The Ronettes

The Ronettes.were an American girl group from New York City. One of the most popular groups of the 1960s, consisted of lead singer Veronica Bennett (later known as Ronnie Spector), her older sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. 

The girls had sung together since they were teenagers, then known as "The Darling Sisters". Signed first by Colpix Records in 1961, they moved to Phil Spector's Philles Records in March 1963 and changed their name to "The Ronettes". 

Among the Ronettes' most famous songs are "Be My Baby", "Baby, I Love You", "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up", and "Walking in the Rain", all of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100.  ( Info Edited From Wikipedia )

The Ronettes began recording with Colpix Records in 1961 and recorded eleven songs for Colpix........And here they are !!

1. He Did It

2. Silhouettes

3. Good Girls

4. The Memory

5. You Bet I Would

6. I'm Gonna Quit While I'm Ahead

1. I'm On The Wagon

2. Recipe For Love

3. My Guiding Angel

4. I Want A Boy

5. What's So Sweet About Sixteen

          4. The Memory

Enoch Light And The Light Brigade

Percussion Galore !!...by the master of "Stereo" Recording's.... Command Records and of course not forgetting "Enoch Light & The Light Brigade !!!.....

Enoch Henry Light (18 August 1905, in Canton, Ohio – 31 July 1978, in Redding, Connecticut) was an American classically trained violinist, danceband leader, and recording engineer. As the leader of various dance bands that recorded as early as March 1927 and continuing through at least 1940, Light and his band primarily worked in various hotels in New York. For a time in 1928 he also led a band in Paris. 

At some point his band was tagged "The Light Brigade" and they often broadcast over radio live from the Hotel Taft in New York where they had a long residency. Through 1940, Light and his band recorded for various labels including Brunswick, ARC, Vocalion and Bluebird. Later on, as A&R (Artists and Repertoire) chief and vice-president of Grand Award Records, he founded his own label, Command Records, in 1959. Light's name was prominent on many albums both as musician and producer.

Light is credited with being one of the first musicians to go to extreme lengths to create high-quality recordings that took full advantage of the technical capabilities of home audio equipment of the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly stereo effects that bounced the sounds between the right and left channels (often described as "Ping-pong recording"), which had huge influence on the whole concept of multi-track recording that would become commonplace in the ensuing years. Doing so, he arranged his musicians in ways to produce the kinds of recorded sounds he wished to achieve, even completely isolating various groups of them from each other in the recording studio. The first of the albums produced on his record label, Command Records, Persuasive Percussion, became one of the first big-hit LP discs based solely on retail sales. His music received little or no airplay on the radio, because AM radio, the standard of the day, was monaural and had very poor fidelity. Light went on to release several albums in the Persuasive Percussion series, as well as a Command test record.....( Info Edited From Wikipedia )

1.Your The Top

2. Somebody Loves Me

3. Blues In The Night

4. Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps

5. Love For Sale

6. Fascinating Rhythm

1. S'Wonderful

2. Mood Indigo

3. Ain't Misbehavin'

4. The Man I Love

5. Song Of India

6. Mad About The Boy

          4. Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps

Ruth Olay

There is some fine use of Stereo in some of the tracks on this fine singer !!...she swaps from left to right speaker during the songs !

Ruth Olay (born San Francisco 1924-) is a jazz singer with Hungarian ancestry who was born in San Francisco, the daughter of a Rabbi and a professional chorister mother. Moving to Los Angeles while still an infant, Olay became a fixture in Hollywood's nightclub scene in the late 1940s and through the 1950s and early 1960s.....The daughter of a lapsed rabbi and an opera singer, Ruth Olay is quite an idiosyncratic vocalist. There is definitely an operatic quality to her voice (and she also had classical piano training), yet her style is still swinging and jazzy. 

Ruth Olay is one of the many talented jazz vocalists who enjoyed a long and varied career on America's cabaret and night club scene and she made a handful of great recordings during the LP era. Presented here for your listening pleasure are the LPs "Easy Living" which features the arrangements of the renowned Jerry Fielding and his orchestra.

This is a must have for fans of the jazz vocalists.

1. Just a Sitting And A Rocking

2. Hurry Hurry

3. Tess's Torch Song

4. Nocturne For The Blues

5. Undecided

6. Easy Livin'

1. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans

2. Never Do

3. Now You Know

4. Blue Prelude

5. Sometimes I Feel Like A motherless Child

6. I Wanna Be A Friend Of Yours

         8. Never Do

Cissy Houston.

Now here we have a great singer that was very underestimated in her day...she has two claims to fame first one being that she has made hundreds of hit records as one of the best "Session Singers" since she started singing...she has sung with everybody and if you go onto "Wikipedia"and have a look it will surprise you !!.....The other claim to fame is the best one she is of course the Mother of "Whitney Houston"!!!....so you can now see where "Whitney" gets her voice from !!....This L/P stands out and she should have definitely made more....So if you want to hear a great voice have a listen !!....Her recording of "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" Equals the version of "Dusty's.....That how good she is !!!

1. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
2. Didn't We
3. I'll Be There
4. Any Guy
5. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

1. Be My Baby
2. This Empty Place
3. The Long And Winding Road
4. He / I Believe

          1. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

Caterina Valente.

 Another Valente L/P on the "Decca" label...this time she is doing the "South American Rhythms of the "Bossa Nova"all of the tracks are done in that style...She does play the guitar on most of her records I wonder if she does on this one !!...no mention of it on the sleeve notes !

1. Moon River
2. The Boy from Ipanema
3. People
4. My Melancholy Baby
5. You And I
6. Diexa

1. Just One Of Those Things
2. Estrada Do Sol
3. Over The Rainbow
4. Sugar Can Breeze
5. O Ganso
6. Watch What Happens

          7. Just One of Those Things

Helmut Zacharias & Orchestra

One from "Bob" now for the "Easy listening Folk"......violins galore !!

          2. La Paloma

Swingle Singers.

Love the "Swingles"...Thanks "John" for the reminder of what a great concept "Voices As Instruments " is !!!!

Swingle II - Baroque  (1976)

Originally a French vocal band, founded in 1962 by Ward Swingle, specialized in singing classical songs with a capella/jazz arrangement. They were very popular in the USA, they won 3 Grammy Awards in 1964 and 1965. 

1. The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba

2. Air on A G String

3. Water Music

4. Largo

5. Brandenburg Concerto No 4

6. Brandenburg Concerto No 5

7. Concerto Grosso Op 6 No 1

8. Jesu Joy Of Mans Desiring 

9. Organ Fugue

         3. Water Music

Don Partridge

Row Row Row!! that boat now across the big pond !! for a couple more !!....Yep I remember this singer he won a few times on one of the "Talent Shows" that was doing the rounds in the 60's....This L/P shows that he could hold his own with some of the top singers of that time !!

Don Partridge - Don Partridge   (1968)

Was an English singer and songwriter, known as the "king of the buskers". He performed from the early 1960's as a busker and one-man band, and achieved unexpected commercial success in the UK in the late 1960's with the songs "Rosie" and "Blue Eyes"

1. Following Your Fancy

2. Keep Your Hands Off Her

3. 7 Days Chokey

4. The Wayward Boy

5. St james Infimary

6. I'm Going Away

7. Blue Eyes

8. Dock Of The Bay

9. Old Girl Joe

10. First Girl I Loved 

11. Candy Man

12. Black Brown And White Blues

13. Monans Song

14. Rosie

          8. Dock Of The Bay

Francis Bay & Orchestra

Over the channel now via "Bob" for this contribution !!...so get your dancing shoes on and "shassy" around the room but be careful of the furniture !!...Or maybe just have a seat and listen !!!.....Didn't realise that "Louis Armstrong" co wrote "You Made Me Love You"...great you learn something new every day !!!!

         7. Charmaine

Lena Horne.

 

This is a beautiful set of standard songs by Lena recorded in 1976 in London..featuring "Phil Woods" on saxophone on most of the tracks...best track by far is "Someone To Watch Over Me" also featuring "David Snell" on Harp at the beginning and a  great solo sax by Phil...boy!! it does'nt get any better than that...and as I've said many times they don't make em' like that anymore !!

P.S. After listening to this again the track "I've Got The World On A String" is in my view the best version EVER even beating "Sinatra's and "Boy" that says it all !!!

1. I've Grown Accustomed To His Face
2. Someone To Watch Over Me
3. My Funny Valentine
4. Someday My Prince Will Come
5. I've Got The World On A String

1. Softly As I Leave You
2.  I Have Dreamed
3. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
4. I've Got To Have You
5. My Ship

           5. I've Got The World On A String

Barbra Streisand

Going over now across the channel to "Belgium" and a selection of "Bob's" Contributions....Ok its a bit early for Xmas but may as well get it in early...Just like the lights in "Oxford Street" they get earlier each year !!!

This was first posted in June 2016 !!

       Merry Xmas to everybody this year 2024 !!.......only 14 days to go !!

           2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Eydie Gorme.

 Another great selection of Songs from the great "Eydie".....The Video below shows just how great she realy was.....and quote from You Tube....

 Note there was only one... ONE... camera dissolve in the entire three minutes. This is how you shoot music when you want the performer to connect to the audience!

 

 1. I Don't Care
2. You're Just In Love
3. My Funny Valentine
4. You Can't Get A Man With A Gun
5. Always True To You In My Fashion
6. Guys And Dolls

1. I Cain't Say No
2. Hello Young Lovers
3. Thou Swell
4. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair
5. Baubles Bangles And Beads
6. Johnny One Note

 

 

           3. My Funny Valentine

Eydie Gorme As Long As He Needs Me 1969

Cleo Laine.

 I wonder if this one is going to upset the "Shakespeare" purists....like the film that is out "Anonymous".....I don't think the "Jazz" purists will be bothered !!..This was released in 1964 so it has had over 40 years for people to think about it !!....Getting back to "Cleo" she does a great job and if you are like me ...likes Shakespeare and Jazz its Cooooooool !!

 1. If Music Be The Food Of Love
2. O Mistress Mine
3. Duet Of Sonnets
4. Winter
5.My Love Is As A Fever
6. It Was A Lover And His Lass
7. Dunsinae Blues

1. Take All My Loves
2. Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind
3. Shall I Compare Thee
4. Witches Fair And Foul
5. Fear No More
6. Sigh No More
7. The Compleat Works

              6. It Was A Lover And His Lass

Cleo Laine & Johnny Dankworth - Oh Lady Be Good

Bert Kaempfert & Orchestra.

The relaxing sound is what its called and thats wht you get !!....so don't fall asleep !!!

1. Strangers In The Night
2. Bye Bye Blues
3. But Not Today
4. Red Roses For A Blue Lady
5. Melina
6. Nothing New
7. Danke Shone

1. Moon Over Naples 
2. Remember When
3. The Moon Is Making Eyes 
4. Rose Of Washigton Square
5. Take My Heart
6. That Happy Feeling
7. Wiederseh'n

          3. The Moon Is Making Eyes

Motown Chartbusters Vol 3.VA.

Another 16 tracks from the "Motown" stable !!..all so the title say's Chartbusters !....surface noise not too bad.....

          8. Dancing In The Street

Ronnie Hilton

A rumage in the single and EP box and Lo and Behold !!.we have 15 tracks from Ronnie Hilton !!......Thanks John !!......It seems that we might have a stowaway !!!...Track 3 !!...Thanks RonH for that info !!

 Ronnie Hilton (26 January 1926....21 February 2001 was an English singer and radio presenter. with nine Top 20 hits between 1954 and 1957, that transitional era between 78 and 45rpm records. A quarter of a century later he became the voice of BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the Fifties series".His most enduring recordings were "No Other Love"; and his last chart entry in 1965 with "A Windmill in Old Amsterdam" The latter spent a total of 13 weeks on the UK 

1. Windmill In Old Amsterdam

2. The Wonder Of You

3. No Other Love.............(Perry Como)

4. Young And Foolish

5. Wonderfull Wonderfull

6. Magic Moments

7. The Ugly Bug Ball

8. Veni Vedi Vici

9. I Still Believe

10. Dear Heart

11. A Woman in Love

12. Hey look me Over

13. Dont Let The Rain Come Down

14. Stars shine in Your Eyes

15. Who Are We

RonH....

Great singer. But the sample 'No Other Love' is definitely Perry Como. I have the original version from Ronnie Hilton and no doubt possible

          4. Young And Foolish

Manuel Meets Pepe Jaramillo

A great mixture of sounds that blend to give you 12 tracks that listeners of mood music and Instrumentals will fully appreciate !!

Pepe Jaramillo (born José Jaramillo García; born October 27, 1921, Lerdo, Durango, Mexico; died April 30, 2001, Andalucía, Spain) was a notable Mexican pianist, composer, arranger, and recording artist. He was most active in London as an EMI recording artist in the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Lerdo, Durango, he began his professional music career playing in night clubs in Mexico City. Relocating to London, England, in his thirties, his many recordings and acclaimed concert appearances brought him international fame. 

          1. High Noon 

Middle Of The Road

Middle Of The Road with the distinctive voice of "Sally Carr" singing their hits !!

1. Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep

2. Lingering Sounds

3. Fate Strange Fate

4. I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top

5. To Remind Me

6. The Sun in Your Skin

1. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum

2. Give It Time

3. Rainin' n Painin'

4. Yellow River

5. The Way of Life

6. We Are The Founders of All That's Around Us

Middle of the Road are a Scottish pop group who have enjoyed success across Europe and Latin America since the 1970s. Before ABBA established themselves in the mid 70s, Middle of the Road were the sound of early europop with their distinctive harmonies and lead vocals from Sally Carr. Four of their singles sold over one million copies each, and received a gold disc: "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep"."Sacramento", "Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum" and "Soley Soley". By early 1972 the group had sold over five million records.

          7. Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum

Mavis Rivers

Mavis Chloe Rivers (19 May 1929 – 29 May 1992) was a Samoan and New Zealand jazz singer. She was born in Apia, Samoa in 1929, as one of thirteen children to a musical family.

In 1955 she moved to the United States. She married Glicerio Reyes "David" Catingub, a Filipino singer and bass player.

Jazz vocalist Mavis Rivers recorded for Reprise, Capitol, and Vee-Jay in the early '60s before making a surprising comeback in the early '80s. After the Pearl Harbor bombing. She joined her father's band as a vocalist and entertained troops stationed in Pago Pago. Then, once WWII ended, her family relocated again, moving to New Zealand, where she continued singing. She experienced some success as a vocalist in New Zealand and soon decided to move to the States. After a brief stay in Salt Lake City, UT, she ended up in Los Angeles, CA, where she worked as a secretary during the days and a nightclub singer during the nights, playing with a Hawaiian band that featured her future husband, bassist David Catingub.

By the end of the '50s, she'd scored a recording contract with Capitol Records and debuted with the Take a Number LP (1959), which was arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. More records followed: Hooray for Love (1960, Capitol), arranged and conducted by Jack Marshall; The Simple Life (1960, Capitol)

Mavis Rivers has been described by many of her peers as one of the world’s greatest female jazz singers, and she attracted an international following among jazz purists. Frank Sinatra is said to have described her as the ‘purest voice’ in jazz, comparing her to Ella Fitzgerald. 

1. Walkin' By The River

2. Give Me The Simple Life

3. Early Autumn

4. In The Cool Cool Of The Evening

5. Far Away Places

1. Home

2. At Sundown

3. Spring is Here

4. Get Out And Get Under The Moon

5. Try A Little Tenderness

6. It's A Great Feeling

          2. Give Me The Simple Life

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Tammi Terrell (born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery; April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970) was an American recording artist, best known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, most notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye.

In early 1967, Motown hired Terrell to sing duets with Marvin Gaye, who had achieved duet success with Mary Wells and Kim Weston as well as having recorded duets with Oma Heard. During recording sessions, Gaye would recall later that he did not know how gifted Terrell was until they began singing together.

In early 1967, Motown hired Terrell to sing duets with Marvin Gaye, who had achieved duet success with Mary Wells and Kim Weston as well as having recorded duets with Oma Heard. During recording sessions, Gaye would recall later that he did not know how gifted Terrell was until they began singing together.

You're All I Need is the second studio album by soul musicians Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, released in August 1968 on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. 

          4. Baby Don't You Worry