Mantovani - Latin Rendezvous (1963)

This is another of the albums I bought when I was doing the ballroom dancing thing. I do love Mantovani. His music was the epitome of easy-listening! I seem to recall that we even danced to some of the songs on this album at the dance studio where I took lessons. Mantovani was also one of my mom's favorites, and sometime down the road I'll post the Mantovani album that belonged to my mom. But right now, I'm going to go have a glass of red wine - that album cover is making me thirsty.

Track listing for Mantovani - Latin Rendezvous:

Side 1:
1. Granada
2. Malaguena
3. Cielito Lindo
4. Be Mine Tonight
5. La Paloma
6. Siboney

Side 2:
1. Andalucia
2. Maria Elena
3. Perfidia
4. Estrellita
5. Amapola
6. Espana

Arthur Lyman - Hawaiian Sunset (1959)

Time to take a trip to Hawaii - musically, that is! Well, here's a great album by Arthur Lyman, one of the masters of exotica. The music is absolutely wonderful. Close your eyes and listen to this album and you'll be transported to paradise, the Hawaiian Islands, where "the native art of living gracefully, simply and happily seems to extend to all who visit or stay."

Track listing for Arthur Lyman - Hawaiian Sunset:

Side 1:
1. Hawaiian War Chant
2. Sweet Leilani
3. Imi Au Ia Oe
4. My Tane
5. Whispering Reef
6. Na Lei O Hawaii

Side 2:
1. Hiilawe
2. Isle of Golden Dreams
3. Mapuana
4. Waipio
5. Kawohikukapulani
6. Ke Kali Nei Au
7. Harbor Lights

Fred Lowery - Walking Along Kicking the Leaves... (1957)

Here's another album by a fellow Texan (in my previous post, Trini Lopez is originally from Dallas). Fred Lowery, who was born in Palestine, Texas, lost most of his vision when he was just a toddler and later became known as "the blind whistler". He even had a radio show here in Dallas. He was also the one who whistles in the theme song from "The High and the Mighty". I did not know that until I bought this album and read up on him. Turns out that this album is considered THE whistling album of all time. I have to admit that when I bought it (for the cover), I had no idea who Fred Lowery was and was curious about the "whistling with orchestra" and thought, "Here's something different." Well, I ended up really liking it! BTW, I couldn't find a date on this album, but I figure it was from the 1950s. If anyone know the release date, please let me know! (Thanks to Gary for finding a site that listed the date.)

Track listing for Fred Lowery - Walking Along Kicking the Leaves:

Side 1:
1. Walking Along (Kicking The Leaves)
2. Indian Love Call
3. Tennessee Waltz
4. Far Away Places
5. The Moon of Manakoora
6. Sunrise Serenade

Side 2:
1. Happy Hobo
2. Pagan Love Song
3. The Lonesome Road
4. Sleepy Lagoon
5. Moon Love
6. Sentimental Journey

Trini Lopez - The Folk Album (1965)

This is yet another gem I rescued from the HPB bargain bin. I don't remember my mother ever playing any of Trini's music (and she didn't have any of his records), but I do remember her mentioning his name and that she liked the way he sang. I also vaguely remember Trini doing a TV commercial - for juice or something. Oh, and I think I remember seeing him in a couple of movies - a war movie and a cowboy movie. Anyway, although I don't recall much of Trini from my growing-up years, I do love his voice and songs! And I especially love this album of folk songs. Plus, he's from Dallas!

Track listing for Trini Lopez - The Folk Album:

Side 1:
1. Lemon Tree
2. Pretty Eyes
3. Greenback Dollar
4. Puff (The Magic Dragon)
5. I Love Your Beautiful Brown Eyes
6. Blowin' In The Wind

Side 2:
1. We'll Sing In The Sunshine
2. Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)
3. Crooked Little Man
4. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
5. Michael
6. This Train

Julie London - Julie is Her Name (1955)

Here is an absolute classic! If you don't have this Julie London album in your collection, then you must get it! Julie is sexy, sultry, and sizzling on her first album - WOW! One of the things I really like about this album is that she is accompanied only by a guitar and a bass. I can't say enough about how great this album is, so I'll just quote the first line of the liner notes:

"Julie London might best be described as the girl with the 'come hither' voice."

Julie married actor Jack Webb of "Dragnet" TV fame, and later divorced him. Then she married jazz musician Bobby Troup, with whom she co-starred on the 1970's TV series "Emergency!" (she played Nurse Dixie McCall). Interestingly enough, the producer of "Emergency!" was Julie's ex-husband, Jack Webb! I guess they remained friends.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one!

Track listing for Julie London - Julie is Her Name (Link has been deleted. Go buy CD on Amazon.) :

Side 1:
1. Cry Me A River
2. I Should Care
3. I'm In The Mood For Love
4. I'm Glad There Is You
5. Can't Help Lovin' That Man
6. I Love You

Side 2:
1. Say It Isn't So
2. It Never Entered My Mind
3. Easy Street
4. S' Wonderful
5. No Moon At All
6. Laura
7. Gone With The Wind

Here's a video clip of Julie singing "Cry Me A River" from her 1964 show:

Enoch Light and The Light Brigade - I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha's (1958)

This is another album I've had for some time. I bought it when I was doing the ballroom dancing thing. Latin dances were my favorite - cha cha, rumba, mambo, etc. - so I bought a lot of records with music for those dances. Enoch Light is pretty well known so here's one for you!

Track listing for Enoch Light - I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha's:

Side 1:
1. I Want to Be Happy Cha Cha
2. Tremendo Cha Cha
3. Tea for Two Cha Cha
4. Lover Cha Cha
5. Yes Sir, That's My Baby Cha Cha
6. The Sheik Cha Cha

Side 2:
1. Chiquita Cha Cha
2. Sweet and Gentle
3. Cara Mia Cha Cha
4. How High the Moon Cha Cha
5. Patricia
6. Guaglione

Brenda Lee - All The Way (1961)

I'm not sure how I got this album. Either I bought it or I inherited it from my uncle (my mom's younger brother). I'm thinking it was the latter. This just seems like the kind of music he liked. And I do like Brenda Lee - Little Miss Dynamite! And she was still a teenager when she recorded this album - wow! One of the reasons that I like Brenda Lee (besides her talent) is that her voice and her songs transport me to another time. I've mentioned before how much I love nostalgia - especially the 1950s and 60s - and this album just takes me back there. If you like Brenda Lee and don't already have this album, then you need to get it!

Track listing for Brenda Lee - All The Way:

Side 1:
1. Lover, Come Back to Me
2. All The Way
3. Dum Dum
4. On the Sunny Side of the Street
5. Talkin' 'Bout You
6. Someone to Love Me (The Prisoner's Song)

Side 2:
1. Do I Worry (Yes I Do)
2. Tragedy
3. Kansas City
4. Eventually
5. Speak to Me Pretty
6. The Big Chance

Here's a video clip of Brenda singing "Lover, Come Back to Me":

Lorne Greene - Young At Heart (1963)

Here's another of my celebrity vocal albums. I have several Lorne Greene albums - loved him as Ben Cartwright in "Bonanza" and as Commander Adama in the original "Battlestar Galactica". I think one reason I like Lorne Greene is because I associate him with those TV shows, which I watched with my father - good memories. Well, this is Lorne's debut album and he sings a lot of familiar standards. I find it to be a very enjoyable album!

Track listing for Lorne Greene - Young At Heart:

Side 1:
1. I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore
2. September Song
3. Young At Heart
4. You Make Me Feel So Young
5. Hello, Young Lovers
6. Something's Gotta Give

Side 2:
1. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
2. Just in Time
3. Young and Foolish
4. Speak Low
5. As Time Goes By
6. The Second Time Around

Morton Gould and His Orchestra - Coffee Time (1958)

Here's another treasure I picked up from the HPB bargain bin. I'm not sure how long I've had this, but I'm pretty sure I bought it for the cover. I have several Morton Gould albums, so I like the music, too. I think my favorite on here is "Mexican Hat Dance". The way it's played reminds me of the old Tom and Jerry cartoons - remember how they would always incorporate classical music or other famous traditional music into the cartoon adventures? Well, the entire album is very pleasant to listen to, so go get it now!

Track listing for Morton Gould - Coffee Time:

Side 1:
1. Mexican Hat Dance
2. Serenade in the Night
3. Laura
4. Hora Staccato
5. The Man I Love
6. Serenata

Side 2:
1. Jamaican Rumba
2. Solitude
3. Besame Mucho
4. Tropical
5. Orchids in the Moonlight
6. Manhattan Serenade

Summer Compilation Vol.3 (2009)

Happy First Day of Summer! Summer is my favorite season, and I don't care how hot it gets. I love the bright colors, the ice cold drinks, the lazy days, wearing shorts and flip-flops, and the wonderful memories it brings. So, in celebration of the First Day of Summer, I offer you my annual summer songs compilation - a compilation of songs that all have the word "summer" in the title. So, grab a cold drink and celebrate summer!

Track listing for Summer Compilation Vol.3 (2009):

1. Here Comes Summer - Cliff Richard
2. Gemini: Summer Song - Dick Jacobs and his Orchestra
3. Endless Summer Nights - Richard Marx
4. When Summer Turns to Snow - Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
5. Summer Side of Life - Gordon Lightfoot
6. Summertime in Venice - Mantovani and his Orchestra
7. Summer Wind - Michael Buble
8. Theme from "Summer of '42" (The Summer Knows) - Johnny Mathis
9. Summertime - Ricky Nelson
10. Summer Breeze - The Isley Brother
11. Summertime Blues - The Stray Cats
12. Some Kind of Summer - David Cassidy
13. Theme from "A Summer Place" - Santo and Johnny
14. The Things We Did Last Summer - Shelley Fabares
15. I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer - Stevie Wonder
16. The Green Leaves of Summer - Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass
17. Summer Means Fun - The Fantastic Baggys
18. Summer in the City - Buddy Morrow
19. Last Days of Summer - The Blue Hawaiians
20. Summertime USA - The Pixies Three
21. Summertime's Calling Me - The Catalinas
22. The Sweet Sounds of Summer - The Shangri-Las
23. Keep An Eye on Summer - The Beach Boys

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

Fred Astaire Dance Studio Orchestra - Merengues and Mambos (1959)

This is another of the records I bought when I began ballroom dancing. I know I bought it because it was the Fred Astaire Dance Studio Orchestra, and the first studio I danced at was a Fred Astaire Dance Studio here in Dallas! Unfortunately, there aren't any more Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Dallas - they all closed (although I think there are some in the Houston area). Anyway, I especially liked the latin dances, and mambo is my very favorite. I bought this at my favorite place (Half-Price Books), and the free dance instruction booklet was long gone. Oh, well. Anyway, if you like to mambo or merengue, then you need this album!

Track listing for Fred Astaire Dance Studio Orchestra - Merengues and Mambos:

Side 1:
1. The Ingenue Mambo
2. Timbales Mambo
3. El Guapo
4. The Panther Mambo
5. Top Hat Mambo
6. Mambo Loco

Side 2:
1. Merengue Merengue
2. Haitian Merengue
3. Pineapple Merengue
4. Hop Skip Merengue
5. Sliding Merengue
6. Si Si Merengue

Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra - The King Plays Some Aces (1958)

This is one of the early additions to my record collection. Before 1987, the records I bought were the rock, soft rock, and pop that was popular at the time. Sure, I had grown up listening to my mom's big band and easy listening records, but I certainly didn't buy that kind of music. Until 1987, that is. In 1987, I accidentally discovered a local radio station that played "big bands and great singers". At first, I was angry that someone had messed with my radio at work, but as I heard the songs, I realized how cool it was. Then I entered a radio contest and won some free ballroom dance lessons. The world of music just opened up to me and I started working on my current record collection. (Needless to say, my mother was very happy that I now liked "real" music - like the kind she liked.) So, my early purchases were mostly big band or the kind of music that we danced to at the dance studio. The latin dances became my forte, so I started buying a lot of records of latin dance music. Of course, I had to buy some Xavier Cugat records! Again, before this the only thing I knew about Xavier Cugat was that Charo was married to him, because she would often comment about him, and that he was much older than she was. Oh, and something about him carrying around a little Chihuahua dog. When I finally bought one of his records (at HPB, of course!), it was this one, and I was hooked. I do love me some Cugat!

Track listing for Xavier Cugat - The King Plays Some Aces:

Side 1:
1. Oye Negra
2. Danse des Mirlitons
3. Carioca
4. Night Must Fall
5. Linda Mujer
6. Cuban Mambo

Side 2:
1. Green Eyes
2. Chiu Chiu
3. Danse Arabe
4. Baia
5. Mambo No. 5
6. Adios

Nat King Cole and The Trio - After Midnight (1956)

Yet another gem I rescued from the HPB bargain bin - and what a gem it is! This is an absolutely awesome record. I mean, how can you go wrong with Nat King Cole? And I really liked it when he performed with the Trio. Superb. I think I've said it all. If you don't already have this album, get it now!

Track listing for Nat King Cole and The Trio - After Midnight:

Side 1:
1. Just You, Just Me
2. Sweet Lorraine
3. Sometimes I'm Happy
4. Caravan
5. It's Only A Paper Moon
6. You're Looking At Me

Side 2:
1. Lonely One
2. Don't Let It Go To Your Head
3. I Know That You Know
4. Blame It On My Youth
5. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
6. Route 66

Here's a video clip of Nat and the Trio singing "Route 66":

The Ray Charles Singers - Songs For Latin Lovers (1965)

Here's another of the treasures I found in the HPB bargain bin, and it was the album artwork that prompted me to buy it. Of course, after listening to it, I loved it! I like this type of music - very smooth, melodic, and rhythmic. I am transported back to the mid-1960s when I listen to this - love it! This is a great album to play at your next cocktail party. And, it's the perfect album to listen to on a lazy Sunday afternoon such as today!

Track listing for The Ray Charles Singers - Songs For Latin Lovers:

Side 1:
1. Song of the Jet (Samba Do Aviao)
2. My Love, Forgive Me (Amore, Scusami)
3. Maria Elena
4. No More Blues (Chega De Saudade)
5. To You
6. Adios

Side 2:
1. Desafinado (Slightly Out of Tune)
2. You're Mine (I Ricordi Della Sera)
3. Amo, Amas, Amamus
4. Carnival (Manha De Carnaval)
5. My Guitar and My Song
6. Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)

Pat Boone - Pat (1956)

Okay, I'm guilty. I love Pat Boone records. I love his smooth voice - and his white shoes! I think I first heard of Pat Boone when I was a little girl and he and his family did a TV commercial for juice or milk or something (I don't remember what exactly - I didn't really pay attention). But when I first really saw and heard Pat Boone, it was on a late night movie called "Bernadine" (even as a kid, I was hooked on "old" movies). I immediately liked him - his clean-cut looks and his singing (this was way before I became a punk rocker). Of course, Pat Boone was the last thing on my mind as I entered my teenage years, and I definitely thought he was a major "square". But then as a young adult when I bought my first Sony Walkman, I got a free cassette (courtesy of Reader's Digest) that had various artists on it. One of those artists was Pat Boone and the song was "Friendly Persuasion". I liked Pat again. And as time has gone by, I've liked his records more and more. And I really like this record - it's pretty rockin'!

Track listing for Pat Boone - Pat:

Side 1:
1. Flip, Flop and Fly
2. Pledging My Love
3. Money Honey
4. Tomorrow Night
5. Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
6. Shake A Hand

Side 2:
1. Honey Hush
2. Please Send Me Someone To Love
3. I'm In Love Again
4. Rock Around The Clock
5. Shot Gun Boogie
6. Five, Ten, Fifteen Hours

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