Pedro Garcia and his Del Prado Orchestra - Cha Cha Cha (1956)

This is an album I've had for about 20 years. I bought it when I was into the ballroom dancing thing. I love the cover! At first, it looks like the legs are not attached to a body, but if you look really closely, you'll see a torso in the background. The chick is wearing a light (white or beige) top so it blends right into the colors on the album. The back of the album has a small diagram that shows how to dance the Cha Cha Cha. The music is great, too. My favorites are "Rico Vacilon" and "Mi Lo Dijo Adela". So, if you're in the mood for some Latin dancing, this is the one for you!

Track listing for Pedro Garcia and his Del Prado Orchestra - Cha Cha Cha:

Side 1:
1. Cha Cha Paganini
2. Luna De Miel En Puerto Rico
3. Las Clases De Cha Cha Cha
4. Cha Cha Chavela
5. Rico Vacilon
6. Nicolasa

Side 2:
1. Abrete Sesamo
2. Senorita Catalina
3. Pedro Y Pablo
4. Mi Lo Dijo Adela
5. Pimpollo
6. Mi Cha Cha Cha

Percy Faith - The Columbia Album of George Gershwin, Vol. 1 (1957)

This is another of my mom's albums that I grew up listening to. As I've mentioned before, my mom really liked Percy Faith, so I like his music a lot, too. I posted another album of Gershwin tunes a couple of weeks ago, as played by Frank Chacksfield and his orchestra, but I much prefer Percy Faith's version, probably because of the memories it brings. This album is a mono version, but I would love to have a stereo version, if anyone out there has one to share! Even in mono, the orchestrations and sound are absolutely wonderful. Enjoy!

Track listing for Percy Faith - The Columbia Album of George Gershwin, Vol. 1:

Side 1:
1. Fascinatin' Rhythm
2. A Foggy Day
3. Soon
4. Clap Yo' Hands
5. Embraceable You
6. Mine
7. Somebody Loves Me

Side 2:
1. I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'
2. Summertime
3. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
4. My Man's Gone Now
5. Nice Work If You Can Get It
6. For You, For Me, For Evermore
7. Liza

Jack Elliott At The Piano-With His Orchestra - Are You Lonesome Tonight? and The Wonderful Melodies Of The Sixties (1961)

Here's another gem I dug out of the HPB bargain bin. I'd never heard of Jack Elliott and his orchestra, but I liked the album cover (of course) and liked all the songs. And it's a good album - very soothing and melodious. This is also the first recording of "Greenfields" that I've liked, too. I always found the vocal "hit" version very gloomy, but it's done here with a little more nighttime jazzy feel. All the songs are familiar, having been the "best songs of 1960" per the liner notes, and some are bouncy while others are more mellow. All in all, a good addition to your easy listening collection!

Track listing for Jack Elliott with His Orchestra - Are You Lonesome Tonight?:

Side 1:
1. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
2. Wonderland By Night
3. Mack The Knife
4. It's Now Or Never
5. The Theme From A Summer Place
6. My Little Corner Of The World

Side 2:
1. Calcutta
2. Main Theme From Exodus
3. Sailor (Your Home Is The Sea)
4. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
5. Greenfields
6. Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home

Martin Denny - 20 Golden Hawaiian Hits (1965)

How many of you are experiencing freezing temperatures right now? We had some very cold days in Dallas just a couple of days ago, but today it's rather nice out. Anyway, to help warm you up a little, how about some Hawaiian tunes? ("How about a nice Hawaiian Punch?" - remember that commercial?) Well, here are twenty tunes that'll take you away to the sunny beaches of Hawaii (warming up yet?), and played by none other than the king of exotica himself, Martin Denny. Aaahhh... Feel the balmy breeze on your face and see the palm trees lining the beach? Well, go pour yourself a Mai Tai or a Blue Hawaiian, and sit back and listen to Martin Denny (another treasure I picked out of the bargain bin at HPB).

Track listing for Martin Denny - 20 Golden Hawaiian Hits:

Side 1:
1. Hawaiian Village
2. Little Brown Gal
3. The Cockeyed Mayor Of Kaunakakai
4. To You, Sweetheart, Aloha
5. The Hukilau Song
6. Diamond Head
7. Lovely Hula Hands
8. Across The Sea
9. Princess Poo-poo-ly
10. On The Beach At Waikiki

Side 2:
1. My Little Grass Shack
2. Off Shore
3. Hawaiian Paradise
4. Pagan Love Song
5. The Hawaiian Wedding Song
6. The Moon Of Manakoora
7. Aloha Oe
8. Now Is The Hour
9. Hawaii Is Waiting For You
10. Hawaiian War Chant

Frank Chacksfield - The Music of George Gershwin (1957)

This is the second of two Frank Chacksfield albums that I have. I bought this a number of years ago when I was still doing ballroom dance. I had already bought the other album (which I posted last year) and really liked the lush orchestrations of that album, so when I saw this one, I had to buy it. Plus, this was an album of George Gershwin classics and I absolutely love George Gershwin. There isn't a song on this album that won't be familiar to you all, and they're all great. My personal favorites are "Someone To Watch Over Me" and "Rhapsody In Blue". I remember growing up that my mother would sometimes pull out her sheet music of "Rhapsody In Blue" and play it on the piano. She played very well, but she never did quite master it (it's pretty long and not that easy). I took classical piano for five years, but I never even attempted to play that song (I was only a mediocre pianist anyway). I hope you enjoy this one!

Track listing for Frank Chacksfield - The Music of George Gershwin:

Side 1:
1. Fascinatin' Rhythm
2. Someone To Watch Over Me
3. Beginner's Luck
4. The Man I Love
5. Do, Do, Do
6. They Can't Take That Away From Me
7. S'Wonderful

Side 2:
1. Embraceable You
2. Lady Be Good
3. I'm Bidin' My Time
4. I Got Rhythm
5. Love Walked In
6. Somebody Loves Me
7. Rhapsody In Blue

Belafonte - The Midnight Special (1962)

Today I'm posting the last of my Harry Belafonte records. This is the first one I actually bought, and it was because of the beautiful album cover. Love that cover. And I also love the way he sings. This one is different from the other two I have (and have posted) in that he's not doing the calypso thing (and that accent). It's a really great album, and even features Bob Dylan's first appearance on record, playing harmonica on the title track, "Midnight Special". Another interesting thing about this record is, that according to the liner notes, "a large proportion of the words are his (meaning Harry's), written in dressing rooms on tour, wrestled with for hours in his workshop". This is the mono version (if anyone has the stereo version, please share!). Go give it a listen!

Track listing for Belafonte - The Midnight Special (link has been deleted - go buy CD on Amazon):

Side 1:
1. Midnight Special
Let the Midnight Special shine in everlovin' light on me
2. Crawdad Song
You don't miss water till the well runs dry
And you don't miss your man till he says good-bye
3. Memphis Tennessee
I got a new way a-spellin' Memphis, Tennessee
4. Gotta Travel On
There's a lonesome freight at 6:08
Comin' through the town
And I feel like I've got to travel on
5. Did You Hear About Jerry?
Timber, Timber, Lord this Timber's gotta roll

Side 2:
1. On Top Of Old Smokey
If you ever see a dark cloud rollin' in the sky
It's my woman goin' to heaven, with a teardrop in her eye
2. Muleskinner
I can carve my initials on any ol' mule's behind
3. Makes A Long Time Man Feel Bad
My baby sister keeps writin', "Come on home"
And my tears run down because my time's so long
4. Michael Row The Boat Ashore
So Christian soldiers off to war, Hallelujah
Hold the line in Arkansas, Hallelujah

Paul Anka's 21 Golden Hits (1963)

Here's an album I've had for awhile... I first heard Paul Anka back in the 1970s when he sang "Having My Baby" (geez, remember that one?). I liked that song and his subsequent 1970s hits so much, that I bought this album (can't remember where) of his old hits from the 1950s-60s. Some of his older hits were familiar to me only because Donny Osmond had recorded them (Puppy Love, Lonely Boy). I must admit that I prefer Donny's versions of both these songs, probably because I heard his versions first. Listening to this album took me back quite a number of years - I can remember listening to it on my little portable record player in my room back home. And I can remember singing along to the songs and really emoting during the part that goes "someone help me, help me... help me please!" in "Puppy Love". What can I say - I was a weird kid (still am). Well, I hope that listening to this record brings back fun memories for you, too! (Having problem's uploading a picture of the album, so I'll post that later.)

Track listing for Paul Anka's 21 Golden Hits (link deleted - go buy CD on Amazon):

Side 1:
1. Diana
2. Put Your Head On My Shoulder
3. Lonely Boy
4. Time To Cry
5. Puppy Love
6. I Love You In The Same Old Way
7. You Are My Destiny
8. Crazy Love
9. Don't Ever Leave Me
10. Summer's Gone

Side 2:
1. Adam And Eve
2. Don't Gamble With Love
3. I'm Still Waiting Here For You
4. I Love You, Baby
5. It Doesn't Matter Any More
6. Tonight My Love, Tonight
7. My Home Town
8. Cinderella
9. Love Land
10. Dance On Little Girl
11. The Longest Day

BTW, if anyone out there has the album that Paul Anka did with Annette Funicello, please share it!

Here's a nostalgic video of Paul singing a medley of his hits (what a cutie!):

Something NEW Compilation

Greetings and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! I hope y'all had a restful and joyful holiday season. Now it's on to a NEW YEAR - 2009. Did y'all make any New Year's resolutions? I gave up on that years ago. But, I am starting something new this year and that is that I'm going back to school this semester (while working full-time) to pursue yet another degree. Well, I wish you all the best for 2009... and I wish you lots of groovy music!

To start off the new year, I thought I'd put together a compilation of songs with the word "new" in them. Turns out that I didn't have as many (in digital format) as I thought, but there were just enough to put this together. (I know I have more that this, but there are only so many hours in the day to which I can dedicate to digitizing my record collection!) There's quite a variety - some you've heard and some you probably haven't - and my favorites are the ones by the Partridge Family (mainly because I'm still in love with David Cassidy). I hope you enjoy these as much as I had putting this together. And, again - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Track listing for Something NEW Compilation:

Open A NEW Window (From "Mame") - Angela Lansbury and Company
City Of NEW Orleans - Arlo Guthrie
Weekend In NEW England - Barry Manilow
There's A NEW Moon Over My Shoulder - Bill Haley and The Comets
I Found A Brand NEW Baby - Damita Jo
A NEW Kind Of Me - Danny Bonaduce
A Brand NEW Me - Dusty Springfield
NEW York, NEW York - Frank Sinatra
What's NEW - Jackie Gleason
I Happen To Like NEW York - Judy Garland
There's A NEW Girl In Town (Theme from "Alice") - Linda Lavin
What's NEW - Linda Ronstadt
Sunday In NEW York - Mel Torme
Brand NEW Key - Melanie
NEW World In The Morning - Roger Whitaker
You Make Me Feel Brand NEW - Stylistics
Brand NEW Me - The Partridge Family
Something NEW Got Old - The Partridge Family
What's NEW Pussycat - Tom Jones
So What's NEW - Walter Wanderley

Liberace - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (1981)

Tonight's post is my last one for this year - I'll be "on vacation" for the Christmas holidays!

Well, I picked this up from the HPB bargain bin and I really expected more of this album. I was actually disappointed and found it rather boring - not what I'd expect from the King of Bling. But, I was already recording it so I'm sharing it with you. Besides, I know there are some Liberace fans out there! Really, if anything - download it for Liberace's narration of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" - I thought it was rather good. The date on the album says 1981, but I'm sure it's a reissue of a reissue, and on a budget, budget label. And - no, you're not mistaken - "O' Holy Night" is on there twice. I have no idea why they did that because I couldn't find any difference between the two - they sound exactly the same. Maybe it was a mistake or they just couldn't find another song to put on this album. Or, they thought that someone who really loves that song could listen to it no matter what side of the album was being played.

Anyway, y'all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! See you in 2009 with more cool albums!

Track listing for Liberace - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas:

Side 1:
1. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
2. The Rosary
3. O' Tannenbaum
4. O' Holy Night
5. What Child Is This

Side 2:
1. Christmas Medley (O' Little Town of Bethlehem; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Joy To The World)
2. O' Holy Night
3. Beauty of Holiness
4. Ave Maria
5. Gesu Bambino

Here's Liberace - and all his bling - playing a Christmas medley:

The Mistletoe Disco Band - Christmas Disco (1978)

Here's yet another treasure from the HPB bargain bin (I can't believe people get rid of some of these records!). I got this one at a different store than my usual and was delighted to find that the records in that store's bargain bin are only 50 cents instead of a dollar! Wow! I even bought a double album for 50 cents!!!

Anyway, this one should take some of you back to the days when you wore the platform shoes and white polyester suits to go dancing at the disco. I had no idea there were disco Christmas albums! Boy, they think of everything! And I really liked this album - it's a new way to listen to those traditional Christmas carols. They've got a beat and you can dance to them! Plus, it's got "joyous disco versions of great Christmas classics!" Well, this post is dedicated to my old friend from high school, Cecil, who was the disco queen of our class.

Track listing for The Mistletoe Disco Band - Christmas Disco:

Side 1:
1. Sleigh Ride
2. Jingle Bells
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Jingle Bell Rock
5. Silver Bells

Side 2:
1. Winter Wonderland
2. Little Drummer Boy
3. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
4. Joy To The World

Cool Yule Tunes 2008 - A Stax o' Wax Compilation

Hey, all! Well, I finally finished putting together my Christmas compilation for this year. I was going to let iTunes randomly pick the songs for me, but I was never happy with the choices so I decided to just go through all my Christmas songs and hand-pick the songs. This is a little different from last year's Cool Yule Tunes - I think it has more less-traditional Christmas and holiday songs. But it's great to play in the car, or add to your iPod, or play at your Christmas party! And if you go download last year's compilation, you'll have double the fun! This is basically "my Christmas card to you" (as the Partridge Family would sing), and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

Track listing for Cool Yule Tunes 2008 - A Stax o' Wax Compilation:

1. Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season - Andy Williams
2. Sleigh Ride - The Ventures
3. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
4. Joy To The World - The Mistletoe Disco Band
5. Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenters
6. It Happened In Sun Valley - Glenn Miller Singers
7. Suzy Snowflake - Rosemary Clooney
8. You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch - Thurl Ravenscroft
9. O Tannenbaum - Vince Guaraldi Trio
10. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Ella Fitzgerald
11. Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
12. The Christmas Song - Mel Torme
13. We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Ray Conniff & The Singers
14. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm/I Love The Winter Weather - Tony Bennett
15. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Amy Grant
16. Mistletoe And Holly - Jack Jones
17. Pine Cones And Holly Berries - The Osmonds
18. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - The Partridge Family
19. Here Comes Santa Claus - Esquivel
20. Frosty The Snowman/Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Henry Mancini
21. The 12 Days Of Christmas - The Sinatra Family
22. Carol Of The Bells - Leonard Bernstein & The New York Philharmonic
23. That Holiday Feeling - Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
24. Cha-Cha All The Way - Capitol Studio Orchestra
25. Baby It's Cold Outside - Carmen McRae & Sammy Davis Jr.
26. Here We Come A-Caroling - The New Christy Minstrels
27. We Need A Little Christmas - The Golddiggers
28. I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas - Gayla Peevey

The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas (1968)

Here's a real treasure that I found at HPB - and I didn't get it from the bargain bin! I didn't even know about this album, so you can imagine my surprise when I found it and for so cheap ($3.98). Does anyone know if there's any other record that Frank and his kids recorded together? Well, I think it's just dandy that we get to hear Tina and Frank Jr. each sing a song on this. Nancy was already recording hit records, so she gets two solo songs on this album, plus a duet with Tina. But my favorites are the songs where Frank Sr. and the kids all sing together. I especially like their version of "The 12 Days of Christmas".

So, better hurry and download this one before it goes away!

Track listing for The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas:

Side 1:
1. I Wouldn't Trade Christmas - The Sinatra Family
2. It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year - Nancy Sinatra
3. Some Children See Him - Frank Sinatra Jr.
4. O Bambino (One Cold And Blessed Winter) - Tina and Nancy Sinatra
5. The Bells Of Christmas (Greensleeves) - The Sinatra Family

Side 2:
1. Whatever Happened To Christmas - Frank Sinatra
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Tina Sinatra
3. Kids - Nancy Sinatra
4. The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra
5. The 12 Days Of Christmas - The Sinatra Family

Midnight String Quartet - Christmas Rhapsodies For Young Lovers (1967)

Today's share is one of my mother's Christmas albums. I grew up listening to this album, and I remember that, as a child, I thought it was really boring, although I liked the cover (especially the girl's dress and hairdo). I preferred the Chipmunks to this, but as I was recording this album the other day, I really liked it! I guess I've grown up. Sigh. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Anyway, the cover scan is one I found on the internet because, once again, my mother wrote our last name all over the cover. (Mom was a schoolteacher and often took her records to play for her class or for the Christmas pageant, so she had to make sure and label her stuff to get it back.) So, go listen to this record because, as it says in the liner notes, "The Midnight String Quartet presents the Christmas album of the year, and for every year to come!"

Track listing for Midnight String Quartet - Christmas Rhapsodies For Young Lovers:

Side 1:
1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. Silent Night
3. White Christmas
4. The Little Drummer Boy
5. Oh, Holy Night
6. The Christmas Song

Side 2:
1. Sleigh Ride
2. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
3. Blue Christmas
4. First Noel
5. Winter Wonderland
6. Christmas Rhapsody

The Happy Crickets - Christmas with the Happy Crickets

Well, I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving! I ended up not cooking my first turkey dinner. One cousin got sick and wasn't able to come over, so my other cousin convinced me to go out to eat instead of me cooking for just the two of us. So, we went to Black-eyed Pea where, it seems, a lot of other people had the same idea. So, the turkey breast is back in the freezer and will make the trip "home" with me for Christmas. That'll be my donation to the family gathering - and the good thing is that I won't have to cook it.

So, now we're into the Christmas season - the shopping frenzy has begun, people are putting up their Christmas trees (which will be all dried up by the time Christmas day rolls around), the electric companies are happy (thanks to all the lights). I bought a vintage aluminum Christmas tree for my cool mid-century modern house, so I'll be putting that up. Now that I bought two pet scram alarms (to scare the cats away when they approach the tree), it's safe for me to put up the tree. I don't have the color wheel though - I'm going to order it via catalog but it probably won't get here in time. Well, on with the first of this season's Christmas albums...

I bought this at my favorite place (the HPB bargain bin) and it was the cover art that caught my eye - love the graphics. I figured that this would be a knock-off of the the Chipmunks, and it is a rather cheap and bad knock-off. The Happy Crickets are nowhere near the same league as the Chipmunks! I grew up with the Chipmunks Christmas album and never heard of the Happy Crickets, but some of you may have listened to this album back when you were tiny tots and loved it. So, really, this album is dedicated to those of you who have some sort of fond nostalgic memory of listening to this album. This is also a good album for little kids, especially since little kids usually haven't developed a good ear for music, and they tend to like voices that sound like the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz. So, this album is worth downloading to entertain your kids or grandkids. (Or, if you just like to collect bad record albums, then this one is for you!)

Track listing for Christmas with the Happy Crickets:

Side 1:
1. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
2. White Christmas
3. Jingle Bells
4. Christmas Is For The Family
5. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
6. The Chipmunk Song

Side 2:
1. Away In A Manger
2. The First Noel
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
6. Silent Night

BTW, does anybody know when this album came out? I'm thinking the mid-1960s, but would love to know the year if anyone out there knows it!

Patti Page - 3 Little Words (1955)

I have several Patti Page albums and previously posted "The Waltz Queen". I think waltzes are probably what one thinks of at first when one thinks of Patti Page. Well, this album is no waltzing album - it is swingin'! These are my favorite types of songs as sung by Patti - the woman can swing! This copy of the album is in stereo, so it really sounds great! And, it's got some really great songs - "Heart" and "Whatever Lola Wants" are my faves. I highly recommend that you add this album to your playlist at your next swingin' cocktail party.

BTW, I won't be posting another album until after Thanksgiving (and it'll be my first of several Christmas albums), so I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving Day! I'm cooking my first turkey dinner (always went to someone's house before), so wish me luck!

Track listing for Patti Page - 3 Little Words:

Side 1:
1. Heart
2. Why Don't You Do Right (Get Me Some Money Too)
3. To Know You Is To Love You
4. I Still Get A Thrill Thinking Of You
5. My Prayer
6. Will You Still Be Mine

Side 2:
1. Whatever Lola Wants
2. Jim
3. We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me)
4. I'm Just Wild About Harry
5. Three Little Words
6. I Get A Kick Out Of You

101 Strings - Plays Hit Songs for Girls (1967)

101 Strings was another of my mom's favorites, but this is not one of her albums. I bought this one from my favorite place - the bargain bin at HPB. And, once again, it was the cover that caught my eye. For some reason, the girls at either end remind me of Sharon Tate and Barbara Parkins in "Valley of the Dolls" (one of my favorite movies). Anyway, I don't think that there's anyone who hasn't heard of 101 Strings. The easy-listening orchestra put out tons of albums and covered just about everything you can think of. Well, this is a pleasing album with some familiar tunes. Go get it now!

Track listing for 101 Strings - Plays Hit Songs for Girls:

Side 1:
1. Music to Watch Girls By
2. Gigi
3. Avalita
4. Marie
5. Always a Lady

Side 2:
1. Georgy Girl
2. Mame
3. Flirt
4. Fifi
5. Adios Mariquita Linda

Henry Mancini - Mancini Plays the Theme from Love Story (1970)

Here's another album that belonged to my mother, and I do remember her playing this one quite a bit. I remember that she never liked the theme from "M*A*S*H" and would always skip over that song (I'm indifferent to that song - neither like nor dislike it). Anyway, thanks to my mother's influence, I am a fan of Mancini (who isn't?). Interesting album cover, too. (This is actually an image I found on the internet - my mother had written all over the album cover so I didn't want to use it.)

Track listing for Henry Mancini - Mancini Plays the Theme from Love Story:

Side 1:
1. Theme from "Love Story"
2. Song from "M*A*S*H"
3. Theme from "The Night Visitor"
4. Theme from "The Hawaiians"
5. Tomorrow is My Friend
6. The Harmonica Man

Side 2:
1. Whistling Away the Dark
2. Theme from "Borsalino"
3. Theme for Three
4. Loss of Love
5. Thank You Very Much

Mario Lanza - Mario! (1959)

Today's album is a bit of a change of pace for me. I don't listen to opera or classical music very much, but I came across this Mario Lanza album (which I got for free when I bought a couple of other albums from a seller on eBay), so I decided to go ahead and share it with y'all. I do like Mario, and I love anything Italian, so here we have Italian songs sung in Italian by an Italian-American! The most fun song is, of course, "Funiculi' Funicula'" - everyone has heard this one. It's just fun saying it! So, pour yourself a glass of red wine and listen to Mario serenade you! (BTW, one of the things I really like about this record is that it's red vinyl - cool!)

Track listing for Mario Lanza - Mario!:

Side 1:
1. Funiculi' Funicula'
2. Dicitencello Vuie
3. Maria Mari'
4. Voce 'E Notte
5. Canta Pe' Me
6. O Surdato 'Namurato

Side 2:
1. Come Facette Mammeta
2. Santa Lucia Luntana
3. Fenesta Che Lucive
4. Tu Ca Nun Chiagne
5. 'N Sera 'E Maggio
6. Passione

Jack Jones - The Best of Jack Jones (1977)

Today's sharity is a greatest hits album by Jack Jones, one of my favorite singers. This was a "special priced 2-record set" released by MCA Records in 1977, although the songs were all recorded in the 1960s. What can I say about this album? I love every one of the songs, and Jack's smooth voice is absolutely dreamy! If I had to pick out just one as my favorite, it would have to be a tie between "Lollipops and Roses" (recorded on a very special day for me) and "Wives and Lovers" (I don't care if some people say it is sexist - I love it!). But this entire album is wonderful and a must have! Unfortunately, this is before Jack recorded the theme song for "The Love Boat", which I think needs to be included in a "best of" album. Enjoy this double album!

Track listing for Jack Jones - The Best of Jack Jones:

Side 1:
1. The Mood I'm In (recorded 12/17/63)
2. The Shadow Of Your Smile (recorded 4/1/66)
3. What Now My Love (recorded 4/18/66)
4. A Day In The Life Of A Fool (recorded 8/26/66)
5. I Will Wait For You (recorded 4/18/66)
6. Lollipops and Roses (recorded 8/21/61)

Side 2:
1. Call Me Irresponsible (recorded 2/5/63)
2. Yesterday (recorded 11/1/65)
3. Brother, Where Are You (recorded 12/2/66)
4. Dear Heart (recorded 4/10/65)
5. Lady (recorded 12/7/66)
6. People (recorded 7/8/64)

Side 3:
1. Wives and Lovers (recorded 8/13/63)
2. Strangers In The Night (recorded 4/4/66)
3. My Best Girl (recorded 4/4/66)
4. Alfie (recorded 4/1/66)
5. Our Song (recorded 7/19/67)

Side 4:
1. The Impossible Dream (recorded 4/4/66)
2. Somewhere, My Love (recorded 9/8/66)
3. Michelle (recorded 4/3/67)
4. After Today (recorded 4/3/67)
5. If You Go Away (recorded 1/5/67)

Here's a video clip of Jack singing "Lollipops and Roses" on the Judy Garland show - how dreamy!

Hawaiian Moonbeams - Hawaii Goes Percussion (1961)

I'm feeling especially happy tonight, so it's time for another album of Hawaiian music. This is another treasure I found recently in the HPB bargain bin, and again I bought it for the cover art. I like the cover so much that I'm going to frame this one and hang it on my wall. Like other albums of Hawaiian music that I've posted, you'll find several of the songs to be quite familiar and enjoyable. So, without further ado, here it is!

Track listing for Hawaiian Moonbeams - Hawaii Goes Percussion:

Side 1:
1. Hawaiian Blues
2. Serenade
3. Lovely Guitars
4. Hawaiian Bounce
5. Swinging Palm Trees

Side 2:
1. Sunset
2. Guitar Chant
3. Hawaiian Light
4. South Sea Island
5. Luau Lei