“La Melodia Viajea”  Una Fantasia Musicall en Papel.  “Gran Concurso de Recordables”  Philips Records was one of the greatest all-time labels for music and graphics.  This EP is from Spain.  Cover art by J. Briones (with a clear tip of the hat to Jim Flora!)

(12 votes, average: 4.08 out of 5)

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“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.   Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra and Keely Smith.  A rare EP and picture sleeve from Reprise Records in the UK from the album of the same name.   Cover photo from the Warner Bros. film “Robin and the Seven Hoods”.  In addition to Frank singing the title song, Sammy swings “Jingle Bells”, Dean croons “Peace on Earth and Silent Night” and Keely Smith (one of my faves with or without Louis Prima) serves up “The First Noel”.

(20 votes, average: 3.35 out of 5)

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Los Teen Tops “Rock”  Fontana Records (Spain)

(22 votes, average: 3.64 out of 5)

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Ritmos de Hoy  Belter Records (Spain)   Various Artists EP with Frank Bacon, Joanna Bell, Tony Steven and (my favorite) The Layabouts.

(17 votes, average: 3.24 out of 5)

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Cookie Carr  Melodias Inolvidables N. 4  Belter Records (Spain) .

(23 votes, average: 3.74 out of 5)

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De Bieteltjes  Artone Records (Netherlands)  I need help with the translation here!

(22 votes, average: 4.09 out of 5)

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Rockin’ Around with Ray Conniff, his orchestra and chorus  Philips Records  “Calling All Dancers!”

(17 votes, average: 3.59 out of 5)

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The Bob Crewe Generation  Songs from Barbarella “An Angel is Love” and “The Black Queen’s Beads”.  Cool cover with two shots of Jane Fonda in full space fashion from the Roger Vadim film.  This on Dot Records (Italy) import.

(25 votes, average: 4.08 out of 5)

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The Tornados  “Robot” / “Life On Venus”  Decca Records (UK)

“Robot” is a follow up of sorts to the far more famous, equally futuristic “Telstar.” It is a testament to writer-producer Joe Meek’s creativity that the songs do not sound more similar.

The song, like “Telstar,” begins with Joe Meek sound effects before musically depicting the titular machine coming to life through an increase in tempo, as if he were slowly speeding up like a locomotive. What follows next is a lovely, tuneful track driven as much by Meek’s early electric keyboards as it is by the signature guitar sound of the Tornados, which is able to rise brilliantly above the rest of the arrangement.

The song is one of many by Meek that deals with space aged or futuristic subject matter. He and the Blue Men created a whole album of such material, his landmark I Hear a New World.

This was the Tornados’ fourth single, and their third hit record, reaching number 19 on the British charts.

(23 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)

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“El Mosquito”  Caterina Valente   Globe-Trotter  Polydor Records (France)  A cute EP from 1954.  Hear it HERE!

(18 votes, average: 3.94 out of 5)

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