ABC.

I think I must have been asleep in the 80's ! this is also a first listen to this group (Duo) 

ABC is an English pop band that originated in Sheffield in 1980, evolving from the earlier ensemble Vice Versa. The band's classic formation featured Martin Fry as the lead vocalist, Mark White on guitar and keyboards, Stephen Singleton playing the saxophone, and David Palmer behind the drums.

The band had three top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love"

After a hiatus, during which Fry was being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma, he and White reconvened ABC as a duo, releasing the album Alphabet City in 1987. The album returned them to the UK Top 10 for the first time in five years, peaking at No. 7. The album also spawned "The Night You Murdered Love" (UK No. 31) and "King Without a Crown" (UK No. 44) as singles.

          1. King Without a Crown

Shirley Bassey.

Its amazing how time flies by !!...Its been 62 Years since "Our Shirl"recorded this L/P with the "Nelson Riddle Orch"seems like only yesterday we were being "Wowed" by "I Who Have Nothing" "Goldfinger" and the title Song of the L/P "What Now My Love"....Its "Shirley" in a quiet gentle mode and its great to hear all the standards sung with such perfection !!

1. Let's Face The Music And Dance
2. I Should Care
3. Let's Fall In Love
4. The Second Time Around
5. Imagination
6. All The Things You Are

1. I Get A Kick Out Of You
2. Everything I Have Is Yours
3. Spring Is Here
4. All Of Me
5. I Can't Get You Out Of My Mind
6. What Now My Love

          3. Lets Fall In Love

Max Collie Rhythm Aces

This must have been bought at a concert or maybe a music festival because as you can see it has been signed !!

John Maxwell "Max" Collie (born 21 February 1931 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian trombonist who plays Dixieland. He played with several different jazz band before forming his own group Max Collie's Rhythm Aces in February 1966. They released their first record in 1971 and in 1975 they won a world championship in traditional jazz against 14 North American jazz band.

When he visited England in 1963, he stayed overseas, becoming a member of the London City Stompers. In 1966, he became the group's leader and they were renamed Rhythm Aces. The group toured constantly during the late '60s and all throughout the 1970s and early '80s, often playing 250 concerts a year.

1. Kansas City Blues

2. The More I See You

3. Georgia On My Mind

4. Tipi-Tipi-Tin

5. St Louis Blues

1. The Peanut Vendor

2. Love Me Tender

3. Roll Em' Pete

4. Nobody's sweetheart Now

5. Darktown Strutters Ball

6. See See Rider

          6. The Peanut Vendor

The Card. (Show)

A while ago in fact a couple of years ago a friend of mine was getting rid of most of his L/P's making way for a collection of CD's....most of them were from Broadway and London shows I said I would have them hence the occasional ones from "Shows" some obscure and some well known....So here goes one "The Card"...Don't think it was a roaring success in the "West End" it only lasted for 130 Performances....but it's nice to hear Millicent Martin !!!

 1. Hallelujah....The Company

2. Nine Till Five....Jim Dale & Company

3. Lead Me....Millicent Martin

4. Universal White Kid Gloves....John Savident & Millicent Martin & Company

5. Nobody Thought Of It....Jim Dale & Company

6. Moving On....Millicent Martin

7. That Once A Year Feeling....Marti Webb & Company

8. Come Along And Join Us....Jim Dale & Company

1. That's The Way The Money Grow's....Jim Dale & Marti Webb & Alan Norburn

2. I Could Be The One....Marti Webb

3. The Card....The Company

4. Opposite Your Smile....Jim Dale & Marti Webb

5. Nothing Succeeds Like Success....Millicent Martin & Jim Dale &  Company

6. The Right Man....John Savident & Jim Dale & Millicent Martin & Company

7. Nobody Thought Of It....Marti Webb & Jim Dale

8. Finale....The Company

          11. Opposite Your Smile

Simon And Garfunkel.

 This is an early recording of S&G 1967 it includes hit from "The Graduate".All the songs were written by "Paul Simon" and he had a hand in the production of it...I think that this was the L/P that helped them on their rise to be one of the great duo's of that period...

1. Bookend Theme (Instrumental)
2. Save The Life Of My Child
3. America
4. Overs
5. Voices Of Old People
6. Old Friends

7. Bookend Theme

1. Fakin' It
2. Punky's Dilema
3. Mrs Robinson
4. Hazy Shade Of Winter
5. At The Zoo

       3. Mrs Robinson.

Simon & Garfunkel.

Here's a compilation that is different from other's....It seems that most of the tracks come from "live" performance's no indication on the back of "where" and "when"....the difference is that also the other tracks seem also to be re-recorded....Usually L/P's that have a title of "Best Of" or in this case "Greatest Hits" are just that !! their original tracks regurgitated !!
So it's good to hear them differently !!....Kudos to the marketing guy's !!!

1. Mrs Robinson
2. For Emily Whenever I May Find Her
3. The Boxer
4. The 59th Street Bridge Song
5. The Sound Of Silence
6. I Am A Rock
7. Scarborough Fair / Canticle

1. Homeward Bound
2. Bridge Over Troubled Waters
3. America
4. Kathy's Song
5. El Condor Pasa
6. Bookends
7. Cecilia

   7. Cecilia.

Vaughn Monroe--Stan Kenton--Max Bygraves--Frank Sinatra

So we have featured L/p's.. 45 rpm's.. Extended play 45's..CD's and recently 12 inch 45's....so lets go back to some original sounds on 78's.. I do have another Music Blog that has only got 78's on it...thought that I will occasionally feature some of the posts....Ran out of 78's still waiting to get some ...so enjoy some nostalgic sounds sometime with all the snap crackles and pops that came with the 78's when they were well played...got a filter on them to take most of that out but sometimes when they are old ones and well worn !!...but on the whole 90% of them could have been recorded recently !!

For the first post we have some popular artists that were popular in the 50's in the following posts perhaps not so well known...But nostalgia is the name of the game on here !!...also a selection of Classics will be making an appearance so a great cross section of music will be featured that we enjoyed in the bygone days !

1. The Maharajah Of Magador......Vaughn Monroe & Orchestra

2. Dardanella......Vaughn Monroe & Orchestra

3. Tequila......Stan Kenton & Orchestra

4. Cuban Mumble......Stan Kenton

5. Seventeen Tons......Max Bygraves

6. Try Another Cherry Tree.....Max Bygraves

7. Nancy......Frank Sinatra

8. Just Say I'm A Friend Of Yours......Frank Sinatra

          3. Tequila

Swing Out Sister

Swing Out Sister are a British pop group, best known worldwide for the 1986 song "Breakout". Other hits include "You On My Mind", "Twilight World", "Waiting Game", and a remake of the Eugene Record soul composition "Am I the Same Girl?"

Although Swing Out Sister are currently a duo, they began as a trio in the UK. The group was formed by Andy Connell (keyboards) and Martin Jackson (drums); they were later joined by Corinne Drewery (vocals). According to the group's website, "They christened themselves after an obscure Billie Burke "B"-musical from the '40s because it was the only name they could agree upon - they all agreed they hated it." Both Connell and Jackson had been playing in other bands prior to forming SOS, while Drewery was a fashion designer and model before she became the band's lead vocalist.

1. Surrender ( Stuff Gun Mix )

2. Surrender ( 7 Inch Version )

3. Who's To Blame

          2. Surrender

Yazz

We are now in 1988 and the only way is up !

Yazz (born Yasmin Evans; 19 May 1960) is a British pop singer, who remains perhaps best known for her 1988 UK number one single "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records are credited to Yazz and the Plastic Population.

She launched a solo career on Big Life records, a label set up by her husband Jazz Summers, releasing her debut solo single, "The Only Way Is Up", in the summer of 1988. It went on to spend five weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, eventually becoming the second-biggest-selling UK single of the year. Her debut album Wanted (UK number 3) was certified double platinum in the UK in September 1989 for sales exceeding 600,000.

1. The Only Way Is Up

2. Where Has All The Love Gone

3. Got to Share

4. Fine Time

1. Stand Up For Your Love Rights

2. Wanted On The Floor

3. Something Special

4. Turn It Up

          7. Something Special

Oliver..WRC

This is another WRC recording of a musical which I thought was like the other WRC releases of "Musicals" made up with artists picked by the record company BUT after going on "Google" to find out if the "Stephen Marriott" was the singer from the group "The Small Faces" and a Pop singer in his own right I came across this L/P cover....So it is a West End Cast recording ...Its not the original first cast but its a good one well worth a listen too !

 1. Overture / Food Glorious Food

2. Oliver

3. That's Your Funeral

4. Where Is Love

5. You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two

6. Consider Yourself

1. Oomp-pah-pah

2. Be Back Soon

3. As Long As He Needs Me

4. I'd Do Anything

5. Reviewing The Situation

6. Finale

          10. I'd Do Anything

Kirsty MacColl

If you like this song then you are in for a four times treat !!

          1. Angel

Petula Clark

This is another compilation L/P...I think it is Petula's singles and tracks from some of her L/P's....you have first track very early 60's and the last track early 60's and sandwiched between them hits and cover versions...have a listen... the cover versions of songs are completely different from the originals..."Fool On The Hill" is a bit dramatic....I like "I Want To Sing With Your Band" corny but good!!!!!.......

1.Sailor

2. Fool On The Hill

3. Windmills Of Your Mind

4. I Want To Sing With Your Band

5. A Groovy Kind Of Love

6. Call Me

7. My Funny Valentine

8. Downtown

1. This Is My Song

2. I Could Have Danced All Night

3. Hey Jude

4. Strangers In The Night

5. Never On A Sunday

6. Winchester Cathedral

7. Where Did We Go Wrong

8. Romeo

          4. I Want To Sing With Your Band

One Hit song Plus ! on a 12 incher !

1. La Bamba

2. Charlena

3. Rip It Up

          3. Rip It Up

Sammy Davis...Golden Boy..( Musical ) )

As with all musical shows and films if you have not seen them, then the "Soundtracks" and "Music And Songs From" wont mean much to you unless the songs are a "Rip Roaring" Hits......Unfortunatly this L/P doesn't have any well known hits on it.....so unless as I said you have seen the show its just a pleasent set of non-discript songs....sung well as only "Sammy Davis" does !!!

1. Workout....The Boxers

2. Night Song....Sammy Davis

3. Everything's Great....Kenneth Tobey &  Paula Wayne

4. Gimme Some....Terrin Miles & Sammy Davis

5. Stick Around....Sammy Davis

6. Don't Forget 127th Street....Sammy Davis & Company

7. Lorna's Here.....Paula Wayne

8. This Is The Life....Billy Daniels & Sammy Davis

1. Golden Boy....Paula Wayne

2. While The City Sleeps.....Billy Daniels

3. Colourful....Sammy Davis

4. I Want To Be With You....Sammy Davis & Paula Wayne

5. Can't You See It....Sammy Davis

6. No More....Sammy Davis & Company

7. Finale--The Fight....The Orchestra

          12. I Want To Be With You.

Tom Waits

This is the first time I have heard Tom Wait's Songs and voice so I will leave all the comments to you folks !!

1. Heartattack And Vine

2. Jersey Girl

3. Eggs And Sausage

4. I Never Talk To Strangers....with Bette Midler

5. The Piano Has Been Drinking

1. Whistlin' Past The Graveyard

2. Mr Henry

3. Diamonds On My Windscreen

4. Burma Shave

5.Tom Traubert's Blues

Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He began in the folk scene during the 1970s, but his music since the 1980s has reflected the influence of such diverse genres as rock, Delta blues, opera, vaudeville, cabaret, funk, hip hop and experimental techniques verging on industrial music.  A keen, sensitive and sympathetic chronicler of the adrift and downtrodden, Mr. Waits creates three-dimensional characters who, even in their confusion and despair, are capable of insight and startling points of view. Their stories are accompanied by music that’s unlike any other in pop history.

          5. The Piano Has Been Drinking

Funny Girl ( Film )

So we have had the Stage Version ! now take your seats for the Film !!

1. Overture

2. I'm The Greatest Star

3. If A Girl I'snt Pretty

4. Roller Skate Rag

5. I'd Rather Be Blue Over You

6. His Love Makes Me Beautiful

1. People

2. You Are Woman I Am Man

3. Don't Rain On My Parade

4. Sadie Sadie

5. The Swan

6. Funny Girl

7. My Man 

8. Finale

          5. I'd Rather Be Blue Over You

Wet Wet Wet

Great Group From The 80's !

 1. Sweet Surrender

2. Can't Stand The Night

3. Blue For You

4. Broke Away

1. You've Had It

2. I Wish

3. Keys To Your Heart

4. Maggie May

5. Hold Back The River

          9. Hold Back The River

Elton John

A couple of Elton's hits Live And Extended !

Johnny Mathis.

Another one for the JM fans...singing "Today's Greatest Hits" (1971) wise !!......And ! "Richard Perry" at the helm on some of the tracks once again !!

1. You've Got A Friend
2. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
3. Help Me Make It Through The Night
4. If You Could Read My Mind
5. Never Can Say Goodbye

1. It's Too Late
2. We Can Work It Out
3. Long Ago And Far Away
4. If
5. For All We Know 
6. If We Only Have Love

    2. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

Perry Como.

Here's a compilation of "Perry's" on a "Budget Label" that I'm sure would have first came out under another title...There's quite a few "Musical Show" songs on it....sung as only he can !!

1. The Sweetest Sounds
2. My Favourite Things
3. Fly Me To The Moon
4. I'll Remember April
5. The Hawaiian Wedding Song
6. In The Still Of The Night

1. Sunrise Sunset
2. This Is All I Ask
3. When I Lost You
4. The Songs I Love
5. The Shadow Of Your Smile
6. We Kiss In A Shadow

       2. My Favourite Things

Blasts From The Past Vol 2

Another dip into the 45's Box of goodies

1. What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted....Jimmy Ruffin

2. Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit....Jimmy Ruffin

3. Killing me Softly With His Song....Roberta Flack

4. The Tracks Of My Tears....Smokey Robinson

5. Come On Do The Jerk....Smoky Robinson

6. Bingo....The Whisperers

7. Once More With Feeling....The Wisperers

8. Deja Vu....Bill Pursell & The Nashville Sweat

9. Now....Bill Pursell & The Mashvile Sweat

10. Why Do You Do It....Stretch

11. Write Me A Note....Stretch

12. Baby Love....Diana Ross & The Supremes

13. Ask Any Girl....Diana Ross & The Supremes

14. Pepper Box....The Peppers

15. Pinch Of Salt....the Peppers

16. Juke Box Jive....Rubettes

17. When Your Falling In love....Rubettes

18. Soley Soley....Middle Of The Road

19. To Remind Me....Middle of The Road

20. All Around My Hat....Steeleye Span

          10. Why Do You Do It

Nat King Cole.

 As this is a "Live" recording there is no gaps in the tracks so once again I had to record it as "Side One" And "Side Two"....This is a great recording and shows not only what a great singer Nat was but also shows off his Piano playing ability on "Where or When "

1. Ballerina
2. Funny
3. The Continental
4. I Wish You Love
5. You Leave Me Breathless
6. Thou Swell

1. My Kinda Love
2. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
3. Where Or When
4. Miss Otis Regrets
5. Joe Turner Blues

Lena Horne

I didn't know about this one at all so thanks to "Bob" across the channel !!! different Lena and well worth a listen !!

 When the album by vocalist Lena Horne backed by guitarist Gabor Szabo was released in 1970, it came out on Skye Records, a label formed in 1968 by Szabó, vibraphonist Cal Tjader, arranger Gary McFarland and executive Norman Schwartz. The label's catalog was largely jazz-pop...The company was forced into bankruptcy in late '70. After Skye's assets were acquired by Buddha Records in '71, the label re-issued Lena & Gabor as Watch What Happens, with a re-ordered playlist.

In 1969, when the album was recorded, Horne was largely an elegant variety show belter and hadn't recorded in about four years. By contrast, Szabó was a guitarist with a proto-fusion approach to chord voicings and tone.. The pairing of these two different artists could have been a mess. Instead, it was a stroke of genius by producers Szabó and McFarland. In fact, much of the musical fabric uniting these two was the handiwork of McFarland, who arranged the album.

          11. Watch What Happens.