Billy May: Jimmie Lunceford In Hi-Fi (1957)

This Capitol release may interest some of you. In 1957 producer Dave Cavanaugh suggested that Billy May, a fan of the old Jimmy Lunceford two-beat sound, record a tribute to mark 10 years since Lunceford's death. They would call it "Jimmie Lunceford In Hi-Fi". May was duly set to work. Not only did Capitol claim that the project was undertaken with the approval of the Lunceford estate, they managed to reel in four of the old Lunceford alumni namely Trummy Young, Willie Smith, Joe Thomas and Dan Grissom. The album was cut on June 15, 16 and 18 1957. Personnel were: Pete Candoli, Mannie Klein, Mickey Mangano, Ollie Mitchell, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Trummy Young, Si Zentner, Joe Howard, Ed Kusby, Dick Noel (tb), Willie Smith (alto/baritone), Wilbur Schwartz (alto/clarinet), Joe Thomas, Ted Nash (ts), Bob Lawson, Chuck Gentry (bs), Jimmy Rowles (p), Al Hendrickson (g), Joe Mondragon (b) , Alvin Stoller (d), Dan Grissom (vocal).

Not to be outdone, Decca decided to issue their own Lunceford tribute just two months later. For this they focused on Sy Oliver, a fine trumpeter and arranger who helped define the Jimmie Lunceford sound in the 1930s. In 1950 Decca released a 10" disc containing eight tunes that Oliver had arranged for the Lunceford band. That Lp was called "For Dancers Only". For the 1957 tribute five additional songs were recorded in August of that year expanding the disc to a 12". This was known as "The Original Arrangements Of Jimmie Lunceford In Hi-Fi". Personnel: Charlie Shavers, Bernie Glow, Taft Jordan, Paul Webster (tp), Henderson Chambers, Dickie Harris, Frank Rehak (tb), Howard Johnson (cl, as), Sam "The Man" Taylor (ts), Ernie Caceres (bs), Billy Kyle (p), Everett Barksdale (g), George Duvivier (b), Jimmy Crawford (d). Recorded in New York City, May 1950 & August 1957.

This has been reissued on the Lone Hill Jazz label. I'd like to add this album to my library at some stage in the future. If I do I'll share it with you. Meantime here's the Billy May tribute.

Tracks:
01) 'Taint What You Do
02) Uptown Blues
03) Margie
04) Annie Laurie
05) For Dancers Only
06) Charmaine
07) Coquette
08) Well All Right Then
09) Blues In The Night
10) Four Or Five Times
11) Cheatin' On Me
12) Rhythm Is Our Business

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The Hi-Lo's Happen To Folk Songs (1962)

In the early '60s Frank Sinatra rescued the Hi-Lo's from becoming just another Beatlemania casualty by inviting them to join his new Reprise label. They hopped on board and cut two discs for the label before finding themselves out in the cold again. The albums were this one and "The Hi-Lo's Happen To Bossa Nova" (1963). Even with good song choice and professional backings (Billy May and Chuck Sagle) both bombed and again they were out of a contract. But to Hi-Lo's fans, like myself, these two albums are valued additions to our libraries. "Bossa Nova" is in the pipeline.

Tracks:
01) Sixteen Tons
02) Turkey In The Straw
03) Careless Love
04) Cotton Fields
05) Black Is The Color
06) Ezekiel Saw De Wheel
07) Yellow Rose Of Texas
08) Michael
09) Gotta Travel On
10) Cockles And Mussels
11) On Top Of Old Smokey

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Bobby Darin: Winners (1964)

With smoky, intimate arrangements by Bobby Scott and backed by Scott's 6-piece combo, Darin turns out one of the jazziest albums of his career. One of his best.

Tracks:
01) Milord
02) Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
03) Anything Goes
04) Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
05) Golden Earrings
06) When Day Is Done
07) I've Found A New Baby
08) What A Difference A Day Made
09) What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
10) Hard Hearted Hannah
11) Easy Living
12) They All Laughed

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Count Basie: Chairman Of The Board (1958)

Although it appeared at a time when Count Basie was enjoying respect from all quarters (as evidenced by the pop acclaim of several Grammy awards and the jazz faithful's enthusiasm for his concert at Newport), "Chairman of the Board" was, comparatively, a low-profile session. The record was surrounded in Basie's discography by several prize-winners and a parade of studio collaborations — with vocalists Tony Bennett, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross and Billy Eckstine plus arranger Neal Hefti. This 1958 date for Roulette was a rare chance for the orchestra to perform on its own and for listeners to hear how powerful the band could be when its concentration was undiverted. At this time Basie's band possessed three fine arrangers (Frank Foster, Thad Jones, and Frank Wess) and at least a dozen solo voices. Each of the ten charts on "Chairman of the Board" were originals by Foster, Jones, Wess, or Ernie Wilkins, all of them arranged by the composer. The record is admittedly heavy on blues, but it's a brassy, powerful vision of the blues; Foster's "Blues in Hoss' Flat" and Wilkins's "Kansas City Shout" take the band back to its hometown, beginning with a subtle swing but ending with a raucous display of power from each section. The contributions by Jones and Wess provide a necessary complement to that forceful swing. Jones's "Speaking of Sounds" employs the woodwinds to provide color and texture, while Wess's "Segue in C" relies on bassist Eddie Jones and Basie's piano to lead the band while Wess himself takes several choruses on alto sax. A dynamic date. ~ All Music

Side 1:
01) Blues In Hoss' Flat
02) H.R.H.
03) Segue In C
04) Kansas City Shout
05) Speaking Of Sounds

Side 2:
01) Tv Time
02) Who Me
03) The Deacon
04) Half Moon Street
05) Mutt & Jeff

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Tommy Emmanuel: Only

No one expresses oneself as honestly or as gracefully as Tommy Emmanuel on acoustic guitar. This was his first solo acoustic CD. As Tommy has said, speed is not necessarily good -- indeed a monkey can be trained to play guitar fast. It is much more difficult to play slowly with expression and passion and this album is filled with those qualities. This album is the closest yet to convey Tommy's true artistry -- something that cannot be completely experienced outside of a live concert. Some very talented people have attempted to capture Tommy's technique in the form of tablature and verbal instruction, but even they are left with the question, "How does he DO that!?!" The answer is, it is a gift, and we are the recipients. End of discussion. ~ James Herden

Tracks:
01) Those Who Wait
02) I've Always Thought Of You
03) Mombasa
04) Timberlake Road
05) Questions
06) Padre
07) Luttrell
08) Since We Met
09) Drive Time
10) The Robin
11) Train To Dusseldorf
12) Biskie
13) Stay Close To Me
14) Ol' Brother Hubbard

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Notice Board

Regarding the Doris Day "Love Album" posting: Have re-uploaded the complete file which fixes the fault in the final track(s). Thanks to Mel who has kindly supplied the correct track. Track 10 is now: "If I Had My Life To Live Over" which segues into "Let Me Call You Sweetheart".

Ken Nordine: The Best Of Word Jazz Vol. 1 (1959)

When the original "Word Jazz" arrived in our station's Lp library in the late '50s my radio colleagues and I were blown away. What a voice! That mellifluous bass-baritone! Most of us would have almost killed to have just a fraction of Nordine's resonance. But the impact didn't come only from Ken's voice. The surrealistic stories, that stream-of-consciousness style also used by the beatniks of the '50s to express their radical ideas. It was all very new, quite titillating and unique. A treasure trove for those of us who liked to put punchy spoken inserts into our presentations.

Even if you're not familiar with this vinyl you may recognize Ken Nordine by the many voice-overs he recorded for Tv and radio over the past decades. The background jazz was supplied by the Fred Katz Combo which cut a few albums without Nordine. The group also appeared in the movie "Sweet Smell Of Success".

Tracks:

01) My baby

02) Original Sin

03) What Time Is It?

04) Confessions of 349-18-5171

05) Hunger Is from

06) Vidiot

07) Reaching Into In

08) Adult Kindergarten

09) Sound Museum

10) Bury-It-Yourself Time Capsule

11) Anytime Anytime

12) Whistler

13) Flibberty Jib

14) Faces In The Jazzamatazz

15) I Used To Think My Right Hand Was Uglier Than My Left

16) Looks Like It's Going To Rain

17) Down The Drain

18) You're Getting Better

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Take A Break!

This is not my usual style -- but take a look at this site. Lots of diversionary bits 'n' pieces. Found the "Music Room" fascinating and the video quality great. Have a peek at ABBA. You'll need the Adobe Flash Player. Enjoy!

Click here

Doris Day: The Love Album (1967)

I have a story to tell regarding this rare Doris Day album which may interest a few of you. Some time ago I undertook to do some dubbing for a male friend of my daughter. Before he flew the coop as a "thankyou" he passed on to me a few CD copies that were excess to requirements. They were duly "filed" by me and largely forgotten, that is, until I became a blogger. Now, I make sure there are no vinyls, tapes or CDs that slip under my radar. The CD copies donated by the "friend" were resurrected. After some online research two of them aroused my interest -- Sammy Davis Jr's "Collection" and this one, "The Love Album". Both were listed as being quite rare albums! Couldn't believe my good fortune. Posted the Sammy Davis disc recently and now it's the turn of our lovely diva, Doris Day. Before I reprint a very informative review of the album, note that track 10, "If I Had My Life To Live Over", is incomplete. Must have been a glitch when copying from the original CD. I only have the copy so am unable to fix it. Here's the review:

"After parting company with long-time label Columbia it would take something very special to lure Doris back into the recording studio. That something would be an album themed around some of her all-time favourite ballads and quite significantly a project that turned out to be her final as a recording artiste! Doris set to work on sessions for "The Love Album" between May 25 and June 9 in 1967. Her vocals were combined with a dreamy backdrop of lush orchestration that came courtesy of conductor Sidney H. Feller and producer Don Genson (he of course later worked on her TV sitcom as an executive producer). Although an intended album for the time this was not to be. Instead, subsequent events that included the loss of her husband overshadowed the project. "The Love Album" or the "Lost" album as it is often referred to simply vanished into obscurity...That was until the summer of 1993, when Doris's son, Terry Melcher, came across the original master tapes. Then, in 1994, this album finally received its first world release in the United Kingdom."

Some historical background for you. I hope there are a few fans out there for whom this album will fill a gap and perhaps update their Doris Day collections.

Tracks:
01) For All We Know
02) Snuggled On Your Shoulder
03) Are You Lonesome Tonight
04) Wonderful One
05) Street Of Dreams
06) Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
07) All Alone
08) Faded Summer Love
09) Sleepy Lagoon
10) If I Had My Life To Live Over & Let Me Call You Sweetheart

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Jazz In The Charts: A Lover's Lullaby (1940)

Another in the "Jazz In The Charts" series. This one traces the tunes high on the Billboard charts in 1940. For background on this series see my May 18 post. It's under "Jazz In The Charts" in the Labels column. As track details are set out quite clearly on the back cover I won't bother to detail them again. Just click on the image to bring it to full screen.

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Erroll Garner: Erroll Garner Plays Misty (1953/54)

Erroll Garner was a true original. No pianist sounded like him before he rose to prominence in the mid-1940s, and few ever played with his consistent joy. Throughout his career Garner defied several stereotypes. He was always very popular yet never watered down his music. His style did not change much after 1950 yet it never became stale, overly predictable or safe. In a time when jazz was being seen as more ‘serious’ and less entertaining, Garner had no trouble exciting large crowds. And although he never learned to read music, he wrote several notable compositions including the tune that identifies this album ("Misty"). Music seemed to magically flow through Erroll Garner, and he gave the impression that he never even needed to look at the keyboard; all he had to do was sit down at the piano.

One of Garner’s great skills was his ability to record one gem after another. It was not unusual for him to record enough material in one session for two or three albums, all first takes, all well worth hearing. The material on this collection dates from three sessions from 1953-54 which resulted in a remarkable total of 54 selections, 24 cut on July 27, 1954, alone.

Tracks:
01) Misty
02) Exactly Like You
03) You Are My Sunshine
04) What Is This Thing Called Love
05) Frantonality
06) Again
07) Where Or When
08) Love In Bloom
09) Through A Long And Sleepless Night
10) That Old Feeling

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Keely Smith: Because You're Mine (1959)

This is a CD reissue of the '59 Dot vinyl. Can't say it's one of my favourite Keely albums, but I bought it initially to hear the Marty Paich backings. Fairly standard stuff on the whole. The final two tracks give a hint of his talent especially his scoring for brass. Ms Smith was never classified as a jazz singer as such. But often lines are blurred between jazz and ballad singers. Whatever label we give her, there's no doubting her ability to put across the type of song on this album popular in the late '50s. The digital remastering of this disc has taken a hammering from audio buffs. It is a bit rough in parts. No comparison with her Capitol reissues. One of the best of these is "Cherokeely Swings" with Billy May. I have this and plan to share it soon.

Tracks:
01) Because You're Mine
02) Canadian Sunset
03) No Other Love
04) Memories Are Made Of This
05) My Special Angel
06) Please Mr Sun
07) Only You
08) Because
09) Tell Me Why
10) Moments To Remember
11) Prisoner Of Love
12) The Loveliest Night Of The Year

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Barney Kessel: To Swing Or Not To Swing (1955)

As album covers go this has never done much for me. I usually like a spot of colour, but it's what's inside that counts and on that score this is a winner. Reviewer William Faust has it sussed nicely: "I had to look twice to make sure that this wasn't a Norman Granz-produced JATP concert or Verve recording session because it sure swings like one and features many of the 'usual suspects'. Recorded in 1955, this red hot session features one of the era's best swing guitars (in the tradition of Herb Ellis, Tal Farlow or Jimmy Raney) backed by a group of mostly west coast studio jocks and big band alumni. Edison is superb as always, Auld and Bill Perkins do a nice job on tenor respectively, Jimmy Rowles does his best Count Basie imitation (and a good one it is) with Red Mitchell and Shelly Manne down in the engine room. Eleven charts in all, mostly up-tempo blues, swing standards and a ballad or two for Kessel to shine. There's a particularly tight version of 'Moten Swing' that allows everyone lots of room to cut loose and a lovely duet between Kessel and Rowles on 'Midnight Sun'."

Tracks:
01) Begin The Blues
02) Louisiana
03) Happy Feeling
04) Embraceable You
05) Wail Street
06) Back Home Again In Indiana
07) Moten Swing
08) Midnight Sun
09) Contemporary Blues
10) Don't Blame Me
11) Twelfth Street Rag

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Anita Kerr Singers: Bert Kaempfert Turns Us On (1967)

Catch me in the right mood and I'm yours. "Your wish is my command", as the saying goes. Some nameless person kindly chided me in the Chatbox recently for the absence of Bert Kaempfert music in this blog. Just an oversight pal. Redressing the situation now. Not the Bert band as such, but hey, the previous post was a double disc album!

The "first lady" of the Nashville music studio scene, Anita Kerr's sizable credentials landed her a multi-project deal at Warner Bros. where she cut five albums in less than two years. This is the third in the series, which included tunes penned or made famous by Bert Kaempfert. "For Bert" is the sole original, and was penned by Kerr and on-again, off-again collaborator Rod McKuen.

Tracks:
01) L O V E
02) Two Can Live On Love Alone
03) Remember When
04) Strangers In The Night
05) A Swinging Safari
06) The World We Knew
07) I Can't Help Remembering You
08) Spanish Eyes
09) Danke Schoen
10) Wonderland By Night
11) Lady
12) For Bert

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Bert Kaempfert: Swing (1966/78)

Swing music would seem to be a natural medium for German orchestra leader Bert Kaempfert, whose early inspirations included the American big bands. And this set finds "Fips" and his combo doing a good job covering some of big band music's classics.

This two-disc set is really two separate albums. The first twelve cuts of Disc One are the original "Swing" album that Polydor released in '78. The other two cuts on Disc One, and all of Disc Two are either covers, or Kaempfert originals culled from the bandleader's regular Polydor/Decca/MCA output between 1966 and 1975.

Renowned soloists, all of whom were regular members of his orchestra as of the 1970s, performed the solos in this production: Ack van Rooyen (trumpet and cornet), Herb Geller (flute and alto saxophone), Ferdinand Powel (tenor saxophone), James Towsey (baritone saxophone) and Jiggs Whigham (trombone).

Over the years Kaempfert not only chose one or the other swing title for inclusion in his LP recordings, but also wrote swing numbers himself which justifiably take their place among the classics. Three of these compositions are included in this album as bonus tracks: "Easy Glider" and "Jumpin’ Blue", both recorded in 1974 and "Soul Time" from 1968.

Disc 1:
01) Woodchopper's Ball
02) Little Brown Jug
03) One O'Clock Jump
04) Lullaby Of Birdland
05) Two O'Clock Jump
06) Airmail Special
07) Apple Honey
08) Intermission Riff
09) Jumpin' At The Woodside
10) Marie
11) It's Only A Paper Moon
12) In The Mood
13) I'm Beginning To See The Light
14) Perdido

Disc 2:
01) Caravan
02) Choo Choo Boogie
03) Honeysuckle Rose
04) Jumpin' Blue
05) Opus One
06) Tuxedo Junction
07) Stompin' At The Savoy
08) Take The A Train
09) Skyliner
10) Love Me Happy
11) Petula
12) Pussy Footin'
13) Sermonette
14) Soul Time
15) Easy Glider

Disc One

Disc Two

Blossom Dearie & Mike Renzi: Tweedledum & Tweedledee (1991)

Posted this yesterday but pulled it when I found a fault in the track crossovers. Worst were tracks 2 and 6. The gap between tracks 2 and 3 was a whopping one and a half minutes! To those who downloaded the corrupt file yesterday, my regrets. Have fixed the problem. Some gaps are still slightly longer than usual, but probably won't bother you too much.

Spent some time on the fix as I really wanted to share this one with you. It's quite special that is if you're a Blossom fan like myself. In fact I'll go further and say that it's my top Blossom album. The whole production is a delight, from the songs (don't you dig "Fred Astaire"), the excellent backings by Mel Torme's former pianist, Mike Renz, and of course, Blossom herself. This is a rare, less commercially known album from the diva on her independent Daffodil label. I understand that it's out of print now. Oh, just one more comment: Why, in heaven's name, did they call the album "Tweedledum And Tweedledee"? S'pose your response will be: "Why not?" You got me there!

Tracks:
01) I Don't Remember
02) Ev'rybody Loves Jobim
03) I Thought I Heard A Hummingbird
04) Quiet Time
05) My Love Went To London
06) I Did It All For You
07) Not You Again
08) Blossom
09) Love Is On The Way
10) Fred Astaire
11) A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

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Ted Heath: In Concert/21st Anniversary Album(1959/68)

Have only part 1 of this two-disc set. Using the anniversary album cover in the hope that anyone with disc 2 will share it with us. In the meantime you're welcome to download and enjoy the fabulous sounds of the "Ted Heath In Concert" as they wowed jazz and big band lovers on both sides of the Atlantic. As you can read on the cover there are tributes from Stan Kenton, Basie, Woody Herman and other US luminaries on disc 2.

The first eight tracks on disc 1 feature tunes for which Ted got the most requests. They all attest to the wonderful arranging talents Ted was able to call upon. There are charts by Ronnie Roullier, Ken Moule, Dave Lindup, Ralph Dollimore and Kenny Grahame. It was the latter who wrote the "Beaulieu Festival Suite" for the band.

Side 1:
01) The Wailing Boat [Al Cohn]
02) Bags' Groove [Milt Jackson]
03) Doodlin' [Horace Silver]
04) Exactly Like You [Jimmy McHugh]
05) Baby Blue [Stan Tracey]
06) Perdido [Juan Tizol]

Side 2:
01) Woodyn' You [Dizzy Gillespie]
02) 'Round Midnight [Thelonious Monk]
03) Beaulieu Festival Suite
Hunting Scene
Vintage Veterans
The Abbey
Beaulieu Manor

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Marian McPartland & Norah Jones: Piano Jazz

This is a kind of 'twofer' for me. Have been an admirer of 90-year-old jazz pianist Marian McPartland for many years and Norah Jones is my queen of cool.

Marian has become famous for hosting her "Piano Jazz" radio program since 1978, but she was a well-respected pianist decades before of course. "Piano Jazz" is a weekly one hour radio show produced and distributed by National Public Radio. The show features a single guest and usually comprises an equal mixture of discussion and playing, often duets with Marian. Initially the guests were limited to jazz pianists, but out of necessity the format was expanded to include performers on other instruments as well as other genres (though the performances remain focused on jazz tunes). The show provides an inside look at the relationships of jazz musicians since Marian has often had long friendships with many of her guests. A few examples of guests are Cy Coleman, Henry Mancini, Percy Faith, Jon Weber, Gary Burton and our Norah featured on this posting. A number of shows have been released commercially on compact disc and it's one of these I'm sharing with you today.

Marian's guest, Norah Jones, daughter of sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, burst upon the entertainment scene seven years ago with her debut album "Come Away With Me". This was followed by "Feels Like Home", her second album two years later. Rather than repeat the softer, jazz mood of "Come Away With Me", her second album was influenced by country music. Within a week of its release, "Feels like Home" had sold over a million copies making it the highest-selling album in the history of Blue Note Records. Her third album, "Not Too Late", was released by Blue Note on January 30, 2007. For this album she wrote or co-wrote every song. "Not Too Late" was mostly recorded at Jones's home studio.

Beautiful and uniquely talented - yet free of the ostentation common to her trade - Norah Jones is a brilliant young star who stands among the most adored entertainers of this decade. Hope you enjoy listening to the interplay between these two icons of the current entertainment scene.

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Julio Iglesias: In Concert (1983)

If you're a Julio fan and have never listened to this disc go ahead and download. If Julio doesn't really turn you on I suggest you give it a miss. The singer, the songs, the backings and the audiences are great. That's why I'm sharing it with you. But the audio quality is pretty rough. Gave it a visual check when I bought it. Looked reasonable. Definitely worth 50c. But when I began to rip this morning realised that during its 26 or so years it hadn't been treated with much loving kindness. Probably played with a heavy pickup and worn stylus. SO BE WARNED!

But besides all that, Julio smooches his way through a bunch of standards, some Latin favourites and a tribute to Cole Porter. He sings a couple of duets -- "Feelings" with Pamela Bunning and "As Time Goes By" with Stephanie Spruill. The excerpts were recorded at the NHK Theatre of Tokyo, the Melbourne Opera Hall, Australia, the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Palais de Congres of Paris. Each section is bridged with audience applause. I expected the different acoustic characteristics of each venue to spoil the sense of continuity, but not so. Sounds OK.

Side 1:
01) Overture
02) Begin The Beguine
03) Promise Me
04) Never Never Never
05) Songs For France
06) Moments
07) Homeland Samba

Side 2:
01) As Time Goes By
02) Latin American Songs
03) Cole Porter Tribute
04) Feelings
05) Hey
06) Nathalie

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Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Sings The Johnny Mercer Songbook (1964)

A few weeks ago someone requested that I share this album. I do so now with pleasure. Along with her Rodgers and Hart collection, this is one of the best of Ella Fitzgerald's songbooks. Her assured and elegant voice is a perfect match for Mercer's urbane lyrics and Nelson Riddle's supple arrangements.

Side 1:

01) Too Marvelous For Words

02) Early Autumn

03) Day In Day Out

04) Laura

05) This Time The Dream's On me

06) Skylark

07) Single-O

Side 2:

01) Something's Gotta Give

02) Travelin' Light

03) Midnight Sun

04) Dream

05) I Remember You

06) When A Woman Loves A Man

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Glen Gray: Casa Loma In Hi-Fi (1956)

The album title says it all really. It's obviously the Casa Loma Orchestra and despite its 53 years still pretty good hi-fi. Those Capitol sound wizos operating in the '50s and '60s maintained a quality level that the other major US record companies often found difficult to equal. Some of my Capitol pressings from those decades are way ahead sound wise of the Columbias and RCAs etc. English Decca was superb too of course, but I better pull my head in as I'm no audio expert. My judgements are formed via my ears, not my oscilloscope.

Details re personnel and soloists etc are all listed on the back cover. Just click to view full screen.

Side 1:

01) No Name Jive

02) Memories Of You

03) White Jazz

04) I Cried For You

05) Come And Get It

06) Sunrise Serenade

07) Maniac's Ball

Side 2:

01) Casa Loma Stomp

02) Just An Old Manuscript

03) Sleepy Time Gal

04) Dance Of The Lame Duck

05) For You

06) Black Jazz

07) Smoke Rings

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Singers Unlimited: A Capella II (1974)

This album is beautiful. The Gene Puerling arrangements are superb. If I was allowed one Singers Unlimited disc on my desert island this one would probably get the nod.

Tracks:
01) Clair
02) Killing Me Softly With His Song
03) Yesterday
04) My Romance
05) Lost In The Stars
06) April In Paris
07) Girl Talk
08) Nature Boy
09) I Don't Know Where I Stand
10) Autumn In New York
11) Like Someone In Love
12) Indian Summer

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101 Strings & Les Baxter: Que Mango! (1970)

Les Baxter's "Que Mango!" is considered one of the hallmark albums of the exotica genre, and also his last great release. The album's liner notes claim it to be the last of the first generation exotica albums — and that it was originally sold in grocery stores for $1.99! Baxter's popularity waned in the late '60s and an offer to record with the world's largest orchestra, the 101 Strings, resulted in "Que Mango!". The album is an attempt to capture a South American vibe on what is often described as his "virtual tourist" albums. Baxter's Best may have a higher percentage of his better (and more accessible) songs, but it is the thematically unified albums that exotica fans will get more use out of. Recorded in January of 1970, "Que Mango!" is a fun, lush, orchestral album for creating a go-go, jet-set party atmosphere. This functional use sidesteps the reality of the album and the exotica genre itself, which is that lounge instrumentals are not the easiest music to listen to without a cocktail in your hand or a barbecue going on. Standout tracks include "Tropicando", "Flight in the Andes", and "Jungle Montuno".

Side 1:
01) Que Mango
02) Tropicando
03) On A Warm Night
04) Flight In The Andes
05) Felicia My Love
06) Affair In Arruba

Side 2:
01) Jungle Montuno
02) Soolaimon
03) Boca Chica
04) Come Back To Paradise
05) Night In Buenos Aires
06) Morning On The Meadow

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Frank Sinatra: Swing And Dance With Frank Sinatra (1944/51)

When Columbia decided to reissue Frank Sinatra's early '50s albums on CD, they did it right, choosing to expand each of the original albums with bonus tracks and release them at a budget price. Such is the case with "Swing and Dance with Frank Sinatra", which is built around an eight-song, 10" record with a similar name ("Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra") originally released in 1950 and expanded by ten stylistically related songs from long before and somewhat after the original Lp sessions. Although Sinatra's star wasn't shining as brightly in 1950 as it was in the '40s, he was still capable of turning out a charming recording which is exactly what "Swing and Dance" was. The CD producers reached back to similar rhythm numbers dating from five years prior to the sessions for the Lp, and also from the following year. These selections include six alternate takes that are even more welcome and all of the material features Sinatra working with arranger/conductor George Siravo who handled the relative handful of rhythm numbers that Sinatra cut at Columbia Records, so there's a stylistic and sonic unity despite the contents being pulled together from across seven years. The original release was where — as producer Mitch Miller put it — the world discovered that Sinatra could swing, and the ten new additions to the original's eight songs are a match in quality for what was originally there. Opening with an outtake of "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)", Sinatra and Siravo never let the listener go and fans of the singer and his later work for Capitol will find this album a fascinating precursor to that body of music without a ballad in sight. Although it will never be remembered as one of his masterpieces it's quite engaging on its own terms — Siravo's arrangements may not be as lush as Axel Stordahl's, but they're very good all the same.

The original Lp would prove to be the final album that Sinatra released under the Columbia label, another three years before he would start recording for Capitol and another year after that before his next album, entitled "Songs For Young Lovers", would be released in 1954.

For Sinatra enthusiasts the George Siravo Orch features on all tracks except Axel Stordahl ( Tks 1, 2, 4, 5, 15, 16, 17); Hugo Winterhalter (6); Harry James (18).

Tracks:
01) Saturday Night [alternative take]
02) All Of Me [alternative take]
03) I've Got A Crush On You [alternative take]
04) The Hucklebuck
05) It All Depends On You [alternative take]
06) Bye Bye Baby [alternative take]
07) All Of Me [alternative take]
08) Should I Reveal
09) You Do Something To Me
10) Lover
11) When You're Smiling
12) It's Only A Paper Moon
13) My Blue Heaven
14) The Continental
15) Meet Me At The Copa
16) Nevertheless I'm In Love With You
17) There's Something Missing
18) Farewell Farewell To Love

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Diahann Carroll & Andre Previn (1960)

Diahann Carroll has been one of America's major performing talents appearing in nightclubs, the Broadway stage, a Las Vegas headliner, in motion pictures and television. She is a Tony Award winner, an Emmy and Grammy nominee, a Golden Globe winner and a Best Actress Oscar nominee. All this and in my estimation one of the most under-rated jazz singers of the '60s/'70s. Her extraordinary gifts as a singer are showcased here and Previn's keyboard magic adds to the enchantment.

Tracks:

01) It's All Right With Me

02) The Party's Over

03) Nobody's Heart

04) There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York

05) Glad To Be Unhappy

06) But Not For Me

07) Summertime

08) Why Can't You Behave

09) Spring Is Here

10) Where Are You

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Buddy Bregman: Dig Buddy In Hi-Fi (1957)

I was duped! Buddy really fooled me this time. Prior to this my only link with Mr Bregman was via his two albums that I acquired and posted on this blog some months ago (August/November). Both were examples of his swingin' big band style. Seeing this vinyl in the bin I assumed we had another swinger. Wrong!! Swing it doesn't. That's not to say you won't like it. But be warned, it's quite unusual. Side one goes all Neopolitan with plunking mandolins and pumping accordions. Side two a bit of the same but with a wee touch of the blarney. Where "The Sin Of Pat Muldoon" fits into all this I haven't a clue. I know it was a Broadway play that bombed. Richard Adler wrote the music. But here's a comment from Buddy himself that may solve our dilemma:

"What a great shot of me - don't look like that any more and a lot less - but I loved that sweater - the interior of the album is inferior as I was 'taking care' of the publishers who came to sell their 'newest latest songs with great melodies' - so I recorded a dozen or so of them; with my homage arrangements to those unsung warriors beating their path to A&R heaven on a daily basis". ~ BUDDY BREGMAN

So that explains it all I guess. Mr & Mrs Bregman didn't name their wee lad "Buddy" for nothing! Actually, Verve released this album with the one illustrated above "Swingin' Standards" as a twofer. Most reviewers liked the "Swinger" but canned the "Hi-Fi". One reviewer writes: "It's a tough transition going from this to the second album included ("Dig Buddy in Hi-Fi"), which hasn't got an ounce of jazz in it and is filled with mandolins, accordions and the sappiest sounds this side of Guy Lombardo without the saxophones. Therefore, this is a good half-a-CD, still worth getting for the "Swingin' Standards" material, though the rest of what's here will most likely disappoint".

Side 1:

01) This Is Beauty

02) Monique

03) Holiday In The Highlands

04) Left Bank

05) Lullaby Of Birdland

06) Golden Guitars

Side 2:

01) New Girl In Town

02) Where is Cinderella

03) The Sin Of Pat Muldoon

04) Nickelodeon Holiday

05) Carousel On A Side Street

06) Holiday

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Nat King Cole Sings - George Shearing Plays (1961)

When two legendary giants of jazz blend their huge talents as these two did in 1961 there's always cause for thankful celebration. Both were singing pianists. I realize it's stretching that a bit in the case of Shearing, but he does sing on the odd album and does so quite tastefully and beautifully. Because of this there's a remarkable rapport between them. They are both of the old school so show a deep respect for each other. There's no upstaging here. A perfect blend. Cool elegance enhanced by Ralph Carmichael's appropriate string backings. I understand that despite his huge output George still cherishes this album. (This is a remastered CD taken from the original 1961 vinyl).

Tracks:

01) September Song

02) Pick Yourself Up

03) I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

04) Let There Be Love

05) Azure-Te

06) Lost April

07) A Beautiful Friendship

08) Fly Me To The Moon

09) Serenata

10) I'm Lost

11) There's A Lull In My Life

12) Don't Go

13) Everything Happens To Me

14) The Game Of Love

15) Guess I'll Go Back Home

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Freddy Martin Orch: Concerto!

I seem to have a nose for sniffing out relatively rare vinyls/CDs. About a week ago at 9.30 in the morning I was sorting through a bin of second hand Lps at a city store and was congratulating myself at seeing the above album when a salvo of gun shots rang out. The sounds were extremely loud which suggested that, whatever the scenario, it was being played out uncomfortably close to myself. On leaving the store I was told that a gunman had opened fire on three policemen, killing one and seriously wounding the other two. The three were merely serving the guy with a search warrant for drug possession. I'm including this story at this time as a small tribute to the slain policeman (above). He was a mighty cop and the whole city entered a period of mourning. I'm a stoical old trout, but still get misty-eyed when I'm reminded of the 33 years of dedicated service this man gave to the citizens of our city. Thanks Len. Understandably he was given a huge send-off. The Australian police sent 8 of their officers over for the funeral. As for his two colleagues, one's condition is still "critical" and the other "stable". Just one more detail. The body of the slain cop was left lying where he fell for 32 hours! Cops or ex-cops reading this may question the time factor here. But it was an extremely dicey situation. In the end the army was called in to help take the gunman out and retrieve the body. There would have been more killings if risks had been taken earlier. The siege ended when the gunman shot himself.

So to Freddy Martin and "Concerto!". Despite the sad associations, I still consider myself quite lucky to have bought this vinyl for $1. The release of this album stirred some controversy. There were those who hailed these classical themes dressed up in danceable pop tune mode as quite brilliant. Others were outraged. Terms like "sacrilege" were thrown around. It all started in 1941 with Martin's arrangement from the first movement of Tchaikovsky's B-flat piano concerto. He recorded the piece instrumentally, but soon lyrics were added and it was re-cut as "Tonight We Love" with Clyde Rogers' vocal becoming his biggest hit. The success of "Tonight We Love" prompted Martin to adopt other classical themes as well. In this album the Martin tenor sax sets the pace and style for the twin pianos of Bob Hunter and Dave Leonard and the Freddy Martin Orchestra.

Side 1:

01) We Live For Love Tonight

02) Our Love

03) Cornish Rhapsody

04) Strange Music

05) Theme from Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony

06) Moon Love

07) Rhapsody In Blue

08) Autumn Concerto

Side 2:

01) Symphonie Moderne

02) My Reverie

03) Till The End Of Time

04) Liebestraum

05) Donna Diane

06) Moonlight Sonata

07) Swedish Rhapsody

08) Tonight We Love

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Doris Day: Latin For Lovers (1965)

If this blog's download stastistics are any guide there is still an army of Doris devotees out there and for very good reason -- she delivered the goods. Some consider this album as one of her best, but it always comes down to personal taste of course. Doris herself may have given this one a big tick by including a couple of numbers from the album as part of a medley she performed with guest Perry Como on her highly rated 1971 special for CBS, 6 years after the album's release.
Side 1:
01) Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars
02) Fly Me To The Moon
03) Meditation
04) Dansero
05) Summer Has Gone
06) How Insensitive
Side 2:
01) Slightly Out Of Tune
02) Our Day Will Come
03) Be True To Me
04) Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps
05) Be Mine Tonight
06) Por Favor

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Mel Torme, George Shearing, Gerry Mulligan Big Band: Classic Concert Live (1982)

Very unlikely, but if I was ever invited to choose 10 desert island discs this one would be near the top. Not a great surprise. Scan through this blog's postings and you'll see why. Both Torme and Shearing feature prominently and Mulligan? Well he hasn't turned up so far, but I've a couple of his vinyls which will appear in due course. This historic Carnegie concert from 1982 is the last time the trio were listed on the same billing. They had performed together back in 1977, but this was their only recording as a trio. My only regret is that out of the two-hour concert, this was all that was salvaged.

Tracks:
01) I've Heard That Song Before
02) I Sent For You Yesterday and Here You Come Today
03) Jeru
04) Duke Ellington Medley
05) What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
06) Walkin' Shoes
07) 'Round Midnight
08) Line For Lyons
09) Talk
10) Wave/Agua de Beber
11) Blues In The Night
12) The Song Is Ended
13) Lady Be Good

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Buddy DeFranco & Oscar Peterson: Gershwin Songbook (1954)

Pulled this excellent album off the blog the other day as I suspected there might be data corruption on two of the tracks. Checked out OK, so here it is again. Enjoy.

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Michael Franks: Rendezvous In Rio

The posting of Michael Franks' "Objects Of Desire" recently triggered a few requests for his "Rendezvous In Rio". If you liked "Objects" this may appeal also. This time around, Michael brings in a terrific group of musicians to join him on some fun tracks, as well as a few more sophisticated offerings. Notables such as Jeff Lorber, Chuck Loeb, Eric Marienthal, Dwight Sills, Alex Al along with longtime members of Michael’s band, Charles Blenzig, Chris Hunter, and Veronica Nunn, add diversity and flavor to this CD.

Tracks:
01) Under The Sun
02) Rendezvous In Rio
03) The Cool School
04) Samba Do Soho
05) The Critics Are Never Kind
06) Scatsville
07) The Chemistry Of Love
08) Hearing Take Five
09) The Question Is Why
10) Songbirds

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Jazz In The Charts: Laura 1945

At this time I'm presenting to you No. 79 of a remarkable 100 CD series called "Jazz In The Charts". It's a compilation of all the true Billboard chart successes enjoyed by jazz/swing musicians and singers between 1917 and 1954. It was these recordings that helped make the featured entertainers famous and gave them the chance to carry on their recording careers and to profit from their music. This series also provides an insight into the heyday of swing/jazz and illustrates the situation the musicians found themselves in at the time. Better than any "Best Of" compilation this chronology of recordings outlines the gradual change in musical tastes towards more jazz elements in the pop charts. Scanning a selection of the series' CDs makes it clear how vital jazz performers were for the development of pop music in general especially during the '30s and '40s. A number of songs taken from movies and stage shows were only successful in their swing and jazz versions. In many cases, it was these versions that helped turn the numbers into evergreens.

Of the 100 CDs in the series, I only have four in my library. They cover the years 1940/41/42 and 45. Am sharing the one representing 1945. This year I was reaching senior status at high school and had the distinction of being the best keyboard player at the school. I was an avid radio listener and recall most if not all the numbers featured on this disc. After listening to each number I was able to transcribe the sounds I had heard on to the piano resulting in quite complex arrangements of the current pop tunes. I was often put on display by the school when entertainment was needed for visiting sports teams etc.

Why am I sharing all this? Well, understandably this compilation is extremely valuable to me for the reasons set out above. Maybe they will be for some of you too. The series is distributed by a German company, Membran Music Ltd. The site address is: www.membran.net and contact can be made with info@membran.net. All 100 CDs are still listed on the site. Whether they are available in the US or in fact globally I couldn't tell. Anyhow, this is just in case anyone wishes to make inquiries. If there are approx 20 numbers on each CD and there are 100 discs in the series, that's 2000+ items. Each of these featured recordings has listed details of band personnel, recording date and venue, in-depth explanatory notes, references to other relevant recordings of the song or instrumental, plus film and musical source information as well as writing credits (both music and lyrics). In fact the series is a comprehensive music encyclopedia regarding this particular element in the history of jazz. I bought my four CDs for $NZ7 each. Extremely good value.

Tracks:

01) I'm Beginning To See The Light [Duke Ellington]

02) Moonlight In Vermont [Billy Butterfield]

03) Sleigh Ride In July [Tommy Dorsey]

04) I Didn't Know About You [Count Basie]

05) Robin Hood [Les Brown]

06) Saturday Night [Woody Herman]

07) Sentimental Journey [Les Brown]

08) Sleigh Ride In July [Les Brown]

09) Opus No. 1 [Tommy Dorsey]

10) More And More [Tommy Dorsey]

11) Let's Take The Long Way Home [Cab Calloway]

12) Every Time We Say Goodbye [Benny Goodman Sextet]

13) Twilight Time [Les Brown]

14) My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time [Les Brown]

15) Skyliner [Charlie Barnet]

16) I Don't Care Who Knows It [Harry James]

17) Laura [Woody Herman]

18) Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry [Harry James]

19) I Should Care [Jimmy Dorsey]

20) You Can't Get That No More [Louis Jordan]

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The Four Freshmen: Complete Capitol 50s Sessions

Feedback from posting CD 3 of this 9-disc series a few days ago has shown me that, like Oliver, you'd like some more. So here's CD1. Will drip feed them as my policy is to vary the program input. But we'll probably post the complete set if you want 'em bad enough. If you need background read my comments prefacing the first post (May 6).

Tracks:
01) Basin St Blues
02) Baltimore Oriole
03) Baltimore Oriole [alternative take]
04) Dry Bones
05) Intermission Riff
06) It's A Blue World
07) I'll Be Seeing You
08) Laura
09) Mr B's Blues
10) Nothing Like You
11) Now You Know
12) Pick Up Your Tears
13) Poinciana
14) Stormy Weather
15) Then I'll Be Happy
16) The Day Isn't Long Enough
17) Tuxedo Junction
18) What Is This Thing Called Love

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Buddy DeFranco & the Glenn Miller Orch: Something New

When Buddy DeFranco accepted the assignment to lead the Glenn Miller ghost band in 1966 he faced a dilemma. With musical tastes changing dramatically as they were in the '60s and the Brazilian/Mexican influence beginning to show itself in the hit songs of that era, either plug on with the old Miller sound which was using the clarinet as the lead over four saxophones, or branch out into something more suited to the tastes of the time. He compromised as this album illustrates. He didn't jettison the Miller sound altogether. It's still there, but with bebop overtones, new voicings and modern rhythms. And of course the DeFranco clarinet is heard briefly on most tracks, a big bonus for the BDF fans.

The band didn't seem to record much during Buddy's tenure as leader, so didn't think twice about grabbing this little gem when I saw it recently. Released by Epic it's a nice sound.

Tracks:

01) A Taste Of Honey

02) What Now My Love

03) I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

04) Whipped Cream

05) Tijuana Taxi

06) Zorba The Greek

07) The Lonely Bull

08) Mexican Shuffle

09) The Third Man Theme

10) Spanish Flea

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Tony Bennett: Duets

At this point, who else but Tony Bennett would have the clout to round up stars on the scale of Elton John, Paul McCartney, Bono, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand for some duets? (Note also that unlike some similar projects, all the parties involved on this CD were alive when it was recorded!) The material consists of relatively obvious classics in standard big-band arrangements, and Bennett himself is in top form at age 80, so much so that he doesn't need anybody else to handle "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." But the fun comes from checking out how his collaborators fare. The Dixie Chicks provide Andrews Sisters–type harmonies on the percolating version of "Lullaby of Broadway" that opens the festivities. The best songs tend to be the ones where Bennett's slightly craggy voice is juxtaposed to smooth female ones, like Diana Krall on "The Best Is Yet to Come," familiar accomplice k.d. lang on the sultry "Because of You" and Streisand—-perhaps Bennett's only equal in stature at this point—on "Smile." Among the less expected guests, soulman John Legend is a revelation on the hard-swinging "Sing, You Sinners," while George Michael confirms he’s quite the crooner on "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" Elvis Costello, Celine Dion or Juanes don't sound as comfortable, and sometimes it feels as if they overdo it to compensate, but overall this collection is not too bad, with most guests rising to the occasion. ~ Elisabeth Vincentelli

Tracks:
01) Dixie Chicks [Lullaby Of Broadway]
02) Barbra Streisand [Smile]
03) James Taylor [Put On A Happy Face]
04) Paul McCartney [The Very Thought Of You]
05) Juanes [The Shadow Of Your Smile]
06) Elton John [Rags To Riches]
07) Billy Joel [The Good Life]
08) Tim McGraw [Cold, Cold Heart]
09) Celine Dion [If I Ruled The World]
10) Diana Krall [The Best Is Yet To Come]
11) Stevie Wonder [For Once In My Life]
12) Elvis Costello [Are You Havin' Any Fun]
13) k. d. lange [Because Of You]
14) Michael Buble [Just In Time]
15) Sting [Boulevard Of Broken Dreams]
16) Bono [Wanna Be Around]
17) John Legend [Sing You Sinners]
18) Tony Bennett [I Left My Heart In San Francisco]
19) George Michael [How Do You Keep The Music Playing]

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The Squadronaires: Flying Home (1987)

Not long after Great Britain's entry into the Second World War, the Royal Air Force Music Services began recruiting seasoned entertainers to serve in dance bands that were assigned to RAF stations where they fulfilled common military duties during the day and changed into band uniforms at night to provide Armed Forces personnel with uplifting jazz and pop music. Rather than waiting for conscription, instrumentalists from bands like the Heralds of Swing and the Bert Ambrose Orchestra were soon showing up at RAF Uxbridge where (after basic training at Morecombe) they eventually became players in the Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra, popularly known as the Squadronaires and informally referred to as the Squads. This highly acclaimed ensemble was directed by vocalist and pianist Jimmy Miller, with trumpeters Archie Craig and Tommy McQuater, trombonists Eric Breeze and George Chisholm, reed players Andy McDevitt, Jimmy Durrant, Harry Lewis and Tom Bradbury, and a rhythm section of pianist Ronnie Aldrich, guitarist Sid Collin, bassist Arthur Madden and drummer Jock Cummings. The Squads (whose theme song was "There's Something in the Air") made gramophone records, performed over BBC radio and toured extensively, often finding themselves in newly liberated territory or in close proximity to the front lines. Legend has it in fact that they were required to beat a hasty retreat during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. After the war, as one by one most of the Squadronaires withdrew from active service, a civilian version of the Squads was formed under the leadership of Ronnie Aldrich and continued to enjoy enormous popularity, staying together until the early 1960s. In 1985 a revived Royal Air Force Squadronaires began to coalesce, and in January 1987 this orchestra was inaugurated at RAF Uxbridge under the leadership of Sergeant Jimmy Miller with several of the original members in attendance. The new Squads have released several excellent albums ("Big Band Spectacular", "Swing Squadron", "Squads Away" and this one, "Flying Home"), have played at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, and have embraced the original mission of the WWII band by entertaining British military personnel wherever they are stationed today. ~ Arwulf Arwulf, All Music Guide

This is another great album supplied courtesy of "Jive At Five" host Keith Horner.

Tracks:

01) Rhapsody For Reeds

02) Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

03) No Love No Nothin'

04) My Blue Heaven

05) This Is Always

06) Sally Water

07) I May Be Wrong, But

08) Blues In The Night

09) Onezy Twozy I Love You

10) Shoo Shoo Baby

11) Pennsylvania Polka

12) Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief

13) Concerto For Drums

14) Five Minutes More

15) Drummin' Man

16) Flying Home

17) There's Something In The Air

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101 Strings: Tribute to Bing Crosby (1978)

101 Strings was an umbrella term for a highly successful easy listening symphonic music organization with a discography exceeding a hundred albums and a creative lifetime of roughly thirty years. Their Lps were individualized by the slogan "The Sound of Magnificence", a puffy cloud logo and sepia-toned photo of the orchestra. The 101 Strings orchestra was actually composed of 124 string instruments (all male except for the harpist) and was conducted by Wilhelm Stephan. The orchestra's famous official photograph (above) was taken in the Musikhalle, Hamburg.

The orchestra released a number of these "tribute" albums -- Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra, Beatles, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Nat King Cole, Nelson Riddle and of course Bing Crosby. These were just a few entertainment stars who were to be honoured by this famous orchestra. Its dynamic was characterised by a lush, full string sound produced not only by the remarkably large string presence, but also by the quality of the instruments themselves. When this album was cut, many of the instruments were in excess of 200 years old. The violins, violas and celli represented some of the finest examples of the great master luthiers of Cremona. Great specimens of Stradivarius, Amati, Guadagnini and Guaneri were owned by members. In fact the orchestra was unique in having examples from the complete Guaneri family -- Andreas Guaneri (1626) and his two sons Peter and Joseph and their two sons. The concert master used an instrument made by the Cremonese master violin maker, Joseph Del Gesu (1735). This violin alone was valued at $80,000, probably considerably more now.

Side 1:

01) Where The Blue Of The Night . . .

02) Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral

03) True Love

04) Just One More Chance

05) Sweet Leilani

Side 2:

01) Bells Of St Mary's

02) Swinging On A Star

03) Once Upon A Love

04) Moonlight Becomes You

05) When Is Again

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Michael Franks: Objects Of Desire (1982)

Occasionally I throw an album into the mix with no idea of the outcome. This is one such occasion. Michael Franks was one of about 4 or 5 vocalists I came accross a few years ago. Forget why, but recall finding Bobby Caldwell, Laura Fygi, Basia and Michael within a few days of each other. This led me to grab this vinyl when I saw it in the bin for $1. Never regretted it. You'll be relieved that I don't plan to make some smart-alecky comment about the cover. I love it, but only because I have had a deep and abiding reverence for the works of Gauguin ever since I attended an exhibition of French Impressionist paintings some years ago. I was literally mesmerised, especially by the Monet landscapes.

But back to the star of this show, Michael Franks. It's hard to put this disc into a style slot. Has been described as "disco-jazz". The album was Frank's most personal statement musically up to this point (1982). Reviewer Kurt Harding has this to say:

"Objects of Desire" was recorded toward the merciful end of the disco era. Franks never followed that fad but here takes a couple of cracks at some aspects of disco culture using tunes faintly redolent of that form to press his point. "Ladies' Night" (duet with Bonnie Raitt) and "No Deposit Love" are the chief examples of this. "Jealousy" and "Flirtation" are horn-driven tunes that tastefully give off a teasing whiff of disco while remaining firmly rooted in jazz. All-star sidemen Randy Brecker and Lew Soloff provide the brass pyrotechnics that give these two a funky edge. No Franks album would be complete without some reference to the tropics. Here this is given two places, on the dreamy "Tahitian Moon" and in the cover art that reproduces a Gaugin painting. "Jealousy", "Laughing Gas", and "Wonderland" are my favorite cuts but the whole CD is testimony to Franks' status as one of the finest composers and wordsmiths in modern music. I highly recommend this overlooked gem which still sounds great nearly 27 years after its release."

Side 1:

01) Jealousy

02) Ladies' Night

03) No-Deposit Love

04) Laughing Gas

05) Wonderland

Side 2:

01) Tahitian Moon

02) Flirtation

03) Love Duet

04) No One But You

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Harry James & His Orch: King James Version (1976)

Sheffield Labs resurrected the direct-to-disc process in the early '70s because they felt that by eliminating the master tape step they could get their customers just that much closer to the music. The "D-to-D" process had been used in phonograph recording prior to the advent of the tape recorder and in fact it was inventor Thomas A. Edison who first used it. But unlike the magnetic master tape, there are other circumstances that moved the commercial recording companies away from the process. Principal among these was the inability to edit a recording. If a mistake were made the recording had to be discarded and restarted anew. Also, since a direct-to-disc "mother" could not be cloned, the number of acceptable quality copies that could be stamped was limited. Sheffield often operated several disc cutting lathes (as they did for this recording) simultaneously in order to produce a large enough number of records to satisfy demand yet still retain the high audio quality for which they were famous. In other instances they recorded several different "takes." "The King James Version" was by no means the first of their "D-to-D" releases, but it was the first to receive wide acclaim outside the audiophile community. Two more Harry James were to follow shortly, "Comin' From A Good Place" (my personal favorite) and "Still Harry After All These Years". All three of these titles were transferred to CD, and came from safety backup magnetic tape sources that were made at the original recording sessions. Some audiophiles maintain that the best way to hear these are on the original D-to-D LPs, but from my experience, these are very close. The original CD releases came at the dawn of the digital era, with CD booklets that looked exactly like the album jackets. A later reissue series was produced some years later with different artwork. These later reissues incorporated the newer 24-bit recording process known as "super bit mapping".

As for the music itself, it needs no introduction to lovers of music from the swing era. You'll find Harry in top form on all three of these discs. ~ S. Baird

Tracks:
01) Corner Pocket
02) Lara's Theme
03) Cherokee
04) More Splutie Please!
05) Traces
06) Don't Be That Way
07) Sweet Georgia Brown
08) Shiny Silk Stockings
09) Blues Stay Away From Me


Download

Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney: Fancy Meeting You Here (1958/2001)

This trans-global cruise is sheer fun. Bing and Rosemary at their best. This is a great blend of Bing's relaxed, smooth style with Rosemary's happy sensuality. It's a kind of climax to a friendship and collaboration between the two stars that lasted for about 25 years. Have been a big fan of Rosemary for many years ever since her 1950s movies, the Western spoof "Red Garters" and "White Christmas" in which she co-starred with Bing, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. And Crosby? Well, the guy was a pro in every sense of the word. Throw in Billy May and a sensational sound and you've got great value here. The sound is so sonically stunning that it's been suggested that it was sourced from "1st generation masters".

The first 13 tracks come from the original 1958 Lp. The rest were added as bonus tracks when the 24-bit, digital re-mastered version (RCA Victor Bluebird) was released in 2001. Some of these extra tracks have different pairings. Rosemary sings "Ain't A Hankerin'", and "Protection" with Bing's old buddy, Bob Hope while Bing sings some numbers including "Ol' Man River" and "When It's Twilight On The Trail" with Jo Stafford. But by and large, these bonus tracks don't add too much to the original set of 13.

Just as a postscript: I regret the download is in 2 parts. Have a premium membership with 4Shared which entitles me to upload single files in excess of 100megs. However, having problems with that site. Upload links are being cut before the finish. Trying to resolve hiccup. Meantime back to MegaUpload with 100meg limit.

Tracks:
01) Fancy Meeting You Here
02) Slow Boat To China
03) I Can't Get Started
04) Hindustan
05) It Happened In Monterey
06) You Came A Long way From St. Louis
07) Love Won't Let You get Away
08) How About You
09) Brazil
10) Isle Of Capri
11) Say "Si Si"
12) Calcutta
13) Love Won't let You Get Away
14) Ain't A Hankerin'
15) Protection
16) Love Won't Let You Get Away
17) Medley
18) Ol' Man River
19) When It's Twilight On The Trail

Part 1



Part 2

Oscar Peterson Sings Nat King Cole (1965)

In 1965, Peterson recorded "Oscar Peterson Sings Nat King Cole". "That album was made under duress,” Peterson recalls. “Norman Granz talked me into doing it. And I’ll tell you a
story about that. Nat Cole came in to hear me in New York one night. And he came up and said to me, ‘Look, I’ll make you a bargain. I won’t play the piano if you won’t sing.’ ”
Peterson cracks himself up. “I love Nat so much. I learned so much from him.”

Though he made vocal recordings in the early 1950s, Oscar Peterson would seldom sing later in his career. His reluctance was caused by something that would deter few others: His voice sounded remarkably like Nat Cole's. It's a talent that dovetails in with Peterson's piano playing and shared roots to make this tribute (recorded after Cole's death) especially effective. For seven of the tracks Peterson reassembles his great trio including bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis, a group originally modeled on Cole's trios of the 1940s. It's a wonderful mating of approach and material, a group that can swing both mightily and lightly, and which does so superbly on such tunes as "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You", "Straighten Up and Fly Right", and the instrumental "Easy Listening Blues". The other five tracks feature an all-star big band (the pianist is Hank Jones), with arrangements by Manny Albam. Peterson pays tribute to the popular vocalist of the '50s singing Cole's signature "Unforgettable" and the witty "Calypso Blues" with evident regard for the original, but with his own distinctive phrasing.

Side 1:
01) When My Sugar Walks Down The Street
02) It's Only A Paper Moon
03) Walkin' My Baby Back Home
04) Sweet Lorraine
05) Unforgettable
06) Little Girl

Side 2:
01) Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
02) Orange Coloured Sky
03) Straighten Up And Fly Right
04) Calypso Blues
05) What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
06) Easy Listening Blues

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Peggy Lee: Live In London (1977)

"Norma Deloris Egstrom From Jamestown North Dakota" was Peggy Lee's last album for Capitol released in 1972. She continued to record single Lps for Atlantic, Polydor UK, DRG and A&M before effectively retiring early in the '80s. However she returned in 1988 with two for Music Masters, and her last album, "Moments Like This", was recorded for Chesky in 1992. Her voice was silenced after a stroke in 1998 and she died from a heart attack in her Bel Air home early in 2002.

This album was a single she did for PolydorUK in 1977. Her bright, shiny star was on the wane at this stage of her career, but the Lp is a must for Lee devotees. Her song choice suggests she's singing to the converted. The venue was the Palladium concert hall in London.

Tracks:

01) Love For Sale

02) Everything Must Change

03) You Gotta Know How

04) The Folks Who Live On The Hill

05) I Don't Want To Play In Your Yard

06) Have A Good Time

07) Touch Me In The Morning

08) Make Believe

09) Fever

10) Why Don't You Do Right

11) Is That All There Is

12) Sing A Rainbow

13) Mr Wonderful

14) Mack The Knife

15) Dreams Of Summer

16) Here's To You

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Andy Bautista Plays Yamaha EX-42 (1972)

Judging from your response to this blog's organ posts (Klaus Wunderlich and Artie Kane) there are a few organ enthusiasts out there. That's not assuming you'd download any old thing providing it had foot pedals and keyboards. So this share just might be a bomb. Who's ever heard of Andy Bautista? I certainly hadn't. Google didn't help. Was he Asian or Latino? Perhaps a Filipino? "Bautista" sounds Latin to me. Whatever, how well does he play? In my humble opinion -- not too badly. His keyboard skills were quite professional. He was no Klaus Wunderlich, but as electronic organists go, 7 out of 10. The album was probably made as a promo for the organ rather than himself. If you're an organ aficionado you may be familiar with Mr Bautista and his Yamaha EX-42. Appreciate your feedback.

Side 1:

01) Summertime

02) Mercy, Mercy, Mercy

03) Spinning Wheel

04) Tomorrow's Love

05) Downtown

06) My Sweet Lord

Side 2:

01) Wives And Lovers

02) Fly Me To The Moon

03) Impossible Dream

04) For Once In My Life

05) Love Story

06) Samba De Orfeo

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Ted Heath Band: Coast To Coast (1964)

Beyond dispute Britain's premier band leader, Heath not only dominated the British scene for several decades after WWII, but he also gained recognition in that most demanding market, the U.S.A. This excellent but rare album was produced to switch on jazz and big band followers in the US to the band's quality and potential. Grateful to Keith for making this album available.

Side 1:
01) St Louis Blues
02) Charleston
03) I Left My Heart In San Francisco
04) Chicago
05) Manhattan Serenade
06) Alabama Bound

Side 2:
01) I Got A Gal In Kalamazoo
02) Oh Susannah
03) Moonlight In Vermont
04) Lullaby Of Broadway
05) Allentown Jail
06) Jersey Bounce

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Percy Faith Orch: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head (1972)

This vinyl was originally released in 1962 as "Bouquet Of Love". Some enterprising soul at CBS decided to re-release the same album on their el cheapo label, Harmony, 10 years later with this "wahoo" cover and call it "Raindrops . . . " Perhaps they really released the picture and found some music to tie in with it. If this is so (probably isn't) I'll bet you dollar to doughnuts that the album sold. Guess why I bought it. There's gonna be someone ready to shoot me down on this theory. If there is go for it. I'm no expert on the mind games of CBS promoters. Just one thing though . . . who was the lucky so and so who held the hose, or did she just get caught in an April shower? Oh yes, the music! Well, it's typical Faith . . . beautifully orchestrated and performed to perfection. Sound? Just average.

Side 1:
01) Blue Moon
02) Out Of This World
03) Easy To Love
04) I Only Have Eyes For You
05) How High The Moon

Side 2:
01) Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
02) If I Loved You
03) Music Until Midnight
04) Stella By Starlight
05) I Concentrate On You

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Manitas De Plata: Collection (1974)

In case you're confused, the top fella is Manitas and the smaller one below him is a picture of me. What's the connection? Almost zero. Well, not entirely. Y'see most of my adult life has been besprinkled with "enthusiasms". To list a few: Sports cars (could only afford a Sunbeam Rapier); Wine making (best I could do was to get my friends and their wives/partners legless on a regular basis); Hi-Fi (up till all hours trying to get that elusive sound out of my Leak amplifier and Goodman speakers); Photography (joined camera club and aimed for accolades. Best result was a few end-of-year championship cups); Religion (quite certain the survival of mankind depended on receiving my message); Horse racing (deluded into thinking I could devise a betting system that would make me a million); University degree ( about the only enthusisam that I ever really followed through with. Graduated about 10 years ago); and so on and on and on . . . . Oh yes. One more: Flamenco guitar. I bought a beautiful instrument (made locally by the way) and found me a tutor. Was progressing OK when right out of the blue my teacher decided to end his life. Big shock. Tried to battle on but other things intervened and lost interest. Pity. The photo above was taken in the mid '70s when I was still taking lessons. I don't remember who took the shot or why. Sideburns were obviously "in". They were worn by guys whose wives objected to beards: "Thus far and no further!" Manitas De Plata was one that sparked my enthusiasm for Flamenco. From memory he was a kind of a maverick in the then Flamenco world. I might have got this wrong. But I liked his rather raw style.

On this compilation Manitas is joined on some tracks by a group called Los Plateros (Sd 1 Tks 2,4,5: Side 2 Tks 1& 3). The voice is that of Manero Baliardo .

Side 1:

01) Hommage A Sabicas

02) Tarde Al Campo

03) Recuerdo De Don Pablo

04) Tapame

05) Chilipoum

06) Improvisation No. 11

Side 2:

01) Rhumbita De Los Cincos

02) Barrio Gitano

03) Porque Maria

04) Moritas De Los Dos

05) Cubanas De Manitas

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The Four Freshmen: Complete Capitol 50s Sessions

When the legendary Stan Kenton fortuitously heard The Four Freshmen performing in the obscure Esquire Lounge in Dayton, Ohio, back in 1950 even that forward-thinking individual probably couldn't foresee their effect as pioneers of a new group vocal style. They would not only influence future groups like the Hi-Lo's and the Lettermen, but also pop legends like The Beach Boys and The Four Tops. Emphatically instructing Capitol Records (the label for which he recorded) to “sign them" immediately, the Four Freshmen entered a relationship with the label that would solidify their popularity for more than half a century.

The "Complete Capitol Four Freshmen Fifties Sessions" contains the Four Freshmen's entire '50s output for the label, covering 17 albums, 210 selections, 24 previous unissued performances, five singles-only issues, two rarities and 9 tracks with Kenton. This is No. 3 of the 9 CD set. The release was limited to 3500 copies.

Tracks:

01) Charmaine

02) Day By Day

03) He Who Loves And Runs Away

04) How Can I Tell Her

05) Invitation

06) In This Whole Wide World

07) It All Depends On You

08) It Never Occurred To Me

09) I Never Knew

10) Nights Are Longer

11) Rain

12) Sunday Blues

13) That's The Way I Feel

14) There's No-One But You

15) This Love Of Mine

16) This October

17) Till

18) What's It Gonna Be

19) When I'm Happy

20) Whistle Me Some Blues

21) You're So Far Above Me

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Nancy Wilson: Live From Las Vegas (1968)

This CD is part of the Las Vegas Centennial Collection, a series which celebrated the 100th anniversary of Las Vegas and its vibrant musical heritage. The 8-part series features the artists who help put Las Vegas on the map, Nancy Wilson being one of those artists. This is my second sharing of CDs from this series. Posted Sinatra's show a few weeks ago.

Tracks:
01) Hello Young Lovers
02) Small World Isn't It
03) Gypsies, The Jugglers and the Clowns
04) I Can't Get Started
05) If We Only Have Love
06) The Man That Got Away
07) The Folks Who Live On The Hill
08) Crazy Butterfly
09) Peace Of Mind
10) Face It Girl, It's Over
11) Just Go
12) Band Intro
13) We Would Have Been Fine
14) K. C. Medley: That Face/K. C./Black Is Beautiful

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Benny Carter Orch: Live At The Trianon Ballroom (1944)

Let's hear it for Hindsight! Another worthwhile preservation. This time it's the great Benny Carter with his band taped live in 1944 at the Trianon Ballroom, Southgate, California. Have scanned the back cover for you. On it Dave Dexter Jr gives some background on Benny and describes his meeting with him just prior to releasing this disc. After 46 years Benny's memory wasn't too great, but he did manage to name most of the soloists and probable sidemen on that Trianon date. He was pretty confident in naming the two obvious ones: Barney Bigard on "Tea For Two" and Emmett Berry on "Fish Fry". And he was 90% sure that the pianist on "I Cover The Waterfront" was Sonny White and that Eddie Haywood was on keyboards for "Sleep". Benny himself solos on "Stardust", "I Surrender Dear" and "I Cover The Waterfront". It's J. J. Johnson of course on "J. J. Jump".

But if you click on the back cover image and enlarge it up to full screen you can check on all these details yourself. Considering the time it took for the original tape/disc to be discovered and transferred on to vinyl the audio is quite impressive.

Side 1:

01) Theme into Old Man River

02) Prelude To A Kiss

03) Stardust

04) Tea For Two

05) Fish Fry

06) Rose Room

Side 2:

01) I Surrender Dear

02) Somebody Loves Me

03) I Cover The Waterfront

04) Sleep

05) Who's Sorry Now

06) J. J. Jump

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Bobby Darin: The Unreleased Capitol Sides

While signed with Capitol records, Bobby Darin recorded a number of studio masters that went unreleased for 30 years. With three exceptions, these long-lost recordings became available for the first time on this album "The Unreleased Capitol Sides". The exceptions are "I Got Rhythm," "Alabamy Bound," and "Standing on the Corner" which were released by Capitol on its 1995 CD "Spotlight on Bobby Darin". This is a treasure trove of music from Bobby Darin's swinging Capitol years. Thirteen songs from this collection were completed during Bobby Darin's most productive recording period ever. In January 1963 he entered the studio seven separate times to work on his follow-up album for Capitol, the country-themed "You're the Reason I'm Living". But he also left these songs, unreleased until this album. They include the song Louis Prima made famous, "I Ain't Got Nobody," Henry Mancini's "Moon River," and the Rodgers/Hammerstein song "This Nearly Was Mine." Adding these 13 to the released version of "You're the Reason I'm Living" makes for a great double album. Jumping ahead to the end of the disc, four songs from the "Venice Blue" sessions are also included. They are "Just Bummin' Around," "On the Street Where You Live," "Red Roses for a Blue Lady," and "If I Ruled the World." The results of the other material is somewhat uneven. "Gyp the Cat" is Darin's remake of "Mack the Knife" and is a fun novelty song, though the label decided in 1964 that is was not good enough for release. It is clear that while Darin was comfortable poking fun at himself, the listening public might have had a different take on the joke. The songs recorded to be released as singles are among the most fascinating of this collection. Darin recorded the Gershwins' "I Got Rhythm" in July of 1962, shortly after joining the label, but the outtake did not make the LP. In the month before the release of "Oh! Look at Me Now", Darin recorded "Alabamy Bound" and "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" with the intention that they would be non-LP singles. ("You're the Reason I'm Living" was recorded at the same time and became his first hit single for Capitol.) "Whispering" and "Somebody Stole My Gal" were two upbeat, abandoned follow-ups to "Eighteen Yellow Roses", Darin's fourth LP released in 1963. The eventual follow-up was 1964's "Earthy!" which was Darin's first full-fledged foray into folk. Darin probably deemed two singles too lounge. "Two Tickets" and "Love Letters" come from the other side of the spectrum: the
ballads. The former is similar to "Eighteen Yellow Roses" while the latter sounds like a slower version of "More." Both are refreshing to hear. ~ J T Griffith All Music Guide

Tracks:

01) I Got Rhythm

02) Alabamy Bound

03) I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

04) When My Baby Smiles At Me

05) Beautiful Dreamer

06) When You Were Sweet Sixteen

07) I Ain't Got Nobody

08) My Melancholy Baby

09) Moon River

10) This Nearly Was Mine

11) Tall Hope

12) Sweetest Sounds

13) Standing On The Corner

14) Stop The World

15) Whispering

16) Somebody Stole My Gal

17) Two Tickets

18) Love Letters

19) Gyp The Cat

20) Just Bummin' Around

21) On The Street Where You Live

22) Red Roses For A Blue Lady

23) If I Ruled The World

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Luis Miguel: Vivo!

First the global recession. That was scary enough, but now Swine Flu? Wow! Where do we go from here? We have a trace of it down here in NZ. A bunch of school kids had been over in Mexico recently on a culture study trip and brought the b . . . virus home with them. But we haven't suffered anywhere near as much as the Mexicans. They are bearing the brunt of it right now and I feel for the folk who have lost their loved ones. Compared with the US, Britain or Brazil this blog doesn't get too many hits from Mexicans. Last time I checked on my NeoCounter I think the number was 287. However, as a treat I'd like to share this amazing album featuring Luis Miguel. I first met this giant of Latin pop on the Sinatra "Duets II" album. That lead me to get three of his "Romance" discs and this one. I think I have the DVD of this show somewhere too or I've watched it online. Whatever, it was a huge production recorded during his five-night stand at the Fundidora Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico during April of 2000. The Mexican heartthrob started singing at the age of 10, recorded his first record at 12 and won his first of seven Grammys at 15. He mastered the musical nuances of pop, bolero and mariachi music to become the most celebrated singer in the Latin world "with the power to make young women melt like butter and old women swoon like teenagers", said one critic. If you want to hear this in action take special note of track 9! Deviertete!!

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Russ Conway: Time To Play (1959)

This one's a bit "left field" I know. Not my usual. Was sorting through my 800 or so vinyls this morning looking for something to post when this one came into view. One of my voices said: "Give 'em a bit of the old twinkle fingers Kelly". My other voice chimes in:"Nah . . . Don't waste yer time. Not yer style Kelly!" Well, whatever is or isn't my style I still have one Russ Conway as I have one Joe "Fingers" Carr, one Crazy Otto, even one Winifred Atwell. One that's missing though is Charlie Kunz. True, all these are not my "style", but in building my library I deliberately included at least one album of artists/performers/recording stars who have made some impact on the world of entertainment. So here's my little tribute to Trevor H. Stanford, better known as Russ Conway. Whereas Joe "Fingers" (real name Lou Busch) was associated with US-type bar rooms with his "honky-tonk" keyboard style, Russ forged his reputation playing UK-type "pub piano". (His distinctive keyboard sound was produced by hardening the piano hammers!). 1959 was his big year with a cumulative total of 83 weeks on the UK Singles Charts. This included two self-penned number one instrumentals, "Side Saddle" and "Roulette", the latter deposing Presley's "A Fool Such As I". He maintained a chart presence in the early 1960s, and was a fixture on light entertainment Tv shows and radio for many years afterwards thanks to his instantly recognisable piano style. His career was blighted by ill-health, and his later life was notable for charity work. He passed away Nov. 16, 2000, aged 75.

Side 1:
01) Side Saddle
02) Westminster Waltz
03) Roulette
04) Birthday Cakewalk
05) Pixilated Penguin
06) Mack The Knife

Side 2:
01) Snow Coach
02) Trampolina
03) Wedding Of The Painted Doll
04) Sam's Song
05) Golden Guilders
06) Matador From Trinidad

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Sarah Vaughan: At Mister Kelly's (1957)

After a rather shaky start (she can't find her key on "September in the Rain," knocks over a microphone stand, and stumbles on some lyrics during "Willow Weep for Me"), it doesn't take Sarah Vaughan long to overcome these glitches and deliver a nuanced, intimate performance on this live gig. Recorded in August 1957, this date features pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Roy Haynes. As should be expected, their solid performance is strictly accompaniment and, for the most part, unspectacular. The show, of course, belongs to Sassy. She swoops, soars, whispers, and belts it out. Her range is jaw dropping; her control and vibrato are simply beyond compare. And although Vaughan asks for her mic to be turned up throughout the performance, she is mixed up front and quite high in the recording -- right where she deserves to be. ~ S. Duda

Tracks:
01) September In The Rain
02) Willow Weep For Me
03) Just One Of Those Things
04) Be Anything, But Darling Be Mine
05) Thou Swell
06) Stairway To The Stars
07) Honeysuckle Rose
08) Just A Gigolo
09) How High The Moon
10) Dream
11) I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
12) It's Gotta Be Love
13) Alone
14) If This Isn't Love
15) Embraceable You
16) Lucky In Love
17) Dancing In The Dark
18) Poor Butterfly
19) Sometimes I'm Happy
20) I Cover The Waterfront

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Airmen Of Note: Let's Dance

On September 28th, 1950, the Airmen of Note band was formed to carry on the musical style and tradition of Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Forces Orchestra. This proved to be a significant challenge. At that time military bands were regarded as marching and concert ensembles; jazz and dance music were not as readily associated with military music programs. Upon its inception the Airmen of Note band was known throughout the world as "The Official Dance Band of the United States Air Force". Fifty-nine years later this album, titled "Let's Dance", is a tribute to swing music, its heritage and its significance. With this recording the band has, in a way, returned to its original roots, the Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra.

Tracks:
01) Jeep Jockey Jump
02) Pennies From Heaven
03) Rockin' In Rhythm
04) Shiny Stockings
05) One O'Clock Jump
06) Cherokee
07) Leap Frog
08) Let's Dance
09) Swanee River
10) Don't Be That Way
11) Sing, Sing, Sing
12) Moten Swing
13) Opus One
14) That Old Black Magic
15) April In Paris
16) All Of Me
17) Lonely Street
18) Satin Doll
19) Fly Me To The Moon
20) Dreamsville

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Julie London: About The Blues (1957)

Never really went overboard for Julie London (partly because I was a lousy swimmer and partly because I was in love with Peggy Lee anyway). But have two of Julie's albums -- this one and "Julie". Acquired "Blues" not so much for the vocals but for Russ Garcia's excellent backings. I met Russ a number of years ago shortly after he and his wife, Gina, decided to settle down in Kerikeri a small town situated in the north of this fair land (New Zealand). He and Gina belong to the Baha'i faith as did one of my radio colleagues at the time and she invited me to meet them both one Saturday afternoon. I remember it well. Great guy and very modest re his links with the super stars of jazz. As it happens a niece of mine lives in the same town as the Garcias and found herself next to Russ in a queue just recently. I think they communicated, albeit briefly, after which she texted me to tell me about it. If anyone's interested, there's an informative article online about their life here in NZ. It was published in 2006, but most of it's still relevant. You'll find it here:

http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3429/artsbooks/5405/the_immortal_russ_garcia.html

But back to Julie. Read somewhere a reviewer who described her voice as . . . "oozing pure, hot sticky"! If pure, hot stickyness is your bag, Julie's obviously your gal. One of the reasons I fell for Peggy Lee was that she was hot without the need for ooze or sticky. When she sings "As You Desire Me" on the "Pretty Eyes" album or "The Shining Sea" from "Extra Special", the heat burns me. I don't need slip, slop, slap with Julie. Simple as that. But this is a nice album and have never regretted getting it. Sorry . . . . now I'm sounding patronizing! List the tracks Kelly!

Side 1:
01) Basin Street Blues
02) I Got A Right To Sing The Blues
03) A Nightingale Can Sing The Blues
04) Get Set For The Blues
05) An Invitation To The Blues
06) Bye Bye Blues

Side 2:
01) Meaning Of The Blues
02) About The Blues
03) Sunday Blues
04) The Blues Is All I Ever Had
05) Blues In The Night
06) Bouquet Of Blues

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Rosemary Clooney: White Christmas (1954)

"Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army"

A nice wee 10" album that's been sitting in my library for years. The movie was in the VistaVision process and starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen and of course our Rosie.
It contained some dozen Irving Berlin numbers, eight of which are included on this disc. The specialty song "Sisters", performed in the film with Vera-Ellen, is featured here as a duet
with Rosemary's sister, Betty Clooney. Rosie's rise to fame came as a result of the double act with her sister. This is not a soundtrack album by the way.

Side 1:
01) White Christmas
02) Mandy
03) Snow
04) Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army

Side 2:
01) Love - You Didn't Do Right By Me
02) Sisters [with Betty Clooney]
03) The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing
04) Count You're Blessings Instead Of Sheep

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Frank Sinatra: Sinatra Sings Great Songs From Great Britain (1962)

I understand this was the only Lp Sinatra recorded outside the US. He was at the end of a long, tiring European tour which ended in London. He recorded this album over three sessions spanning June 12-14, 1962. Robert Farnon, although Canadian-born, was considered the best arranger-conductor operating in Britain at that time. Andre Previn was reported to have mentioned to songwriter Johnny Mercer that "Robert Farnon was the greatest living string writer in the world". Others who admitted to Farnon's influence included Nelson Riddle, Don Costa, Quincy Jones, Marty Paich, Neil Hefti, Torrie Zito and Johnny Mandel (just to name the best who worked with Frank Sinatra), plus, (among those who didn't, but wished they had) Henry Mancini, Roger Kellaway, and John Williams.

However, this of course is Frank's album. Farnon helped to "gild the lily" as it were but both were geniuses. As for the songs, they're an interesting mix chosen by Frank himself. Despite their British origins "The Very Thought Of You" and "It Had To Be You" became Great American Songbook standards, so not surprising they ended up on his list. The one that really surprises me though is "Now Is The Hour". We New Zealanders have always claimed this song as our very own. It was sung by the Maori (the indigenous people of NZ) when farewelling their soldier sons leaving for the front during both world wars. In 1945, British wartime singer Gracie Fields visited New Zealand and heard the song performed by a concert party in Rotorua. Her driver, an Auckland dance band leader, taught her the song, and in July 1947 Fields sang her version on a BBC radio programme. Her recording of the song became a huge international hit. Then, in February 1948 a version by Bing Crosby entered the United States charts. It was Crosby’s 42nd (and, somewhat appropriately, last) single to reach the top of the pop charts. It would have been this Crosby version that influenced Sinatra's choice here. When queried the Chairman insisted, "It's near enough British". Steady on Frank. We're not "near enough British" down here in Kiwiland! But thanks for including our song anyway.

Just a note too about one of my all-time favourite ballads, "London By Night". Anyone who has not sat on the banks of the River Thames by night and watched the city lights splarkle and dance on its surface has missed a magical experience. My eyes get misty just recalling those moments. I loved London by night.

Tracks:
01) The Very Thought Of You
02) We'll Gather Lilacs
03) If I Had You
04) Now Is The Hour
05) The Gypsy
06) Roses Of Picardy
07) A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
08) Garden In The Rain
09) London By Night
10) We'll Meet Again
11) I'll Follow My Secret Heart

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David Rose & Leroy Holmes Orchs: MGM Movie Hits (1962)

Want to keep faithful to this blog's commitment as a "lounge" music site. But what is lounge music anyway? Well, the term "lounge" dates back to the 16th century (in the sense of relaxation), and as a 'place' of relaxation it has been in use at least since the 19th century, first regarding "tea lounges"and later to "cocktail lounges". We're talking about oldies-but-goldies music here, usually with a touch of swing or jazz. But nowadays the definition has widened to include any music that stimulates relaxation and enjoyment still usually with its roots in swing, jazz, showbiz, movies etc.

We're giving the latter catagory a nod today with this original MGM US pressing of David Rose and Leroy Holmes with their orchestras bringing us a selection of hits from MGM movies current in the early '60s. I have quite a number of easy listening orchestral albums in my library. This is one of the oldest. The David Rose Orch is featured on Side 1 Tks 1-5. Lennie Hayton Orch Tk 6 (Slaughter). All hits on Side 2 are played by the LeRoy Holmes Orch.

Side 1:
01) Love Theme from "Ben Hur"
02) Theme from "Butterfield 8"
03) Gigi
04) My Own True Love [based on Tara's Theme from "Gone With The Wind"]
05) Cimarron
06) Slaughter On Tenth Avenue

Side 2:
01) Bachelor In Paradise
02) Ada
03) Theme from "Bridge To The Sun"
04) Where The Boys Are
05) [Love Is] The Tender Trap
06) The Honeymoon Machine

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Louis Bellson & Eric Delaney: Repercussion (1967)

If there are drummers or drumming buffs that happen to visit this blog occasionally, here's your monthly fix. Brought you Rich v. Krupa a few weeks ago. Some leading labels of the '50s and '60s were into the "Battle of . . . ." type releases. How many "Battle Of The Bands" albums can you recall? But this session's not in that mould, in fact found it to be more a mutual admiration fest between the two guys rather than a combative free-for-all. Learnt from the liner notes that these two had become quite close friends and that this album had been triggered by this friendship and mutual respect. There's an historical slant on this meeting as well. This happens to be the first Lp to be made under the then new official exchange agreement between the American Federation of Musicians and the British Musicians' Union. So how about that! A kind of trans-Atlantic "let's be buddies"entente cordiale.

Since adding this disc to my library have never been able to put a name to the band that accompanies them. I assume it was Eric's own outfit, The Eric Delaney Band. There's no mention of this on disc or cover and in fact nothing on the Net that I could dig up.

For those not too familiar with the British half of this duo: Aged 16, Eric won a Best Swing Drummer award and later joined the Bert Ambrose Octet which featured George Shearing on piano. During 1947-54 he appeared with the Geraldo Orchestra and filled his time with regular session work in recording studios and on film, TV and radio. In 1954 he formed his own band and later signed with the new Pye label. He made three Royal Variety Show appearances, the first in 1956. Although best known as a jazz drummer, Eric was a talented multi-percussionist. As well as the drum kit he played xylophone, glockenspiel, timpani, military side drum, tubular bells, a variety of chinese gongs and tam tams and incorporated many every day items such as brushes and whistles into his shows over the years. (I'm reminded of the multi-instrumentalist characters, the ones festooned with drums, cymbals, harmonicas etc etc that appeared on those British Music Hall shows way back). But that's not very fair. Those music hall guys were show-offs. Eric was truly multi-talented.

Incidentally, those of you who wish to separate the two drummers should note that Louis is featured throughout on the LEFT channel and Eric on the RIGHT.

Side 1:
01) Lawrence Of Arabia
02) Delaney's Delight
03) Habanera
04) Fragments
05) Skin Deep

Side 2:
01) The British Grenadiers
02) 633 Squadron
03) Blues March
04) Scotland The Brave
05) Under The Double Eagle
06) St. Louis Blues March
07) Yellow Submarine

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