“Una Noche En El Shanghai”   MAPO 69

(80 votes, average: 3.41 out of 5)

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“Chopin Hits in Stereo Hi-Fi”   Westminster

(100 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)

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“Serenade By Moonlight”   The Jay Stevens Concert Orchestra   Tops Records.

(34 votes, average: 3.09 out of 5)

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“Oye El Cuchy Frito Man”   Ray Terrace Featuring Vocalists Manny Roman and Willie Torres.   Jubilee Records.   Swinging Boogaloo from 1965!   Arranged by Ray’s Brother Pete Terrace.   Tracks include:   ABANIQUITO / CUCHY FRITO MAN / SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE / LOCO Y CONTENTO / HI HI HI / EN EL BARRIO / SONANDO / GUAGUANCO PARA LOS POLLOS / GOZANDO MI SON.   Cover Photo by Frank Lerner.

(52 votes, average: 3.85 out of 5)

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The Rolling Stones Decca EP   “Time Is On My Side”, “Congratulations”, “Off the Hook”, “Little Red Rooster”.

(66 votes, average: 3.41 out of 5)

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Iceberg Slim “Reflections” (1976) ALA Records. Producer: David Drozen; Executive producer: Louis Drozen; Photography: Robert Wotherspoon. Former Chicago pimp and convict, Slim (Robert Beck) reformed and became a published and celebrated author with his first autobiography, PIMP, The Story of My Life in 1969.   Slim passed away in 1992 at the age of 73. Rappers Ice Cube and Ice T, both cite Slim as the inspiration for their names.

With his polished delivery and smooth, almost soothing voice, Iceberg Slim could have been one of any number of beatnik poets, delivering elaborate monologues over smooth background music on 1976’s Reflections. The difference is Iceberg Slim (neé Robert Beck) was a pimp, and his stories are scathingly explicit, and, more often than not, extraordinarily compelling. The language can get graphic; this is not an album for the squeamish. For those who aren’t easily offended, though, this album will be spellbinding. Slim’s skills as a storyteller cannot be overstated; even at his crudest, he still spins riveting yarns. “The Fall” is virtually autobiographical, depicting his last days as a pimp and what sent him on a downfall to prison, leavened with scabrous humor.

“Broadway Sam” is a mean, hilarious story of another pimp who has the tables turned on him in prison. The second half of the record, though, is more poignant, as Slim remembers a lost love on “Durealla” and comes to terms with his relationship with his late mother on “Mama Debt.” Throughout the record, Slim is backed by jazzy music courtesy of the Red Holloway Quartet, which enhances the stories without overshadowing them. Many years later, of course, Slim would serve as the inspiration for gangsta rappers like Ice-T (who named himself after Slim) and Schoolly D. Too many of Slim’s followers, though, lack the mixture of street smarts and the intellectual and emotional depth shown here. For anyone interested in the roots of modern urban culture, Reflections is a must-hear. – Victor W. Valdivia, All Music Guide

(37 votes, average: 3.05 out of 5)

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This one’s personal. I met Terry Knight when I was 11. I was traveling alone on a plane from Cleveland to New York just after Thanksgiving 1972. I wasn’t too happy about heading back to boarding school and Terry and his beautiful Swedish girlfriend Pia invited me to sit between them. We played cards and talked and they really cheered me up. He told me that he managed Grand Funk Railroad, which at the time was one of the biggest bands around. We exchanged addresses and about a week later I got a box of Lps, cool T-shirts and other band swag. That Christmas and for the next three Christmas’s Pia and Terry and I exchanged cards. Much later I found this and his other records with Terry and the Pack. I read recently all about his falling out with Grand Funk, his failed attempts to cash in, his panned comeback with Mom’s Apple Pie, (a recalled cover that’s destined to be posted on Lp Cover Lover), and finally his descent into drugs before he got into a fight with his daughter and was killed by her boyfriend in 2004. At the time of my brief encounter, he was on top of the world with eight gold records. To me, he was just a really nice guy who went out of his way to cheer up a sad and lonely kid. I wonder how Pia is today.

(42 votes, average: 3.19 out of 5)

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“The Mighty Hercules” Golden Records. A Trans-Lux Television Presentation, Produced by Adventure Cartoons for Television Inc., The Mighty Hercules followed the adventures of mythology’s son of Zeus. Hercules traveled with his companions Helena, Newton a centaur, Prince Dorian and Tewt a satyr. The main recurring villain was Daedalius, the evil wizard. Other villains included Wilhemine the Sea Witch as well as the Mask of Vulcan. The theme song was by Johnny Nash. It was on the air from 1963-1966.

(58 votes, average: 3.05 out of 5)

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The Chad Morgan Song Book.   EMI Columbia.

(64 votes, average: 4.02 out of 5)

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Another from the pen of the always awesome Jack Davis!   “Spoofing the Big Ones!   Ben Colder as played by Sheb Wooley.   MGM Records.   1962.   Includes:   Don’t Go Near The Eskimos / Ballad Of A Mean Ole Queen / I Walk The Line No 2 / Hello Walls No 2 / Walking The Floor Over You No 2 / Don’t Take Your Cash To Town / Little Bitty Steer / Real Me / Devil Woman No 2 / Don’t Worry Bout Me No 2 / Shudders And Screams / Release Me No 2

(48 votes, average: 3.56 out of 5)

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