Songs For The Children's Hour

Songs For The Children's Hour
Dr. Fun with the kindergarten kids and friends
Columbia House DS 713

I stumbled across this oddball record yesterday. My first impression was that I couldn't expect a so-bad-it's-good album from the likes of Columbia House. The songs seem aimed towards boys, not girls (come on... this is mass marketing and I know that there must be some little girls out there who dream about a life on a boat manned by lots of rough and ready sailors...). In fact, there are at least SEVEN songs about the sea on this LP including Anchors Aweigh. What that's all about... I have no idea.

And what little girl or boy would want this record? Look at this cover! Who is Dr. Fun? There is no explanation anywhere on the LP or jacket and look at these unhappy children. They are both holding some strange little plastic bag in their hands... I hate to say it... but I think Dr. Fun is a drug dealer (former sailor) forcing neighborhood children into peddling dope at the park... in clown make-up.

Provocative Percussion Volume 4

With Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming

Provocative Percussion Volume 4
Enoch Light and The Light Brigade
Command Records RS 834 SD
1962

I just finished listening to Command's Persuasive Percussion series when I found the fourth volume of what I think is the follow up series.

Once again, Enoch Light strikes with super clean engineering (recording chief Robert Fine). The sound is superb! This album is very light bachelor pad jazz.

And once again, we are treated to a fabulous cover design by Charles E. Murphy.

Apparently one volume in the series is released on CD? But not this one.

Hullabaloo Au-Go-Go!!!

Hullabaloo Au-Go-Go
Design Records
Pickwick International 1962

Great early 60s space age cover.  Budget label mess. But you'll find some great songs on this LP including Ronnie Dove's I'll Be Around.

Jackie Gleason - Lonesome Echo

Jackie Gleason Presents
Lonesome Echo
Capitol Records W627
1955

This is my first Gleason album. I purchased it mainly for the Dali cover illustration. As a lover of exotica music I found that the LP transcends easy listening to create a new world for me. This is why I listen to exotica. Good exotica LPs keep the vision throughout. This Gleason project does that for me.

The cover art actually reflects the musical content of the album.

The more chance you give the work the more you will get into the sound. Choose a quite moment in your life and sit back and relax and find yourself in a new mellow place.

One Step Beyond

Music From One Step Beyond
Harry Lubin
Decca DL 78970

This LP is on CD. One Step Beyond ran for three seasons on ABC from 1959 to 1961. 97 episodes were produced.

Musically, "Fear" the title track and theme song is "one step beyond" featuring Theremin and space age vocals. "Weird", the lead track on the B side is also a nice piece of "exotica" music with space age vocals.

Apparently, there is better "creepy" music to be found in the series. But other than the afore mentioned tracks the rest of the LP slides into somewhat more standard arrangements. There are a few more lush and wonderful tracks, mainly on the B side, but... not "One Step Beyond". None-the-less, the entire album is interesting and Fear and Weird make the LP great fun.

Also, if you find a copy of the album you get the best version of the cover. The graphic or illustration is printed on foil with a little embossing. An expensive jacket to produce and a nice addition to your space age record collection.

Peter Pan Jingle Bells & Adeste Fideles

Jingle Bells & Adeste Fideles
The Caroleers
Peter Pan Records 2231-B

10 inch 78 RPM on a nice rusty red plastic.

Voodoo Suite

Voodoo Suite

Plus Six All-Time Greats
Perez Prado
Shorty Rogers
RCA Victor LPM-1101
1955

Excellent LP available on CD. Side one is one continuous track that blends hypnotic tribal chanting, ritualistic drumming and big band jazz. The recording has the rare power to transport me to exotica worlds.

Great Afro-Cuban Mambo tracks are to be found on the B side.

Perze Prado is commonly referred to as the "King Of The Mambo". Voodoo Suite was the first LP he recorded for RCA. He recorded for RCA from 1955 through 1965.

Shorty Rogers is also an interesting character and his bio can be found on Spaceagepop.

Children's Western Cowboy 78 RPM Picture Disk

Sam Bass - Texas Badman & Oh Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie
WW41 & 42
Playsong Record Co. NY
The Wild West Singers

6.5 inch 78 RMP Picture disk.

Sorry about the skips. I had to work a bit to clean this one up. Great sad songs about robbing and dying for the kids!