs Me
This Girl's In Love With You
Whoever You Are, I Love You
I'd Do It All Again
Halfway To Paradise
Didn't We
The Impossible Dream
I Remember Loving You
It's A Nice Face
Old Devil Moon
Where Is Love

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Easy Listening - Ray Bloch

All The Things You Are
Easy Listening
Ray Bloch And His Orchestra
Produced by Bob Thiele
Signature Records
15050-1-2
1946

3 record 78 RPM set.

From Billboard - September 28, 1946: Ray Bloch with a large studio orchestra, weaves a beautiful melody fabric for six everlasting favorites out of the stage and Tin Pan Alley folios. Embellishing the selections with beautiful interludes, with silky Strads and colorful brass harmonies bringing out all of the melodic charm of the songs, the spinning is truly enough "easy listening". Photo of the maestro graces outside and inside covers.

Bloch would go on to make records for decades including this 1969 set based on the musical Hair featuring The Ray Bloch Singers. Also see Hits Of '68.

The Way You Look Tonight
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
All The Things You Are
People Will Say We're In Love
The Very Thought Of You
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Sing A Song Of Goodman - The Randy Van Horne Singers

Sing A Song Of Goodman
The Randy Van Horne Singers
MGM Records E3720

This set is available from online vendors, so I will not be posting a sample. Above is the original cover art which does not illustrate the vendor's material.

An excellent group harmony set. Horne's inventive, jazzy arrangements helps create cross-over appeal to those who enjoy jazz, swing as well as vocal harmony.

From the back cover: Randy van Horne, leader of the great swing choir heard in this recording, was born in El Paso, Texas in 1924. In 1949, he organized the first of his singing groups, a quintet dubbed "The Encores," which racked up a handsome record of success in niteries and on TV. You might remember that the group also recorded with Billy May. Randy began experimenting with the idea of swing choir like that heard in this recording when he organized a chorus made up of volunteers who would be willing to go through the rigors of long rehearsals, and the trail-and-error of the first few of Randy's unusual, swingin' arrangements. Things began to jell nicely and Randy was able to shape the group into a professional body, now much in demand.

Let's Dance
Slipped Blue
Stompin' At The Savoy
And The Angels Sing
Air Mail Special
King Porter Stomp
Soft Winds
Down South Camp Meetin'
A Smooth One
Mission To Moscow
Sing, Sing, Sing
Good-bye

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Dance To Richard Rodgers - Victor Silvester

I Didn't Know What Time It Was
Victor Silvester's Invitation
Dance To Richard Rodgers
Victor Silvester's Silver Strings And Orchestra
Capitol Records T10193

From the back cover: Victor Silvester from more than thirty years has enjoyed a fabulous reputation in England – and in Asia and Africa as well – as one of the most popular orchestra leaders ever to give a downbeat.

In this beautifully-produced album, recorded in brilliant stereo as well as monaurally, he presents a dozen of Richard Rodgers' most beloved, and successful show tunes with the sleek Silvester "Silver Strings" featured.

At the age of 22, Silvester won the World's Dancing Championship, an outstanding feat as he had never danced in his life until four years previously. His success was due to intensive training and exceptional ability.

He then opened his own school in London's famous Bond Street, and this became both the largest and most famous in the British Isles. People from all over the world came to learn dancing there, and these included many notable personalities, such as Madeleine Carroll, Merie Oberon and Belita – to mention a few. It was his experience as a dancer and his association with this organization which led to the formation of his orchestra.

At his Dancing Academy – in common with other teachers at that time – Victor found that it was difficult to obtain satisfactory records suitable for the ballroom. It was then he hit upon the brilliant idea of forming his own orchestra to provide music for dancing.

Silvester had learned the piano as a boy, and his studies at the London College of Music were of great value in founding the orchestra. The success of his records in England soon spread to Europe, Australia, South Africa and even India. Everywhere people were learning to dance to the strains of Silvester's music strictly for dancing.

Through his outstanding popularity on gramophone records, it automatically followed that the B.B.C. was anxious to secure Silvester's services for broadcasting (sound radio and T.V.), and today he stands among Britain's most popular dance band leaders. He has topped all the major national newspaper polls for the past ten years. In 1941 he devised his world-famous radio program, "The Dancing Club," to which some 10,000,000 listeners tune in every week.

Before the ware he demonstrated and taught ballroom dancing to teachers all over Europe, and his book, "Modern Ballroom Dancing" has sold well over a million copies in thirty-seven editions. It became the standard dancing textbook in Germany and has been printed in five Japanese editions! In addition, he has written several other textbooks that are considered outstanding in their field.

With his pianist, Ernest Wilson, he has written about ninety dance tunes, including tangos and sambas, with the accent on rhythm. Many of have been recorded by his Stings for Dancing and his Ballroom Orchestra.


Shall We Dance
Mountain Greenery
Some Enchanted Evening
If I Loved You
People Will Say We're In Love
Manhattan
Bewitched
Isn't It Romantic
This Can't Be Love
Dancing On The Ceiling
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
My Heart Stood Still

Singing Cha Cha Cha - Horace Diaz

Charley, My Boy

Singing Cha Cha Cha
Horace Diaz and His Cha Cha Kings featuring Los Amigos
Kapp Records KL-1225
1961

From the back cover: Anyone who likes to dance will enjoy the music of Horace Diaz – one of this country's leading arranger/pianists and an authority on the dance music of Latin America. The son of a guitarist, Horace was born in Vera Cruz, Mexico, but he spent his early years in New Orleans during the golden days of the jazz era, and knew many of the great jazz artists. Later, he arranged for Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Charlie Barnet and Xavier Cugat; was duo-pianist with Eddie Duchin and accompanist for such well-known stars as Morton Downey and Bing Crosby.

Ja-Da
Everybody's Doin' It Now
You'd Be Surprised
Kissproof Lips
Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh
Take It Easy
I Want A Guy Who Can Dance Me The Cha-Cha-Cha
Pretty Baby
Charley, My Boy
A-Tisket A-Tasket
Romantica
Watermelon Heart

Monday, January 23, 2017

The Magic Touch Of Buck Ram

The Magic Touch
The Magic Touch Of Buck Ram And His Orchestra
Mercury Records SR 60067
1959

From the back cover: Buck Ram is perhaps best know today as manager and musical inspiration of The Platters, the highest flying vocal group in all the world. His tunes, arranged for their style, have provided their biggest hits, among them "Twilight Time," "Only You," "The Great Pretender," "I'm Sorry" and "Remember When." Each of these has a full history. "Twilight Time" was recorded thirty-five times since it was first written for The Three Suns in 1942. "Remember When" was recorded six times but never made it until The Platters' explosive version. "Only You" has such a dramatic background, having changed the lives of seven people, that Buck Ram has secretly been waiting for the opportunity to base a movie scenario on its story.

Only You
Whispering Wind
At Your Beck And Call
Twilight Time
Heaven On Earth
Helpless
But Not Like You
I'm Sorry
My Serenade
The Great Pretender
The Magic Touch