Sound Effects - Death & Horror

Sound Effects
Death & Horror
BBC Records & Tapes Vol. 13
1977

Unlike many sound effects records made for halloween which are generally "soundtracks" complied from "horror" effects, this LP delivers single effects which makes this record great for sampling, and not-so-great for entertainment at a party.

Some of the effects are "cheesy" and some have a creepy depth to them.

Oh, and there's the great garish cover which should make any collector happy.

Arpa Tropical

Arpa Tropical
Alfredo Rolando Ortiz
Zeida Z-20172

Excellent somewhat exotica sounding Latin album manufactured in Columbia. The music is unique and great fun.

Ortiz has recorded over forty albums and continues to work. Many songs are available for download.

One interesting side note, the jacket is covered with a plastic sleeve of sorts (like an after market jacket protective sleeve). But the sleeve is part of the jacket. It wraps around into the inside and is fixed somehow at the spine.

Onser Stuegert

Onser Stuegert
Our Stuttgart
RCA Victor Canada International PCS-1094

There is a brief jacket note in English which states that: The music on this disc is Swabian in Character. The tunes refer to local landmarks in and around Stuttgart. Some of them are contemporary, like "On The Television Tower (Am Fernsehturm).

How was I to resist this odd cover image and a tune about a television tower? I think that you can see the television tower through the window in the cover illustration.

Melodias De Siempre

Melodias De Siempre
Con el Mariachi
Estrellas De La Fuente
Amigo Records MDS 101
Recorded at Discografica Del Norte, Nagales Son, Mexico

Curiously, the brief album notes on the back cover are in English. The Mariachi ESTRELLAS de la FUENTE offers you ten of the most requested songs in their repertoire.

Terrific "snapshot" cover image.

The Fairyland Players

Mary Had A Little Lamb
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Sing A Song Of Sixpence
Lullaby And Good Night
The Fairyland Players
Directed by Justin Stone
Peter Pan Records 102

7 inch 78 rpm children's record in rusty red vinyl.

Little Miss Muffet & Little Jack Horner

Little Miss Muffet
Little Jack Horner
Jack Spratt Ate No Fat
Polly Put The Kettle On
Oats, Peas and Beans
Peas Porridge Hot
Jack Arthur and The Song Spinners
Directed by Don Cope

7 inch 78 rpm rusty red vinyl children's record

Stan Kenton - Encores - 45 RPM Boxed Set

Stan Kenton
Encores
Capitol Records CCF-155
1950

A three record 45 rpm boxed set featuring a nice surrealist painting on the cover.

Cugat's Favorite Rhumbas - 45 RPM Boxed Set

Cugat's Favorite Rhumbas
Columbia Records B-110
1950

This is the cover and one of 4 sleeved records in this Columbia 45 rpm box set.

Pony Boy

Pony Boy
Buffalo Gals, The Lone Prairie and Down In The Valley
Jack Arthur
Directed by Vickie Kasen
Peter Pan Records L-17

7 inch 78 rpm rusty red vinyl children's record.

The Saints

Brotherhood Of Music
The Saints
Exposure, Inc.

There was a group of Four Saints records on the shelf at the thrift today. I noted that this cover seems more "budget" than the other three covers. And the group name was different and there were only three "Saints" on the cover. Also, I think the other albums were on a label such as Warner Bros. This one seemed more "private press". But, having just now read the back cover, this album appears to have been made in 1970 or 71 shortly after one member (John Howell?) left the group (The Four Saints).

This copy is autographed.

K-Tel Music Machine

Music Machine

K-tell
1977

I couldn't believe my good luck today to find this K-tell record that features Robbie The Robot.

Robbie first appeared in my all time favorite science fiction movie, Forbidden Planet (1956). To this day, Robbie, next to the robot from the television series, Lost In Space (Robot B9), is the best known of all movie robots. I highly recommend buying a copy of Forbidden Planet. The special effects are stellar, the art direction is amazing and the soundtrack, experimental and still sounds other worldly.

I remember the commercial K-tell made to promote this album and, of course, I found it on YT. The video features other fun commercial spots after the K-tell segment.

Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone

Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone
Old Mother Hubbard
Old MacDonald Had A Farm
The Record Guild Of America

This is a 7 inch 78 rpm record, that is card board between a clear vinyl pressing.

Kay Starr Sings

Kay Starr Sings Vol. 2
Coronet Records CR - CXS 179

Terrific cover on this somewhat hard to find Coronet pressing.

Wonderful jazz rooted vocals.

The Spirit Of Italy

Three Coins In The Fountain

Al Goodman Presents
The Spirit Of Italy
Johnny Kay Sings In Italian
Parade Records SP 333

This is an obscure album, label and singer. I expected to hear recycled material or some budget singing on this album. But Johnny Kay is an amazingly professional and smooth crooner.

Notes from the back cover suggests that Kay's voice is "similar" to another popular singer. "You recognize the similarity once you've heard a few of the songs from this album." That's pretty amazing marketing if you ask me and must have pissed Johnny off. The notes must refer to Dean Martin. At least that's the name that comes to my mind. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I wonder if being compared to Martin was enough to ruin this guy's chances or something else happened to him? Also, I wonder why they didn't promote his image on the album jacket? Maybe he was blessed with pipes but not looks?

Bossa Nova In Rhythm

Palhagada

Bossa Nova In Rhythm
Izzio Gross Y Su Ritmo
Kristal Linea Economica Kubaney MT 329

There is very little information to be found online. The back cover is loaded with 30 images of the Kristal album lineup at the time. Many of the Spanish Language covers feature "Cuban" music (or at least the word "Cuba" on the cover).

The music is heavily jazz flavored. Apparently Izzio Gross was a pianist as the piano is the featured instrument on the record. Sorry, the record is a bit worn. I hope you enjoy the beautiful sample none-the-less.

Music For The Quiet Hour - Jan August

Miserlou

Music For The Quiet Hour
Jan August
Mercury MG 20078
1959

Considered by spaceagepop.com as possibly Jan August's best album. Billboard also liked the LP and considered the album to be "...a likely seller on racks, etc."

From the great monotone cover to the fast and bright pop renditions of standards, this album is a keeper.

There is an interesting note from the back cover. Apparently August did a stint as an apprentice cartoonist to the creator of "Mutt and Jeff", Bud Fishner.

Jan August Music For The Quiet Hour

Mercury Wing (reissue)
MGW 12129

Hawaiian Holiday - Terry McKee And His Band

Hawaiian Holiday

Hawaiian Holiday
Terry McKee And His Band
Pirouette FM12

This album was a great score at the Goodwill I frequent.

I can't find any info on this release, the artist or the label. The cover is interesting in that the photo appears to be that of an actual island type person rather than the typical Americanized "model" shot.

The music is more or less what you might expect from a budget label with this type of cover selling the album. That is until you get to the title track which is the 4th track found on the A side. Hawaiian Holiday is a jaw dropper. A most curious tune to find buried amongst the more commonplace musical fair to be sure

There is also another fun tune on the B side in the same track slot, titled Hawaiian Starlight.

Today (2/21/11) I found another Hawaiian Holiday album on a different label, with different cover art and featuring a different artist by the name of Lani Scott with the exact same music. Check out my post featuring that record.

Organ Music In A Margie Meinert Mood

Indian Love Call

Organ Music In A Margie Meinert Mood
Organ Moods In The Margie Meinert Manner
Faternity F-1033
1957

Here's an album with several titles (one on the front cover and one on the back cover). Pressed on Faternity, a Cincinnati, Ohio label that I seldom run across.

Meinert was contracted by The Rudolph Wurlitzer company to tour, promoting their new electronic organ. Wurlitzer was also located in Cincinnati. They contracted with Meinert in 1955 according to Billboard.

From the back cover: ...she's an exciting performer. Considering that fact that she stands about five feet tall and weighs around 90 pounds soaking dry, that's quite an order.

Grand Canyon Suite

Grofe Grand Canyon Suite

Arturo Toscanini And The NBC Symphony Orchestra
RCA Victor Red Seal Records LM 1004
1950

This recording was made in 1945 and was one of the first LPs released by RCA in 1950.

I purchased the record because of the excellent graphic cover art.

The music is grand and mood setting.

Ferrante & Teicher - Tiger Maiden Cover

Ferrante & Teicher
Diplomat DS 2483

It is hard to date this album as their is no "title" to search for. Try googling for just Ferrante & Teicher and you'll be all day sorting through the returns.

Diplomat was a budget label and this album is yet another re-release of early F&T material mixed in with Phillips & Burns material. I don't know why, but the piano sounds out of tune on the P&B's contributions. Surely it isn't, but the sound is different and just weird compared to the F&T stuff.

Budget release with a 60s great cheesecake cover and of course, the great early F&T tunes.

An Old Fashion Christmas

White Christmas

An Old Fashioned Christmas
Modern Sound MS 532

Surprise! Here's an obscure Christmas album with a horrible cover. The pressing is crap with several little dimples in the wax.

Recording and mastering is credited on the back cover to Columbia. But pressing is credited on the label to "Record Service".

From the back cover: Dear Customer: Every MODERN SOUND album is a quality product. Do not be misled by the low price. The note goes on to assure the buyer that Modern Sound uses the same musicians as the folks who make those silly high priced records.

Who knows who the artist(s) are? On the high priced records the artists are probably credited.

Martin Denny's Silver Screen

Martin Denny's
Exotic Sounds From The Silver Screen
Liberty LST 7158
1960

I found this Martin Denny at the Goodwill today. Hard to believe that you can still find Denny albums at the thrift.

Not much more I can say about Denny that you won't find said better or originally elsewhere.

The cover model is Sandy Warner, a model Denny favored and used on his first dozen albums.

This is the stereo release. The Liberty engineering is excellent. The sound is very crisp and clear and there is something about the complexity of the sound that works well in stereo.

The cover is a foil paper with over printing. That means a 5 color print job. Expensive, but Denny was worth it.

And lastly, there is a pure Denny cover of Over The Rainbow on the B side that is just sweet.

Hawaiian War Chant

Softly Murmurs The Sea

The Kilima Hawaiians
Hawaiian War Chant
Harmony HS 11303

From the front cover: Formerly entitled "Farewell Hawaii". The January, 1965 issue of Billboard gave this title a "Pop Special Merit" mention.

Harmony is a label that Columbia apparently acquired just before the release of this record. And for some reason decided to reissue the recording. I can't find a date for this release but it has to be mid 60s.

For my tastes, this record is pretty cornball. Yes, you heard me say it... too cornball. It's more like Lawrence Welk and Benny Hill got together to make a record. Softly Murmurs The Sea is the only track that I could bare to post by way of example.

The Troubadors In Hawaii

The Moon Of Manakoora

The Troubadors In Hawaii
Kapp KL-1071
1957

From examples of album covers displayed on the back cover The Troubadors also visited Rome, Spain and The Land Of The Gypsies. All of the album covers sport the same layout and "branding graphic" as seen in the upper left corner.

Little can be found on The Troubadors. Apparently in 1957 Dave Kapp hired The Troubadors to do a song with Jane Morgan titled "Fascination". The tune became an instant sensation and remained on the charts for 29 weeks.

I would speculate that Knapp, assuming that The Troubadors "success" might translate into additional sales, backed at least four more releases.

This is pretty straight forward easy listening. The sample above is a bit more energetic than the rest featuring an interesting "whistling" bridge. This "whistling" bridge also appears in one song on the B side.

Auf Wiedesehn - Germany's Favorite Singer

Just A Gigolo

Auf Wiedersehn
Ralf Bendix
Germany's Favorite Singer
Capitol ST10197
1958

Who would have guessed that I'd stumble across an album from Germany's favorite singer?

From the back cover: Germany's virile, handsome and immensely popular pop singing star, Ralf Bendix, is a story in himself. He ranks as one of the five most popular recording stars in West Germany today, yet his daily job – in the beautiful city of Dusseldorf – is manager of the Dusselfdorf office of Trans World Airlines. Further his real name is Carl H. Schwab.

The cover photo was taken at the Dusseldorf airport and is "courtesy Trans World Airlines".

An interesting side note... In the 60s Bendix got into producing other acts. Among his most successful discoveries, in 1965, was Henio. Henio, amongst U.S. vinyl collectors, is best known for the unusual art found on a number of his record jackets.

HI-FI International

Swedish Rhapsody

HI-FI International - Music To Read Road Maps By
The Voice Of Music
1957?

This is an obscure compilation album of Mercury recording artists whose tunes were assembled to produce this promotional tool for Voice Of Music. The album concept, Music To Read Road Maps By, is supported by song titles which have "destination" themes.

The compilation is peppy space age music, on the light side.

When I find albums like this, marketing tools produced for some one other then the music/artist or record company, I wonder how they were distributed. In this case, was the album included with the purchase of a VM player and or was the record sold?

Julie London - Tenderly Yours

Julie London
Tenderly Yours
Guest Star Records GS-1417
1962

I think this is the third "Guest Star" record I've found. Apparently, Guest Star was big on recycling name material. In this case, Julie London. And not being able to secure enough London tunes to fill an LP, Guest Star blended in Ted Comstock big band tracks.

There is a item in the October, 1962 Billboard warning dealers about this album. "Mathematically, Julie is only 40 precent of the album, and 60 percent is made up of straight instrumentals... even though the cover gives the big play to Miss London. Her numbers are oldies and the the stereo sounds "re-processed". Same general talent policy is followed on other "Guest Star" albums from this label."

Love London's stuff, none-the-less and the cover art is nicely handled.

George Wright - Flight To Tokyo

George Wright
Flight To Tokyo
HIFI Record R717
1959

Terrific cover on this early George Wright album.  Note the large yellow "Wurlitzer" packing crate.

Wright was an highly accomplished and most prolific recording artist. Read more on http://www.spaceagepop.com/wright.htm

Leroy Lewis Plays Organ Magic

Mystery Street

Leroy Lewis Plays
Organ Magic
Jubilee 1103
1959

I measure vintage organists and their recordings against Korla Pandit. This is just my personal preference as I'm on the look out for exotica influences and the unique. There are a few exotica standards listed on this album that perked my interest.

Using Pandit as a yard stick, this recording isn't my cup of tea. But I thought I'd offer up a sample and portion of the jacket notes for those with different sensibilities. Folk interested New Jersey theatre history might take not of information to be found in the notes, written by Mort Goode.

Leroy Lewis was born in Reading, Pa., May 7, 1935. When he was five he began to play the piano. He had just entered the Gerry Home For Children in Gerry, N.Y. and for the next 17 years learned, without formal musical education, the techniques of piano playing. When he was 12, Leroy and his mother moved to Porland, Ohio. For the next two years he experimented with the pipe organ in the local church, learning, by trial and error, the mechanics, the sounds and effects.

When Leroy was 14 he began playing an electric organ, professionally. That was in a restaurant in Poland... Ohio, of course. The following year he was attending high school in Santa Ann, California and was the organist at the skating rink. After that Leroy was back in Pa. In Allentown he worked on the assembly line at the Allen Organ Company, played the pipe organ in the theatres in the area.

For the past two years Leroy has been seen and heard in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In 1957 he played electric organ at the Surf City Hotel. At the end of the season the hotel bought the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ in the Fabin Theatre in Hoboken. Leroy and his technical assistant, Ted Campell, disassembled the organ, moved it piece-by-piece to Surf City, spent the winter putting it back into its compact visual form.