Ray Conniff and His Orchestra - 'S Marvelous (1957)

This is another of my mom's old records - one with which I'm very familiar. And, as a result, I'm a big fan of Ray Conniff. I find that I am listening a lot to my mom's old records lately. They bring a sense of comfort and and overall good feeling to me. Although my mom has been gone for 16 years now, I know she is always with me, and I especially feel that when I'm listening to her records. And since Sundays are usually family days (at least they were when I was growing up), then today is a good day to post this record.

Track listing for Ray Conniff - 'S Marvelous (link deleted - go buy CD on Amazon):

Side 1:
1. The Way You Look Tonight
2. I Hear A Rhapsody
3. They Can't Take That Away From Me
4. Moonlight Serenade
5. I Love You
6. I've Told Ev'ry Little Star

Side 2:
1. You Do Something to Me
2. As Time Goes By
3. In the Still of the Night
4. Someone to Watch Over Me
5. Be My Love
6. Where or When

Walter Brennan - Dutchman's Gold (1960)

Here's another from my "celebrity vocals" collection. I absolutely adored Walter Brennan in all the westerns and Disney movies he was in. Of course, he didn't really sing on his albums... he spoke the lyrics with the music as background. I guess you could say he was "rapping" - wow, he was a "rap" pioneer! Who knew?

Anyway, I really do like listening to Walter's albums. Some people might say they're pretty corny, but I like corny. And you can bet that some of the songs, like "Old Shep", bring a tear to my eye. ("Old Rivers" makes me cry every time!) I think one of the reasons that I like Walter's albums is that they remind me of simpler times. I'm often nostalgic for simpler times. Sigh. Something of note for this album is that the orchestra and chorus were conducted by Billy Vaughn!

Track listing for Walter Brennan - Dutchman's Gold:

Side 1:
1. Dutchman's Gold
2. Life Gits Tee-Jus, Don't It?
3. The Shifting Whispering Sands Part I
4. The Shifting Whispering Sands Part II
5. Six Feet Away

Side 2:
1. I Believe
2. Back To The Farm
3. Tribute To A Dog
4. Old Shep
5. Suppertime

Johnny Whitaker - Friends (1973)

Time for another "celebrity" vocal. This time it's Johnny Whitaker, who starred as adorable Jody Davis in the television series "Family Affair", and later starred in the Sid and Marty Krofft Saturday morning show "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters". He also starred in several movies such as Disney's "Napolean and Samantha" with Jodie Foster, and the musical "Tom Sawyer".

Now, I love collecting "celebrity" record albums, and it seems that the worse they are, the better I like them. Let me just say that this is not an album I listen to very often. I may have loved it when I was eleven years old, but that was a long time ago. I have to laugh when I listen to some of these "celebrity" albums because of the way they would overdub the person's vocal two or three times with their own voice. I guess it was to make it sound "better". Just another reason why I love these albums! So, take a trip down memory lane and listen to Johnny sing songs from "Sigmund & The Sea Monsters". (BTW, his name was sometimes spelled "Johnnie".)

Track listing for Johnny Whitaker - Friends:

Side 1:
1. Friends
2. Keep It A Secret
3. A Simple Song
4. The Magician
5. Monster Rock
6. It's Up To You

Side 2:
1. Can't Get You Off My Mind
2. Running 'Round In Circles
3. Lovin' Ain't Easy
4. Sigmund & The Sea Monsters
5. Day And Night

Joe Bushkin - A Fellow Needs A Girl (1957)

This is another gem I rescued from the HPB bargain bin solely for the cover. Those are America's most famous models from back in the day - Sunny Harnett (standing behind piano), Gita Hall (leaning on Joe), Nancy Berg (the one practically lying down in front of Joe), Suzy Parker (lying on top of the piano), and Ginny Taylor (standing on the right of the piano). The only one I ever heard of was Suzy Parker, who was also an actress and was married to actor Bradford Dillman (who I love). Suzy Parker was also the first model to earn $100,000 per year. Anyway, this is a lovely "mood music" album - very soothing piano "against a rich orchestral backdrop". Give it a listen!

Track listing for Joe Bushkin - A Fellow Needs A Girl:

Side 1:
1. A Fellow Needs A Girl
2. These Foolish Things
3. How Long Has This Been Going On
4. Don't Blame Me
5. Isn't It Romantic?
6. Don't Take Your Love From Me

Side 2:
1. Falling In Love With Love
2. It's Easy To Remember
3. Then I'll Be Tired Of You
4. I'll Be Around
5. Willow Weep For Me
6. What Is There To Say

Jackie Gleason - Velvet Brass (1957)

Here's another of my Jackie Gleason albums (I have several more that I will share as time goes on). I really enjoy the Jackie Gleason albums. They always have familiar songs and arrangements that I like, and the covers are usually pretty swell! So, without further ado, here is "Velvet Brass" - enjoy!

Track listing for Jackie Gleason - Velvet Brass:

Side 1:
1. You're Driving Me Crazy!
2. Skyliner
3. But Not For Me
4. The Man I Love
5. Cherokee
6. Me And My Shadow
7. Take The "A" Train
8. By The Beautiful Sea

Side 2:
1. Am I Blue?
2. What's New?
3. Girl Of My Dreams
4. My Buddy
5. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
6. September Song
7. Out Of Nowhere
8. Chinatown, My Chinatown

Harry James - Harry James in Hi-Fi (1955)

This is another of my mom's old albums. I definitely remember hearing this one a lot when I was growing up. Even now, when I hear the first notes of "Ciribiribin", memories of my childhood and my mom come flooding back. Those were good times. My mom loved big band music (that was her "era"), and her favorites were Glenn Miller and Harry James. But I think Harry was her particular favorite. And now, thanks to her influence, Glenn and Harry are my favorite big band leaders, and Harry is my particular favorite. I'm also a big fan of his female vocalist, Helen Forrest. "It's Been a Long, Long Time" just gives me chills - I love it so! I think my mom's favorite was "You Made Me Love You", because she marked it on the back of the album as if highlighting it. And, although this album was released in 1955 (all selections were recorded in July 1955), my mom didn't buy it until 1959 (she had a habit of dating her albums as to when she got them). Anyway, this is one of my favorites - and my mom's. Hope you like it, too.

Track listing for Harry James in Hi-Fi:

Side 1:
1. Ciribiribin
2. Trumpet Blues
3. You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It)
4. James Session
5. I've Heard That Song Before
6. Cherry
7. I'm Beginning To See The Light
8. My Silent Love

Side 2:
1. Sleepy Lagoon
2. Two O'Clock Jump
3. I Cried For You (Now It's Time For You To Cry Over Me)
4. Jalousie
5. It's Been A Long, Long Time
6. Velvet Moon
7. Music Makers
8. Ciribiribin

Here's a clip from the movie "Bathing Beauty", where Harry James and his orchestra play "Trumpet Blues":

Irving Fields Trio - More Bagels and Bongos (1960)

This is yet another album I rescued from the HPB bargain bin - and it was the title that caught my eye. I will buy just about any album that has the word "bongos" in the title - I love bongos! And this was just such an odd title that I couldn't resist. I love the music, too! According to the liner notes, there was a prior album titled "Bagels and Bongos" (anyone have it to share?) and these are Yiddish songs to a Latin beat. What a great idea! I read on the Internet that Irving Fields also recorded "Bikinis and Bongos" and "Pizzas and Bongos" - if anyone has these, please do share!

Track listing for Irving Fields Trio - More Bagels and Bongos:

Side 1:
1. Mama's Mambo
2. I'll Always Be Yours
3. Hora Merengue
4. Say You Love Me, One More Time
5. Wedding Merengue
6. What Used To Be, Used To Be

Side 2:
1. I Want To Play
2. Spark Of Jewish Pride
3. The Green Cousin-Merengue
4. Papirossen
5. My Hometown Girl
6. Bublitchki

Cheryl Ladd - Dance Forever (1979)

Here's one I've had for quite awhile. A couple of years ago I posted Cheryl Ladd's first album, so here's the other album of hers that I have. Cheryl Ladd, of course, was "Kris Munroe" on the TV show "Charlie's Angels", and later became a fixture on the Lifetime channel TV movies. I only recently found out that her daughter, Jordan Ladd, attended SMU here in Dallas some years back. I wish I had known at the time. Maybe I could've caught a glimpse of Cheryl at the Galleria or something. Oh, well. Anyway, about the album... if you're a Cheryl Ladd fan or like celebrity vocals, you should like this one. I think I liked the first one better though, although she looks awfully cute on this cover! Oh, and one of the songs from this album was in my first podcast episode!

Track listing for Cheryl Ladd - Dance Forever:

Side 1:
1. Dance Forever
2. Better Days
3. Still Awake
4. On The Run
5. Teach Me Tonight

Side 2:
1. You're The Only One I Ever Needed
2. Thunder In The Distance
3. Missing You
4. Whatever Would I Do Without You
5. Rock And Roll Slave

Here's a clip from Cheryl Ladd's 1979 TV special:

Annette - Muscle Beach Party (1963)

Here is the second of the two albums I have by Annette Funicello. I bought this one some years ago at one of those record conventions (I miss the one that used to come to Dallas). Of course, I love this cover! If you didn't already know, the body builder on the right (in the blue briefs) is Peter Lupus, who was one of the stars of the TV show "Mission: Impossible". This album has some fun songs by Annette from the "Muscle Beach Party" movie, plus some from "Merlin Jones". I hope you enjoy this! (BTW, does anyone have "Danceannette" or "Italiannette" that they would like to share?)

Track listing for Annette - Muscle Beach Party:

Side 1:
1. Muscle Beach Party
2. A Girl Needs A Boy
3. Surfer's Holiday
4. I Dream About Frankie
5. Muscle Bustle
6. Merlin Jones

Side 2:
1. Custom City
2. Draggin' U.S.A.
3. Rebel Rider
4. Waikiki
5. Shutdown Again
6. The Scrambled Egghead

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - The Lonely Bull (1962)

This one is by request. One of my regular visitors asked if I would ever be posting some of Herb's albums on this blog, so this one is for her. I do have a special fondness for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass because it brings back wonderful memories of my childhood. This was another of my mother's favorites so I heard these records quite a bit. I especially remember a New Year's Eve party at our house and watching the grown-ups dance in the living room to Herb's music. Wild! Well, this is the one that started it all - enjoy!

Track listing for Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - The Lonely Bull:

Side 1:
1. The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)
2. El Lobo (The Wolf)
3. Tijuana Sauerkraut
4. Desafinado
5. Mexico
6. Never On Sunday

Side 2:
1. Struttin' With Maria
2. Let It Be Me
3. Acapulco 1922
4. Limbo Rock
5. Crawfish
6. A Quiet Tear (Lagrima Quieta)

Paul Petersen - My Dad (1963)

Here's a record I've had for quite a while - part of my celebrity vocals collection. A couple of years ago I posted Paul Petersen's first album, so I thought it was time to post the other album I have. Of course, you remember Paul Petersen as the son on "The Donna Reed Show". I always thought he was a cutie! Well, this album has the wonderfully sentimental song, "My Dad". It always brings a tear to my eye. Hope you enjoy it!

Track listing for Paul Petersen - My Dad (Link has been deleted. Go buy CD on Amazon.):

Side 1:
1. My Dad
2. Try a Little Tenderness
3. I Only Have Eyes for You (Bossa Nova)
4. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby
5. Little White Lies
6. Linda

Side 2:
1. Imagination
2. Goody Goody
3. The Girl Next Door
4. Making Whoopee
5. Heart and Soul
6. Zip A Dee Doo Dah

Here's the clip from "The Donna Reed Show" where Paul sings "My Dad":

Frankie Ortega & Sy Oliver - 77 Sunset Strip (1959)

Here's another gem I rescued from the HPB bargain bin, and in pristine condition! I never saw the television series, "77 Sunset Strip" - unless I caught one episode during some nostalgic TV marathon or something like that - but I think I would have really liked this show. A couple of years ago I downloaded another album called "77 Sunset Strip" but it was by Warren Barker and his orchestra - really good album. I liked that album so much that when I saw this one, I thought I'd go ahead a buy it (heck, it was only a dollar) to see how it compared. Well, by reading the (very long) liner notes on the back, it looks like the Frankie Ortega Trio was featured on the TV show at the place where the private eyes hung out (and Ed "Kookie" Byrnes parked cars). I just love this kind of music, and I think all you "hep cats" out there will like this album. It's my new favorite album!

Track listing for Frankie Ortega & Sy Oliver - 77 Sunset Strip:

Side 1:
1. 77 Sunset Strip
2. Kookin' for Kookie
3. Spencer Stakes Out
4. What Private Eyes
5. After Sunset

Side 2:
1. Sunset Stripper
2. Stu's Blues
3. Lady in Distress
4. Dining at Dino's
5. Free Way Mambo

Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye - Music, Maestro, Please! (1955)

This is another of my mother's records that she got when she was in the Columbia Music Club. She got this one in July 1959 (she wrote that on the back of the album). Sammy Kaye has pleasant enough music, but his is not one of my favorite bands from the big band era - I much prefer the style and sound of people like Harry James, Glenn Miller, and Benny Goodman. But still, this is a pleasant enough album, and it seems that my mom really liked it. Again, I tried to clean it up as best I could of the pops and clicks, but you'll still hear some. And the first two songs have a couple of skips. As always, I ask that if anyone out there has a better rip, please share it!

Track listing for Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye - Music, Maestro, Please!:

Side 1:
1. Music, Maestro, Please!
2. Honey
3. Blue Prelude
4. Just a Gigolo
5. Dream for Sale
6. Y (That's Why)

Side 2:
1. You've Got Me Crying Again
2. As Time Goes By
3. No Greater Love
4. You Oughta Be in Pictures
5. Till I Kiss You at the Altar
6. Sittin' and Waitin'

Engelbert Humperdinck - His Greatest Hits (1974)

Happy tax day! Yeah, right. I hope all of you got nice tax refunds (I did, thanks to my purchase of my house last year), and that you're able to spend it on something fun! For those of you who had to fork over even more of your hard earned money, I dedicate this album by Engelbert Humperdinck. I hope that his smooth voice and easy songs will make you feel better! So, pour yourselves a much deserved drink, sit back, relax, and listen to Engelbert sing some of his most famous hits.

Track listing for Engelbert Humperdinck - His Greatest Hits:

Side 1:
1. Release Me
2. Quando Quando Quando
3. Les Bicyclettes de Belsize
4. Spanish Eyes
5. Am I That Easy to Forget

Side 2:
1. A Man Without Love
2. There Goes My Everything
3. The Way It Used to Be
4. Winter World of Love
5. The Last Waltz

Jackie Gleason - Music for Lovers Only (1953)

Here's another treasure I rescued from the HPB bargain bin. And I must apologize for the condition of this record, too. I ran it through click removal several times but there are still a lot of clicks and pops. I didn't want to run it through again for fear of sound distortion. There are also three songs (maybe four) that have skips. So, if anyone out there has a better rip of this album, please do share it!!!

This was Jackie Gleason's album debut - he selected the songs and conducted the orchestra. The wonderful Bobby Hackett is featured in the trumpet solos. Several other of these "mood music" albums followed - also featuring Bobby Hackett. There's a little box on the back of the album which says, "All the selections on side two have been added to the original album to form this newer, expanded version of 'Music for Lovers Only'". I think side two features all the songs from another album, but I don't know which one.

Track listing for Jackie Gleason - Music for Lovers Only:

Side 1:
1. Alone Together
2. My Funny Valentine
3. But Not For Me
4. Love (Your Spell is Everywhere)
5. I'm in the Mood for Love
6. Love is Here to Stay
7. I Only Have Eyes for You
8. Body and Soul

Side 2:
1. Little Girl
2. I Cover the Waterfront
3. Some Day
4. If I Had You
5. When a Woman Loves a Man
6. A Stranger in Town
7. A Moonlight Saving Time
8. My Love for Carmen

Percy Faith - Malaguena:Music of Cuba (1959)

Here's another of my mother's albums - one of her favorites - and today would have been her 94th birthday, so today's post is in her honor. I definitely remember hearing this one as I grew up. The album cover was in pretty bad shape - once again my mother wrote her name all across it, and the edges are all held together with masking tape - so the picture I posted is one I found on the internet. Anyway, my mother belonged to the Columbia House record club (raise your hand if you belonged to it at one time or another!) so a lot of her albums are Columbia albums. And this is a great album, as one would expect, from Percy Faith. Love the Latin rhythms of Cuban music! Enjoy!

Track listing for Percy Faith - Malaguena:Music of Cuba:

Side 1:
1. Malaguena
2. Quiereme Mucho
3. El Manisero
4. Danza Negra
5. Andalucia
6. El Bodeguero
7. Damisela Encantadora

Side 2:
1. Siboney
2. La Cumparsa
3. Tumbando Cana
4. Marta
5. Mama Inez
6. Para Vigo Me Voy
7. Tabu

George Chakiris - Memories Are Made Of These (1964)

Here's another treasure from the HPB bargain bin. Academy Award winner George Chakiris (he won the Best Supporting Actor award for "West Side Story") sings beautifully on this album of familiar songs. Enjoy!

Track listing for George Chakiris - Memories Are Made Of These:

Side 1:
1. Moon River
2. Witchcraft
3. Naked City Theme (Somewhere in the Night)
4. The Second Time Around
5. Autumn Leaves
6. Hallelujah, I Love Her So

Side 2:
1. A Taste of Honey
2. Memories Are Made of This
3. Song from "Two for the Seesaw" (A Second Chance)
4. Lollipops and Roses
5. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
6. Fever

Doris Day - Day by Day (1956)

I absolutely love Doris Day. When I was a little girl, my favorite song was "Que Sera, Sera", and it remains one of my all-time favorite songs. I also vaguely remember watching her TV show, and of course, I love all her movies. Watching her movies and listening to her records today brings back wonderful memories of my childhood. Love her. So, today I'm sharing a wonderful album, "Day by Day". All the songs are wonderful, and she's accompanied by Paul Weston and his Music from Hollywood. I love Paul Weston, too. This is probably an album a lot of you already have, but here's my copy.

Track listing for Doris Day - Day by Day:

Side 1:
1. The Song Is You
2. Hello, My Lover, Goodbye
3. But Not For Me
4. I Remember You
5. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
6. But Beautiful

Side 2:
1. Autumn Leaves
2. Don't Take Your Love From Me
3. There Will Never Be Another You
4. Gone With The Wind
5. The Gypsy In My Soul
6. Day By Day

Here's Doris singing "Secret Love" from the motion picture, "Calamity Jane":

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!