Johnny Mercer Tribute Compilation (2009)

Today is the centennial celebration of Johnny Mercer's birth. Johnny Mercer (1909 - 1976) was a singer and songwriter. As a songwriter, he was mostly known as a lyricist but he also wrote music. He wrote over 1000 songs, many of which are in the Great American Songbook. He received nineteen Academy Award nominations, and won four. He also recorded many of his songs, as well as songs written by others. I put together this compilation of thirty-four songs in his honor and hope you enjoy them as much as I. He sings five of the songs on this compilation, three of which he didn't write (marked with ^). He wrote the lyrics for all the other songs that I've included, and also wrote the music for five of them (marked with *). The last song I've included was recorded after his death. Johnny's widow gave some unfinished lyrics to Barry Manilow, and Barry then wrote the music for "When October Goes." Enjoy!

Track listing for Johnny Mercer Tribute Compilation:

1. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive - Johnny Mercer
2. Goody Goody - Paul Petersen *
3. Too Marvelous for Words - Anthony Perkins
4. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby - Perry Como
5. And the Angels Sing - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
6. Day In, Day Out - Gene Barry
7. Fools Rush In - Tony Martin
8. Love of My Life - Shirley Jones & Jack Cassidy
9. Blues in the Night - Julie London
10. I Remember You - Doris Day
11. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer ^
12. Tangerine - Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
13. Hit the Road to Dreamland - Betty Hutton
14. That Old Black Magic - Louis Prima & Keely Smith
15. Skylark - Linda Ronstadt
16. Dearly Beloved - Dinah Shore with Paul Weston & His Orchestra
17. Strip Polka - Myron Floren *
18. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) - Eydie Gorme
19. Dream - Steve Allen *
20. G.I. Jive - Johnny Mercer *
21. Laura - Johnny Mathis
22. I Lost My Sugar in Salt Lake City - Johnny Mercer ^
23. On the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe - Woody Herman & His Orchestra
24. Autumn Leaves - George Chakiris
25. Something's Gotta Give - Lorne Greene *
26. Moon River - Andy Williams
27. Days of Wine and Roses - Wayne Newton
28. Drinking Again - Dinah Washington
29. Charade - Bobby Darin
30. Emily - Andy Williams
31. Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra
32. Whistling Away the Dark - Henry Mancini
33. San Fernando Valley - Johnny Mercer with The Berries ^
34. When October Goes - Barry Manilow

Pat Boone - Sings Irving Berlin (1957)

Here's another of my Pat Boone albums, a gem I rescued from the HPB bargain bin. I love Irving Berlin songs and I love Pat Boone's smooth voice, so the combination is absolutely wonderful. There's even an endorsement on the back of the album by Irving Berlin himself, "Pat Boone sings these ballads the way I like to hear them sung." What better praise than from the composer?

Track listing for Pat Boone - Sings Irving Berlin:

Side 1:
1. All Alone
2. How Deep is the Ocean
3. Say It with Music
4. Always
5. Be Careful, It's My Heart
6. Soft Lights and Sweet Music
7. Remember

Side 2:
1. A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody
2. What'll I Do
3. All By Myself
4. The Girl That I Marry
5. Say It Isn't So
6. They Say It's Wonderful
7. Count Your Blessings

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Volume 2 (1963)

This is a request. It's one of the first albums I digitized when I first learned how, so it's a lower bitrate than my usual posts. I also usually don't post the Herb Alpert albums (I have the first eleven) because most of them are available on CD, but I wanted to go ahead and fill the request I received. Anyway, this is the second album by Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass (the way they were first called before changing to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass). There are some very familiar tunes on it and it's quite enjoyable. I don't much care for the album cover though - give me the "Whipped Cream" cover any day! Enjoy!

Track listing for Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Volume 2:

Side 1:
1. The Great Manolete (La Virgen de la Macarena)
2. Spanish Harlem
3. Swinger from Seville
4. Winds of Barcelona
5. Green Leaves of Summer
6. More

Side 2:
1. America
2. Surfin' Senorita
3. Marching Thru Madrid
4. Crea Mi Amor
5. Mexican Corn
6. Milord

Let's Bacardi Party (1964)

Here's a real treasure that belonged to my mother. I don't remember her playing this one, but I love the cover (picture courtesy of the internet - my cover is very worn and scribbled over by my mother) and the fact that it's a promotion for Bacardi rum! According to the notes in the back, the album was supposed to come with "several" recipe booklets. Well, I still have one of them! I don't know what happened to the rest (I don't know how many "several" were), but they probably just got worn out and thrown away over the years. The one recipe booklet that survived is really cool - has recipes for drinks, desserts (my mom made rum balls every Christmas), and party foods. I haven't tried to make any of the recipes, but I think I might try to make the Bacardi party chili now that chillier weather is coming. Oh, and although the album itself doesn't show a date anywhere (at least, I couldn't find one), my mother wrote "1964" on the back (as she used to always date her albums), so that's the year I'm assuming this came out. All in all, it's a fun album - good artists and good songs - and definitely one to play at your next Bacardi party. Hmmm.... I'm having a hard time picturing my mother going to a liquor store and buying a bottle of rum (she probably sent my dad).

Track listing for Let's Bacardi Party:

Side 1:
1. This Could Be the Start of Something Big - Jack Jones
2. Fly Me to the Moon - Laurindo Almeida
3. Charade - Ray Anthony
4. On the Street Where You Live - Jonah Jones
5. Woodchopper's Ball - Woody Herman

Side 2:
1. The Girl from Ipanema - Four Freshmen
2. September Song - George Shearing
3. Painted, Tainted Rose - Al Martino
4. End of a Love Affair - Stan Kenton
5. Fools Rush In - Keely Smith
6. Cherry - Harry James

By popular demand, here are some scans of the one Bacardi recipe booklet that has survived the years:

The booklet cover


Some drink recipes


Some appetizer recipes

Rene Touzet and his Orchestra - Cha Cha Cha for Lovers (1957)

This is one of the albums I bought back in my ballroom dancing days. We used this one quite a bit at the dance studio because the beat of the songs was just right (not too fast) for students. So, if any of y'all are taking cha cha cha lessons, or just learning it on your own, I think you'll be happy with this album. My personal favorite is the "Ticklish Mambo" - the first time I heard it I was cracking up! I think I also have another version of it; if I find it, I'll post it. There was a lot of surface noise on this album, and I tried to clean it up as best I could, but you'll still hear some clicks, pops, and noise (sorry). If anyone has a cleaner copy, please share!

Track listing for Rene Touzet - Cha Cha Cha for Lovers:

Side 1:
1. Lover's Cha Cha Cha
2. "Moon Over Miami"
3. Mambo Inn
4. Pedazo De Mi Zida
5. Danza Negra

Side 2:
1. Besame Mucho
2. Manuel (Levantate Manuel)
3. Ticklish Mambo ("Cosquillita")
4. Desconfianza
5. Oye Lo Que Tiene El Mambo
6. "Lover's Lullaby"

The Three Suns - Warm and Tender (1962)

Here's another album I bought for the cover - how could I resist?! Of course, I also happen to like the Three Suns. I like all the songs on this record, but I think my favorite is the title tune, "Warm and Tender". But really, all the songs are great, and it's great music to listen to while you're reading, working on the computer, or just relaxing. And it's great to have playing at your weekly cocktail party, too (and be sure to display the record cover prominently). I just love the whole combination of accordion, organ, and guitar - wonderful! And the first line of the liner notes is just perfect... "Warm and tender - that's the way most men prefer their women... and their music." Doesn't that line alone make you want to buy this record?

Track listing for The Three Suns - Warm and Tender:

Side 1:
1. There Goes My Heart
2. Fly Me to the Moon
3. Unchained Melody
4. Love is Like a Violin
5. Just Say I Love Her
6. Warm and Tender

Side 2:
1. Poor Butterfly
2. Portofino Amour
3. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
4. C'est Si Bon
5. The Lamp is Low
6. A Touch of Tenderness

Carl Stevens - "Skin" and Bones (1958)

This is another gem I rescued from the HPB bargain bin. And, once again, it was the cover that caught my eye. I'd never heard of Carl Stevens, but when I listened to the album, I really liked it! I did find a little information on Carl on Space Age Pop - seems his name was really Chuck Sagle.

Track listing for Carl Stevens - "Skin" and Bones:

Side 1:
1. Love for Sale
2. Walkin' Shoes
3. How Long Has This Been Going On
4. Long Ago and Far Away
5. Fascinating Rhythm

Side 2:
1. The Moon Was Yellow
2. It Had to Be You
3. Winter Dreams
4. Soon
5. Imagination
6. All of You