Cuban Mist Cha Cha Cha - Eddie Gomez

Cuban Mist Cha Cha Cha
Eddie Gomez And His American Orchestra
Crown CLP 5032

As with almost all freaking Crown records, this one is available for digital purchase download. So, sorry I will not be posting a sample.

Tracks titled Cuban Mist, Two Guitars and Le Fleur are my recommended downloads. These are nice instrumentals. Other tunes featuring vocal treatments just don't work for me.

Percussion In Hi-Fi - David Carroll

Discussion In Percussion

Percussion In Hi-Fi
David Carroll
Mercury Records SR 60003
1958

This is the best Carroll album I've run across. The LP is not only cool when compared to other period "pop" albums, but at least one featured extended track (posted above as a sample) plays like a concept peice. The vibe of the record shows that Carroll had a firm grasp on the direction light pop was headed and was ahead of the curve.

Carroll had help on this project from Bobby Christian, Frank Rullo and Mike Simpson.

His later albums, while featuring some very fun stuff, don't grab me like this one. This is fabulous stuff and apparently available only on vinyl. The Mercury stereo engineering is also top shelf.

Bongos Flutes Guitars - Los Admiradores

Bongos Flutes Guitars
Performances By Los Admiradores
Produced by Enoch Light
Command Records RS 812 SD
1960

Sorry this one is available as digital/purchase download, so I will not be posting a sample.

This is an excellent example of Light's "light pop" "ping-pong" sound. Not too "cartoony" just total 60s fun featuring the terrific Command stereo engineering I've come to know and love.

Side 1

How Hight The Moon
Caravan
C'est Ci Bon
Friendly Persuasion
My Funny Valentine
Making Whoopie

Side 2

Birth Of The Blues
Golden Earrings
East Of The Sun
By The Rive St. Marie
Laura
I Can Dream, Can't I

Sentimental - Enoch Light

The Breeze And I

Sentimental
Enoch Light Orchestra
The Fontanna Orchestra
Palace PST-703

I guess Palace managed to secure the rights to several Light songs and felt that they could legally market an album of older, mismatched off the shelf stuff with Light's name on the cover. Some of the filler isn't even credited to Fontanna. Palace went so far as to rip off the Command jacket graphic style in the hopes that buyers would think that they they were getting the good stuff. Even the Light tracks are no where near his best effort.

Place never lets me down as a budget label.

The Bay Big Band Plays Duke Ellington

Passion Flower

The Bay Big Band Plays Duke Ellington
Omega OSL 24
1960

Apparently the back cover was changed during the pressing. The back cover on this album features a track list and Omega catalog. I found another image of the back cover online that explains that the band is conducted by Francis Bay, who had made at least 12 records on Omega at that time. The cover photo (why I bought the album) was taken by Ray Avery. The sculpture, by Dupagne, was located in the Belgian Congo Pavilion during the Brussels World's Fair.

Francis Bay was a Belgian conductor who was noted in the August 8, 1960 Billboard as having "...fashioned a Big Band that stands among the best around today."

Omega had a flare for releasing budget albums featuring graphically dynamic covers.

The Power And The Glory - Roger Bacon Band

This Guy's In Love With You

The Power And The Glory
Guth Brothers Post 111 Roger Bacon Band
Recorded by Insight Communications, Inc
Artist Recording Company - Cincinnati, Ohio
6920 - 700651
1969

OK... this one is coming out of left field even for me... but I couldn't resist the great cover image. You are looking from the south shore of The Ohio River, probably from Newport, Kentucky across the river into downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

I live in the area... it's a local thing for me.

My Cup Of Tea - Si Zentner And His Orchestra

Hard Day's Night

My Cup Of Tea
Si Zentner And His Orchestra
RCA LSP-2992
1965

Zentner's big band, and at times, light pop approaches to popular tunes of his time including many Beatle songs. Fun stuff.

Side 1

Wishin' And Hopin'
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
And I Love Her
A Hard Day's Night
Forget Him
All Cried Out

Side 2

The House Of The Rising Sun
Ringo's Theme
Twist And Shout
How Do You Do it
I Want To Hold Your Hand
My Cup Of Tea

Shaft In Africa

Shaft In Africa
Original score composed, arranged and conducted by Johnny Pate
ABC Records BCX-793
1973

From the cover graphic, the best I could have hoped for was some 70s movie musical magic cheese. Yes, there is some of that 70s fun going on. But this album also features a great blend of funk, jazz and little exotica, if you will, along with great Four Tops vocals. Good stuff!

Available as mp3 down loads so I will not be posting a sample. It helps if you search for the mp3 files to add "pate" as a keyword.

Side 1

You Can't Even Walk In The Park
Are You Man Enough
Aleme Finds Shaft
Shaft In Africa
Headman
El Jardia

Side 2

Are You Man Enough
Jazar's Theme
Truck Stop
Aleme's Theme
El Jardia
Are You Man Enough (End Title)

The Screen Scene - Peter Nero

Help!

The Screen Scene
Peter Nero
RCA Victor LSP-3496
1966

Here we have another one of those album covers that assures that the album will be passed over at the thrift by most pickers. I always check the track titles to see if I should risk, in this case... my 50¢... Spy film titles are always good bet... But the winner on this album is a cover of The Beatles Help!

The album, aside from the sample posted above, isn't "over-the-top" space age fair, but nicely blends easy listening with light pop.

Super Hits - Rock 1976 - 77

I Wanna Rock And Roll All Night

Super Hits
Rock 1976 - 77
Power Pak SA-302

Many of the Power Pak records I've collected are "comic book" theme projects. This Power Pak is a "covers" record. Featured in super small type on the back cover is the name of the session group, Tommy Hill Music Festival.

Winchester Cathedral - The Palm Beach Band Boys

Gypsy Caravan

Winchester Cathedral
The Palm Beach Band Boys
RCA LSP-3734
1966

Oddball 60s record by a studio group who attempted to capitalize on the success of The New Vaudeville Band's hit single Winchester Cathedral. Some tracks blend novelty 1920s/30s nasal vocals, apparently sung by an RCA executive who croons while holding his nose and period light pop music.

The arrangements are by Billy (Supersonic Guitars) Mure. The last track on the B side, Gypsy Caravan sure is wild!

Your All-Time Favorite Songs - Bianco

Ebb Tide

Your All-Time Favorite Songs
The Rainbow Sound Of Bianco
His Harp And Orchestra
RCA CSP 110
1964

Gene Bianco's first love was jazz. But RCA thought it best to mold Bianco into an easy listening musician. Check out the full story on spaceagepop.com.

Nice easy though...

Percussion Suite - Buster Cooper

Side B

Percussion Suite
Dances Created By Buster Cooper
Choreo Records - Dallas, Texas CH-200

Curious 10 inch 33 LP with side one divided into tracks and side two playing as one long "song". Both sides playing out much in the same fashion. The record may have been made to accompany some type of printed material, to support Cooper's "dances"?

South Pacific - Les Baxter

Bali Ha'i

South Pacific
Les Baxter
Capitol Records T1012
1958

The May 5, 1958 Billboard got it right when they wrote: This is an exciting new approach to the famed Rogers and Hammerstein score. Despite numerous recordings, this can score well. Tempos are altered, and the orchestra colors are superb. It's a wonderful mood set and a pleasantly different companion place to the many vocal treatments. Strong possibilities. Attractive cover.

You Can't Hurry Love - The Copy Cats

Wild Thing

Hungry

You Can't Hurry Love
The Copy Cats
Columbia Record Club Exclusive
D 242

I always buy "copy cat" albums... but I never thought I'd find one released on Columbia or by a session group actually called The Copy Cats.

Of course, Columbia did as good as could be expected making music that almost, sorta kinda... sounds like the "original". Enjoy the copies!

Side 1

Land Of 1000 Dances
Trains & Boats & Planes
Red Rubber Ball
Hanky Panky
Sunny
I Saw Her Again
Wild Thing

Side 2

Bus Stop
Guantanamera
Sunshine Superman
You Can't Hurry Love
Summer In The City
Hungry
Lil' Red Riding Hood

Those Were The Days - The Exotic Guitars

A Taste Of Honey

Those Were The Days
The Exotic Guitars
Ranwood Records, Inc. R 8040
1968

Solo Guitar - Al Casey
Produced by Randy Wood
Arranged and conducted by Bill Justis

This is another very good and groovy light pop Exotic Guitars LP.  The LP features inventive arrangements, guitar sound and light jazz touches.

Lani Laurens - Surfin' At Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Chant

Lani Laurens And His Royal Polynesians

Surfin' At Waikiki Beach

Spinorama S118

Gypsy - Sandor His Violin And Orchestra

Gypsy
Sandor His Violin And Orchestra
RCA LPM-1440
1958

Here we have another somewhat obscure "Gypsy" album with a smoking hot cover. Sorry about not posting a sample. The music is a bit too "traditional" for my blog.

A Bunch Of Bongos - Willie Rodriguez

A Bunch Of Bongos
Willie Rodriguez And The International Stars
Grand Award GA 253 SD
1960

Available for purchase/download so I will not be posting a sample. Sorry!

More of the good ping pong light pop stuff from Enoch Light. You get the typical and terrific (Light) engineering.

Side 1

Tico Tico
Penthouse Mambo
Tropical Merengue
Baia
Say Si Si
Timbales Mambo

Side 2

Mambo Loco
Estacy
Take It Easy
Brazilia
Cuban Mambo
Chiu Chiu

Coral Reef - The Hawaiian Surfers

Sayonara

Coral Reef
The Hawaiian Surfers
Decca DL 74700
1966

The Hawaiian Surfers are like The Four Freshman do Hawaii. But they mix it up featuring a few "traditional" approaches along with some fun light pop fare.

Overall, a fine album.

Enjoy!

A Chant For Your Plants

A Chant For Your Plants

1976

From the back cover: Chant written by Ann Chase: artist, author, lecturer, researcher in Noetic Science, and graduate of the Cosmic University.