Evolution - Carlos Chavez

Harold Farberman
Evolution
Music For Percussion
Carlos Chavez: Toccata For Percussion
Boston Records B-207

The Boston Percussion Group members: Georger Gaber, Harold Thompson, Simon Brown, Charles Smith, Everett Firth and Don Bush. Additional performers: James Stagliano, Horn and Dolores Baldyga, Soprano.

Harold Farberman scored Evolution in 1954.

I can't find the release date for this obscure record. Judging from the cover, the record appears to be a late 50s release.

The jacket notes are written by Farberman. This was Farberman's attempt to "elevate the percussion section to its rightful place as a musical section in the orchestra..."

Faberman spends a good deal of space letting his audience in on his "negative feelings" in regards to current percussion trends (of his time) as "coarse-grained and barbarous".

I love the cover art and the music is experimental for the period. There isn't as much material on this LP as most 33s, as if this record was originally meant for a 10 inch issue, or perhaps was first released on a 10 inch record(?).

Don Lonie Talks With Teenagers

Don Lonie Talks With Teenagers
Word Records W-3168-LP
1962

Any vintage recording sporting a title that suggests the listener, especially a teenage, will be guided in life by a middle-age adult perks my attention. Many times the message on this type of record is dated, convoluted and frequently humorous for the wrong reasons.

Unfortunately for me (as a fan of convoluted messages) Lonie is still funny and serves up a worthwhile message almost 50 years after he made this recording. His approach accounts for how popular he was in his time. He even, humorously, rails against smoking on the album. Apparently, in 1962, we understood cigarettes were bad for your health without being alerted by all the warning labels or lawsuits.

Bill Flemming - Songs The Virgins Love

Mills Of Old St. Croix

Songs The Virgins Love
Bill Fleming
Westindy Music Co., St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
ML 1002
1965

Here we have yet another flamboyant album cover featuring a fun play on words/visuals.

As I've said before, I could collect piles of these "island" albums simply for the cover art. Of course there are treasures to be found on the vinyl. On this album are a number of "lounge-styled" numbers that I find appealing over the standard "calypso".

This is a obscure album and there are only a few references to Bill Fleming to be found online. Musicians include Bill La Motta, piano - Frank Jarvis, drums - Leonard Creque, Guitar - Iggy Matthews, percussion - Aldis Samuel, conga - Errol Peterson, Bongos and Leyburn Watkins, Bass.

The April 17, 1965 issues of Billboard gave this album a listing with three stars.

Cavallaro With The Latin Beat

Audalucia

Cavallaro With That Latin Beat
Brunswick STA 3027

Here we have a better than average, "exotica flavored" Carmen Cavallaro album featuring Decca stereo separation.

I noted a copy of this album online, released by Decca in 1958 with the same cover art as the Brunswick release. My cover art printed dark with a somewhat "purple" cast by comparison. I also noticed a listing on UK Ebay for this Brunswick release with a date of 1959.

Brunswick Limited was a branch of Decca located in England.

Cavallaro With That Latin Beat
Decca Records
DL 8864

Above is an example of the better, Decca printed cover.

Jerry Blaine - Looks Of Love

Something

Looks Of Love

Looks Of Love
Jerry Blaine
Kay-Bee Record Co. Seattle, Washington

Sweet Georgia Brown

Everybody's Talkin'

Games People Play

This Is My Life

Doesn't The Sun Look Good Today 

The Other Woman

Another Hundred People

Something

What Have They Done To My Song, Ma?

Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

The Desperate Ones

If We Only Have Love

Percussion Sextet

Fickle Weather

The First Percussion Sextet
RCA Victor LPM-2352
1961

Here we have another album released during the wave of percussion recordings which flooded the market in the early 60s.

This is a live album featuring Bob Swan, Earl Zindars, Bruce Spencer, Chuck Speas, Ralph Roberts and Doug Allen. Direction by C. Warren Hard.

The sound lacks a little depth which might be expected in a live setting. A studio album would have been better showcase for the inventive material. The track Fickle Weather is terrific and takes advantage of the "echoing" nature of the hall setting at West Virginia University. The song is a long and mood setting piece.

Three Kinds Of Lost People

If Men Go To Hell Who Cares

The Three Kinds Of Lost People
Rite Records Productions, Cincinnati, Ohio
RR42230 - 1982

Dot Alverson and The King's Trio.

Flamenco!

A Dynamic Program Of Authentic Flamenco!
Los Flamencos De Espana
Trans-World TW-4100
1957

Mike - Michael Holliday

Skylark

Mike
Michael Holliday
A New Singer With A Familiar Sound

Orchestra Conducted by Norrie Paramor

Recorded by EMI in London, England
Bethlehem Records, Cincinnati, Ohio
BX 4001

1962

Strange Music

In The Good Old Summertime

Skylark

Be Careful It's My Heart

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

Love Is Just Around The Corner

The Folks Who Live On The Hill

Did You Ever See A Dream Walking

I Can't Give You Anything But Love

The Lamplighter's Serenade

Ain't She Sweet

I'll Be Seeing You

Yellow Bird - Keith Stewart

Angelina

Yellow Bird
Keith Stewart
Wirl 1031
West Indies Records, Jamaica
1965

I love these "island" records because many of them feature graphically bold covers, normally comprised of a black and white photo mixed with bright color. I could probably collect them all just for the cover art.

This album is a simple folk recording from a popular Caribbean artist who passed away, November 3, 2010.