The Creed Taylor Orchestra

Artist: The Creed Taylor Orchestra

LP: Shock Music In Hi-Fi
Song: "Haunted House"
[ listen ]

Here's a little something special just for today. Creed Taylor (pictured below, left, at age 29 when this record was made in 1958) later founded Impulse! Records and CTI Records and was pretty influential in the American jazz scene. He's especially known for bringing major bossa nova talent from Brazil to record in the USA in the 1960s. All songs on this record were written by composer Kenyon Hopkins (pictured below, right) and each song includes a descriptive blurb. The one for "Haunted House" is this: "Groans, rattles and unknown sounds fill a haunted house with the echoes of the supernatural." I beg you, don't dare listen to this music alone. Here is a segment from the humorous and extensive notes on the backside of the record:

Prepare yourself... This record will give you a shock!

DO YOU SHOCK EASILY? In one way or another, just about
everyone does. The great folk heroes of shock, Dracula and
Frankenstein, have never been in more popular demand than today.
On motion picture screen and television sets, the ogres of shock
carry their bizarre appeal to millions of Americans. A new rite,
the "Shocktail Party" has swept the country. Throw one yourself—
it will put you in company with history, and you may finally be able
to settle the score with those shocking neighbors next door.

Happy Halloween!

The Dove

Artist: Lyn Paul

LP: The Dove
Song: "Sail the Summer Winds"
[ listen ]

Here's a pretty little bit of saccharine from the soundtrack of the 1974 film, THE DOVE. The film was produced by Gregory Peck, directed by Charles Jarrett, cinematography by Sven Nykvist, has a run time of 105 minutes, is rated [PG] and stars Joseph Bottoms, Deborah Raffin, John McLiam, Dabney Coleman and John Meillon. I'd never heard of THE DOVE before finding this soundtrack LP a few weeks ago, so I decided to look it up in all my movie and video guides. I've listed the reviews below, along with some more pictures of the film from the back of the LP. I'm going to rent THE DOVE from the video store this weekend, though all the critics seem to agree that the film is exceptionally mediocre. It will at least be interesting to see what cinematographer Sven Nykvist can do with a family adventure film about a teenage boy sailing around the world on a sloop.

1994 Leonard Maltin Movie and Video Guide
[ **½ ]
Pleasant round-the-world adventure based on true story of 16-year-old
who sails to every imaginable port. Produced by Gregory Peck.
Filmed on location in Panavision.

1991 8th Edition of Halliwell's Film Guide

Yachtsman Robin Lee Graham makes a five-year voyage around
the world. Bland, rather stolid adventure story for boatniks,
based on real incidents; good to look at. "Postcard views flick by
to the strains of a saccharine score." --David McGillivray

2004 Video Hound's Golden Movie Retriever
[ **½ ]
The true story of a 16-year-old's adventures as he sails
around the world in a 23-foot sloop. The trip took him five years
and along the way he falls in love with a girl who follows him
to exotic locales. Photography and scenery are magnificent.

1999 7th Edition of Time Out Film Guide

The five-year, round-the-world voyage of teenage
Californian yachtsman ("I just had to get out and see what
else was going on") Robin Lee Graham, produced by Gregory
Peck as a chaste romance in picturesque locations for the
family film market. Boring as hell, with even cinematographer
Sven Nykvists's invention sorely taxed by the
tedious succession of seascapes.

Die Blue Diamonds

Artist: Die Blue Diamonds

LP: 7" single
Song: "Ramona"
[ listen ]

Dutch-Indonesian brothers Ruud and Riem de Wolff formed The Blue Diamonds in 1949, shortly after moving to The Netherlands from Jakarta, Indonesia. Known as "The Dutch Everly Bothers," their version of "Ramona" peaked at #72 on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in December of 1960. The song was evidently originally written for star Dolores Del Rio's promotional appearances for her film Ramona, which was released in 1928.

Mickey and Mary Carton and Their Orchestra

Artist: Mickey and Mary Carton and Their Orchestra

LP: Little Bits of Ireland
Song: "I'll Forgive and I'll Try to Forget"
[ listen ]

Anyone in the mood for a good, old-fashioned Irish-American break-up song? Here are some notes from the back of the record:

Two of the most attractive exponents of true Irish melodies, Mickey
and Mary Carton have always sung songs that the Irish love. Brother
and sister, they were born in the Bronx, New York, in a household that
was full of music. Their father was an accordion player, and it was only
logical that Mickey and Mary should become attracted to the instrument.
Playing the accordion became second nature to them, and they
were always in demand at local entertainments.

The World War interrupted their duo performances but, after a stretch
in the army, Mickey returned to form his own Irish orchestra,
with Mary as featured singer.

Mickey and Mary Carton make new friends wherever they go and
whenever they appear. They have been on the Ed Sullivan Show five
times; they are cherished by Irish audiences throughout New York,
Chicago, Springfield, Boston, and practically all of new England.
These recordings are sure to increase their already wide popularity.

Rita Lee and Roberto De Carvalho

Artist: Rita Lee and Roberto De Carvalho

LP: Rita Lee and Roberto De Carvalho
Song: "Barriga da Mamãe"
[ listen ]

Here's some 1982 dance music from Brazil that will whisk you away from your hectic Monday morning drudgery and make you feel like you're floating on soothing waves of tropical blue plastic.

Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

Artist: Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

LP: Love's a Prima Donna
Song: "Here Comes the Sun"
[ listen ]

Here's an interesting version of the popular Beatles song to help get the weekend started on a bright note.

Los Cardinales Del Exito

Artist: Los Cardenales Del Exito

LP: Volando Va La Gaita
Song: "Regreso Venancio"
[ listen ]
Song: "Tucacas"
[ listen ]

Here are two tracks from one of the neatest albums I've found in the past few months. Venezuela's Los Cardenales Del Exito are like the South American Adam & the Ants! The album features four or five different vocalists on various tracks, but the songs featured here are both sung by Germán Avila.

Cristina

Artist: Cristina
LP: Cristina

Song: "Blame It On Disco"
[ listen ]

Here's a track from a terrific album I picked up for a few bucks this past summer. produced by Kid Creole under the name August Darnell, Cristina (Monet)'s LP was released on the ZE label in 1980. You can learn everything you ever wanted to know about Cristina but were afraid to ask if you click right [ here ].

Johnny Rodriguez

Artist: Johnny Rodriguez
LP: Rodriguez

Song: "Mexico Holiday"
[ listen ]

Johnny Rodriguez and I feel the exact same way about Mexico. In solidarity, I've worn the denim/lemon combo featured on the LP cover to work today. I've even got the rolled up green bandana around my neck and I've put a sock down the front of my pants. ¡Viva Rodriguez!

Stevie Woods

Artist: Stevie Woods

LP: Take Me to Your Heaven
Song: "Take Me to Your Heaven"
[ listen ]

My impression was that Stevie Woods had gone on to become moderately famous after releasing this first LP in 1981. but it seems he actually sank into oblivion like so many others. I was probably getting him mixed up with Stevie Wonder and James Woods. If it makes him feel any better, his album has been in the top ten at my house all weekend. what a fox!

Eavesdroppings

Overheard when: 10:22am on Sunday, October 19, 2008
Overheard where: Randy's Restaurant at 10016 East Marginal Way South in Tukwila, WA [ map ]
Overheard who: one of the sweet, gray-haired elderly ladies sitting in a group of five sweet, gray-haired elderly ladies in the booth just behind the one in which Edwardo and I were seated for breakfast.
Overheard what: "I always end up raiding my granddaughter's candy jar that she keeps in her bedroom. I can't help myself. Especially after Halloween when it's full of all that candy... My granddaughter always says, 'it's alright, Grandma,' but I really just can't help it!"

Hans Berggren's Scandinavian Boys Orchestra

Artist: Hans Berggren's Scandinavian Boys Orchestra

LP: Scandinavian Dance Music: Hambo--Polka--Schottische--Waltz
Song: "Log-Dance"
[ listen ]

My Grandma Bea was from Norway, but for some reason she never taught me the log-dance. This record features examples of four different types of Scandinavian dances: the hambo, the polka, the schottische and the waltz. "Log-Dance" is one of the schottisches, whatever that means.

Edie Adams [1927-2008]

Artist: Edie Adams

LP: Edie Adams
Song: "He Don't Wanna' Be Kissed"
[ listen ]

I posted an Edie Adams track from a different LP a few weeks ago (along with a YouTube link for one of her wonderful Muriel Cigar TV ads from the early 1960s), but since Ms. Adams passed away this last Wednesday, I decided to post one of my favorite songs from this other album today. Here are some biographical notes from the back of the record sleeve:

EDIE ADAMS, the honey-voiced lass with the golden hair and a sparkling
personality to match, is one of the most versatile young stars in show
business today. A proficient actress, singer, satirist and comedienne, Edie's
credits list like a European holiday menu. Nightclubs, Broadway and TV have
all been graced with the appearance of the charming Miss Adams.

Though Kingston, PA claims Edie as its native born, Grove City, PA was
her home from the time she was six until her second year in high school
when the family again moved to New York. One year later the final
move was made and the family settled in Tenafly, New Jersey, during
which time Edith Enke (as she was known then) completed high school
at Julia Richmond. A bundle of energy and vitality, Edie didn't let the
complications of moving interfere with her extracurricular activities
which included singing in the church choir, leads in the school operettas
and marching at the head of all parades twirling a baton.

Intending to be a music teacher like her mother, Edie enrolled at
New York's Juilliard School of Music studying voice during her four years
there and acquired a solid classical background. Then came a year at
Columbia's School of the Drama, while at the same time attending voice
training classes with Met star Helen Jepson, and Edie was ready for the
bright future which was to be her well-deserved fate. She was already a
"pro" when she made one of the most important decisions of her career.
Convinced her soprano voice was "not too commercial" and that she was
a frustrated "pop" singer, Edie made the difficult transition to popular music
and in a matter of months worked successfully in bringing her voice
down more than two octaves.

After a number of TV and nightclub appearances, Edie auditioned and was
signed as a regular on the "Ernie Kovacs Show" on WCBS-TV where she
developed her great potential for comedy. Though Edie claims not to
be a comedienne, TV audiences will always remember the glib Miss
Adams running through a variety of crazy sketches or acting the dumb
blonde salesgirl commenting on the conveniences of a breakaway
vacuum cleaner. While still cavorting daily on the Kovacs show, she
was selected to play Eileen in the Broadway musical comedy "Wonderful
Town" based on "My Sister Eileen." Beating some 300 competitors
for the part, Edie made her Broadway debut with such theatrical
luminaries as Rosalind Russell land won not only unanimous critical
praise but two Donaldson Awards in one theatre season, one for the
Best Debut Performance and the other for Best Supporting Actress.
In addition, she was also awarded the Daniel Blum Theatre World
Award and the New York Post Stardust Citation.

Edie's nightclub appearances at such fashionable spots as the Plaza's Persian
Room and Sherman Billingsley's Stork Club doing her famous Marilyn Monroe
characterization as well as her impressions of Grace Kelly doing Rock 'n' Roll
and Marlene Dietrich slouched in a raincoat, won her even more accolades.
Another laurel was added to the Adams wreath of success when she was
chosen for the covetous part of Daisy Mae in the Broadway hit "Li'l Abner"
based on the famous Al Capp comic strip.

Yet another role in her already busy life is that of wife to another performing
favorite, Ernie Kovacs.

Supplying the musical background for Edie is Joe Leahy and his orchestra. Joe,
composer, orchestra leader and musician was one of the first who predicted
stardom for Edie at the outset of her career when she was unknown to the
"Who's Who" of the theatrical trade. Joe Leahy's compositions won immediate
approval from Edie and it is only fitting that two of these, "Swiss Holiday" and
his "Theme From Studio X" be included in this album, EDIE ADAMS, which
RKO RECORDS is proud to present.

Edie Adams
[April 16, 1927 - October 15, 2008]
We will miss you, Edie.

Kaja

Artist: Kaja

LP: 7" single
Song: "Turn Your Back On Me"
[ listen ]

When Kajagoogoo's sexy lead singer [ Limahl ] was fired from the band in 1984, he took the "googoo" with him as he walked out the door. Here's a single from what was left of the group when they recorded their next album, with [ Nick Beggs ] taking over on lead vocals.

Ullanda

Artist: Ullanda

LP: Love Zone
Song: "Want Ads"
[ listen ]

Here's a terrific disco song from Ullanda McCullough's first LP, from 1979. I guess this song would be called "craigslist" today, which doesn't really have the same ring to it. I found one of those "whatever happened to Ullanda McCullough" conversations on disco music dot com, where someone suggests that [ this ] is what happened. Could Ullanda Innocent-Palmer and Ullanda "Love Zone" McCullough really be one and the same? If it is indeed she, her lips have gotten smaller.