Record Albums Were Once State of the Art Technology

 

I was looking at my "Exotic" records from the '50s recently. I had an epiphany of sorts. From music boxes, to player pianos, to wax cylinders, to 78s, then 45s, and finally the 12-inch album, people always wanted a way to possess a form of entertainment at their command. I believe the state of the art of that experience began in 1948, when the first Long play 33 1/3 album was introduced to the world.

 

It was a huge improvement over all previous forms of personal media. With its very appealing artwork, and a forever expanding range of artists, the record companies soon offered to public an almost endless variety of content one could own and play on demand.

 

There was nothing else like it. Sure, there was radio, but you had to be by one at the time to enjoy it. It was the same situation regarding movies, and television before the days of VCRs and DVDs. Now we can access the content of the world on a device that fits into our pockets, and at virtually no cost. We can buy music or films without ever having a physical copy. Many of the earlier formats are already on the brink of extinction.

 

And yet, the album still survives. So I was thinking, looking at all of the weird and wonderful albums I've collected over the years, "Why were so many tribal chants, German beer garden, Bolivian folk songs, and space age theremin records made in those early years? 

 

I believe it was the appeal for something unique, something different from Doris Day or Glenn Miller, something that you could own, and share with your friends. A huge part of it was definitely the cover art. Along with the music, it helped put you in a place like no other media at the time ever could. I believe that's exactly why they are as popular today. 

 

The album I'm presenting was released in 1958, 10 years after the first LPs were ever made. Its exotic music and cover art was designed to feed the appetite of the "Hi-Fi" enthusiast of the day. By the mid 60s, this trend was near an end. Yet, after all these years, those records are still a way to remain in that special moment in time. I'm pretty sure that's why we're all here in this group, at least that's why I'm here. It's still "state-of-the-art" for me. 

 

Here's a link for "Beat Tropical" from Jose Bethancourt and His Orchestra with Harry Coon and Richard Campbell on drums playing "Mombassa Bombilation", 1958, almost 70 years later. Enjoy.

 

https://youtu.be/H5qHjMGp8pE?si=P637XQNaylbnvPl_ 

 

Original Facebook Post 

Various – Premiere - The Top Hollywood Stars Sing

 What a surprise to come across this. Bob Thompson arranger. 

 

Debra Paget  (born Debralee Griffin; August 19, 1933) famous in the group for the snake dance is on here with a exotica-ish ballad. 

Rita Moreno is fine and the Howard Duff and Ida Lupino tracks are actually duets. Outstanding.

01. Ricardo Montalban - Chihuahua Choo Choo
02. Debra Paget - Strange Are The Ways Of Love
03. Howard Duff - I've Got A Crush On You
04. Eve Arden - Don't Believe Everything You Read
05. Pat O'Brien - Leprechaun Lullaby
06. Rita Moreno - River, River
07. Marge & Gower Champion - Let's Dance
08. Ida Lupino - One For My Baby
09. Preston Foster - Ten Thousand Miles
10. Corinne Calvet - Pour Tout Ma Vie

All under 30 minutes.

Back in my college radio days doing Martinis with Mancini I was contacted by Bob Thompson's son. He sent me a compilation album www.bobthompsonmusic.com is still active and run by the family.  I lost the CDR? but have a digital copy.

 

The family might not be happy I posted this link to a rip of  "The Top Hollywood Stars Sing"

https://workupload.com/file/W9WM5RFbwCJ

Red Skelton – Music From The Heart

 

A1 Spring Day
A2 Now She's Eighteen
A3 Montmartre
A4 Sorrento Sunset
A5 Daydream At Night
A6 Women Of Athens
B1 Steel Drum Serenade
B2 Cybele
B3 Lachayim
B4 Angelina
B5 Au Contraire
B6 Red's, White & Blue March

https://workupload.com/file/ReWFJ5cFGvG

Living Guitars – Rock 'N' Roll With The Living Guitars

An unknown (to me) Living LP. Something Al Caiola whipped up.

01. Living Guitars - A1 Rock Around The Clock 

02. Living Guitars - A2 Silouettes

03. Living Guitars - A3 Chantilly Lace 

04. Living Guitars - A4 Little Darlin'

05. Living Guitars - A5 See You Later, Alligator 

06. Living Guitars - B1 Rebel-'Rouser 

07. Living Guitars - B2 Heartbreak Hotel  

08. Living Guitars - B3 Big Ben

09. Living Guitars - B4 Book Of Love

 

Hellenic Near East Gems

 

By George Mirros, Buddy Sarkissian, Fred Elias 

Similar to the other entries:

These albums were remastered to have the best listening experience over loudspeakers.

Technical Information:
Turntable: VPI Scoutmaster.
Cartridge: Hana SH
Phono Preamp: Cambridge Audio Alva Duo
ADC: MOTU UltraLite Mk5
Capture Software: AlpineSoft VinylStudio Pro
Cleanup And Remastering Software: iZotope RX and Ozone
LP Cleaning Machines: VPI 17 and KLAudio - KD-CLN-LP200"

 

 

 

A1		Kalamatiano
A2		Tsamiko
A3		Chifte-Teli Of Love
A4		Syrto
A5		Karsilama
B1		Arabian Dupke
B2		Halay
B3		Lazico
B4		Macedinia Dances (Syrto)
B5		Asia MInor Dupke
B6		White Ribbons Dance
B7		The Butcher's Dance

 

In flac and mp3.

https://workupload.com/file/JWNzgfNK774

 

Morgana King – Portraits

 

 

Allmusic Review:
 

Portraits Review by Ron Wynn

Competent set presenting actress/vocalist Morgana King doing jazz-oriented pop, standards, and ballads backed by a tight combo. She has good technique, delivery, and style; there is nothing innovative or particularly original about either the material or the performances, but they are thoroughly professional and often enjoyable.

From Discogs:

Format:   
Vinyl, LP, Album
Country:    Australia
Released:    1984
Genre:    Jazz, Pop
Style:    Vocal


01. What's Going On?-Save The Children
02. You Go To My Head
03. Moment Of Truth
04. Time Was (Duerme)
05. Send In The Clowns
06. Lush Life
07. You're Not The Kind
08. If You Could See Me Now


    Arranged By, Conductor – Mitch Farber
    Bass – Art Koenig, Jay Leonhart (tracks: A2, B2)
    Design [Album Design] – Ron Warwell
    Drums – Ed Caccavale*
    Engineer – Chuck Irwin, John Tamburello, Wayne Vlcan
    Engineer [Mastering Engineer] – Joe Brescio
    Executive-Producer – Morgana King
    Guitar – Joe Puma
    Keyboards – Ben Aronov
    Liner Notes – Bill Evans
    Percussion – John Kaye
    Photography By [Album Photo] – Arthur Paxton
    Producer – Chuck Irwin, Mitch Farber
    Synthesizer – Clifford Carter
    Vocals – Morgana King

Tantric Textures 1 & 2

 

 As promised releasing these "into the wild"

Earl Azema a top expert on the "Exotica....and other Cool,Ususual Music" wrote 

  ·

"Last night I curated a vinyl DJ set at a party, first time in ages. My theme was "Tantric Textures," a sub-genre around which I've curated a couple of homemade comps. This subgenre consists essentially of aging jazz and sleazy listening artists doing eastern-tinged grooves, in the wake of pop tunes like "Paint It, Black" and "Eight Miles High." I actually prefer the adult take on this kind of stuff over what the kids were doing!"

 

Volume 1 was a ExoticaRing submittal and Earl created a followup years ago and recently discovered it.

This is #1

01. Chala Nata - Maynard Ferguson
02. 8 Miles High - Bob Thiele+Gabor Szabo
03. Sophisticated Wheels - Gabor Szabo
04. Ravi - Gerald Wilson
05. New Delire - Serge Gainsbourg
06. Happenings 10 Years Time Ago - Sandy Nelson
07. Love You To - Don Randi
08. Conquistadores - Chico Hamilton
09. La Ibkey - Ahmed Abdul-Malik
10. Odalisque - Herbie Mann+Arif Mardin
11. Danza Jazz - Piero Umiliani
12. The Sniper - Lalo Schifrin
13. Nefertiti - France Gall
14. Turkish Coffee - Herbie Mann+Arif Mardin
15. The Fakir - Cal Tjader+Lalo Schifrin
16. Paint it, Black - Gabor Szabo
17. Incense and Peppermints - Martin Denny
18. You Keep Me Hangin' On - Paul Mauriat

 This is #2.

01. George Garvarentz - Haschisch Party
02. Maynard Fergunson - Aquarius
03. Gabor Szabo - Gypsy Queen
04. Lalo Schrifin - Secret Code
05. Gabor Szabo - Sofisticated Wheels
06. Gianni Marchetti - Bali Street
07. Sandy Nelson - Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies
08. Hugo Montenegro - Boo-Bam-Boo,Baby
09. Shocking Blue - Acka Raga
10. Michel Colombier - Psychasténie
11. Chico Hamilton - El Chico
12. Herbie Mann - The Oud and the Pussycat
13. France Gall - Chanson Indienne
14. Chico Hamilton - El Moors
15. Ananda Shaankar - Light My Fire
16. Gabor Szabo - Spellbinder
17. Klaus Doldinger - Sitar Beat
18. Lord Sitar - I Am the Walrus (From TV Film Magigal Mystery Tour)
19. Ramsey Lewis - Jade East
20. Bob Thiele-Gabor Szabo - Krishna - Intercontinental Jazz

(Link 1&2) 

1st try at WorkUpload 

World Of Music

 Here are some pictures from home where I live surrounded by the music of many countries and many genres.Including 78rpms...45rpm...33rpm..CDs..Sheet Music. The history of music surrounds and comforts me as I pursue the next adventure or discovery in that world.

Sheet Music Original Versions Part 3

 Here we have Are You Lonesome Tonight written in 1926 with 3 versus and a spoken bridge. Which was printed on the inside of the back cover. The Sheet music also comes with out the bridge printing. I have both.  First recorded  by Charles Hart in 1927..Also in 1927 Vaughn De Leath. both sang 3 verses but no bridge. Henry Burr in 1927 dropped the 3rd verse and no bridge. Then finally in 1928  Stanley Kirkby drop 3rd verse but sang the bridge "Yes you seemed to change you acted strange.......That 3rd verse added so much context. Thats why these early versions just are better. Its funny how the song changes in just a short period of time from the writers original intention.  Again as I've said before the original intention is usually the best.

 

Many others recorded the song through  the years. Above we have the Sheet Music for Elvis Presley's Version from April 1960. Initially he sang this in the studio with the lights out  with his band and the Jordinaires including the bridge. Initially he didn't like how he sang it. but agreed to one more take and that became the master.

Sheet Music Original Versions Part 2

 
Here we have the original sheet music of As Time Goes BY from the Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome  in 1931 sung by Frances Williams in the show. Great picture of her on the cover. The original song was sung with the beginning intro that puts every thing in perspective. Just adds to the song. Rudy Vallee recorded it in 1931 as well as Binnie Hale and Jacques Renard and then many others as the years went by. Most if not all dropped the intro.  ;(

 

 

Here we have the sheet music Of As Time Goes By from Casablanca in 1942. The Canadian version is red. It was sung in the movie by Dooley Wilson. No Intro. He was never able to record it because of the musician strike. In the movie the Piano was played by studio musician because Wilson was a drummer.

os

78RPM Rare Labels Part 2

 Here we have Rare 78rpm labels from Australia by the Intially known World Record(Australia) Pty. Ltd. in 1924 with name change to Wocord Limited in 1925.

jj

First we have from early 1925 the Austral Record promoted as unbreakable they were pressed on a cardboard base that had a porous nature which when they became damp would fall apart. These lasted until October 1925. I included the VERY RARE  sleeves these would go into

Here we have the Wafer record A single sided Flexible record. They were very fragile and easily damaged by the heavy reproducers and steel needles. Very few have survived and are EXTREMELY RARE.

I count myself very lucky to have these in my possession.

 

Rare 78rpm Part 1

 Here we have RARE  labels from The Unbreakable Record Company from May 1928 to June 1928. These are flexible wafer type records and are VERY RARE!  The company only existed for 2 months.

The first is Aeroplane with great graphics. Initially 8 records were released. With 10 more slated for release in June.

Next .we have Golden Tongue which were recouplings of the Aeroplane issues.They were distributed by Craig Williamson Pty. Ltd. Melbourne.

Next After Unbreakable Record Company failed Clifford Industries pressed them in normal shellac for a short time in 1929.

Next in 1930 another patent was taken out for an improved record by Frederick Mitchell who had started the Unbreakable Record Company in 1928. It was Bellbird With Unbreakable across the top released in May 1930.

After a few months with financial difficulties another patent with improvements to the record. The company was changed to The Flexible Record Co. in Sept 1930..Again this  was a short lived label with the last releases in  June 1931.

For More Info see Sound Beginnings by Ross Laird

Sheet Music Original versions

Shine On Harvest Moon from 1908 fairly hard to find. Sung originally in 1909 by Miss Walton & Mr. MacDonough, Ada Jones & Bill Murray and Henry Burr & Frank Stanley with the early stanzas sung before the familiar refrain which later versions eliminated,which is a shame because it always adds to the song.

I've Got The Love-Sick Blues from 1922 originally sung by Anna Chandler thenEmmett Miller in 1925 then Rex Griffin in 1939 he rearranged the lyric and chorus and its this version that inspired Hank Williams in 1948

Somebody Loves Me Originally sung by Winnie Lightner Unreleased live performance then in 1924 we had Isabella Patricola, Marion Harris and Cliff Edwards...all versions singing the early stanzas before the familiar refrain.  Later to be sung without the initial stanzas and played by many many artists 

Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody originally sung by Al Jolson In Sinbad in 1918 and Vernon Dahlhart in 1919. In the 50's Judy Garland, Jerry Lewis, Connie Francisand Brenda Lee among others recorded it

A Good Man Is Hard To Find from 1919 originally sung by Marion Harris & Ernest Hare then on 1927 Bessie Smith & Lizzie Miles. Has become a popular jazz standard. Later An answer song I'm The Good Man That Was So Hard To Find was released in 1920.

KING BEE 1ST Post

Hi...Just a little bit about myself. I am what you would consider an Historical Preservationist

and collector of many musical genres. Including 78rpm labels and sleeves from 1900 and 

onward. I collect Prewar US..Postwar US and from many countries around the world. 

Also collect sheet music from 1800's to 1950's. I enjoy determining the chronological 

order of sleeves and matching 78rpm label. I like to take a song and research its beginnings 

and variants. One of the best things is when you can have the original 78..the proper 

sleeve and original sheet music all match for a particular song. Some of these start 

 hundreds of years earlier. I enjoy Blues from 20's to the 50's, Jazz from 20's to the 40's,

Old time Country and appalachian from 20's to 50's, Folk, Rockabilly, Skiffle and 

DooWop, Lounge, Exotic, etc

Of course I have all of these as lps, 45rpm, cds as well. There just is so much great music

out there!! I hope to post more as i become more familiar with this site.

Keep the spirit of the music in you.

James

 

Meco - Encounters Of Every Kind

 

 It is hard to see in the Discogs linear notes but EXTRATERRESTRIALS were involved in creating this record.

I've done only 2 tracks as it was difficult see see where one track began or ended.

From the Wiki:

Encounters Of Every Kind is an album by Meco, released in 1978. It was recorded after the success of Meco's platinum-selling album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk and contains two sides of linked songs. In contrast to the previous album (which dedicated a full side to the music from Star Wars) and contrary to an album title that suggests a similar focus on the music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, this album is presented as a musical trip through time with stops in the age of the Dinosaurs, ancient Rome, medieval England, the Old West, 1920s Chicago and others, with no special focus on any particular film until the final track which is a version of the theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Encounters of Every Kind was the last Meco album to gain significant prominence on the Billboard charts, though he continued to record film tie-ins with disco-inspired albums for The Wizard of Oz, Superman & Other Galactic Heroes (a tie-in with Superman, which was another John Williams score) and ''Music From Star Trek & Music From The Black Hole (tie-ins with the 1979 films Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Black Hole). None of these releases other than the Star Wars album have been released on CD, though some tracks from Close Encounters were available on the Best of Meco compact disc.

Track listing

Side one

1. "Time Machine" - (0:43)
2. "In the Beginning" (Harold Wheeler) - (3:27)
3. "Roman Nights" (Harold Wheeler) - (1:26)
4. "Lady Marion" (Harold Wheeler) - (2:52)
5. "Icebound" (Harold Wheeler) - (1:20)
6. "Hot in the Saddle" (Harold Wheeler) - (4:27)

Side two

1. "Time Machine" - (0:15)
2. "Crazy Rhythm" (Irving Caesar, Joseph Meyer, Roger Wolfe Kahn) - (3:49)
3. "Topsy" (Edgar Battle, Eddie Durham) - (3:33)
4. "Meco's Theme/3w.57" (Harold Wheeler) - (5:32)
5. "Theme from 'Close Encounters'" (John Williams) - (4:21)
6. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Zwick Zwick

 

1. Mort Garson - Black Eye (Main Theme)    1:14       
2. Klaus Doldinger's Passport -Jadoo 3:08   
3. Manuel De Sica -Montreal 2:15       
4. Brave New World - Soma 5:17       
5. Dick Hyman & Mary Mayo - Space Reflex (Blues in 5/4) 3:20       
6. Papernut Cambridge - Puppet Shop 2:36           
7. Floh De Cologne - Wir Werden Immer Mehr 2:27   
8. Nine Days Wonder - Hoovercraft Queen 3:39       
9. The Dave Pike Set - Mathar 3:47       
10. The Blue Effect - Blue Effect Street 4:04   
11. The Dave Pike Set - Raga Jeeva Swara 2:58   
12. Secret Oyster - Astarte 6:33       
13. Niagara - Niagara 4:32       
14. Brainstorm - Zwick Zwick 4:42   
15. Walter Wegmüller - Die Kraft 3:29       
16. Napoli Centrale - Viecchie, Mugliere, Muorte E Criature 9:18       
17. Komintern - Petite Musique Pour Un Blockhaus 5:13       
18. Rémy Couvez - Rêve de Voyage 4:14       
 

Stan Kenton Conducts The Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra

New to me. What an ambitious project and just look at all the names.

Producer – David Axelrod, John Palladino

Compositions by  Hugo Montenegro, John Williams, Allyn Ferguson and Russ Garcia

Genre:    Jazz, Classical
Style:    Big Band, Contemporary Jazz

 

Wiki and Discogs worth looking at.

Wiki: Critical opinion remains divided. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow observed "Much of the time the results are somewhat pompous and stiff ... The music, like the project, had good intentions but is uneven" On All About Jazz William Grim wrote "It's nice to think there was a time in the not too distant past when an album like this could have gotten nominated for a Grammy. Fortunately, this CD gives us an insight into what was undoubtedly one of the most important experiments in the history of modern jazz".

LINK

Bobby Christian & His Orchestra - Strings For A Space Age

 

From BasicHip:  #309 oout of 500   _Strings_for_a_Space_Age

Here

Herbie Mann – Concerto Grosso In D Blues

 Yes, these classical crossovers are exotic, cool and unusual.

Recorded in Berlin by a Gerhard Neumann who must be of some renown.. Roy Ayers on vibes is a familiar name recorded in 1969.

Sounds like it could be used on a TV programs of the era.

From Discogs.

A1 Concerto Grosso In D Blues 28:12
Composed By – Herbie Mann, William Fischer*
B1 Sense Of No Return 5:10
Composed By – William Fischer*
B2 Wailing Wall 9:42
Composed By – Herbie Mann
B3 My Little Ones 7:08
Composed By – Herbie Mann

    Arranged By – Herbie Mann (tracks: B2), William Fischer* (tracks: B1, B2, B3)
    Bass – Ron Carter
    Concertmaster – Hans Arlt* (tracks: A1)
    Conductor – William Fischer*
    Design – Haig Adishian
    Drums – Bruno Carr
    Flute – Herbie Mann
    Guitar – Sonny Sharrock
    Liner Notes – Joachim E. Berendt*
    Photography By – Joel Brodsky
    Producer – Nesuhi Ertegun
    Recorded By – Gerhard Neumann
    Vibraphone – Roy Ayers

Track A1: Quintet with Symphonic Orchestra (Hans Art, concertmaster).
Track B1: Quintet with Brass Ensemble
Track B2, B3: Quintet with Double String Quartet.

Link