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Monday, 2 February 2026

Percussion Around The World...International All Stars.

Stereo Alert !!...Phase 4 !!...PLAY IT LOUD ! to get the best effects (If you've got speakers ) !!

1. The Poor People Of Paris
2. Frenesi
3. The Third Man Theme
4. Calcutta
5. La Montana
6. The Children's Marching Song

1. Volare
2. April In Portugal
3. Never On A Sunday
4. Japanese Sandman
5. Cielito Lindo
6. Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart

The mysteriously titled "International Pop All Stars" were a group of Belgian studio musicians assembled specifically to record for Decca, and were led by Belgian arranger-composer-conductor Harry Frekin. Recorded in Decca's Brussel studios, the album from the very early days of Decca's 'Phase 4' display just what a top-notch band they were, with the emphasis of course on percussion.

    2. Frenesi

Dinah Washington...Dinah Discovered.

10 great tracks from "Queen" Dinah !!.

1. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
2. An Affair To Remember
3. Cabin In The Sky
4. Pagan Love Song
5. Blue Skies

1. Three Coins In The Fountain
2. Stormy Weather
3. Love Letters
4. On Green Dolphin Street
5. Six Bridges To Cross

      
      2. An Affair To Remember

Sunday, 1 February 2026

Evolution Of A Band...Glenn Miller & His Band.

These are tracks recorded between 1935 To 1938 when the Glenn Miller band was just starting out the "miller sound " is not quite there yet...but it's great to hear the "Evolution " as the title says  

       
     8. Humoresque

Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra...Casa Loma In Hi-Fi.

It seems that we are still in the Swing Mood !

The Casa Loma Orchestra was an American dance band active from 1929 to 1963. Until the rapid multiplication in the number of swing bands from 1935 on, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the top North American dance bands. With the decline of the big band business following the end of World War II, it disbanded in 1947. However, from 1957 to 1963, it re-emerged as a recording session band in Hollywood, made up of top-flight studio musicians under the direction of its most notable leader of the past, Glen Gray. The reconstituted band made a limited number appearances live and on television and recorded fifteen LP albums for Capitol Records.

1. No Name Jive
2. Memories of You
3. White Jazz
4. I Cried For You
5. Come And Get it
6. Sunrise Serenade
7. Maniac's Ball

1. Casa Loma Stomp
2. Just An Old Manuscript
3. Sleepy Time Gal
4. Dance Of The Lame Duck
5. For You
6. Black Jazz
7. Smoke Rings
      
1. Casa Loma Stomp
6. Black Jazz

Wild Cool & Swingin'...Bobby Darin.

Swingin' & Cool !....20 lesser known tracks from Bobby Darin.

Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973) was an American musician and actor. He performed jazz, pop, rock and roll, folk, swing, and country music.
He started his career as a songwriter for Connie Francis. He recorded his first million-selling single, "Splish Splash", in 1958. That was followed by "Dream Lover", "Mack the Knife", and "Beyond the Sea", which brought him worldwide fame. In 1962 he won a Golden Globe Award for his first film, Come September, co-starring his first wife, actress Sandra Dee.

      16. More

Eddie Miller & His Oklahomans.

100% country music now from a C/W group that I have not heard before...Thanks "Duke"for the Intro to this CD and others !...cheers !


       

Edward Monroe Miller (December 10, 1919 – April 11, 1977) was an American songwriter, in the country music genre.
His first published song, written in the mid-1930s, was "I Love You, Honey." In 1946, he wrote what was to become his biggest hit, "Release Me," though at first he could not get anyone to record it. Eventually he recorded it himself, and it was covered by several singers and was commercially successful.

      1. I Love You Honey
          24. Patty Cake Man
           25. Nothin'

Artie Shaw....Four Star Favourites.

Some great big band sounds now !!

Four Star Favourites is a compilation album of phonograph records released in 1941 by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra on Victor Records, containing studio recordings by his second, third and fourth orchestras.
During the 1930s and 40s, Shaw's orchestras recorded two main styles of music inside of the jazz genre, danceable pop music following conventions of the time (swing) and a more sophisticated blend of classical music and jazz, aided with a string section (orchestral jazz or early third stream). These styles opposed each other, and during his career Shaw's attempts to make art music oftentimes failed because it wasn't commercially viable.
Bridging the divide in Shaw's catalogue, the compilation appealed to audiences of both swing music and more progressive forms of jazz. Well-reviewed upon release, the album stayed in-print for over a decade.

These reissued songs were featured on a 4-disc, 78 rpm album set, Victor P-85.

1. Frenesi....., recorded March 3, 1940.
2. Begin The Beguine.....,recorded July 24, 1938.
3. Star Dust...., recorded October 7, 1940.
4. Back Bay Shuffle...., recorded July 24, 1938.

1. Dancing In The Dark....., recorded January 23, 1941.
2. Traffic Jam..., recorded June 12, 1939.
3. Moonglow....., recorded January 23, 1941.
4. Serenade To A Savage....., recorded June 22, 1939.


Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction.

Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists", Shaw led one of the United States' most popular big bands in the late 1930s through the early 1940s. Though he had numerous hit records, he was perhaps best known for his 1938 recording of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine." Before the release of "Beguine," Shaw and his fledgling band had languished in relative obscurity for over two years and, after its release, he became a major pop artist within short order. The record eventually became one of the era's defining recordings.

     6. Traffic Jam

Dinah Washington...In Love.

Here's a singer that needs no introduction.. a great selection of love songs sung perfectly !
When the chorus shuts up !!

1. Fly Me To The Moon
2. Your A Sweetheart
3. Our Love
4. Love Is The Sweetest Thing
5. I'll Close My Eyes
6. I didn't Know About You

1. If It's the last Thing I Do
2. Do Nothing Till You Here From Me
3. My Devotion
4. That's My Desire
5. Three Coins In The Fountain
6. Me And The One I Love
     4. That's My Desire

Saturday, 31 January 2026

Werner Muller & His Orchestra...Holiday In Rio.

A double helping of mood music is now on the menu a nice trip to Rio, then full blast to Phase 4 Stereo !
It's time to go a wanderin'...looks a nice place for a holiday !!!

     7. La Cumparsita

Werner Muller & His Orchestra...Gypsy.

Music now from the Decca/London Series "Phase 4"....plenty of  racing violins and sweeping strings from the German Werner Muller Orchestra....thanks Duke for this one...Cheers

1. Czardas
2. Hungarian Dance No 5
3. Hungarian dance No 2
4. Zorba's Dance
5. Gypsy Love
6. At The Balalaika

1. Two Guitars
2. Hora Staccato
3. Mischa
4. Komm Zigany
5. Black Eyes
6. Golden Earings
     2. Hora Staccato

Friday, 30 January 2026

The New Christy Minstrels...Ramblin'.

So so so so so different from my fav Ray Conniff  but well worth a listen too if you enjoy Orchestra's with chorus'ssss !!!...I Did !!...enjoy it that is !!

1. Ramblin'
2. Mighty Mississippi
3. Hi Jolly
4. A Travelin' Man
5. Down The Ohio
6. The Drinking Gourd

1. Green green
2. Rovin' Gambler
3. Wagoners Song
4. My Dear Mary Ann
5. Ride Ride Ride
6. Last Farewell
       8. Rovin' Gambler

Claudine Longet...Colours

A few now from John !!..and a varied lot they are...Thanks John !!...so lets start with the husky voice that is half spoken and half sung if you get my meaning !!..if not then you will have to download it and hear what I mean !!..and that Fench accent is cool !!.....Arrangements are great too !!

1. Scarborough Fair / Chantile
2. Pussywillows Cat tails
3. Catch The Wind
4. Colours
5. For Bobbie
6. I Believe It All

1. Am I Blue
2. Hurry On Down
3. let It Be Me
4. Both Sides Now
5. I Think Its Gonna Rain Today

       8. Hurry On Down

Black Lace...Party Party.

A party compilation of sing a long songs...which includes the infamous "Agadoo" and of course no party would be complete without "The Birdie Song"...so folks 123 away we go !!

       2. Hands Up

Top Of The Pops.No 11.

Continuing the TOTP series here's Number 11.!
     1. Spirit In The Sky

Top Of The Pops.No 12

      1. In The Summertime

Thursday, 29 January 2026

Ray Conniff & Orch...Welcome To Europe.

Its always great to hear the original "Conniff" sound with the shuffle beat and all the Doo Dah Wahs of the wordless chorus in this L/P compilation under the guise of a welcome to Europe !! ..In his later recordings the shuffle beat and wordless chorus seemed to have disappeared !!.....thanks Bob for this reminder

1. Brazil
2. Memories Are made Of This
3. Iv'e Got You Under My Skin
4. Volare
5. They Can't Take That Away From me
6. Greenfields

1. Melodie D'amour
2. Days Of Wine And Roses
3. Spanish Eyes
4. Somewhere My Love
5. Mrs Robinson
6. Up Up And Away

       1. Brazil

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Original Golden Hits...Jerry Lee Lewis.

A real good mix now from John...cheers John Thanks !

      11. You Win Again

The Complete Champions...Black Dyke Mills Band.

This one is definitely for the lovers of Brass Bands !....Not A Floral Dance in sight !!
        6. Holidays