Sunday, January 30, 2011

Wayne King - Our Language of Love (1965)


If you like to ballroom dance, or would like to learn how, then any album by Wayne King should be in your collection. It seems that his albums were made for just that. I remember dancing to many songs by Wayne King when I was learning how to ballroom dance. Plus, every Friday we would have a dance for all the students, and the Wayne King songs were very popular. Not only are the songs familiar and pleasant, but the rhythm is very easy to dance to for beginners. This particular album has mostly fox trots, several waltzes, and a beguine (don't know what that is - didn't learn that one). So put on your dancing shoes and dance to the music of Wayne King!

Track listing for Wayne King - Our Language of Love:

Side 1:
1. Dear Heart - Waltz
2. Among My Souvenirs - Fox Trot
3. Our Language of Love - Beguine
4. Whispering - Fox Trot
5. San Antonio Rose - Fox Trot
6. Everybody Loves Somebody - Fox Trot

Side 2:
1. Emily - Waltz
2. Margie - Fox Trot
3. Embassy Waltz - Waltz
4. People - Fox Trot
5. Twelfth Street Rag - Fox Trot
6. Lazy River - Fox Trot

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Jon Hall - Jon Hall Brings Music from Hawaii


Here's another album from my Hawaiian category and celebrity category. It's in my celebrity category because Jon Hall was an actor - he starred in "The Hurricane" with Dorothy Lamour, and in the TV series, "Ramar of the Jungle". And it's obvious why it's in my Hawaiian category. Well, Jon Hall does not sing on this album. According to the liner notes, he went into a Hawaiian village pub, set up his own recording equipment, and recorded "a genuine Hawaiian Mardi Gras". So, it's a "live" album, but there's no credit given to the musicians anywhere on the record. It's also not like the other Hawaiian albums I have - it doesn't have the usual, typical songs on it. This one still has to grow on me - the jury is still out on this one. Oh, and I couldn't find a release date on this album.

Track listing for Jon Hall Brings Music from Hawaii:

Side 1:
1. Sweet Leilani (a skip at the end of the song)
2. Minoi Minoi E
3. Fish and Poi
4. Hawaiian Hospitality

Side 2:
1. My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua Hawaii
2. Hula O Maki
3. Que Linda
4. Tematangi

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Jackie Gleason - Music to Change Her Mind (1956)


Here's another of my Jackie Gleason albums. As always, it's very pleasing mood music and the songs are all familiar. Add Bobby Hackett on trumpet and you can't miss. Enjoy!

Track listing for Jackie Gleason - Music to Change Her Mind:

Side 1:
1. You've Changed
2. Coquette
3. Did I Remember
4. Guilty
5. It's the Talk of the Town
6. My Sin
7. It Was So Beautiful
8. You're My Greatest Love

Side 2:
1. She's Funny That Way
2. All By Myself
3. I'm Glad There is You
4. You and the Night and the Music
5. Dancing In the Dark
6. You Call It Madness
7. Take Me In Your Arms

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Fantastic Strings of Felix Slatkin - Paradise Found (1960)


It's cold here in Dallas and I just don't do well in cold weather (my hats off to those of you who live in really cold climates!). So, in order to make it a little more tolerable, I chose this lovely album of Hawaiian music. Ah, if only to be relaxing on a white sandy beach in Hawaii, listening to the roar of the waves, watching the surfers and sipping on a cold drink while someone plays the ukelele nearby... sigh. See? I feel warmer already!

Well, I found this little gem sometime late last year at the little resale shop down the street. Anytime I see a cover that says "Hawaii", I have to buy the record. I don't care if it's someone I never heard of, or if it's the same songs over and over again. I just have to have it! So, this cover definitely called to me, especially the cut-out and the pages inside. Unfortunately, the inside pages had some water damage and were stuck together, and when I went to pull them apart, they tore, even though I was doing it ever so slowly and carefully. :-( But, the record itself was in excellent condition and thoroughly enjoyable! Oh, and it was recorded in Hawaii!

Track listing for The Fantastic Strings of Felix Slatkin - Paradise Found:

Side 1:
1. Moon of Manakoora
2. My Little Grass Shack
3. My Isle of Golden Dreams
4. Hawaiian Wedding Song
5. The Hukilau Song
6. To You Sweetheart, Aloha

Side 2:
1. Sweet Leilani
2. Little Brown Gal
3. Paradise Found
4. Hiilawe
5. Beyond the Reef
6. Aloha Oe

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Vincent Edwards - Sings (1962)


Here's a record from my celebrity genre, which I found in the HPB bargain bin for only 50 cents. Vince Edwards recorded this during the height of his "Ben Casey" fame. I never saw the show, and I really don't remember Vince Edwards, although I'm sure I've seen him in some old movies or as a guest star on a TV show. Based on his dark rugged looks, I expected his voice to be deep, low, and maybe gruff; I did not expect to hear a tenor. And I think I read someplace that he was discovered by Bing Crosby. All in all, a pleasant record full of the familiar standards. Hmmm... I just realized that I've posted records by several TV doctors - Richard Chamberlain (Young Dr. Kildare), Chad Everett (Medical Center), and now Vince Edwards. I have to say that my favorite is Chad Everett (since he's the only one of the three I remember), but my favorite TV doctor of all time was... Marcus Welby! Too bad Robert Young didn't record an album.

Track listing for Vincent Edwards - Sings:

Side 1:
1. I'll Walk Alone
2. Don't Worry 'Bout Me
3. When I Fall In Love
4. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
5. Try a Little Tenderness
6. How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky)

Side 2:
1. Lonesome Road
2. Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time)
3. As Time Goes By
4. And Now
5. Unchained Melody
6. Everybody's Got a Home But Me

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Cliff Deegan and His Western Riders - Cowboy Favorites


I love, love, LOVE this album cover! That is really the main reason I bought this album. I want a cowgirl outfit like the girl on the cover! I'm planning a dude ranch vacation this year and I think an outfit like that would make me very popular - maybe even catch me a rugged cowboy! I didn't really expect much from the album itself - figured it was just one of those low-budget so-so records. But I really enjoyed it and found myself singing along with the songs I knew. Unfortunately, the song I was really looking forward to hearing has some skips ("Pistol Packin' Mama"), but "A Cowboy Has to Sing" and "El Rancho Grande" make up for it. After listening to "A Cowboy Has to Sing", I just want to yodel. (Anyone have some good yodeling records to share?) And since I speak Spanish fluently and know the words to "El Rancho Grande", listening to this version just cracks me up. Oh, I couldn't find a release date on this, but I'm figuring late 1950s or early 1960s. Gosh, I just can't get enough of that cover! It is definitely going up on my wall - LOVE it! So, I hope you get as much enjoyment from this as I did! (BTW, if anyone can give me some recommendations of some good dude ranches, I'd appreciate it!)

Track listing for Cliff Deegan and His Western Riders - Cowboy Favorites:

Side 1:
1. When Payday Rolls Around
2. Ridin' Down the Canyon
3. Pistol Packin' Mama (contains several skips)
4. Cool Water
5. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
6. Deep In the Heart of Texas (a favorite, of course!)

Side 2:
1. Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle
2. Home On the Range
3. Beside the Rio Grande
4. A Cowboy Has to Sing
5. Red River Valley
6. El Rancho Grande

Sunday, January 09, 2011

The Ray Charles Singers - Something Special for Young Lovers (1964)


Here's one of my favorite choral groups - the Ray Charles Singers. Lately I just haven't been able to get enough of the different choral groups - there just isn't enough time in the day to listen to all the records I want to hear! Besides the fact that this record is by the Ray Charles Singers, I bought it for the cover art, and because it's by Command Records. I don't have too many of the Command Records, but I find that I'm starting to look out for these more and more. One thing I did find puzzling about this particular record is that both the cover and the label say "Stereo", but when I recorded it I didn't see that there were two different tracks. And in some of the songs, the men's voices sound kind of "distant". I'm wondering if maybe the record could have been mislabeled. Odd. Anyway, I still enjoyed this album, especially "Quiet Nights", which is one of my all-time favorite songs. And any album that has "Dominique" on it is fine by me!


1/25/2011 UPDATE: I found the problem with one of my sound settings (don't know how I changed it) and rerecorded this album. It is now in stereo, the way it's supposed to be.

Track listing for Ray Charles Singers - Something Special for Young Lovers:

Side 1:
1. This Could Be the Start of Something
2. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
3. More
4. There! I've Said It Again
5. This Is All I Ask
6. Dominique

Side 2:
1. Hello, Dolly!
2. Quiet Nights
3. Love Me With All Your Heart
4. Charade
5. What Kind of Fool Am I? (contains a skip)
6. Sweet Little Mountain Bird

Thursday, January 06, 2011

Herschel Bernardi - Sings Fiddler On the Roof (1966)


"Fiddler On the Roof" is one of my favorite musicals. I have the movie (on VHS - need to burn it to DVD) and the movie soundtrack (will post at a later date). There are so many songs that I absolutely love - it's hard to pick just one favorite. I have never seen it on the stage, but hope to some day. When I found this record (at my favorite little resale shop down the street), I almost passed it over until I saw that it was Herschel Bernardi. I remember his TV show, "Arnie", and that he was the voice of Charlie the Tuna, but I did not know that he had played Tevye in the stage production. Since I love "celebrity" records, I had to buy this - and at 50 cents, how could I go wrong? Well, the record sounded great and I loved the songs. He introduces each song with a little monologue as "Tevye". Which is your favorite song?

Track listing from Herschel Bernardi - Sings Fiddler On the Roof:

Side 1:
1. Tradition
2. Matchmaker, Matchmaker
3. If I Were a Rich Man
4. Sabbath Prayer
5. Miracle of Miracles

Side 2:
1. To Life
2. Sunrise, Sunset
3. When Messiah Comes
4. Anatevka
5. Fiddler On the Roof

Monday, January 03, 2011

Steve Allen - Around the World (1959)


Happy New Year, everyone! Here's wishing you a happy, prosperous, and healthy 2011!

One of my New Year resolutions is to get back to posting on a regular basis - twice a week (except when I'm on vacation). I had to work a lot of overtime (paid, thankfully) last year, so I was unable to post as much as I would have liked to, but my new job is great and seems like there will be overtime just once in awhile. So, I'm hoping to have more time to dedicate to digitizing my record collection, scanning tons of old negatives, and tending to all my other interests.

So, to start off 2011, I offer you this little gem that I bought last month at my favorite little resale shop down the street (I also bought two Christmas albums, which I'll share during the next Christmas season). It was the cover art that first grabbed my attention to this album (it'll be framed and hanging in my entryway in the next few days), but I also enjoy listening to Steve Allen. I've already posted my two other Steve Allen albums, and I find them very enjoyable and relaxing. Steve takes us on a trip around the world to places such as Mexico, Spain, France, Japan, Germany, and others. So, if you're already planning your vacation for 2011 (I am), give a listen to this album for some ideas as to where you'd like to go.

Track listing for Steve Allen - Around the World:

Side 1:
1. Adios (Mexico)
2. Madre (Spain)
3. When the World Was Young (France)
4. Fight for the Land (England)
5. Danny Boy (Ireland)
6. Auf Wiedersehn (Germany)

Side 2:
1. Holiday in Brussels (Belgium)
2. Non Dimenticar (Italy)
3. Song of India (India)
4. A Midsummer Night's Dream (Japan)
5. The Peanut Vendor (Cuba)
6. U.S.A. (The United States)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Cool Yule Tunes 2010 - A Stax o' Wax Compilation


Have you all finished your Christmas shopping yet? Have you started? ;-)

I braved the crowds this last weekend before Christmas and did my shopping for my family. So, this is my last Christmas post for the year as I'll be visiting my family and friends back in my hometown for the Christmas holiday. But before I sign off for the year, I have to post my annual Christmas compilation! So, I've put together a compilation of some favorite Christmas songs for this year's Cool Yule Tunes 2010. This is just a little token of my appreciation to all of you for visiting my blog and sharing in my love of this type of music and the nostalgia of glorious vinyl.

There's a little bit of everything here and I hope you enjoy the songs I've picked. And, if you don't already have them, click on the "Cool Yule Tunes" label to see the previous three Christmas compilations and download them to have a complete collection!

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and I hope you get to spend it with those you love. I also wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year! See you back here after the New Year!

Track listing for Cool Yule Tunes 2010 - A Stax o' Wax Compilation:

1. Christmas All Over the World - Jim Nabors
2. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - The Three Suns
3. It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas - Kate Smith
4. Sleigh Ride - Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani
5. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Ed Ames
6. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Burt Bacharach
7. The Christmas Song - Carol Burnett
8. Winter Wonderland - Anne Murray
9. Joy to the World - Mannheim Steamroller
10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
11. Santa's Got a Brand New Bag - The Hollyridge Strings
12. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Felix Slatkin
13. Christmas Island - Cyril Stapleton & His Orchestra with Children's Chorus
14. Mele Kalikimaka - Haleloke, featuring Arthur Godfrey on the ukelele
15. Holiday for Bells - Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra
16. Frosty the Snow Man - Vaughan Monroe & His Orchestra
17. Merry, Merry Christmas Baby - Dodie Stevens
18. Deck the Halls - Danny Kaye
19. Silver Bells - Pat Boone
20. White Christmas - Lana Cantrell
21. The Christmas Waltz - Nancy Wilson
22. The Night Before Christmas Song - Gisele MacKenzie
23. Jingle Bells - Sammy Davis Jr.
24. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers - Freddy Martin & His Orchestra
25. Blue Christmas - Ernest Tubbs
26. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Warner Brothers Stars
27. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Ramsey Lewis
28. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus - Jimmy Osmond

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Boots Randolph - Boots and Stockings (1969)


I got this one from the HPB bargain bin either last year or the year before. I loved the title, "Boots and Stockings", and I also love the sax. I took up alto sax in the late 1980s, but had to quit when I got braces for the second time (I had them as a kid, then again as an adult). By the time I got the braces off, I had put the sax in storage (still haven't found it), so I don't play it anymore. Anyway, I do enjoy this album, and I hope you do, too!

Track listing for Boots Randolph - Boots and Stockings:

Side 1:
1. Medley: Santa Claus is Comin' to Town/ Jolly Old St. Nick/ Here Comes Santa Claus
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. Jingle Bells
4. Frosty the Snow Man
5. Sleigh Ride

Side 2:
1. White Christmas
2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4. Silver Bells
5. I'll Be Home for Christmas
6. Greensleeves

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Gisele MacKenzie - Christmas with Gisele (1959)


I found this little gem last year at my favorite little resale store nearby. I bought it because I just loved the cover. I have never heard of Gisele MacKenzie, but one of my coworkers had and he liked her. I did like the album once I listened to it, and here are a few of the liner notes:
In this album, the Canadian-born songstress sings a collection of Christmas songs gathered from all parts of the world.... Gisele is a bewitching combination of gamin and grand lady.
I just love that description of Gisele! Now I have to find other albums by her!


Track listing for Gisele MacKenzie - Christmas with Gisele:

Side 1:
1. Silent Night; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; The Coventry Carol
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. Dans Cette Etable (In This Stable); Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes (The Angels in Our Fields); La Marche Des Rois (The March of the Kings)
4. White Christmas
5. We Three Kings of Orient Are; Good King Wenceslas; Gesu Bambino
6. The Christmas Song

Side 2:
1. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
2. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
3. The Night Before Christmas Song
4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Too Fat for the Chimney
6. Jingle Bells


Click here to go see a video of Gisele singing "White Christmas"! (It wouldn't let me embed the video.)

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Percy Faith - Music of Christmas (1959)


Christmas just would not be Christmas without listening to one of my mom's Christmas albums. My mother was an elementary school teacher for 48 years (she retired in 1985) and was either in charge of or helped with her school's annual Christmas pageant. (Are public schools even allowed to have Christmas pageants anymore???) So, she had a nice collection of Christmas albums which she would use for the pageants. I only have one memory - and it's pretty vague - of one of the pageants and it is of a little girl lip-syncing to "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus". I was probably only 5 or 6 years old at the time, and I thought she was really singing and was very impressed. The only other thing I remember is that it was cold (December in South Texas can be 70 degrees or 50 degrees), and that my father and I had to stand at the back of the auditorium because there were no available chairs. Oh, and my mom also played the piano for some of the Christmas carols. Anyway, this is one of the few Christmas albums that I have that belonged to my mom because some were destroyed in Hurricane Beulah (1967) and some others were stolen from her classroom. I'm glad this one has survived all these years because it's by Percy Faith and his orchestra, which is probably the orchestra that most reminds me of my mom. Enjoy!

Track listing for Percy Faith - Music of Christmas:

Side 1:
1. Joy to the World
2. Silent Night, Holy Night
3. Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly
4. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
5. Good King Wenceslas
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Side 2:
1. The First Noel
2. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming; O Little Town of Bethlehem
3. O Holy Night
4. The Holly and The Ivy; Here We Go A-Caroling
5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
6. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Bert Kaempfert - Christmas Wonderland (1963)


Today's Christmas album is a thrift store find, bought for 50 cents at my favorite little resale/thrift store down the street. I think Bert Kaempfert's music is very danceable, and I think this album is great to play at your holiday party! Interesting cover, too. Enjoy!

Track listing for Bert Kaempfert - Christmas Wonderland:

Side 1:
1. The Little Drummer Boy
2. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
3. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
4. Holiday for Bells
5. Winter Wonderland
6. Children's Christmas Dream

Side 2:
1. Sleigh Ride
2. White Christmas
3. Toy Parade
4. Christmas Wonderland
5. Jingo Jango
6. Jumpin' Jiminy Christmas

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

The Ray Charles Singers - Winter Wonderland (1956)


The second Christmas album offering this year is an album I found in the HPB bargain bin earlier this year - for only 50 cents! I bought it for two reasons - the cover and the Ray Charles Singers. I love choral groups like this, especially the vocal arrangements. This album has some of the usual holiday songs, plus a couple I had never heard before. Here's some info from the liner notes as to who the singers and musicians are:
The Ray Charles Singers heard in this recording are Lillian Clark, Kathleen Wallace, Lois Winter, Miriam Workman, Robert Bollinger, Jerry Duane, Edwin Lindstrom, Eugene Lowell, Arthur Malvin, Alan Sokoloff, Michael Stewart, and Eugene Steck. Mr.Charles himself is heard in the solo in WHEN WINTER COMES. The outstanding musicians who accompany the vocal group are Dick Hyman, piano (especially notable are his solos in WHEN WINTER COMES A-CALLIN' and SNOWFALL); Nick Perito, accordion; Tony Mottola, guitar; Robert Rosengarden, drums; John Zimmermann, bass; and Pearl Chertock, harp. (My note - I'm sure you see some familiar names there!)

Track listing for The Ray Charles Singers - Winter Wonderland:

Side 1:
1. Winter Wonderland
2. Button Up Your Overcoat
3. June in January
4. When Winter Comes
5. Snowfall
6. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

Side 2:
1. Winter & Theme for Indoor Sports
2. Moonlight in Vermont
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
4. When Winter Comes A-Callin'
5. Jingle Bells
6. By the Fireside

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Andy Williams - Christmas Present (1974)


Hi, all! Took a little hiatus due to my work schedule, but I started a new job (hoping for NO or very little overtime) and I'm ready to get back at sharing my love of music with you! So, as we approach another Christmas season, let's get this going!

I remember buying this album with my own money from my allowance back in 1974 or 1975. I had just seen Andy Williams' Christmas special titled "Christmas Present" and absolutely loved the show. I especially liked the version of "Christmas Bells" sung by Andy's wife, Claudine Longet, and their daughter, Noelle. When I saw the record at the store, I just had to have it, but I had to convince my mother to let me buy it because it was "expensive" - $4.58 was a lot for a kid to spend on a record back then. Well, when I got it home, I was disappointed in the record (but I didn't dare tell my mother) because I had expected it to be a soundtrack of the show, but it was just Andy singing all the songs from the show. Now, of course, I love this record and Andy's singing, but I would still love to have a copy of that Christmas special, especially to see Claudine and Noelle singing "Christmas Bells". (So, if anyone knows if this show is available on DVD, please let me know!) I hope this album gets you all in the Christmas spirit!

Track listing for Andy Williams - Christmas Present:

Side 1:
1. Christmas Present
2. Joy to the World
3. O Little Town of Bethlehem
4. Christmas Bells
5. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
6. Ave Maria (Schubert)

Side 2:
1. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. Ave Maria (Gounod)
5. What Child Is This
6. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
7. The Lord's Prayer

Here's a public service announcement that Andy did around the time "Christmas Present" aired on TV:

Sunday, October 03, 2010

The Arthur Murray TV Dance Orchestra - Arthur Murray's Music for Dancing (1958)


Here's another record that I bought back during my ballroom dancing days. It's got some really great songs for dancing fox trots, waltzes, and some latin dances. They're not too fast so a beginner can easily keep the rhythm while learning to dance. And if you don't like or know how to dance, the songs are just great for listening!

Track listing for Arthur Murray's Music for Dancing:

Side 1:
1. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm - Fox Trot
2. Deep Purple - Fox Trot
3. It's a Big Wide Wonderful World - Waltz
4. When My Dream Boat Come Home - Rock 'n' Roll
5. You're a Heavenly Thing - Rock 'n' Roll
6. When We Do the Cha Cha Cha - Cha Cha

Side 2:
1. Lisbon Antigua - Cha Cha
2. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Rumba
3. The Fence (El Merengue Empaliza) - Merengue
4. Uno! (One More Kiss) - Tango
5. Sway (Quien Sera) - Mambo
6. Anna - Samba

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Fool on the Hill (1968)


I was listening to "When Summer Turns to Snow" the other day (now that summer is over and winter looms ahead), so I thought I'd share this album. LOVE the whole Brazilian sound that became popular in the mid-1960s. Something interesting about this album is that this is the second version of the band. Sergio Mendes got rid of all the original band members, with the exception of lead singer Lani Hall, for this album. I don't know what the reasoning behind that was, and if anybody is in the know, please do tell. Anyway, I do love the sound of this band, and Lani's voice is always a pleasure.

Track listing for Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Fool on the Hill:

Side 1:
1. Fool on the Hill
2. Festa
3. Casa Forte
4. Canto Triste
5. Upa, Neguinho

Side 2:
1. Lapinha
2. Scarborough Fair
3. When Summer Turns to Snow
4. Laia Ladaia (Reza)

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Mantovani - Mantovani Film Encores Volume 1 (1957)


This is one of my mom's albums that I listened to many a Saturday when growing up. My mom loved to play her records on her General Electric console stereo almost every Saturday while doing some house cleaning, or working on lesson plans, or making banners for our church. This was definitely one of her favorites. The album jacket is very worn - masking tape all around the edges, major scuffing, plus my mother's handwriting all over - so the picture above is one I found on the internet. But the album itself is in really good shape. My mom did try to take good care of (most of) her records (still trying to figure out what that clear red liquid was that she used to clean them). Anyway, both my mom and I really liked this record because they are all songs from movies. And besides a love of music, a love of movies is something else we shared. My mom's favorite from this album was "Theme from 'Limelight'".

Track listing for Mantovani Film Encores Volume 1:

Side 1:
1. My Foolish Heart
2. Unchained Melody
3. Over the Rainbow
4. Summertime in Venice
5. Intermezzo
6. Three Coins in the Fountain

Side 2:
1. Love is a Many Splendored Thing
2. Laura
3. High Noon
4. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
5. September Song
6. Theme from "Limelight"

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Arthur Lyman - Yellow Bird (1960)


It's a beautiful, lazy Sunday in Dallas, Texas, and this is the perfect album to go with it! So easy to listen to, to read by, to just sit on the porch sipping a cool one... ahhh! Arthur Lyman is truly one of the kings of exotica. If you're a long-time fan/collector of exotica, then you probably already have this one, but if you're just starting your collection, then you definitely need this one. Enjoy! (BTW, if you think some titles are misspelled, I just typed them the way they are listed on the back cover.)

Track listing for Arthur Lyman - Yellow Bird:

Side 1:
1. Havah Nagilah
2. Yellow Bird
3. Ravel's Bolero
4. Autumn Leaves
5. Arrive Derci Roma
6. Sweet and Lovely

Side 2:
1. Bamboo Tamboo
2. Andalusia
3. Adventures in Paradise
4. Granada
5. September Song
6. John Henry