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Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Christmas Dreaming - A Vintage Yuletide

 

1) White Christmas (03:08) Bing Crosby
2) Christmas Bells At Eventide (02:50) Gracie Fields
3) Winter Wonderland (02:58) Lew Stone and His Band
4) Sleigh Ride (02:49) Leroy Anderson
5) Santa Claus is Coming To Town (02:42) The Andrews Sisters / Bing Crosby
6) Christmas Dreaming (a Little Early This Year) (03:00) Frank Sinatra
7) Silent Night (02:45) Bing Crosby
8) Jingle Bells (03:27) Glenn Miller
9) I'm Sending a Letter To Santa Claus (03:05) Gracie Fields
10) All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth (03:12) Spike Jones & His City Slickers
11) Don't Wait till the Night Before Christmas (02:40) Dick Robertson
12) Christmas Island (02:38) The Andrews Sisters
13) Merry Christmas Polka (02:38) Dinah Shore
14) Frosty the Snowman (02:17) Harry Babbitt
15) Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (02:47) Connie Boswell
16) Twelve Days of Christmas (03:24) The Andrews Sisters / Bing Crosby
17) There is No Christmas Like a Home Christmas (03:18) Perry Como
18) Here Comes Santa Claus (02:40) Doris Day
19) It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas (02:48) Bing Crosby
20) Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) (03:13) Nat King Cole
21) Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot (03:00) Phyllis Robins
22) Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful) (03:12) Bing Crosby
23) Auld Lang Syne (03:00) Peter Dawson
24) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (02:29) Harry Babbitt
25) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (02:51) Judy Garland



Christmas Dreaming - A Vintage Yuletide

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails...Hi-Fi Holiday Cheer from Santa's Pad

 

A perfect martini-and-mistletoe combo, Christmas Cocktails will gaily seduce you with its bevy of nostalgic and occasionally campy holiday fare. Vocal vixens Peggy Lee, Julie London (her "I'd Like You for Christmas" will melt the ice cubes in your fridge), Kay Starr and Nancy Wilson join forces with perennial crooners such as Lou Rawls, Dean Martin and the immortal Nat "King" Cole, along with a handful of instrumental big-band numbers and odd, at times cheese-ball-shaped jazz organ pieces from Jimmy McGriff and the flammable Eddie Dundstedter, among others. But the essential item that makes plunking down your pelts for this very chi-chi set is none other than Billy May's lovably kitschy workout called "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo." It's a scream!

Tracklist:
–Billy May     Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo     2:40
–Peggy Lee     Winter Wonderland     1:54
–Ray Anthony  Christmas Trumpets / We Wish You A Very Merry Christmas     –Lou Rawls     Christmas Is     3:15
–Jimmy McGriff     Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town / White Christmas     6:48
–Julie London     I'd Like You For Christmas     2:37
–Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani     Holiday On Skis     2:32
–Kay Starr     (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag     2:42
–Hollyridge Strings*     Jingle Bells / Jingle Bell Rock     5:15
–Dean Martin     I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm     2:44
–Eddie Dunstedter  I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / Jingle Bells Bossa Nova  –Ray Anthony     Christmas Kisses     1:58
–Jackie Gleason / Jack Marshall  I'll Be Home For Christmas / Baby, It's Cold –Nancy Wilson     What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?     2:25
–Capitol Studio Orchestra     Cha-Cha All The Way     2:22
–Nat King Cole     The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)     3:12
–Les Brown & His Band Of Renown*     The Nutcracker Suite     6:32
–Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians     Ring Those Christmas Bells     5:00
–Renzo Cesana     Today I Buy You Violets     2:26
–Nat King Cole & Peggy Lee & Nancy Wilson  Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots  –Capitol Studio Orchestra     Jingle Bells From Capitol Records     1:21


 Christmas Cocktails


 

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Christmas Crooner Wesley Alfvin and Grammy Winning Production Team Marry New with Nostalgia in Holiday Album

 


Like a ride on a sleigh through a twinkling town dressed in white, a new album from velvet-voiced Wesley Alfvin makes its way to the fore. Offering listeners a romp through a sentimental wonderland of all things festive, “The Magic of Christmas Eve” is what one could call a well-won respite wrapped in holiday cheer. Containing five original songs and four re-imagined classics, the Christmas album debuted at #37 on the iTunes Top 200 Holiday Chart. This nod is high-acclaim in any environment, especially for a self-produced album that, despite quarantine, embraced musicians’ talents from all over the world keen to share their art. Partner that with the expertise of a Grammy and Emmy award-winning production team who kept company with the Sinatras, and it’s no wonder it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

Infused with a nostalgic gait fresh from the 1940's, the album was arranged by Ryan O’Connell, who assisted with orchestrations for “Sinatra 100” on CBS and “Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood” on NBC. Adding to the impressive list, the tracks were mixed by Grammy and Emmy award-winner Carl Glanville, who worked on Frank Sinatra’s final studio albums, “Duets” and “Duets II.” Enlisting the expertise of yet another Grammy winner, all holiday songs were mastered by Dave Collins, who worked on Nancy Sinatra’s album “Shifting Gears.”

stream and download here: https://lnk.to/christmasevealbum



web: https://www.wesleyalfvin.com/


                                      https://youtu.be/JVuGB8xmxSg

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Ray Conniff and Billy Butterfield...Just Kiddin' Around

 

Ray Conniff on trombone, Billy Butterfield on trumpet, plus organ, guitar and rhythm section (uncredited). This is the small group that plays the great music in this 1963 get-together of old friends Conniff and Butterfield, kiddin' around with their horns on several standards. "Alexander's Ragtime Band","Heartaches", and "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" receive an uptempo treatment with Ray's trombone and Billy's trumpet!

This album is a real throwback to the big band music of the forties and fifties, and, if you like music, you'll love it! When you hear "Peg 'O My Heart," you will likely want to grab somebody and dance to it. They did an excellent job of putting real quality sound into the album, and this one is sure to keep you awake and interested. It's smooth, classy and very vintage!


Just Kiddin' Around

Saturday, October 31, 2020

new album release from Tammi Savoy and The Chris Casello Combo "That Rock 'N' Roll Rhythm!"

 

Tammi Savoy and The Chris Casello Combo are back, with their second release on Swelltune Records! Twelve killer mid-century rock 'n' roll tracks, released this October on compact disc and digital download. Tammi and Chris have everything your ears need... rockin', danceable tunes, a soft, tender ballad, and a hot instrumental.. all infused with the rhythm and blues flavor they're known for. Perfect for fans of powerful female vocals and masterfully crafted guitar licks.  That Rock 'N' Roll Rhythm! was recorded at Magic Basement Studio except "G'wan 'Bout Your Business" (an Annisteen Allen cover) which was recorded at Wat-Sun Studio (Dale Watson's studio) in Memphis, TN.

Tammi Savoy and guitarist Chris Casello perform Original 40's, 50's and 60's inspired music, early roots Rhythm and Blues, Jump Blues, Roots Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Pure Rhythm and Roll!  Both are Ameripolitan Music Award winners.  Chris won the "Musician Of The Year" award in 2017 and Tammi took home the "Rockabilly Female Artist Of The Year" award in 2019. 

web:https://www.misstammisavoy.com/

http://www.chriscasello.com/ 


 

Marty's review: this second album release from Tammi Savoy and The Chris Casello Combo proves what a powerful combination these artists are. With the dynamic and thrilling vocal style from Tammi Savoy that is straight out of 50's rhythm and blues and the "rockingest" guitar of Mr.Chris Casello, this release is guaranteed to have you boppin', rollin', reelin' and rockin'. The recording techniques are what makes it special as the rawness and spontaneity harks back to the glorious 50's and 60's. A superb effort!

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Room Service Deluxe...The Ultimate Soundtrack for the Seriously Hip

 

1.01     –José Feliciano     Light My Fire    
1.02     –Matt Monro     From Russia With Love    
1.03     –Julie London     Black Coffee    
1.04     –Andy Williams     Can't Get Used To Losing You    
1.05     –Cilla Black     Alfie    
1.06     –Young Holt Unlimited     Soulful Strut    
1.07     –Paul Jones Featuring Mike Leander And His Orchestra     I've Been A Bad Bad Boy    
1.08     –Dusty Springfield     Son Of A Preacher Man    
1.09     –Ramsey Lewis Trio     A Hard Days Night    
1.10     –Glen Campbell     By The Time I Get To Phoenix    
1.11     –The Hollies     He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother    
1.12     –Aretha Franklin     Say A Little Prayer    
1.13     –Mel Tormé     Comin' Home Baby    
1.14     –Sandie Shaw     Girl Don't Come    
1.15     –Dean Martin     Cha Cha Cha D'Amour    
1.16     –Van Morrison     Brown Eyed Girl    
1.17     –Henry Mancini     Baby Elephant Walk    
1.18     –Jackie De Shannon     What The World Needs Now Is Love    
1.19     –Burl Ives     A Little Bitty Tear    
1.20     –Mama Cass     Dream A Little Dream of Me    
1.21     –Don McLean     Vincent 

2.01     –The London Studio Orchestra     The Avengers    
2.02     –Donovan     Sunshine Superman    
2.03     –Harry Nilsson     Coconut    
2.04     –Ella Fitzgerald     Mack The Knife    
2.05     –Chris Montez     The More I See You    
2.06     –The Seekers     A World Of Our Own    
2.07     –Bob Dylan     Lay Lady Lay    
2.08     –Tom Jones     Help Yourself    
2.09     –Simon & Garfunkel     Mrs. Robinson    
2.10     –Burt Bacharach     Trains And Boats And Planes    
2.11     –George Benson     This Masquerade    
2.12     –Bobby Hebb     Sunny    
2.13     –The Peddlers     Girlie    
2.14     –Dinah Washington     What A Dif'rence A Day Makes    
2.15     –The Sandpipers     Guantanamera    
2.16     –Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot     Bonnie & Clyde    
2.17     –Stevie Wonder     My Cherie Amour    
2.18     –Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66     The Look Of Love    
2.19     –Bobby Darin     Beyond The Sea    
2.20     –Dionne Warwick     Message To Michael    
2.21     –Trini Lopez     If I Had A Hammer (Live)    
2.22     –Melanie      Look What They've Done To My Song


Room Service One

Room Service Two

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

The Teddy Bears' Picnic....Vintage Children's Songs.....Original 1920's-1940's recordings

 

Take a trip down Memory Lane with this classic collection of children’s favourites. These original recordings from the 1920's, 30's and 40's revisit the simple pleasures of childhood: adventure and discovery, fun and silliness, imagination and fantasy, and the special magic of laughter and love. Includes settings of Edward Lear’s The Owl and the Pussycat and of poems by A.A. Milne, along with iconic songs from the world of cinema (Whistle While You Work, We’re Off to See the Wizard, On the Good Ship Lollipop) and the timeless delights of Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?, Looby Lou, Three Little Fishies and of course, the party to end all parties: The Teddy Bears’ Picnic. 


                                            The Teddy Bears' Picnic

Friday, September 11, 2020

soundtrack music from Woody Allen's movies....compilation of tunes from the 1930's/40's

 

 Tracklist
    From "September"
–Art Tatum And Ben Webster     My Ideal     7:11
    From "Hannah And Her Sisters"
–Harry James And His Orchestra     You Made Me Love You     3:27
–Harry James And His Orchestra     I've Heard That Song Before     2:54
–Count Basie And His Orchestra*     The Trot     3:06
    From "Manhattan"
–Wiener Symphoniker     Rhapsody In Blue - Fragment -     1:24
    From "Interiors"
–Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra     Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now     2:44
    From "Radio Days"
–Harry James And His Orchestra     The Flight Of The Bumble Bee     1:52
–Benny Goodman Quartet*     Body And Soul     3:08
–Glenn Miller And His Orchestra     In The Mood     3:31
–Artie Shaw And His Orchestra     Begin The Beguine     3:09
–Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra     Opus One     2:55
–Benny Goodman And His Orchestra     Goodbye     3:28
–Frank Sinatra     If You Are But A Dream     3:07
–Harry James And His Orchestra     September Song     3:12
–Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra     I'm Getting Sentimental Over You     4:24
–Glenn Miller And His Orchestra     American Patrol     3:17
–Duke Ellington And His Orchestra     Take The "A" Train     2:53
–Carmen Miranda     South American Way     2:50
    From "Stardust Memories"
–Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra     Stardust     3:30
–Chick Webb And His Orchestra     If Dreams Come True     3:19
–Django Reinhardt Trio     I'll See You In My Dreams     2:28
    From "Midsummer Night's Dream"
–Hamburg Symphony Orchestra*     Wedding March - Fragment -     1:33
    From "Play It Again, Sam"
–Dooley Wilson     As Time Goes By     2:51


                                        Woody Allen's Movies

Sunday, August 30, 2020

We'll Meet Again - The Very Best of Vera Lynn 1917-2020

 

 
Dame Vera Margaret Lynn CH DBE OStJ (née Welch; 20 March 1917 – 18 June 2020) was an English singer, songwriter and entertainer whose musical recordings and performances were very popular during the Second World War. She was widely referred to as the "Forces' Sweetheart" and gave outdoor concerts for the troops in Egypt, India and Burma during the war as part of Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). The songs most associated with her are "We'll Meet Again", "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover", "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "There'll Always Be an England".

She remained popular after the war, appearing on radio and television in the United Kingdom and the United States, and recording such hits as "Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart" and her UK number-one single "My Son, My Son". Her last single, "I Love This Land", was released to mark the end of the Falklands War. In 2009, at the age of 92, she became the oldest living artist to top the UK Albums Chart with the compilation album We'll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn. In 2014, she released the collection Vera Lynn: National Treasure and in 2017, she released Vera Lynn 100, a compilation album of hits to commemorate her centenary—it was a No. 3 hit, making her the first centenarian performer to have a Top 10 album in the charts. By the time of her death in 2020 she had been active in the music industry for 96 years.

Lynn devoted much time and energy to charity work connected with ex-servicemen, disabled children and breast cancer. She was held in great affection by Second World War veterans and in 2000 was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century.

 Tracklist
(There'll Be Blue Birds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover     3:18
Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart     2:37
We'll Meet Again     3:02
Travellin' Home     3:06
As Time Goes By     3:00
Dream     2:42
Faraway Places     2:42
Harbour Lights     3:07
It's A Lovely Day Tomorrow     3:14
If You Love Me     2:59
When You Hear Big Ben     2:31
Yours     3:11
The Loveliest Night Of The Year     1:12
Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye     3:16
Medley     (3:04)
Half As Much    
Isle Of Innisfree    
You Belong To Me    
Up The Wooden Hill To Bedfordshire     3:05
When I Grow Too Old To Dream     2:45
Medley     (3:31)
Somewhere Along The Way    
Here In My Heart    
Let The Rest Of The World Go By    
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles     3:29
From The Time You Say Goodbye (The Parting Song)     2:28 


Sunday, August 16, 2020

Babes and Big Bands...20 track compilation featuring classic female vocalists with big bands from the 30's and 40's

 

 
 20 track compilation featuring the cream of female jazz vocalists of the 30's and 40's including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington and Anita O'Day combined with the classic big bands led by Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and many more.
 

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Twelve piece “little big band” Swingadelic 8th album release "Bluesville"



The twelve piece “little big band” Swingadelic celebrates their 22nd anniversary with the release of their 8th CD, “Bluesville”. The band’s three previous CD’s on the ZOHO label were tributes to Duke Pearson, Allen Toussaint and Johnny Mercer. They continue to showcase their versatility on “Bluesville” with large ensemble versions of tunes by Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, Muddy Waters, Mose Allison, Count Basie and other artists. Ruth Brown's former tenor player, Bill Easley, is featured on track 2 and Mitch Woods is featured on Parchman Farm.

Swingadelic began in 1998 as the neo-swing movement was cresting. Upright bassist Dave Post gathered his jazz and blues playing friends together to play engagements at New York City's Supper Club, Swing 46 and Windows On The World, the former restaurant atop of the World Trade Center. As the swing scene waned the band was able to turn to swing dance groups, concerts, festivals, schools and private engagements to keep active.

Swingadelic has performed at Lincoln Center’s Mid-Summer Night Swing, NJPAC, and at many festivals, including Bele Chere (Ashville NC), MusikFest (Allentown PA) the CD 109 Jazz and Blues Festival (Red Bank, NJ) and the sanofi-aventis JazzFest (Madison NJ). The band plays over 100 dates per year and has traveled from Maine to Atlanta. They have maintained a residency for eight years at Swing 46 in NYC where it performs every other Monday as a ten piece "little big band." They have been recording for the ZOHO Music label since 2011. Swingadelic CDs have been in the JazzWeek Radio charts top thirty and garnered many critically acclaimed reviews in jazz publications such as Jazz Times and All About Jazz.

official website: www.Swingadelic.com



Marty's review: Swingadelic pump out big band style jump blues with a modern twist on their latest release "Bluesville". Showcasing tunes from the masters of the blues of the 50's and 60's, this album is upbeat, danceable, sleazy and just downright fun!

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra Clambake Seven..Stop, Look and Listen...original mono recordings 1935-1942



Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombone playing. His theme song was I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. His technical skill on the trombone gave him renown among other musicians. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. After Dorsey broke with his brother in the mid-1930s, he led an extremely popular and highly successful band from the late 1930s into the 1950s. He is best remembered for standards such as "Opus One", "Song of India", "Marie", "On Treasure Island", and his biggest hit single, "I'll Never Smile Again".

Sunday, April 12, 2020

La Dolce Vita!...Italian cool...from Rome to the Amalfi coast


Post-war Italy became a nation celebrated for its brilliant football teams, beautiful women, modernist design and groundbreaking cinema. This double CD gathers music by the likes of Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone and Sophia Loren, so paying tribute to La Dolce Vita - the sweet years in Italy.

 Tracklist
01-01     La Dolce Vita - Nino Rota    
01-02     Piccola - Adriano Celentano    
01-03     Zoo-Be-Zoo-Be-Zoo - Sophia Loren    
01-04     Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno    
01-05     I Love You - Frank Sinatra    
01-06     Nessuno Al Mondo - Ennio Morricone & Helen Merrill    
01-07     Firenze Mia - Angelo Petisi    
01-08     Tu Vuò Fa' L'Americano - Renato Carosone    
01-09     Marechiaro Marechiaro - Sergio Bruni    
01-10     Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney    
01-11     Arrivederci Roma - Dean Martin    
01-12     Domani - Julius La Rosa    
01-13     Non Ti Scordar Di Me - Al Martino    
01-14     Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered - Rita Hayworth    
01-15     Il Capello - Edoardo Vianello    
01-16     Il Cielo In Una Stanza - Mina    
01-17     La Donna Che Vale (Il Lieto Fine) Alberto Lionello, Ennio Morricone   
01-18     Torna A Surriento - Sergio Franchi    
01-19     Na Voce, 'Na Chitarra E'O Poco 'E Lune - Ugo Calise    
01-20     Thinking Blues - Piero Umiliani  

  
02-01     Comme Facette Mammeta - Sergio Franchi    
02-02     Ciao, Ciao Bambina - Jerry Vale    
02-03     Stelle e Sogni - Barbara Baldassarre and Ennio Morricone    
02-04     I Wanna Be Loved By You - Marilyn Monroe    
02-05     La Gatta - Gino Paoli    
02-06     Quando - Luigi Tenco    
02-07     Sidonie - Brigitte Bardot    
02-08     Moon River - Henry Mancini    
02-09     Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin    
02-10     Gassman Blues - Piero Umiliani    
02-11     My Only Man - Piero Umiliani    
02-12     A Vucchella - Mario Lanza    
02-13     Eh Cumapari - Julius La Rosa    
02-14     Let's Do It - Jayne Mansfield    
02-15     The Sheik Of Araby - Lou Monte    
02-16     Guaglione - Teddy Reno    
02-17     Un Po Di Cielo - Quartetto Cetra    
02-18     La Spagnola - Gina Lollobrigida    
02-19     Muriu Lu Me Canuzzu - Andrea Stocchetti    
02-20     Seddok, I'erede Di Satana - Armando Trovaioli





                                                La Dolce Vita! #1 La Dolce Vita #2
                                       
 

 

Friday, March 27, 2020

Saxophobia - Ultra-Lounge Vol.12 ...A Horn-A-Copia of Saxual Delights!






Various Artists ‎– Saxophobia
Label: Capitol Records
Ultra-Lounge – Volume Twelve
Released: 1996
Genre: Jazz
Style: Easy Listening, Big Band, Latin Jazz

 Tracklist:
1     –Les Baxter     I Dig     3:15
2     –Sam Butera     Street Scene     3:10
3     –George Auld*     All Or Nothing At All     3:34
4     –Curley Hamner / Milt Buckner     Bernie's Tune     5:06
5     –King Curtis     Watermelon Man     2:36
6     –Nelson Riddle     Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu)     2:06
7     –Plas Johnson     Tanya     2:57
8     –Bill Perkins     Samba De Orfeu     2:35
9     –Ray Anthony and His Bookends Peter Gunn Twist / Tequila With A Twist     10     –Count Basie and His Orchestra*     Goldfinger     4:07
11     –Gordon Jenkins     Caravan     2:16
12     –Nelson Riddle     Speakeasy Blues     3:59
13     –Earl Palmer / King Curtis     One Mint Julep     5:16
14     –The Out-Islanders     Ebb Tide     2:15
15     –Plas Johnson     The Big Twist     2:29
16     –Louis Prima     Harlem Nocturne     2:40
17     –Don Costa     The Misfits     2:46
18     –Pepe Dominguin / Jack Costanzo     Bongo Bash / Sax Con Ritmo     4:46
19     –Renzo Cesana     A Handful Of Stars (Unlisted Bonus Track)     2:25





 

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Boogie Woogie Stomp! ...various artists...original mono recordings from 1923-1941






  1. Boogie Woogie Stomp - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
  2. The Rocks - Clay Custer
  3. Fat Fanny Stomp - Jim Clarke
  4. Pinetop's Boogie Woogie - Pinetop Smith
  5. Honky Tonk Train Blues - Meade Lux Lewis
  6. Bear Cat Crawl - Meade Lux Lewis
  7. Yancey Special - Bob Crosby Orchestra
  8. Slow And Easy Blues - Jimmy Yancey
  9. Indian Boogie Woogie - Woody Herman Orchestra
  10. Chips' Boogie Woogie - Woody Herman's Four Chips
  11. Foot Pedal Boogie - Albert Ammons/Pete Johnson
  12. After Hours - Erskine Hawkins Orchestra
  13. Roll 'Em Pete - Joe Turner/Pete Johnson
  14. Boogie Woogie On St Louis Blues - Earl Hines And His Orchestra
  15. Chain 'Em Down - Blind LeRoy Garnett
  16. No Special Rider - Little Brother Montgomery
  17. Boo-Woo - Harry James And The Boogie Woogie Trio
  18. Roll 'Em - Benny Goodman Orchestra
  19. Cryin' In My Sleep - Jimmy Yancey
  20. Boogie Woogie - Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
  21. Boogie Woogie - Count Basie
  22. Boogie Woogie - Cleo Brown
  23. Wilkins Street Stomp - Speckled Red
  24. Vine Street Boogie - Jay McShann
  25. Boogie Woogie Prayer (Part 1) - Albert Ammons/Meade Lux Lewis/Pete Johnson
  26. Boogie Woogie Prayer (Part 2) - Albert Ammons/Meade Lux Lewis/Pete Johnson


                                            Boogie Woogie Stomp!
 

Sunday, March 1, 2020

60's style sister duo The Debutantes release second single My Precious Love..infectious and dance-able



Following on from the successful cover of ‘If Paradise (Was Half as Nice)’ in 2019 which was warmly embraced by BBC Radio Wales and The Welsh Echo, The Debutantes make a triumphant return with the second single from the album ‘Symphonic Pop’ which is due later this year. My Precious Love sticks to the same winning formula the sisters became known for last year and demonstrates an original composition for the first time.



 The song opens with a barrage of carefully orchestrated stabs, in a nod to The Supremes or Ronnets and the influential wall of sound approach. This classic technique is resurrected into technicolour colour with the advance of technology and crafted into something new but yet familiar. The winning formula brings back all the nostalgia of a time lost but not forgotten alongside demonstrating The Debutantes have far more to offer in their repertoire than covers. The chorus hook is as well-crafted and infectious as any single but plays on the retro influences of the due bringing something fresh to the table. 




Marty's review: The Debutantes' second single embraces the 60's sound with its Phil Spector/girl groups style vocals and a go-go/pop beat that is infectious and extremely dance-able. Their harmonies blend together perfectly and they capture the essence and vitality that the 60's were all about. Love the sound, the outfits and those beehive hairdo's!!

Thursday, February 20, 2020

The Sisters Anthology....A Celebration of four decades of Singing Sisters






2011 two CD release, a much-needed celebration of four decades of singing sisters. Compiled by New York-based singer Athan Maroulis, the Sisters Anthology features 32 different US and UK acts, represented by 38 carefully-chosen recordings ranging from the 1924 rendition of "Red Hot Mama" by the Brox Sisters to the obscure Jazz vocal group the Clark Sisters and their 1959 performance of "Take the 'A' Train". Famous featured artists include the Andrews, Fontane, Boswell and McGuire Sisters, while the Gumm, Stafford and Clooney Sisters feature early appearances by Judy Garland, Jo Stafford and Rosemary Clooney respectively. The selection ranges from hit records to songs recorded for films or radio shows. Total of 38 tracks.




 

Saturday, February 8, 2020

How did Billie Holiday become Lady Day?



The legendary jazz/blues vocalist Billie Holiday certainly needs no introduction here. Anyone interested in classic and vintage jazz and blues will know her music and inimitable style of singing. No music collection is complete with out at least one Billie Holiday album.

There has also been much written about Billie, some true, some not, some good, some not so good, but one story I recently came across was how she got the name "Lady Day". This is an excerpt from the book "Wishing On the Moon (The Life and Times of Billie Holiday)" written by Donald Clarke and published by Penguin Books, 1994.

"....she had occasionally been called Lady since the early days in Harlem clubs, when she was reluctant to take the tips off the table...Lester (Young) had nicknames for everybody: he called (Count) Basie "Holy"; he called his younger brother, drummer Lee Young, "Little Pea". It was Lester who called trumpeter Harry Edison "Sweets". Will Friedwald says that he dubbed Ella Fitzgerald "Lady Time". Jazz already had an Earl, a Duke and a so-called "King of Swing"....Anyway, this was America, and Franklin D.Roosevelt was the biggest man around, and as Lester was the President of the saxophone, Billie called him "Prez" for short. He though that she must be the First Lady, named her "Lady Day", and reasoned that Sadie (Billie's mother), must be called "Duchess". All the names stuck for the rest of their lives..."

So while you ponder and digest that, here are a couple of Billie Holiday releases that cover a good cross section of her musical output.





Saturday, January 25, 2020

Two Classic Albums from Ray Conniff - 's wonderful and 's marvelous..classic 50's kitsch!


Joseph Raymond Conniff (November 6, 1916 – October 12, 2002) was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960's. Between 1957-68, Conniff had 28 albums in the American Top 40, the most famous one being Somewhere My Love (1966).

Conniff commented, "One time I was recording an album with Mitch Miller - we had a big band and a small choir. I decided to have the choir sing along with the big band using wordless lyrics. The women were doubled with the trumpets and the men were doubled with the trombones. In the booth Mitch was totally surprised and excited at how well it worked." Because of the success of his backing arrangements, and the new sound Conniff created, Miller allowed him to make his own record, and this became the successful ’s Wonderful!, a collection of standards that were recorded with an orchestra and a wordless singing chorus (four men, four women). He released many more albums in the same vein, including ’s Marvelous (1957, gold album), ’s Awful Nice (1958), Concert in Rhythm (1958, gold album), Broadway in Rhythm (1958), Hollywood in Rhythm (1959), Concert in Rhythm, Vol. II (1960), Say It With Music (1960), Memories Are Made of This (1960, gold album), and ’s Continental (1962).

In 1959, he started The Ray Conniff Singers (12 women and 13 men, comprising mainly the Ron Hicklin Singers with augmentation by others) and released the album It's the Talk of the Town. This group brought him the biggest hit he ever had in his career: Somewhere My Love (1966). The lyrics of the album's title selection were written to the music of "Lara's Theme" from the film Doctor Zhivago, and the result was a top 10 single in the US.

The album reached the US top 20 and went platinum, and Conniff won a Grammy. The single and album also reached high positions in the international charts (a.o. Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan), while the first of four Christmas albums by the Singers, Christmas with Conniff (1959) was also successful. Nearly 50 years after its release, in 2004, Conniff was posthumously awarded a platinum album/CD.





Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Television's Greatest Hits...65 TV themes from the 50's and 60's



For anyone who grew up in the 50's and 60's, and watched a lot of television, this fab collection of themes from popular television programs of the era will certainly bring back many fond memories.

Who can forget those many memorable tunes like "Popeye", "The Jetsons", "Top Cat", "The Addams Family", "The Munsters", "Batman", "Gilligan's Island", "Green Acres", "The Beverly Hillbillies", "The Flintstones" and dozens more. From cartoons, comedies, westerns, police, espionage, drama and science fiction, they are all here on this very cool and collectible collection. How many can you whistle to?