Billo's Caracas Boys - Baile de Carnaval (1959)

Here's yet another treasure from the HPB bargain bin, and I really like it! I really like the Latin sounds from South America, and this record is by an orchestra that was apparently pretty big in Venezuela. The songs are all up tempo and great for dancing (the particular dance is in italics next to the song in the track list below). I was doing my versions of the dances while recording this album, but it freaked out my cats so I had to stop - everyone's a critic. So, put on your dancing shoes and take a trip to Caracas, Venezuela with this album!

Track listing for Billo's Caracas Boys - Baile de Carnaval:

Side 1:
1. Palo de Cana Brava - Guaracha
2. Sabrosito - Merecumbe'
3. Por un Dedo - Guaracha
4. Caracas - Pasodoble
5. Chipi-Chipi - chipi-chipi
6. Apagame la Vela - Merengue

Side 2:
1. Plena Espanola - Plena
2. Rosa - Merecumbe'
3. Florecita - Samba merengue
4. La Rigola - Merengue
5. Campanera - Pasodoble
6. Rio Manzanares - Merengue

Check Out My New Weekly Podcast and Blog!

Hey, everyone!

I've been working on a new project lately. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a radio DJ and play records for others. Well, I ended up going in another direction as to career choice, but that has always remained in the back of my mind. Thank goodness for the Internet and the opportunities that keep popping up. I kept hearing about these "podcasts" but didn't really know what they were (I don't have an iPod, just a cheap $20 USB/MP3 player). Then I ran into a couple of blogs that only listed playlists and mentioned a "podcast". So, recently I decided to find out what this "podcast" thing was all about (okay, so I tend to lag behind in certain things). I've been working on my first podcast and I will launch it tomorrow (Sunday, March 29) at 5 PM CST. It will be a weekly podcast and I'll be playing the kind of music that I've been posting here on Stax O' Wax. Please remember that this is my first effort at podcasting and I am by no means a professional! It will be a lot of trial and error until I figure out all the tricks (there was no tutorial on the web site where my podcasts will be), and I have a huge learning curve! If any of you out there have experience with podcasts and can offer me some tips and guidance, I will be glad to hear from you!

So, beginning Sunday, March 29, tune in to my podcast, The Spin-O-Rama Hour. It will be a weekly podcast every Sunday at 5 PM, CST. I will have two sites - the site here on Blogger, where I will post the playlist for that particular "episode", and the site on PodOmatic, which will have the actual podcast.

For the podcast playlist, go to: www.thespinoramahour.blogspot.com

For the actual podcast, go to: www.thespinoramahour.podomatic.com


Don't worry - Stax O' Wax is NOT going away! I will continue to post albums from my collection here on Stax O' Wax. The Spin-O-Rama Hour is just a new, additional project. Thanks to all of you for tuning in!

Ames Brothers - Destination Moon (1958)

Here's a treasure I got out of the bargain bin at HPB. I know a bunch of you probably already have this one since it is a classic. I even searched the blogs for a digitized version (I really want the stereo version, if any of you would like to share that!) but I only found two links and they were both dead, so I decided to go ahead and share my copy. Anyway, this famous cover is absolutely awesome and the music is, too! This is definitely one of my favorite albums!

Track listing for Ames Brothers - Destination Moon:

Side 1:
1. Destination Moon
2. Clear Out of This World
3. Moonglow
4. East of the Sun
5. Count Every Star
6. No Moon at All

Side 2:
1. I'm Shooting High
2. Music from Out of Space
3. Stella by Starlight
4. It's Only a Paper Moon
5. The Starlit Hour
6. Beyond the Blue Horizon

Hooray for Hollywood (1972)

I found this album a month or two ago at an estate sale. I don't think it was played much because it still had the cellophane on the cover (but it was open), and the condition is pretty much near mint. I probably wouldn't have bought it except that Joan Crawford is one of the stars on this album. (Joan Crawford is my movie idol.) Overall, it's a fun album to have, especially if you're a classic movie fan such as I. I had heard all the stars on this album sing in various movies except for Fred MacMurray, and he didn't sound at all like I thought he would.

This album was released as part of RCA's "Vintage Series" in 1972. The inside of the album cover has a write-up on each of the songs and the star who performs it, but it's way too much to include here, so here are the liner notes that are on the back of the album:

The Vintage Series is a living history of jazz, folk, blues and popular music and of the legendary musicians and personalities who created it. Each album contains original, untampered-with recordings from the vaults of RCA Records - the true sounds of the greatest artists of their day. To the collector, the Vintage Series is an invaluable addition to a record library. And to any young person newly exploring America's musical legacy, it will be a welcome introduction to the roots of today's music.

Track listing for Hooray for Hollywood:

Side 1:
1. I Used to Be Color Blind - Ginger Rogers
2. Ich Bin die Fesche Lola (I Am the Glamorous Lola) - Marlene Dietrich
3. Alone - Allan Jones
4. I Never Knew Heaven Could Speak - Joan Crawford
5. Got a Bran' New Suit - Eleanor Powell
6. All I Want Is Just One - Fred MacMurray
7. Paradise - Dorothy Lamour
8. When April Sings - Deanna Durbin

Side 2:
1. Something's Gotta Give - Fred Astaire
2. I'm Gonna File My Claim - Marilyn Monroe
3. Mary's a Grand Old Name - James Cagney
4. It's Oh So Quiet! - Betty Hutton
5. That Certain Feeling - Bob Hope
6. The Saga of Jenny - Ann Southern
7. Stardust - Harpo Marx
8. I Couldn't Be More In Love - Mickey Rooney

Battlestar Galactica OST (1978)

I see that the final episode for the "new" "Battlestar Galactica" series is going to be airing soon. So, I thought now might be a good time to post the soundtrack for the original "real" "Battlestar Galactica". I absolutely loved the original series (have never watched the new one) and have been lucky to meet several of the stars at sci-fi conventions - Richard Hatch (Apollo), Dirk Benedict (Starbuck - for whom one of my cats is named), Anne Lockhart (Lt. Sheba), and Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Lt. Boone). I have their autographed pictures hanging on my home office wall as part of my "Wall of Fame", and I was able to have my picture taken with them! (I tend to be very star struck.)

The reason I bought this soundtrack was really just for the theme song, but the one song sung by the Space Angels is pretty hilarious. Funny how disco music made its way to outer space. I believe this soundtrack is from the pilot episode, although I couldn't really tell you for sure. I just remember how much I really liked the show and all the stars, the ones mentioned above plus Lorne Greene as Adama. And the pilot also had Jane Seymour and Rick Springfield! I also remember watching the second series, "Galactica 1980", but all I remember from that one was that it starred Kent McCord (from "Adam 12" fame). All music (except the one noted) was performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Stu Phillips, who was also the composer. Enjoy!

Track listing for Battlestar Galactica OST (1978):

Side 1:
1. Main Title: Theme from "Battlestar Galactica"
2. Destruction of Peace
3. Fighter Launch
4. Adama's Theme
5. Exploration/Theme from "Battlestar Galactica"
6. The Cylon Base Ship (Imperious Leader)
7. Cassiopia and Starbuck
8. End of the Atlantia

Side 2:
1. The Cylon Trap
2. Boxey's Problem - Serena's Illness
3. The Red Nova
4. Suffering
5. The Casino on Carillon "It's Love, Love, Love" - performed by The Space Angels
6. Escape from the Ovion Mines
7. Dash to the Elevator
8. "Let's Go Home" - End Title

All Star Shindig (1959)

Well, I was really excited about posting this record (which I rescued from the bargain bin at HPB), but it turned out to be in bad shape. I was able to listen to it and record it, but there are still a lot of clicks and pops even after running it through the click-and-pop removal several times. Finally, I stopped running it through the click removal thing because I didn't want the sound to be degraded too much. The first two songs also have some skips. Even with the clicks, pops, and skips, I decided to go ahead and post it with the hope that someone else out there might have a better copy of this album and be inspired to post it. I've also never heard any of these songs by these singers, so I'm hoping that I'm at least contributing some hard-to-find stuff. If anyone out there has better versions of any of these songs (by these singers), please share! I also liked the liner notes so I'll share some of them with you...

Shindig! Hullaballo! Shivaree! Bandstand! Hollywood A Go Go! Where The Action Is! Yeah Yeah Yeah! A wave of youthful exuberance is sweeping the country, and youngsters and oldsters alike are catching the bug.
The formula is to put together today's top tunes, the great pop artists, mix them together with some dancing and lots of action-- and you come up with a hit.
Our All Star Shindig is a do-it-yourself kit. You can throw your own discotheque party at home and all you need is this record, a bunch of friends, and cut loose!

Track listing for All Star Shindig:

Side 1:
1. This Is Real - Four Seasons
2. Dream Age - Bobby Rydell
3. I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Jo Ann Campbell
4. Little People - John Gary
5. River Of Silver - John Gary

Side 2:
1. You're The One - Johnny Rivers
2. Slang Book - Bobby Rydell
3. Comme Si Bella - Four Seasons
4. Give Me Five Minutes More - Jo Ann Campbell
5. How Can My Heart Forget You - John Gary

Lawrence Welk and His Champagne Music - Say It With Music (1956)

Today's album is one of my mom's. As I've mentioned before, I have my mom to thank for my love and appreciation of music - especially the type I post here. My family was big on Lawrence Welk, too. We would watch it every Saturday evening (the only other choice was "Hee Haw" - yuck). They show old episodes on various PBS stations, but I'd really like it if the show went to DVD. I'd certainly buy it! Well, my mom got this album in February 1957 - she wrote that across the back (I don't know why she had a habit of doing that). It's an album of medleys, all except the last one are fox trot medleys; the last one is a waltz medley. So, if you know how to fox trot or waltz - or you need to practice - just download this album!

Track listing for Lawrence Welk - Say It With Music:

Side 1:
1. Say It With Music; Tea For Two; Thou Swell
2. I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five And Ten Cent Store); Pretty Baby; Yes Sir, That's My Baby
3. Rain; Singin' In The Rain; Rain On The Roof
4. Oh, Lady Be Good; Somebody Loves Me; 'S Wonderful
5. Sleepy Time Gal; My Blue Heaven; Doodle Doo Doo - Featuring Lawrence Welk on Accordion
6. The Gypsy In My Soul; Exactly Like You; Anything Goes

Side 2:
1. Was That The Human Thing To Do; Cecilia; I Don't Believe It's True
2. (I'm In Heaven When I See You Smile) Diane; Marcheta; Charmaine
3. Yearning (Just For You); 3rd Man Theme; Please
4. Blue Skies; Beyond The Blue Horizon; The Blue Room
5. Wabash Blues; September Song; Mood Indigo
6. Sympathy; L'Amour Toujours L'Amour (Love Everlasting); Giannina Mia

Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan's Golden Hits!!! (1961)

This is one of my very favorite albums. I've had this for at least twenty years - bought it when I first discovered this AM radio station in Dallas that played "big bands and great singers". Sarah Vaughan was one of the great singers whose songs they would play, and almost every song on this album was played on that radio station. How can you not fall in love with the wonderful voice that belonged to Sarah Vaughan? She was indeed, the Divine One. If you don't have any albums by Sarah Vaughan, then this is the one you need to get, since it has most of her great hits. I can't really pick a favorite song from this album because each time I listen to the next song, it becomes my favorite! They're all just wonderful - just what one would expect from the Divine Sarah Vaughan.

Track listing for Sarah Vaughan's Golden Hits!!!:

Side 1:
1. Misty
2. Broken Hearted Melody
3. Make Yourself Comfortable
4. Autumn In New York
5. Moonlight In Vermont
6. How Important Can It Be

Side 2:
1. Smooth Operator
2. Whatever Lola Wants
3. Lullaby Of Birdland
4. Eternally
5. Poor Butterfly
6. Close To You

Here's Sarah Vaughan singing "You're Not The Kind":

Sam "The Man" Taylor - In The Mood For Sax: More Blue Mist (1960)

Anybody in the mood for some sax? I love the saxophone (I play alto sax). I think it is the sexiest musical instrument around. Listening to some good sax music is guaranteed to put you in the mood! ;-)

Can you believe that I found this album in the HPB bargain bin for only 50 cents? I bought it for the album cover (are those girls really "nekked" under those gauzy gowns?) alone. I'd never heard of Sam "The Man" Taylor, but when I saw that he played tenor sax, I thought it might be a pretty good album. Well, I love this album - it's my new favorite album! This is the way I like to hear the sax played - very sexy indeed! "Tenderly" is one of my all-time favorite songs, and I absolutely love the way Sam plays it on this album. I hope you like this album as much as I do!

Track listing for Sam "The Man" Taylor - In The Mood For Sax: More Blue Mist:

Side 1:
1. Tenderly
2. Prelude To A Kiss
3. I'm In The Mood For Love
4. If I Ever Love Again
5. Reflections
6. Stella By Starlight

Side 2:
1. Love Me
2. Willow Weep For Me
3. This Love Of Mine
4. (I Got A Woman Crazy For Me) She's Funny That Way
5. I Should Care
6. Close Your Eyes (Brahms Lullaby)

The Seekers - Georgy Girl (1966)

Here's one of the first albums I digitized, but never got around to posting until today. Everyone is familiar with the title song, "Georgy Girl", from the movie of the same name. The whole album is quite enjoyable - some nice folk music with several familiar songs. And don't be embarrassed if you find yourself singing along with them - I did!

Track listing for The Seekers - Georgy Girl:

Side 1:
1. Georgy Girl
2. Yesterday
3. The Last Thing On My Mind
4. All Over The World
5. Red Rubber Ball
6. Well, Well, Well

Side 2:
1. Come The Day
2. Island Of Dreams
3. Turn, Turn, Turn
4. Louisiana Man
5. California Dreamin'

Here are the Seekers singing "Georgy Girl":