I saw Antoine “Fats” Domino play at JazzFest in 1990 and have always loved his music. He was a king there at the piano, big rings on his fingers, flashy suit. I think I read he lost everything in the flood. Here’s a sweet single courtesy of Fred.   Great liner notes on this mid- fifties collection and a nice illustration on the cover. Fat’s early classics are all on the Imperial label. This four song e.p. features his eponymous first hit “The Fat Man”.

(13 votes, average: 3.31 out of 5)

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Calypso Is Like So…..CooL, just like Robert Mitchum, the actor whose famous leer graced the film noir classics, “Crossfire” and “Cape Fear” , and who portaryed the hauntingly evil preacher in the surreal film classic, “Night Of The Hunter”. In the mid-fifties Mitchum was sent to Trinidad to film on location and wound up staying there for ten months, soaking up the culture and listening to calypsonians such as Lord Melody and Mighty Sparrow perform live. He returned to the US, singing the praises of calypso music, a style which had already been embraced by white America due to the recent popularity of Harry Belafonte. In 1956, Mitchum released this lp on RCA. Unfortunately, the label censors did not permit Mitchum to use the risque lyrics and double entendres that provide humor and zest to calypso music. Nevertheless, Mitchum employed the lyrical style of the music to great effect . While the lp contains some tame and lame versions of calypso standards, his take on “Tic ,Tic, Tic” and “Mama Look Boo Boo” capture the cool essence that was Robert Mitchum.

In 1948, actress Lila Leeds and actor Robert Mitchum were arrested for marijuana possession. The public had sympathy for him, and he went on to a great career. Leeds, on the other hand, struggled after getting out of jail, was introduced to heroin use while in jail and became a full-blown addict afterwards. She was last heard from working in a drug rehabilitation facility in the mid-1970s.

(32 votes, average: 4.47 out of 5)

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This is a young Barbara Eden of “I Dream of Jeannie” fame. Imagine Jeannie smoking and drinking in a sexy negligee and fuzzy slippers. Major Nelson! This is on the Bethlehem jazz label with music by jazz singer Herb Jeffries. Jeffries sang with big bands, (most notably with the Duke Ellington Orchestra), and starred in B-movie westerns in the forties and fifties. He was married to Tempest Storm the famous burlesque queen (“Teaserama” with Bettie Page) and was known as the “Bronze Buckaroo.” But it’s this sexy cover of the prudish Jeannie that would blow the mind of any seven year-old in the mid-sixties fantasizing about having a girl in a bottle.

(26 votes, average: 4.15 out of 5)

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Sometimes covers can seem like stills from a movie. Dramatic moments pulled from a bigger story. “Let me in you bastard! Let me in!” Maybe she’s not a great actress. Maybe if I knew what the songs were about I’d have a greater understanding, but I kind of like it mysterious.

(11 votes, average: 4.73 out of 5)

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I love kid’s records like this. Something sweet and innocent about it. I’m not even sure these fellas can really play.

(8 votes, average: 4.13 out of 5)

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Some covers are poetic and mysterious. They tell a story to be interpreted. Inspired by the music and time.

(21 votes, average: 4.52 out of 5)

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