Midge Ure

Artist: Midge Ure

LP: 7" single
Song: "If I Was"
[ listen ]

So it looks like Midge Ure probably got one of these for Christmas in 1984. A recovering alcoholic, Midge's passions are music and cooking. You can read more about the former Ultravox frontman on Wikipedia here, and if you want even more information, why not read his autobiography?

[ Midge Ure ]

I-Level

Artist: I-Level

LP: I-Level
Song: "Give Me"
[ listen ]

Here's another souvenir from my summer road trip to the Dakotas; I picked this one up at the Ernie November store in Sioux Falls. I loaded more used vinyl into the trunk of my red Ford Focus rental at that 12th Avenue store than at any other spot on my trip. I've probably already mentioned that. I-Level was a short-lived UK band formed by a handsome trio of lads in the early 1980s. This self-titled LP is from 1983, and "Give Me" became an R&B top-five hit in the good ole USA!

Washington State Youth Choir w/ Vernard Johnson

Artist: Washington State Youth Choir w/ Vernard Johnson

LP: Give Up to God
Song: "My Testimony"
[ listen ]
Song: "I Trust In God"
[ listen ]

Have you ever heard someone minister the word of God with a saxophone? If not, you're in for a treat today. Vernard Johnson spreads the gospel with his instrument while also giving his personal testimony (with his voice) in "My Testimony," then he ministers some more on sax with the Washington State Youth Choir in the spirited "I Trust In God"—featuring the vocal quartet of Mary L. Dennis, Francelle Ramsey, Carolyn Sopher and Susan Barrett. Sadly, the Washington State Youth Choir seems to have gone the way of the Coleman Dock clock tower on Seattle's historic waterfront (meaning that the choir no longer exists, not that they were hit by a boat and fell into the Puget Sound). The Washington State Youth Choir is pictured standing next to the Seattle Center Science Pavilion on the campus of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. The pavilion is actually still there today, just a few blocks from where I'm sitting now. If anyone pictured on the LP cover is reading this, I'd love to hear about some of your favorite experiences with the choir and what you're up to nowadays. Here are liner notes from the back of this terrific record:

The Washington State Youth Choir was organized ten
years ago by Ronelle McGraw, a fine young man who
is a musician, composer and a devoted director.

The Choir is made up of a group of dedicated young people
who have accepted holiness as their way of life. It is with
great pleasure that the Washington State Youth Choir
presents Brother Vernard Johnson to the
Evergreen State, Washington.

July, 1971, the W.S.Y.C. attended the International Youth
congress of the Church of God in Christ which was held
in San Francisco, California. During this meeting Brother
Johnson ministered nightly with his saxophone. As he played
the saxophone, the power of the spirit of God was upon
him so greatly that the musical sounds seemingly became
words, and the words became alive and penetrated the
hearts of every soul in the building. There were thousands
of people there and before he had finished playing, every-
one, not just many but I venture to say; everyone in the
auditorium was standing giving vent to the spirit of God.

Our producer, Elder Jerry R. Ramsey was there and was
so impressed that he immediately went to Elder T.L.
Westbrook, State Youth President for the Churches of
God in Christ in the State of Washington to discuss
possibilities of bringing Brother Johnson to Washington
for a concert and possible recording with the choir. Elder
Westbrook was impressed also and felt that Brother Johnson
could be an inspiration to the choir. At this point Elder Ramsey
extended the invitation to him and he so readily accepted.

After returning to Washington; together with Elder
Westbrook and choir director Ronelle McGraw, Elder
Ramsey began to make plans to bring Brother Johnson
to the beautiful State of Washington.

The Choir members were also enthusiastic about his coming
and worked sacrificially to prepare for him. When Brother
Johnson arrived at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport there was
a group of young people waiting to greet him and to take
him to Tacoma, Washington where he was greeted
by fifty or more choir members.

Scarcely a day passes that someone does not mention
the name Vernard Johnson. His conduct, charm, wisdom
and humility was so captivating that he left an indelible
impression upon everyone he came in contact with.

Vernard is presently studying towards a Masters Degree
in religious music at Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.

The W.S.Y.C. extends special thanks to:
State Youth President, Elder T.L. Westbrook
State Youth Chairlady, Miss. Doretha O'Brien
State Bishop, T.J. Kinlow
State Supervisor, Gertrude Young
Assistant Bishop, Superintendant R.E. Altheimer
All State Officials and Pastors for their support in
helping us produce this album.

We invite you to hear and enjoy this, their
second long play album...

Hope your hearts will be challenged to "Give Up To God."

Rabbitt

Artist: Rabbitt

LP: A Croak & A Grunt In the Night
Song: "Everybody's Cheating"
[ listen ]

Have you ever wondered what the guy who wrote the music for SNAKES ON A PLANE would have looked like naked when he was 23? Well, the cover of this 1977 Rabbitt LP will give you some idea. After Rabbitt died, lead singer/writer Trevor Rabin went on to a solo career, then wrote and sang for the band Yes from 1983-1994, after which he started working on film scores. The other guys in Rabbitt (pictured naked below, with commentary of course) are Neil Cloud (drums), Ronnie Robot (bass) and Duncan Faure (guitar, piano, organ). I'm not really sure whose picture is which, but that's Rabin on the front cover showing off his sexy armpit.

[ This picture kinda reminds me of this. ]

[ I like a man who knows how to wear his mink. ]

[ Calling to set up job interviews can be really exhausting. ]

[ Of all the guys in the band, I bet Trevor had the biggest... guitar. ]

Calimbo Steel Band

Artist: Calimbo Steel Band

LP: The Heart of Trinidad
Song: "Bedbug"
[ listen ]
Song: "Land of the Sea and Sun"
[ listen ]
Song: "When the Saints Go Marching In"
[ listen ]

Here's a record I first found at Golden Oldies in Seattle—inexplicably priced at $30. Still, I listened to it on the record player there and loved it, so I put it on hold until I could get approved for a short-term loan. In the meantime I made an afternoon road trip out to Snohomish, WA where I found the same Calimbo Steel Band record in great shape for just $3.50! If anyone would like to pay $30 for a copy, Golden Oldies still has one—or you can buy a copy online for $9 here. Chuck Wood (pictured below) handles lead vocals on "Land of the Sea and Sun" and several other LP tracks, but Bernardo Noriega sings lead only on "Bedbug," which has some of the best lyrics I've ever heard. The last track I've included seems to be a sort of all-band sing-a-long. Does anyone know why so many steel band records feature "When the Saints Go Marching In?" It's weird, right? If you ask me, Calimbo Steel Band's version is better than most of the others. I've included the LP liner notes below—it seems we have Texaco to thank for much of the music of Trinidad.

[ How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could... this guy? ]

A unique and appealing mixture of many cultures, Trinidad
is perhaps the most interesting and vibrant island in the
West Indies. Calypso was born here, as was the Steel band
and the Limbo. The Calimbo Steel band incorporates the best
of all three, featuring the outstanding talent of Trinidad. The
leader, Andre De Labastide, and Roland Harvey play the high-
pitched "Ping Pong" Steel drums; Carl "Gerald" Lawrence is
featured on "tenor booms"; Kenneth Lawrence on "alto" and
George Lancaster on "bass." Glenfield Leslie is heard on drums,
while Henry Pachot doubles on vocals and tumbas. Bernardo
Noriega doubles as a vocalist and with the maracas; the famous
Nanai is the guitarist. Chuck Wood is the vocal balladeer,
with Bonnie Casey providing vocal harmonies. Captured for
the first time in perfect high-fidelity recording, the Calimbo
Steel band brings you—"The Heart of Trinidad."
—GENE NORMAN

* * * * * * *

The Standard Oil Company, Texaco, and the rest of the
petroleum giants never realized it at the time, but they may
now claim credit for a new musical rage, which originated in
Trinidad during the war when the natives grew restless over
the scarcity of musical instruments. The islanders began
making music out of anything that was handy, and if
there was one thing the beaches offered in abundance,
it was oil drums. Empty ones, of course.

In due course, the Caribbean music-makers developed
instruments out of the steel drums that would yield several
different notes. Until recently, about 14 was the maximum.
Just enough to play most calypsos, rhumbas, sambas
and other basic Latin-American numbers.

Recently a topnotch steel band known as the Calimbos
(calypso, limbo, get it?), managed to spread its range
to 23 notes, considered a record among the islanders.
And the Calimbos boast that they can play
anything—even classical music.

The Calimbos just wound up six weeks at the El Mirador
in Palm Springs, Calif., where they jammed the South Pacific
Room night after night. Before coming to the United States,
they toured South America—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile
and Peru—and worked their way north through Central
America and Mexico. Everywhere, they were a smash hit.
Naturally, the limbo dance—in which the dancer worms
his or her way under a constantly lowering crossbar
between two uprights—is most popular with crowds.

—ALONZO (BOB) CHILDERS, Entertainment Editor
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY DAILY TRIBUNE

[ Calimbo Steel Band ]

Material

Artist: Material

LP: Memory Serves
Song: "Square Dance"
[ listen ]

As a kid in the 1970s and early '80s, I spent many of my Saturday evenings with the Wagon Wheelers Square Dance Club in Yakima, Washington. None of their songs sounded like this. "Square Dance" was written by Bill Laswell, Fred Frith and Fred Maher; you can read all about experimental jazz-rock outfit Material here.

Marie Osmond

Artist: Marie Osmond

LP: This Is the Way That I Feel
Song: "This Is the Way That I Feel"
[ listen ]

Have you ever wondered how Marie Osmond feels?

Connie Francis

Artist: Connie Francis

LP: Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites
Song: "Do You Love Me Like You Kiss Me?"
[ listen ]
Song: "Ciao, Ciao, Bambina"
[ listen ]

Here's a nifty little pair of tunes from Connie Francis' first Italian-themed LP, one of a handful of records she released in 1959. Connie was born in an Italian neighborhood in New Jersey in 1938, she had an overprotective father, was married four times, has recorded in 13 different languages—including Japanese—and she performed to sold out crowds at San Francisco's Castro Theater as recently as 2007. Ms. Francis has weathered some pretty horrible shit over the years, but you'll have to read her Wikipedia page to get details, since I can't seem to mention them here without sounding flippant. I've always loved the gorgeously haunting, trumpet-like voice of this graduate of Miss Masciola's Music School, and it's wonderful to hear that she's still performing. Maybe one day soon I'll get to see her in concert!

Connie was all of four years old, dressed in a starched
rosepink party dress with matching lace ruffles, when she
first performed in public. The occasion? An amateur hour
at Olympic Park in Irvington, New Jersey. Connie was slated
to play her miniature accordion and sing O Sole Mio.

Nobody believed she could do it. Even the slick master
of ceremonies tried to take her out of the show. "She'll
panic," he told Connie's father, "and she'll bawl,
and we'll have a mess on our hands."

But Mr. Franconero insisted his Connie remain in the
amateur hour line-up. There were other students
from Miss Masciola's Music School who were scheduled
to perform. One by one they went out on the bandstand,
and, more often than not, one by one they walked off,
unable to sing or play because of stage fright.

Finally came Connie's turn. The tall master of ceremonies
announced her name, and dollbaby Connie walked out on
that podium in her puffy pink party dress, ran her fingers
down the black-and-white keyboard of her miniature
accordion and began playing and singing O Sole Mio,
one of the songs her daddy taught her.

In the background dick Stabile's orchestra played softly
for fear they might drown out young Connie's voice.
But they needn't have worried. For Connie, at the age
of four, sang and played like a trouper and her voice
could be heard in the last row of the huge audience.
Backstage, in the wings, her faterh cried; and, many
years later, he confessed to Connie that he didn't hear
all of her song because of his tears. Had she gone flat
he wouldn't have noticded it because he nearly burst
from the papa-proudness in his heart.

The reception from the audience that summer day was
tumultuous. There was thunderous applause, an endless
chorus of bravos, much stomping of feet on the floor.

Little Connie, in her bell-shaped party dress, ran out to
take a bow. But the ovation was so strong the audience
wouldn't allow her to leave the stage. She had
to play another chorus of her song.

This is how Connie's exciting life in the show-business
world began. To this day Connie holds the song O Sole
Mio dear in her heart—for that matter, all the
songs of her colorful Italian heritage.

Even now that she has become a big singing star,
Connie loves to sit around the fireplace in the
Franconero living room with her family to sing
the romantic songs of Italy.

Listen to Connie sing her Italian favorites in this album.
It's difficult, if you ask me, to imagine these timeless
Italian ballads phrased and sung more beautifully!

Notes by George Christy—Mayor, Teen Town

[ Connie Francis ]

The Israeli Strings

Artist: The Israeli Strings

LP: Jewish Rhapsodies For Those In Love
Song: "The Exodus Song"
[ listen ]

To create the atmosphere of seduction and romance necessary to lure a handsome young Jewish man into an evening of coy kissing and heavy petting, I find nothing works quite so well as "The Exodus Song."

The interpretations of Jewish melodies into contemporary
popular music has been magnificently achieved by The Israeli
Strings and the fine arrangements of Pete King. A mood of
romance prevails for all lovers, everywhere.

Traditionally, Jewish music is highly melodic but often the
melody is lost through interpretation. You will find that
within the twelve bands of this album, the songs presented
have lost none of their warmth, rather, they have been
elevated into a new dimension which can be accepted
by everyone with an appreciation for romantic music.
LOVERS EVERYWHERE, LISTEN...ENJOY!

Archie Campbell

Artist: Archie Campbell

LP: All Star Jamboree
Song: "The Master's Hand"
[ listen ]

When I was a kid, there were two or three old men at church who always receited "The Master's Hand" whenever they were asked to speak at the puplit during sacrament meeting. It's an engaging parable and people usually seemed to pay more attention to their telling of the story than to anything else those men ever said at the pulpit or anywhere else. The only trouble with this nice Archie Campbell recording of "The Master's Hand" is that you actually get to hear "the master" playing the "worthless" violin at the auction during a brief instrumental interlude. His playing really isn't very good, but for the sake of the story it still somehow drives the price of the rickety instrument up from $3 to $3,000. In this case I'm afraid a final selling price of $23.95 would have been more realistic. You can read about country singer and Hee-Haw writer/star Archie Campell here and I've included a clip below of Archie doing one of his comic routines with Roy Clark on an episode of Hee-Haw, along with the LP liner notes about the inexpensiveness fabulousness of GUEST STAR Records.

Archie Campbell w/ Roy Clark on YouTube:
[ "Rindercella" ]

GUEST STAR Records is proud to present recordings by a
wide variety of established, well known performing artists.

We believe you will find that GUEST STAR Records, at a
moderate cost, will enable you to build a fine library of
top quality artists, without sacrificing quality.

Within each GUEST STAR Record are recordings of additional
outstandingly talented artists, in keeping with the context
of the particular headline artist, to provide you with a
wider range of talent and musical selections.

We hope you will agree that GUEST STAR Records are
an excellent addition to your musical library and will
provide you with many hours of musical
satisfaction and enjoyment.

If you would like a catalog of our albums, please write
to us. We will answer your request immediately.

YOUR BEST BUY IN RECORD ENTERTAINMENT
FINE RECORDS NEED NOT BE EXPENSIVE
GUEST STAR RECORDS 88 ST. FRANCIS ST.
NEWARK, N.J.

[ Archie Campbell: November 7, 1914 — August 29, 1987 ]

Tommy Körberg

Artist: Tommy Körberg

LP: 7" single
Song: "Judy Min Vän"
[ listen ]

Last night I stopped at a gas station/garage on my way home from work to add some air to my bicycle tires. I found a gray '70s Mercedes Benz parked in front of the pump, with a little old German man angrily pacing back and forth in front of it, bellowing a string of profanities in both English and German (he repeatedly yelled "scheize!"... or, more precisely, "scheiße!"). I soon found out he had just purchased a new headlight kit for his old Mercedes, but the light on the driver's side already wasn't working, not even the hi-beams. Anyway, I hope the guy's day got better and I'm dedicating today's posting to him... even though I just found out that Tommy Körberg is actually from Sweden. Scheize!!

Marty Levitt Orchestra featuring Harriet Kane

Artist: Marty Levitt Orchestra featuring Harriet Kane

LP: Bar Mitzvah Favorites
Song: "My Bar Mitzvah Boy"
[ listen ]

Here's another from the stash of Israeli-Jewish LPs I stumbled upon a few weeks ago. With lines like "with life dispensing tones she ripples through the blood streams of her listeners" and "the throbbing sigh, the carefree laugh, the lingering tear bobble like bubbles in her champagne of song," the notes on the back of this one are some of the strangest—and best—I've ever seen. Marty Levitt, who died in March of 2008, and his wife Harriet, who evidently died while still in her prime, were a popular entertainment duo on the Jewish-American circuit, playing for many weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, etc. You can read about Marty here, and I've included the aforementioned notes from the back of the LP below, along with a video clip of Marty and Harriet performing at an event in Brooklyn about 25 years ago.

Marty Levitt Orchestra featuring Harriet Kane on YouTube:
[ "Shmaravoznik" ]
October 21, 1984 at the H.E.S. in Brooklyn, NY

BAR MITZVAH FAVORITES is an album of emotions,
photographing in color and depth feelings of pride and
joy, hope and regret, nostalgia and frustration that
pervade Jewish-American living. These thirteen musical
pictures in photogenic words and rhythm depict the
stages of human development from infancy to golden age
with the aspirations, attitudes and pitfalls that crowd
each level. The whole family, three generations in all,
from bubeleh to babenuh, from zindele to zaydenuh, are
portrayed as moving, sensing and interacting beings.

This recording will grip your heart. This recording will
be your favorite as well as ours.

Harriet Kane has a voice full of heart. With life dispen-
sing tones she ripples through the blood streams of her
listeners. She injects pulsating life into her audiences.
The bright eyed dreams of youth, the hopes of mom
and dad, and the golden memories of grandparents are
saturated with her vocal warmth. The throbbing sigh, the
carefree laugh, the lingering tear bobble like bubbles in her
champagne of song. Her style is bewitching—intoxicating.
Her captivating vitality ignites us all. The dynamic quality
of Harriet's vocal renditions is augmented by the masterly
interplay of her husband's scintillating skill. Her voice is
wedded to his music; her feelings with the quiver of his
clarinet. Harriet and Marty, with his orchestra, form a
sensational combination. They are not just a pair of per-
formers. They are not just talented entertainers. They
have done what few have been able to duplicate. They
have fused together the sparkling essence of Yiddish-
American music with decor and artistry unsurpassed.

Listening to this record you will understand why they
are the most sought after entertainment package
of the Bar Mitzvah circuit.

* * * * * * *

MY BAR MITZVAH BOY

Murray Rumsey, the creator of this musical piece of
sheer beauty, is a highly sensitive, talented composer.
Out of the heart of his inner being the words were formed,
the notes were fashioned. For many years afer publication
he hesitated to share his musical joy with the listening
world. There was no one on the Yiddish-American scene
to interpret this song properly; no one who could reveal
the splendor and beauty of this work. When Harriet Kane
came upon the scene all reservations were removed. Her
vocal imagery and penetrating warmth convinced him
she was the one to do this song justice. The dreams
of every Jewish mom and dad glisten in the words
and spirit of this song.

My Bar Mitzvah boy
You're my pride and joy
Your baby days are over
Now you are a man
Be true to your religion
A staunch American

The feelings and hopes of first generation parents are
spelled out in heartful tunes, as the mother tells her
Bar Mitzvah boy the kind of man she wants him to be.

[ Marty Levitt and Harriet Kane—an entertainment package with no reservations. ]

T.C. Jones

Artist: T.C. Jones

LP: T.C. Jones Himself! - at the Crescendo on the Sunset Strip
Song: "I've Got the World On a String"
[ listen ]
Song: "Bette Davis"
[ listen ]
Song: "Louella Parsons"
[ listen ]

In further honor of the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival going on this week, here are three tracks from a 1959 T.C. Jones album I found in the used bins a few months ago. Funny and vulgar female impersonators are a dime a dozen nowadays, but there weren't too many of them back in the 1950s, so T.C. really was one-of-a-kind—and evidently one of the best. You can read more about Thomas Craig Jones here, find lots of great pictures and news articles about him here, and in case you've never heard the voice of Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons before, you can listen to her hilariously stilted 1947 interview with actress Joan Crawford here.

[ T.C. Jones — Bette Davis as Lady Macbeth ]

The greatest artist in his field, T.C. (Thomas Craig) Jones

is "Caught In The Act" at the world-famous Crescendo on
Hollywood's Gay White Way - The Sunset Strip.

In a completely uninhibited performance before the film-
colony elite, T.C. does all the "bits" he dare not do on
Television or on The Broadway Stage. For your repeated
pleasure - here is unabridged, "The Best Of - T.C. Jones."

[ T.C. Jones: October 26, 1920 — September 21, 1971 ]

Joan Fontaine

Today is Joan Fontaine's 92nd birthday! Fontaine, who won the 1941 Best Actress Oscar for her work in Alfred Hitchcock's Suspicion, now lives in Carmel, California with her dogs. (Do you think she hangs out with Doris Day?) You can read all about Joan Fontaine on Wikipedia here. While searching for pictures of the actress, I came across this wonderful Vanity Fair interview she did back in March of 2008:

Seven decades after she began her Hollywood and stage career, Academy Award-winning actress Joan Fontaine, 90, leads a quiet life at her California home, Villa Fontana. Here, the former screen darling ruminates on her beloved dogs, chastity, and doing it all over again.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Working in my garden while my five A.S.P.C.A. dogs smell the roses ... or water them.

What is your greatest fear?
As I lost my Brentwood, California, house and its contents in a firestorm in 1964, I fear the same might happen to Villa Fontana.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Eleanor of Aquitaine, as she was my all-time favorite role, in The Lion In Winter, and which gave me the best reviews of my career.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Buying a car just for my canines.

What is your favorite journey?
Portofino to Capri.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Virginity.

On what occasion do you lie?
When being tactful ... or evasive.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"Ah!"

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
The English language.

What is your current state of mind?
Contentment.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Recklessness.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Impulsiveness.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Gossiping, denigration, chitchat, disloyalty.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Peace and tranquility.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Losing a child.

What is your most treasured possession?
My house and its three acres of gardens, in the woods.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Independence, sense of humor.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Knowledge and respect, affection without demands.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Intellect, honesty, openness, loyalty.

Who are your favorite writers?
Du Maurier, Shakespeare, Dickens, the Bronës, Gwendolyn Brooks.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
D'Artagnan, from The Three Musketeers, who taught me some things were going on in Milady's boudoir. My mother, when I questioned her at 10 years old, said, "You'll have to ask someone else."

Who are your heroes in real life?
Winston Churchill. Alas, no "greats" today, except Mother Teresa.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
Me again. "Get it right this time!"

What is it that you most dislike?
Noise.

How would you like to die?
In bed—alone.

What is your motto?
"Free at last!"

[ Happy Birthday, Joan Fontaine! ]

Mrs. Miller

Artist: Mrs. Miller

LP: The Country Soul of Mrs. Miller
Song: "A Little Bitty Tear"
[ listen ]
Song: "Waitin' In Your Welfare Line"
[ listen ]

I wasn't able to take a shower this morning (water main broke), so instead I slapped myself in the face with a strong dose of vibrato to get me up and going. You can read all about the glorious life and career of whistling songstress Mrs. Elva Miller here and here, and producer Lex De Azevedo's notes from the back of the LP are included below. Here's a neat clip of Jimmy Durante and Mrs. Miller performing a duet at the Hollywood Palace. And of course she sits on the piano.

Mrs. Miller on YouTube:
[ "Inky Dinky Duet" ]
at the Hollywood Palace w/ Jimmy Durante

There was a time when the worlds of pop and country
music were sharply divided, and few singers ventured
from one into another. Today, stars like Dean Martin, Jo
Stafford, John Gary, and Al Martino sing both popular
and country songs with ease and charm and skill. It is,
however, not without concern that a record company
permits a star, firmly established in one field, to make
his or her entry into another. Conferences are held,
merchandising experts consulted, sales figures projected,
fresh flowers placed in front of small vinyl likenesses
of Herb Alpert and the Beatles.

None of this was necessary when Mrs. Elva Miller
expressed a wish to record an album of country songs.
True enough, Mrs. Miller's other successes have all
been with popular music. Yet it has been obvious
from the beginning that this delightful lady's talent
covers all fields. The warmth and naturalness that
Mrs. Miller brings to her art have a universal appeal
that would surely be suitable to almost any vocal form.

For country music, however, she has some good
qualifications. It is widely known that Mrs. Miller,
when not following her career, is a housewife in
Claremont, California. It may be somewhat less well
known that Mrs. Miller was born in Joplin, Missouri,
on the edge of the Ozarks, and brought up on a
farm near Dodge city, Kansas, onetime wild and
rowdy cowtown of the Old West, where there was
much appreciation of both country and western music.
She grew up steeped with an affection for this kind
of music, second only to her fondness for gospel
music, and the equal of her appreciation for
the popular songs she loves so well.

This early interest certainly shows here, and it seems
certain that this album will reach many who have
been slow in their appreciation for country music.
For Mrs. Miller brings to this medium a breath—
more accurately, perhaps, a gale—of fresh air,
just as she has brought to all of popular music
a new and very personal and almost indefinably
wonderful spirit of enjoyment. It is with very
special fondness, therefore, that we commend
to you this album of songs by a lady who has
rightly won an unprecedented place in the hearts
of listeners everywhere—an album of songs en-
hanced by THE COUNTRY SOUL OF MRS. MILLER.

—Produced by LEX DE AZEVEDO

[ Mrs. Miller: October 5, 1907 — July 5, 1997 ]