Mantovani - Latin Rendezvous (1963)

This is another of the albums I bought when I was doing the ballroom dancing thing. I do love Mantovani. His music was the epitome of easy-listening! I seem to recall that we even danced to some of the songs on this album at the dance studio where I took lessons. Mantovani was also one of my mom's favorites, and sometime down the road I'll post the Mantovani album that belonged to my mom. But right now, I'm going to go have a glass of red wine - that album cover is making me thirsty.

Track listing for Mantovani - Latin Rendezvous:

Side 1:
1. Granada
2. Malaguena
3. Cielito Lindo
4. Be Mine Tonight
5. La Paloma
6. Siboney

Side 2:
1. Andalucia
2. Maria Elena
3. Perfidia
4. Estrellita
5. Amapola
6. Espana

Arthur Lyman - Hawaiian Sunset (1959)

Time to take a trip to Hawaii - musically, that is! Well, here's a great album by Arthur Lyman, one of the masters of exotica. The music is absolutely wonderful. Close your eyes and listen to this album and you'll be transported to paradise, the Hawaiian Islands, where "the native art of living gracefully, simply and happily seems to extend to all who visit or stay."

Track listing for Arthur Lyman - Hawaiian Sunset:

Side 1:
1. Hawaiian War Chant
2. Sweet Leilani
3. Imi Au Ia Oe
4. My Tane
5. Whispering Reef
6. Na Lei O Hawaii

Side 2:
1. Hiilawe
2. Isle of Golden Dreams
3. Mapuana
4. Waipio
5. Kawohikukapulani
6. Ke Kali Nei Au
7. Harbor Lights

Fred Lowery - Walking Along Kicking the Leaves... (1957)

Here's another album by a fellow Texan (in my previous post, Trini Lopez is originally from Dallas). Fred Lowery, who was born in Palestine, Texas, lost most of his vision when he was just a toddler and later became known as "the blind whistler". He even had a radio show here in Dallas. He was also the one who whistles in the theme song from "The High and the Mighty". I did not know that until I bought this album and read up on him. Turns out that this album is considered THE whistling album of all time. I have to admit that when I bought it (for the cover), I had no idea who Fred Lowery was and was curious about the "whistling with orchestra" and thought, "Here's something different." Well, I ended up really liking it! BTW, I couldn't find a date on this album, but I figure it was from the 1950s. If anyone know the release date, please let me know! (Thanks to Gary for finding a site that listed the date.)

Track listing for Fred Lowery - Walking Along Kicking the Leaves:

Side 1:
1. Walking Along (Kicking The Leaves)
2. Indian Love Call
3. Tennessee Waltz
4. Far Away Places
5. The Moon of Manakoora
6. Sunrise Serenade

Side 2:
1. Happy Hobo
2. Pagan Love Song
3. The Lonesome Road
4. Sleepy Lagoon
5. Moon Love
6. Sentimental Journey

Trini Lopez - The Folk Album (1965)

This is yet another gem I rescued from the HPB bargain bin. I don't remember my mother ever playing any of Trini's music (and she didn't have any of his records), but I do remember her mentioning his name and that she liked the way he sang. I also vaguely remember Trini doing a TV commercial - for juice or something. Oh, and I think I remember seeing him in a couple of movies - a war movie and a cowboy movie. Anyway, although I don't recall much of Trini from my growing-up years, I do love his voice and songs! And I especially love this album of folk songs. Plus, he's from Dallas!

Track listing for Trini Lopez - The Folk Album:

Side 1:
1. Lemon Tree
2. Pretty Eyes
3. Greenback Dollar
4. Puff (The Magic Dragon)
5. I Love Your Beautiful Brown Eyes
6. Blowin' In The Wind

Side 2:
1. We'll Sing In The Sunshine
2. Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)
3. Crooked Little Man
4. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
5. Michael
6. This Train

Julie London - Julie is Her Name (1955)

Here is an absolute classic! If you don't have this Julie London album in your collection, then you must get it! Julie is sexy, sultry, and sizzling on her first album - WOW! One of the things I really like about this album is that she is accompanied only by a guitar and a bass. I can't say enough about how great this album is, so I'll just quote the first line of the liner notes:

"Julie London might best be described as the girl with the 'come hither' voice."

Julie married actor Jack Webb of "Dragnet" TV fame, and later divorced him. Then she married jazz musician Bobby Troup, with whom she co-starred on the 1970's TV series "Emergency!" (she played Nurse Dixie McCall). Interestingly enough, the producer of "Emergency!" was Julie's ex-husband, Jack Webb! I guess they remained friends.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one!

Track listing for Julie London - Julie is Her Name (Link has been deleted. Go buy CD on Amazon.) :

Side 1:
1. Cry Me A River
2. I Should Care
3. I'm In The Mood For Love
4. I'm Glad There Is You
5. Can't Help Lovin' That Man
6. I Love You

Side 2:
1. Say It Isn't So
2. It Never Entered My Mind
3. Easy Street
4. S' Wonderful
5. No Moon At All
6. Laura
7. Gone With The Wind

Here's a video clip of Julie singing "Cry Me A River" from her 1964 show:

Enoch Light and The Light Brigade - I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha's (1958)

This is another album I've had for some time. I bought it when I was doing the ballroom dancing thing. Latin dances were my favorite - cha cha, rumba, mambo, etc. - so I bought a lot of records with music for those dances. Enoch Light is pretty well known so here's one for you!

Track listing for Enoch Light - I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha's:

Side 1:
1. I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha
2. Tremendo Cha Cha
3. Tea for Two Cha Cha
4. Lover Cha Cha
5. Yes Sir, That's My Baby Cha Cha
6. The Sheik Cha Cha

Side 2:
1. Chiquita Cha Cha
2. Sweet and Gentle
3. Cara Mia Cha Cha
4. How High the Moon Cha Cha
5. Patricia
6. Guaglione

Brenda Lee - All The Way (1961)

I'm not sure how I got this album. Either I bought it or I inherited it from my uncle (my mom's younger brother). I'm thinking it was the latter. This just seems like the kind of music he liked. And I do like Brenda Lee - Little Miss Dynamite! And she was still a teenager when she recorded this album - wow! One of the reasons that I like Brenda Lee (besides her talent) is that her voice and her songs transport me to another time. I've mentioned before how much I love nostalgia - especially the 1950s and 60s - and this album just takes me back there. If you like Brenda Lee and don't already have this album, then you need to get it!

Track listing for Brenda Lee - All The Way:

Side 1:
1. Lover, Come Back to Me
2. All The Way
3. Dum Dum
4. On the Sunny Side of the Street
5. Talkin' 'Bout You
6. Someone to Love Me (The Prisoner's Song)

Side 2:
1. Do I Worry (Yes I Do)
2. Tragedy
3. Kansas City
4. Eventually
5. Speak to Me Pretty
6. The Big Chance

Here's a video clip of Brenda singing "Lover, Come Back to Me":

Lorne Greene - Young At Heart (1963)

Here's another of my celebrity vocal albums. I have several Lorne Greene albums - loved him as Ben Cartwright in "Bonanza" and as Commander Adama in the original "Battlestar Galactica". I think one reason I like Lorne Greene is because I associate him with those TV shows, which I watched with my father - good memories. Well, this is Lorne's debut album and he sings a lot of familiar standards. I find it to be a very enjoyable album!

Track listing for Lorne Greene - Young At Heart:

Side 1:
1. I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore
2. September Song
3. Young At Heart
4. You Make Me Feel So Young
5. Hello, Young Lovers
6. Something's Gotta Give

Side 2:
1. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
2. Just in Time
3. Young and Foolish
4. Speak Low
5. As Time Goes By
6. The Second Time Around

Morton Gould and His Orchestra - Coffee Time (1958)

Here's another treasure I picked up from the HPB bargain bin. I'm not sure how long I've had this, but I'm pretty sure I bought it for the cover. I have several Morton Gould albums, so I like the music, too. I think my favorite on here is "Mexican Hat Dance". The way it's played reminds me of the old Tom and Jerry cartoons - remember how they would always incorporate classical music or other famous traditional music into the cartoon adventures? Well, the entire album is very pleasant to listen to, so go get it now!

Track listing for Morton Gould - Coffee Time:

Side 1:
1. Mexican Hat Dance
2. Serenade in the Night
3. Laura
4. Hora Staccato
5. The Man I Love
6. Serenata

Side 2:
1. Jamaican Rumba
2. Solitude
3. Besame Mucho
4. Tropical
5. Orchids in the Moonlight
6. Manhattan Serenade