Los Bravos “La Moto”   Columbia.   (1966).   Los Bravos was the first Spanish group to reach #2 on the UK charts and #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.   That one-hit wonder, “Black is Black,” sold over one million copies worldwide.   (A sad aside:   One of Los Bravos’ founding members Manuel Fernandez committed suicide on 20 May 1967, at the age of 23after the death of his bride Lottie Rey in an auto accident. He had been driving the car and was riddled with guilt.)

(50 votes, average: 3.32 out of 5)

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Pete Rodriguez (aka “The King Of The Boogaloo” ) “I Like It Like That (A Mi Me Gusta Asi)”   Alegre Records.   A Latin Soul classic. Personnel include: Pete Rodriguez (piano); Tony Pabon (vocals, trumpet); Alberto Gonzalez, Richie Rodriguez (vocals); Angelo Rodriguez (trumpet); Gilberto “Tiny” Archeval (bass guitar); Manny Rodriguez (congas); Benny Bonilla (timbales).   The group’s having a non-stop party on the album with heavy piano lines, rumbling bass underneath the grooves, tight timbales, and some shouted lyrics in English that are always very catchy.   The title cut, “I Like It Like That”, is the sort of groover that you’ll be singing for years — even after hearing it only once — and the album’s filled with other great cuts, like “Pete’s Madness”, “Micaela”, and “3 and 1” (Dusty Groove)

01-i-like-it-like-that

(47 votes, average: 3.19 out of 5)

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Alternate RCA UK cover of “Mmm Nice!” by   arranger, composer and conductor Bob Thompson, his chorus and orchestra   Recorded Aug. 1959.

Selected Personnel: Shelly Manne (drums), Larry Bunker (drums, perc.), Frank Capp (drums), Emil Richards (perc.), Bud Shank (Sax), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Ken Shroyer (trombone), Don Fagerquist (trumpet), Al Porcino (trumpet), Alton Hendrickson (guitar), Red Callender (horns).

Tracks: The Song is You, Younger than Springtime, People Will Say We’re in Love, They Can’t Take That Away from Me, While We’re Young, The Best Thing for you, Ain’t We Got Fun, Hello, Young Lovers, Do It Again,   joie_de_vivre   I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Playboy.

This record is a staple of any EZ listening/bachelor pad/lounge music library and features the most imaginative intrumentals with wordless vocal chorus. This is Thompson’s first LP.   Here’s the U.S. release with cover girl Sandy Warner:

(75 votes, average: 4.47 out of 5)

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The Smoke   “My Friend Jack”   An EP on Impact records (1967 – French)

(47 votes, average: 3.64 out of 5)

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Richard Du Bois “The outstanding testimony of Mr. America, Mr. Universe and Mr. U.S.A. “as given at the full gospel businessmen’s breakfast.   Houston Texas.   This recording will be an inpiration to you and your friends.”

(46 votes, average: 2.80 out of 5)

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“What do you know about DEMON POSSESSION?”   POSSESSED – by GOD or demons?   On POWER Records

(73 votes, average: 3.77 out of 5)

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At Home With the Lloyds

(50 votes, average: 3.74 out of 5)

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Gene Norman presents Dizzy Gillespie In Concert   Vogue Records EP.

(44 votes, average: 4.18 out of 5)

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“Sweet Caroline” Neil Diamond Uni Records (shown here with a very special spindle girl – my sweet Caroline!)

Officially released on September 16, 1969, Neil only recently revealed that he wrote this after seeing a Life magazine photo of Caroline Kennedy riding a pony in the mid-sixties.   But every Caroline owns it.   The song has been a tradition at Boston’s Fenway Park since 1997, and since 2002 it has been played at every game in the middle of the eighth inning.   Elvis liked to sing it.

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would

(37 votes, average: 2.62 out of 5)

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