Nelson Riddle - Sing a Song With Riddle (1959)

Here's a treat for those of you who like karaoke. This album by Nelson Riddle has the background music for several hit songs from back in the day, and all it needs is your voice to sing along! The album itself even has the sheet music and lyrics for each of the songs. I tried to sing along but the songs are all in keys that are a little high for me (my vocal range is more like Diana Krall's), but maybe y'all will have better luck. I bought this many years ago and it's the hi-fi version. So, if anyone has the stereo version, I would love it if you shared it! I absolutely love Nelson Riddle!

Track listing for Sing a Song With Riddle:

Side 1:
1. Little White Lies
2. Darn That Dream
3. Near You
4. Day In-Day Out
5. The More I See You
6. My Baby Just Cares for Me

Side 2:
1. Everywhere You Go
2. I Had the Craziest Dream
3. Fools Rush In
4. You Make Me Feel So Young
5. It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
6. You're Driving Me Crazy

Patti Page - Patti Page's Greatest Hits (1966)

I love the Singing Rage, Miss Patti Page! "How Much is That Doggie in the Window" was one of my favorite songs growing up. I've shared a couple of other records by Patti Page, so I'll try to not repeat myself as to what I say here. I generally stay away from greatest hits albums if I have all or most of the artist's albums. Usually I only buy them if I just want the most well-known songs by an artist. When I bought this album, I didn't have any other Patti Page records, so it was fine to have this one. But for those of you who are familiar with her recordings, you'll notice that these songs don't sound like the songs you've heard so many times. That's because Patti re-recorded them for this album, which is on the Columbia label (she was on the Mercury label when she had all those hits). Maybe Columbia just wanted a new "take" on the songs, since the arrangements are all different. "Tennessee Waltz" is quite different, so you may or may not like it. "Old Cape Cod" is my favorite (besides "Doggie"), and I like this version fine.

Track listing for Patti Page's Greatest Hits:

Side 1:
1. Mockin' Bird Hill
2. (How Much is That) Doggie in the Window
3. Cross Over the Bridge
4. Detour
5. Mister and Mississippi
6. Old Cape Cod

Side 2:
1. I Went to Your Wedding
2. Tennessee Waltz
3. With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming
4. Changing Partners
5. Allegheny Moon

Eddie Osborn - Fabulous Eddie, Vol. 2, at the Replica Wurlitzer

I love organ music so when I saw this album last year I went ahead and bought it. I thought the artwork was pretty cute, too. Well, it's not exactly the kind of organ music I like (I was expecting more loungey stuff), but it's certainly very nostalgic. When I listen to it, I feel like I'm at a baseball game and someone should be coming around to sell me some peanuts. Or, that I should be at an old-time theatre watching a silent movie. It's that kind of organ music. Still, the history of the Replica Wurlitzer is quite interesting, and you can read about it here. You can see a cool picture of the organ on that page - very impressive. I couldn't find a release date on this record, but by reading about the Replica Wurlitzer ("made" around 1955) and that Replica Records was liquidated in the late 1950s, I'm guessing that this album was made in the late 1950s.

Track listing for Fabulous Eddie, Vol. 2, at the Replica Wurlitzer:

Side 1:
1. McNamera's Band March
2. Medley: September Song and September in the Rain
3. Sleepy Lagoon
4. Oh, You Beautiful Doll
5. In A Little Spanish Town
6. Five Foot Two
7. Pop Goes the Weasel

Side 2:
1. Waiting for the Robert E. Lee
2. You're the Cream in My Coffee
3. It All Depends on You
4. Moonglow
5. Smiles Medley
6. Toot, Toot, Tootsie
7. Tuxedo Junction

The Main St. Singers - Takin' the Shade

I couldn't resist buying this album the other day at the little resale shop down the street - and I love it! I think it was the groovy outfits that they're all wearing - so 1970s! And those aren't really tuxes - they're jumpsuits over the ruffly tuxedo shirts. I remember that my dance instructors would wear outfits like that at my ballroom dance competitions. Not very flattering. I've never heard of this group and I think it was probably a group that played local hotels (label says Sacramento) and cruises (it says they composed "Greek Odyssey" for a European cruise). It says on the back that they recorded this album "for all their fans and friends". Oh, another big reason I bought this is that all the singers and musicians autographed the album on the back! Hey, this may be worth big bucks! There is no release year on this, but by the stylish outfits, I'm guessing early to mid 1970s. For those of you who are dying to know who these people are, they are: Betty Speegle, Lynn Elder, Robert Speegle, Fernando Rio, Rick Elder, Ted Skorman, Rich Leppanen, Don "Mult" Jones, and Scott Wilcox. (I think I have a crush on the guy standing under the tree between the two girls - wonder whatever happened to him.) You've heard all these songs, except for the two written by one of the members of the group and unfortunately, several of the songs have some skips. So, if anyone out there is lucky enough to have a copy of this record and it doesn't skip, please do share! :-) BTW, if anyone has any information on any of these musicians, I would love an update!

Track listing for Takin' the Shade with the Main St. Singers:

Side 1:
1. You've Got a Friend - Solos by Rick Elder and Lynn Elder (has a skip or two)
2. Easy Come, Easy Go - Solo by Robert Speegle
3. Yours - Solo by Fernando Rio
4. Have You Met "Mult" Jones - Trombone solos by Don "Mult" Jones
5. Impossible Dream - Solo by Rick Elder

Side 2:
1. For the Good Times - Solo by Rick Elder (has several skips)
2. Super Star - Trombone solo by Don Jones
3. Mama Gets High - Solo by Robert Speegle (has a skip or two)
4. Greek Odyssey
5. Tradition
6. Sabbeth Prayer (has a skip or two)

Herbie Lane & His Orchestra - Music to Remember You By (1955)

I don't know what it is about the budget labels, but I just love buying the albums on those old budget labels! Most of the time, I find that the covers were just much more fun. You could almost always count on a pretty girl on the cover (the "cheesecake" covers), as this album illustrates, although this one is probably less "cheesecake" than others. This particular album is by Herbie Lane, with whom I am not familiar at all. But it's a pleasant enough record with all familiar pop standards. I think it was worth the 50 cents or $1 that I paid for it. :-)

Track listing for Herbie Lane - Music to Remember You By:

Side 1:
1. The Song Is You
2. Lisbon Antigua
3. Just One of Those Things
4. You Go to My Head
5. The Theme from Picnic
6. Moonlight Serenade

Side 2:
1. Yesterdays
2. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
3. Autumn Leaves
4. The Nearness of You
5. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White