Gamelan Music Of Bali

Gamelan Music Of Bali
Lyrichord LLST-7179

I'm not sure when this record was released, but it is still available from Lyrichord on CD and by the download although the cover art has changed.

To me the music sounds like many multi-colored glass bottles swirling around in a twister, smashing into one another until they explode into a thousand pieces of light.

OK... I don't normally get so freaking funny with words... but seeing as how I can't post a sample... that's the best I could do to suggest, with words, what you might hear. The sounds and tempos do take you for a trip somewhere.

For a more intellectual explanation of Gamelan music check out this wiki page.

Yma Sumac - Legend Of The Sun Virgin

Yma Sumac
Legend Of The Sun Virgin
Music By Moises Vivanco
Capitol T299
1952

A Capitol ad in the September issue of Billboard, 1952 listed this and Sumac's Virgin Of The Sun God as "Best Selling Popular Albums".

While no vocal styling can please everyone, if you are visiting the Manic Mark Magical Musical Moments Blog, you better get hip and into Sumac. We are talking 1952 and this hot chick is from outer space!

I'd love a time machine visit from Sumac to the American Idol try-outs just to see the expressions on the faces of the judges!

You can get a copy of the CD on Amazon right now for only $3. However, no CD can replace the 12 inch record cover art that comes with the original vinyl! Stunning!

I also highly recommend Sumac's Mambo!

Look, I'm Doing The Cha - Cha! - Bobby Madera and his Orchestra

Mambo Inn

Look, I'm Doing THe Cha-Cha!
Bobby Madera and his Orchestra
ABC-Paramount ABC-123
1956

Here's a great space age cover with music that reflects the playfulness of the graphic.

According to the jacket notes, this was "Bobby's first ABC-Paramount album as leader of his own Latin-American Orchestra". Also from the notes, Madera was a trumpeter, arranger and composer who comes from Baltimore, Maryland. I'm assuming that Madera is also doing the hot vocal chores on the album.

Aside from the jacket notes and a few online references to this album, I can't locate any more information on Madera. Madera does a hot cover of Mambo Inn, a tune that became a Latin standard, written in 1952 by Mario Bauza, Grace Samson and Bobby Woodlen.

Sid Feller produced the album. Feller also produced records for Paul Anka, Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence on ABC-Paramont.

This is a smoking big band Cha-Cha album.

Tangos For Romance - Carmen Cavallaro

Orchids In The Moonlight

Tangos For Romance
Carmen Cavallaro
Decca Records DL 5407
1952

An eye popping cover graces this early Decca 10 inch 33 RPM. Carmen spent 2 decades with Decca as of 1961. He produced a ton of stuff for the company and apparently was a good seller although I find his stuff pretty safe for my tastes.

Sorry, the vinyl is pretty rough on this copy.

Rhumba Favorites - Al Stefano and his Orchestra

Taboo & Jungle Drums

Rhumba Favorites
Al Stefano and His Orchestra
Golden Tone C4049

Al Stefano was apparently a keyboard player who made at least several albums. There are both piano and organ numbers featured on this LP.

This LP has an interesting sound as if it was recorded in an overly large room with a bit of an echo.

The organ numbers have a "percussion" sound like Korla Pandit's work. For a budget label this is a pleasant album with fun covers of a number of popular period exotica tunes.

Sorry about the sound quality, the copy I found is a bit rough.

Naked City - Jack Costanzo

African Waltz

Naked City
Jack Costanzo and his Orchestra
Liberty LRP 3195 (monaural)
1961

Did Liberty Records ever release a record that wasn't cool? I haven't picked a Liberty title to date that I didn't enjoy.

Naked City is another one that I love. Billboard (August 21, 1961) also loved the record, gave it a 4 star rating calling the album "Fine jockey wax."

Costanzo's nickname, according to his wiki page, is Mr. Bongo. Born 1922, he may still in fact be working. He toured with Stan Kenton and played with Nat King Cole. Read more on wiki.

This is my first Costanzo find and reading through his discography while I write this, it looks as though I need to go looking for about a dozen more records, including albums with tasty titles like, Mr. Bongo Plays Hi-Fi Cha Cha and Bongo Fever.

Guitar Galaxies - George Barnes

La Paloma

Guitar Galaxies
George Barnes
Mercury SR 60956
1964

Here we have a cool space age guitar LP. Oddly enough, you can't find this record on CD or by the download.

Guitarists on the album include: George Barnes, Don Arnone, Allen Halon, Everett Barksdale, Al Caiola, Al Casamenti, Art Ryerson, Barry Galbraith and Carl Kress

George Barnes made the first recording of an electric guitar in 1938 with Big Bill Broonzy.

Barnes did not receive national acclaim until he recorded an album called Two Guitars with Carl Kress (who is credited on this album).

This album is "light-pop", in the tradition of Enoch Light and features that excellent Mercury engineering that I have come to love (Hall Mooney, Mercury Recording Director and Phil Ramone, Engineer).

I found this same album with two different cover. The second example is a substantial gatefold. PPS 6011 released in 1961.

Let's Dance With Panchito And His Orchestra

Dark Angels

Let's Dance!
Panchito And His Orchestra
Hanf Records, Toledo, Ohio
HFLP-801

An obscure, small record label located in Toledo, Ohio produced this equally obscure big band Afro-Cuban record.

According to the jacket notes, Panchito worked with Isham Jones, Xavier Cugat and Lang Thompson. Other then the jacket notes, I can't find much information on Panchito.

Also from the back cover: "In the Middle-west he is recognized by the finest dancers as having one of the truly danceable orchestras."

Apparently "Hanf Records" is Mr. and Mrs. Hanf (as pictured on the back cover). They were professional dancers and published this record to cater to folks interesting in Latin music for dancing. I have no idea how they acquired the music or if they had Panchito record for them.

There are a few nice tracks on the album.

Korla Pandit's - Musical Gems

Korla Pandit's
Musical Gems
Vita Records VLP-12
1951

This is a outstanding Pandit 10 inch 33 RPM LPs. The record kicks off with a fabulous spacey version of The Breeze And I. Great stuff from the magical and mystical Korla Pandit!

Korla Pandit - The Grand Moghul Suite

Selections From Korla Pandit's
The Grand Moghul Suite
Vita Records VLP-10
1951

This is a 10 inch 33 rpm sporting a great jacket. Apparently this release also came in red vinyl.

This is great percussive organ music featuring the magic and mystical Pandit touch.

I Love - Norrie Paramor and his Orchestra

My First Romance

Norrie Paramor And His Orchestra
I Love
Essex Ultraphonic ESLP-102
1954

Here's a great 10 inch 33 album cover from a run of records released by Essex, a label own by the Miller International Company. The unsuccessful label was active from 1951 into 1956. Many covers sported great cheese cake images.

Apparently Paramor made an interesting album, that I have yet to acquire, titled "In London In Love" that featured soprano Patricia Clark, singing brief snatches of wordless vocals. He also produced the first British Rock & Roll single, "Teach You To Rock" by Tony Crombie and his Rockets.

This offering is light and somewhat cheesy pop. April In Portugal is available for purchase online as a download.

I Love - Monty Kelly and his Orchestra and Chorus

Crosswinds

Monty Kelly And His Orchestra
I Love
Essex Ultraphonic ESLP-106
1954

Here's a great 10 inch 33 album cover from a run of records released by Essex, a label own by the Miller International Company. The unsuccessful label was active from 1951 into 1956. Many covers sported great cheese cake images.

This release features some great light pop from Kelly, a staff arranger David Miller hired to work on 101 Strings.

Some of the better tracks from this album are available online for purchase by download. Crosswinds wasn't one of them, so I post the track as a sample here. I think you'll agree this is a very cool pop song and the only song on this release to feature a solo vocalist.

I Love - Ray Martin And His Concert Orchestra

Veradero

Ray Martin And His Orchestra
I Love
Essex Ultraphonic ESLP-105
1954

Here's a great 10 inch 33 album cover from a run of records released by Essex, a label own by the Miller International Company. The unsuccessful label was active from 1951 into 1956. Many covers sported great cheese cake images.

Ray Martin was noted for light pop arrangements and created a legacy for himself in British popular music during the 1950s. He was a producer on the EMI label. Here is his wiki page.