The Three Suns - The Sound Of Christmas - 1955

I first became acquainted with The Three Suns back in the 90's when the whole lounge music thing saw a resurgence.  I bought a bunch of different lounge music compilations and then over the years I have picked up many of those artists on vinyl.  The Three suns have a bit of a cheese factor that is the product of the 50's.  They have applied a layer of that same cheesey goodness to some Christmas standards.  What I love about their approach is that even though this are songs you have heard a thousand times before, they put in plenty of surprises in their arrangements.  The music is playful and keeps you guessing.  I think their versions of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" are a good example of this.  This is a record I just picked up this year and it has already worked its way into some regular rotation.  I won't be surprised if one or two of these tracks end up on a Christmas mix in the future.


Enjoy!

The Sound Of Christmas

Password - sapmusic2013

Beauty And The Beast/The Beast Lets Belle Go 7" - 1991

This one is a one day only type thing. The 7-inch single from Beauty and the Beast. I'm not even really sure why I'm posting this. You can get these tracks anywhere and I don't plan on keeping them up long. Also my rips have plenty of pops and crackles so you might just want to get the soundtrack on CD or downloaded from your favorite digital store. I guess I thought the scans might be interesting for people to see.

Enjoy!

01 Beauty And The Beast - Celine Dion.m4a
02 The Beast Lets Belle Go (Instrumental).m4a

Two in one zip.
Celine Dion - Beauty And The Beast-The Beast Lets Belle Go 7" - 320K.zip

Boots Randolph - Sunday Sax

Looking for a little spiritual pickup for you Sunday. Boots, may just do the trick. Sit back, relax and get your church on.

Enjoy!

01 When The Saints Go Marching In.m4a
02 Just A Closer Walk With Thee.m4a
03 Will The Circle Be Unbroken.m4a
04 Peace In The Valley.m4a
05 Amen.m4a
06 The Lord's Prayer.m4a
07 I Believe.m4a
08 You'll Never Walk Alone.m4a
09 May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You.m4a
10 Ave Maria.m4a

Sunday Sax.zip

Ramsey Lewis Trio - Hang On Ramsey - 1965

I picked this record up not knowing anything about Ramsey Lewis. I was attracted by the title (I like Hang On Sloopy) and the odd cover with the trapeze artists. I get the pun of hang on, but the trapeze acrobats seem like a stretch. I also noticed a couple Beatles song which was a plus. I'm always interested in hearing how people murder or perhaps do well with Beatles covers. Happily, I was pleasantly surprised when I listened to the record. It actually is a really strong jazz record.

As it turns out Ramsey Lewis is an accomplished Jazz musician, who's garnered 3 Grammys and commercial success with 5 gold records. He's still performing today. You can check out his latest news and concert schedule at his website. www.ramseylewis.com You can also read up on his career on Wikipedia.

I discovered in my reading that Hang On Sloopy was a hit for ole Ramsey. It is top notch for sure. The Beatles covers (A Hard Days Night, And I Love Her) also are great. I also happen to really like Satin Doll. Give it a spin and find your favorite.

Enjoy!

01 A Hard Day's Night.m4a
02 All My Love Belongs To You.m4a
03 He's A Real Gone Guy.m4a
04 And I Love Her.m4a
05 Movin' Easy.m4a
06 Billy Boy_Hi-Heel Sneakers.m4a
07 The More I See You.m4a
08 Satin Doll.m4a
09 Hang On Sloopy.m4a

Ramsey Lewis Trio - Hang On Ramsey! part 1.zip
Ramsey Lewis Trio - Hang On Ramsey! part 2.zip

The Impacts - Wipeout - 1962

The big claim to fame for the Impacts is that Singer songwriter Merrell Fankhauser claims to have written the original "Wipe Out". he claims he originally wrote the song and the Surfaris ripped it off and made it a big hit. I listen to the two songs and while there are similarities, I think they are different enough. I like 'em both.

This is one of those great authentic surf rock records from the Del-Fi Label. Release in 1962 this was what the surfers were listening to. This wasn't the pop version of surf music made popular by Jan and Dean or The Beach Boys. This was Dick Dale influenced guitars and music that on it's own felt like surfing. The Saxophone work is quintessential surf. The cool factor of Southern California permeates every note of these songs.

So step into this time and space machine and transport yourself back to Malibu in 1962 with this artifact.

Enjoy!

01 Steel Pier.mp3
02 Tandem.mp3
03 Sea Horse.mp3
04 Beep Beep.mp3
05 Lisa.mp3
06 Church Key.mp3
07 Wipe Out.mp3
08 Fort Lauderdale.mp3
09 Tears.mp3
10 Revellion.mp3
11 Blue Surf.mp3
12 Impact.mp3


The Impacts.zip

Boots Randolph - Yakety Sax - 1963

It was inevitable really that I get around to posting Boots' first record. This record is top notch. It spent over a year on the charts and eventually went gold. Boots blows up a storm on side one and then cools things down for side two.

Highlights aside from "Yakety Sax" are "If You've Got The Money (I've Got The Time), "Charlie Brown", "Cacklin' Sax" And "Smoke Gets If Your Eyes".

Enjoy!

01 Yakety Sax.m4a
02 Walk Right In.m4a
03 If You've Got The Money (I've Got The Time).m4a
04 Cotton Fields.m4a
05 Charlie Brown.m4a
06 Cacklin' Sax.m4a
07 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.m4a
08 I Can't Stop Loving You.m4a
09 Lonely Street.m4a
10 It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'.m4a
11 I Fall To Pieces.m4a
12 I Really Don't Want To Know.m4a

Yakety Sax.zip

Chet Atkins - Yakety Axe/Black Mountain Rag 7"

I know I’ve already posted two Boots Randolph albums so this may seem overkill, but I simply can’t get enough of that old Benny Hill song. Here Chet Atkins takes a stab at Boots’ classic “Yakety Sax” and renames it “Yakety Axe” because of course he plays it on his guitar instead of a saxophone.

I apologize also for the Beverly Hillbillies reference I’m going to make. I know I keep going to that well, but it was a big part of my childhood. For that matter so was Benny Hill. This version of Yakety Sax sounds like it really should have belonged on “The Beverly Hillbillies” because of the guitar. Chet’s guitar gives it a more country, hillbilly flavor that really reminds me of “The Beverly Hillbillies”. I know there were never scenes of a dirty old man chasing young women in their underwear, but I can imagine the music working for a scene with Granny chasing some city folk across the lawn. Again I don’t think there was ever a scene like that, but I wish there had been.

“Black Mountain Rag” is a nice instrumental featuring some fine plucking by Chet Atkins. I love the sound of his guitar. I love that clear unfuzzed out quality. It sounds so pure and warm. That’s the sound I associate with the first electric guitars. I know this was recorded long after the electric guitar was invented, but I like that Chet still had this sound to his instrument.

The song is also easy going and upbeat. It kind of reminds me of a summer bike ride. It evokes traveling and the pleasant melody just sounds like the carefree spirit of summer as a kid when I was out of school. Each day meant that anything could happen. Any sort of adventure could unravel and for me I always had a bike to take me everywhere I went as a kid. Maybe it would be a trip up to the K-Mart. Maybe it would be a trip down to one of the nearby lakes to go fishing. Maybe it was a trip to the pool. Maybe we’d go exploring in the woods. Maybe it was riding to some unknown neighborhood to see what their parks and playgrounds were like. Maybe you’d find a park with a big slide or an amazing jungle gym. As a kid summer meant all of these things and more. This song evokes all those memories. Maybe it will for you too.

Enjoy!

01 Yakety Axe.mp3
02 Black Mountain Rag.mp3

Boots Randolph - The Yankin' Sax Man

Following the success of Yakety Sax there was a rush to capitalize on Boots' moment in the spotlight and so some compilations were thrown together. Allmusic.com has a nice breakdown on how this album came together. The review isn't so much a review of the music as much as it is a review of how the thing was slapped together.

I like this record. It is early Boots and has some fun numbers.

"Big Daddy" is a song that isn't even an instrumental. It's a carefree number about Big Daddy who is running from just about everyone in town and is heading to Alabama. Boots' sax works well with this running theme. Think about how Benny Hill used Yakety Sax.

"Teach Me Tonight" is essentially an instrumental. There are some "ooh ahh" singers in there, but they're just that, "ooh ahh" singers. The song is a pleasant mood setter that kind of really lays in there toward the end. So don't give up on it. Stick around until the big finish.

"After You've Gone" is a speedy little number that sizzles. Again the "ooh ahh's" fill in the background.

"So Rare" is fine. Nothing super special, but not offensive.

"Sleep" is a nice loungy easy listening number. Not very country at all. In fact it's not. I think it could fit in on any cocktail compilation. Those "Ooh Ahh" singers kick it into that category solidly. Here they actually have some lyrics to sings. I like this one a lot.

"The Battle Of New Orleans" is a classic song. I have an album of Johhy Horton singing this song and I love it. This has the same infectious quality, but with the Boots signature sax. Another gem in my opinion.

"La Golondrina" is a nice romantic number. Slow and sensuous. It's nice mood music over a quiet dinner.

Then there is the requisite appearance of "Yakety Sax". I find it funny how the song is buried on side 2. I wonder what the thinking was behind this. Whatever the reason, the song livens things up.

"Sleep Walk" is a great surfy song. It could fit in on a surfy compilation I think. It is beautiful. Definitely another highlight of the record.

"Bongo Band" is a novelty type number with back up singers singing "Bong band" and "Bongo Bong bongo band". Again this isn't an instrumental. There is actually some guy singing on here. I'm sure it isn't boots, but I don't know who it is. I'm sure the idea here was to capitalize on some bongo fad that was probably happening at the time. I don't know that for sure, but the lyrics are so cheesy it just smells of opportunistic exploitation. Have a listen and let me know what you think. With that said, 40 some odd years later the song has a kitschy charm to it.

So join me in going back to the early days of Boots Randolph with this early comp.

Enjoy!

01 Big Daddy.m4a
02 Teach Me Tonight.m4a
03 After You've Gone.m4a
04 So Rare.m4a
05 Sleep.m4a
06 The Battle Of New Orleans.m4a
07 La Golondrina.m4a
08 Yakety Sax.m4a
09 Sleep Walk.m4a
10 Bongo Band.m4a

The Yakin' Sax Man.zip

Jo Basile, His Accordion And Orchestra - Accordion Polka - 1957

Anyone who has spent anytime looking through old record bins knows that it isn't hard to find polka records. People bought a ton of these things and I think all of those people have died or donated the records to thrift stores. The trick though is finding ones that are worth listening to. I'm no connoisseur of polka. To be honest I bought this record 100% because of the cover, and then was pleasantly surprised to find that the music wasn't half bad. In fact it is quite good. It certainly can get you into the mood for a bratwurst and sauerkraut.

Something I find funny about this record is that Jo Basile's accordion gets its own billing. It's not Jo Basile and Orchestra, it's Jo Basile, His Accordion and Orchestra. I also love that girl's hairstyle. It is gravity defying.

The other thing this record reminds me of is Disneyland. The first track sounds like something you would hear around the Matahorn or maybe even the tea cups.

If you'd like to know more about Jo Basile there is a link to a great bio. You'll learn things like Jo's real name was Joss Baselli and Italian that made a name for himself in France, before signing a record deal and changing his name. There's lots more so have a read.

So get read to Polka.

Enjoy!

01 Clarinet Polka.m4a
02 Beer Barrel Polka.m4a
03 Swedish Rhapsody.m4a
04 Alpine Polka.m4a
05 Swedish Polka.m4a
06 Can-Can Polka.m4a
07 Hop Sa Sa.m4a
08 Polka Dot Polka.m4a
09 Jenny Lind Polka.m4a
10 O Suzanna Polka.m4a
11 Pot Pourri.m4a
12 Triolets.m4a

Here is the whole thing. Jo Basile.zip

Al Caiola - Percussion Espanol

I've had this one waiting in the wings for quite a few weeks now. I digitized the record a while ago, but I hadn't taken photos of the jacket, so I couldn't post the record. Yes, I am that concerned with making sure the posts are top quality. So when I had my recent free weekend I finally photographed the jacket and put this in the cue of things to post.

I'm not exactly where this record fits into the time line of "percussion" records that seemed to be so popular back in the day. Anyone who looks through the thrift store record bins knows that there are a boat load of records with names like Persuassive Percussion or Percussion Festival or some other variation on that idea. It seems like every label and band had to release some record on this theme. So I don't know that this record is special in any sort of ground breaking way, but it is quite good.

If you are a fan of the big band Latin music from the 50's and 60's you'll like this record. It also features some great stereo effects. The album takes full advantage of the new technology and makes sure you know that you have a right and left speaker. No center mixing here. This is something that has kind of been forgotten in recording today. Maybe it is for the better, maybe not, but I certainly enjoy it here. I enjoy the fun the engineers seem to be having playing and experimenting.

The music has one foot in the Latin tradition and one foot in the big polished lush I dare say "Hollywood" production style. The music is big and bold. It's not background music for a Spanish restaurant. It's more like music in a film set in Spain or sound of the border starring Elvis. I don't know if that makes sense, but maybe after listening to it it will.

Start to finish the album is strong. It is a great one to throw on in the evening when you're cooking or settling down for the evening. You don't have to really hit skip on any track. That isn't to say some tracks are better than others, but on a whole the album holds together as one piece.

If you listen to any track I recommend the first one "Macarenas". It's got a great guitar and what I think is dancing intro. It then kicks in with this really boisterous and bold music, that I think reminds me of something Tarantino would use if he had the chance. The song has that sort of Leone/Morricone epic quality to it that I love. This really shouldn't come as a surprise. One of Al Caiola's first hits was his recording of the theme to "The Magnificent Seven" which fits in perfectly with the sort of macho men movies Tarantino Leone and Morricone are identified with. So if you are down with any of those three entertainers I think you'll be down with "Macarenas" as well.

Enjoy!

01 Macarenas.m4a
02 Noche De Ronda.m4a
03 Malaguena.m4a
04 Grenada.m4a
05 Cielito Lindo.m4a
06 Tico Tico.m4a
07 Espana Cani.m4a
08 La Spagnola.m4a
09 El Relicario.m4a
10 La Paloma.m4a
11 Andalucia.m4a
12 Lady Of Spain.m4a

The whole thing here.

Boots Randolph - Boots With Brass - 1970

I've been excited as hell for the past few days in anticipation for today's post and for some one's I have coming up. This last weekend I actually had a day off. Work has been really crazy the last few months and so having a Saturday to myself was a welcome treat. So how did I spend my free time. I photo graphed about 52 LP jackets and ripped about 10 LP's. A couple of them I hadn't listened to for a long time and upon listening to them again I got giddy with excitement to share them with everyone. This record is the first of those records, which I'll spread out over the next few weeks.

For those who don't know Boots and as a refresher for those who do, Boots made his name with the hit song "Yakety Sax" which everyone today would recognize as the Benny Hill music. Boots cut his teeth playing with bands and as a studio musician before that breakout song. He was primarily a country musician recording out of Nashville.

The great thing, no no great, the wonderfully fantastic thing about this record is that it has no country on it at all. I'm not dissing Boots' country roots and will probably post some of his earlier work at some point. This record is a rock and funk record. Released in 1970 it feels of the time. The studio musicians backing Boots up deserve some real praise here. Now boots is great, but the bass player and the guitarist make this thing into one amazing listen.

The album kicks off with "C.C. Rider" and is simply a revelation of funk. I mean it is so strong, that you could turn off the record after that song and feel satisfied. In fact you may want to just put that song on repeat to fully digest everything that is going on in that song before moving on. There is a bit near the end of the song where Boots hits this sustained note and it sounds like the band on Saturday Night Live. I mean that as a compliment. It really reminds me of the old E.G. Smith days.

Another great number is "Hi Heel Sneakers". It has a bit of a go-go feel and it definitely has some roots in "Yakety Sax", but then beneath the Randolph riffs there is this driving funky band that pushes this thing into the stratosphere of insanity. Make sure you take a breath before listening to this one, because once it starts you are going to be dancing, toe tapping, shaking your head, doing what every you do when a song just gets you going and it doesn't let up for two and a half minutes. There is no rest. It feels like a sprint from the first note.

The other songs are all pretty good as well. Somewhat to my surprise the weakest songs are teh Carpenters covers. There are so slow and laid back, that they don't seem to fit in as well, and it doesn't feel like Boots is bringing that much new to the songs. I really thought I would like them more, because I love the Carpenters, but therein may lie the problem. I can't help compare his Sax to Karen's voice and I prefer Karen's melancholy tones to his instrument hands down.

So treat yourself to something new, by listening to this vintage music from 1970.

Enjoy!

01 C.C. Rider.m4a
02 The Letter.m4a
03 Fire And Rain.m4a
04 Via Tirado.m4a
05 We've Only Just Begun.m4a
06 Light My Fire.m4a
07 Spinning Wheel.m4a
08 Hi Heel Sneakers.m4a
09 I'll Be There.m4a
10 (They Long To Be) Close To You.m4a
11 25 or 6 to 4.m4a
12 Take A Letter Maria.m4a

Here's the whole thing. Boots Randolph.zip

Johnny And The Hurricanes - Reveille Rock "

I bought this record not really know what I was getting. I thought "Johnny And The Hurricanes" that sounds fun. The record also looked like it had been played to death. And just as a forewarning, it sounds like it, so don't complain.

The funny thing is that once I put the record on I was like "I know this song" and I had the same reaction when I turned the record over. I don't mean that I knew "Red River Rock" because it was just the song "Red River" done in a rock instrumental. I mean that I had heard both of these songs many times in movies and commercials. In fact the very first thing that came to mind when listening to "Red River Rock" was is that song from one of those infomercials selling oldies collection of CD's. I think this song was featured many times over the years in TV commercials selling mail order oldies collection. Why? Because the song is just catchy as all get out and makes you feel good.

"Reveille Rock" is is also very catchy using that bugle call melody and throwing it into a raveup instrumental that really cooks. Once it starts it never lets up. The song really does its job if the job is to wake you up. So I recommend downloading this song and load it into your I-pod. Then set your I-Pod timer to wake you up in the morning the this number. I think it will certainly chase the sleep away and get you going in the morning.

Enjoy!

01 Reveille Rock.mp3

02 Red River Rock.mp3

Please, Please, Please, Ferris Bueller Let Me Get What I Want

Today's entry is a small one. One song really.

I believe my quest for this song began after listening to a podcast called Stuck in the 80's. I highly recommend it. If I remember correctly one episode was dedicated to the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and in that podcast the hosts talked about the fact that there was never an official soundtrack released for the film and that the Dream Academy's instrumental version of the Smith's

"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" has never been released anywhere. Actually they didn't specify the instrumental and just said the song had never been released. Coincidentally at the time I was putting together a mix for some coworkers of music I thought might be new and interesting for them and so I decided this might be a nice little gem for someone to have. So I put the DVD in my computer and just digitized the music from the museum scene in the movie. It was great because there is only the music. No ambient noise or sound FX. It is that rip that I am sharing with you today.

I have since learned and found on the internet that Dream Academy did release a version of this song with lyrics on some b-side to a 12 inch or something like that. You should be able to find it on e-bay of your file sharing program/network of choice.

My thoughts on the actual song are that it is magic. The original is one of the great songs from the 80's and this version used in "Ferris Bueller" just sums up a lot of feelings I have growing up in the 80's in a suburb of Chicago. I have fond memories of day trips into the city and going to museums or walking the streets and awe of how beautiful the city is. In fact many of those trips where with my high school sweetheart who is now my wife. That should give you context for how special those memories are to me.

The image that immediately comes to mind and brings a smile to my face every time is the scene where Ferris, and Sloan insert themselves into the line of elementary school kids holding hands. Pure innocence and joy.

Download, relax and have a nearly 2 minute blissful listen here.

The album tag on the file is not name's "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", but has the name of the mix from which I took this. I'll probably share some other songs from that mix as well in the future.

Enjoy!