Hambone

Artist: Hambone

LP: Big Fat Juicy Fun

Song: "Big Fat Juicy Fun"
[ listen ]

Speaking of pink album covers and harmonicas, here's some 1981 instrumental disco music I picked up at Square Records in Akron, Ohio a few years back that's pretty heavy on the mouth organ too. Recorded in Atlanta, Georgia and arranged and conducted by jazz trumpeter/high school teacher Tommy Stewart, the music itself is not nearly as big, fat, juicy, or fun as the LP cover would lead us to believe. It's not ghastly or anything, but some pretty high expectations have been set by that lady with the lollipop—not to mention the cutesy stuffed elephant and pig.

Gisele MacKenzie

Artist: Gisele MacKenzie

LP: Gisele MacKenzie Sings Lullaby and Goodnight

Song: "Hush, Little Baby" 
[ listen ]

Song: "Oh, Can Ye Sew Cushions?" 
[ listen ]

I'm blessed to have one of the Great Mothers on Earth, so I'd like to proclaim that here, though my mom isn't likely to read it. (She doesn't follow my blog; we have completely different taste in music.) "Hush, Little Baby" is one of the earliest songs I can remember hearing, sung by my mother as she rocked me to sleep in the old family rocking chair. I've also included here the beautiful "Oh, Can Ye Sew Cushions?" from Gisele MacKenzie's 1959 album full of international lullabies, because, well, who's ever heard of a lullaby with the word 'cushions' in the title? The Scots, that's who. More information on the lovely Ms. MacKenzie is available here. Happy Mother's Day!

Gisele MacKenzie on YouTube:
[ "The Twelfth of Never" ]

[ Gisele MacKenzie: January 10, 1927 — September 5, 2003 ]

[ Pictured w/ daughter Gigi in 1962. ]