Photography

“The Sound of New York” A Music-Sound Portrait. (1959) Written by Kenyon Hopkins. Produced by Creed Taylor. ABC-Paramount’s Aristocrat Series. Kenyon Hopkins is already represented on Lp Cover Lover with his soundtracks “The Hustler” and “Baby Doll.”

Frank Rehak, Wayne Andre, Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Saracco (tb); Bill Hixon (b-tb); Phil Woods (as); Ray Beckenstein (as, bs, b-cl, f); Harold Feldman (as, oboe); Phil Bodner (eng hrn, f); Barry Galbraith, Mundel Lowe (g); Wendell Marshall (b); Osie Johnson, Phil Kraus, Joe Venuto (perc); The Geri Beitzel Singers (vcl); Rudolph Desco (voice); Keene Crockett (sound effects); Kenyon Hopkins (arr).

a. The Sound Of New York (Arrival) (Kenyon Hopkins) - 2:29
b. Manhattan(Rodgers/Hart) - 2:44
c. Taxi Ride (Kenyon Hopkins) - 2:09
d. Take The “A” Train (Subway) (Billy Strayhorn) - 2:50
e. Waterfront (Kenyon Hopkins) - 2:59
f. Penthouse Serenade (Cocktail Party) (Jason/Burton) - 2:34
g. East Side, West Side(Fifth Avenue Parade) - 2:08
h. Construction (Kenyon Hopkins) - 2:06
i. Chinatown, My Chinatown (Chinese New Year) (Jerome/Schwartz) - 2:22
j. Coney Island Visit (Kenyon Hopkins) - 3:16
k. Lullaby Of Broadway(Dubin/Warren) - 2:5
l. The Sound Of New York (Departure) (Kenyon Hopkins) - 1:36

On Damp Records!

Don West “Hands”

Tchaikowsky on the Brazilian Masterpiece label. The International Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Alexandre Schnederhann.

“How can one express the indefinable sensations that one experiences while writing an instrumental composition that has no definite subject? It is a purely lyrical process. It is a musical confession of the soul, which unburdens itself through sounds just as a lyric poet expresses himself through poetry… As the poet Heine said, ‘Where words leave off, music begins.’ ” Piotr Ilyich Tchaikowsky

Sammy Y Sus Estrellas “Twist” on Coro

Herbie Mann’s “African Suite” by Johnny Rae’s Afro Jaz Septet. United Artists (1959)

“Twinkling Pinkies”  The Frank Ortega Trio.  On Jubilee Records.

Sax Sounds. Apollo Records. 1950’s jazz saxophone compilation with amazing graphics.

TWIST! “Explosivos Vol. IV.” A compilation from Mexico (I think) with bands like: “Los Electronicos”, “Los Crazy Boys”, “Los Locos Del Ritmo” in addition to Bill Haley Y Sus Cometas! A beautiful golden glow to this one.

“Shock Treatment” The Mel Henke Group on Tempo Records. Nice red vinyl on this one.

Tracks include: Cocky Cuckoo Clock; Pennies From Heaven; Paradis Toccata; In A Mist; Little Rock Getaway; Frenzied Flight; Shock treatment; I Surrender Dear; Dance Of The Cavemen; Kakachurian Toccata; I Can’t Believe you’re In Love With Me; In A Little Spanish Town

Coming up in a variety of Chicago bands in the ’40s, this pianist had an unusual career that included recording downright weird tunes such as “Shock Treatment,” “Cocky Coo-Coo Clock,” and “Frenzied Flight,” as well as creating what might be one of the masterpieces in the genre of lounge music, although experts in this style have been a bit relaxed about establishing an exact opinion. Henke shows up in the rhythm section on some Louis Armstrong records, and meanwhile over in Nashville, he once successfully placed a song with Conway Twitty. Henke was trained to please in writing ad copy, an influence that has been considered both a pro and con factor in his recorded works. Perhaps Henke’s greatest influence as a musician was in the advertising field itself, as he was innovative in mixing music and sound effects as an attention-grabbing factor in the commercials of the ’60s.

By the early ’40s he had settled in Los Angeles, leading his own trio on the side. This outfit landed a deal to make a pair of albums on the Contemporary label, which is where jazz buffs inevitably come across him. Fans of the type of challenging jazz often presented on this label may find the concoctions of Henke a bit bubbly; his followers seem to drift in more from the aforementioned loungey or space age waiting rooms. In 1955 he went to work for Disney’s television department, writing material for a great deal of the studio’s commercials as well as incidental music for the Disneyland television series. Henke ran his own production company as well, and was known for experimenting with sound effects and the concept of mixing dialogue into musical passages. Inevitably, he created a series of albums combining these techniques with full-length musical performances and instrumental skullduggery. La Dolce Henke, worth hunting down for its title alone, is considered his masterpiece. - Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide

Famous German Hunting Music. That’s scary.

“Lover” Jean Houben at the Organ A Masterpiece Hi-Fi Record.

“Midnight-Music.” Mid-sixties German. Cinematic and dreamy.

“In the Mood”

A Fuentes records release, “Te Cambie Por Otra” by Cesar Castro

Mario Albanese “Insonia” (”Insomnia”). Odeon from Brazil (1959). Courtesy of LP cover lover Desiderio (Julio Siveira). Loronix has this posted with a link to download the music! Check it out.