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Tuesday 26 March 2024

No Posts for a few days !

 No posts for a few days now it is time for me to concentrate on my 78.rpm blog....so if you want to hear some unusual music all on original shellac discs come and join me at ......
           https://78rp.blogspot.com......and awake some memories !!!

Ella Fitzgerald.


Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book is a 1957 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, accompanied by Duke Ellington and his orchestra, focusing on Ellington's songs.Part of Fitzgerald's "Song Book" series, it is the only one where the composer is also featured as a performer and the first occasion Fitzgerald recorded with Ellington. It is also the entry in the Song Book series that provided her with the most opportunities to exhibit her skill at scat singing.
The greater part of disc three is devoted to two original compositions by Billy Strayhorn, inspired by Fitzgerald's life, character, and artistry. Fitzgerald's performance on this album won her the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance, Individual, at the 1st Annual Grammy Awards.
The album was released in two volumes: The first volume comprised Fitzgerald with the Ellington orchestra, the second of Fitzgerald with a small group setting.
This album marked the start of a fruitful artistic relationship for Fitzgerald and Ellington. The 1960s would see them perform on the Côte d'Azur for the album Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur (1966), and in Sweden for The Stockholm Concert, 1966. Their only other studio album is Ella at Duke's Place (1965

Disc One.....

1. Rockin' In Rhythm
2. Drop Me Off At Harlem
3. Day Dream
4. Caravan
5. Take The A Train

1. I ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues
2. Clementine
3. I Didn't Know About You
4. I'm Beginning To See The Light
5. Lost In Meditation
6. Perdido


Disc Two......

1. Cottontail
2. Do Nothing Till You Hear It From Me
3. Just A Sittin' And A Rockin'
4. Solitude
5. Rocks In My Bed

1. Satin Doll
2. Sophisticated Lady
3. Just Squeeze Me
4. It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
5. Azure

           13. Do Nothing Till You Hear It From Me

Ella Fitzgerald.

Volume 2

Here is the 3rd & 4th L/P of "The Duke Ellington Songbook"...Side 1-2 of the first L/P has Ella singing the popular songs by "The Duke" and the same goes for Side 1 of the second L/P...
Side 2 of the second L/P first track is a specially commissioned piece of musical jazz played and commentated by "Duke Ellington" himself...Track 2 is Ella using her voice once again as part of the "Band".

L/P...1
1. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
2. In A Sentimental Mood
3. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
4. Prelude To A Kiss

1. Mood Indigo
2. In A Mellow Mood
3. Love You Madly
4. Lush Life
5. Squatty Roo

L/P...2
1. I'm Just A Lucky So And So
2. All Too Soon
3. Everything But You
4. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
5. Blip Blip
6. Chelsea Bridge

1. Portrait Of Ella Fitzgerald
2. The E And D Blues (E For Ella D For Duke)


     1. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart

     2. The E And D Blues

Monday 25 March 2024

Kiki Dee


This is an early Kiki Dee L/P.....she sings well on it and does a great job on all the well known songs that are there...BUT the A&R men or whoever it was that did choose the songs unfortunately didn't do a very good job....I realise that these tracks must have been Kiki's first single's.....There is no details on the back sleeve so I really can't be sure.....I am only glad that  Elton John got her signed up on his label "Rocket"and produced the great L/Ps that I have already Posted on here !!....Not forgetting the great one she did for "Tamla Motown"...

1. Can't Take My Eyes Off You
2. Excuse Me
3. Sunshine
4. Patterns
5. Hungry Heart
6. Now The Flowers Cry
7. When We Get There
8. Why Don't I Run Away From You

1. On A Carpet Ride
2. I
3. We've Got Everything Going For Us
4. I Dig You Baby
5. Stop And Think
6. There He Goes
7. How Glad I Am
8. I'mGoing Out



7. How Glad I Am.

Sunday 24 March 2024

Shirley Bassey.

It's 1965 in London in Piccadilly Circus at "The Pigalle" a very in place at that time and Shirley was booked for an 8 week engagement...this is the opening night !!!!
Today if you go to "The Pigalle" you get...Quote !!

The Pigalle is a deliberate throwback to the glam and glitz of the Moulin Rouge and it works. Walking under the hot pink sign you feel a palpable sense of excitement, cleverly maintained by the greeters, the efficient table service, and the smashing cocktails. When the band takes the stage around the time your main course arrives, everyone puts down their knives and forks and gives it some in true jazz club style

1. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening....Orch
2. On A Wonderful Day Like Today
3. I Get a Kick Out Of You
4. Who Can I Turn To
5. You'd Better Love Me
6. The Other Woman
7. He Loves Me
8. With These Hands
9. A Lot Of Living To Do
10. I Who Have Nothing

1. La Bamba
2. You Can Have Him
3. The Second Time Around
4. The Lady Is A Tramp
5. Somewhere
6. On A Wonderfull Day Like Today
7. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening


Kean--Broadway Cast

As with Stage Musicals to appreciate them fully you would have had to have seen them so this will be appreciated by those who have seen the musical !!.... and those that are interested in the musical theatre....It only ran on Broadway for 92 performances so it will be a treat for the musical lovers.  !!!

Kean is a musical with a book by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest.
Using material by Jean-Paul Sartre and Alexandre Dumas, père as its source, it centres on the adventures of Edmund Kean, considered the greatest Shakespearean actor of the early 19th century, focusing primarily mainly on his wild behaviour offstage. Trouble ensues as Kean desperately tries to juggle the two women in his life - the Danish Ambassador's wife, Elena, and a young aspiring actress, Anna.
After one preview, the Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Jack Cole, opened on November 2, 1961 at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 92 performances. The cast included Roderick Cook, Alfred Drake, Larry Fuller, Christopher Hewett, Joan Weldon, and Lee Venora.
Drake was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and the show was nominated for Best Conductor and Musical Director.


Saturday 23 March 2024

Ethel Ennis


Once Again! a not very well known singer.. that is in the U.K..with a crystal clear voice and every track a gem highly recommended...if you like Ella, Sarah, Carmen, then give this L/P a listen I don't think you will be disappointed..The "Mr Wonderful" track equals "Peggy Lee's" version..

P.S. If any of you out there in the wide world want a new experience of a great singer then definitely give "Ethel" a chance !!



        9. Mr Wonderful

The Voices Of Walter Schumann

This one comes all the way from Brazil !..courtesy of Marcos..Thanks Marcos !!

1. Come Rain Or Shine
2. Last Night
3. Going Home
4. With A Song In My Heart

1. Get Out Of Town
2. Paradise
3. I See Your Face Before Me
4. Tenderly

             1. Come Rain Or Come Shine

Friday 22 March 2024

Judy Garland.

Here's Judy singing some not so familiar songs...Except of course the "Palace" Medley....I guess no comment is needed !!!!!

1. Lucky Day
2. I Happen To Like New York
3. Comes Once In A Lifetime
4. Judy At The Palace (Medley)
    a. Shine On Harvest Moon
    b. Some Of These Days
    c. My Man
    d. I Don't Care

1. Happiness is Just A Thing Called Joe
2. Sweet Danger
3. You'll Never Walk Alone
4. Do I Love You
5. More Than You Know
6. It's a Great Day For The Irish 


        8. Do I Love You

Acker Bilk

Once again the man in the striped waistcoat and the bowler hat gives his "Liquorice Stick" (Music slang for Clarinet) I think !! a good lickin'!! with some well known tunes ....and some great back sleeve notes !!!..had to read them a couple of times before i got the drift !!


          9. Lady Of The Lake

Thursday 21 March 2024

Jesus Christ Superstar


This is the double L/P that started it all....Original production / cast ect....I believe that they had quite a job in finding a record company that would release it...I bet all the record company's that refused to have anything to do with it are still kicking themselves for not taking a chance !!..It is another one of my favourite films and I have seen it loads of times on big screen and DVD....







Winifred Atwell

Some great Honky Tonk piano now from the Queen of the keyboard !

1. Cross Hands Boogie
2. Gold And Silver Waltz
3. Taboo
4. March Of The Cards
5. Golden Tango
6. Winnie's Waltzing Rag
7. Lady Of Spain

1. Britannia Rag
2. Plink Plank Plonk
3. Bounce The Boogie
4. Manzanilla
5. Firefly Samba
6. Tamboo
7. Big Ben Boogie


          6. Winnie's Waltzing Rag

Wednesday 20 March 2024

Ella Fitzgerald.

Another great set of songs by Ella...This L/P has one of the best recordings of "I've Grown Accustomed To His Face" on it...

P.S. If you like Ella In "Songbook" Mode then this is the one for you....Nice slow Ballads not a "Jive" Or "Scat" Or "Swing" in earshot !!!!!

1. You Go To My Head
2. Willow Weep For Me
3. I'm Thru With Love
4. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year
5. Everything Happens To Me
6. Lost In A Fog

1. I've Grown Accustomed To His Face
2. I'll Never Be The Same
3. So Rare
4. Tenderly
5. Stairway To The Stars
6. Moonlight In Vermont

      1. I've Grown Accustomed To His Face

The London Philharmonic Orchestra

I guess that this could be a reminder of a holiday....Italian songs tunes played by a symphonic orchestra....ahh sweet memories for someone !


          4. Volare
 

Caterina Valente


 Here's a favourite of mine singing in Italian (I think) 99% sure but if I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me....she's great.... been a fan of hers since the early 50's..regretfully I have never seen her live and would have loved to....nearly did one year when she was doing a British tour but the show was cancelled because she was making a TV special on the day that she should have been in The De Montfort Hall Leicester....won't get to see her now she is retired from singing....AHH well such is life !!!...at least she has made loads of recordings that we can enjoy....Thanks to the Great Caterina Valente !!!!


  1. Twistin' The Twist
2. Stella Mia.( You Are My Lucky Star)
3. La Ruota.( Wheels)
4. Questa Notte O mai Piu
5. Lo Non Posso Amar (When I Fall In Love)
6. Lasciamoci

1. Vorrei Danzar Con Te. ( ICould Have Danced All Night)
2. L'angolo Incantevole.( On The Street Where You Live)
3. Oggi Mi Sposo.( Get Me To The Church On Time)
4. Accobaleno.( Over The Rainbow)
5. Samba Di Un Nota.( One Not Samba )
6. Forza Papa. (Muscrat Ramble)

2. Stella Mia..( You Are My Lucky Star )

Tuesday 19 March 2024

Diana Ross

Diana Ross going solo with some of her hits...surprise to me how good she sings one of my favourite songs  "Little Girl Blue"

1. Touch Me In The Morning
2. All Of my Life
3. We Need You
4. Leave A Little Room

1. I Won't last A day Without You
2. Litle Girl Blue
3. My Baby My Baby My Own 
4. Imagine / Medley / Save The Children
         6. Little Girl Blue

Acker Bilk

Now for something a little different...all you Easy Listen'o'Philes this one should interest you !! A very pleasant set of tunes by a very good clarinet player... and you also get a couple of vocals by Acker.....and I quote from the back sleeve
"Sit back relax and be treated to some of the finest clarinet sounds you're likely to hear for a long time"......Best Track by a long shot is "Aria"

1. The Fool On The Hill
2. The Way We Were
3. Moonlight In Vermont
4. Champagne
5. They Can't Take That Away From Me
6. Miss You Nights

1. Aria
2. The One For Me
3. Send In The Clowns
4. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
5. Feelings
6.That Lucky Old Sun

          7. Aria

Kiki Dee.

Here's a great voice !!..and the definitive version of "I've Got The Music In Me " from 1974 !!
The two tracks "Out Of My Head" and "Heart And Soul" are different songs !! not the popular versions !!
 All the tracks on this L/P were written either by Kiki Dee or members of her band so you have a set of original songs..Thought I'd better mention that because a couple of the song titles could be mistaken for other popular songs...the title song "I've Got The Music In Me" is the best and original track. the rest of them are pretty good too...so those of you out there in the "Globe" who have not heard of Kiki give it a listen !!

1. I've Got The Music In Me
2. Someone To Me
3. Step By Step
4. Water
5. Out Of My Head 

1. Do It Right
2. Little Frozen One
3. Heart And Soul
4. You Need Help 

          1. I've Got The Music In Me