File under Christmas music
White Christmas - Les Paul and Mary Ford
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Patti Page
It’s music listening time once again. Tonight we’ll be listening to a 45 RPM from 1955 — Les Paul and Mary Ford’s rendition of “White Christmas”. After that, it’s a 78 RPM from 1950 — Patti Page’s “Boogie Woogie Santa Clause”.
Happy holidays!
File under pop
Popsicles and Icicles & Comedy and Tragedy - The Murmaids
It’s music listening time once again. Tonight we’ll be listening to both sides of a Murmaids 45, released on Chattahoochee Records in 1963. “Comedy and Tragedy” is the ballad of Laura Palmer.
File under country
Trouble Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues - The Delmore Brothers
It’s music listening time once again.
File under cha cha
Corazon De Melon - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, starring Warren Covington
It’s music listening time once again.
File under big band
PEnnsylvania 6-5000 - Glenn Miller
It’s music listening time once again.
Tonight we’ll be listening to a Glenn Miller classic: “PEnnsylvania 6-5000”. It’s the telephone number for the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City. The actual number is 736-5000. If you live in Vancouver and your number starts with 68 5, the telephone number is MUtual. If you have a 22 4/22 2/22 8 number, the exchange is BAyview. If you have a 43 4 number, the exchange is HEmlock. Mine is PUget, after the sound.
“Yes, operator. Get me PEnnsylvania 6-5000.”
In addition to Miller’s biopic starring James Stewart, you might also recognize this song from Twin Peaks. In this scene, Leland Palmer starts playing a record with this song, and begins dancing with a framed photograph of his murdered daughter, Laura Palmer. His wife, Sarah Palmer knocks the needle off the groove and Leland smashes the photograph out of grief and gets his hands all bloody. He cries and gets all his blood on the photograph. It’s heavy. But the song is happy. Lynch is good this way.
File under rhythm and blues
Blue Velvet - The Clovers
It’s music listening time once again.
Tonight we’ll be listening to a cut from an Atco released compilation album of The Clovers. “Blue Velvet” was recorded at the Atlantic Recording Studios in New York city on December 16, 1954.
I guess this song is Bobby Vinton’s trademark, but that didn’t come out until nine years later.
File under jazz
Daria - The Latin Jazz Quintet featuring Pharoah Sanders
It’s music listening time once again.
Here’s a theme for your Saturday night.
“Daria.” From the album “Oh! Pharoah Speak - The Latin Jazz Quintet.” Featuring Pharoah Sanders, under the direction of Juan Amalbert. Released on Trip Records. Pharoah Sanders is credited for tenor sax, so I’m not sure if he’s actually playing on this cut.
From the album liner notes:
“Daria” is a D minor mode structure in which Bill Ellington and Juan Amalbert try to combine the moods of the west and the east with a complimentary Montuno, respectively led by the guitar and the horns, brightening the melody with bursts of comps with an introduction into 6/4 Montuno which lays a carpet for the soloist.
Have a nice evening.
File under blues
Nobody But You - Little Walter
It’s music listening time once again.
Tonight, we’ll be listening to the first cut off of a Little Walter compilation album, “Hate To See You Go.” This compilation was produced by T.T. Swan in 1969, and released on Chess Records.
“Nobody But You” was produced by Leonard and Phil Chess in Chicago on March 5th, 1957. This record has the name “Burnett” written in permanent marker on the sleeve. There must have been an estate sale or something, because I see these “Burnett” records at record shops all over town. This Burnett person had a really good taste in music. All genres.
File under vocal
Sentimental Fool - The Four Knights
It’s music listening time once again.
Tonight we’ll be listening to a Capitol 78 RPM from June of 1951. The harmony vocal group, The Four Knights, sing “Sentimental Fool.” I think it’s all vocals and just a guitar.
Formed in 1943, The Four Knights are from Charlotte, North Carolina. Gene Alford is on lead tenor, Oscar Broadway is on bass, Clarence Dixon is on baritone, and John Wallace is on tenor and guitar.
If you listen past the scratches, dust, distortion, what-have-you, and consider the fact that this was recorded live, all at once, without any over-dubbing, it is really amazing. Can you imagine seeing something like this live?
File under country
Makin’ Believe - Kitty Wells
It’s music listening time once again.
Tonight, we’ll be listening to a tune that will make you feel even more lonesome. This version of “Makin’ Believe” is off of Kitty Wells’ first album, “Country Hit Parade,” released on Decca in 1956. I found this in Nashville a few years ago. I’m pretty sure it’s a rare find even down there. I tell you — I’m so proud that I have this record. Certainly, the album makes you feel sad when you listen to it, but I guess music is nice that way. I’ll definitely be playing you more from this album when the time comes.
Take a listen.
File under rhythm and blues / country soul
You Are My Sunshine - Ray Charles
It’s music listening time once again.
Tonight, we’ll be listening to the first cut off of Ray Charles’ “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.” This album, released on ABC Paramount was recorded exactly 50 years ago today. Side one was recorded on September 5th, 1962, and Side two was recorded on September 7th, 1962. It’s amazing to think about when you’re listening to it.
Backing up Ray Charles are the The Raelettes. Margie Hendrix also sings a verse in response to Ray Charles.
This song is also featured in one of my favorite films, Diane Keaton’s “Unstrung Heroes.” People might not think it’s a great film, but I watched it at a young age, and it has had a great deal of influence on me. So this is a good song. You’ll like it too.
Listen out for that harmony at the end of the song!
File under blues
Honky Tonk Part 1 - Bill Doggett
It’s music listening time once again.
Tonight, we’ll be listening to the first cut on “Gon’ Doggett.” This is a Bill Doggett compilation album, released in 1985 on Charley Records.
Originally a King Records recording, this song, “Honky Tonk Part 1,” was recorded in New York City on June 16, 1956. It features Billy Butler on the guitar (you have to listen to this guitar!), Carl Pruitt on the bass, Shep Shepherd on the drums, Frank Heppinstall on the tenor saxophone and of course, Bill Doggett on the organ.
You might also recognize this cut from David Lynch’s 1986 film, “Blue Velvet,” particularly in the scene where Frank Booth kidnaps Jeffrey Beaumont and takes him to Ben’s hangout. This music is playing just before the character Ben begins to lip-sync and perform to the Roy Orbison song, “In Dreams.”
File under big band
September Song - Buddy Morrow and his Orchestra
It’s music listening time once again.
Well, now that the summer is over, I thought I’d play a song to match your mood. Tonight, we’ll be listening to an American pop standard from Buddy Morrow and his Orchestra’s “Dance Date!”
This album was recorded in Chicago in 1954, and released on Wing Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records.
Morrow played the trombone. I’m pretty sure that’s him playing the melody in the opening. The other soloists are not credited.
Have a nice week.
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