Directional Sound - The Sound of Sounds

Directional Sound - The Sound of Sounds

released on LP

This is a stereo test/ sound effects record that I found at the same "community garage sale" and bought from the same people as The Darts LP in the previous post. Most of these sound effects records that I encountered in my years of digging usually have a random assortment of sounds arranged in their tracklistings and each track usually lasts a minute. The tracks on this LP each last about a minute too, but some of the sounds are organized into groups of tracks especially on side one. For example, the first four tracks are recordings of sounds of jets and planes. Side one has car noises grouped into four sequential tracks. One of them even has a sound of a crash. No, the crash was not arranged as the liner notes say and the driver was not seriously injured.

Side two mostly has recordings of nature such as waves, a thunderstorm, horses, livestock, birds, along with hogs being slaughtered. This is the first sound effects record I've encountered that has hogs being slaughtered. Shhhh, don't tell PETA about this post.

The back cover says: The recording contained in this jacket is the direct result of the skills and efforts of DIRECTIONAL SOUND's team of engineers, who spent hundreds of hours recording what we believe to be a unique Sound Effects album. Reproduced with the utmost fidelity and precision are the maximum extremes of sound ever recorded ... from the quiet babbling of a country brook to the dynamic take-off of a 707 Jet; from the chirpings of crickets to the unbelievable power of a full-fledged thunderstorm. Here is an array of sounds to excite any listener and to test to the maximum your playback equipment.

Tracklisting:  (link will be back soon)

Side One

1. Jet Engines in Test Cell, with Afterburner {0:47}

2. Sonic Boom & F-104 Supersonic Jets {1:10}

3. F-86's Taking Off & Flying Overhead {1:49}

4. Boeing 707's Takeoff {1:04}

5. Trains, Steam & Diesel in Yard {0:59}

6. Steam, Electric, Diesel Passing Country Crossing {1:28}

7. Harbor Scene S. S. Matsonia Leaving {1:34}

8. Speed Boats in Race, Passing Under Bridge {1:46}

9. Sports Cars in Pit Area (Elkhart Lake, Wis.) {1:05}

10. Sports Cars on Straightaway {1:29}

11. Sports Cars on Approach to Curve {1:02}

12. Sports Cars on Curve, with Crash {1:20}

Side Two

1. Pigeons in Hayloft {1:19}

2. Passing of a Thunderstorm, with Cicadas {1:58}

3. Incoming Tide at Malibu, with Seagulls {1:39}

4. Horses, Horses {1:10}

5. Jungle Scene {1:07}

6. Hogs Slaughtered {0:53}

7. Wild Geese & Birds {0:39}

8. Babbling Brook {0:51}

9. Frogs {0:39}

10. Livestock {0:58}

11. Day Crickets {1:00}

12. Children Playing {0:53}

13. Fireworks at Pallisades Park {1:01}

14. Magic Mechanical Orchestra {1:05}

The Darts - Hollywood Drag

The Darts - Hollywood Drag

released on LP

I was browsing through one of those "community garage sales" which was actually more like a swap meet where people from almost all over town gathered in a parking lot to sell their stuff. People would have their own spots usually with a couple of tables and their vehicle behind them. I came across a couple who had a couple of boxes of records. Most of the records were easy listening or sort of "space age pop" material. They did have three records I wanted to buy and the record featured in this post was one of them. The price of each record was $1.

At first, I thought this was a car sounds record as I didn't look at it closely enough. The liner notes only list drag racing terms and their definitions such as "drop the hammer", "put the can in", "haulin' mother", "feather footed", etc. along with a brief background of drag racing. It would be nifty to have another record of car noises as you know by now I like these things if you've been visiting this blog for a while. This turned out differently than I expected.

The LP is actually an album of early rock 'n' roll instrumentals which the style is referred to as hot rod music on the back cover. No date of release was given, but I'm guessing early 1960s. I'm not really disappointed that this wasn't what I thought it was as I actually enjoy this LP. I'm fond of the fifth track, "Monkey Do" where a tape containing a guitar part sounds like it's been slowed down while all the other parts seems to be at the correct speed; perhaps an early attempt at studio experimentation. Yes, there are car noises mixed with the music. Since summer is almost here in the northern half of the planet (for those in the southern half, stay warm), it is a good time as any to bring out this LP as the music was made for doing fun outdoor activities like cruising, making people envious by showing off one's hot rod, and drag racing as already mentioned.

Tracklisting:  (link will be back soon)

Side 1

1. Alky Burner {2:28}

2. Top Eliminator {2:16}

3. Hippy's Delight {2:19}

4. Street Machine {1:43}

5. Monkey Do {2:14}

6. Gaucho {2:00}

Side 2

1. Slauson & Soto {1:28}

2. Detroit Iron/Hollywood Drag {4:10}

3. Cruisin' {1:46}

4. Shop Talk {1:40}

5. Corn Pone {2:08}

Sports Car Caravan

Sports Car Caravan

It's been a while since we had any car engine noises on this site. It's also been a while since I posted on this blog. As you can see, these are recordings of sports cars in various races. The organization behind this label did not give any information about the individual tracks (what cars are recorded on which track, on what race track is the recording taking place). Instead this was given on the back cover:

If you've been to a motor race - and since you're interested in this record, the chances are pretty good that you have been - you'll find a lot here that is familiar to you. Sounds of sports car racing have the uncanny ability to bring back all the sensations of the race itself; your mind's eye sees all the color of the cars, the bright flags, the excited crowd; after a few minutes listening you will even imagine you can smell the exhaust fumes, the castor oil, the burnt rubber.

Soundwise, you may find some new items here. These particular sounds were recorded at a wide variety of races, so different cars, with different gear ratios and different exhaust systems, give the listener a broad coverage of the sounds of this great new American sport.

Surprisingly, enough, even exactly the same car on two different courses will sound like two different cars. But at speed, which is how you can hear them on this disc, they all have one basic quality in common - all of them help to recreate the enormous excitement of sports car racing.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. track 1 {1:27}

2. track 2 {3:25}

3. track 3 {3:26}

4. track 4 {3:28}

5. track 5 {4:56}

Side 2

1. track 6 {8:50}

2. track 7 {12:07}

Phil Hill - The Exciting Racing Sounds of Grand Prix: Challenge of Champions

Phil Hill - The Exciting Racing Sounds of Grand Prix: Challenge of Champions

This is a companion LP to the film Grand Prix. Race car driver Phil Hill narrates this album and interviews fellow race car driver Graham Hill (unrelated to Phil) and Grand Prix film director John Frankenheimer. The first track has those interviews. Then the rest of the album features recordings of Formula One race cars in action at four race tracks throughout Europe. More glorious car noises are in abundance here.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Interviews {9:58}

2. Monza, The Italian Grand Prix {4:49}

Side 2

1. Monte Carlo, Monaco Grand Prix {9:45}

2. Spa Francorchamps, Belgium Grand Prix {3:50}

3. Brands Hatch, British Grand Prix {3:01}

Drag Race Sound Effects

Drag Race Sound Effects

Not sure how much the Hot Rods post was liked, but if anyone wants more loud car engine noises, here ya go.

Tracklisting:

SIDE 1

1. Factory Experimental Class Cars {1:42}

2. Trouble Sounds on the Strip {3:42}

3. Super Stock Automatic Class Cars {2:02}

4. Roadster Class Cars {1:48}

5. Competition Class Cars {1:38}

6. Finish Lines Sounds {1:17}

SIDE 2

1. Squeal Effects at Start Line {1:26}

2. Dragsters {3:34}

3. Gas Coupes and Sedans Class {1:24}

4. Modified Sports Car Class {0:59}

5. Stock Sports Car Class {0:50}

6. Sounds on the Strip {3:05}

Hot Rods U.S.A.

Hot Rods U.S.A.

If you can't get enough of loud and noisy car engine noises in real life, you're in for a treat. Custom hot rod cars were recorded for this record on the Battle label during maybe the early 1960s. The recordings are from drag strips in locales in the United states such as Detroit, Michigan; Bakersfield, California; Bonneville, Utah and New Jersey. The Battle label put out several other similar hot rod/automobile sounds albums. The liner notes contain the information of the cars and even aircraft engines recorded on each track.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. track 1 {4:03}

2. track 2 {1:54}

3. track 3 {3:41}

4. track 4 {2:43}

5. track 5 {2:51}

6. track 6 {3:32}

Side 2

1. track 1 {1:55}

2. track 2 {2:52}

3. track 3 {3:56}

4. track 4 {3:58}

5. track 5 {4:45}

6. track 6 {6:32}