Chacksfield Plays The Beatles' Song Book

Chacksfield Plays The Beatles' Song Book
Frank Chacksfield And His Orchestra
Producers: Tony D'Amato and Ray Richardson
Engineer: Arthur Lilley
Design: Framlett, Barsanti & Assoc.
Phase 4 Stereo
London SP 44142
1970

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

It is still hard for me to believe that London released an easy listening Beatles cover album in 1970.

When I did the original post in 2011, I couldn't get into the concept or sound. However, the set sounds better to me as I listen to it again while I do this 2018 update. After listening to maybe 4,000 mood music albums since that time I guess I have a lot more examples to compare this set to. I'm reminded, once again, how subjective art can be. The Norwegian Wood and The Fool On The Hill arrangements are very good.

Get Back
Michelle
Got To Get You Into My Life
Something
Hey Jude
A Hard Day's Night
Norwegian Wood
Ticket To Ride
The Fool On The Hill
Come Together
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Sabrosa

Sabrosa Musica
de Jaimie Llano Gonzalez su organo y ritmos
Vol. VI
Musica de Rafael Excalona
Industria Electro-Sonora. S.A. Medellin, Colombia

I believe Sabrosa translates to "Tasty" Tasty Music?

There are photos of other Sonolux album covers on the back cover that suggest Sonolux pressed an entire series of albums titled Sabrosa with Gonzalez. All the covers have are cheesecake but don't show nipple like this one.

The music is quite fun featuring a 60s space age organ vibe, a treatment I haven't hear before.

Apparently Gonazlez is still active and there is an hugh list of his work available on Amazon so I refrain from posting a sample here. This is just one of those odd records with a fun cover that I find in Northern Kentucky from time to time.

Hear How To Achieve Sexual Harmony In Marriage

Male Sex Anatomy (sample)

Hear How To Achieve Sexual Harmony In Marriage

Carlton Record Corporation CHH 28
1961

Guitar Spectacular - The Incredible Steel Guitar Stylings Of Speedy West

Guitar Spectacular
The Incredible Steel Guitar Stylings Of Speedy West
Capitol Records ST 1835
1962

West's last Capitol album. Group members included Roy Lanham, Billy Strange, Billy Liebert and drummer Earl Palmer.

One of my favorite tracks is a beautiful tune titled Afternoon Of A Swan.

West was so prolific that is hard to fathom how hard working he was. He played on some 6,000 recordings with a total of 177 different artists. And this was only between 1950 and 1955!

Check out West's wiki page for the details.

Of course this LP can be had on CD, so I won't be posting samples here.

Inventive stuff!

Ovation Quadraphonic Sound

Jungle Root - Dick Schory

Ovatiton Quadraphonic Sound
OD/1
1971

This has to be one of the best demonstration LPs I've stumbled across.

First, the engineering is outstanding even on a stereo turntable. The sound is rich, distinctive and the bass is as warm and deep as I've ever heard.

Secondly, I noted that the lead track on side 1 after a collection of sound effects that must have sounded awesome on a quad system is a track by Dick Schory. This was one song that I couldn't find online for purchase/download. I've got a number of Schory's albums in the collection including Supercussion and Music For Bang Baaroom And Harp. Supercussion is an outstanding percussion album. Schory gets big billing, in the jacket notes, as President of Ovation Incorporated. I did not know that Schory introduced quadraphonic sound (in some form) in 1956. The notes go out to say that it took (apparently about 15 years) for commercial equipment to be developed so the technique could become commercially practical.

The music, like on most demonstration records, is a mix of styles and sounds. Some tracks seem dated for the period. But all the songs seem to work together, at least for me. And, I must say, if all records achieved this level quality sonic quality life would be just too sweet!

Jazz For The Jet Set - Dave Pike

Dave Pike
Jazz For The Jet Set

Produced by Herbie Mann

Engineer: Phil Iehle
Atlantic SD 1457
1966

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

From Billboard - May 21, 1966: A sophisticated jazz-pop approach in mostly medium tempo, this music has some smooth, appealing sounds. Dave Pike's marimba is aided by organ, two trumpets and rhythm. Clary Terry handles most of the trumpet solo work in his swinging style. "You've Got Your Troubles" and "Sweet Tater Pie" are standouts with the latter being in a discotheque groove.

Personel:

Bass – Bob Cranshaw (tracks: A1, B1, B3, B4), Jimmy Lewis (2) (tracks: A2 to A4, B2)
Drums – Bruno Carr (tracks: A1, B1 , B3, B4), Grady Tate (tracks: A2 to A4, B2)
Guitar – Billy Butler (3)
Marimba – Dave Pike
Organ – Herbie Hancock
Trumpet – Clark Terry, Martin Sheller* (tracks: A1, B1, B3, B4), Melvin Lastie (tracks: A2 to A4, B2)

Blind Man Blind Man

Jet Set
Sunny
When I'm Gone

You've Got Your Troubles
Sweet Tater Pie
Just Say Goodbye
Devilette

Cha Cha Cha - Mr. Bongo Plays In Hi-Fi - Jack Costanzo

Silencio

Cha Cha Cha
Mr. Bongo Plays In Hi-Fi
Jack Costanzo And His Latin Orchestra
Vocals By Kaskara and Marda Saxon
Tops L1564
1957

From the back cover: "Mr. Bongo Plays Hi-Fi Cha Cha" marks the most authentic presentation yet of the passion, spirit and pulsating beat of the music native to Cuba. It possesses all the rocking excitement of a Cuban dance with the powerful four-trumpet team shouting joyously; the comple yet rock-steady rhythm section of bongos, congas, timbales, string bass and piano; the happy, uninhibited vocal trios and soloists. The virtuoso brilliance and unflagging beat of Jack "Mr. Bongo" Constanzo leads the orchestra and singers through the exciting rhythms of Cuba.

From Havana to Hollywood the bongo beat is sweeping the continent. Like economy runs and TV spectaculars, bongo parties are developing into a revered Institution as thousands of unrelenting tyros nurse sore fingers and aching wrists trying to make the skins speak Cubano. For Jack Costanzo, bongo beating is like breathing. That this analogy is honest is borne out by his certain title, "Mr. Bongo". In this album, rousingly backed by his famous orchestra and vocalists, Mr. Bongo steps out, daring to bring into your home the inflammable rhythms of Cuba.

Costanzo's professional laurels include many "firsts". The handsome thirtyish Chicagoan was the first bongo drummer to work with a name jazz orchestra, joining the exciting Stan Kenton organization in 1947 and working with Stan for two years. His outstanding performance on the Kenton recordings of "Peanut Vendor," "Journey to Brazil" and "Bongo Riff" made the American public aware for the first time of the "little drums with the big sound".

Jack gained further fame when he augmented the Nat "King" Cole trio from February 1949 to September 1953, establishing him as the first bongoist to play with such a trio. His recordings with the velvet-voiced Cole include "Calypso Blues," "Lush Life" and "Strange," numbers which became standard repertoire in their tours in Europe, Hawaii and Stateside.

Since 1954, Constanzo has been an integral part of the acts of Peggy Lee and frantic Frances Faye, with whom he recorded and appeared at lavish spots such as Hollywood's Ciro's, Las Vegas's Sands Hotel and the Fairmont in San Francisco. Moreover, and just for the record, this young man with the heap big beat has appeared in the top concert emporiums on both coasts – Carnegie Hall (with Kenton) and the Hollywood Bowl (with La Lee).

No less extensive in Mr. Bongo's record in motion pictures and television. Lucky man, he's even worked with Marilyn Monroe "No Business Like Show Business" and Grace Kelly "To Catch A Thief". There's no percentage in trying to count a top video show with music where Jack hasn't either sparked the studio orchestra or appeared on camera.

A brief rundown of his other musical credits reads like a roster of Who's Who in Showbusiness:

Bands – Ray Anthony, Rene Touzet, Xavier Cugat, Lecuona Cuban Boys, Perez Pardo, Billy May, Charlie Barnet and aforementioned Stan Kenton.

Personalities – Desi Arnaz, Lam Sumac, Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, and Gary Crosby.

Also well known as a bongo and conga instructor, the virtuoso numbers among his past pupils some of Filmland's very brightest stars.

Costanzo's latest coup is a pact with 20th Century Fox for a musical role in the picture, "Bernadine". He has recorded sound track for many famous films, latest b being "The Story Of Mankind" and Jerry Lewis' first movie as a single. "The Delicate Delinquent."

Ohio born vocalist Marda Saxon is one of the very few non-Latins to perform successfully the authentic Cuban songs in this album. Originally a dancer with the famous Afro-Cuban Sans Souci Troupe, Marda has been with the Costanzo Orchestra since its organization in April 1956. She joined the band at its first location. Ben Pollack's renowned restaurant on Hollywood's Sunset Strip, and has made personal appearances and recordings with Mr. Bongo since that time.

The rich vocalizings of Kaskara have been entertaining American fans of Cuban music since 1945 when he first came to the U.S. Born in Holbuin, Oriente, Cuba Kaskara had worked primarily with the bands of Perez Prado and Rene Touzet prior to his present association with the Costanzo Orchestra. He previously recorded with Touzer and is here featured in the vocals of Jarochita; Que Dichoso Es; Nana Secre; Jack, Jack, Jack, Quiete; Rabo E Mula. Jack Costanzo appears through the courtesy of Zephyr Records.

Mira Como Los Pollos
Jarochito
Rabo E Mula
Silencio
Quiere
Atu
Que Dichoso Es
Nana Secre
Jack, Jack, Jack

Bonco
Mary Lou
La Loca

Music For The Birds

Flamingo

Music For The Birds
Eddie South and Mike Simpson
Mercury Wing SRW 16225

While researching this album I found a notice of South's death in the May 5, 1962 Billboard. South died at the age of 57. He had been ill for several years with diabetes and a heart condition.

Paul Whitemann dubbed him Dark Angel Of The Violin. Fritz Kreisler, upon hearing South play, told him he should have pursued a career in classical music.

This record was mentioned in the brief as his "most recent recording" due soon for release. So I assume the release date would have been 1962.

This is a rare and outstanding jazz/space age pop album.

Spanish Guitar - Tony Mottola

Estrellita

Spanish Guitar
Tony Mottola And His Orchestra
Command Records RS 841 SD
1962

This record is apparently the follow up to Mottola's Roman Guitar, and Mottola's Roman Guitar Vol. 2.

Doc Severinsen is credited for his trumpet work along with Phil Bodner and Stanley Webb for rhythm and percussion. Mottola and Lew Davies are credited with the arrangements.

Originated and produced by Enoch Light, the music has that Light's signature early 60s light pop stamp on it.

The jacket art direction is credited to Charles E Murphy.

As with all of the Light recordings the engineering is excellent.

Dimension 3

Swamp-Fire

Dimension 3
Enoch Light and The Light Brigade
Command Records RS 877SD
1964

I can't say that that this is my favorite example of a Charles E. Murphy cover. Most of his covers are handled with a lighter hand.

By 1964 Light had been mining his light "ping-pong pop" sound for about four years. This is classic ping-pong light pop.

Dimension 3 was Light's introductory experiment with splitting sound to create a "ghost" center or "third" speaker.

The engineering is really fabulous and the music is space age fun! This version of Swamp-Fire has to be one of my favorites!