Music Effects

[uncredited artists] - Music Effects

released on LP in 1982

This is one of those LPs that is full of music cues for use in film, television or other types of productions. These could also possibly used for samples too. The tracks are grouped under categories such as moods, textures, tempos, etc. The track names are self-descriptive. I can't come up with anything else to say, so enjoy.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

OPENS AND ENDS

1.  Open with Cymbal Crash  {0:10}

2.  Open: Building Chords  {0:12}

3.  Open Same: Drums Only  {0:12}

4.  Open Same: Bass and Piano Only  {0:12}

5.  Drum Roll and Fade  {0:09}

6.  Big Show Opening  {0:07}

7.  Easy Ending with Bass, Piano, Drums  {0:09}

8.  Same with Horns  {0:09}

9.  Up Tempo Ending  {0:07}

10. Open: Scary or Weird  {0:17}

11. End: Scary or Weird  {0:20}

STINGS

12. Bass and Drums  {0:07}

13. Up Tempo  {0:05}

TEXTURES

14. Ominous  {0:30}

15. Cue 14: Bass and Horns Only  {0:24}

16. City Syncopated  {0:27}

17. City Syncopated with Bass and Horns Only  {0:26}

18. City Chase  {0:22}

19. Action Pattern: Drums Only  {0:27}

20. Action Pattern: Drums and Bass  {0:26}

21. Movement  {0:25}

22. Movement with Horns  {0:25}

23. City Life: Version 1  {0:37}

24. City Life: Version 2  {0:25}

25. City Life: Version 3  {0:26}

SOLO HORNS

26. Wah-Wah Horns  {0:26}

27. Wah-Wah Horns (underwater)  {0:26}

28. Start of Horse Race  {0:16}

29. Horn with Mute  {0:21}

30. Fanfare  {0:10}

TEMPOS

31. Samba  {0:22}

32. Disco  {0:48}

33. Disco: Drums Only  {0:47}

34. Waltz  {0:57}

35. Syncopation  {0:32}

36. Tango  {0:37}

37. Tango with Horns  {1:10}

38. Hora  {1:01}

39. Rhumba  {0:56}

40. March  {0:48}

41. Polka  {0:30}

Side 2

MOODS

1.  Cocktail Bar  {0:44}

2.  Cocktail Bar: Drums and Bass Only  {0:42}

3.  Swing  {0:28}

4.  Dread  {1:05}

5.  Bright Activity  {0:26}

6.  Oriental  {1:08}

7.  Oriental #2  {0:39}

8.  Lullaby  {0:27}

9.  Lullaby: Electric Piano Only  {0:25}

10. Silent Movie Pursuit  {0:52}

11. Jazz Moods: Rag  {1:13}

12. Jazz Moods: Boogie  {0:56}

13. Jazz Moods: Boogie Bass and Drums  {0:54}

14. Jazz Moods: Swing  {0:30}

15. Jazz Moods: Bebop  {0:27}

16. Jazz Moods: Progressive  {0:58}

17. Military  {0:33}

BASS AND DRUMS

18. Walking  {0:54}

19. Up Tempo  {0:51}

20. Slow  {1:08}

ELECTRIC PIANO

21. Runs Up the Scale (twice)  {0:13}

22. Run Up the Scale (slower)  {0:13}

BRIDGES

23. Trumpet and Sax (alto) Blues Riff  {0:21}

24. Jazz Bridge #1  {0:17}

25. Cue 19 with Drums and Bass Only  {0:16}

26. Jazz Bridge #2  {0:32}

27. Cue 21 with Drums and Bass Only  {0:31}

28. Horns: Sultry Trumpet, Mute/Sax  {0:40}

29. Cue 23: Full Group  {0:39}

[U.S. Navy] - Someone Special

[U.S. Navy] - Someone Special

released on LP [no date given]

This is one of those records that were intended for use by radio stations for airing recruiting pitches for the U.S. Navy or what are called public service messages. I'll make an educational guess that this was produced sometime during the 1970s.
The intended recipients include smart folks being encouraged to enter into training programs for advanced electronics and nuclear energy, those who don't want to serve all the time being offered training in Naval Reserves, and former Navy personnel being courted to come back to the Navy. National and local versions of these messages are on opposite sides of the LP. Side 2 of the LP includes instrumental versions of the music used. The music is played in various styles such as Latin, soul, rock, and country. From what I can tell, the different musical styles were supposed to be used for targeting various demographic segments throughout the U.S. It's too bad that there's not more music as I rather enjoyed it especially the Latin versions. It sounds a lot better than the shit music being used nowadays in public service announcement/recruiting pitches for the military.

Telling from the condition of the vinyl and the jacket, it seems to have been used quite a bit or people could have mishandled the record. Someone thought this record was worth a quarter when he or she tried to sell this copy. (I paid $1 for it at a thrift store.) Whoever priced this 25 cents didn't do a good job of covering up the torn part. I'll bet that someone else tried to sell this earlier and put a price tag on it. Then either the person who priced this 25 cents or someone else attempted to peel off the original price tag and ended up tearing a portion of the cover.
I'm sure this record is not special in the collectors' market, but that doesn't mean that whoever listens or comes in possession of it is any less special.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1.  Advanced Electronics Field/Nuclear Field training programs: Announcer V/O instrumental [national version]  {0:56}

2.  Advanced Electronics Field/Nuclear Field training programs: Announcer V/O instrumental [national version]  {0:27}

3.  Advanced Electronics Field/Nuclear Field training programs: Vocal with recorded national insert  {0:58}

4.  Naval Reserve 2x6 program: Announcer V/O instrumental [national version]  {1:00}

5.  Naval Reserve 2x6 program: Announcer V/O instrumental [national version]  {0:31}

6.  Naval Reserve 2x6 program: Vocal with recorded national insert  {1:01}

7.  Re-enlistment: Announcer V/O instrumental [national version]  {1:00}

8.  Re-enlistment: Announcer V/O instrumental [national version]  {0:32}

9.  Re-enlistment: Vocal with recorded national insert  {1:01}

10. Where Do I Go from Here?  {2:23}

Side 2

1.  Advanced Electronics Field/Nuclear Field training programs: Announcer V/O instrumental [local version]  {1:00}

2.  Advanced Electronics Field/Nuclear Field training programs: Announcer V/O instrumental [local version]  {0:30}

3.  Naval Reserve 2x6 program: Announcer V/O instrumental [local version]  {1:00}

4.  Naval Reserve 2x6 program: Announcer V/O instrumental [local version]  {0:32}

5.  Re-enlistment: Announcer V/O instrumental [local version]  {1:01}

6.  Re-enlistment: Announcer V/O instrumental [local version]  {0:31}

7.  Instrumental Version: Latin Ritmo Ochoa  {1:00}

8.  Instrumental Version: Latin Ritmo Ochoa  {0:31}

9.  Instrumental Version: Latin Gourdiente  {1:00}

10. Instrumental Version: Latin Gourdiente  {0:31}

11. Instrumental Version: Medium Rock  {0:32}

12. Instrumental Version: Folk Rock  {0:30}

13. Instrumental Version: Soul  {0:31}

14. Instrumental Version: Country and Western  {0:31}

Stu Phillips - Jud [soundtrack]

Stu Phillips - Jud [soundtrack]

released on LP in 1971 (no date given on LP, but I found the release year of the film online)

I found a copy of this promo LP in some thrift store a few weeks ago. I've never heard of the film, but I'm familiar with Stu Phillips with having heard his music over the years thanks to various generous sharity blogs and sharity sites. He's composed music for biker flicks and that Buck Rogers TV show that was on the air seemingly centuries ago among other film and TV projects. Still, I was a bit hesitant at first whether I should purchase this copy. I didn't know anything about the quality of the music on this album. Since the asking price was $1.20, I figured it would be worth taking a chance on. I'm glad I did obtain this record. I find the all instrumental side 2 to be awesome (I think that's what I kind of expected and hoped for anyway). (Yeah, it's wild and groovy at times.) Side 1 has rock/pop songs with performers I've never heard of. If you're familiar with early 70s rock/pop, that's what it sounds like, music of the period. I enjoy the Crow song (track 4) the most from side 1, but I couldn't really get into the rest of the songs.

From what I read on the web, Jud is about a soldier who returns home from serving in Vietnam and tries to get his life back together. Instead, he ends up in some difficult situations and his life goes downhill from there. I read some review that said that it had potential to have been a really good movie, but turned out to be more of an exploitation film instead. I lost the link to that review so you'll have to take my word for it at the moment. Anyways, it sounds like a flick I want to check out.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. One Too Many Mornings [with John Hartford] {2:58}

2. Solitary Sanctuary [with American Breed] {1:59}

3. Comin' Down Easy [with Mason Proffit] {2:25}

4. Something In Your Blood [with Crow] {2:34}

5. Come to Me, Anytime [with Barbara Robison] {3:01}

Side 2

1. Solitary Sanctuary {1:57}

2. Jud Escapes {2:15}

3. Bill Flips {2:02}

4. Retrospection {1:49}

5. Comin' Back {3:52}

Arshad Mahmud and Majid Khan - Sitar Influence

Arshad Mahmud and Majid Khan - Sitar Influence

released on cassette supposedly in 1977

This album reminds me of those Balsara and His Singing Sitars LPs. It sounds like one of those cash-in pop sitar albums chock full of cover songs. I'm not really sure which ones are originals or covers as no credits are given. No liner notes or performer credits are given either (except for Arshad Mahmud and Majid Khan on the cover). It would have helped that this information be included on the release as there is really no substantial information about this release or about Arshad Mahmud and Majid Khan on the internet tubes.

I'm sure that anyone into pop-sitar or space-age lounge instrumental stuff could dig this. All of the songs performed have a slow tempo making suitable for playing while chilling out and trying to impress your cool friends who probably own actual copies of Balsara and His Singing Sitars or Lord Sitar LPs. Along with the sitar, tablas, violins, chimes and flutes can be heard. There is even a cheap-sounding drum machine used on a few tracks ("How Can I Be Happy", "Yesterday Gone", and "I'll Come Along") instead of tablas. It sounds like the drum machine feature on one of those Casio keyboards that cost just a little over 100 bucks at one of the national big-box retailers. The album is really pleasant and charming stuff although most of the time I prefer the more authentic or traditional Indian music.

Tracklisting:

Side One

1. 1/3 {2:38}

2. People {3:38}

3. Free For All {4:16}

4. Good Evening {3:15}

5. Tantalisation {3:24}

6. Hi Tides {4:34}

7. How Can I Be Happy {3:19}

8. Persuasion {3:42}

Side Two

1. Yesterday Gone {4:28}

2. Sometimes In Morning {4:04}

3. Velvet Touch {4:18}

4. Beautiful Day Today {4:22}

5. I'll Come Along {4:04}

6. In Your Arms {3:26}

7. Festival {3:37}

Sapulpa High School Chorus - A Tribute to The Beatles

Sapulpa High School Chorus - A Tribute to The Beatles

released on LP sometime in the early 1970s

Does the world need any more recordings of Beatles covers? Maybe. Maybe not. But I'm posting this anyway. This album is a recording of a live concert by the Sapulpa High School Chorus which the school is located in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, a few miles west of Tulsa.

I have little knowledge of high school chorus music, but if the popular TV show Glee is any indication (a show I don't watch by the way), there are a lot of high school choruses and bands throughout America that includes pop/rock music in their repertoire. Back then when this LP was recorded, probably not many high school choruses performed pop or rock songs much less record entire albums of this material.

The album starts out with "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" which includes electric piano. It's not quite up to the level of William Shatner, but it works for me. It may be good listening with some acid dropped. (Not that I'm planning to indulge in this activity any time soon mind you, just hypothetically saying.) There's also a version of "Blackbird", one of Charles Manson's favorite songs or was at one time. Too bad there's not a cover of "Helter Skelter". There are covers of Beatles standards such as "Michelle", "Yesterday", "Let It Be". If you're into this kind of music and/or The Beatles, you'll enjoy this album. No doubt the kids had a lot of fun doing this. This is one of those cases where there is interest in finding out what became of the people involved, but its not destined for anyone to find out.


Tracklisting:  (link will be back soon)

Side One

1. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds {3:57}
Chorus

2. Blackbird {1:47}
soloist, Susan Dodson

3. And I Love Her {2:28}
Chorus

4. Strawberry Fields Forever {2:54}
Junior Sextet

5. Got to Get You Into My Life {2:52}
Chorus

6. The Long and Winding Road {3:14}
soloist, Pam Young

Side Two

1. Beatles Medley #2 {3:57}
Chorus

2. Michelle {2:43}
Senior Trio

3. Here There and Everywhere {2:39}
Chorus

4. Ticket to Ride {3:44}
Chorus

5. Let It Be {3:03}
soloist, Roger Fitzgerald

6. Yesterday {3:00}
Chorus

Hugo Montenegro - Neil's Diamonds

Hugo Montenegro - Neil's Diamonds

LP released in 1973

Arranged & Conducted by Hugo Montenegro

Arp & Moog Synthesizers programmed and played by Dick Hamilton, John Montenegro & Larry Muhoberac

Recorded in RCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California

Today, I reveal to you one of my guilty pleasures (out of many). No, it's not Neil Diamond, it's Hugo Montenegro, particularly this LP of Neil Diamond covers. Hugo's versions are a lot more fun and plain better in my not too humble opinion. They even sound more fresh than the overplayed originals. Plus this has Arps and Moogs!

Dom Cerulli says on the back cover:

Expect the unexpected!
That's true of both Neil Diamond and Hugo Montenegro.
Diamond's haunting songs never quite go where they lead you at first; never quite resolve the way you think they should; never really ever leave you quite the way they found you.
They seem to have a life of their own.
And the arrangements of Mr. Montenegro are very much like that, too.
They shimmer with strange new colors and rhythms that may shock you at first or jar you at first or make you come alert at first. Then they get deeper into the marrow, the soul of a song, and explore it. And while this is going on, the shifting, subtle, sensual sound begins to grow on you. Different, exotic, ethereal sounds come from everyday familiar instruments. New, brittle, sparkling sounds come from electronic inventions still being shaken down.
And before you know it, the Montenegro version is the one you always want to hear.

It is cool that the liner notes (a.k.a label hype) and I are in agreement. That does not happen too often. Happy listening.


Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Cracklin' Rosie {3:10}

2. I'm a Believer {3:33}

3. Song Song Blue {3:25}

4. Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show {3:48}

5. Sweet Caroline {3:09}

Side B

1. Porcupine Pie {2:11}

2. Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon {3:11}

3. Two-Bit Man Child {3:12}

4. Walk on Water {2:35}

5. Hurtin' You Don't Come Easy {3:35}

Charley Drew - An Evening with Charley Drew, His Piano, and His Party Songs

Charley Drew - An Evening with Charley Drew, His Piano and His Party Songs

*special thanks to KL from NYC for this treat

Charley Drew - vocals, piano, lyrics

Apparently, there's not much info about Charley Drew out there. KL mentioned that there are no liner notes on this album or any other information. The back cover is blank. We do know that he was the resident piano player/entertainer at the Taft Hotel in New York City in the 1940s.

This 10" record is a collection of racy double-entendre songs meant to be played at parties. These are the type of entertaining and humorous songs that are hardly being performed anymore. I wish I had more information about Charley. Meanwhile, enjoy these tunes and hopefully we may start a revival of cleverly-worded double-entendre songs being played at parties. If swing music could be revived which took place a decade ago, why not this music.

Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Blushing Bride {3:11}

2. Bell Bottom Trousers {2:21}

3. The Girls I've Lost & Lost {2:27}

4. Robert the Roue from Reading, PA {2:23}

Side B

1. Gracie is Socially Secure {3:14}

2. Lousy Louisa {3:09}

3. They Didn't Give the Bride Away {3:09}

4. Fleet's in Today {2:16}

Sir Christopher Scott - More Switched on Bacharach

Sir Christopher Scott - More Switched on Bacharach

LP released in 1973

Words and music by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

Arranged and conducted by Dave Mullaney
Production co-ordinator: Harry Meyerson

I stumbled onto a copy of this at one of my favorite local antique stores. When I saw the title, I wasn't even aware there was a "Switched on Bacharach" album much less a "More Switched on Bacharach" album until the time I laid both my eyes and hands on a copy. Unfortunately, the original Switched on Bacharach was nowhere to be found onsite. But that is okay for now, I can make due with this one. This is an album of Burt Bacharach and Hal David tunes played with a Moog. (question: If Hal David was Bacharach's partner and seemed to have done much of the work writing the songs, how come isn't this called More Switched on Bacharach and David?) The music is mainly Moog with human wordless vocals, drums, and guitars making brief appearances. The music is performed capably by someone named Sir Christopher Scott who I suppose fancies himself as knighted or maybe he did get knighted for playing cheesy Moog music. How cool would that be if that really happened?

The liner notes say this about the first Bacharach album: Last time out, Sir Chris switched on his equipment and Bacharach's melodies, and the result was one of the brightest albums of popular music to land on the scene in many a moon. A full program of Bacharach sparkled and crackled with wit and musical surprises in that album.

As for this album: Sir Christopher digs into his plugged-in bag for some electro-brilliance on some of the great Mr. B's finest hits. ... What he does is magic, but it's always music. And you just want to let the listening to it go on and on and on.

I'll be darned if this guy is not already knighted in real life.


Tracklisting:

Side One

1. Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head {2:42}

2. Wishin' and Hopin' {3:05}

3. (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me {3:30}

4. (They Long to Be) Close to You {3:24}

5. Everybody's Out of Town {2:50}

Side Two

1. Paper Mache {3:09}

2. A Message to Michael {2:38}

3. I'll Never Fall in Love Again {2:59}

4. Reach Out for Me {2:44}

5. Promises, Promises {1:56}

6. Trains and Boats and Planes {2:55}

The Sanborn Singers - Sing Out for Free Enterprise

The Sanborn Singers - Sing Out for Free Enterprise

special thanks to KL from NYC for this LP; there's a few more coming from him

Most of the songs on this album are renditions of popular standards and folk tunes. A couple of the songs, "Recruit-Train-Motivate" and "What is Amway" are originals written by Jan Sanborn, one of the leaders of The Sanborn Singers. The songs are about Amway, whom Jan and her husband Fred work with as distributors or Independent Business Owners (IBOs) as they are referred to today. This LP was made primarily for Amway distributors in 1969 (the tenth anniversary of Amway) and thanks to the power of the Internet and the generous owner of this LP, a lot of you lucky visitors get to hear this album.

The liner notes give the background of Jan and Fred Sanborn and their work as professional musicians and Amway distributors:

Fred Sanborn and his all-Amway-Distributor Sanborn Singers are well-known to Amway Conventioneers. They sent the Convention sessions off to a brisk and enthusiastic start in '66 and '68 . . . and again for the Tenth Anniversary celebration.

Diamond Direct Distributors Fred and Jan Sanborn were active and successful professional musicians when they first heard about Amway. They were so intrigued that they invited "that Amway man" to their home and signed up that very evening.

KL has a recommendation on what to do with guests who just won't leave and some more info about this LP: "Recruit-Train-Motivate" is a march, which might be particularly good if you have guests that won't leave: just play it, jump into the living room with a carrot-stick microphone and start lip syncing (they'll either leave or want to buy soap from you). The fact that this is LP #993 means that there are more of these somehwere, which is frightening.

When I received a rip of this LP, I decided to do some research on the multi-level marketing company as I didn't know much about it or how its business operations work. I went to the company's website first. Then naturally like everyone else, I turned to that authoritative source of information, Wikipedia, as I was curious to see what had been written about the company. There is a lot of interesting stuff about the company. Rich DeVos along with the other founder of Amway and their network of IBOs sure are a scary bunch.

Here is another web page depicting the low down on the company.

These "rousing favorites" may inspire you to want to sell some soap or other beauty and home care products and make it to Diamond (or join a cult which is the same I suppose as I already said) so be cautious when listening.

Credits:
Arrangements and piano accompaniment - Jan Sanborn
Conducted by Fred Sanborn
Guitar accompaniment - Gordon Ross
The Sanborn Singers - Joan Birk, Kitty and Jerry Chappell, Jim and Marsha Agnor, Bob and Lois Stonelake, Ken Ross, Paul Wegeman, Bob and Ruth Wollter, Jan and Fred Sanborn, Edie Ross, Lois and Irv Edgerton, Roger and Ruth Krause


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. The Sound of Music {0:46}

2. Medley: Everything's Coming Up Roses/Once in a Lifetime {2:37}

3. Recruit-Train-Motivate {2:50}

4. You're Gonna Hear From Me {2:26}

5. Blue Hawaii {2:49}

6. Folk Medley {6:06}

Side 2

1. What is Amway? {2:05}

2. Faraway Places {2:53}

3. Southern Medley {3:57}

4. Yankee Doodle {1:32}

5. People {2:45}

6. Patriotic Medley {2:58}

Fire and Ice, Ltd. - The Happening

Fire and Ice, Ltd. - The Happening

LP released sometime during the late 1960s

This is one of my favorite LPs from the 60s. To me this album is what the 60s are about. I may go as far to place this in my top 20 albums of the 60s. Yes, I would. You want to know why. Here's why:

It's happening now.
Spontaneously, in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and many other parts of the nation young musicians are assembling to create for themselves and their friends a new kind of sound. As Lewis Carroll's Alice stepped through the drawing room mirror into a world of rich imagining, so these gifted young experimentalists are determinedly breaking through the limitations of the old familiar forms - rock, and jazz, and folk, and blues, et cetera - freeing themselves to create a sound that encompasses all the as-yet- unexplored possibilities of music.
These get-togethers are called musical happenings. The sounds they produce are called, by some, spontaneous music, and by others, free form music. Some also call it "mind-manifesting music." And as one of the performers in this album half-humorously stated, it might with equal aptness and equal imprecision be called "ethnic psychedelic Afro-Cuban folk rock." It is an exhilarating, exciting, galvanizing symphony of musical moods, an exploration into a kind of completely unchained sound that has never happened before.
But it's happening now!

Indeed it is (or was). The liner notes with equal aptness and equal precision describe what is in store for the listener of this album. Fire and Ice, Ltd., led by a couple of "brilliant young men of many talents" Tony Scott and Paris Sheppard, have created fun spontaneous (although dated) music. This is in my top 5 all-time favorite thrift store finds.

Credits:

Tony Scott - organ, piano
Paris Sheppard - vocals, flute
John Green - bass
Joseph Connoly - guitar
Roy Durkee - drums
Barbara Jackson - Arabian drums
Dorothy Erwin, Daniel Westen and Mildred Richard - vocals

Lawrence Schiller - producer


Tracklisting:  (link will be back soon)

Side 1

1. I Just Thought of the Moon {6:08}

2. The House of Saturn {7:05}

3. Star In Flight {2:57}

Side 2

1. Summertime {5:54}

2. The Happening {9:33}

Boomer Sooner - University of Oklahoma

Boomer Sooner - University of Oklahoma

This is a 7" vinyl record released in 1982. It is an EP dedicated to worshipping and praising the University of Oklahoma [Sooners] tackle football team. Five of the six tracks are songs about the Sooners, and the first track being the Sooners' fight song performed by the school band. The last song is a "version" of a song for a commercial of a well-known brand of soda. The band is apparently called Boomer Sooner if the label on the vinyl is any indication. The music is all country except for the first track obviously. There is zero info about this release on the interwebs info superhighway. From what I can tell, a bunch of rednecks or good ol' boys (if that is the politically correct term) who happen to be die hard fans of extra curricular activities of one particular institution of higher learning got together, had a few beers and recorded these songs. After you are finished listening to this, you'll come to believe that the Sooners football team are wonderful, great, (add any other superlative), and most important of all are #1. When this was recorded in 1982, the Sooners were supposed to be #1. It didn't quite turn out that way, but I'm sure that the Sooners are still #1 in the hearts of those anonymous musicians behind this EP. As of this writing, the Sooners play tomorrow on national TV in the spectacle called the Sun Bowl. Go Sooners and um, boomer sooner!

Tracklisting:

Side One

1. Boomer Sooner! {0:31}
performed by the University of Oklahoma band

2. The Brutal War {2:30}

3. See the Sooner! {2:08}

Side Two

1. I'm a Sooner {2:31}

2. When You Play the Sooners {2:05}

3. Coke Is It (Oklahoma Football Version) {0:58}

Happy Christmas, Merry Holidays plus two X-mas tunes by Mr. Sinatra

I would like to wish all my visitors and fellow bloggers a merry Christmas and/or happy holidays. I'll be offline for the next few days to visit family and maybe a lost relative or two.

Before I go, I'll produce one last X-mas post for the year (this post). This post has a couple of tunes by Basement fan favorite Mr. Sinatra, Rank Sinatra that is. By the way, Mr. Sinatra's album was posted last year. If I ever decide to put on A Basement of Curiosities festival, I want Rank Sinatra to headline. The incredibly gifted and talented entertainer brings holiday cheer by blessing us with two Christmas songs. The first song is a "duet" between him and mega-celebrity Britney Spears as they both sing Britney's Christmas hit, "My Only Wish (This Year)". This song came out before Britney was in two short marriages with Kevin "K-Fed" Federline and that other guy what's his name and shaved her head and then went in rehab. The other song is a cover of "Last Christmas" by Wham a.k.a. George Michael and that other guy what's his name. "Last Christmas" is from the Chairman of the Bored album which as I already mentioned was posted last year.

two Christmas songs by Rank Sinatra

Tracklisting:

1. Duet with Britany (For the Kids) {1:49}

2. The Last Christmas {3:33}

The Moog Machine - Christmas Becomes Electric

The Moog Machine - Christmas Becomes Electric

Here's some more Christmas cheer. Not only that, it's more Christmas synthesizer musik courtesy of The Moog Machine. By the way, their rocking Switched-On Rock LP was posted earlier this year here in The Basement. On this LP, The Moog Machine bring warm sentimental heartfelt renditions of everyone's favorite traditional Christmas tunes.

Info about The Moog Machine: The Moog Machine is a three-man organization. All the performances are by Kenny Ascher. Alan Foust wrote the arrangements. Norman Dolph produced the album and tuned the synthesizer.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Jingle Bells {2:00}

2. Little Town of Bethlehem {1:51}

3. We Three Kings {1:30}

4. Deck the Halls {0:55}

5. Silent Night {2:07}

6. Joy to the World {1:03}

7. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear {0:59}

8. O Come, All Ye Faithful {0:55}

9. Carol of the Bells {2:15}

Side 2

1. The Little Drummer Boy {2:55}

2. O Holy Night {2:40}

3. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen {1:50}

4. Patapan {0:56}

5. The First Noel {1:24}

6. We Wish You a Merry Christmas {1:17}

7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing {1:30}

8. Twelve Days of Christmas {3:49}

Sy Mann - Switched On Santa

Sy Mann - Switched On Santa

It's that time of the year again. I guess no one liked the disco Christmas album I posted last year. I can't imagine why. Here's another Christmas album this time with the music being played with a Moog synthesizer. You may not like disco (understandably so), but it's hard to resist Moog synthesizer Christmas music. Even the legendary Jean-Jacques Perrey is involved with this album. You can't go wrong here (or am I wrong?).

I know most of the sharity sites are posting Christmas music of some sort and some of you are probably tired of all this Christmas music that's being blared from your favorite sites, the radio stations who decide to inundate the airwaves with only Christmas music instead of the usual overplayed popular soft rock pap and just about all of the retail stores whose employees for some reason say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". If you're not into all this Christmas music posted everywhere, too bad. I'm posting it here too because we at the Basement appreciate Christmas especially the one who blesses us with his blessings. That's right I'm talking about the one and only St. Nick (also known as Santa Claus in some parts of the world). If the opening bars during the first few seconds of Sy Mann's verson of "Jingle Bells" or his rendition of "My Favorite Things" doesn't send chills up your spine then either you're a socialist commie waging war against Christmas or you just don't like electronic music. I think the former is much more likely.

We love this time of year where we get to shop and consume without a care in the world. Not only are we engaging in the All-American activities of shopping and consuming, but we are doing it while somehow bringing hope and joy to others who lack hope and joy. Black Friday sales rule. So do those baskets with the artifical processed cheese, the berry jellies, and the summer sausage made up of several mystery meats (I think). Those things especially rule as they do not even have to be refrigerated. Neighborhoods with lots and lots of lights and kitschy lighted fixtures and nativity scenes also rule. I love me some Christmas lights especially if other people do it so I don't have to. Putting up lights myself takes up too much time. The extra time I have leaves me with more time to devote to this blog and my other blog. I think it works well with me blogging and other people decorating.

I am willing to admit that I do not enjoy the process of wrapping gifts that I bought for other people. It seems tedious and perhaps I just lack the ability, patience, and desire to beautifully wrap things with wrapping paper (with Christmas decor of course). I know I can get gifts wrapped at the various retail establishments, but since I'm a cheapskate, I end up doing the wrapping myself. I think I've already spent enough money on the damned things even with everything 10% off the regular price. I do really enjoy the unwrapping process as it is the greatest moment of the holiday season as I am shimmering with ecstatic anticipation in the hopes that what I asked for is underneath the wrapping paper. Either the thing I desire is unwrapped or it's something I absolutely do not want such as socks or underwear or worse cologne. Depending on what is unwrapped I am either overcome with joy or overcome with disappointment and asking St. Nick "What did I do to deserve this? I already have too much cologne from the past several years that I do not have a need for especially that Tommy Hilfiger stuff. Why do people think I need or want cologne? I've been good for most of the year so what gives? I think I would rather have a gift card to Wal Mart or Arby's instead. Seriously."

Getting back to this LP, I posted it last year in another online project that is on hiatus at the moment. Out of the usual spirit of generosity I thought I would post it again this year. There may be several other sites that are posting this too. I am not totally sure and I do not really care. It's Christmas. If I can give this to one person whose only Christmas music is, let's say the atrocious "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer" and save this person by providing this wonderful Christmas music then I will have done my part in providing hope and joy.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer {2:11}

2. Jingle Bells {1:43}

3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town {2:02}

4. Tijuana Christmas {1:58}

5. My Favorite Things {2:24}

6. The Little Drummer Boy {2:37}

Side 2

1. Christmas Bells {1:52}

2. White Christmas {2:51}

3. Joy to the World {1:04}

4. When Christmas Comes {2:30}

5. Angels We Have Heard on High {1:42}

6. Silent Night {2:04}

7. What Child is This {2:04}

Marty Gold - Wired for Sound

Marty Gold - Wired for Sound

released on LP in 1956

recorded at Webster Hall, New York City, July 9, 11, and 12, 1956

conducted by Marty Gold; assistant conductor: Sid Ramin

I received this LP from a friend who was purging stuff before she moved. She must have kept this for many years as she did not even remember having this LP or how she acquired it. She is not familiar with it and she is not really interested in it. Lucky for her, I was interested and willing to take the LP as at the time (early 2000s) I just started exploring this kind of music from often visiting first-generation audio sharity sites such as Basic Hip Digital Oddio, Bellybongo, Your Pal Doug, Raymondo's Dance-O-Rama, and a few others whose names I can't recall at the moment.

Marty Gold was prolific in the realm of mid-20th century "space age pop". Gold recorded and released a lot of albums, some being hi-fi or stereo action type albums where then-new stereo recording technology was used incorporating all of an orchestra in some way. Not only were regular instruments used (saxophone, guitar, drums, trombones) used, unusual instruments were also used (on this album these include the tibia, kinura, and the English post horn). Wired for Sound is one of those hi-fi stereo or "new orthophonic" albums where reverberation is really the main instrument for these unique arrangements of musical standards.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Reflections in the Water {2:20}

2. Ti-Pi-Tin {1:48}

3. Blues in the Night {3:32}

4. In the Still of the Night {2:22}

5. Makin' Whoopee {3:44}

6. Lonely Guitar {2:47}

Side 2

1. Stella by Starlight {3:15}

2. You're the Top {1:50}

3. Whistle While You Work {1:27}

4. A Foggy Day {2:54}

5. Mood Indigo {3:01}

6. A Blues Serenade {2:14}

Tom Wopat - Tom Wopat

Tom Wopat - Tom Wopat

LP released in 1982 or 1983

It's almost time for Thanksgiving which means it's almost time to visit with relatives whom you wonder how in heck are you related to them and to pig out on turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry, rolls, and probably some strange casserole that one of your relatives concocted. Last year, I posted a tape to help you in hunting down turkeys because I thought it would be a good idea to catch your own turkey (I still do think that's a good idea). Unfortunately, I do not have anything else on hand to aid you in hunting a turkey. Instead I'll post something that qualifies as a turkey (a different kind, of course, not the delicious and edible bird).

This item is Tom Wopat's (a.k.a. Luke Duke) debut album which is a slick slab of country-pop. This LP interested me only because Tom Wopat was one of the leading co-stars on The Dukes of Hazard, a show I watched as a child. I have to admit I am still fond of this television show. Before I wrote this post, I learned with a little astonishment that Tom Wopat is still releasing albums now with uptown jazz and showtunes and he is acting in Broadway plays. It's hard for me to picture him as a urbane sophisticated Broadway crooner as I've always seen him as a roughneck (yet sensitive) always either being chased by law enforcement on dusty back roads or just crusing along in the Dodge Charger jumping over something as this LP may show. For some reason, I've always thought he was like that in real life.

Anyway, enjoy this turkey (if you can) and hope that you have a good Thanksgiving and a delicious real turkey (even if you bought it at the grocery store ;) ). I'll be back sometime next week with more posts.


Tracklisting:  (link may be back soon)

Side 1

1. Up on a Hill {3:51}

2. Sha-Marie {3:10}

3. Dreams {2:37}

4. Nobody's Fool {3:57}

5. I'm Not Worth the Hurt {3:43}

Side 2

1. Full Moon, Empty Pockets {2:53}

2. (Til) I Kissed You {3:40}

3. Savannah {3:08}

4. We Had It All {2:28}

5. The Luckiest Man in the World {3:32}

Apollo 100 - Master Pieces

Apollo 100 - Master Pieces

LP released in 1972

I found this fine artifact of kitsch in a Goodwill thrift store. What drew my interest was that this has covers of 2 of my all-time favorite pieces of music, "Popcorn" and "Telstar". The originals are still better as I did not expect Apollo 100's performances to top the originals anyway, but they are still worth the one buck I spent. I also enjoyed the electric guitar or electric sitar sounds or whatever was modified on the track "Valleys". I think that this is the best track on the album and alone could also be worth the dollar spent.

Apollo 100 has released several albums consisting of reworkings of classical music and pop hits of the day. The liner notes tell me that Apollo 100 is "comprised of the cream of Britain's recording studio musicians" and the man leading Apollo 100 is "Tom Parker, a brilliant young arranger-musician." The music is described as the "basic chamber music sound with overtones of contemporary rock." More info: "Parker and Apollo 100 succeeded in capturing the imagination of record buyers everywhere with one of their very first singles releases, 'Joy' (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring from J. S. Bach's Cantata 147). This album, Apollo 100's second, offers a program featuring old favorites dressed in new form by Beethoven, Chopin and Rossini; plus three exciting originals and the group's unique versions of the current favorites "Nutrocker" (Tchaikovsky revisited), "Amazing Grace," "Telstar" and "Popcorn."


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Amazing Grace {3:05}

2. Custer's Last Stand {2:24}

3. Tristesse {3:10}

4. Opus 5 {2:48}

5. Valleys {2:28}

Side 2

1. Popcorn {3:23}

2. Beethoven 9 {2:31}

3. Telstar {3:14}

4. Nutrocker {1:52}

5. William Tell {2:18}

Dennis Coffey and The Detroit Guitar Band - Electric Coffey

Dennis Coffey and The Detroit Guitar Band - Electric Coffey

LP released in 1972

Credits:

Dennis Coffey - guitars
Andrew Smith - drums
Bob Babbit - bass
Eric Morgeson - keyboards
Jack Ashford - percussion
Eddy (Bongo) Brown - percussion

Produced by Mike Theodore
Arrangements by Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey

Recorded at GM Recording, Detroit
Milan Bogden - engineer

Guitar Band--electric guitars used to play all the horn and string parts

I bought a copy of this LP over a year ago at a Value Village thrift store for only a dollar plus tax. I think it goes to show that occasionally some good stuff shows up at the thrift stores even in the age of eBay.I was not actually familiar with Dennis Coffey before I bought this LP, but I unknowingly have heard his music before in the form of samples done by Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and other hip-hop artists. Dennis Coffey was a session player on several hit records on Motown and other labels. Meanwhile, he recorded a few albums in the early 1970s. These psych-funk albums are notable as treasure troves for samples as already indicated. Coffey had a single, "Scorpio", from his first album Evolution, chart in the top 40. Electric Coffey was his third album I believe. As already mentioned, the electric guitar is emphasized and overdubbed as it is used for parts usually played by string instruments and horns. That unique sound mixed in among funky drum breaks and excellent playing and production is what makes this LP a wonderful find.


Tracklisting:  (link may be back soon)

Side A

1. Capricorn's Thing {2:13}

2. Son of Scorpio {3:14}

3. Love Song For Libra {3:12}

4. The Sagittarian {2:37}

5. Love and Understanding {3:11}

Side B

1. Guitar Big Band {3:34}

2. Twins of Gemini {5:31}

3. Virgo's Song {2:27}

4. Lonely Moon Child {3:23}

The Moog Machine - Switched-On Rock

The Moog Machine - Switched-On Rock

I found this LP at an antique store several years ago. I was really thrilled with the find as I was hunting for any ol 1960s or 1970s Moog or other synth LPs, hoping to nab at least a few no matter how cheesy or absurd they are. Recently, I came upon this in my collection when I was going through my LP collection to pick which LPs I wanted to purge. No, this did not go in the purge pile. It has been years since I heard it and decided to give this another spin. At the same time this LP was spun, it was ripped to my hard drive.

Basically, this LP is a collection of covers of hit songs from the late 1960s from the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Zombies, The Fifth Dimension, The Beatles, etc. The instruments used are only a Moog (as you can figure out from the title) and real drums. Of course, these covers are more fun to listen to than the originals. Producer Norman Dolph, who wrote the liner notes, wants to emphasize that "the music is human music, and, most important, it is music, not Moog effects" and "this album is supposed to be a chuckle." It certainly is and it rocks.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Spinning Wheel {3:17}

2. Jumpin' Jack Flash {3:15}

3. The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) {2:38}

4. Get Back {2:36}

5. Yummy Yummy Yummy {2:24}

Side 2

1. The Weight {2:21}

2. Time of the Season {3:41}

3. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In {3:09}

4. You Keep Me Hangin' On {2:23}

5. Hey Jude {3:43}

Gil Trythall - Country Moog: Switched On Nashville

Gil Trythall - Country Moog: Switched On Nashville

I found this LP at my local favorite antique store and paid only a dollar for it. As you can tell by the title, the album is a collection of country music hits performed using only the Moog synthesizer. I can't imagine this LP being well-received by country purists plus the LP doesn't even give off any "my dog died, my wife left me and I'll go drown my sorrows in whiskey" vibes. It is fun entertainment throughout its 28 minutes including the ballads. I would rather listen to this LP than listen to anything by Toby Keith and just about anything else played on Clear Channel-owned country music stations. Seriously. So if you're looking for some tunes to play at the next hootenanny, but with robots or a retro-futuristic theme, Country Moog is the one to bring. Yee haw!


Tracklisting:

Side I

1. Foggy Mountain Breakdown {2:07}

2. Folsom Prison Blues {3:12}

3. Last Date {2:29}

4. Harper Valley P.T.A. {2:38}

5. Cattle Call {2:13}

6. Gentle On My Mind {2:26}

Side II

1. Wildwood Flower {1:58}

2. Orange Blossom Special {2:18}

3. Walking the Floor Over You {2:23}

4. Little Green Apples {3:58}

5. Yakety Moog {2:26}