Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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

12 comments:

Unknown said...

You're so young... :-)
I'm old enough to remember the show during it's original run - really, the best two things about the show was the music, and Cricket (Connie Stevens)... okay, make that the 3 best things--

litlgrey said...

Someone posted this before but I lost it.

Thus, thanks!

Esther said...

Hi, lungworms!

Thanks for calling me "young"! And thanks for stopping by to listen!

Esther said...

Hi, litlgrey!

Glad you found it again!

HarveyMidnight said...

Wow... the bouncy songs are really bouncy, the bluesy stuff is smokey and sweet. Thanks for this!

litlgrey said...

Ah... the blog which posted three Frankie Ortega LPs on the Jubilee and Imperial labels was Ernie (Not Bert).

I have checked, and the download links remain active, and with huge cover scans for each.

The Piano Styling Of Frankie Ortega:

http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2007/05/frank-frankie-frankest.html

77 Sunset Strip:

http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2007/01/kookin-for-kookie.html

Swingin' Abroad:

http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2007/05/more-from-frankie-errr-i-mean-frank.html

Esther said...

Great! Thanks!

Ernie said...

Yeah, that was me. I've got another LP somewhere, but after the first three, I was pretty burned out on Mr. Ortega. This one is really the best of the bunch by a long shot. I think it was the contributions by Sy Oliver, to tell you the truth. And that great cover doesn't hurt matters one little bit!

WOODY said...

Hi Esther,
many thanks for Ortega & Oliver on "77 Sunset Strip".
I remember very well this TV-Series which had been broadcasted here in Germany too.
Not only the jokes by "Kookie" but the fresh and swinging music too remains with positive reminiscences.
Greetings!
Woody

vilstef said...

Esther, would you share the Warren Barker 77 Sunset Strip album? I watched the show when I was under 7 years old. Thought Stu was alright and Kookie a narcissistic jerk. I think the music steered me to jazz even at that young age. Again, thanks for all the great music.

Esther said...

Hi, vilstef!

I don't remember who's blog I downloaded the Warren Barker-77 Sunset Strip from, and I don't have the original link, so I uploaded it here - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4ICU89LP.

Thanks to the original uploader for Warren Barker's 77 Sunset Strip!

Esther

Bob said...

Fine LP, music inspired by the show (except theme), not a soundtrack score. Sy Oliver makes this one special.