Taste Of Honey - Tijuana Style

The Lonely Bull

Taste Of Honey
Tijuana Style
The Toronadoes
Design Records DLP-248
1965(?)

What struck me about this cover is that it looks like I might find Martin Denny's name on it somewhere. It has a late 60s Denny feel to it.

There are some fun "Tijuana brass" albums out there. I have a few that entertain me so I pick them up on chance that they well at least have some 60s weirdness going on. This album starts out with a reasonably engaging cover of A Taste Of Honey. But then, for the next three tracks, the album goes weirdly into... like 40s ball room easy listening before it tries to get back on theme with a standard Mexican flavored tune.

Side two kicks off with a fun version of Zorba The Greek and does a little better staying on theme but by the third track the music slides into some big band swing thing.

The group's name is hidden in the lower left hand corner of the cover. It sounds like Design didn't have enough "Toronadoes" material and filled the album with some stock music. And the sample tune I posted, the best track on the album, sounds weirdly different as if Design had that tune sitting on the shelf and used it as fill. I swear that I've heard this exact track on another album!

Anyway... I think that once again full filled my mission to bring fans of The Atomic Attic the best budget albums that no one else would pay $1 at The Goodwill.

Smile - The Funnies

You've Got A Friend

Wanted

Smile
Sung And Played By The Funnies
Pickwick SPC-3288

Gosh darn it! I know I blogged this gem some time ago but I can't find the little sucker anywhere in The Atomic Attic. This image is way more minty fresh than the first copy I found. Yes... I bought more than ONE copy!

This is a great bubble gum Partridge Family exploito album. In really small type on the jacket is printed "Sung and Played By The..." just so you know, if you can read it, that you aren't getting the original songs.

From the back cover: We put it all together for just one dollar and change, which is another reason to smile. Smile! It's catching!!

You can't see me... but I'm smiling... no... really I am! Because it is still worth $1 at The Goodwill!

In defense of record companies taking advantage of the buying public, several comments have been left that suggest that very young children could be entertained for hours and not know the difference. But I was just wondering if permanent brain damage could have been caused by Jim Croce cover?

I'm just kidding! Come on! Smile!

Roman Guitar Volume Two - Tony Mottola

Scalinatella

Roman Guitar Volume Two
Tony Mottola
Command Records RS 836 SD
1962

I've blogged a number of Mottla/Command albums. This is another fun space age recording with that Command light pop touch and outstanding Enoch Light engineering.

Charles E. Murphy is once again responsible for the stylish cover design.

Big Noise From Winnetka - Bob Haggart And His Orchestra

What's New

Big Noise From Winnetka
Bob Haggart And His Orchestra
Command Records RS 849 SD
1963

Advertised on the cover as the "logical development for the 1960s of the great bands that made Swing Era swing in the 1930s and 1940s".

Yeah... pretty much this sounds like big band swing diving into the Enoch Light's bachelor pad generation. Big and bold to intimate smoky cool. And a good copy of this LP will deliver that outstanding Command sound through your speakers like few other labels can do.

Outstanding.

Sir Julian - A Knight At The Organ

The Breeze And I

A Knight At The Organ
Sir Julian (Julian Gould)
RCA Victor LPM-2591
1962

Terrific cover art and fun exotica/space age album! But who really made the organ "hip" or "in"? I'd have to go with Korla Pandit who was doing percussive organ "exotica" work in the mid 50s. But the jacket copy was left in the hands of the marketing people and a small combo of guitar, bongos, drums and bass is always cool with the "hip-folk".

From the back cover we learn that Julian played at the age of 15 (1935) with a group called The Swingsters which featured Frank Sinatra. He then worked the Orpheum (a movie house) in Los Angeles. He went on to study with Lausenberg and Wischner earning a Masters from U.C.L.A.

At the time this album was released (also from the back cover) he was in Miami doing a gig at The Playboy Club.

Bongos - Los Admiradores

Unchained Melody

Bongos
Los Admiradores
Command Records RS 809 SD
1959

Here we have another Command record with a cool cover by Charles E Murphy who set the tone for cover design in the late 50s and early 60s mainly for percussion and light pop records.

Los Admiradores was a studio band. Members include: Willie Rodriguez, Don Lamon, Tony Mottola, Bob Haggart, Ted Sommers, Stanley Webb and Artie Marotti.

The nice thing about this record is rather than going over the top with the bongos, Enoch Light decided to go with the "soft side" of percussion. I think the understated use of the bongo gimmick kept the recording from becoming annoying.

Fun space age stuff!

Percussion In The Sky - Werner Muller And His Orchestra

Percussion In The Sky
Werner Muller And His Orchestra
Phase 4 Stereo
London SP 44008
1961

Available on an import combo CD with Muller's Wild Strings.

Crazy arrangements, some laced with environmental sounds/effects. Wild light pop vocal flourishes. All the bells and whistles! No single approach to a song is exactly the same. Never a dull moment. And of course you get that great Phase 4 Stereo sound!

Terrific space age stuff!

The Best Of India's New Motion Picture Music

The Best Of India's New Motion Picture Music
Twelve Exotic Songs From The Finest Recent Soundtracks
Capitol Records ST 10500

I can't pin down the date on this album. If I had to guess, from a partial Capitol discography I found... mid 60s.

The album was prepared for U.S. release by Bill Miller.

Watch the clip from the movie!

Bol Radha Bol

From the film: Sangam

Gypsy - Richard Hayman And His Orchestra

Golden Earrings

Gypsy
Richard Hayman And His Orchestra
Mercury MG 20875

I believe this album was released in 1962 with a different cover (same photo of the instruments) but pushing Mercury's 35mm magnetic tape technology. My copy is a mono release.

Soloist credits include: Leonid Bolotine - violin, Dick Marta - Cymbalum, Al Cailo and Don Arnone - Guitars and Dominick Cortese - Accordion.

My favorite Hayman album is still Voodoo followed closely by Cinemagic Sounds. This is album is a nice mild space age update on "gypsy folk".

Ted Heath's First American Tour!

Ted Heath's First American Tour!
London Records LL 1564
1957

This album is available as a combo CD with Ted Heath At Carnegie Hall. But you don't get this fun original cover art with the CD. I thought someone might like to see it.

This album was recorded in remembrance of Heath's band's American Tour in 1956.

From wikipedia: In April 1956 Heath arranged his first American tour. This was a ground breaking reciprocal agreement between Heath and Stan Kenton, who would tour Britain at the same time as Heath toured the U.S. The tour was a major negotiated agreement with the British Musicians' Union and the American Federation of Musicians, which broke a 20 year union deadlock. Heath contracted to play a tour that included Nat King Cole, June Christy and the Four Freshmen that consisted of 43 concerts in 30 cities (primarily the southern states) in 31 days (7,000 miles) climaxing in a Carnegie Hall concert on May 1, 1956.[13] At this performance, the band's instrument truck was delayed by bad weather. The instruments finally arrived just minutes before the curtain rose. The band had no time to warm up or rehearse. There were so many encore calls at the Carnegie Hall performance that Nat King Cole (who was backstage, but not on the bill) had to come out on stage and ask people to leave.

Dynamica - Ray Martin And His Orchestra

Dynamica

Ray Martin And His Orchestra
Stereo Action
The Sound Your Eyes Can Follow.
RCA Victor LSA-2287
1961

This album is available on CD. Although, one (Amazon) review states that the CD was produced from a MONO source. I can't imagine why RCA would have released a mono version of Stereo Action... but they did.

So, I will not be posting a sample. And too bad! This is a fabulous space age recording in the Stereo Action series of records. The jackets are heavy white cardboard with some type of die-cut that allowed abstract art printed on the cardboard sleeve to show through.

Some stereo "demonstration" records needlessly bounce audio from one channel to another. The Stereo Action on this record also bounces and rolls from right to left channel and back again. However, the over-the-top technique works well here to support the Martin's super space age music. The music is like easy listening/light pop meets Sputnik.

Nutcracker Suite - Ritual Fire Dance

Ritual Fire Dance

Nutcracker Suite
The New London Symphonic Orchestra Conducted By Lionel Atkins
Golden Tone C 4007

No date to be found. The release looks like a late 50s production. I post what is essentially a classical music album here in The Atomic Attic because Golden Tone apparently tried to create a package that might appeal to folks interested in period exotica trends. Popular tunes associated with the exotica trend that appear on this album include: Russian Dance, Arabian Dance, Chinese Dance and Ritual Fire Dance.

Golden Tone albums, like this one, could feature simple but colorful cover art. Not a bad release from a budget label... but Golden Tone was fooling themselves if they thought that they could fool a Martin Denny fan into thinking this was exotica without featuring a vibraphone and few bird calls!

An Astromusical Odyssey Sounds Galactic

Round Trip Mars

An Astromusical Odyssey
Sounds Galactic
Phase 4 Stereo Spectacular
London SP 44154
1971

Elegant gatefold jacket featuring almost no copy including on the inside of the jacket.

Nice blend of easy easy listening and "space" effects including non "computer" related effects such as flanging. You will hear computer generated effects which very easily could have been sampled from other electronica recordings, because they seem to be a bit "shoe-horned" into the arrangements. One of the more beautiful tracks, Clair De Lune features no effects at all. Other tracks seem a tad cheesy... in the good early light pop 70s way.

Round Trip Mars, the last track on side 2 seems to be the most cohesive blend of orchestra and effects.

Fun stuff and a nice addition to the collection.

10 Jubille Hits 77

Taxi Kal Raat Sadak Pe Ek Ladki

10 Jubilee Hits 77
Polydor Of India 2392 151
1978

This record appears to have been imported because of the English title. The songs are from India movies.

The sample is credited as follows: Taxi Kal Raat Sadak Pe Ek Ladki – Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle and Chorus, Mukerji Bros. "Chhailla Babu" Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal Lyric: Anand Bakshi

Of course, you can supplement your audio experience with a film clip from the actual movie:

Dick Kesner And His Magic Stradivarius - The Music Of Hawaii

Bird Of Paradise

Dick Kesner And His Magic Stradivarius

The Music Of Hawaii
With Orchestration By Charles Bud Dant
Coral CRL 57352 and 757352 (stereo)

The first Kesner album I stumbled across and blogged was Amor Latino. I discovered that very little is to be found online about Kesner aside that he was first violinist with The Lawrence Welk Orchestra. He also worked with The San Francisco and Chicago Symphonies, The American Broadcasting Company and The American Conservatory Of Music.

Kesner made a number of records that all seem obscure. And his "Welk" pedigree isn't inspiring. That is to say... if you look for exotica and interesting lounge (atomic age) recordings you would probably pass Kesner's LPs based on that information. Much to my surprise Kesner's obscure Amore Latino turned out to be one of my favorite exotica records. When I spied this album, I thought lighting couldn't strike twice. But it has. I can't say that this album features the "experimental" flourishes of Amor Latino, but it is a terrific exotica or lounge styled Hawaii record. For the most part the tone is soft. Kesner blends his Stradivarius with Charles Bud Dant Orchestra so that the songs just aren't violin with backup, but well rounded tunes.

I must admit... I really loved Bird Of Paradise, the third track on side two simply because the tune features Denny/Lyman bird calls! I think this album made have just preceded Amor Lation (1962). Kesner obviously had much more going for him than just his bread and butter Welk gig!

Side one

Blue Hawaii
My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekua Hawaii
Legend Of The Rain
Beyond The Reef
Sayonara
Hawaiian Medley

Side two

Lovely Hula Hands
The Hawaiian Wedding Song
Bird Of Paradise
The Hukilua Song
Nalani
Forevermore

Super Hits Volume 7

Goodbye To Love

Super Hits
Volume 7
Pickwick SPC 3908
1972

Played & Sung Like The Original Hits! Love it! I don't care now hard they try... they will never be just like the original! I mean... I never liked most of the original songs some 30 years ago... but now I'm digging these covers better (I mean... in my own warped way).

I have to hand it to Pickwick. At least the company didn't hide or completely obscure the fact that these songs were by a cover band.

And this Super Hits series of records is fun because Keith Wood wrote the jacket notes for the three volumes I have on hand. The notes are written in the "hip" language of the day and are fun reading.

Oh yeah, here we go again, with another batch of the biggest, baddest, best of the the chartbusters! Superhits No. 7 is here and smokin' with the sounds you've been askin' for......... The Who lead off with Join Together... The Bee Gees, another English super group, give us the sensitive RUN TO ME, Godspell opens our eyes with Day By Day... Bread is bakin' again with THE GUITAR MAN, here is BLACK AND WHITE by Three Dog Night, Gilbert O'Sullivan, a most charming dude, has ALONE AGAIN (Naturally) Check Out Bill Withers, Looking Glass and those beautiful Carpenters, The O'Jays seem to be cuttin' up the music scene with BACK STABBERS. All these great songs are sung by our group Kings Road and I know They're into it!!!! Gotta split now... hope you can really get into these sounds... some soft... some solid, but all... real nice'n together. Love and Peace Keith Wood

Lara's Theme - The Fabulous Five

Golden Earrings

Lara's Theme

The Fabulous Five
Organ And Percussion
Ed Turley
Power Records Apple Honey Vocal DS406

Here's another record that probably should have been posted to my Now Appearing In The Motel Lounge blog. However, the recording is pressed on a "real" label (not private press) so here it lies in The Atomic Attic.

Most tunes sound like 70s budget Martin Denny.

I couldn't find any info on the label, which appears to be a "division" of Power Records. Most Power Records I've seen are related to some type comic book character or 70s science fiction TV show.

The brand on the jacket reads "Vocal" (no vocals on this record). The brand on the record label reads "Series".

I love the odd cover design and hey, the simple budget quality of the recording would make for good background music if your are opening a bottle of cheap wine while you are trying to score with your sweetie next your plug in plastic log fireplace!

The Untouchables - Skip Martin And His Prohibitionists

The Untouchables

Skip Martin And His Prohibitionists
Somerset SF-12900
1961

Available as purchase/MP3 download. The Untouchables "theme" (the title track) from the TV series packs some punch, but the album lacks the "gritty" or "underworld" sound as suggested by the cover illustration (artist: Will Dressler). Especially considering this is a 1961 release that would be competing with other darker/cooler private eye/detective TV soundtrack work. Brief environmental sound lead-ins on some tunes make little sense.

If you are looking for some New Orleans flavored blues, you might find this record enjoyable.

Playgirl- Thee Prophets

Heartbreak Avenue

Playgirl

Thee Prophets
KAPP KS-3596
1969

I wasn't sure if I should list this album here in The Atomic Attic or on my Motel Lounge Blog. The record is a curious blend of Psych, Easy Listening/Lounge and Bubble Gum. On the back cover the fellow that wrote the notes, Don Brown - WGY Schenectady, NY compared the Prophets to The Buckinghams, Cream and Vanilla Fudge.

Golly... they all look somewhat bored holding on to that Playgirl!

Organ Moods In Hi-Fi With Buddy Cole At The Pipe Organ

Organ Mood In Hi-Fi With Buddy Cole At The Pipe Organ
Columbia Records CL 874
1956

Available on CD/purchase download.

I'm a big fan of Korla Pandit's organ stylings, especially his earlier work such as his first 12 inch titled Universal Language Of Music Volume One, 1954. This early exotica pipe organ album doesn't have that "experimental" feel and Cole's doesn't play in a percussive style. But Cole manages to translate, with just organ effects, the exotica vibe I love to here in my favorite tunes which include:

The Breeze And I
The Nearness Of You
Orchids In The Moonlight
Ebb Tide
That Old Black Magic
Tenderly
The Continental
Laura
Poinciana
Autumn In New York
The Moon Of Manakoora
The Hour Of Parting