Cookie Carr Play Cool Organ With A Solid Beat

Lover

Cookie Carr
Play Cool Organ With A Solid Beat
Grand Award Records
G.A. 239 S.D.

This album was a fun fine. I purchased this album in a 50¢ discount bin at a real record store today mainly for the fun cover art.

It wasn't until I started to listen to it and read copy on the back cover that the record became interesting. One, I can't find any info on Cookie Carr. But a few of the other names associated with the album are of interest. Al Caiola plays the guitar and steals the spotlight. Enoch Light originated and produced the album. You can hear a bit of that Enoch Light "ping-pong" sound happening.

Grand Award was a modestly successful Light label that preceded and then apparently continued along with his Command label operation. Grand Award (Light) marketed "Phase X" technology which let listeners hear a "phantom" third channel in between the standard left and right channels. This was a common recording technique, but Light was the first person to market it (perfection... in spectacular stereophonic sound).

Grand Award LPs were phased out by 1961, but the label name was kept for reissues at least until 1966. I can't date this album although it sounds, for sure like a 1960 or 61 recording.

As usual the engineering is excellent. This album is tons better than most of the "cool" organ offerings of the day.

Cocktails With Cavallaro

Return To Me

Cocktails With Cavallaro
Decca Records DL 8805

1960

Carmen Cavallaro on piano with rhythm accompaniment back in the day when everyone was drinking to everything and proud of it!

According to a story in the April 4, 1960 issue of Billboard, Decca designated the month of April as Carmen Cavallaro Month, in honor of the pianist's 20th year with the company, and in honor of his new album (this one).  The article goes on to mention that special "kits" have been made up for salesmen to promote Cavallaro sets (of "pre-packed") records.

Miss America Presents - A Collector's Album

Miss America Presents

A Collector's Album
Columbia Record Productions
A Custom Service Of Columbia Records

The front and back covers are the same, featuring Nancy Anne Fleming - Miss America 1961

The record was custom pressed for Philco as part of Philco's sponsorship deal. I have no idea how the record was distributed.

Atlantis In Hi-Fi

Atlantis In Hi-Fi
The Bavarian State Symphony Orchestra
Directed by Carl Wolfgang
Composed and scored by Alexander Laszlo
Carlton Record Corporation LP 12/106
1958

This is the Forbidden Island (C. B. Griffith's/Columbia Pictures) soundtrack album.

From the back cover: Atlantis... the fabled Lost Continent? Atomic Submarines? What fantasies of science fiction have not already become realities?

Sounds like the makings of a great record! The album is lushly orchestrated, but may I suggest Martin Denny's Forbidden Island instead for much more exotica adventure.

Touch Typing Made Simple

Touch Typing Made Simple
A Sound Teaching Method
Brother International Enterprises

I continue to strive to find the most boring record ever recorded. This could be it.

Of course, what do you want from an instructional record? At least the cover features graphically interesting vintage design.

I remember taking typing in school. I am happy that we have computers now. You can type and watch YouTube videos at the same time. Life is more exciting now.

Hawaii The Fabulous Fiftieth State

Kaimana Hila - Kalena Kai

Hawaii The Fabulous Fiftieth State
Sam Makia And The Makapuu Beach Boys With Orchestra Directed By Frank Hunter
KAPP KL-1144
1959

Frank Hunter released a classic exotica album on KAPP titled White Goddess (KS-3019 - 1959).

This is an a trip to the easy listening side of Hawaii.

The Little Red Wagon

Chocolate Train

The Little Red Wagon
Rocking Horse Orchestra & Chorus
Tinkerbell & Rocking Horse Records 3326

World War One Folk Art Box - Pauillac, France, 1918

Here's a little something different for the blog today.

Years ago I bought this "Folk Art" or "Trench Art" box/case at an antique show. I realized at the time that the box had something to do with American World War I Aircraft but the only information to be found on the box, as seen in the third photo, was Pauillac, France - Feb. 9, 1918.

A Face Book friend and fellow record collector located in France, Alain, was able to connect Pauillac with the following American involvement (from King's Complete History Of The World War):

In addition to the twelve American Aviation Stations established on the French coast, between Brest and the Spanish border, Capt. Cone completed four stations in Ireland. The most completely equipped of all the American Aviation centers abroad was that at Pauillac, France, in charge of Capt. F. T. Evans, which held accommodations for 20,000 men. Work had been begun there on a gigantic airplane factory. The Northern Bombing Group, under command of Capt. David C. Hanrahan, had 112 planes, 305 officers, and 2239 aviators, w-ho devoted all their time to bombing the German submarine bases at Zeebrugge and Ostend, Belgium.

So this box was a project of someone who was stationed in this area at the time.

Thanks Alain!

Switch-On Rock - The Moog Machine

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Switched-On Rock
The Moog Machine
Columbia CS 9921
1969

So today, I found several albums by The Moog Machine. One album, Christmas Electric, sounded way simplistic and like the creators were trying to mimic real instruments.

This album, apparently released the same year, is far more dynamic and moog groovy.

The difference is that the musicians seem to understand that, by itself, The Moog can sound "thin". So they added "real" drums. The beat helps to drive the tracks along. And they let The Moog be what it is, rather than strain to make the device mimic real instruments.

Every track is Moogalicious!

Christmas Electric - The Moog Machine

Carol Of The Bells

Christmas Electric
The Moog Machine
Columbia CS 9959
1969

The moog "broke"on the music scene after it was demonstrated at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Apparently the fad lasted from about that time through the mid 70s when technology changed.

I'm no expert, but these tracks seem like simple compositions even for 1969. Still, how many Holiday records exploit The Moog as a gimmick?

Tribulation

Tribulation

Jack W. Hester
Triumphant Records 413
1974

I found this obscure album today. I stood before the record bin at The Goodwill for a moment trying to decipher the cover. When I finally figured out what the art/letters spelled I thought that I had a hell fire evangelical sermon on my hands.

Well, no, that's not exactly what this is. This recording is based on The Tribulation (events referred to in Matthew 24:21). The story telling style is after the War Of The Worlds radio broadcast. It actually reminds me more of a Peter Pan comic book album. The recording, however, is marketed towards adults.

This recording, according to the back cover, is a sequel to The Rapture an earlier dramatic production (album).

I've posted the last part of the B side, which features for some reason, the only song on the album.

Tony Mottola - Warm, Wild & Wonderful

With A Little Help

Tony Mottola With The Groovies
Warm, Wild & Wonderful
Enoch Light Presents Project 3 Total Sound
PR 5025 SD
1968

Project 3 is life for Enoch Light after he sold Command to ABC in 1965. I this case, he carried on with one of his favorite artists, Tony Mottola. Light continued on with his double, or gate fold jacket feature and the excellent audio engineering his Command projects are known for.

The Groovies were the back up vocalists Mottola used sparingly, like another instrument. Light borrowed the phrase Now Sound to help market the album. Much of the rhythm is based on bossa nova beat which is why I think he went with that label. The music creates a reasonably consistent mood that I always called light pop. The album is very good light pop.

There is one other thing about Light's work and that I always appreciated. He had no fear publishing the date of the release on his jackets. As someone who is interested in how all this music fits together in history easy access to the release date makes my life easier. I also noted that, RCA seem to consistently date their releases in the 50s.

Blue Hawaii - Billy Mure

Sweet Leilani

Blue Hawaii
Billy Mure And His Orchestra
Harry Kaapuni & His Royal Hawaiians
Spinorama Records M-147

This was a fun find. I've got a few Mure albums here, but the name didn't register when I picked what I thought was going to be a "traditional" Hawaii record from the discount bin. Of course Mure is known for his "supersonic" guitar projects which are great space age recordings.

From what I can gather Spinorama or Premier (parent label to Spinorama) republished tracks from Mure's Hawaiian Percussion that was released on Strand. Premier released this album with the same contents and title with different cover art at some point.

The B side is more traditional, but easy to listen to Hawaiian music.

Guitar U.S.A - Tony Mottola

Guitar U.S.A.

Guitar U.S.A.
Tony Mottola
Command Records SMAS 90977
1967

Here is another of the many albums Mottola has made. As usual, this is an excellent Command recording featuring excellent stereo engineering.

The gimmick was to feature Mottola playing as many different Gibson stringed instruments has he could and to entice record buyers with a wide range of songs styles.

So Command mixed a range of light pop, light jazz, "country" tunes and a great cover of The Stones, I Can't Get No Satisfaction. The track, Guitar U.S.A., is actually the most weird and wonderful track! I could hardly believe my ears. Totally cool!

The Seventh Veil - Artie Barsamian

The Seventh Veil
Artie Barsamian And His Orchestra
Jay Records J-1147
1957

Here's a record I found today that apparently was also released twice on KAPP in 1957 & 1959 with the same cover photo (sized differently) and dressed up with different title type faces (different for both KAPP releases).

The downloads that are available on Amazon feature this particular cover. I'm assuming this is the original release.

Information on Barsamian is sketchy at best. As far as I can tell he made as many as five albums.

I've listened to a number of El-Bakkar albums recently and prefer them over this recording. This is a personal taste issue as the El-Bakkar albums seem slightly more westernized and colorful. This record seems more strictly "folk" and more "monochromatic". The last track on the B side, Sweet Girl, is a vocal track and is very cool.

The Seventh Veil

Artie Barsamian

4 Corners Of The World/KAPP FCS-4552

Les Baxter - The Soul Of The Drums

Les Baxter And His Orchestra
The Soul Of The Drums
Reprise R9 6100
1963

I was lucky to find this Les Baxter album today featuring one of my favorite Baxter covers. This record isn't a heavy tribal drum project as the cover may suggest. This is a great mood setting recording that has just a touch of early 60s light pop blended in with the drums. The balance between "authentic" folk drumming and the Baxter touch is perfect. And the stereo engineering is excellent.

Of course, this record can be found on CD. But personally, I love the big cover art that comes with the vinyl.

Korla Pandit - Estrellita & Jalousie

Korla Pandit
Estrellita & Jalousie
Vita Records 204

Here is a 10 inch 78 RPM that isn't listed on Pandit's Discography. However, the songs are available for download on Amazon.

New & Exciting Latin Sounds - Manuel And His Strings

The Breeze And I

New & Exciting
Manuel And His Strings
MGM SE4029
1962

The 1962 October issue of Boys Life reviewed this album in a feature titled "Platter Chatter". They love the "...cleanest definition of instruments and the widest range of realism".

This album would be MGM's attempt to play catch up with trends that Enoch Light/Command had started or flushed out in the early 60s. The jacket is a Command "styled" gatefold with the standard reams of copy covering the "21 Channel Sound" process and the song choices.

The album is light Latin pop featuring some "ping pong" stereo effects (another trend Command started). This effect, on this album as on many other efforts of the day, is a tad annoying and pointless (as heard through headphones anyway). But at the time, as you can tell from the Boy Scout review, the public was eating up all these sounds bouncing from one channel to another.

With that said, the engineering is really excellent (as good as any Command record I've heard) and the the sound is "clean" and well defined. Interesting how MGM marketed the album as "21 Channel" when they were using two 12-channel mixers. They did, however, use 21 microphones.