Arthur Lyman - Taboo

Here's a nice exotica album from Arthur Lyman. Besides Lyman's great vibe playing, it also features great piano and percussion. But it's the use of sound effects in almost every track that really amps up the atmosphere of the music. The venue where the album was recorded, the Aluminum Dome in Waikiki, also helps lend an atmospheric weight to the music. The front cover is also a great one.

Side 1:
01 - Taboo
02 - Kalua
03 - Ringo Oiwake
04 - Sea Breeze
05 - Misirlou
06 - China Clipper

Side 2:
07 - Sim Sim
08 - Katsumi Love Theme
09 - Caravan
10 - Akaka Falls
11 - Dahil Sayo
12 - Hilo March

Edit: This one's on CD and though a lot of links went dead during my hiatus, this one was pulled. So I won't be putting it up again... I will take personal requests however.

Play Guitar With The Ventures

Sorry I've been gone for so long. A week long vacation kept being extended.

I picked this record up a few weeks ago. Not only is it interesting for the isolated parts of songs, but it also encourages learning to play music by ear and feeling, which is something I strongly agree with. And how often do you hear an isolated bass part on a mid 60's recording? While the music is simple enough to learn in the first place, any fan of surf music should be interested in this. I don't have Volume 1, but this one has better songs anyways. Photos of the 12-page booklet are included in the archive.

Nelson Riddle - Route 66 Theme

Here's a nice album of TV theme songs, performed by Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra. Riddle has a wonderful style to his music, very jazzy and modern sounding. Judging by the TV shows, I'd say the album is from 1962 or '63. Riddle started as an arranger for Les Baxter and worked for Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and many others. In the 60's, besides composing themes for "Route 66" and "The Untouchables", he also did the awesome score for "Ocean's 11" and did incidental music for the Adam West "Batman" TV series.

The specific members of his orchestra are uncredited on the record, naturally, but you can guess the personnel includes many of the L.A. session musicians at the time. I think I can recognize Dennis Budimir's jazzy guitar, also heard on "Barefoot Adventure" As for some of my favorite cuts, besides the Title Track, the unexpected "Alvin Show Theme" is a showstopper.

Side 1:
01 - Route 66 Theme
02 - The Alvin Show Theme
03 - The Andy Griffith Theme
04 - Theme From "Ben Casey"
05 - My Three Sons
06 - The Untouchables

Side 2:
07 - Naked City Theme
08 - Sing Along With Mitch
09 - The Defenders Theme
10 - Theme From "Sam Benedict"
11 - Theme From "Dr. Kildare"
12 - This Could Be The Start Of Something

Edit 8/10: I'll be on brief hiatus for a week or so. I've got things in the pipeline for when I come back, so sit tight.

The Astounding 12-String Guitar Of Glen Campbell

Well, with a name like that this album has to be good right? While it may not be the most intellectually challenging music I've ever listened to, it's notable for its connection to The Beach Boys (Have you guessed I'm a fan of them yet?). Released in 1964 the album is a country and folk flavored collection of mostly established folk songs with a few originals thrown in there. This was recorded just before Campbell replaced Brian Wilson on tour after Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown in late '64. Strengthening this connection are the presence of two notables. Hal Blaine on drums (Who, along with Campbell was a noted Beach Boys session musician), and Co-Producer A&R Man Nick Venet, who signed The Beach Boys to the Capitol Label, and was credited as producer on their first two albums before Wilson officially took the reins of production. Before landing his gig at Capitol, Venet worked at Bud Shank's label, World Pacific. Welcome to the vast web of connections in Los Angeles during the 60's.

There's a nice write up on the album at All Music Guide

Personnel for the album:

12-String Guitar: Glen Campbell
Bass: Carl Tandburg, Chip Douglas
Drums: Donny Cotton, Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer
Banjo: Roy Clark

Also of note, looking at the back cover, whoever owned this record previously held an interest in banjoist Roy Clark. Astute fan, or personal aquaintance? I guess we'll never know.

Note: My record of this isn't exactly in the greatest shape, but I did what I could with it.

Side 1:
01 - Lonesome Twelve
02 - Puff (The Magic Dragon)
03 - The Ballad Of Jed Clampett
04 - Blowin' In The Wind
05 - 500 Miles (Away From Home)
06 - Walkin' Down The Line

Side 2:
07 - 12-String Special
08 - Green Green
09 - Wimoweh
10 - Bull Durham
11 - La Bamba
12 - This Land Is Your Land

The Surfers - On The Rocks

While I got this mostly for the cover, which is great, this is a nice album of traditional Hawaiian music. While I prefer the more jazz-tinged stylings of the Waikiki Beachboys, there are some good songs on here, notably 'Pidgin English Hula', which has a little spoken introduction that's pretty interesting.

Side 1:
01 - Maki
02 - Leimomi
03 - Papio
04 - Ke Kali Nei Au
05 - I Got Hooked At A Hukilau
06 - Blue Hawaii
07 - Tamure Tamure

Side 2:
08 - Leahi
09 - O'Makala Pua
10 - Nane Wale
11 - Pidgin English Hula
12 - I Will Remember You
13 - Waikapu
14 - Hawaiian War Chant

First Man On The Moon

Here's an interesting record, a commemorative 45 record of the first moon landing. I think it represents the optimism of the Space Race extremely well. You've gotta love the narration by Hugh Downs and the use of Kennedy's famous speech about going to the moon. I also love the film-score type music accompanying the dramatic moments. Notice how the picture sleeve and the MGM logo are parallel with that of 2001: A Space Odyssey, released a year earlier by MGM. The artwork is staggeringly similar to the poster art (Perhaps the same MGM artist). I also love the modernized MGM Lion logo, which is in the film as well. Enjoy.

Les Baxter - Caribbean Moonlight

This album has been posted on numerous other blogs, but I thought I'd post my crack at it. It's a classic of the exotica genre, and one of Baxter's finest. It's just really evocative, moody music that will take you places if you let it.

Side 1:
01 - Taboo
02 - Deep Night
03 - The Breeze And I
04 - Nightingale
05 - Temptation
06 - Poinciana

Side 2:
07 - Ay, Ay, Ay
08 - Adios
09 - Carnival
10 - Green Eyes
11 - Out Of This World
12 - Sway (Quien Era)

A Beachboy Party

Isn't that a great cover? Released in 1963, this album sets the Waikiki Beachboys pictured above in a live party jam session. Laid back, carefree and nostalgic. The definitive Hawaiian record.

A nice little article was posted about this album in Dumb Angel #4, which draws comparisons between this album and The Beach Boys "Party!" LP, released in 1965. The similarites between the two albums, besides their name, are great, and one has to wonder if Brian Wilson was aware of this album.

Note, my record of this has a lot of scuffs and scratches on the first side, so if you're looking for archival quality audio here, get the CD. Enjoy this one!

Side 1:
01 - Okoluna Maluna
02 - I've Travelled All Over The World
03 - Lover
04 - In Spite Of All
05 - Cafe Lights
06 - Bye Bye Blues
07 - Lei Aloha

Side 2:
08 - The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
09 - Waikiki
10 - Ahulili
11 - I Like You Because You Have Such Lovin' Ways
12 - When The Roses Bloom In Winter
13 - Ka Puka Key
14 - Hui Nalu

Duke Kahanamoku's Favorites

Here's a tribute album to Hawaii's favorite son, The Duke. The album is from around 1961, and it seems like it's really hard to find. My dad got this and Duke Kahanamoku Presents: A Beachboy Party at an estate sale a few years ago for almost nothing. This record has what looks like a program given at a funeral tucked away in the cellophane. It could've came with the album, or it could be a memento from somebody who knew him. Either way, cool stuff. I've scanned this program and put it in the file. A Beachboy Party is available on CD, but I'm thinking of posting it anyway.

As for the music on the album, it's really good stuff! Especially the first track, about Duke. The artists featured are: Andy Cummings, Alvin Isaacs Jr., Gabby Pahinui, Charles Miller, Varoa Tiki, Louie Akau and John Lukela.

Side 1:
01 - Duke Kahanamoku
02 - Ka Makani Kaili Aloha
03 - Lei E (Slack Key)
04 - Pikaki
05 - Hame Pila
06 - Maunakea
07 - Kuulani

Side 2:
08 - Waikiki
09 - The Pidgin English Hula
10 - Meleana E & Keawaiki
11 - Hanohano Hawaii
12 - That's What The Lei Said To Me & A Flower Lei (Medley)
13 - My Little Grass Shack
14 - Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au)

Bud Shank & Clare Fischer - Bossa Nova Jazz Samba

Continuing with Bud Shank, here's a very latin influenced
jazz album from 1961. A nice combination of West Coast Jazz styles with Samba music.

Bud Shank : Alto
Clare Fischer : Piano
Ralph Pena : Bass
Percussionists : Larry Bunker, Bob Neel, Milt Holland and Frank Guerrero

Side 1:
01 - Samba Da Borboleta
02 - Illusao
03 - Pensativa
04 - Joao

Side 2:
05 - Misty
06 - Que Mais?
07 - Wistful Samba
08 - Samba Guapo

Next up I've got some Hawaiian and Exotica...

Bud Shank - Barefoot Adventure

This is the Soundtrack to Bruce Brown's great 1960 Surfing Film Barefoot Adventure. The soundtrack is by Bud Shank, and features:

Bud Shank : Alto & Baritone
Bob Cooper : Tenor
Carmell Jones : Trumpet
Dennis Budimir : Guitar
Gary Peacock : Bass
Shelly Manne : Drums

Side 1:
01 - Barefoot Adventure
02 - Shoeless Beach Meeting
03 - Jungle Cruise
04 - How High The Makaha

Side 2:
05 - Well 'Pon My Soul
06 - Ala Moana
07 - Bruce Is Loose
08 - Dance Of The Sea Monsters

This is a cool jazz/west coast jazz soundtrack, and it's one of my all time favorites. This is the mono record, as I don't own the stereo version. There's a stereo version available from BasicHip, and his rips are affordable and recommended.

I'll have some more Bud Shank tomorrow...

Welcome!!!

Hi, my name is Michael, and I thought I'd finally make an outlet for my ever growing record collection. On this blog, I'm going to post some albums that I hope people enjoy. I think you'll find my taste is eclectic and wide ranging, so I think I'll have something for everybody. I'm going to try not to infringe copyrights, but in the future I may bend the rules to get some good stuff out. ;)