Mexicali Bras

Today's album is so half-assed I won't even give the band the courtesy of using all the letters in their name--to me they're just the Mexicali Bras. Tijuana Brass knew how to crank out jaunty devil-may-care South of the Border flavored tunes--not a brassy cover of "Michelle", a heinously bad song to begin with. Or Come Back to Sorrento, or Little Brown Jug, for chrissakes? Actually, Little Brown Jug is where the band realizes they're supposed to be aiming for upbeat, but that's in the middle of side two. Laughably bad, but not in a particularly fun or memorable way. And the chick on the cover spooks me, I blame her hypnotic stare for making me buy this one.
Bitch.

Michelle - Mexicali Bras
Crown Records CST 503

Michelle
La Golondrina
My Desire
Tijuana Go Go
Senorita

My Hearts (sic) Desire
Estrillita
Come Back to Sorrento
Little Brown Jug
Tijuana Papa

When Mama Wants Mambo, Mama Gets Mambo

When you gotta have the mambo, you just gotta have it....even if it's a complete ripoff of Perez Prado music, down to the punctuating grunts and hollers. This album can be useful to those who want to sing along, but simply cannot learn to count from 1 to 8 in Spanish, Dave Pell's version of Mambo #8 is in English--as is his version of Mambo Jambo.
Listen to Perez for his superior versions of Cherry Pink, Patricia, and Mambos #5 & 8-- but this album has a few other mambos that are pretty good, Whistling Mambo, Tom Cat Mambo, and the swingin' Cuban Rock.

Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Dave Pell
Tops 1749

Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White
Cuban Rock
Lonely
Whistling Mambo
Mambo #8

Mambo #5
Patricia
Mambo #429
Tom Cat Mambo
Mambo Jambo

Polka'd Out

25--Count 'em--25 polka hits from all your favorite performers! Myron Floren! Frankie Yankovic! Captain Stubby & the Buccaneers! "Whoopee" John Wilfarht! Dick Rodgers and His T. V. Recording Orchestra! OK, forget that last one. Anyway, this is Baby's First K-Tel album, and side one was pretty cool, 12 actual songs fit on one entire side--but side 2 they start fading out of songs to meet their quota of 25 hits. And they made the heinous decision to fade out of "Who Stole the Kishka? AND "In Heaven There is No Beer"!

"Too Fat Polka" is a keeper, "I don't want her you can have her, she's too fat for meeeee..."


25 Polka Greats


See the track list below, I'm WAY TOO LAZY to type it all out.

Carbon the Copycat

I beg to differ with the name of this children's record, it DOES hurt to be polite, it hurts a LOT. This isn't isn't the right sleeve for the record, it's really an annoying song called Carbon the Copycat. But I sorta like the cover.

Carbon the Copycat

Out on a Limbo

Goodness knows the limbo is too complicated for most Americans to master on their own, so thankfully Ernie Freeman’s Limbo Dance Party is equipped with detailed instructions by the lovely and seemingly double-jointed Miss Natalia of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios on the back cover. Though that arm swinging thing she’s showing seems pretty difficult, is there a remedial limbo album I could purchase first? The instructions say “If you touch the horizontal bar or touch your hands or knees to the floor, you’re eliminated”. It says nothing about no butts on the floor, so next time I’m called upon to limbo, my technique will be ass-scooting a la dog in need of anal gland attention.

I particularly liked doing the limbo to the familiar strains of Brahms’ Lullaby—it’s a complete mystery to me as to why it’s not a staple on limbo records!


Limbo Dance Party - Ernie Freeman

Liberty LRP-3283

Limbo Rock
Matilda
Limbo for Lovers (Brahms' Lullaby)
Raunchy
Yellow Bird

Tweedlee Dee
How Low Can You Limbo
Memories are Made of This
Out on a Limbo
Marianne

Tony and Louis Two-Fer

For the Love of God, stop feeding the pigeons, Tony!! And you not even wearing a hat.

Singer/saxman Tony Pastor performed with Joe Venuti, Artie Shaw and other big bands before fronting his own outfit for many years. He gave Rosemary Clooney one of her first real gigs--but today's album features vocals from Tony's son Guy Pastor, and forgettable girl singer Beth Harmon, as well as Tony himself.

Let’s Dance with Tony Pastor


Robin Hood
Fools Rush In
Rosalie
This is My Lucky Day
Let's Do It
Two-Fer

Makin' Whoopee
Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries
Sweet Lorraine
You Make Me Feel So Young
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
Tony's Chance

Because the above album sounds like crap, I am including a second album that sounds like crap, too. I wasn't able to find either Teardrops From My Eyes or Bring Forth the Light in print, so maybe they're rare or something. What would I know.

Some of the cuts sound like they were recorded in the men's room at a bus station (not that I would know how the acoustics are in the men's room at a bus station or anything). Maybe it's because it was released on the Spinorama label.

Box of Oldies

Dancing By Moonlight with Abbey Albert

Man, those Fort Lauderdale audiences are tough on a lounge singer. I'm sure Abbey Albert and his band explained to the crowd that a live album was going to be recorded, and yet the crowd keep up a steady stream of noise and chatter as though it was just a radio on. Jill Allen gives it her best--she has a lovely voice and seems like she must have given the folks a smashing performance every night.

Take a listen to husband and wife team Abbey and Jill on You Turned the Tables on Me and see what you think. Again, it's fun for me to hear what it must have been like to visit a posh nightclub in the late 60s. Since the album is recorded seamlessly, I left each side intact--I just separated "Tables" because it's one of my favorite songs.

Dancing By Moonlight with Abbey Albert - with Jill Allen, vocals

Art Records ALP-50

Side 1

Give Me the Simple Life
Fly Me to the Moon
This Heart of Mine
This is all I Ask
Warsaw Concerto
San Francisco
Just in Time
Alley Cat
I Wish You Love

Side Two

You Turned the Tables on Me
I'm Glad there is You
Poor Butterfly
Stella By Starlight
Polonaise
You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You
I Don't Know Why
My Heart Belongs to Daddy
'S Wonderful
If You Knew Susie
I Want a Girl
Bill Bailey
See You In My Dreams
The Party's Over

Look! My copy's autographed!

A Visit to the Ozark Opry

Let's take a trip to the Opry....no, not the Grand Old Opry, but one of the longest running local Oprys, from Osage Beach, Missouri. The Ozark Opry was founded in 1953 by Lee Mace, who served as the house bass player and emcee. While the Opry relies primarily on local talent, the album is actually pretty entertaining at times (though none of the musicians are credited). Of course, the goofy novelty numbers "The Fish Song" and "The Duck Song" are my favorites. Take a pass on the last cut, "The Ragged Ole Flag" which goes on forever.

Lee Mace's Ozark Opry Sings Country Ozark Opry Records OOR-112

American Guest
Right or Wrong
Mr. Sandman
Fish Song
Woke Up in Love
Bye Bye Blues
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Always on My Mind

Sweet Country Music
Hank Williams Medley
Duck Song
There Ain't No Future in This
I'm Satisfied with You
Higher Power
Ragged Ole Flag



Here's some spirited hi-jinks from the Ozark Opry itself! I can almost hear the sound of hundreds of you booking passage to the Ozarks to be able to see this in person.

Of Whoppers and Competitive Ribbon Twirling

Has anyone else noticed how difficult it is to find commercial jingles from the 1970s arranged for performing the floor exercise in Modern Rhythmic Gymnastics? Just imagine for a moment how impressed the audience will be in your next Ribbon Dancing competition when they see you twirling about in your tiny little "skin blending beige" half-shoes to the strains of the Oscar Meyer Wiener jingle. Or gleefully and artfully flailing your ribbons about to a 1:12 long medley of the Chiquita Banana/Woolite/Tab theme songs! Or if you're a stylin' kind of Rhythmic Gymnast, you may opt to ripple your ribands to the Sasson/Jordache Jeans song.

Two of the more "interesting" medleys are the miscegenation of the theme songs for Bumblebee Tuna and Mazda (I once owned the car that was the offspring of that union) and the combination Tic Tac/Sprite tune (Tic Tacs with Sprite, universally accepted as a highly effective spermicidal douche after unprotected sex).

This lovely album is compliments of the very excellent blogger from Hooked on Stereophonic who seemed to think his blog is just too danged chi-chi to post such an album, but mine isn't!! He's got THAT right!! Thank you again, my friend!

Jingles for Gymnastics

or

here



Now watch this with the sound turn down and sing the "hold the pickles hold the lettuce" song, and let your gymnastics dreams begin!

Let's Have a Dance Party!

Let's Have a Dance Party....but play a different Buddy Morrow album than this one. Though maybe I would consider dancing to "Heap Big Beat", and I Can't Give You Anything But Love (and the Alphabet) is suitably annoying and odd enough for one of my parties.

Let’s Have a Dance Party! - Buddy Morrow RCA Cal 381

Heap Big Beat
Stairway to the Stars
I Can't Give You Anything But Love (and the Alphabet)
I Can't Get Started
I Wonder Why
Memphis Drag

Beale Street Mamma
Speak Low
Rio Rita
Old Black Magic
Confessin' the Blues
I Ain't Got Nobody

Schloimy the Subway Train

Arnold Stang, originally uploaded by LORAC!.

Here I am, a full three weeks behind the Arnold Stang Death Parade, right behind the elephant. The Elephant Who Forgot features Mr. Stang performing such forgettable childrens stories as Beezy the Sneezy Bee and Percy, the Polite Seal. You only get part of Schloimy the Subway Train because this "unbreakable" record was cracked. Schloimy is from Brooklyn, could you have ever guessed that on your own? And Schloimy's conductor wears a yarmulke. And Arnold was totally tone deaf. You're going to lurrrrve this record!!!

The Elephant Who Forgot - Arnold Stang and the Rocking Horse Players and Orchestra

The Worst Darn Winter in Years

Dang it's been cold out, ain't it? But there's plenty here to warm the hearts of fans of dorky choral groups, on "Snowflakes and Sweethearts" featuring the Leroy Holmes Singers.
Highlights include "The Worst Darn Winter in Years" which mistakes love with simply huddling up to keep the frigid weather at bay; the always-odd "Button Up Your Overcoat"; and "Be Mine Tonight".
Then there are two completely pretentious and unnecessary songs (Homeward and Snowflakes and Sweethearts) based upon music by Rachmaninoff-- from a 1965 operetta entitled "Anya", that failed dismally after running only 13 days.

Snowflakes and Sweethearts - Leroy Holmes Singers
United Artists UAL 3481

Snowflakes and Sweethearts
Moonlight in Vermont
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
Be Mine Tonight
The Sweetheart Tree
Sweetest Sounds

The Worst Darn Winter in Years
In Our Hideaway
Button Up Your Overcoat
Made for Each Other (Tu Felicidad)
Let it Snow
Homeward

A Whole Mess o'Cacka

My latest passion is the Swedish country music singer Karl-Erik "Cacka" Israelsson. I was given the gift of about a dozen rare Cacka songs and will share them with YOU. It includes versions of Sh-Boom, Crying in the Chapel, Tennessee Wig Walk, Bimbo, Jambalaya (or should I say, Yambalaya?), Cool Water....and best of all, Purple People Eater! If you don't know Cacka's music, try Giddy Up a Ding Dong and Zambesi, these two songs sum him up pretty well.

Here is a link to Cacka's discography so we can keep track of what we still need to locate. I especially need his version of Papa Loves Mambo....anyone got it?

A Whole Mess o'Cacka

Honeymoon in South America

Turn on your phonograph and say adios to your troubles—we’re going on a Honeymoon in South America.

I was thinking that since you and I get along so well and all, maybe we should consider taking our relationship to the next level. But before we leave on our romantic honeymoon in South America, can I borrow like $2500 for some electrolysis so I can truly be Rio beach-ready? (Those second-knuckle and forehead electrolysis experts are really pricey, ya know?) And then maybe a little extra for a whalebone corset to correct my dowager’s hump. Then I’ll be SO ready to honeymoon!! I swear I’ll pay you back someday. Sweetie.

Romance aside....you know how sometimes you start singing one song and seamlessly segue into a completely different tune? Myself, I always seem to drift into “Honeysuckle Rose” when I hit the bridge of “Too Marvelous For Words”. Well, on this album, "Brazil" seems to occasionally deconstruct into a Theme From a Summer Place, with a little nod “Sweet Sue” (which is what Honeymoon Cha-Cha sounds like it was based upon). La Paloma starts out like something from Carmen. And...that is a brief summation of the most interesting things about this album.


Honeymoon in South America - The Rio Carnival Orchestra
Somerset Records SF-1900

Orchids in the Moonlight
Honeymoon Cha-Cha
Jalousie
Florita
Tango de l'Amour

Brazil
La Paloma
Moon Over Montivideo
El Manicero
La Cumparsita

Jose Melis on Spinorama

Here is is the ninth day of the new year and I have not yet posted a Spinorama album! That can be easily remedied....

Jose Melis was the musical director for Jack Paar, the first host of NBC's The Tonight Show. You can hear his classical training in these somewhat bloated arrangements of pop standards on side one of this album. Side two features the Spanish-influenced music of Mike DiNapoli, who we have already met here on this blog on a different Spinorama Special

Featuring Jose Melis - Spinorama S-75

Side one (Jose Melis)
Jack Paar Theme
Our Love is Here to Stay
Mr. Sandman
My Funny Valentine

Side 2 (Mike DiNapoli)
Espana Cani
Gypsy Dance
Habanera
Brazilian Lament
Destine Me

Themes From

Today's album is a collection of movie and TV themes, some familiar, some obscure. It includes the theme from the Loretta Young Show, the perfect background music for sweeping down a grand staircase to welcome visitors below; the jazzy theme from the Navy medical sitcom "Hennessey", starring Jackie Cooper; the strangely snappy theme from "Circus of Horrors"; and "Because They're Young" for the twisting teens.

EDIT: I have re-upped the link, hope it works now. If you only need "Adventures in Paradise", click here. My apologies for all the problems!

Themes From.....
Lew Douglas and his Orchestra (some of the sidemen include Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, and Toots Mondello)

Carlton Monoaural LP 12/126 (c. 1961-1962)

The Angel Wore Red
Hennessey
The Unforgiven
Circus of Horrors
The Apartment
Sons and Lovers

Loretta
Never on Sunday
From the Terrace
Untouchables
Because They're Young
Adventures in Paradise

Jackie swings high, wide, and handsomely

This gloriously monotastic recording "Big Beat Hammond" features Jackie Davis, whose performance is rough around the edges but full of gusto. Jackie is backed by former King Cole Trio sidemen Irving Ashby (guitar), Joe Comfort (bass), and drummer Weedie Morris, whose moniker surely stems from his interest in indigenous flora in local vacant lots.

Big Beat Hammond - Jackie Davis
Capitol T-1686

Stompin' at the Savoy
Shadow Waltz
Honeysuckle Rose
Waht Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry?
SUnday Punch

Stop, Look and Listen
The Song is You
Sweet Sue, Just You
Strange Music
Time on My Hands

Hawaiian Holiday in Hi-Fi

It's plenty cold here in the Midwest, and I'm still battling a horrible head cold. So let's make a quick escape to the tropics, yes?

This album would be pretty standard, were it not for the fact that there is only one musician....lead singer/harmony singer/steel guitarist/ukelele/clarinet/and everything else-player, Jack LaDelle. In fact, the liner notes that "A fantastic four miles of recording tape went into the production of this album". Jack has a Bing Crosby quality to his voice that makes this a very pleasant singer for our excursion indeed.

Hawaiian Holiday in Hi-Fi - Jack LaDelle

Blue Hawaii
Sweet Leilani
Lovely Hula Hands
Song of Old Hawaii
Hawaiian War Chant

Song of the Islands
Sing Me A Song of the Islands
To You, Sweetheart, Aloha
On a Little Bamboo Bridge
Aloha Oe