Floripa Mi

Mercury records was pulling a fast one with today’s album by calling it “Latin American Rhythms”—there is none of the easily digestible mambo, cha cha, or samba to be found here, despite the frenzied look of the cover. Exactly where this folk music is from is vague, though Argentina and Paraguay are mentioned in the liner notes.

Here is the track list dutifully transcribed from the album cover and their subsequent translations from Spanish, per Google translator:


Anatuyense => Anatuyense
Che Valle Mi - My Che Valle
Floripa Mi - My Floripa
La Del Boulevard - From the Boulevard
Mi Pabellon - My Hall
Malaguena - Malaguena
Mi Sanjuanina - My San Juan
Mimosa - Mimosa
Morena Resa Ivoti - Morena Ivoti Resa
Naranjitay - Naranjitay
Nde Resa Cuarajhi'ame - Nde Resa Cuarajhi'ame
Pilarcita - Pilarcita
Recuerdo de Mar del Plata - Recuerdo de Mar del Plata
Ycua Potrero - Ycua Potrero


Floripa? Cuarajhi’ame? I plugged it into Portuguese, Latvian just for fun. Nada. The Google “detect language” braintrust decided it was Italian (high fives all around, Google!). Possibly it’s something not available through Google translator, such as Cuzco Quechuas or Skagit-Snohomish. Or maybe it needs to be passed along to some Navajo for code-breaking?

More to the point it was probably transcribed by someone with an interesting form of dyslexia, from original text written with poor penmanship (as in this photo).

I even tried a random anagram app in the hopes of clarification: Ycua Potrero = A Coyote Purr = Rotary Coupe = Opera Outcry = Your Cape Rot

Bottom line: I can listen to quiet folky music like this only on a weekend morning, over a large pot of Yerba mate, when I have the patience for low-key. It certainly wouldn’t last in my iPod, most of which is noisy and jangly (much like rattling keys to amuse an attention span-deficient infant) And, the harp (or “Indian arpa” as the liner notes helpfully offer) kept reminding me of the irritating Appalachian dulcimer music that’s played in giant antique malls.

Hey maybe that’s what the language is....Appalachian?

Latin American Rhythms - The Guaranis: Mercury MG 20337

Live from the Pomp Room in Phoenix…it’s Tondalaya Lipschitz!

For you Rustyholics, it’s another entry from the Pride of Phoenix, Miss Rusty Warren. I really have no idea why this particular performance was chosen to be immortalized on vinyl…maybe they had all the recording equipment set up, and what the hey, it’s been recorded, so let’s just release it, warts and all. It undoubtedly would have helped if I had done what most of her audience did, and slam down 5 or 6 Mai Tais during the performance.

“It’s like at Girls’ School, you remember the rules…lights out at 9, candles out at 11...”

That’s the only laugh out loud moment on the whole album, at least for me. And some of the limericks at the end of side 2, but it’s a pretty long wait before getting there.

At the end of the set, she says, “If you liked the show, my name is Rusty Warren...if you didn’t like it, my name is Tondalaya Lipschitz”. Since I didn’t care for the entire album...I’m also offering two of the songs I DID enjoy (kinda), just over nine minutes of solid entertainment value. What a timesaver!

EDIT:
I'm only leaving up the quick Rusty fix so you can get a taste of the album: Two Songs For Sinners. The entire album is still available on CD, along with te original "Knockers Up!"--at Rusty Warren's own website, so I will no longer be offering it here.

Blue Starr

Kay Starr began as a big band vocalist, burned out her voice from overwork, then returned full strength as a solo act.
These over-the-top torch songs suit the husky edge to her voice--my favorite songs are "Little White Lies", the soulful "I Really Don't Want to Know", and "You're Driving Me Crazy" (with its "Moten Swing" background vocals, brilliant)

Blue Starr - Kay Starr RCA Victor LPM-1549

It's a Lonesome Old Town (When You're Not Around)
You're Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do?)
The House is Haunted (By the Echo of Your Last Good-Bye)
We Three (My Echo, My Shadow & Me)
I Really Don't Want to Know

Blue Starr
Wedding Bells
It's Funny to Everyone But Me
Little White Lies
Just Like a Butterfly (That's Caught in the Rain)
Blue & Sentimental

Several of these songs turn up on the "Best of the RCA Years" compilation, which may or may not be going out of print. If you like this album, you should go buy the entire best of CD.

This Is Calypso!

If there are any of the original calypso fans still checking in here, stop by Balthazar in Recordville for some REAL stuff somewhere just between calypso and soca by King Fighter, Mighty Duke, Canary (who I'd never heard before, but will want to hear again), Blakey (ditto).

My Dog Has Fleas

There is so much to love about today's offering, beginning with the title: "Dave Rose Styled Stereo". The liner notes sing the praises of composer/arranger David Rose, whose "Holiday For Strings" is a well-known classic: "His greatness as an arranger is shown by the development of his 'My Dog Has Fleas"--this starts from the basic tuning of the ukelele and Mr. Rose has developed it into one of the most played semi-concert selections everywhere." Now THAT'S ingenuity!

You KNOW this one would have remained in the bin were it not for song titles such as the aforementioned "My Dog Has Fleas", "Spanish Onion", and "Da Easter Time" (which shows up on the album label as "Da Easta Time".) Undoubtedly an old Negro spiritual I've never come across before.

Side 2 was pretty much a wash, too many skips, but it's just some lame waltzes anyway. The good stuff is on side 1.


Rondo-lette records....a close competitor to Spin-o-rama records in the quality department, no doubt. I'm guessing they were tiptoe-ing around copyright issues, by calling album "Dave Rose Styled Stereo". And all that fawning over the composer in the liner notes, and the bandleader, Ira Wright, barely warrants mention. Poor Ira, as if the moniker "Ira" isn't enough for one mortal to bear.


Then of course the mall dealer's choice of sticker is an extra plus...obviously a relic before medical privacy acts. "Employ Epileptics"....should I go out of my way to try to employ epileptics, and note my preference in the classified ad? "Seeking School bus driver for winding mountainous country roads. Epileptics preferred".

Dave Rose Styled Stereo - Ira Wright & his Orchestra

Library Music-o-palooza

Some great vintage library music landed in my inbox yesterday....1960s Capitol Media Music, including Henrik Nielsen's Zodiak Signs from 1968 and Southern 78s and 45s. Composers include Roger Roger, Nino Nardini, Phillipe Pares, and Frank Sterling.

Thanks to the anonymous friend of this blog for sharing with the group!

A Man Called Shlomo, and Other Music You Won't Want To Download

Time to blow off some music I don't like, and neither will you.....


I grew up in Evanston IL, and on Jewish holidays when I was in grade school, there were maybe three of us goyim attending class. I was so jealous of my Jewish girlfriends that they threw me a Bas Mitzvah in the girl's bathroom that no one used, way down by the auditorium--Oneg Shabbat (which they told me means "eats afterwards") and all. (I can still recite the שמע ישראל, or Sh'ma Yisroel--I think it's stored in the same part of my brain as the lyrics to the Super Chicken theme song) So since I am an honorary member of the Tribe, I'm allowed to say that this album is perfectly awful. Reasons I bought it: sealed vinyl from 1968 for a buck....the title "I Heard the Wall Singing" (yes I know what is referred to but it's still funny anyway)...and the inherent joy of seeing the name Shlomo in my iTunes. But the bottom line remains that it's Israeli folk music, which is ultimately a painful experience.
Oh well. Maybe one day I can pick up one of the snappier sounding albums advertised on the back cover, such as Hershele "The Boy Wonder Cantor" Sings or Meir Levy Sings Fourteen Hebrew Songs of the Orient.

Shlomo Carlebach "I Heard the Wall Singing" Vol. II (Vol. II!)


I haven't had much luck with Country music albums lately, but the lure of such titles as "Motel Time Again" and "Pedal Pattle" were too much to resist. I'll just have to try harder next time. I couldn't even bear to put the needle down on side 2 of this pedal steel snoozefest, sorry. If you want more than the four song sampler offered here, send me media mail postage $$ and the album's all yours.

The Hit Sounds - Lloyd Green


And lastly, for 33 1/3 cents I thought this Dutch children's record might be mildly entertaining. Wrong. I nearly had to chew off my own leg to escape the bear trap that is this record. Proof positive that Dutch children can be at least as insufferable as American children. Needless to say, attempting to record side 2 would have been suicidal folly.

Zingen in een Feest - Herman Broekhuizen 60 Kinderliedjes Het Avro Kinderkoor (which Google translator tells me means "The twelfth trimester is not too late to consider partial birth abortion".)

hey smile FITNESS iS FUN

Hey Li’l Fattie! Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Me neither, I’m perfect just the way I am. But just in case you’d like to once again fit into clothing that uses less fabric than the tarp that covers Wrigley Field during sudden cloudbursts—I have the perfect exercise album for you!

“But Ange”, I hear you whine, “I only want to exercise to a yammering woman backed by a swingin’ cha cha jazz combo who regularly punctuates her spiel with a very Pennsylvania Dutchie “HEY” and reminds me often to tighten my sphincters (plural)!”

Your prayers have been answered with the 1966 classic “hey smile FITNESS iS FUN”, featuring the inspirational yet peppy bowl-cutted Arlene Zupp. As the liner notes tell us, “....if you are bogged down with “LOVE KNOBS”, “SADDLE BAGS”, “ENGLISH MUFFINS”, “PROTRUDING ABDOMINALS, or a “DOWAGERS CAPE”, this record will not only explain what they are, but also how to rid yourself of them.” I think I missed that part of the album, possibly when the microwave was signaling the toothsome readiness of my mid-mid-morning snack, or perhaps it was masked by my chewing sounds while consuming an entire Chess pie.

Here are some of the exercises you’ll learn…..

“You’ve swallowed a flagpole”
“Your chest is glued to the floor with Elmer’s glue” (accept no substitutes)
“Make a two-legged table”
"Pretend You're Looking at Your Seat, Is There Any Dust on It?"
“Grab those sphincters and turn blue”
“Feel the goosebumps go up and down your spine, HEY!”


Is that her SON she’s enlisted to help? Paging Dr. Howard, Dr. Freud, Dr. Howard!

hey smile FITNESS iS FUN – Arlene Zupp Physfits PF11-5000


Theme song – Fitness is Fun
Warm Up – Caliente, Hey
Waist, Midriff, Arms, & Shoulders – Mango Swing
Abdominals – Softalero
Pelvic Area & Hips – How ‘Bout That

Inner Thighs – Turn Blue Cha-Cha
Correctives – Portrait
Tension – The Physfits
Rolling Pin – Bottoms’ Zupp
Cool Off – You’re Where You Want To Be

The Girls Want to Rock You

1950s R & B vocals from Ann Cole, Little Esther, Maxine Brown, Faye Adams, and Beverly Ann Gibson.

Golden Memories of the Past Vol. II
Musictone 7001

It Hurts to Be In Love - Beverly Ann Gibson
It's Nice To Know - Faye Adams
Love's Burning Fire - Beverly Ann Gibson
Feel Like I Wanna Cry - Little Esther
All In My Mind - Maxine Brown
Brand New House - Ann Cole

Funny - Maxine Brown
The Chains - Little Esther (has a couple of skips at the beginning, but included because it's a good song
That's All Right - Faye Adams
(Light A Candle by Beverly Ann Gibson has too many skips on the song to include--see, I DO have some standards)
A Love of My Own - Ann Cole
Shake a Hand - Faye Adams

Below: Faye Adams singing "Every Day"

Jonah Doesn't Dig Chicks

No psychotic ramblings today--just a post of a nice little jazzy album by Jonah Jones which does not contain one of his best known tunes "I Dig Chicks", sorry. Suck it up. This one has merit, too.

Jumpin' With Jonah Capitol 1039

No Moon at All
Baby Won't You Please Come Home
Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home
Blues Don't Care (Who's Got 'Em)
Night Train
Jumpin' With Jonah
Just a Gigolo
It's a Good Day
Dance With Me
Lots of Luck Charley
A Kiss to Build a Dream On
That's a Plenty



My copy was originally purchased at Polk Brothers--was that a national chain, or only in the Chicago area? The $2.88 price tag reminds us of a day when pennies were actually meaningful. As John Waters said--the only thing pennies are good for these days is for insulting waiters.

Sexcessfully Yours

Party records. Lameass juvenile gobsmackingly unfunny party records. LOVE this crap!!!!

There is no indication of the "talent" represented on this album oh so naughtily titled "Sexcessfully Yours" (whatever the hell THAT might mean). I can't blame the performers for not wanting to take credit for this mess. It's supposed to be baggy pants burlesque comedy, but the weird thing is that this record reminded me of the low budget kids records I listened to incessantly at naptime--Tubby the Tuba, Rusty in Orchestraville.....with the one or two guys doing all the voices, but even as a 5 year old I wasn't fooled. Maybe all of those albums were recorded by the same people.

Sexcessfully Yours

Holiday in Havana

Here's fun when your friends drop in. Dance music that's as modern as the Sputnick (sic) and accepted at the Debs ball....The College Prom....The Country Club....and your own living room or den. Even the youngsters have to admit these latin tempos have something that can make them turn away from "rock and roll".

What is it with me and albums recorded in 1957? I don't know if was a particularly rich year for fun and cheesy recordings, or if I just happen to pick 'em that way. Maybe it's the cover art of that era that that draws me in. Anyway....here's a nice groovin' small group album from Noro Moreles & his Orchestra. The liner notes say that "this smiling round Charlie-Chan-like Cuban" performed at many of the "smart dine-and-dance spots" at the time. Best cuts for me are Mississippi Mambo and Norin-Noron.

Holiday in Havana - Noro Morales Design Records DLP 86
I Can't Give You Anything But Love cha cha
For Me and My Gal
Home
The Children's Merengue
Norin-Norin
Who's Sorry Now
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
Dark Eyes Mambo
Rainbow Fantasie
Mississippi Mambo

crafting for alcoholics

Illus. 279, originally uploaded by Miss Retro Modern.

Preferably you cut the cans with tin snips before you drink the nine-pack.

Rusty Warren in Orbit

So the question in my mind is....do boobies bounce in zero gravity? Live from the Chariot Room in Anaheim, California.....it's Rusty Warren, of "Knockers Up!" fame, and she's just the gal who would want to find out.
The previous Rusty Warren album I posted left me pretty cold, but for my money ($1 since you asked) this one has some real laughs on it. I'm putting the date of 1960 on it, as the liner notes make reference to it being an election year, and Rusty refers to JFK in a lustful manner, so YOU do the math.

"Rusty Warren's In Orbit is down-to-earth....but it's not for any stick-in-the-mud! Puritans arise....and leave the room! You'll be shocked into reality and laughter. Rusty calls them as she sees them."


Rusty Warren in Orbit
Jubilee JGM 2044

Or purchase this along with "More Knockers Up!" on CD on Rusty Warren's own site.


Hair styled by Mr. James, Salon de Venus Phoenix, Arizona

Butterbeans and Susie revisited

Got an e-mail today from someone wanting a copy of "I Wanna Hot Dog For My Roll" by Butterbeans and Susie.....so I thought I just re-post it since the original seems to have died.

Butterbeans and Susie 2 recorded between 1924-7

I Wanna Hot Dog For My Roll
When My Man Shimmies
Let the Doorknob Hit You In The Back
Cold Storage Papa (Mama's a Little Too Warm for You)
You're a No Count Triflin' Man
Jelly Roll Queen

The One and Only Pearl Bailey

What to do at 5am when you can’t sleep? Post a Pearl Bailey album.

Last March I posted the music to “Pearl Bailey: Naughty But Nice” which was another album supposed to be for “adults only”. That one was enjoyable enough, but this one’s the real charmer. And despite the suggestive keyhole on the cover and the “for adult listening” warning, there is little if any innuendo here—just good, solid performances and a swinging backup band.

The One and Only Pearl Bailey

A Porter’s Love Song to a Chambermaid
A Man Is a Necessary Evil
The Gypsy Goofed
My Man
You Waited Too Long
Easy Street
I Can’t Rock and Roll to Save My Soul
Everybod Loves My Baby
There’s Plenty More Where Tnat Came From
That’s My Weakness Now

Trio Nordestino - Pau-de-arara é a vovózinha

Time for some music from Brazil from Trio Nordestino, courtesy of Forró em Vinil. LOVE the album cover. The title track was written by my current favorite singer Gordurinha, which I found out on this site created by Gordurinha's grandson. It has so much great stuff from the singer's life, such as his wedding certificate, and personal photos such as the one below.

Laugh Provoking Ditties For the Party

Things I like About This Album (In Order)

1. The title: “Laugh Provoking Ditties For the Party” which sounds like it was named by someone’s prissy Aunt Ethel (the Dowager).

2. The very excellent “Wong Song”, which artfully marries the risqué to the racist

3. Another version of the stellar double entendre classic “The Duck’s Yas Yas Yas” for my collection

4. Spiffy artwork

5. Recorded by Prof. Vincent and Pearl Trio, Larry Vincent, or Larry Vincent & Pearl Boys, depending upon whether you look at the front cover, back cover, or record itself

6. Recorded in Covington Kentucky, a well-known mecca of the recording industry

I know I should pace myself and post the albums I bought yesterday a lot slower to make them last....but I'm having SO much fun.

Laugh Provoking Ditties For The Party
(the best songs are boldified)
Side 1
I Took My Organ To The Party
The Beaches and the Bassetts (sorry about the skip on the record)
The Old Shed House
Landlady's Daughter
The Freckle Song
Bell Bottom Trousers

Side 2
Oh! How Peter Has Grown
Get Off the Table Mabel
I'll Kiss Her Two Sweet Lips (And Leave Her Behind For You)
Yas! Yas! Yas!
Buster Astor
Wong Song

Hayin' Line Ahead of Its Time

Boy oh boy oh, I just got back from a record convention, and for an investment of about $25 I bought enough vinyl to post something new every second or third day all through this month and into next. I was most excited about this one (a huge investment at $3) and it was well worth it.

Presenting music and songs from the 1960 Cavalcade of Tractors and Equipment from the Ford Motor Company, as performed by "The Jam Handy Organization". Feel the "can-do" spirit that made this country great in "Ford Can Do It!" Tap into those solid Midwestern values in the Oklahoma-esque "Tractor-Drivin' Man". Channel the Powers Above with the spiritually cleansing "Hayin' Line Ahead of Its Time". This record is so chock-full of good ol' fashioned values I feel an overwhelming need to shop at Wal-Mart and eat me some damn pie.

The Wide New World With Ford
Wide New Wonderful World
You Can't Miss With Ford
More Power To You
Hayin' Line Ahead of Its Time
Tractor-Drivin' Man
Ford Can Do It!
There's a Great New Wonderful World

LLOYD PRICE!....oh, and benny jackson too

Poor Benny Jackson just couldn't seem to catch a break. Despite being blessed with a pretty strong R & B voice, and more than a bit of personality, she couldn't get a picture or bio on a cheapie album she appears on. Lloyd Price has three cuts on this album and Benny does the other seven, but you'd never know that just by looking at the album cover. She only rates one sentence in the liner notes--"Joining Lloyd here is an equally talented newcomer from whom you will be hearing a lot in the future--Benny Jackson".

Is she "Little Benny Jackson" who appears with Johnny Crawford on a song recorded in 1949 called "Bed Cap Shuffle"? Maybe your googling abilities are better than mine, but I found nothing about her. She has a little tendency to wander off pitch, but for the most part her stuff is pretty strong. Well, here's to ya, Benny Jackson.....for the time being until this blog crashes and burns, you WILL have a Google entry.

Lloyd Price and Benny Jackson

Guest Star (Ambassador) Records G-1910 "Your Best Buy in Recorded Entertainment* Fine Records Need Not Be Expensive"

Lloyd Price:
Think of Me
Come To Me
Misery

Benny Jackson:
Lonesome Valley
No Need For Words
Big Top Billie
Blue Tomorrow
Rockin' Rollin' Stone
Take Time
One Way Street

Oh Calcutta! Times Three

Office Naps has three different cover versions of the theme song from "Oh Calcutta" posted 12/22/08, and I'm hard pressed to decide which I like the best.

This Is Music That Is Heartfelt and Gay

Or at least that's what it says in the liner notes, so it must be true.

This is volume 12 For Hi-Fi Living, "We're Having a Party" featuring Malcolm Lockyer and his Orchestra. I'm sure the series was meant to be interior decoration for the ears--RCA made an album for every mood or occasion. This music was certainly the ideal backdrop for a late 50s get-together with the neighbors, guaranteed not to interrupt conversation or parlor games.

We're Having a Party - Malcolm Lockyer and his Orchestra

I've found a New Baby
Heartaches
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
Under Paris Skies
Everybody Loves My Baby
Undecided
Little Girl
You Know (Tu Sais)
I'll Never Smile Again
The Petite Waltz
Baby Won't You Please Come Home
Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song)