She Dances Overhead - Matt Dennis

She Dances Overhead
Matt Dennis
RCA Victor LPM-1065
1955

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented here to share the cover art and jacket biographical information.

From the back cover: Born in Seattle, Washington, of parents who were professional musicians, Matt Dennis received his early musical training while attending high school in San Rafael, California.

As the result of an audition with Horace Heidt, Matt played with the band for one season. On leaving the Heidt Band, Matt began a series of club dates in the Los Angeles area. It was during this period of his career that Matt became well-acquainted with many of the people in show business and the friendships he formed at this time furthered his career. He worked as arranger, accompanist and coach for Margaret Whiting, Martha Tilton and the Stafford Sisters (one of the sisters was Jo Stafford0>

When Jo Stafford left the act to sing with the Pied Pipers and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra she arranged an interview for Matt with Tommy Dorsey. Dorsey hired him as a staff arranger-composer.

Matt wrote the music for fourteen songs which were recorded by Tommy Dorsey in the first year of their association – of these songs Everything Happens To Me achieved Hit Parade fame. Matt later wrote the music for Let's Get Away From It All, Violets For Your Furs and Will You Still Be Mine – all of which enjoyed wide popularity.

After two years with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Matt returned to the West Coast – playing clubs by night and arranging music for radio by day.

Three-and-a-half years in the Army followed – and since then Matt Dennis has been a regular fixture on the Hollywood scene, singing and playing in the top clubs.

In this album Matt Dennis sings and plays the piano in his relaxed and intimate style. The songs are by Richard Rodgers and by Lorenz Hart.

Dancing On The Ceiling (Evergreen)
Mimi (Love Me Tonight)
Nobody's Heart (By Jupiter)
Blue Moon
Isn't It Romantic (Leave Me Tonight)
I Married An Angel ( I Married An Angel)
Mountain Greenry (Garrick Gaieties)
Give Her A Kiss (Phantom President)
Wait Till You See Her
I Didn't Know What Time It Was (Too Many Girls)
This Funny World (Betsy)
Have You Met Miss Jones (I'd Rather Be Right)

Johnny Desmond Swings

Johnny Desmond
Featuring John T. Williams Orchestra
Album Production: Dave Pell
Mayfair 9635S
Distributed by Radio Craftsmen, Co., Los Angeles, California

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented here to share the original cover art and jacket notes.

From the back cover: It may be said, honestly enough, that World War II was responsible for art least a few worthwhile things, one being the swift, sure career of which it launched Johnny Desmond.

War's fortunes had placed Johnny with Major Miller and his all-star orchestra. Overnight, the young Detroit singer became an international favorite as vocalist with the famed Glenn Miller Air Force Band. Wherever they group traveled to entertain our servicemen – and those civilians lucky enough to hear it – the youthful crewcut entertainer was hailed as a new singing sensation. He practically became national idol of the French female populace. Even Britain's young Princess Margaret Rose named Johnny as her favorite singer of that time.

Following two years of one-night stands with the Miller orchestra, plus his own radio show on the Armed Forces Network, Johnny was discharged into a civilian life where the future assumed just the right shade of rose.... Before Major Miller took off on the Channel flight from which he was never to return, he told the singer, "Johnny, I have great plans for you when this thing is over. You'll be great," he declared, "in movies... records... personal appearance tours." Then Miller was gone, but his prophecy was fulfilled.

Johnny's quick friendship with fame during the war was not, however, due wholly to his good fortune at being discovered by Glenn Miller. Many years of preparation had proceeded the lucky break. For the most part they were cold, frustrating years for an ambitious youth who wanted desperately to make his mark as a singer but didn't seem able somehow to get off the ground... For Johnny was nursing a dream, a dream which began in an Italian-American household in Detroit, Michigan.

Youngest of four children, Johnny (nee Giovanni Alfredo de Simone) showed early promise as a singer. The seeds of showmanship within him secured Giovanni a part on the Lone Ranger radio show. That young tenor voice resulted in his being billed as the "Italian John McCormack." Then just when he turned 15, his voice cracked." ... and, bang, I was a baritone. The whole thing was frightening."

The voice change forced Johnny to forsake singing for awhile. He worked in his father's grocery store and meat market, biding his time until the day he could resume a singing career.

Just as the war broke out, Johnny landed a spot with Gene Krupa's band. The job timing was the worst, Johnny quit the band to enlist in the Air Force. Before you could say, "Forward march," his voice came to the attention of Major Miller, at that time building his famous orchestra with such top musicians as Ray McKinley, Mel Powell, Carmen Mastren, Trigger Alpert and many more. With his renowned ear for spotting musical talent, Miller quickly secured Johnny as band vocalist. The rest is history.

After the war, Johnny jumped from a $37-a-week G.I. to headliner at Broadway's Strand Theatre at a cool $3600-per-week, stand. The record hits followed C'est Si Bon, The Hight And The Mighty, Woman, Play Me Hearts And Flowers and, of course, Yellow Rose Of Texas.

All Of You
The Last Time I Saw Paris
I Can't Get Started
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
It's The Talk Of The Town
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
It Ain't Necessarily So
Tenderly
This Can't Be Love
That Old Devil Moon
My Happy Time
There's A Small Hotel

Hey Look Us Over - The Holiday City Hot Cha Kitchen Band

It's A Sin To Tell A Lie/Cross My Heart

Hey Look Us Over
The Holiday City Hot Cha Kitchen Band
A Joe Wheeler Production
Cover Photo: Dave Johnson
Album Design: Forlenza Venosa Associates
Jotone JTS 680

Tenor Sax and Drums: Tommy Marshall
Guitar and Valve Trombone: Paul Martone

From the back cover: We at Holiday City are proud of the ladies of our Holiday City Hot Cha Kitchen Band. They reflect the will, spirit and atmosphere here at Holiday City. They also demonstrate to all of us what can be accomplished at any age.

Welcome From Holiday City
Sweetheart Mountain
If You Knew Suzie (Like I Know Suzie)
Darktown Strutters Ball
It's A Sin To Tell A Lie/Cross My Heart
Till We Meet Again
I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover
Lovely Little Lady
Silve Bells and Sliver Hair
I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy/You're A Grand Old Flag
The Gang That Sang "Heart Of My Heart"/That Old Gang Of Mine
Hey Look Me Over
God Bless America

All Star Color TV Review - Vic Damone and Lawrence Brooks

A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody

All Star Color TV Review
Vol. 2
Starring Vic Damone and Lawrence Brooks
Allen Roth Orchestra
Glenn Osser Orchestra
Fritzi Scheff and Joe Howard and The Diamond Horseshoe
Hollywood Records LPH-126
A Blue Ribbon Product
1957

Always
Missouri Waltz
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
Remember
April Showers
Easter Parade
Beautiful Dreamer
Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming

Martians Come Back! - Shorty Rogers

Martians Come Back!
Shorty Rogers & His Giants
Cover Photo: William Claxton
Cover Design: Burt Goldblatt
Supervisor: Nesuhi Ertegun
Engineer: John Kraus, John Palladino
Recorded during November and December 1955 in Los Angeles
Atlantic Recording Corporation
Atlantic 1232
1956

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented here to share the cover art.

Personel: Shorty Rogers, Harry Edison, Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Bob Enevoldsen, Johnny Graas, Paul Sarmento, Jimmy Giure, Bud Shank, Barny Kessel, Lou Levy, Earl Grey, Pete Cera, Ralph Pena, Leroy Vinnegar, Shelly Manne

Barney Kessel & Shelly Manne appear by arrangement with Contemporary Records. Bud Shank appears by arrangement with Pacific Jazz Records.

From Billboard - August 18, 1956: Here's an interesting and swinging new disk that features Rogers in a variety of groupings. In only one is the entire nine-man "Giants" crew featured, but there is a lot of satisfying listening in the quintet and septet line-ups as well as the group featuring a four-man trumpet ensemble, backed with rhythm. Solid performers include Candolis, Fagerquist, Kessel, Manne, Edison, Vinegar, Pena and, of course, Rogers himself on trumpet and flugelhorn. A highly commercial jazz package with an imaginative cover worth plenty of display.

Martians Come Back
By Shorty Rogers
Shorty Rogers, trumpet; Jimmy Giuffre, clarinet; Low Levy, piano; Ralph Pena, bass; Shelly Manne, drums

Astral Alley
By Shorty Rogers
Shorty Rogers, Harry Edison, Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, trumpets; Dark Grey, piano; Ralph Pena, bass; Shelly Manne, drums

Lotus Bud
By Shorty Rogers
Shorty Rogers, fluegelhorn; Jimmy Giuffre, clarinet; Lou Levy, piano; Ralph Pena, bass; Shelly Manne, drums

Dickie's Dream
By Count Basie & Lester Young
Shorty Rogers, fluegelhorn, Harry Edison, trumpet; Bud Shank, alto sax; Pete Cera, piano; Leroy Vinnegar, bass, Barney Kessel, guitar; Shelly Manne, drums

Papouch
By Shorty Rogers
Shorty Rogers, fluegelhorn; Jimmy Giuffre, baritone sax; Lou Levy, piano; Ralph Pena, bass; Shelly Manne, drums

Serenade In Sweets
By Shorty Rogers
Same Personael as Astral Alley

Planetarium
By Shorty Rogers
Shorty Rogers, fluegelhorn; Jimmy Giuffre, tenor sax; Lew Levy, piano; Ralph Pena, bass, Shelly Manne, drums

Chant Of The Cosmos
By Short Rogers
Shorty Rogers, trumpet; Jimmy Giuffre, clarinet; Bob Enevoldsen, trombone; Bud Shank, alto sax; Johnny Grass, French horn; Paul Sarmento, tuba; Earl Grey, piano; Ralph Pena, bass; Shelly Manne, drums

Explosion Of The Tone Cabinets - Cliff Duphiney

That Old Black Magic

Cliff Duphiney's
Explosion Of The Tone Cabinets
Performed On The Largest Hammond Organ Combination In The U.S.
Powered by 30 Speakers
10 Organs On One Console
Producer: Frank L. EngelCover Art: Jack Sontag
Decora - Amphora DALP 2002-5
1962

From the back cover:

Cliff Duphiney

Age 26

Born at Mt. Vernon, New York

Part Irish and French

Started piano lessons at age 7

At a very young teenager played with his own 12-piece orchestra

At age 17 enlisted in U.S. Naval Mine Force, Pacific area. Following his separation he returned to study music.

Attended N.Y. College of Music, Harnett School of Jazz, took private instruction, studied harmony, theory, composition, arranging, orchestration.

Has worked in TV, Radio, Shows and Night Clubs

Happily married to a lovely and charming personality, his wife Joyce

Also from the back cover: Vincent Marino, drummer, used only the standard set of percussion instruments. No sound gimmicks were used, other than added reverberation and echo chamber as commonly employed in recording studios to get a live sound. All the special effect sounds were actually produced on the console by Cliff Duphiney. A good microphone pickup was or paramount importance to get these sounds on the track – in the grooves. Bruce Sweden, top-flight and highly desired recording engineer was at the controls in the engineer's booth at Universal recording studio in Chicago. Bernie Clapper, Chief Consulting Engineer.

People Will Say We're In Love
Winter Wonderland
On The Street Where You Live
Pennies From Heaven
Melody Of Love
Calcutta
Rhapsody In Blue
Mambo Jambo
Night Train
Cocktails For Two
What Is This Thing Called Love
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
That Old Black Magic

1959 Reverend's Rebels

Tum-Ba

1959 Reverend's Rebels
Director: Jon Davies
Assistant Director: Phyllis Thornton
Record Publications Company - Camden, N.J.
Custom Processed and Pressed by RCA Victor

She's Got A
Mood Medley: I Don't Know Why, That Old Feeling, Once In A While
It Takes A Long, Tall, Dark Skinned Gal
Tum-ba
A Good Man Is Hard To Find
Carolina Moon
Basin Street Blues
San
My Cutie's Due
Watermelon Weather
S'posin'
The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
Old Fashioned Medley: Sidewalks Of New York, When You Wore A Tulip, After The Ball Is Over
Angry
Dancing On The Ceiling
Gin & Coconut Water
I Know Where I'm Going
O Goucher Fair And True

Dancer's Delight - David Carroll

Stomp And Whistle

Dancer's Delight

David Carroll And His Orchestra
Mercury Records MG 20109
1956

From Billboard - September 1, 1956: Mercury has packaged some of Carroll's more danceable singles for a distinctive varied program. Jocks will continue to use these profusely. Includes: "Fancy Pants," "In A Little Spanish Town," Gadabout," and "Music Makers."

From the back cover: His (David Carroll) music is distinctive, the style of each number is new, and each tune is built to popularity on the merits of its own personality. It seems that many a conductor is limited in his scope. For example, if that conductor has an orchestra of 15 men, the arrangement will carry scoring for 15 instruments, possibly 18. With David Carroll, these same 15 men would be called upon to play as high as 30 or more instruments. His feeling is that if the tune requires the inclusion of such instruments as oboes, flutes, maracas, French horns, violas, etc., then the orchestra should have men that can play them as well as their basic instruments. Consequently, many times you will hear the David Carroll orchestra and swear that there must be at least 50 men in the group to render such a full and interpretive rendition.

Fancy Pants
Mine
Bumpty-Bump
Buck Dance
Stomp And Whistle
In A Little Spanish Town
Gadabout
Jug Time
By Heck
Grandpa's Rocker
Baffi
Music Makers

Rotorua Maori Concert Party - Under The Direction Of Guide Kiri

Rotorua Maori Concert Party
Under The Direction Of Guide Kiri
Stebbing Recording, Auckland
SLP 1001

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented her to share the cover art.

From the back cover: The Rotorua Maori Concert Party are direct descendants of the Arawa Tribe who migrated from Hawaiiki to New Zealand in the fourteenth century. Landing their canoes at Maketu in the Bay of Plenty, the Arawas travelled inland and settled in the lake district of Rotorua. The music of the Maori has changed but little since early times. It is full of rich harmonies and exciting rhythms. The accompaniment of the primitive nose-flute has been replaced today by the guitar – a trend which can be seen also in the music of the Hawaiians and other Polynesian races.

In this recording of Maori Action songs, Love songs and Hakas (given by the Rotorua Maori Concert Party, who perform weekly in Rotorua and make frequent tours throughout New Zealand), every endeavor has been made to capture the atmosphere of an actual performance. The microphone was placed fifteen feet from the stage and the resulting recording has such breathtaking realism you can hear the swishing of the Pui-puis (grass skirts) in the action songs

Haere Mai
Moe Mai E Hine
Taku Patu
Po Kare Kare Ana
Haka
Hoki Hoki
Puti Puti Pai
Tuhourangi
E Pari Rae
He Wa Watt (Solo Kahu Morriana)
Taku Ri Pene Pai
Haka
He Aha Kei Taku Uma
Po Ata Rau
God Save The Queen

The Party's Over - Moods Orchestral Series

Lover Come Back To me

The Party's Over
Moods Orchestra Series
Philips SBL 7893

Cover photo of a 1906 Renault, taken at the Montagu Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

From the back cover: The idea of the "Moods Orchestral" series started in the summer of 1967, when Philips issued the first of a new series of Car Cassettes – pre-recorded taped music designed primarily for car drivers requiring well-known standards, and played in a relaxing style. The whole thing was so successful that the same music is now being issued on LP records.

The Party's Over - Ivor Raymond & His Orchestra
Bye Bye Baby - Johnny Arthey & His Orchestra
Something To Remember You By - Johnny Arthey & His Orchestra
Lover Come Back To Me - Ken Thorne & His Orchestra
Alone - Ken Thorne & His Orchestra
I'll Be Seeing You - Reg Tilsley & His Orchestra
They Can't Take That Away From Me - Re Tilsley & His Orchestra
Just One Of Those Things - Reg Tilsley & His Orchestra
I Remember You - Johnny Gregory & His Orchestra
Remember Me - Reg Tilsley & His Orchestra
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face - Les Reed & His Orchestra
I'll See You Again - Peter Knight & His Orchestra