Year End Round Up

Round 'em up and move 'em out! This is stuff I bought ages ago and want to move out of the way for one reason or another.



Havana…2 a.m., and all are sleeping. Because they put on THIS ALBUM. Sorry, Loreen and Milton Marten of Bloomington IN, to whom this album once belonged….you marked on the album which of the songs you liked and even wrote GOOD next to one, you are wrong wrong wrong. They all blow. Have you ever started having sex with someone and decided midway it wasn’t such a good idea after all, but you sort of just kept slogging along with it anyway? Well, this is the musical equivalent.

Side 2 is music by Carlos Montoya—there are 129 albums by Carlos Montoya on Amazon and I had neither the time nor inclination to wade through all of them to see if this music was still in print. So you’re not getting anything on side 2, get over it.

Havana 2 am Side 1 Jose Madeira and his Orchestra


You don’t get an album cover for this one, I just bought it a few days ago and am too lazy to photograph it. Anyway, it’s from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, so it’s not likely you’d see a cheesecake photo of some gal doing something clever with a pair of communion wafers or anything like that. I thought it might be fun to own a song entitled “”Take My Yoke”. And “Proof of Discipleship” and “Here I Am! Send Me!” Much like the Pope’s bodyguards, I am not infallible.

They don’t sound overtly churchy, they sound like incidental music from some sentimental RKO movie like “I remember Mama”, or maybe the Panamanian National Anthem.

Watchtower




I was all excited to have found this until I discovered that Beware of the Blog had offered it like three years ago. FINE. You know you like them better than you like me, or at least the way you liked them two years ago when they were still good on a regular basis. Go find it there , I’ll just sit here and sob quietly in my kerchief until you return.

Or you can get the only tune that’s worth a crap from me, here.

Nose Full of Nickels


Let’s end up with something I liked—it’s a snappy 78 from The Sportsmen, I liked the yodeling Toolie Oolie Doolie.

The Sportsmen

A Top(s) Evening Entertainment

Is this babe someone you might see at one of your parties? Then this 1950s vintage Tops album might be for you.

It's a schizophrenic mix between saccharine-sweet 40s type ballads and some upbeat swinging tunes. Highlights include a delightfully pointless cover of Perry Como's "Hubba Hubba Hubba"--the gleeful references to bombing of the Japanese might have been considered morally acceptable immediately post WWII, but by the mid 50s (when this album appears to have been released) it's pretty dicey indeed. But hey, how can there be too many versions of Hubba x 3 (called "dig You Later" here)? The boppish One o'Clock Jump satisfies, as does a chock-full-of-hoy-hoy version of the Honeydripper. Leave out the ballads, but the rest of this is party-ready.

Party Favorites
Tops Records L1526

Note: the liner notes list the performer of "The Gypsy" as Jeannie McKeon, who was a finalist for the voice of Disney's Cinderella. If this is indeed McKeon, she lost the part for sounding too butch--so I attributed the cut to Al Sack, with whom McKeon performed on several Tops albums. And the sappy vocal version of Deep Purple is really Jack McVea, of Open the Door Richard, and Wino fame? Uh, OK.

Side One
The Honeydripper - Buzz Adlam & Orchestra
You Made Me Love You - Henry King
Blues Serenade - Bob Heyward and the Mellotones
Jam Boogie - Ella Logan
The Gypsy - Al Sack
I May Be Wrong - Jan Garber

Side 2
One O'Clock Jump - Wilbert Baranco
Deep Purple - Jack McVea
Sometimes I'm Happy - Gerald Wilson
Night and Day - Sammy Franklin
They Say It's Wonderful - Will Osbourne
Dig You Later (Hubba Hubba Hubba) - Buzz Adlam

Reversion to the Ape

"Charmingly inept" is a compliment around here, and today's album fits the phrase. I don't believe I've ever heard an out of tune accordion before, or maybe it was everyone else in the band who is a little off. Nevertheless, it's fun listening if you like putting a rose stem between your teeth and sashaying about.

The liner notes tell us that the tango was a scandalous dance--simply scandalous, I say!

"A bible conference in Atlanta, Georgia heard a minister characterize the tango as a 'reversion to the ape and a confirmation of the Darwin theory'". Wow, a Georgia preacher that acknowledges evolution, there's a switch.

Argentine Tangos - Jo Basile

Audio Fidelity AFLP 1869 (1959)

La Cumparsita
A Media Luz
Jalousie
Poema (the liner notes say this is called "Peema" which I like better)
Tango de Rosas
Adios Muchachos

El Choclo
Tango Delle Calle
Violetta
Adios Pampa Mia
Tristesse
Caminito





My mood today:

Into Every Life a Little Rainwater Must Fall

A song titled "Don't Tell My Boy I'm In Prison" is a perfect antidote to all of the secondhand holiday treacle we must all endure this time of year. "Let's Go on a Picnic" (and pretend we're still happy, is the gist of the song) has the same purpose, too. I liked Marvin pretty well, but don't expect to revisit this album very much in the future. If you like classic, no frills (meaning no Nudie suits) country music, give this one a try.

The Country's Favorite Country Singer - Marvin Rainwater

Let's Go on a Picnic
Moments of Love
Engineer's Song
Tear Drops
The Wanderer & Me

Would Your Mother Be Proud of You Now
Don't Tell My Boy I'm In Prison
So Long
You Can't Keep a Secret
Freight Train Blues

Young America Chnoufs

Who would think that beneath this freshly-scrubbed crew-cutted and pony-tailed conga line lies....well, linoleum, of course....but beneath the symbolic linoleum....work with me here....there lies the soft untoned underbelly of unlawful drug use!

I bought this album for the intriguing title of the last cut --“La Chnouf”. Even those with the most rudimentary grasp of the French language can figure out the onomatopoeic online definition I located:

Chnouf: (nom féminin singulier) drogue, en particulier cocaïne et héroïne

These evil teens are having a coke-snorting bash under the wholesome guise of a sock hop! And lord knows what kind of raunchy dance they were doing to Ralph Marterie’s version of “Jersey Bounce”, surely some sort of unseemly gyrating (with its subsequent jersey-bouncing) is being promoted here.

And so my dear friends....enjoy!!

Young America Chnoufs
Mercury MG 20198

Blue Lou
Oh Henry
Buttercup
Dypsy Doodle
Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Haunted Guitar

It's Delovely
Jersey Bounce
Last Call
Alcatraz Rock
Sweet Georgia Brown
La Chnouf

The Rrrrrromantic Rrrrrrenato Rrrrrrrenzi

No, this album is not an undiscovered incarnation of Andy Kaufman, it's the rrrreally rrrrromantic sounds of Rrrrrrenato Rrrrrenzi! Rrrrrrrrrenato is Italian! Can YOU roll your r's half as well as I can? I'm sure you CAN'T. And I will continue to rrrrroll my rrrrrr's in this extrrrrremely irrrrrrritating way so perhaps you won't notice how badly I bollixed up the song titles on this album. Just think of the hours of fun you will have corrrrrecting all my mistakes!!

Hey, if there are any smart people reading this (HAH!) does the word "bollix" have anything to do with the word "bollocks"? Well, my friend Mr. Google just told me bollix is an euphemistic version of bollocks. Aren't we educational today?

The Best of Renato Renzi
Rezar Records LP-1704

Love Story
It's Impossible
La Riva Bianca La Riva Nera
Love Me With All Your Heart
Al Di La

Il Cuore e Uno Zingaro
Che Sara
Spanish Eyes
Bella
Senti Che Musica

Tubby Boots, For the Mature Minded Adult

Whew, what to say about this album. There are a few real laughs here, but like most of the live albums of this era, there is a lot of rambling chit-chat with the drunks in the audience. I'm guessing the act had to be seen to be believed....so below is a live clip of Tubby in action.

Thin May Be In - But Fat's Where It's At - Tubby Boots



Forgive me for not writing a review for this album, my eyes are still throbbing from viewing the picture of Tubby and his pasties. Or is it a Janet Jackson nipple decoration?



This video begins pretty much the same way the record does, it must have been his standard opening patter.

The Voices in Walter Schumann’s Head

Do you like to star in your own Busby Berkley musical numbers in your living room, as you float and sway about, smiling beatifically for your closeup? Uh, no...um, neither do I, who would do THAT? Well anyway, here’s a swell album just in case you DO know someone (we’ve already ascertained not you or me of course) who needs a majestically and comically soulful wordless choral album for dancing purposes that contains plenty of this:

Soulful Male chorus: OhhhohhhhhhhohhhhhhhhhhhohhhhhhhhOHHHHHHHHHHHHHohhhhhhhhhahhhh....

Angelic Female chorus: OooooooooooooooooooohoooooooooohoooooooooohooooohOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHoooooooooooh......

Male chorus (who undoubtedly remembers all birthdays and anniversaries and puts the toilet seat in its default DOWN position after each use): mmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMmmmmMMMMMMMM

Both: AaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHaaaaaaaaahAAAH!

Pretty satisfying stuff apparently, and then they all cuddle and smoke a cigarette. Though don’t get me wrong, this album is not just about the oohs and aahs. The vocals for “Sentimental Journey” goes more like YO dee YO dee YO dee Yo dee Yo dee, and then there are chum-chee-dums and PLINK pa PLINK pa Plink pa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahAAAAH! (thcha-thcha-thcha-TCH)s as well.

Not surprisingly, one of the numbers is “Dancing in the Dark”; I think any album like this recorded in the 50s or 60s was contractually obligated to include “Dancing in the Dark”.

Though Not a Word Was Spoken - The Voices of Walter Schumann
RCA LPM 1266 (1956)

Where of When
La Danza
Nikki
Shadow Waltz
Dancing in the Dark
Chopin Prelude, Opus 28, No. 4
Goodnight Sweetheart

Sentimental Journey
Orchids in the Moonlight
SPinning SOng
Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair
Cecilia
That Old Black Magic
Bird of Paradise
Star Dust

Marni Nixon, who provided the voice for many non-singing Hollywood stars in 60s musicals, is featured prominently on this album.

Latin for Lovers

This Crown records cheapie is actually a pretty mellow and enjoyable Latin jazz set. There's a Cuban singer named Tito Gómez, but since there are no vocals on this album, I'm guessing it's a different guy--and I could only find info about the singer by that name. There is no additional information on the liner notes, such as personnel or recording dates.


Latin for Lovers

It Never Can Be
Noise of the Night
Turtle Samba
Mischevious Love

At Midnight
Blue Samba
Skin of Ivory
Why Do You Linger

Make Your Home a Happier Home this Xmas

Let’s all roll our eyes heavenward and petition the Lord with thanks for this most sacred of holiday albums featuring (most) everyone’s favorite woodland vermin, Woody the Woodchuck. What joy, it’s not just pop holiday songs, but includes really inappropriately churchy sounding versions of more “serious” fare such as Good King Wenceslas and O Tannenbaum! If only there were a version of “O Holy Night” or “Angels We Have Heard on High”, my life would be complete. And the version of the 12 Days of Xmas is seriously effed up, this cheap-ass True Love gives the same damn partridge days 1 through 4, no gold rings, a few geese a-laying, and that's about it. Plus they slow the song down so much that the whole thing takes about 15 minutes to get through. Excruciating.

Apparently this is not the first album that Woody made, so you would think that they would have figured out that when you speed up a recording 1) mumbling doesn’t fly, you really have to enunciate and 2) vibrato sounds really weird.

Yeth thir-ree, we’re all about the wholesome family fun here at S. T., so download and sing along with Woody Woodchuck, or else everyone else here will assume you’re a filthy Commie.

Woody the Woodchuck Xmas Sing Song A Product of Premier Albums, Inc. XM/S-6

Good King Wenceslas
Sleigh Ride
Deck the Halls

Rudolph
12 Days of Xmas
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
O Tannenbaum
Frosty

(sorry, Jingle Bells and Chipmunk Song were too scratched to include)

Ow.

It gave me a headache.

Drum Discothecque

Suitable for Orphanages, Bar Mitzvahs, retarded childrens' hospitals, fiestas for patron saints and Shrine Ceremonials

If someone were to ask me to choose one album that best describes the kind of music I post on my blog, I think I now have an answer....The Shrine Club of Puerto Rico Steel Band. I’m thinking one day I may need to remove the beloved pancreas drawing at the top on the page and replace it with this album photo. Isn’t it a pip?

The liner notes tell us that "this zany group has played at orphanages, childrens' shelters, veterans hospitals, childrens' wards, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings, parades, retarded childrens' hospitals, civic activities, carnivals, fiestas for patron saints, and Shrine Ceremonies." So, just how bad can this album be? Here’s a clue: it’s a bunch of fez-wearing fraternal brothers-- whose professions include CPA, prison warden, weatherman, and envelope manufacturer, just to name a few-- whaling away on 55 gallon drums with reckless abandon. Musical excellence did NOT ensue.

You know how in the Marx Brothers movie Animal Crackers Chico keeps playing “Sugar Time” over and over because he can’t remember how it’s supposed to end? Much the same thing is happening here. Just when you think the Shriners are going to wrap up a number with a spirited flourish....they play another chorus. And another. Aaand another. As though they’re saying, “One more time and we’ll get it right. Just. One. More.”

Saints Alert: And as always, for those who share my phobia of the song, the last tune on side B is yet another version of “When the Saints Go Marching In”. Proceed with caution.

Shrine Steel Band - The Shrine Club of Puerto Rico Steel Band – no label SCPR-1

Side A

Three Songs:
1. Compadre Pedro Juan-Meringue
2. Yellow Bird
3. Pachanga

Tie Me Kangaroo Down

Coqui-Meringue

Limbo

Side B

Merengue Universal

Matilda

Jamaica Farewell

Marinero Merengue

Mary Ann

When the Saints Come Marching In

Continental Juke Box

Today's album was printed in Holland for the US Armed Forces, for which I'm sure Our Boys were eternally grateful. Like they really wanted to hear more European retreads of US tunes.

I enjoyed the sultry “Touchez Pas au Grisbi” (which I believe means “Hands Off My Grisbi”) and the raucous “Cat From Coos Bay” (the feminist in me feels offended somehow by that title), and Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do, maybe I have a few too many Dos, Do Do Do It Again. And then there's the Childrens Choir that sounds like it's made up of a bunch of dowagers.

Continental Jukebox No. 1

(If you tried to download earlier, I left one character off the link, so it wasn't working--but it's fixed now. Sorry for the inconvenience.)

The Cat From Coos Bay - Wally Stott Orcgestra
Sh-Boom - The Melody Sisters and Black and White
Smile - Orchestra Michel Legrand
Muskrat Ramble - Dutch Swing College Band

Let's Have a Party - Winifred Atwell and her "Other Piano"
Do, Do, Do,Do, Do, Do,Do It Again - Svend Asmussen and his Orchestra & Chorus
Touchez Pas au Grisbi - Jean Wetzel, harmonica with Jean Wiener and his Trio
Avava un Bavero - Melodicon Childrens Chorus

Bess, You Is My Featured Artist Now

Bess Myerson was the first Jewish Miss America (which may not seem like a big deal now, but was groundbreaking in 1945), a regular panelist on the popular 60s TV panel show "I've Got a Secret", and a frequent companion of NY mayor Ed Koch. Today she is going to demonstrate her talents at the piano in the MGM album Fashions in Music. And there's Bess on the cover demonstrating her modeling prowess...Bess is a flapper! Bess is a WAC! Bess is a swanky socialite!

I liked her versions of Jersey Bounce and Whispering, but it's pretty much garden variety music of the early 60s. But here it is, in its entirety for those of you who like gardens. Hit it, Bess!

Fashions in Music - Bess Myerson with the Andrew Ackers Orchestra

MGM SE3785

Bewitched
Jersey Bounce
Hello Young Lovers
"A" You're Adorable
Makin' Whoopee
Dancing in the Dark


Ain't She Sweet
Love is a Many-Splendored Thing
Whispering
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
I'll String Along With You
I Don't Want to Walk Without You Baby

Here is a vid of Bess attempting to milk a cow on "I've Got a Secret" when suddenly things go horribly, horribly wrong.

He Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie

This album would be the soundtrack for my life had the complete title been “Walking Along Kicking the Leaves and Muttering Obscenities Under My Breath and I Swear, Officer, I Was Nowhere Near Where That Arson Occurred”. On this album however, the leaf-kicking is accompanied with whistling a happy tune, courtesy of professional warbling-lipologist Fred Lowery.

Fred learned the art of whistling as a child, from a bird imitator at the school for the blind that he had attended. He parlayed his new-found talents into a regular radio show gig on WFAA in Dallas, followed by stints with the orchestras of Vincent Lopes and Horace Heidt.

This goofy little album is a minor treasure indeed. It turns out whistling pairs nicely with bass clarinet and pedal steel, both of which are particular favorites of mine. The songs I liked best are Indian Love Call, the title tune, and a twangy Sentimental Journey, which is the best kind, agreed?

Walking Along Kicking the Leaves

Walking Along (Kicking the Leaves)
Indian Love Call
Tennessee Waltz
Far Away Places
Moon of Manakoora
Sunrise Serenade


Happy Hobo
Pagan Love Song
Lonesome Road
Sleepy Lagoon
Moon Love
Sentimental Journey

EDIT: Thanks to Evan (expert on many things Indy), I now have some links to Fred Lowery's autobiography and info about some records he recorded when he lived in Indianapolis. Wow!