Jackie Gleason - Music for the Love Hours (1957)

Hey there! Been super busy with work so haven't posted as often as I'd like. And I had this one ready to post last month but didn't get a chance. So, as we start out my favorite month of the year - August - I offer you one of my Jackie Gleason albums. Always great for some "mood" music, Jackie Gleason albums don't disappoint. I find them so soothing after a hard day of work. They also provide great background music if I have to work from home on the computer. So, without further ado... enjoy!

Track listing for Jackie Gleason - Music for the Love Hours:

Side 1:
1. Darn That Dream
2. Poor Butterfly
3. Serenade In Blue
4. How Did She Look
5. Moonlight Becomes You
6. Just One More Chance
7. I Love You Much Too Much
8. Hold Me

Side 2:
1. Get Out of Town
2. Our Love
3. Just a Memory
4. If I Could Be With You
5. Ghost of a Chance
6. I've Got You Under My Skin
7. Lover Come Back To Me
8. The House is Haunted

Xavier Cugat - Viva Cugat! (1961)

Here's one I've had for quite awhile, since the late 1980s when I was doing the ballroom dance thing. This is a really good record - has great songs that are very danceable. I like most anything by Xavier Cugat, and I even have an album that has four 78rpm records (can't remember off-hand what the name of the album is). If I ever finish unpacking (I moved in this house 2 years ago) and find my 78s, I'll record that one. Anyway, my favorites on this one are "Siboney" and "Isle of Capri". Enjoy this one!

Track listing for Xavier Cugat - Viva Cugat!:

Side 1:
1. Jungle Concerto
2. The Peanut Vendor
3. Isle of Capri
4. Tropical Merengue
5. Nightingale
6. Perfidia

Side 2:
1. Siboney
2. Jungle Drums
3. Anna
4. Maria Elena
5. Poinciana
6. Say Si Si

The Ray Conniff Singers - Young At Heart (1960)

Well, I posted another Ray Conniff Singers album (So Much in Love) before and thought that was the first one where the Singers got top billing, but this one was released before, in 1960. Anyway, it really doesn't matter because they're both great! Just hearing the Ray Conniff Singers sing makes me smile! :-) The songs are always so cheerful and melodic - perfect to make anyone feel better. Enjoy!

Track listing for Ray Conniff Singers - Young At Heart:

Side 1:
1. Remember
2. You'll Never Know
3. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
4. I'm In the Mood For Love
5. I'll Be Seeing You
6. It's Dark On Observatory Hill

Side 2:
1. These Foolish Things
2. Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me
3. Young At Heart
4. If I Loved You
5. Harbor Lights
6. I'll See You In My Dreams

David Cassidy - Cherish (1972)

Wow... can you believe this album was released 38 years ago??? I don't know about you, but I still feel like the little girl whose heart went all aflutter whenever David Cassidy was on TV or the radio. Oh, I still love other "teen idols" from back in the day, but David Cassidy will always be my first love! Just look how absolutely dreamy he is on the cover! And even though this album is 38 years old, I think it still holds up. My favorite song used to be the title cover song, "Cherish", but now it's "My First Night Alone Without You". Does that mean I've grown up? Gee, I hope not.

Track listing for David Cassidy - Cherish:

Side 1:
1. Being Together
2. I Just Wanna Make You Happy
3. Could It Be Forever
4. Blind Hope
5. I Lost My Chance
6. My First Night Alone Without You

Side 2:
1. We Could Never Be Friends ('Cause We've Been Lovers Too Long)
2. Where Is the Morning
3. I Am a Clown
4. Cherish
5. Ricky's Tune

Pat Boone - Stardust (1958)

Well, this is the last of my Pat Boone records. I've had this one for some time - bought it sometime in the late 1980s when I discovered my favorite local radio station, KAAM. Pat Boone is played regularly on that station. Anyway, I've always loved his smooth voice and his choice of songs. I've also seen a few of his movies - "Bernardine", "State Fair", and "The Cross and the Switchblade". I saw the last one as an extra credit assignment for my ninth grade religion class (I went to Catholic school for 12 years) in the 1970s (it also featured a young Erik Estrada as a young punk). Well, this is a great album and it's full of lovely familiar standards. And Pat sings them all beautifully. Also, the orchestra is conducted by Billy Vaughn! Enjoy!

Track listing for Pat Boone - Stardust:

Side 1:
1. Stardust
2. Blueberry Hill
3. Ebb Tide
4. Little White Lies
5. To Each His Own
6. Cold, Cold Heart
7. Deep Purple

Side 2:
1. Autumn Leaves
2. St. Louis Blues
3. Solitude
4. Anniversary Song
5. Heartaches
6. I'll Walk Alone
7. September Song

Summer Compilation Vol.4 (2010)

Happy First Day of Summer tomorrow! Summer is my very favorite season, and I am glad it has arrived! The heat doesn't bother me at all, and I like the longer days. Summer holds lots of wonderful memories for me, so, in celebration of the First Day of Summer, I offer you my annual summer songs compilation. The previous three summer compilations have contained only songs with the word "summer" in the title. Well, I'm running out of those songs, so this year I've expanded the song choices to include the words "beach", "surf", and "sun". Hope you enjoy this!

Track listing for Summer Compilation Vol.4 (2010):

1. Summertime Blues - Alan Jackson
2. Surf Beat - The Lively Ones
3. A Hot Summer Day - It's a Beautiful Day
4. Summer of '42 - 101 Strings
5. A Summer Place - Andy Williams
6. Last Summer - The Golddiggers
7. Fun in the Sun - Walter Scott
8. The Green Leaves of Summer - Frankie Laine
9. Summertime - Don Ralke
10. Surfing Drums - The Surfaris
11. Surfboard - Esquivel
12. White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
13. Summer Breeze - The Brady Bunch
14. Soft as a Summer Shower - David Cassidy
15. Surfin' Craze - James Darren
16. Surfin' Senorita - Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass
17. A Summer Song - Kurt Russell
18. Your Summer Dream - The Beach Boys
19. Beautiful Girls and Sunshine - Hawaiian Islanders
20. Miami Beach Rumba - Freddy Martin & his Orchestra
21. Summer Days Alone - The Brothers Four
22. The Things We Did Last Summer - Dean Martin
23. Surf Fiesta - The Surf Mariachis
24. Beach Party Tonight - Annette Funicello
25. Hey, Mister Sun - Bobby Sherman
26. On the Beach at Waikiki - Les Adams & his Fabulous Hawaiians


If you haven't downloaded the first three volumes of my Summer compilations, click on the "summer" label to take you directly to those posts. Happy Summer!

Aaron Bell Orchestra - Music from 77 Sunset Strip (1959)

Here's a gem I picked up a couple or so months ago at my favorite supplier of old records, Half-Price Books. I already posted an album of music from the TV series "77 Sunset Strip" by Frankie Ortega and Sy Oliver, and I downloaded the one by the Warren Barker Orchestra, so I guess you could say that I really love the music from that show! I just love "crime" jazz in general - too cool! Well, the sound quality on this one isn't the best, but it's still listenable (is that a word?) and just overall fun! I was reading up on Aaron Bell and he recorded other albums along these lines ("Peter Gunn" and others), so if anyone has any to share, please do!

Track listing for Aaron Bell Orchestra - Music from 77 Sunset Strip:

Side 1:
1. 77 Sunset Strip (Vocal)
2. 77 Sunset Strip Jazz
3. 77 Sunset Strip Blues

Side 2:
1. Swingin' On the Strip
2. Stu Bailey Blues
3. Caper At the Coffee House
4. Kookie's Caper

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - South of the Border (1964)

This was the third album by Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass, and one of my mom's favorites, although I don't remember her playing this one as much as a couple of the later ones. Several cover songs on this album, but my favorite song is "Mexican Shuffle". Kinda hard to believe Herb is 75 years old, but his music is ageless!

Track listing for Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - South of the Border:

Side 1:
1. South of the Border
2. The Girl from Ipanema
3. Hello, Dolly!
4. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
5. Up Cherry Street
6. Mexican Shuffle

Side 2:
1. El Presidente
2. All My Loving
3. Angelito
4. Salud, Amor y Dinero
5. Numero Cinco
6. Adios, Mi Corazon

Eddie Albert - The Eddie Albert Album (1966)

Here's another celebrity vocal album. I got this at a music memorabilia show at the end of January, thanks to my friend, Dan, who pointed it out to me. We were both swooning over the young Edward Albert (Eddie's son) on the cover - wasn't he a dreamboat? Anyway, Eddie Albert recorded this album during his "Green Acres" fame, and sings that song on the album, but it's a little different from the version sung on the TV show (no Eva Gabor and some of the lyrics are different). Eddie was really a very talented entertainer - an Academy Award nominated actor, a singer, dancer, circus performer -go read about him on Wikipedia if you want to know more. And this album is a fun album. I like his version of Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound", and even "Guantanamera" (which I've always thought to be a boring song). But the one I really love is "Feeling Good" - it just cracks me up the way he says "Feeling gooooooood"! Hope you enjoy this!

Track listing for Eddie Albert - The Eddie Albert Album:

Side 1:
1. A Smile is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)
2. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
3. Guantanamera
4. Colors
5. Feeling Good
6. Green Acres

Side 2:
1. Homeward Bound
2. Blowin' in the Wind
3. For Lovin' Me
4. Mr. Clown
5. Pass the Plate of Happiness Around

Walter Brennan - Old Rivers (1962)

Time for some Walter Brennan. As I've mentioned in some previous posts, I absolutely love Walter Brennan - from watching him in westerns, Disney movies, and TV shows (westerns, of course). I think this album speaks for itself. The song "Old Rivers" gets me every time... (sniff). "Boll Weevil" is fun - has a beat and you can dance to it!

Track listing for Walter Brennan - Old Rivers:

Side 1:
1. Old Rivers
2. The Old Kelly Place
3. Conversation With a Mule
4. The Farmer and the Lord
5. Happy Birthday Old Folk

Side 2:
1. It Takes a Heap of Living
2. Boll Weevil
3. Steal Away
4. Pickin' Time
5. Old Rivers' Trunk

Mrs. Miller - Will Success Spoil Mrs. Miller?! (1966)

Earlier this week one of my cats attacked me when I started singing "I Could Have Danced All Night" in my best Mrs. Miller voice (everyone's a critic). So, I thought today would be a good day to post one of my Mrs. Miller albums. How can anyone not love Mrs. Miller? I only wish that I had been aware of her back in her hey-day (I only found out about her a few years ago and quickly snatched up all her albums via eBay and HPB). If I had seen her on Ed Sullivan or one of those shows, I think I would have remembered her. Anyway, I love Mrs. Miller and listening to her albums. If I'm feeling down, I know that one of her records will chase the blues away. I know they chase my cats away. (And my cat-inflicted wounds are healing nicely, thank you.)

Track listing for Mrs. Miller - Will Success Spoil Mrs. Miller?!:

Side 1:
1. Strangers in the Night
2. Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home?
3. Somewhere, My Love
4. A Groovy Kind of Love
5. Melody
6. The Girl from Ipanema

Side 2:
1. Yellow Submarine
2. Every Little Movement
3. Moon River
4. Second Hand Rose
5. Sweet Pea
6. Monday, Monday

Elvis Presley - Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)

Sorry I haven't been consistent lately in posting my albums. My goal is to post one on Sunday and one on Wednesday, but I've just been swamped with other stuff. I'll try to do better!

Last weekend I went to a friend's yard sale and found a couple of gems, one of which was this Elvis soundtrack. I do love Elvis but I have not seen all his movies nor do I have all his albums (I only have about 3 or 4). I didn't even know he made another Hawaii movie besides "Blue Hawaii". I know... where have I been? Anyway, I thank my friend Donna for setting this album aside for me. Now I have to go find a DVD of the movie so that I can watch it!

Track listing for Elvis Presley - Paradise, Hawaiian Style:

Side 1:
1. Paradise, Hawaiian Style
2. Queenie Wahine's Papaya
3. Scratch My Back
4. Drums of the Islands
5. Datin'

Side 2:
1. A Dog's Life
2. House of Sand
3. Stop Where You Are
4. This is My Heaven
5. Sand Castles

Lawrence Welk and His Champagne Music - Play the Music of Walt Disney (1956)

Thanks to Crichton72 for sending me this to post on my blog! He appreciates Lawrence Welk as much as I do! Please leave a comment and thank Crichton72 for this share!

If you love Lawrence Welk and you also love Walt Disney, then this is the album for you! Lawrence Welk and members of his musical family circa 1956 - the Lennon Sisters, Dick Dale, Alice Lon, Larry Hooper, Bob Lido, the Sparklers - sing favorite songs from several Walt Disney movies! This will certainly take you down memory lane - enjoy!

Track listing for Lawrence Welk - Play the Music of Walt Disney:

Side 1:
1. Whistle While You Work
2. When You Wish Upon a Star
3. Mickey Mouse Mambo
4. Some Day My Prince Will Come
5. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo
6. Zip-a-Dee-Do-Dah

Side 2:
1. Ballad of Davy Crockett
2. Hi! to You
3. That's What Uncle Remus Said
4. The Siamese Cat Song
5. A Whale of a Tale
6. Heigh-Ho

The Electronic Concept Orchestra - Moog Groove (1969)

I found this little gem for 50 cents at this little resale shop near my house! Like many times before, it was the cover that caught my eye, then the word "moog", and finally the songs. I'm really getting into the moog sound lately - really groovy! Makes me wish I had some orange or green shag carpet and big throw pillows all over the floor. I'm definitely going to have to look for more albums with the moog sound!

Track listing for Electronic Concept Orchestra - Moog Groove:

Side 1:
1. Aquarius
2. Oh Happy Day
3. Hey Jude
4. Both Sides Now
5. Grazing in the Grass

Side 2:
1. Feelin' Alright
2. Penny Lane
3. Atlantis
4. Rock Me
5. Windmills of Your Mind

Percy Faith - Mucho Gusto! (1961)

Yesterday (April 7) would have been Percy Faith's birthday. And today would have been my mother's birthday. So, because my mother loved Percy Faith so much (I don't think she knew his birthday was the day before hers), I decided to post this Percy Faith album to honor them both (but mostly for my mom). As I listen to this album, I am once again transported back to my childhood and memories of my mom listening to her records. This album also reminds me of the annual Charro Days, which are celebrated in my hometown of Brownsville, Texas, and the parades that I went to as a child. My mother was a school teacher and she often marched in the parades with her school (each school presents a dance to a traditional Mexican song, and the school bands would play, too). Those were good times, and I cherish the memories.

Track listing for Percy Faith - Mucho Gusto!:

Side 1:
1. Mucho Gusto
2. Besame Mucho
3. La Negra
4. Maria Elena
5. Huapango
6. Las Mananitas

Side 2:
1. Las Altenitas
2. Perfidia
3. Cielito Lindo
4. Adios Mariquita Linda
5. Cocula
6. La Chaparrita

Here's a picture of my mom marching in one of the Charro Days parades circa 1958 (before my time). So, now y'all have a face to put to my beloved mother that I often mention:

Martin Denny - Exotica Volume II (1958)

Gotta love that exotica! After Martin Denny's success with the album "Exotica", it was inevitable that there would be another one to follow. So the following year there was "Exotica Volume II"! (There's also an "Exotica III", but I don't have that one.) If anyone has the third one, please share! I really don't think I need to say anything about Martin Denny - you all are quite familiar with his records! So... enjoy!

Track listing for Martin Denny - Exotica Volume II:

Side 1:
1. Soshu Night Serenade
2. Island of Dreams
3. Japanese Farewell Song (Sayonara)
4. Singing Bamboos
5. The Queen Chant (E Lili Ua E)
6. Wedding Song (Ke Kali Ne Au)

Side 2:
1. Escales
2. When First I Love
3. August Bells
4. Bacoa
5. Ebb Tide
6. Rush Hour in Hong Kong

The Ray Conniff Singers - So Much in Love (1961)

Just as much as she loved anything Percy Faith, my mother loved anything Ray Conniff - and I inherited that. This album is by the Ray Conniff Singers, which was the chorus that often accompanied the orchestra on the other Ray Conniff albums. I think this was the first album that the Singers got top billing (please correct me if I'm wrong), because the liner notes say "This time, the Ray Conniff singers step out from the orchestra..." There are actually twelve songs, but they are sung as six medleys of two songs each. "Each medley tells a musical story about people who are 'so much in love'." I love albums by choral groups like this! This album was supervised by Frank De Vol, and the Conniff cover girl is Linda De Vol - his daughter perhaps?

Track listing for Ray Conniff Singers - So Much in Love:

Side 1:
1. Autumn Leaves; Just Walking in the Rain
2. I Fall in Love Too Easily; My Heart Stood Still
3. Dancing On the Ceiling; Dancing in the Dark

Side 2:
1. I Wish I Didn't Love You So; Bewitched
2. Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera); True Love
3. Chances Are; It's Not for Me to Say

Baja Marimba Band - Rides Again (1965)

I can't believe my mother never bought any albums by the Baja Marimba Band, especially since she liked Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass so much, and it kind of goes along those lines. To tell you the truth, I had never really listened to any of their albums either until I bought this one sometime last year at my favorite supplier of used records, Half-Price Books. And I really like this album! I will definitely be buying more of their albums next time I go to HPB or to a flea market or estate sale. I've decided that I like almost any music from A&M Records during that time - Herb Alpert, Baja Marimba Band, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66... all those folks! Herb knew how to pick the artists for his label! Well, all I can say about this album is that it is delightful! Enjoy!

Track listing for Baja Marimba Band - Rides Again:

Side 1:
1. Brasilia
2. Walk On By
3. Guacamole
4. More
5. Dear Heart
6. Majorca

Side 2:
1. Red Roses for a Blue Lady
2. Hecho En Mexico (Made in Mexico)
3. The Woody Woodpecker Song
4. A Spanish Rose
5. Juarez
6. Goin' Out the Side Door

Here they are playing "Brasilia":

Louise Akeo and Her Royal Hawaiian Girls - Authentic Music from the Kodak Hula Show (1956)

Oh, how I wish I could be in Hawaii right now! Sigh... But, since I can't be there right now, I'll have to console myself by listening to one of my Hawaiian music albums. This album is "Authentic Music from the Kodak Hula Show". The Kodak Hula Show was a free show sponsored by Kodak that ran for many, many years in Waikiki. Unfortunately, Kodak pulled out its sponsorship in 1999 due to rising costs (it cost around $400,000 to $500,000 a year to put on this free show). A private family trust took it over for another three years or so, but they pulled their sponsorship as well due to the cost. I went to Hawaii in 1997 to participate in the Honolulu Marathon, and if I had known about the Kodak Hula Show I most definitely would have gone. Oh, well. Anyway, since I am so in love with all things Hawaii, I had to buy this album when I saw it in the HPB bargain bin. The first side is by Louise Akeo and her Royal Hawaiian Girls, but the second side just says "Instrumental Music for Your Hawaiian Pictures and Parties". So, at least you now have background music to play when you show your friends your pictures from your Hawaiian vacation - because that's what the record says.

Track listing for Louise Akeo - Authentic Music from the Kodak Hula Show:

Side 1:
1. Hilo E
2. Hoonanea
3. Haole Hula
4. E Liliu E
5. Nani Wale Na Hala
6. Ula Noweo
7. Lovely Hula Hands
8. I Alii No Oe
9. Thus Pounds the Poi
10. Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai
11. Kawika
12. Hanohano Hanalei

Side 2:
1. Song of the Islands, "Na Lei O Hawaii"
2. Dargie Hula
3. Moana Chimes
4. The Wedding Song, "Ke Kali Nei Au"
5. Farewell Song, "Aloha Oe"

Mame OST (1974)

When I was growing up, we first got cable TV in my hometown in the mid-1970s. At that time, it was called Casa Cinema and consisted of two channels, one of which was a movie channel and the other was a Spanish channel (I think). I loved the movie channel because they showed movies in their entirety without commercials, including R-rated movies (which was a big deal for a 12 or 13-year-old) - movies that they just didn't show on the late movie on the three networks. Being a major movie buff, I watched as many as I could even though there weren't many choices. I think they showed maybe four movies a month and they were repeated all month long. But those were simpler times and we were all happy to have that cable movie channel. Well, one of the first movies I saw on Casa Cinema was "Mame" from 1974 starring Lucille Ball. I don't remember this showing at the movie theatre at all, and I think I would've gone to see it because it was a musical and I loved musicals. Well, I loved it. In fact, I think I saw it every time it was shown on Casa Cinema that month. Even though she couldn't really sing, Lucille Ball was always one of my favorites so I didn't care. I do have to laugh a little today as I remember how every close-up of Lucy was with a filter to "soften" the aging star. Anyway, I bought the soundtrack as a cut-out when I came across it a few years after seeing the movie. I still think it's a fun movie, even if the critics hated it, and the musical did spawn a couple of favorite songs that have been recorded by several people. I think you'll know which songs I mean when you listen to the album!

Track listing for Mame OST:

Side 1:
1. Main Title... including 'St. Bridget' - Jane Connell
2. It's Today - Lucille Ball and Chorus
3. Open a New Window - Lucille Ball and Kirby Furlong
4. The Man in the Moon - Beatrice Arthur and Chorus
5. My Best Girl -Lucille Ball and Kirby Furlong
6. We Need a Little Christmas - Lucille Ball and Cast
7. Mame - Robert Preston and Chorus

Side 2:
1. Loving You - Robert Preston
2. The Letter - Kirby Furlong and Bruce Davison
3. Bosom Buddies - Lucille Ball and Beatrice Arthur
4. Gooch's Song - Jane Connell
5. If He Walked Into My Life - Lucille Ball
6. Finale - Lucille Ball and Chorus