Boppin' - Al Lomrardy

Boppin'
Al Lombardy And His Orchestra
Dot DLP 3007
1957

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

From the back cover: Al, today, is one of the country's finest clarinet players. And the band, well, it's a far cry from the old "Dukes". Today's Lombardy band consists of three trumpets, three trombones, four saxes and three rhythm.

Flying Home
Tuxedo Junction
Blue Jeans
The Boogie
Cozy Corner
Choppin'
Creole Love Song
The Blues
In A Little Spanish Town
Cross Your Heart
New Summit Ridge Drive

Folk Song Fest - Bobby Baker

This Is My Dog (Salty Dog)

Folk Song Fest
Hootenanny
The Great Artistry Of Bobby Baker
Sutton SU 330

High Hoot
This Is My Dog
My Town Of
Miles
Folk Baby
Hoot Blues
DOA
Your Boy
Folk Fest
The Sleeves Of Color

The Beatles Song Book - The Mustang

Do You Want To Know A Secret

The Mustang Plays On His Swingin' Hammond Plays
The Beatles Song Book
Recording Director D. L. Miller
Cover Design: Chic Laganella
Somerset
Album SF-2300

A Hard Day's Night
All My Lovin'
Liverpool
Please, Please Me
Mercy At The Mersey
I Want To Hold Your Hand
It's So Easy To Say
She Loves You
It's Ringo By George
Do You Want To Know A Secret

An Audio Obstacle Course

An Audio Obstacle Course

Share Trackability Test Record
The Development Engineering Department
Share Brothers Inc.
(TTR 101) For Stereo Cartridges
1971

The Country Club Dance - Charlie Spivak

Charlie Spivak
His Trumpet And Orchestra Play
The Country Club
Design DLP72
Pickwick International
1958

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

Personnel:

Charlie Spivak - Leader
Charlie Russo - 1st Alto
Sal Collar - Baritone
Bob Magee - 1st Tenor
Eddie Beuliker - 2nd Alto
Gordon Smith - 2nd Tenor
John Estridge - 1st Trumpet
Russ Montcalm - 3rd Trumpet
Dicl Mill - 2nd Trumpet
Leroy Anderson - Trombone
Harry DiVitto - Trombone
Bill Ver Planck Trombone
Jack Larson - Piano
Joe Reichcott - Bass
Jerry Lestock - Drums

The engineering could have been worked out better. The sound is a bit flat, but could be excusable for an early stereo pressing, especially for a Design product. The arrangements, however, are excellent and the musicianship is top-notch.

From the back cover (seems like the copy needed editing... but here it is, presented word-for-word): Charlie was born in New Haven, Connecticut, twelve miles from Derby which is my home town. I speak of personal knowledge when I say that he is one of Elitown's best beloved sons... and certainly one of its best known. Unlike that other New Englander, Al Donahue, who went on to study law, Charlie's family wanted him to be a doctor. Could be it's because Harvard is best known for its law school, while Yale has one of the best medical schools in the nation. Charlie played with the early and great Benny Pollack band which was the cradle of many of today's very top musicians. From there he went on to the Dorsey Brothers great organization and his great trumpet can still be heard with that band on Designs' Collector Series Album DLP 20, recently hailed as the finest work of its kind with the original Dorsey Brothers Band. Other members of that group included Glenn Miller, Skeets Herfet and Bob Crosby. He left the band with Glenn Miller to join Ray Noble and his orchestra. After a stint of solo work Charlie started his own band at the "cradle of great band" Glenn Island Casino. He followed the Casino with a record breaking engagement at New York's swank Cafe Rouge where he promptly broke Glenn Miller's record. One of the few "big bands" to carry on through the period where the big band faded from the American scene. Charlie is still playing danceable music for millions of the nation's smarter goer-outers.

Stardreams
Nature Boy
Tenderly
The Breeze And I
Flirtango
We Three
Poinciana
Port Au Prince
Blue Velvet
Manhattan
I'll Walk Along

Dedicated To Mother - Mummers Aqua String Band

M-O-T-H-E-R

Dedicated To Mother
The Best Of The Mummers
Aqua Strings Band
Cover Credits: Photograph - Garrard "Type A", Speakers - Audax CA-70 O.W., Amplifire - Harman Kardon A-300
Cover Photos: Jon Silla
Cover Design: Edward J. Fucci
Sure Music & Record Co., Inc.
Under Supervision of Leonard Rosen

The disc comes inside a book-fold jacket that features a pocket that holds an oversized envelop that the buyer could use to mail the album to their Mother.

Memories
Melody Of Love
M-O-T-H-E-R (A Word That Means The World To Me)
My Mom
My Mother's Eyes
True Love
Little Old Lady
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
I Love You Truly
In The Gloaming
Near You
That Wonderful Mother Of Mine
Silver Threads Among The Gold
Love's Old Sweet Song

Melis Magic - Jose Melis

Melis Magic

Jose Melis
His Trio and Strings
SESAC Recordings
N 1705

Available from online vendors so I will not be posting a sample. Presented here to share the cover art, which happens to be an unusual in that the top 1/3 of the cover, the 2-color portion that features Melis, was printed and glued to the jacket (as a wrap around to the back cover). The jacket on which the metallic gold ink was printed is a "canvas" textured paper stock.

From the back cover: Jose Mellis (typo) is not merely a piano player but a multitalented artist. The millions who have enjoyed his keyboard exploits and ad lib comedy hits on NBC-TV's "The Jack Parr Show" may not realize that he is also a competent conductor, composer, arranger – a Jose of all musical trades.

Sambalero
Black Velvet
Chioco Chioco
Might Have Been
The Straw Hat Strut
I Wouldn't Care
Noche Hermosa
Infatuation
Lazy Mississippi Moon
Harlequinade

Let's Dance - Johnny Long

Rain On The Roof

Let's Dance
With Johnny Long & His Orchestra
Back Cover Illustration: Jerome Martin
Forum F 16005
A Division Of Roulette Records
1960

From the back cover: The heyday of the dance band era has faded from the scene. The war, spiraling prices, home entertainment, television, the lure of big money for studio musicians all have conspired to bring about the demise of the jammed packed ballrooms, the countless famous bands and their unforgettable one-nighter tours. Few bands remain today from those glory years when all America was dancing. One of the survivors, and still among the most popular aggregations is Johnny Long and his orchestra. The band they call "Young America's Favorite." The famed left-handed violinist and his outfit continue to entice the dancers and the crowds still congregate around the bandstand.

You Forgot Your Gloves
When I Grow Too Old To Dream
Cheek To Cheek
We'll Build A Bungalow
Love Is The Sweetest Thing
Rain On The Roof
The Boogie Man
It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
Night And Day
Last Night On The Back Porch
This Can't Be Love
Blue Skies

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