Don Tiare - Strings Over Hawaii

Owing to the kind comments I received over the two previous orchestral exotica outings published last week, I thought I'd dig another out of the vaults, although this one dates from an earlier era.

01 - Blue Hawaii
02 - I'll Be Thinking Of You
03 - Lovely Hula Girl
04 - Sea Breeze
05 - Hawaiian Love Call
06 - Hawaiian Guitar
07 - Hawaiian Wedding Song
08 - Mapuana
09 - Forevermore
10 - Beyond The Rainbow
11 - Silhouette Hula
12 - Lilue-Leahi-Aloha

Don Tiare - Strings Over Hawaii

Mr Snookles

p.s. Owing to changing personal circumstances this blog will be closing shortly. Thanks to all those who have supported Third Island; I hope you have a few musical items to brighten your lives as a result.

Black Watch - War Pipe and Plaid

All Right!! Together at last - 1st Battalion The Black Watch (RHR) of Scotland, and 2nd Battalion The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada. Yes Scotland's most famous pipe band and its Canadian namesake combine to get the reels skirling and the airs keening.

That's the great thing about running your own blog, you get to post whatever tickles your fancy. Most people run for cover at the thought of massed bagpipes, but not me. I rate massed bagpipes third behind Yodelling Harmonists (The DeZurik Sisters), and Blind Religious Whistlers (Fred Lowry) in my list of Favourite Musical Eccentricities.

Download it if you dare...

01 - Fanfare For Heroes
02 - Highland Laddie
03 - Medley-Lord MacPherson of Drumochter-Old Adam
04 - Sarafand
05 - Tribute To John F. Kennedy-Mist Covered Mountains-John F. Kennedy
06 - Impression Of A Scottish Air
07 - Medley-The GairLoch-Farewell to Gibralter-All The Blue Bonnets
08 - The Longest Day
09 - Medley-Donald McIvor-Loch Loskin-Calum Campbell
10 - Eriskay Love Lilt - Road To The Isles
11 - Medley-Sir Colin Campbell's Farewell To Crimea-Collins Cattle-I See Mull
12 - Fridericus Rex
13 - Medley-Morag of DunVegan-Lady Madeline Sinclair-Piper Of Drummond-High Road To Linton-Deil Among The Tailors-Reel O'Tulloch

RS
Black Watch - War Pipe and Plaid

Mr O'Snookles

ps MegaUpload appears to be defunct....

Living Strings - Hawaiian Memories

It seems the 101 Strings weren't the only ones to visit the Isle Of Golden Dreams. The timeless fascination of Hawaii spread far and wide, as this English recording attests. Languid and tropical, it's the perfect summer companion. (Too bad it's the middle of winter down here in Oz...)

01 - To You, Sweetheart, Aloha
02 - My Isle Of Golden Dreams
03 - Beyond The Reef
04 - Now Is The Hour
05 - Hawaiian Memories
06 - Tiny Bubbles
07 - Aloha My Tani - Aloha Oe
08 - My Little Grass Shack
09 - Pearly Shells

RS
Living Strings - Hawaiian Memories
MU
Living Strings - Hawaiian Memories

Mr Snookles

101 Strings - The Romance Of Hawaii

And here's a dash of orchestral exotica to round off the evening. how they get those strings to sound like lap-steel guitars is beyond me...

01 - Sleepy Lagoon
02 - Moon Of Manakoora
03 - Paradise
04 - Pagan Love Song
05 - South Sea Serenade
06 - Sweet Hawaiian Kisses
07 - Hawaiian Bells
08 - 'Neath Azure Skies
09 - Hawaiian Magic
10 - Aloha Oe

RS
101 Strings - The Romance Of Hawaii
MU
101 Strings - The Romance Of Hawaii

Mr Snookles

Steptoe and Son - More Junk

A bit of nostalgia for lovers of British Comedy... The antics of the two co-dependent rag-and-bone men used to attract viewer audiences in the millions back in the sixties. That mixture of biting Cockney wit and pathos had a universal appeal. Music fans should note the theme and incidental music by Ron Grainer...

Interestingly, when I was looking online for a year for this album (1965) I noticed that second-hand copies at auction sites were asking around $60... I'm sure that 'Arold would be proud of me for picking it up for $8 from my friendly neighbourhood music store...

Part 1 - The Stepmother
Part 2 - The Musical Evening

RS
Steptoe and Son - More Junk
MU
Steptoe and Son - More Junk

Mr Snookles

ps - lots of kind comments appearing - it's nice to know people are finding the blog for the first time and having a good trawl...
pps - someone asked me for a Clive Dunn album that I mentioned in passing in a previous post. Sorry guys, this blog is dedicated solely to rips of vinyls from my own collection. The album in Question originally came from the legendary XYZ Cosmonaut blog. Perhap a request on the new Cosmobells site my help...

Charles Magnante - Carnival

Another fine release from Command records, this time featuring accordion virtuoso Charles Magnante along with a host of Command regulars such as Al Casiamente on guitar, Dick Hymen on piano plus Dick Dia, Doc Severinson, Phil Krauss and a host of others.

One must never underestimate the importance of the accordion in Space-Age Pop music. Charles actually designed his own accordion (The Eldorado) and kept a special laboratory for his researches into sound.

As with many Command releases the liner notes provide exhaustive detail on each song, ecstatically describing each pluck, strum or thwack as it occurs. I have of course reproduced all the notes for your further enjoyment... So sit back and enjoy the accordion exotica of Charles as he weaves his way amongst a collection of oh-so-familiar favourites.

01 - Carnival
02 - Two Guitars
03 - Brasilia
04 - Anna
05 - April In Portugal
06 - Yellow Bird
07 - La Cucaracha
08 - Never On Sunday
09 - Espana Cani
10 - Czardas
11 - Under Paris Skies
12 - Just Say I Love Her

RS
Charles Magnante - Carnival
MU
Charles Magnante - Carnival

Mr Snookles

Billy Vaughn - The Musical Wonderland of Billy Vaughn

Originally called "Chapel By The Sea", this album is the Australian version re-released with a different name and cover. It livves somewhere between the field of big-band pops and light classics. Easy and smooth, but with a bit more spice than the Ray Conniff - Percy Faith type of generic easy listening. Won't trouble you too much, but it's a pleasant enough outing from the prolific arranger.

01 - Chapel By The Sea
02 - Petite Fleur
03 - Exodus
04 - Can't Help Falling In Love
05 - Moon River
06 - Don't Break The Heart That Loves You
07 - Midnight In Moscow
08 - The Twist
09 - Tuff
10 - Route 66 Theme
11 - Bonanza Theme
12 - Wonderland By Night

RS
Billy Vaughn - The Musical Wonderland of Billy Vaughn
MU
Billy Vaughn - The Musical Wonderland of Billy Vaughn

Mr Snookles

Monique and Louis Aldebert - American Hits Sung In French

And here's one from the Snookle vaults. Released on the Australian Astor label around 1960, it features Monique and Louis performing Martini-friendly versions of your favourite lounge classics sung in Seductive French. Smooth and mellow, this is exactly what a lounge album should be. Turn down the lights in your space-age bachelor pad, put the pommes-de-frittes and coq-au-vin in the oven and invite that special mademoiselle over for an intimate evening a-la Francais...

01 - Moon River
02 - I Could Have Danced All Night
03 - Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing
04 - Bill Bailey
05 - Stardust
06 - Manhattan
07 - Volare
08 - Always
09 - Adieu Gars
10 - Over The Rainbow
11 - The Breeze And I
12 - Never On A Sunday

RS
Monique and Louis Aldebert - American Hits Sung In French

MU
Monique and Louis Aldebert - American Hits Sung In French

M. le Snookle

p.s. French titles on the back cover...
p.p.s. many great comments still coming in despite the lack of posts - thanks folks.
p.p.p.s. Some folks have been asking for re-ups of expired links. These links have expired because some-one has objected to them. My policy is not to re-up an album that has been removed, so sorry to those people that missed 'em...

Tim Hart - My Very Favourite Nursery Rhyme Record

Here's one of those curios that Shadrac is so expert at finding. The cream of the British folk scene sing nursery rhymes...

Shadrac says:

In the late 70's early 80's I was a fan of Steeleye Span, the folk-pop group that had a hit, in the UK at least,with 'All Around My Hat'.
One of the original members of Steeleye, along with Maddy Prior, was Tim Hart, your architypal dyed in the wool nasal voiced stick yer finger in yer ear folk revivalist. Actually I thought he was very good at what he did and was sad when he left the band in 1982.
He seems to have been airbrushed out of the pantheon of britfolk revivalists.
He apparently retired to the Canary Islands and has given up performing.

Anyway This album of kiddy nursery rhyme songs features many ex Steeleye members including Maddy Prior, John Kirkpatrick, Rick Kemp etc. Also features the pedal steel guitar of BJ Cole. Wow.

And like all the best folk records 'All titles trad. arr.'

01 - The Grand Old Duke Of York
02 - Sing A Song Of Sixpence
03 - Once I Caught A Fish Alive
04 - Medley Hey Diddle Diddle; Little Jack Horner; Little Miss Muffet
05 - Little Bo Peep
06 - Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
07 - Old Macdonald Had A Farm
08 - There Was An Old Woman Tossed Up In A Blanket
09 - Twinkle, Tinkle Little Star
10 - Boys And Girls Come Out To Play
11 - Nick Nack Paddy Wack
12 - Baa Baa Black Sheep
13 - Bobby Shaftoe
14 - Hush-A-Bye Baby
15 - Humpty Dumpty
16 - Lavender's Blue (Dilly, Dilly)
17 - London Bridge Is Falling Down
18 - Oranges And Lemons
19 - Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be

RS
Tim Hart - My Very Favourite Nursery Rhyme Record
MU
Tim Hart - My Very Favourite Nursery Rhyme Record

Shadrac Blintz via Mr Snookles

Stanley Black - Spain

Well you've probably noticed this is a part-time blog these days. Alas, life just gets in the way sometimes, and I don't have so much time for restoring vinyl, and so there's not so much music to post.

Still, we love our Stan here at Third Island, and when a friend gave me a copy of "Spain" by the maestro I had to rip it, even though it's appeared in other blogs around the blogosphere.

You know what to expect - sizzling arrangements, castanets a-plenty, maracas by the bushel and fiery Andalusian rhythms to get yer feet tappin'.

01 - Valencia
02 - Ay, Ay, Ay
03 - Malaguena
04 - Bullerias
05 - Ritual Fire Dance
06 - Granada
07 - Estrellita
08 - Macarenas
09 - Sevillanas
10 - Carmen Suite

RS
Stanley Black - Spain

MU
Stanley Black - Spain

Mr Snookles

Band of the Irish Guards - Marching With The Beatles

Remember many moons ago when Mr Snookles posted compilations called 'Break-Through'

If you have really good recall you will remember his request, upon hearing the arrangement of 'Michelle', contributed by the Band of the Irish Guards to the compilation, for a rip of the original album 'Marching with the Beatles'.

Well. thanks to the machinations of co-conspirator Shadrack Blintz, I now have a top-quality vinyl copy in my hot little hand and a first-class rip for your good selves.

If you're into alternative arrangements of Beatles songs, then this album is for you. Besides the martial bombast the big numbers, the Guardsmen tune into their softer inner selves, and side two has quieter exotica-tinged arrangements, and a hint of boogie as well. Delightfully orchestrated and cleanly recorded. Enjoy!

01 - She Loves You
02 - Yesterday
03 - I'll Keep You Satisfied
04 - From Me To You
05 - A Hard Day's Night
06 - All My Loving
07 - Can't Buy Me Love
08 - Things We Said Today
09 - Michelle
10 - It's For You
11 - I Want To Hold Your Hand
12 - Help

RS
Band of the Irish Guards - Marching With The Beatles
MU
Band of the Irish Guards - Marching With The Beatles

Mr Snookles

Frank Chacksfield - The World Of Frank Chacksfield

Broad, sweeping themes and a powerful orchestral sound. Frank new how to make his orchestra sound big. This comp shows some of his finest works, but I have to warn you, it came from a battered and scratched old piece of vinyl. The majority of it has restored well, but be aware that track 6 is distorted and you may wish to remove it from the collection.


01 - Ebb Tide
02 - Moulin Rouge Waltz
03 - My Prayer
04 - Fascination
05 - Jealousy
06 - Born Free
07 - Theme From Limelight
08 - Temptation
09 - The Blue Danube
10 - Love Letters In The Sand
11 - Cuban Boy
12 - Theme From 'Laurence Of Arabia'

RS
Frank Chacksfield - The World Of Frank Chacksfield
MU
Frank Chacksfield - The World Of Frank Chacksfield

Mr Snookles

D'Artega - The Breeze And I

Some tasty easy-orchestral sounds from Alfonso D'Artega. Ernesto Lecuona, whose music is featured here, is a major figure in the Space Age Pop scene. He brought the first successful Latin orchestra to the United States, fostered the careers of many of the most influential artists in Latin music, and composed many of its most enduring songs. His compositions Malaguena, La Comparasa, and The Breeze And I appear on numerous records. (Thank you again, Space Age Pop)

As far as I can tell, this record was recorded in 1946, though the info is a bit hazy. Any informed listeners out there - please give us the benefit of your wisdom in a comment...

01 - Malaguena
02 - Ante El Escorial
03 - Jungle Drums
04 - Armor Que No Es Verdad
05 - Aragonesa
06 - La Comparasa
07 - The Breeze And I
08 - Maor Que Bonito Has Vuelto
09 - No Tienes Corazon - El Merinaque
10 - Say 'Si Si'
11 - Gitanerias
12 - Cordoba

RS
D'Artega - The Breeze And I
MU
D'Artega - The Breeze And I

Mr Snookles

Paul Mauriat - Summer Memories

A little French sophistication from M. Mauriat. Highlights are the pomp of the Jesus Christ Superstar excerpt 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' , and the jaunty 'I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing'. I'm sure you all have lots of Paul Mauriat in your collection by now, but the light-as-a soufflé arrangements with their typical Gallic charm make this a worthy addition to the stable...

01 - The Godfather
02 - I Don't Know How To Love Him
03 - La Decadanse
04 - Butterfly
05 - Comme Un Soleil
06 - Day By Day
07 - A Summer Place
08 - The Summer Knows
09 - Mother Of Mine
10 - I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing
11 - Summer Memories
12 - Ebb Tide

RS
Paul Mauriat - Summer Memories
MU
Paul Mauriat - Summer Memories

M. Le Snooklé

ps. some wow and flutter on track 6 as the record had a slighly off-center hole - still, it adds to the period authenticity n'est pas?

Horst Jankowski - Return To The Black Forest

One of my favourite composers and the best of the Teutonic loungers IMHO. His iconic "Schwarzwaldenfahrt", better known as "A Walk in the Black Forest", is one of the great easy-anthems of the sixties. Horst's gently swinging jazz-tinged piano style is in evidence on this compilation, as is his talent an arranger...

01 - A Walk In The Black Forest
02 - Windmills Of Your Mind
03 - Eleanor Rigby
04 - A Shadow Of Lotus
05 - Gentle On My Mind
06 - Blue Spring
07 - Jerusalem
08 - A Bright Day's Hideaway
09 - El Condor Pasa
10 - Princess Doll
11 - Little Lady Butterfly
12 - A Song Of Joy

RS
Horst Jankowski - Return To The Black Forest
MU
Horst Jankowski - Return To The Black Forest

Mr Snookles

Exotic Guitars - Indian Love Call

Some easy surf-rock with Al Casey and the gang. In the late 1960s, Casey was approached by label owner Randy Wood about arranging and recording a set of current hits for a guitar ensemble with a slightly softer sound. Wood was hoping to attract a younger audience to his mainstream easy listening label, Ranwood. As "The Exotic Guitars," the concept won a respectable, if not huge, audience, and Casey went on to record several albums, each featuring his own arrangements.(Thank you Space Age Pop)

01 - Indian Love Call
02 - La Paloma
03 - Battle Hymn Of The Republic
04 - Pearly Shells
05 - Red Roses For A Blue Lady
06 - Sabre Dance
07 - Vaya Con Dios
08 - Galveston
09 - Green Door
10 - Petite Fleur
11 - Trying
12 - Moon River

RS
Exotic Guitars - Indian Love Call
MU
Exotic Guitars - Indian Love Call

Mr Snookles

Vera Lynn - Hits Of The Blitz

Time to put down that Martini and make yourself a nice cup of tea... British wartime sweetheart Vera Lynn sings the songs that saw a nation through one of its darkest hours.

01 - This Is The Army - Stagedoor Canteen - Lovely Day Tomorrow
02 - The White Cliffs Of Dover
03 - Don't Fence Me In
04 - Lilli Marlene
05 - That Lovely Weekend
06 - Who's Taking You Home - Wishing Will Make It So - Wish Me Luck
07 - When The Lights Go On Again - I'll Pray For You - We'll Meet Again
08 - A Nightingale Sang In Berkely Square
09 - Bless 'Em All - Seigfreid Line - Kiss Me Goodnight Sargeant Major
10 - You'll Never Know
11 - I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire - Maybe - Coming Home
12 - There'll Always Be An England

RS
Vera Lynn - Hits Of The Blitz

MU
Vera Lynn - Hits Of The Blitz

Mr Snookles

Rogers And Hammerstein - The King And I

We don't often go down the Musicals and Music Theatre path here at Third Island, but for this delightful piece of early exotica we can make an exception. With its hints of eastern splendour and memorable tunes it makes a worthy addition to any collection. The 'March Of The Siamese Children' has become an exotica standard - covered amongst others by Roy Harte and Milt Holland in their album 'Perfect Percussion' which can be found elsewhere on the blog.

01 - Overture
02 - I Whistle A Happy Tune
03 - My Lord And Master
04 - Hello Young Lovers
05 - March Of The Siamese Children
06 - A Puzzlement
07 - Getting To Know You
08 - We Kiss In A Shadow
09 - Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You
10 - Something Wonderful
11 - Song Of The King
12 - Shall We Dance
13 - Something Wonderful (Finale)

RS
Rogers And Hammerstein - The King And I

MU
Rogers And Hammerstein - The King And I

Mr Snookles

Gordon Jenkins - Hawaiian Wedding

Gordon Jenkins was a composer/arranger during the forties and fifties whose string arrangements and lush arrangements helped to define the easy listening sound. Most famous for his work with Frank Sinatra, he spent a number of years as music director at Decca.

This piece of proto-exotica sounds somewhat dated these days - (which of course is what we like...) the vinyl shows its age and some sections sound a bit thin and brittle. Still it has a calm, soothing quality, and those echoes of yesteryear have a mellow charm that still appeals - listen for the pizzicato strings that imitate ukuleles, and drift with the lush sounds of the Raplh Brewster singers.

01 - Beyond The Reef.mp3
02 - Blue Hawaii.mp3
03 - Now Is The Hour.mp3
04 - To You Sweetheart, Aloha.mp3
05 - Sweet Leilani.mp3
06 - Hawaiian Paradise.mp3
07 - Ke Kali Nei Au.mp3
08 - Moon Of Manaloora.mp3
09 - Moonlight On Diamond Head.mp3
10 - Heavenly Islands.mp3
11 - Honolulu Honeymoon.mp3
12 - Aloha Oe.mp3

RS
Gordon Jenkins - Hawaiian Wedding

MU
Gordon Jenkins - Hawaiian Wedding

Mr Snookles

p.s. A big Hi to a certain miss Tricia G. Concepcion niece of Jake Concepcion whose album "Sexy Saxes" is still available for download. Tricia dropped by to say thanks for supporting her uncle Jake. Tricia - it's always a pleasure to here from the artists we preview here at Third Island - I hope many more people continue to enjoy the music of your talented uncle.
Mr S.

Bobby Byrne - Shades of Brass

Altogether more hip and funky is Bobby Byrne's 'Shades of Brass'. High energy grooves, big brass sound - even a bit of Moog for good measure.

01 - Respect
02 - Help Yourself
03 - The Pendulum Swings Both Ways
04 - Delilah
05 - Feelin' Groovy
06 - Hurry Love
07 - A Shade Of Brass
08 - Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
09 - Who Is Gonna Love Me
10 - Barbarella
11 - Windy

RS
Bobby Byrne - Shades of Brass

MU
Bobby Byrne - Shades of Brass

Mr Snookles