Various Artists - Great Songs of Christmas Album Six (1966)

Here's yet another treasure from the bargain bin at HPB! I understand there were ten of these albums that were "created exclusively for Goodyear" (it's a "Collectors Album Limited Edition" by Columbia Special Products). There were two of the others in the bargain bin, but the records were in pretty bad shape so I didn't get them. If anyone has the other nine albums or knows where I can go to download them, please let me know!

I'm surprised that my mother didn't buy any of these back in the day, since she bought all the other "special" Christmas albums (the Maxwell House one, the Radio Shack one, etc.). And a lot of my Christmas presents from Santa came from our local Goodyear (Does anyone remember when Goodyear sold more than just tires - like TVs, cool toys, etc.?), so that really surprises me that my mom didn't buy at least one of these albums.

Anyway, since this is a Goodyear record, I have to share a story about my mom's shopping at our local Goodyear. Back in the day, Goodyear had some awesome toys (my red metal pedal car and my tricycle, to name a couple), and on the morning after Christmas, my dad would drop my mom off downtown on his way to work, so that she could take advantage of the after-Christmas sales. (Remember, this is in the 1960s before we had shopping malls - and when most families had one car.) Well, my mom REALLY took advantage of those sales! At the end of the day, my dad would pick her up in front of Goodyear (I guess he knew that's where she'd really hit the jackpot), where she'd be standing on the sidewalk literally surrounded by all her purchases! My mom once told me that most of her purchases were toys and stuff for me (I'm an only child). I don't ever remember my parents arriving with a carload of toys on the day after Christmas, so I asked my mom what she did with all those things so that I never saw them. Well, parents have their special hiding places, and I just never snooped around looking for stuff (Why would I? I didn't know this was happening!). Throughout the year, my mom would give me toys from this hidden stash - for bringing home good grades, for my birthday, for when I seemed a little "blue" (my mom actually said this), etc. Those were the days!

Well, now that I've shared that with you, I hope you enjoy this record and have a very Merry Christmas! (I'll be back in a couple of weeks, after the holidays.)

Track listing for Great Songs of Christmas Album Six:

Side 1:
1. Silent Night - Barbra Streisand
2. Do You Hear What I Hear - Andy Williams
3. The Christmas Song - Johnny Mathis
4. The Holiday of Love/Caroling, Caroling - The King Family
5. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Pablo Casals
6. O Little Town of Bethlehem/It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - The King Family
7. O Come, All Ye Faithful - Jan Peerce
8. Ave Maria - Barbra Streisand

Side 2:
1. Frosty the Snowman - Ray Conniff
2. We Need a Little Christmas - New Christy Minstrels
3. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Steve Lawrence/Eydie Gorme
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Ray Conniff
5. Noel Nouvelet - Jan Peerce
6. March of the Kings - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
7. Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
8. White World of Winter - Bing Crosby
9. Il Est Ne - New Christy Minstrels
10. Still, Still, Still - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
11. Away in a Manger - Mahalia Jackson/Percy Faith
12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Ray Conniff

Cool Yule Tunes - A Stax o' Wax Compilation

Well, this week I was putting together a compilation of some of my favorite Christmas tunes to burn to CD to give to my friend, Bradley, for Christmas. I finished it today (and gave it to him today so he was the first to listen to it), and now I want to share it with you all. Most of the tunes are familiar to you and you probably already have a lot of them, but you don't have them in this grouping! Anyway, I enjoy doing this so I hope this compilation brings you much joy. Hey, maybe you'll like it enough to play at your Christmas party!

Track listing for Cool Yule Tunes - A Stax o' Wax Compilation:

1. Prologue - Bobby Sherman
2. My Christmas Card to You - The Partridge Family
3. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
4. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
5. Christmas Waltz - The Carpenters
6. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
7. Grown-up Christmas Wish - Amy Grant
8. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
10. Christmas Trumpets/We Wish You a Very Merry Christmas - Ray Anthony
11. Christmas Island - Bob Atcher & The Dinning Sisters
12. Mele Kalikimaka - Poncie Ponce
13. (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man with the Bag - Kay Starr
14. Here Comes Santa Claus - Esquivel
15. Jingle Bells - Barbra Streisand
16. Jingle Bell Rock - Wayne Newton
17. Silver Bells - Doris Day
18. Frosty the Snowman - The Brady Bunch
19. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo - Billy May
20. Happy Holiday - Peggy Lee
21. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays - Robert Goulet
22. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
23. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
24. Winter Wonderland - Johnny Mathis
25. Sleigh Ride - Jack Jones
26. Marshmallow World - Dean Martin
27. Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth - Bing Crosby & David Bowie
28. What Are You Doin' New Year's Eve - Donny Osmond

The Living Strings - The Spirit of Christmas (1963)

Hey, everyone! Today I'm celebrating that I've passed 100,000 hits on this blog! Woo hoo! What a great way to get in the spirit of Christmas!

And that's a perfect segue into today's Christmas music offering, "The Spirit of Christmas with the Living Strings". This is another treasure from the HPB bargain bin. I've never really listened to the Living Strings before (I can't believe my mom never bought any of their records because she would have liked them) but I really liked the cover of this album so I went ahead and bought it. (I just really like how nostalgic 60s the cover looks!) Then when I listened to it, I really liked it! Now I'm going to have to go look for more records by the Living Strings. Enjoy!

Track listing for The Spirit of Christmas with the Living Strings:

Side 1:
1. White Christmas
2. Silver Bells
3. Medley: Wassail Song; The First Noel; Angels We Have Heard on High; Joy to the World
4. Mary's Boy Child (Mary's Little Boy Chile)
5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
6. Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas; We Three Kings; It Came Upon the Midnight Clear; O Holy Night; Silent Night

Side 2:
1. Medley: O Come, All Ye Faithful; Oh Little Town of Bethlehem; Coventry Carol; Away in a Manger
2. Introduction: Deck the Halls; It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas
3. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
4. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
5. I'll Be Home for Christmas
6. The Little Drummer Boy

Dean Martin - The Dean Martin Christmas Album (1966)

Here's a swingin' Christmas album for all you cool cats out there! Who can resist Dean Martin crooning some yuletide tunes? I got this album from the bargain bin at my usual supplier of groovy records (Half-Price Books), and it was in good condition! I cleaned up the songs pretty well (I think), so this should be a decent download for you all. One of my very favorite songs is on this album - "The Things We Did Last Summer". I don't know why I love that song so much, but I have several versions of it (maybe I'll do a compilation of all the different versions I have). I love the way Dino sings it with that smooth way of his - definitely one of the best versions. Anyway, go fix yourselves a martini, sit back, and give a listen to this album.

Track listing for The Dean Martin Christmas Album (link has been deleted. Go buy CD on Amazon):

Side 1:
1. White Christmas
2. Jingle Bells
3. I'll Be Home for Christmas
4. Blue Christmas
5. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Side 2:
1. Marshmallow World
2. Silver Bells
3. Winter Wonderland
4. The Things We Did Last Summer
5. Silent Night

And here's a great video of Dino singing "White Christmas"!

The Partridge Family - A Partridge Family Christmas Card (1971)

Here's one of my absolute favorite Christmas albums! Yes, I'm sure it's out there multiple times in blogland, but I'm sharing my copy anyway!

I fell in love with David Cassidy when I first saw his picture in a magazine called "Who's Who in the Teen World", just a couple of months before "The Partridge Family" came on the air. I was just a little kid, but I was completely enamored of the show! Every Friday night, I would lock myself in my parents' bedroom with my little tape recorder (I'd tell my family to be sure not to bother me or make noise), watch the show on the 13-inch TV, and would record the song they sang each week. I wanted to make sure I had all the songs before the albums actually came out. I do remember the Christmas episode, and I've included a video clip from that episode where they sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (video clip deleted from YouTube).

Besides the fact that I'll love the Partridge Family forever (thank goodness I learned how to digitize my albums so I can listen in my car!), and have wonderful memories of watching the show, listening to their albums, reading about them in magazines, etc., I have great memories of listening to this album at Christmas. I especially remember one occasion when my Uncle Abel, Aunt Licha, and cousins Abel and Sammy, came to our house on Christmas Day. I put this album on my little portable record player (Realistic brand from Radio Shack), and my Uncle Abe danced around the tree with us kids to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" . That's really what's it all about - just family (and friends) having a great time together and making great memories such as this.

So, I hope you all make some wonderful Christmas memories this year, and that you include this album in those memories!

Track listing for A Partridge Family Christmas Card (link has been deleted - go buy CD on Amazon):

Side 1:
1. My Christmas Card to You - the absolutely BEST song!
2. White Christmas
3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
4. Blue Christmas
5. Jingle Bells
6. The Christmas Song

Side 2:
1. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Frosty the Snowman
4. Sleigh Ride
5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas


The back cover of the album.


The Christmas card bonus "signed" by the cast:

The Brady Bunch - Merry Christmas from the Brady Bunch (1971)

What would Christmas be without our favorite family, the Brady Bunch? I know this album has been posted by others before, and I'm sure someone has posted it already this season, but I couldn't find a download of it, so I went ahead and recorded my record album.

One of the things I like about this album is that the kids recorded it "in character". Some of the songs say lead vocal by Bobby Brady, Jan Brady, etc., not by the actors' names. Another interesting bit of trivia, is that Marcia's name is spelled "Marsha" here, whereas the show's credits always spelled it "Marcia". "Frosty the Snowman" was the kids' first single, too, with lead sung by "Cindy Brady" (Susan Olsen is exactly one week older than I am). Well, I hope this brings back good memories for those of you who grew up with The Brady Bunch!

Track listing for The Brady Bunch - Merry Christmas from the Brady Bunch:

Side 1:
1. The First Noel - Lead Vocal by Bobby Brady
2. Away in a Manger - Lead Vocal by Marsha Brady
3. The Little Drummer Boy - Lead Vocal by Jan Brady
4. O Come All Ye Faithful
5. O Holy Night - Lead Vocal by Greg Brady
6. Silent Night

Side 2:
1. Jingle Bells
2. Frosty the Snowman - Lead Vocal by Cindy Brady
3. Silver Bells
4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Lead Vocal by Peter Brady
5. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
6. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass - Christmas Album (1968)

Well, it's good to be back! And I was able to get this Christmas album recorded, cleaned up, and uploaded before Sunday!

I have to tell you how much I love Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. It brings back such good memories of growing up and listening to my mom play their records. And I tend to associate the Christmas holidays and parties with their music since a couple of my memories are of watching the grown-ups dance to this album and the "Whipped Cream" and "Tijuana Taxi" albums at my parents' holiday parties. I even remember what I wore at one of these - a little green velvet dress and black go-go boots - pretty groovy!

Well, anyway, I hope this album gets you in the holiday spirit!

Track listing for Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass - Christmas Album:

Side 1:
1. Winter Wonderland
2. Jingle Bells
3. My Favorite Things
4. The Christmas Song
5. Las Mananitas

Side 2:
1. Sleigh Ride
2. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle
3. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
4. Jingle Bell Rock
5. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

I'm Back!

Hey, everyone! I'm back from my absence. I just was overwhelmed with stuff (work, community volunteer activities, elderly cats dying, adopting new kitties - you know, life in general), so I took a break from recording albums and posting them. But, I'm back with renewed vigor, so be sure to check back for my next new post on Sunday, December 2. In the meantime, I've checked all my old links and all are up (had to re-up a few). Since Christmas is just around the corner, be sure to check my Christmas albums posts from November and December 2006. I'll be posting additional Christmas albums in the next couple of weeks. Oh, and thanks to everyone who kept visiting this blog while I was away and to those of you who posted comments.

As I mentioned above, I have started a new family. Shortly before my Sabrina and Mr.Spock passed away, an adorable little tortoiseshell kitten showed up on my doorstep. I ended up keeping her and named her Snickerdoodle. Then in September, I went to the city shelter and adopted a rambunctious brown tabby kitten and named him Starbuck (I have a thing about names beginning with 'S'). Both kittens will be 7 months old on December 1 and they are full of energy! Being the proud mama that I am, I have to share their pictures with you.

Snickerdoodle


Starbuck

Live Long and Prosper

Well, this has truly been a sad month for me. Only two weeks after losing my beautiful Sabrina, my little guy, Mr.Spock, joined her in the big kitty condo in the sky (on my birthday, no less). Spock was an 18-year-old Manx, and I'd had him since he was 2 years old, when I adopted him from the Humane Society where I volunteered at the time. He and Sabrina were best buddies for 16 years, so I knew it wouldn't be long after she died that he would be joining her, especially since he'd been ill for almost 3 years. Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, arthritis, and dementia at the end of 2004, the vet gave him maybe 2 months to live. But, Spock was quite the little fighter and just kept bouncing back after each of his crises. In the last year, he also developed some masses which most likely developed into lymphoma, which is what eventually caused his demise.

Besides the fact that he was so cute at the Humane Society, one of the reasons I fell in love with Mr.Spock was his name - I am quite the Star Trek fan. My little guy was the sweetest of my feline family - he never got into trouble and was always the most affectionate. In his later years, he was happiest when he was lying on my lap or chest, or when he was cuddled up next to his buddy, Sabrina. As with my other two cats, Stinkerbelle and Sabrina, I have made this compilation to honor him.

Most of this compilation consists of several versions of the theme from Star Trek the Original Series and some of the movies with the original cast, since those are the ones where Spock was a main character. Two vocal versions are included - and you'll understand after you listen to the lyrics why the theme was usually played as an instrumental - but the truly scary version is the one sung by Nichelle Nichols. Still, it's a must for any Star Trek collector or collector of "interesting" songs. I've also included the more sad tunes from "The Wrath of Khan", where Spock dies. Anyway, I hope you like this compilation that I dedicate to my cat, Mr.Spock. In my heart, he will always Live Long and Prosper...

Track listing for Live Long and Prosper Compilation:

1. Star Trek Main Title - from "The Cage" soundtrack
2. Theme from Star Trek - from Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr.Spock's Music from Outer Space
3. Star Trek Theme (end title) - from "The Cage" soundtrack
4. Star Trek Theme - The Secret Agents
5. Star Trek Main Title - from Star Trek the Original Series soundtrack
6. Theme from Star Trek (vocal) - Nichelle Nichols
7. Mr.Spock - from Star Trek the Original Series soundtrack
8. Theme from Star Trek - Van McCoy
9. Star Trek End Title - from Star Trek the Original Series soundtrack
10. Theme from Star Trek - The Galactic Force Band
11. Star Trek Theme - from Star Trek the Motion Picture soundtrack
12. Theme from Star Trek (vocal) - Project:Pimento
13. Spock's Arrival - from Star Trek the Motion Picture soundtrack
14. Theme from Star Trek - Jeff Wayne Space Shuttle
15. Spock Walk - from Star Trek the Motion Picture soundtrack
16. Star Trek Theme - Todd Rundgren and Utopia
17. Spock - from Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan soundtrack
18. Star Trek Main Theme - Cincinatti Pops Orchestra
19. Spock's Death - from Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan soundtrack
20. Spock's Funeral - from Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan soundtrack
21. Prologue and Main Title - from Star Trek III:The Search for Spock
22. Star Trek TV Theme - with narration by William Shatner
23. Live Long and Prosper - Star Trek TV Quote by Mr.Spock

For a Friend

Hey, everybody! Sorry for not posting anything in over a month but things have been pretty hectic what with working lots of overtime, working on community organizations, and dealing with my pets. I'm happy to announce that I have a new kitten that I found and rescued in July - she's an adorable little tortoiseshell which I named Snickerdoodle! She's about three months old and is a mischievous bundle of energy!

On another note, I lost my beautiful 17-year-old cat, Sabrina, on August 7. I had her since she was only four months old and she was the first member of my feline family, so her passing has been especially hard on me. She was the picture of health until a little over a month ago when she suddenly stopped eating and declined rapidly after that. Sabrina was always the queen of my household and acted that way - always held herself regally and had quite an attitude (she was half Siamese, so that explains a lot about her personality). She was my wonderful companion and best friend for a very long time, and I will miss her very much. Just as I dedicated a compilation to my cat, Stinkerbelle, who died last year at age 12, I compiled these songs which I dedicate to Sabrina, my dear and best friend...

Track listing for For a Friend:

1. Thank You for Being a Friend - Andrew Gold
2. My One True Friend - Bette Midler
3. For a Friend - The Bugaloos
4. Best Friend (Theme from "The Courtship of Eddie's Father") - Harry Nilsson
5. You've Got a Friend - Carole King
6. You've Got a Friend in Me - Randy Newman & Lyle Lovett
7. Old Friends - Ray Price, Roger Miller, & Willie Nelson
8. True Friend - Hannah Montana
9. My Best Friend - Weezer
10. The Friendship Theme - Instrumental from "Beaches" Soundtrack
11. That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick & Friends
12. Anytime You Need a Friend - Mariah Carey
13. Friends (Theme from "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters") - Johnny Whitaker
14. Old Friends/Bookends - Simon & Garfunkel
15. I Will Be Your Friend - Amy Grant
16. You're My Best Friend - Queen
17. Friends Are Friends Forever - Michael W. Smith
18. Goodbye My Friend - Linda Ronstadt

Kaptain Kool and the Kongs (1978)

How many of you watched the Saturday morning shows brought to us by Sid and Marty Krofft - Pufnstuf, Lidsville, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Krofft Supershow? Well, remember that groovy band, Kaptain Kool and the Kongs? I was in my early teens when they came along, but I remember I would still watch the Krofft shows, and I thought Kaptain Kool and the Kongs were great! I remember that at first they were all dressed crazy, but then looked a little more toned-down. Who was your favorite? Superchick was mine - I always thought she was really cute. I don't know what happened to any of the band members except for Michael Lembeck (Kaptain Kool), who later appeared on "One Day At a Time" and is now a well-respected TV director.

Well, I really can't remember how I found this album - eBay or Half-Price Books or a garage sale - but I was ecstatic when I found it! Plus, as you can see from the picture, this is a demo album - the ones they would give to radio stations to play, although I doubt that this one ever was played on the air. Unfortunately, the sticker that says it's a demo record covers up the adorable Superchick, but I'm not going to remove the sticker because I like to keep my records as close as possible to their original condition. But, to make up for that, I've also included a video below where Superchick (Debra Clinger) is singing lead! So, I hope y'all enjoy both this album and the video!

Track listing for Kaptain Kool & the Kongs:

Side 1:
1. And I Never Dreamed
2. This Time
3. You Put Some Love in My Life
4. When You Feel It
5. True Love is On Its Way

Side 2:
1. The Whole World Will Be Dancin'
2. Crazy Girl
3. You Saved Me
4. Melanie
5. Free
6. Sing Me a Song

Kaptain Kool & the Kongs sing "Don't Throw It Away"

The Hawaiian Islanders - Hawaii Tattoo and Other Hawaiian Favorites (1964)

Rain, rain, rain - it seems that's all we've seen in Dallas lately. To help relieve some of those rainy day blues, I decided to listen to one of my Hawaiian music albums. It always helps me feel better when I dream about living in Hawaii someday. (BTW, I'd love to hear from folks that live in the beautiful island paradise of Hawaii!)

This album has some different songs from most of my other Hawaiian music albums. Here are the liner notes:

Each song in this album is Hawaiian music as you like it... Authentic island style using the traditional combination of the ukulele, the steel guitar and native percussion. And for an extra The Hawaiian Islanders perform the hit song HAWAII TATTOO.

Track listing for Hawaiian Islanders - Hawaii Tattoo:

Side 1:
1. Hawaii Tattoo
2. Wild
3. Hawaiian Promenade
4. Hawaiian Paradise
5. Lost Love

Side 2:
1. Aloha
2. Maoris Farewell
3. White Sands and Coconuts
4. Dark Dawn
5. Beautiful Girls and Sunshine

Bob Gibson - Ski Songs Sung by Bob Gibson (1959)

Well, today my softball team won its first game! Woo hoo! But, boy, was it hot out there (our game was at 1 PM)! Although the first day of summer is still about ten days away, it's already getting somewhat unbearable (to some people - not to me) here in Dallas. So, to cool off a bit (at least in my mind), I decided to post this album of "Ski Songs Sung by Bob Gibson". Now, let me tell you - I don't ski (snow or water). I don't like cold weather or snow (I'm from the Tip of Texas, where the weather is somewhat tropical). I went on one ski trip many years ago and didn't even make it to the bunny slope because I got very nervous and frustrated in my little group ski lesson. I spent the rest of the trip sight-seeing instead. Needless to say, I won't be going on any more ski trips - unless I just get to hang out in the ski lodge and drink.

So, why did I buy this record? I liked the cover, and I just thought the idea of ski songs was funny. I mean, "ski" songs - who knew? Really, it was the cover - it's very nostalgic looking and I love the colors. (This picture of the guy with the cast inspired me to put on a fake cast for a ski-themed party that my friends, Dan and Bradley, had last year - it was a hit!) The songs are rather "folksy" - as the liner notes state: "Bob Gibson, who pleads guilty to writing and recording all of the SKI SONGS, has been a favorite of folk music buffs since he began singing professionally in 1953." I think the best way to describe this album - and how to listen to it - is to follow the suggestion of the liner notes:

All in all, this LP must delight any skier... beginner, intermediate, advanced or advanced-fireside-sitter. For enjoying it in utmost fidelity, we recommend a monaural sassaphras X2371-Y speaker in coordinate linkage with a bi-triennial mixless moraphan (model 17- B) and a hot buttered rum.

Track listing for Bob Gibson - Ski Songs Sung by Bob Gibson:

Side 1:
1. Celebrated Skier
2. In This White World
3. Super Skier
4. Highlands Lassie
5. Bend in His Knees
6. Talking Skier

Side 2:
1. Ski Patrol
2. Skiin' in the Mornin'
3. Super Skier's Last Race
4. What'll We Do
5. Skol to the Skier

UPDATE 12/14/08 - I have removed the download link for this album as it has now been released on CD. Please visit www.bobgibsonlegacy.com and purchase the CD there.

The Fiesta Brass - Viva Tijuana!

Here's a lively record that capitalized on the "Tijuana sound" popularized by the great Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Herb and his band are the kings of this type of music (in my opinion), and there were many who jumped on the bandwagon in the late 1960s when this music became popular - they even played the same songs that Herb did. So why did I buy this album and decide to share it with you instead of one of Herb'? The COVER, of course! Hello! About the cover - since we can't see the girl's face, it's hard to tell if she's even alive in this photo. I mean, was someone just walking along the beach and come across this poor drowning victim and decided to photograph her? Or, was she passed out from a long night of drinking and partying? Was this photo one of the rejects for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue of the day? One can only imagine...

Anyway, I never tire of the Tijuana sound, so whether it's Herb, or the Fiesta Brass, or the Marimba Band, or the Mexicali Brass, or whoever, I enjoy listening to this music. I hope you do, too!

Track listing from The Fiesta Brass - Viva Tijuana!:

Side 1:
1. Tijuana Taxi
2. Spanish Eyes
3. Whipped Cream
4. Spanish Lace
5. Theme from "Zorba the Greek"

Side 2:
1. A Taste of Honey
2. Spanish Harlem
3. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
4. Michelle
5. 1-2-3

Esquivel and His Orchestra - Infinity in Sound (1960)

Here's another find from my local Half-Price Books bargain bin. Esquivel is the epitome of space-age pop! If you listen closely to some of the songs on this album, you can imagine watching a classic sci-fi movie or even an episode of classic "Star Trek". "Harlem Nocturne" is the best example of space-age pop on this album, in my opinion (but then, it's been a favorite song of mine for many years). Unfortunately, this record is really worn and scratched up, and, despite my running it through click-removal and noise-removal several times, there's still quite a bit of noise and clicks and pops (and a couple of the songs have skips). But, I did a search for this album on other blogs and didn't come across it, so I decided to go ahead and post it (despite the bad condition) for those Esquivel fans out there who don't have this album and want it regardless of the condition. Hopefully, someone out there will post a cleaner version of it at some time. Personally, I like the "vintage" sound of some of the albums shared on these sites, so the clicks, pops, noise, and skips don't bother me that much. If you don't mind these imperfections, then you've come to the right place! Oh, and thanks to Ernie, of Ernie (Not Bert), for his tips on recording and preparing records for digital sharing!

Track listing for Esquivel - Infinity in Sound:

Side 1:
1. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise ("Quedo")
2. Music Makers
3. My Reverie
4. Johnson Rag
5. Harlem Nocturne
6. Take the "A" Train

Side 2:
1. Macarena (La Virgen de la Macarena)
2. Autumn Leaves
3. Frenesi
4. Marie
5. Let's Dance
6. So Rare

Martin Denny - Romantica (1961)

Well, yesterday, my friend, Bradley, and I made a much needed trip to Half-Price Books to look for vinyl treasures. I came away with thirteen albums, and one was a double-album, so I got fourteen records in all! And all from the dollar bin! Plus I had a 15% off coupon - what a deal!

One of the albums I got is today's share. This album presents "the lush and exotic sounds of Martin Denny" - and lush and exotic they are! There are some great standards, as well as some Denny originals, on this record, and they are all lushly romantic. As I listened to this record, I could imagine myself being whisked away to a beautiful island paradise (Hawaii, of course - where I hope to live some day) - sigh! I never get tired of listening to Martin Denny. He is indeed one of the true masters of exotica!

Now, remember - as always, I clean up these recordings the best that I can, but due to the age and the way they were stored by their previous owners, a lot of them aren't in pristine condition. But, that just adds character to them, in my opinion! Anyway, I hope you like this one!

Track listing for Martin Denny - Romantica:

Side 1:
1. And This is My Beloved
2. Love at Sight
3. Romance
4. Aloha, I Love You
5. La Pampa y La Puna
6. My Reverie

Side 2:
1. Love, Your Magic Spell is Everywhere
2. Magic is the Moonlight
3. A Fine Romance
4. Blue Paradise
5. My Romance
6. Tenderly

Randy Carlos and His Orchestra - Having a Ball (1958)

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to cha cha cha and mambo! This is a great dance record! It's the kind of music we would dance to when I took ballroom dance lessons for several years in the 80s and 90s - lots of fun! Even if you don't like to dance, this is a great record to listen to if you like lively Latin music! I don't think I've ever heard any of these songs before, but I do remember that, as a little girl, I knew the rhyme that is sung in "Tin Marin". It was slightly different than what is sung, and I tried to remember it as I was recording this album, but I could only remember the first line. I'll have to ask one of my cousins if they remember it. Oh - the picture of the cover indicates that this is a mono record, but it's actually stereo. Well, go "have a ball" with this record!

Track listing for Randy Carlos - Having a Ball:

Side 1:
1. The Monkey's Guapacha
2. Pirahna - Mambo
3. Filipinita - Cha Cha Cha
4. Smoke - Mambo
5. More and More - Merengue
6. Canaima - Cha Cha Cha

Side 2:
1. Whistling Mambo
2. Tin Marin - Cha Cha Cha
3. Dancing Feet - Cha Cha Cha
4. Guitar Mambo
5. To and Fro - Merengue
6. The Kittens Cha Cha Cha

Banjo Barons - Golden Hawaiian Hits (1963)

I've mentioned in the past how much I like Hawaiian music, and I've posted a couple of albums of Hawaiian music. But this one is certainly different because it's Hawaiian music played Dixieland style! As I listened to this I could certainly imagine watching the old "Lawrence Welk Show" - it's just the kind of music you'd hear on the show. All but one of the tracks are played as medleys, so there are a total of 37 songs that are played on this album - some are quite familiar, and some not so familiar. All in all, if you are a fan of banjo music or Hawaiian music, this one's for you.

Track listing for Banjo Barons - Golden Hawaiian Hits:

Side 1:
1. Medley 1: My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii; Pagan Love Song; Hawaiian War Chant
2. Medley 2: Hello, Aloha!-How Are You?; Adventures in Paradise; I've Found a Little Grass Skirt (For My Little Grass Shack in Hawaii)
3. Medley 3: Song of the Islands; King's Serenade; The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai
4. Medley 4: A Song of Old Hawaii; Maori Brown Eyes; It Was in Kalua
5. Medley 5: Honolulu Punch; Hawaiian Holiday; Mele Kalikimaka
6. Medley 6: Tropic Trade Winds; Lovely Hula Hands; Aloha Oe

Side 2:
1. Medley 7: Blue Hawaii; Hawaiian Paradise; The Hawaiian Wedding Song
2. Medley 8: For You a Lei; An Old Hawaiian Custom; The Hawaiian Christmas Song
3. Medley 9: In a Little Hula Heaven; Cocoanut Grove; Pretty Red Hibiscus
4. Medley 10: Hawaii Calls; Hawaiian Hospitality; To You Sweetheart, Aloha
5. Medley 11: I Want to Learn to Speak Hawaiian; When Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop; On the Beach at Waikiki
6. Medley 12: Sweet Leilani; Aloha, Kuu Ipo, Aloha; South Sea Island Magic
7. Hawaii Ponoi

Steve Allen - Monday Nights (1960)

This album has the kind of piano music I really enjoy listening to. Plus, it has two of my favorite songs, "Laura" (from one of my favorite movies of all time) and "Misty". Another plus is that it has the theme song from another of my favorite movies, "Bell, Book and Candle", which I had no idea that Steve Allen co-wrote (the song, that is). Steve Allen was a talented song writer and musician, as well as an actor and host of several TV shows (like "The Tonight Show"!). I remember he and his wife, Jayne Meadows, doing some commercials together and guest-starring together on some TV shows. Now, besides the list of songs on this album, what really drew my attention to it was the picture (gotta love those album covers!) of Steve with this absolutely awesome Plymouth! I don't know much about cars, but, for some reason, I've always liked the old Plymouth cars (like the 1956 Plymouth Fury - wow!). There's just something about them. Anyway, Plymouth was the sponsor of Steve Allen's TV show, so that's why he's photographed with the car. But, this wasn't just any old Plymouth - this was a record-playing Plymouth! I had no idea they had those - a predecessor to our CD-playing cars of today. The liner notes mention the car:

Here's an album made, frankly, to celebrate the move of the Steve Allen Show to Monday Night!!
It was also produced, of course, with the idea of providing a package of mighty pleasant music, but that goes without saying. In any event, the twelve selections in this collection add up to a typically pleasant session with the Allen piano and orchestra and that's good news any night of the week.
As his fans know by now, Steve has the Plymouth people to thank for making the move out of the Sunday TV scramble possible, and for that all TV-lovers as well as music-lovers can certainly be thankful. But whether the listener drives a Plymouth or roller-skates to work, he'll certainly agree that this pretty package of musical evergreens satisfies those who like good music for its own sake as well as those who are always saying to Steve, "We like the comedy on your show but you don't play the piano often enough!"
So whether you're listening to these recordings while relaxing in your music room, dancing by the light of your neighborhood jukebox, or driving along in your new record-playing Plymouth, lotsaluck, as Steve says, and happy listening. We guarantee it.

I bought this record in pretty bad shape - lots of clicks and pops - and I ran it through the click removal twice, but there's still a lot of clicks and pops. In my opinion, it just adds character to the record. Maybe some of you can clean it up some more. Anyway, it's still a good listen, and I hope you enjoy it. Oh - and if you're interested in learning more about those "record-playing" cars of yesteryear, check out Highway Hi-Fi.

Track listing for Steve Allen - Monday Nights:

Side 1:
1. Laura
2. Rosetta
3. You're Driving Me Crazy
4. Notre Dame Victory March
5. Impossible - written by Steve Allen
6. Houseboat - co-written by Steve Allen

Side 2:
1. Bell, Book and Candle - co-written by Steve Allen
2. Misty
3. Blossom
4. Spring in Maine - co-written by Steve Allen
5. I Want a Girl
6. And Even Then - written by Steve Allen

Bonanza - Ponderosa Party Time (1962)

Vince, a regular visitor to this blog, requested that I post any Bonanza album I might have, so this post of "Ponderosa Party Time" is for Vince (and all other Bonanza fans out there)!

I grew up watching "Bonanza". Every Sunday night, I would pull up my chair next to my dad's and watch the latest chapter in the lives of the Cartwrights. I didn't really have a favorite - I liked all of them - but I was disappointed when Pernell Roberts (Adam) left the show. I really liked his black hat. Anyway, I still watch it on reruns - just don't seem to get tired of it. I guess I just really like it now because it brings back such fond memories of my childhood.

Well, this album is lots of fun. The Cartwrights are all here - Ben (Lorne Greene), Adam (Pernell Roberts), Hoss (Dan Blocker), and Little Joe (Michael Landon) - and they're having a Saturday night party. The singing isn't that bad either - I was surprised! There are a couple of songs on here that I remember learning in grade school ("Skip to My Lou" and "Miss Cindy"), so it was fun listening to those. But I think my favorite songs on this album are "My Sons, My Sons" and "The Place Where I Worship" - they literally brought me to tears because they moved me so much (yes, I'm the kind that gets all sentimental). Now, the album is recorded such that the songs flow into each other with the Cartwrights talking in between, so it's really hard to tell where one song ends and the other begins. Because of this, I did not try to break out each song individually and instead you'll get two MP3 files - one for Side 1 and one for Side 2. So, put on your dancing boots and get ready for some Ponderosa Party Time!

Track listing for Bonanza - Ponderosa Party Time:

Side 1:
1. Bonanza
2. Sourwood Mountain
3. Sky Ball Paint
4. Early One Morning
5. Ponderosa
6. Careless Love
7. Skip to My Lou
8. In the Pines

Side 2:
1. Happy Birthday
2. My Sons, My Sons
3. The Hangin' Blues
4. Shenandoah
5. Miss Cindy
6. The Place Where I Worship (Is the Wide Open Spaces)