Third Island

Julie London - Sings Soft and Sweet

2011-10-15T15:45:00.004+11:00

Hi there groovers...

Well, it took the fabulous Julie London to drag Mr Snookles out of retirement. The one lounge Diva that Mrs Snookles is jealous of - and with good reason - what lounge lover could resist those smoky, sultry tones?

Julie recorded 32 albums in a career that began in 1955 with a live performance at the 881 Club in Los Angeles. Billboard named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955, 1956, and 1957. She was the subject of a 1957 Life cover article in which she was quoted as saying, "It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate."

Julie London - Sings Soft and Sweet

01 - Mad About The Boy
02 - I Must Have That Man
03 - Evenin'
04 - How Come You Like Me Like You Do
05 - Three O'clock In The Morning
06 - Nobody's Heart
07 - My Man's Gone Now
08 - Just The Way I Am
09 - I'm Glad There Is You
10 - Bewitched

Mr Snookles

Monty Python - Instant Record Collection

2011-01-29T12:28:00.002+11:00

A best-of collection from previous records. May not be around too long, so get it while you can...

Monty Python - Instant Record Collection

Mr Snookles

Monty Python - Another Monty Python Record

2010-12-13T18:54:00.002+11:00

Makes Ben Hur look like an epic....

Monty Python - Another Monty Python Record

Mr Snookles

Monty Python - Monty Python's Previous Record

2010-11-28T22:37:00.002+11:00

Hand over all your lupins....

Monty Python - Monty Python's Previous Record

The Full Monty - Pt. 1

2010-11-15T21:39:00.006+11:00

OK. Time for some more pythonesque humour with the chaps from the aerial circus. Coming your way over the next couple of weeks is the boxed set "All The Worst Of Monty Python", with all seven Monty Python records. Get em' while they're hot - they may not last...

First up, my personal favourite - "Matching Tie And Handkerchief". Enjoyable for the artwork alone...

Monty Python - Side 1
Monty Python - Side 2

Monty Python - Matching Tie And Handkerchief

Mr. Snookles

NB this is a new upload with side two fixed...

Enoch Light - Patterns In Sound Vol. 2

2010-11-07T17:04:00.004+11:00

'Cause it's always nice to have the set...

01 - Listen To Your Heart
02 - Canadian Sunset
03 - Ukelele Talk
04 - The Touch Of Your Lips
05 - Jersey Bounce
06 - Sing For Your Supper
07 - Chattanooga Choo Choo
08 - Somewhere My Love
09 - My Foolish Heart
10 - Mame
11 - Emily
12 - The Breadfruit Tree

Enoch Light - Patterns In Sound Vol. 2

Mr Snookles

Enoch Light - Patterns In Sound Vol. 1

2010-11-06T11:27:00.004+11:00

It's time to celebrate the weekend with some bombastic black plastic from Enoch Light and his various cronies. This album has appeared previously in this blog under the guise of the Kreisler Multi-Sonic Stereogram Demonstration Record. A pristine vinyl copy surfaced recently, so I took the opportunity to update my version.

As with most Project Three releases, it's designed to put your space-age bachelor pad stereo system through its paces. Turn it up. and let Enoch pin your ears back with 'Born Free', or groove with Tony Mottola's 'Tony's Tune'. Top stuff.

01 - April In Portugal
02 - Someone To Light Up My Life
03 - Tony's Tune
04 - Georgia On My Mind
05 - Hold Me
06 - A Tower Of Strength
07 - Theme From 'The Sand Pebbles'
08 - Born Free
09 - Blowin' In The Wind
10 - Pussyfoot
11 - Summer Samba
12 - Workin' In The Coal Mine

Enoch Light - Patterns In Sound Vol. 1

Mr Snookles

Klaus Wunderlich - Portrait in Gold

2010-11-05T21:49:00.004+11:00

If you only get one Klaus Wunderlich album - this should be it. Released as a box-set double album in 1974 on the Telefunken label, it features a retrospective of Klaus' work from his cheesy polka days to his wide stereo multi-layered wall-of-hammond multi-tracked pop covers, to his progressive moog and electronic piano latter-day freakouts. Highlights include the opening rocker 'Amarillo', a dazzling rendition of 'Goldfinger' and the moog imitating a canary in 'Canari-Cha-Cha'.

Unfortunately the box set cover was to big and unwieldy to be scanned, but as it was a truly awful brown colour with a minuscule photo of Klaus on the front, perhaps it's just for the best. The eight page, three-language, record-cover-sized booklet is faithfully reproduced however, with a special large resolution scan of the uber-cool Klaus photo shown above. Print it out and put it on your bedroom wall, or use it for the ultimate computer desktop background.

01 - Amarillo-Sacramento-Don't Go Down To Reno
02 - Die Bouzouki-Eine Freude-Junger Tag
03 - Was Soil Ict Tun - Hello-A - Michaela
04 - I Get A Little Sentimental Over You - Juanita
05 - Grand Prix D'amour - Da Nahm Er Seine Gitarre - La Montanara
06 - Rusticanella - Perpetuum Mobile - Donkey-Serenade
07 - Junger Mann Aus Gutem Hause - Bel Ami
08 - Ein Mann Und Eine Frau - Goldfinger
09 - Under An Umbrella - Why, Oh Why - Wenn Ein Junger Mann Komnt
10 - Sassa - Ach, Ich Hab' Sie Ja Nur - Komm In Die Gondel - Komm Zigany
11 - Eloise
12 - Londonderry Air
13 - Julisca From Budapest
14 - El Condor Pasa
15 - Amorada
16 - Brotzeit-Polka - Hammerchen-Polka
17 - Salome
18 - The Mill In The Black Forest
19 - Happy Wienerwald
20 - Canari-Cha-Cha
21 - Lotto-Zahlen
22 - Dufter Zahn
23 - Cherokee
24 - Lover
25 - Krimoogulus

Klaus Wunderlich - Portrait in Gold

Mr Snookles

Stanley Black - Intimate Percussion

2010-11-03T18:55:00.005+11:00

Our Third Island mini-renaissance continues with some delightful Latin Lounge from our man Stan. 'Intimate Percussion' sees Stanley toss aside his conductor's baton and sit down at his trusty grand piano, accompanied by some vibes, the occasional guitar, and the aforementioned percussion.

What is intimate percussion? It consists primarily of a collection of cabasas, maracas, and guiros being scraped, shaken and twirled to create what noted music critic Shadrak Blintz calls "shoosh factor".

Despite the faded colour, this vinyl was in pristine condition, and resulted in a sparkling, high-quality rip. Must-have Stan...

01 - Mr. Wonderful
02 - Petite Flueur
03 - Theme From 'A Summer Place'
04 - Mack The Knife
05 - Limelight
06 - Memories Are Made Of This
07 - The Poor People Of Paris
08 - On The Street Where You Live
09 - When I Fall In Love
10 - No Other Love
11 - Melodie D'amour
12 - When The Saints Go Marching In

Stanley Black - Intimate Percussion

Mr Snookles

Xavier Cugat - Bread, Love and Cha-Cha

2010-11-02T13:53:00.003+11:00

Cugie's back on Third Island with some classic cha-cha from 1957. I know some of you will already have this fab slice of latin louge, but for those who missed it when it floated throught the blogosphere in the past - here's your chance.

From the liner notes:
Some years ago, Italian movie-makers initiated a cycle beginning with Bread, Love and Dreams, continuing with Bread, Love and Jealousy, which became Frisky in the United States, and finally dwindling down to Bread, Love and.... Now new impetus is being injected, with the title Xavier Cugat has selected for his newest collection of Latin American music, and, as man cannot live by bread alone, neither can he live by cha-cha-cha alone, so the canny Cugie has made room for a pair of calypsos, a mambo and a guaracha mambo to diversify his program.

The extraordinary loaf of bread on which Señor Cugat is leaning in the cover photograph was especially designed and baked for that purpose; its transportation to the photographer's studio was covered by national news magazines, as befits a veritable king of loaves. The extraordinary creature leaning on Senor Cugat is the talented and incendiary Mrs. Cugat, known professionally as singer Abbe Lane.

01 - Bread, Love And Cha-Cha
02 - Frenesi
03 - Suavecito
04 - Very, Very Satisfied
05 - Whatever Lola Wants
06 - Penthouse Mambo
07 - La Paloma
08 - Maria La O
09 - Coco Seco
10 - Banana Boat Song
11 - Mi Musica Es Para Ti
12 - April In Portugal

Xavier Cugat - Bread, Love and Cha-Cha

Mr Snookles

Young Winston

2010-10-31T20:58:00.003+11:00

Surely every collection of music must have some marching band music in it. Stepping up with some military razamatazz are the Band Of H. M. Royal Marines, the Central Band Of The Royal Air Force, and the Band Of The Royal Military School Of Music. Stirring British patriotism that you can march to from the 1972 film 'Young Winston'.

01 - Pomp And Circumstance - March No. 4
02 - British Grenadiers
03 - Rule Britannia
04 - A Life On The Ocean Wave
05 - Sea Songs
06 - Royal Air-Force March Past
07 - Sarie Marais
08 - Evening Hymn And Last Post
09 - Imperial March
10 - March Of The Peers From 'Iolanthe'
11 - The Prince Of Denmark's March
12 - Queen Mary's Funeral March
13 - Scipio March
14 - Lilliburlero
15 - Colonel Bogey
16 - Pomp And Circumstance - March No. 1

Young Winston

Mr Snookles

Ivy Carey - A Toast To the Haggis

2010-10-26T21:28:00.006+11:00

The middle of the last century saw Scotland's International singing star, Ivy Carey, tour the world entertaining.

Ivy, who lived at 48 Finsbay Street, Drumoyne was born on 18th February 1928, and started her career with the BBC Junior choir. She went on to scoop a series of awards including The Golden Voice of Britain and the Miss Radio Scotland at only 16 years of age.
Known as the Scottish Nightingale Ivy had appeared in sell-out shows at London's Albert Hall, Glasgow's St Andrew's Halls and Edinbugh's Usher Hall were common and she toured Los Angeles, Hollywood, America and Canada.
She sang on shows that included, among others, Kenneth McKellar, Robert Wilson, Lex MacLean, Andy Stewart, Jimmy Shand, Sydney Devine and another Govanite, Johnny Beattie.

In 1953, she entertained the troops serving in Korea with shows in Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea itself.
She enjoyed a 3-year run in a 1950's TV series and every Christmas day Ivy would visit the Elder Cottage Hospital to entertain staff & patients.
What's more, Ivy once shared a stage with Stanley Black and his orchestra.

That said, what we have here is Ivy's veneration in song, to that most Scottish of delicacies, the haggis.
An L.P. containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours.
As Ivy asks poignantly 'Do ye slay it, or play it?'.
I suggest you play it and see how far you get.
Its a meal in its self.

01 - A Toast To The Haggis
02 - Come Along
03 - Tobermory
04 - The Hills And The Heather
05 - Old Scotch Mother Mine
06 - The Song Of The Clyde
07 - Bonnie Scotland
08 - Loch Lomond
09 - Shira Glen
10 - Hillside In Scotland
11 - Granny's Hielan' Hame
12 - The Hoosey Medley

Ivy Carey - A Toast To the Haggis

Shadrach McBlintz

Stanley Black - Peer Gynt

2010-10-26T21:10:00.004+11:00

Here's the second of our Phase 4 concert series. Third Island MVP Stanley Back dons the tails and takes up the baton to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra. Legendary producer Tony D'Amato teams up with our Stan to serve up a refined version of this most popular of classics with the orchestral colours given full play. Stanley lets the orchestra do the talking as the tone colours blend seamlessly into one another to create a whole that is somehow greater than the sum of its parts. Enjoy.

01 - Morning
02 - Ase's Death
03 - Anitra's Dance
04 - Ingrid's Lament
05 - In The Hall Of The Mountain King
06 - Shepherd's Boy
07 - Norwegian Rustic March
08 - Nocturne
09 - March Of The Dwarves
10 - Norwegian Dance No. 2

Stanley Black - Peer Gynt

Mr Snookles

Albert Ketèlbey - The Immortal Works Of Ketèlbey

2010-10-25T17:36:00.003+11:00

Hello, gentle reader. Time to cast aside that Martini, and pour yourself a Pimms as we delve into the delightful world of the Light Classics. Who better to start with than Albert Ketèlbey - the man who invented exotica 50 years before Les Baxter, Martin Denny and co. made it de rigeur for lounge lovers.

'In A Persian Market' has become a standard, 'In A Monastery Garden' complete with bird calls has also been recorded innumerable times. So sit back in your armchair and let the soothing sound of this beautifully recorded Phase 4 record dissolve your worries and cares...

01 - In A Monastery Garden
02 - Wedgewood Blue
03 - In The Mystic Land Of Egypt
04 - Bells Across The Meadows
05 - In A Chinese Temple Garden
06 - The Sanctuary Of The Heart
07 - 'Appy 'Ampstead
08 - The Phantom Melody
09 - In A Persian Market

Albert Ketèlbey - The Immortal Works Of Ketèlbey

Mr Snookles

Hugo Montenegro - Good Vibrations

2010-10-23T10:13:00.005+11:00

From 1969, it's the Now Sound of Hugo Montenegro. Harpsichords, baroque trumpets and whistlers fill out the sound of these pop classics from the golden 60's. Check out the Space Age Pop site for a good overview of Hugo's career.

01 - Good Vibrations
02 - Classical Gas
03 - Another Time, Another Place
04 - Tony's Theme
05 - A Future Left Behind
06 - Lady In Cement
07 - Happy Together
08 - Lullaby From 'Rosemary's Baby'
09 - Knowing When To Leave
10 - Night Rider
11 - Love Is Blue

Hugo Montenegro - Good Vibrations

Mr Snookles

Ronnie Ronalde - The Yodelling Whistler

2010-09-22T19:37:00.003+10:30

If there's one thing I love it's a good siffleur. Ronnie Ronalde (born Ronald Charles Waldron, 1923, London) is a British music hall singer and siffleur. Ronalde is famous for his voice, whistling, yodelling, imitations of bird song and stage personality.

Ronalde’s first recordings were with Decca Records, but his first major label contract came from EMI. Ronalde would also join Pye, Major Minor and Columbia records, becoming one of their biggest sellers. Ronalde was a million selling artiste in the pre-Beatles age.

“If I Were a Blackbird” (1950) is among Ronalde’s most famous songs. This rendering of Delia Murphy’s Irish folk song had him in the British top 20 for a record 6 months. She would later jovially express her thanks for boosting her income. Other songs include “Tritsch Tratsch Polka” (in which the speed of delivery illustrates Ronalde’s excellence in the art of whistling), “Bells Across the Meadow” (by Albert Ketèlbey), and many more. (Thanks Wikipedia)

While his vocal style is somewhat dated, his whistling ability is not to be missed - and, if like me, you like a good yodeller then this is a must have. There's some fab youtube vids if you're interested. The vinyl is showing some signs of wear but has scrubbed up pretty well overall...

01 - The Yodelling Whistler
02 - Bells Across The Meadow
03 - Macnamara's Band
04 - Dream Of Olwen
05 - If I Were A Blackbird
06 - On Wings Of Song
07 - The Skaters Waltz
08 - The Yodelling Boy
09 - Song Of The Mountains
10 - The Pleasant Peasant
11 - Sanctuary Of The Heart
12 - Tritsch Tratsch Polka
13 - When You Were Sweet Sixteen
14 - Ave Maria

Ronnie Ronalde - The Yodelling Whistler

Mr Snookles

Sarah Vaughn - Sings The Beatles

2010-08-14T10:21:00.003+10:30

Hello good blogfolk. It's been a while hasn't it? First, a kind thank you to all the folk that have been leaving messages of support. Some links have expired, as someone has asked for them to be removed. Please note, if a link has disappeared because someone has objected, I will not be re-upping - sorry - you just had to be there at the time.

However, you patience has been rewarded, by our latest offering, the terminally cool jazz reworkings of the evergreen Beatles catalog, this time by Sarah Vaughn, with a host of jazz luminaries, including Lee Ritenour on guitar, Toots Thielmans on harmonica, Jeff Porcaro and Dave and Marty Paich.

From 1981, this is almost yesterday compared to the vintage of most offerings on this site. The 80's jazz fusion synth may sound a little unusual at first, but I know you will grow to love the album, and be amazed by the range and power of Sarah,s vocal delivery. At times it reminded of Yma Sumac herself.

This album was bought by Mr Snookles during a recent sojourn in Gay Paree, from the terminally hip CrocoJazz shop in the Rue de la Montagne in Paris...

Sarah Vaughn - Sings The Beatles

Enjoy - Mr Snookles Avec Shadrac Blintz.

Poss Miyazaki - Hawaiian Exotics

2010-03-14T19:04:00.004+11:00

Time for some Japanese exotica with Poss Miyazaki and his Hawaiian All-Stars. Long time followers of the blog will remember some other postings from the Japanese King Records label. For the uninitiated SDS or Super Dynamic Sound was the Japanese answer to the Command Records Project 3 or Phase 4 hi-fi wonder-sound. As such you can read all about it (even which microphones were used) on the back cover.

As this is an Australian Festival pressing it's not the same as the original King vinyl, but nonetheless packs a fair audio punch. Lots of shimmering lap-steel guitar, some electone organ courtesy of Shiro Michi, a smattering of vibes and those Hawaiian all-stars singing some tasty choruses. Enjoy.

01 - Ta-Huwahuwai
02 - Sweet Leilani
03 - Love Song Of Kalua
04 - Little Grass Shack
05 - Hilawe
06 - Moon Of Manakoora
07 - Blue Hawaii
08 - Malihini Mele
09 - Hawaiian Wedding Song
10 - Mama Iti E Papa E
11 - Beyond The Reef
12 - Aloha Oe

Poss Miyazaki - Hawaiian Exotics

Mr Snookles

Bennelong Players - Baroque to Beatles

2010-03-08T15:54:00.003+11:00

Co-conspirator Shadrack Blintz has been on the prowl for some new old vinyl, and has provided a fewq tasty titbits for your enjoyment. Today's bon-mot is an Australian rarity - the Bennelong Players serving up some popular tunes of the day in their chamber ensemble format.

(Historical note Bennelong was the name of a famous Australian Aboriginal - one of the first to learn about European ways, and to teach the new settlers about traditional culture. The Sydney Opera house is situated on Bennelong point.)

The fare wanders from light classics to Beatles covers and hits of the moment - Australian readers will be able to date the album to a nicety by the inclusion of the theme from 'Rush' - a hit TV series about the gold-rush days.

01 - Joy
02 - Greensleeves
03 - German Dance
04 - Eleanor Rigby
05 - Theme From Rush
06 - Bouree
07 - Scarborough Fair
08 - Nerini
09 - La Volta
10 - Bachianas Brazilleiras
11 - Yesterday
12 - Kemps Jig
13 - Ariosa
14 - The Entertainer

Bennelong Players - Baroque to Beatles
Mr Snookles

Readers Digest Boxed Set - Gay Festival of Light Classics

2010-02-21T15:43:00.002+11:00

Ah the innocence of yesteryear - when was the last time you could talk about a "Gay Festival" and be thinking of music?

Anyway, for those of you who haven't got Readers Indigestion just yet, here's a bumper crop of 12 albums of the Light Classics we know and love at Third Island - All in one juicy post...

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 01

01 - Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien Op. 45
02 - Berlioz - Minuet Of The Will'o'the Wisps
03 - Berlioz - Ballet Of The Sylphs
04 - Berlioz - Rakoczy March
05 - J. Strauss Jnr. - Thunder And Lightening Polka
06 - Smetana - The Moldeau
07 - Tchaikovsky - Andante Cantabile
08 - Wagner - Ride Of The Valkyries

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 02

01 - Humperdinck - Hansel And Gretel Overture
02 - Franz Shubert - Rosamunde - Entr'acte
03 - Sarasate - Gypsy Airs
04 - Franz Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody
05 - Felix Mendelssohn - Midsummer Night's Dream
06 - Lehar - Gold And Silver Waltz

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 03

01 - Rossini - Semiramide Overture
02 - Tchaikovsky - Sleeping Beauty Ballet - Waltz
03 - Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave
04 - Herold - Zampa Overture
05 - Verdi - Aida - Grande Marche
06 - Handel - Xerxes - Largo
07 - Ponchielli - La Giaconda - Dance Of The Hours

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 04

01 - Bizet - Carmen Suite
02 - Offenbach - The Tales Of Hoffman - Barcarolle
03 - Ravel - Bolero
04 - Gounod - Faust - Ballet Music

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 05

01 - Suppe - Poet And Peasant Overture
02 - Weber - Invitation To The Dance
03 - Paganini - Moto Perpetuo
04 - J. Strauss Jnr. - Tritsch-Tratsch Polka
05 - Wagner - Lohengrin Act Iii - Prelude
06 - Greig - Norwegian Dance No.2
07 - Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 06

01 - Mozart - The Marriage Of Figaro - Overture
02 - Puccini - Manson Lescaut - Intermezzo
03 - Borodin - Prince Igor - Overture
04 - Dukas - The Sorcerer's Apprentice
05 - Debussy - Petite Suite
06 - Offenbach - Opheus In Hades - Overture

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 07

01 - Mendelssohn - Fingal's Cave Overture
02 - Liszt - Les Preludes
03 - Elgar - Pomp And Circumstance
04 - Moussorgsky - Night On Bare Bountain
05 - Sullivan - Overture Di Ballo

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 08

01 - Suppe - Light Cavalry Overture
02 - J. Straus Jnr. - Tales From The Vienna Woods
03 - Liszt - Liebestraum
04 - J. Straus Jnr. - Radetzky March
05 - Flotow - Martha - Overture
06 - J. Straus Jnr. - Artist's Life
07 - Schubert - Marche Militaire
08 - Waldteufel - Estudiantina Waltz

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 09

01 - Glinka - Russlan And Ludmilla Overture
02 - Rubinstein - Kamennoi-Ostrow
03 - Rossini - William Tell Overtue
04 - Verdi - La Traviata - Prelude To Act 1
05 - Verdi - La Traviata - Prelude To Act 3
06 - Verdi - Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo
07 - Wagner - Siegfried's Rhine Journey

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 10

01 - Mozart - Eine Kliene Nachtmusik - Allegro
02 - Mozart - Eine Kliene Nachtmusik - Andante
03 - Mozart - Eine Kliene Nachtmusik - Allegretto
04 - Mozart - Eine Kliene Nachtmusik - Allegro
05 - J. Strauss Jnr. - The Blue Danube
06 - Brahms - Academic Festival Overture
07 - Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 11

01 - Auber - The Crown Diamonds Overture
02 - Gounod - Funeral March Of A Marionette
03 - Pierne - March Of The Little Lead Soldiers
04 - Saint-Saens - Danse Macabre
05 - Ravel - La Valse
06 - Borodin - Polovetzian Dances

Gay Festival of Light Classics - Disc 12

01 - Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite - Overture Miniature
02 - Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite - Marche
03 - Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite - Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
04 - Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite - Trepak
05 - Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite - Arabian Dance
06 - Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite - Chinese Dance
07 - Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite - Dance Of The Reed Flutes
08 - Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite - Waltz Of The Flowers
09 - Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - Act 2, No. 10 - Scene
10 - Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - Act 3, No 17 - Waltz
11 - Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - Act 2, No 13 - Dance Of The Little Swans
12 - Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - Act 1, No.2 - Waltz
13 - Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - Act 2, No. 13 - Pas De Deux
14 - Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - Act 3, No. 23 - Mazurka
15 - Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - Act 3, No.15 - Wedding Dance

Mr Snookles

Popular Music That Will Live Forever 5

2009-12-31T10:22:00.002+11:00

Stay tuned for more Readers Digest goodness in the new year...

Disc 09: Malcolm Lockyer - Fox Trots For Dancing

01 - Top Hat - Let's Face The Music And Dance
02 - Love Walked In - I Kiss Your Hand, Madame
03 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter - With A Little Bit Of Luck
04 - Marie - Cheek To Cheek
05 - Whispering - All I Do Is Dream Of You
06 - Avalon - Tip-Toe Through The Tulips
07 - I've Got You Under My Skin - A Fine Romance
08 - Who's Sorry Now - I Can't Give You Anything But Love
09 - Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue - Toot, Toot Tootsie
10 - The Way You Look Tonight - Thank Heaven For Little Girls

Disc 10: Mike Sammes - Songs That Will Live Forever

01 - Side By Side
02 - Stephen Foster Medley
03 - My Blue Heaven
04 - Heart Of My Heart
05 - Till We Meet Again
06 - The Band Played On - In The Good Old Summertime
07 - Let Me Call You Sweet Heart - Down By The Old Mill
08 - Shine On, Harvest Moon - Bye Bye Blackbird
09 - The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
10 - All Alone - Always
11 - Auld Lang Syne
12 - Goodnight, Sweetheart

Discs 9 & 10

Mr Snookles

Popular Music That Will Live Forever 4

2009-12-31T10:14:00.004+11:00

Disc 07: Robert Bentley - Music for Relaxation

01 - Vilia
02 - The Very Thought Of You
03 - Tenderly
04 - Sleepy Lagoon
05 - Plaisir D'amour
06 - Torna A Surriento - Santa Lucia
07 - As Time Goes By
08 - La Mer
09 - Lili Marlene
10 - Speak To Me Of Love
11 - Symphonie
12 - Stranger In Paradise

Disc 08: Martin Slavin - Waltzes and Latin Rhythms for Dancing

01 - Stars In My Eyes
02 - Under Paris Skies - Petite Waltz
03 - Three O'clock In The Morning - The Loveliest Night Of The Year
04 - Gypsy Song - Merry Widow Waltz
05 - Paradise
06 - Lover
07 - Mambo Jambo - Much More Mambo
08 - Besame Mucho - You Belong To My Heart - Amor
09 - Sweet And Gentle - Sway - Patricia
10 - Capullito De Aleli - Un Poquito De Tu Amor
11 - Brazil - Tico Tico - Copacabana

Discs 7 & 8

Mr Snookles

Popular Music That Will Live Forever 3

2009-12-30T13:02:00.006+11:00

Disc 05: Band Of The British Guards - Stirring Marches

01 - Colonel Bogey March
02 - Stars And Stripes Forever
03 - The Regiment Of Sambre And Meuse
04 - Il Bersagliere
05 - El Capitan
06 - La Marseillaise
07 - Semper Fidelis
08 - On The Mall
09 - Washington Post March
10 - Old Comrades
11 - King Cotton
12 - O Canada - The Maple Leaf Forever

Disc 06: Hill Bowen - Music for Dining

01 - Fascination
02 - Arrivederci Rome
03 - Granada
04 - Star Dust
05 - Autumn Leaves
06 - La Vie En Rose
07 - April In Portugal
08 - Volare
09 - Canadian Sunset
10 - C'est Si Bon
11 - Poinciana
12 - Grinzing

Discs 5 & 6

Mr Snookles

Popular Music That Will Live Forever 2

2009-12-30T12:56:00.002+11:00

Disc 03: Hill Bowen - Music From Films

01 - Warsaw Concerto
02 - Laura
03 - La Strada
04 - Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing
05 - Song From 'Moulin Rouge'
06 - Intermezzo
07 - Exodus
08 - Over The Rainbow
09 - Tara's Theme
10 - The High And The Mighty
11 - Gigi

Disc 04: Malcolm Lockyer - Music From Films

01 - Around The World
02 - Third Man Theme
03 - Cornish Rhapsody
04 - Carioca
05 - Terry's Theme
06 - Falling In Love Again
07 - Begin The Beguine
08 - March Of The Siamese Children
09 - Dream Of Olwen
10 - Three Coins In The Fountain
11 - Anna
12 - High Noon

Discs 3 & 4

Mr Snookles

Readers Digest - Popular Music That Will Live Forever

2009-12-30T12:40:00.004+11:00

Yes - more Readers' Digest magic - for all the half-a-dozen people around the globe that like 'em...

I have a fascination for these boxed sets that defeats any considered analysis. In particular the Light Classics that people used to buy to impress their friends ("Why Abner, you're so edjamicated") and then never listen to...

Here's another 10 disc set by people you've probably never heard of. The discs were in prime condition, so the audio quality is good, and the variety sums up the Readers Digest ethic - no rough edges, nothing to offend - nothing, in fact, that would dare to interrupt you if you happen to nod off while listening in your favourite easy chair.

Discs 1 & 2 by New Symphony Orchestra Of London

Disc 01 - Popular Concert Favorites

01 - 'Die Fledermaus' Overture
02 - Greensleeves
03 - Habanera (From 'Carmen')
04 - Polonaise In A Flat Opus 53
05 - Jalousie
06 - Londonderry Air
07 - Panis Angelicus
08 - Ave Maria
09 - Turkish March (From 'The Ruins Of Athens')
10 - Procession Of The Sardar (From 'Caucasian Sketches')

Disc 02 - Popular Concert Favorites

01 - H.M.S. Pinafore
02 - Hora Staccato
03 - Minuet In A Major
04 - Ritual Fire Dance
05 - The Skater's Waltz
06 - Naila (Intermezzo)
07 - Flight Of The Bumblebee
08 - Humoresque
09 - Suite From 'Porgy And Bess'

Discs 1 & 2

Mr Snookles

Ricardo Santos - Holiday in France

2009-12-01T21:29:00.002+11:00

This is a fabulous album by Ricardo Santos AKA Werner Muller. I bought this a coupla years ago but it was in such poor condition it was unable to be restored. It's a truly F.A.B. album so imagine my delight when I found a high quality rip at Subway Detour. Git on over there and grab yerself a copy...

Ricardo Santos - Holiday in France

Mr Snookles

Readers Digest - James & Bert Boxed Set Pt. 5

2009-11-29T21:24:00.003+11:00

OK, time to put this thing to bed. Disc 9 features the chaps live in concert. I've also added the artwork from the box so that you get the whole shebang...

Disc 9 - In Concert

01 - Some Of These Days
02 - Caravan
03 - I Can't Give You Anything But Love
04 - Hold Me
05 - Out Of Nowhere
06 - There I've Said It Again
07 - Mack The Knife
08 - America
09 - Begin The Beguine
10 - Perfida
11 - Donkey Serenade
12 - Kumbaya

Readers Digest - James & Bert Boxed Set Pt. 5

Mr Snookles

Readers Digest - James & Bert Boxed Set Pt. 4

2009-11-29T21:18:00.003+11:00

Part 4 of the extravaganza...

Disc 7 - Instrumentally Kaempfert

01 - Somebody Loves Me
02 - It's The Talk Of The Town
03 - The World We Knew
04 - Tammy
05 - How Deep The Ocean
06 - You Are My Way Of Life
07 - Unchained Melody
08 - I'll Get By
09 - It Makes No Difference
10 - Once In A While
11 - Two Can Live On Love Alone
12 - Where Flamingos Fly

Disc 8 - The James Last Beat

01 - Cecilia
02 - Everybody Get Together
03 - Blowin' In The Wind
04 - Aquarius
05 - Go Away Little Girl
06 - I Hear You Knocking
07 - Let The Sun Shine In
08 - Girl Of The North Country
09 - House Of The Rising Sun
10 - When I'm Dead And Gone
11 - Proud Mary
12 - She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

Readers Digest - James & Bert Boxed Set Pt. 4

Mr Snookles

Readers Digest - James & Bert Boxed Set Pt. 3

2009-11-22T09:28:00.004+11:00

Part three of the instalment. The boys are feeling the tugging of the heartstrings as they experience l'amour....

Disc 5 - Kaempfert In Love

01 - I'll See You In My Dreams
02 - Gone With The Wind
03 - Strangers In The Night
04 - My Love For You
05 - Don't Forbid Me
06 - I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
07 - I Love How You Love Me
08 - Lullaby For Lovers
09 - Drifting And Dreaming
10 - This Song Is Yours Alone
11 - One Morning In May
12 - Autumn Leaves

Disc 6 - James Last In Love

01 - Time After Time
02 - Games That Lovers Play
03 - Moonglow
04 - Elizabethan Serenade
05 - Passion Flower
06 - You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
07 - Secret Love
08 - Mr. Tambourine Man
09 - Help Me Girl
10 - Close Your Eyes
11 - Fly Me To The Moon
12 - Happy Heart

Readers Digest - James & Bert Boxed Set Pt. 3

Mr Snookles

Readers Digest - James & Bert Boxed Set Pt. 2

2009-11-14T20:02:00.005+11:00

Discs 3 and 4 for your further easy-listening pleasure...

Disc 3 - Dance Time - Bert Kaempfert

01 - Time On My Hands
02 - Living It Up
03 - So What's New
04 - Pussy Footin'
05 - Stepping Pretty
06 - The Sheik Of Araby
07 - The Happy Trumpeter
08 - Every Sunday Morning
09 - La Cumparsita
10 - Mister Sandman
11 - Tricky Trombones
12 - Stompin' At The Savoy

Disc 4 - Latin A La James Last

01 - La Paloma
02 - Tico Tico
03 - Cherry Pink And Apple-Blossom White
04 - Java
05 - Un Poco Rio
06 - La Cucaracha
07 - Patricia
08 - Delicado
09 - Siboney
10 - O Cangaceiro
11 - Fandango
12 - Brazil

RS
Readers Digest - James & Bert discs 3 and 4

Mr Snookles

Readers Digest - James & Bert Boxed Set

2009-11-11T22:30:00.007+11:00

OK!! Time for the swinginest box-set of them all. Your favourite artists - your favourite tracks - in a different order!!

Nine discs - four of Bert, four of James, and one live disc featuring both artists. Lots of candystripe cover art an some gushing liner notes. This is EaZy...

Disc 1 - The World Of Bert Kaempfert

01 - Swingin' Safari
02 - Spanish Eyes
03 - Wimoweh
04 - The Portugese Washerwoman
05 - Weiderseh'n
06 - Cha Cha Brazilia
07 - Tahitian Sunset
08 - Danke Schoen
09 - Poinciana
10 - A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
11 - Skokiaan
12 - The Japanese Farewell Song

Disc 2 - The World Of James Last

01 - Granada
02 - Mexico City
03 - Canadian Sunset
04 - That's Life
05 - Espana
06 - (I Left My Heart) In San Fransisco
07 - Guantanamera
08 - April In Portugal
09 - Havah Nagila
10 - The Pearl Fishers
11 - Malaguena
12 - Around The World

Note - an eagle-eared reader noticed some skips on tracks 11 and 12 of the james last album. I have re-upped the post with the tracks fixed. if you have already downloaded the albums I have also upped the fixed tracks as a separate dl so you don't have to download the whole shebang all over again.
RS
James & Bert Boxed Set discs 1 and 2

James Last - tracks 11 and 12
Mr Snookles

Kenneth Grahame - The Wind In The Willows

2009-11-06T19:49:00.005+11:00

I'm feeling in a prosaic mood at the moment - the spoken word is my mot juste. Here is a recording from the early 60's of everyone's favourite children's book 'The Wind In The Willows'. Lots of plummy British accents as Ratty, Mole, Badger and the gang discover automobiles and river picnics.

Timeless fun even if Mole does sound like Quentin Crisp...

01 - The River Bank - The Open Road
02 - The Wild Wood - Mr. Badger - Dolce Domun
03 - Mr. Toad's Adventures
04 - The Further Adventures Of Toad - The Return Of Ulysses

Two Discs in one dl.

RS
Kenneth Grahame - The Wind In The Willows

Mr Snookles

Stanley Black - France

2009-10-31T14:19:00.004+11:00

More classic lounge from the master. Phase 4 sound, huge orchestra, hundreds of singing Mormons, and the quirky and inventive arrangements of M. Noir. I have also included an interview with Tony D'Amato, producer of the phase 4 series. D'Amato goes on record to state that our Stan was the most brilliant arranger he ever worked with. High praise, but I for one have to agree - Stan's the man...

01 - I Love Paris
02 - What Now My Love
03 - Hi Lili, Hi Lo
04 - At Last, At Last
05 - Gigi Medley
06 - La Normandie Can Can
07 - Madmoiselle De Paree
08 - La Mer
09 - Plasir D'amour
10 - Soldiers' Medley

RS
Stanley Black - France

Mr Snookles

Peter Ustinov - Babar The Elephant

2009-10-31T14:01:00.004+11:00

Hi Folks. Well - you know how it is - nothing is certain in the ephemeral world of blogdom. It seems that I might get around to posting the odd curio on the site - I still find time to rip the odd speck of vinyl, so perhaps I will share a few things with you, gentle reader...

So, here we go.... First up, more spoken word. The golden tones of Peter Ustinov, the sparkling music of Francis Poulenc, and the delightful story of Babar the Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff - 'nuff said.

01 - The Story Of Babar
02 - The Story Of The Little Tailor

RS
Peter Ustinov - Babar The Elephant

The New Mr Snookles

Dylan Thomas - Under Milkwood

2009-07-11T22:52:00.004+10:30

Thanks to all the people who "signed the guest book" in my signing off post - it took me by surprise, and I'm touched by all the well-wishers. By way of thanks for all the kind comments I thought I'd leave this final offering, though it's a bit of a departure from the lounge and exotica that formed the staple fare of this blog.

To quote the liner notes:

This is the record of Dylan Thomas' final, bawdy, beautiful work, of its premiere performance on May 14, 1953, with Thomas, a cast of five American actors, and an audience.

It is the only recording ever made with Thomas in the cast, and it owes its existence to the chance thought someone had just before curtain time of setting up the little tape recorder that was at hand and laying a microphone on the floor at the center of the stage. The later performances were not taped because a studio recording for Caedmon was planned, though Thomas did not live to do it. That this recording was not erased or lost or thrown away remains some kind of miracle.

Set in the town of Llareggub (try spelling out the letters in reverse order) it tells of the trials and tribulations of a motley crew of variously henpecked, overbearing, drunken and promiscuous townspeople. It shows Thomas at his most masterful in his command of the English language.

At the end, Thomas, who was unsure of the success of his play and armed with a dozen good reasons for failure is met by a stormy ovation. His shy and stammered "Thank you, thank you" is lost in the shouts of the audience.

While not as witty, I am equally surprised by the thanks from all the supporters of this blog. So I shall echo Dylan's thanks and share this master-work by a great 20th century literary figure in response.

And now it's time for a holiday...

RS
Dylan Thomas - Under Milkwood

Mr Snookles

p.s. this double album was one of the first ever ripped by me, way back before the bog started. My audio restoration technique wasn't as good back then, so there a couple of imperfections, and it's only at 128kbps - still, you've got to love hearing Thomas' golden tones reciting the work he loved best...

Don Tiare - Strings Over Hawaii

2009-07-05T22:49:00.004+10:30

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

2009-07-01T22:37:00.006+10:30

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

2009-06-28T15:45:00.004+10:30

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

2009-06-27T22:45:00.002+10:30

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

2009-06-27T20:54:00.002+10:30

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

2009-06-18T21:56:00.003+10:30

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

2009-05-31T23:11:00.003+10:30

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

2009-05-30T22:30:00.004+10:30

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

2009-05-30T21:18:00.004+10:30

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

2009-05-24T21:45:00.002+10:30

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

2009-04-27T08:53:00.006+10:30

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

2009-03-21T10:17:00.003+11:00

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

2009-03-20T22:20:00.003+11:00

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

2009-03-20T18:21:00.002+11:00

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

2009-03-20T09:05:00.005+11:00

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

2009-03-18T22:10:00.006+11:00

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

2009-03-17T22:12:00.005+11:00

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

2009-03-16T22:51:00.002+11:00

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

2009-03-11T21:50:00.005+11:00

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

2009-03-08T19:14:00.004+11:00

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

Dick Dia - Magnificent Mandolins

2009-03-08T12:03:00.004+11:00

Time for some more armchair travel - this time we're off to sunny Italy with mandolin virtuoso Dick Dia. Dick lines up a first-class collection of musos including Al Caiola and Al Casamenti on guitar, Dominic Cortese on accordion, Phil Kraus on mallets and Bob Rosengarden on percussion. Bellissimo!!

01 - Summertime In Venice
02 - Never On A Sunday
03 - Nu Quart' E Luna
04 - Arrivederci Roma
05 - Pearl Fishers
06 - Brasiliera
07 - Piccolissima Serenata
08 - La Luce Nella Fenesta
09 - Chella 'Lla
10 - Vola Colomba
11 - La Strada Nel Nosco
12 - Scalinatella

RS
Dick Dia - Magnificent Mandolins

MU
Dick Dia - Magnificent Mandolins

Mr Snookles

Stanley Black - Sounds Widescreen

2009-03-02T21:39:00.003+11:00

Let's face it - no one does the light classics like the Brits. Light, airy, breezy, full of humour and contrast - just like the British national character??

But seriously, behind the rather mundane album cover lurks some superb arrangements by our Stanley, played with panache and verve by the London Symphony Orchestra. I think Stanley was amongst the very best of that generation of arrangers and composers that dominated the sounds of BBC radio in the 60's and 70's.

It certainly reminds me of my growing up in a bleak Yorkshire industrial town, with the rain pattering on the window pane and the tinny sounds of the radio crackling from the corner...

01 - Big Country
02 - Tara's Theme
03 - This Is My Song
04 - Zorba's Dance
05 - Theme From 'Fiddler On The Roof'
06 - A Taste Of Honey
07 - Waterfront
08 - Stagecoach
09 - Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
10 - The Longest Day
11 - Exodus
12 - Lara's Theme
13 - High Society - 'True Love'
14 - Third Man Theme

RS
Stanley Black - Sounds Widescreen

MU
Stanley Black - Sounds Widescreen

Mr Snookles

ps. Maxi - Official Friend Of Third Island - has been at work restoring covers from some recent posts. Check in the comments if you want to dl them. Thanks Maxi...

Manhattan Pops Orchestra - Flamenco Passion

2009-03-01T21:43:00.003+11:00

Richard hayman at the helm of this piece of bombastic black plastic. The Manhattan Pops Orchestra hit the loud pedal, turn the violins up to 11 and let fly.

01 - El Gato Montes
02 - La Rosita
03 - Fandango
04 - La Bamba
05 - El Choclo
06 - Red Sombrero
07 - Flamenco Guitar
08 - Matador
09 - Franesca
10 - Lady Of Spain

RS
Manhattan Pops Orchestra - Flamenco Passion

MU
Manhattan Pops Orchestra - Flamenco Passion

Mr Snookles

Mandolin Club De Paris - Selection Espagnole

2009-02-22T20:29:00.003+11:00

More mandolin magic from sunny Spain. Recorded in France with the Mandolin Club De Paris, more castanets, more mandolins - Ole!!

01 - Maria Morena
02 - Guayaquil
03 - Fandango Andalou
04 - Ole Jerez
05 - Concha Jerez
06 - Montes De Aragon
07 - El Chispero
08 - Ay Del Ay
09 - Caravane Du Reve
10 - Bolero Gitan
11 - La Corrida
12 - Cortijera

RS
Mandolin Club De Paris - Selection Espagnole

MU
Mandolin Club De Paris - Selection Espagnole

Mr Snookles

Rondalla Espanola - The Magic Of Spain

2009-02-22T17:11:00.006+11:00

As you know, we like to do a little armchair travel here at Third Island, and today is no exception. So lets whisk off to sun-drenched Spain, and the romantic sound of mandolins, castanets and Spanish guitars. This album could well be called 'The 1001 Castanets' as the sound of them permeates the entire album.

A 'Rondella' is an instrumental group consisting mostly of strings, mandolins and guitars with a little light percussion added. Today, most Rondellas flourish in Aragon, Navarra and Valencia, and interpret the folklore of each region.

01 - Granada
02 - Si Te Vas A Calatayud
03 - Motivos Andaluces
04 - La Pilarica
05 - Pepita Creus
06 - Doce Cascabeles
07 - Sevilla
08 - Torremolinos
09 - Angelita
10 - Boda De Luis Alonso
11 - Panderos De La Flamenca
12 - El Vito

RS
Rondalla Espanola - The Magic Of Spain

MU
Rondalla Espanola - The Magic Of Spain

Mr Snookles

EEK!!! due to an error the tracks in this post have been incorrectly labelled. Side one and side two have been mixed up. The tracks should be named as follows...

01 - Sevilla
02 - Torremolinos
03 - Angelita
04 - La boda de Luis Alonso
05 - Panderos de la flamenca
06 - El Vito
07 - Granada
08 - Si vas a Calatayud
09 - Motivos andaluces
10 - La Pilarica
11 - Pepita Creus
12 - Doce cascabeles

You should really rename them as shown - sorry 'bout the hassle - Mr S.

TV Themes Orchestra - Great Australian TV Themes

2009-02-22T09:41:00.003+11:00

Here's one for Sven Libaek fans - Australian TV themes arranged by Sven and played by the TV Themes Orchestra. Antipodean baby-boomers will recognise many of these tunes, folks overseas will probably recognise "Skippy (the Bush Kangaroo)". BTW "Skip" has become a colloquialism for "Australian" - a friend born in Greece informed me that she "Married a Skip" - i.e maried an aussie...

A range of australian composers on show, Sven himself wrote the music to track 5 - "Bush Theme From 'Nature Walkabout'"

01 - L. Lewis - Theme From 'This Day Tonight'
02 - G. Lyall - Theme From 'Woobinda'
03 - T. Tycho - Theme From 'You Can't See Round Corners'
04 - J. Eggington - Theme From 'Sue Becker'
05 - S. Libaek - Bush Theme From 'Nature Walkabout'
06 - E. Jupp - Skippy (The Bush Kangaroo)
07 - M. Martin - Mcgooley's Theme
08 - A. Popp - Theme From 'Motel'
09 - A. Butcher - Contrabandits
10 - F. Smith - Theme From 'Bellbird'
11 - A. Young - Welcome From 'Mavis Bramston'
12 - F. Smith - Theme From Hunter

RS
TV Themes Orchestra - Great Australian TV Themes

MU
TV Themes Orchestra - Great Australian TV Themes

Mr Snookles

p.s. mysterious thanks to ebullient co-blogger Lemoncat....

Stanley Black - The Latin World Of Stanley Black

2009-02-21T20:08:00.003+11:00

Stan's back with his orchestra playing lightly flavoured Latin themes. Superb arrangement highlight the tone colours of the full orchestra Stanley has at his disposal. Lots of shakers maracas, and guiros underpin the mariachi oboes and bassoons that carry the themes. Actually there's plenty of smouldering trumpet as well, but Stan ekes the full range of sonorities from his orchestra. Top stuff.

01 - Siboney
02 - Ole Guapa
03 - El Truca De Pernambuco
04 - Flamingo
05 - Jungle Bird
06 - The Breeze And I
07 - Rustic Samba
08 - Adios Muchachos
09 - Baia
10 - La Comparsa
11 - Adieu Tristesse
12 - Alma Llanera

RS
Stanley Black - The Latin World Of Stanley Black

MU
Stanley Black - The Latin World Of Stanley Black

Mr Snookles

Hank Snow - Snow In Hawaii

2009-02-21T14:47:00.004+11:00

From Nashville, Tennessee to the Beach at Waikiki - that's a fair conceptual leap. But I think it's fair to say that this album by Country'n'Western crooner Hank Snow does a fair job of bridging the gap. Produced by Chet Atkins, the delightful lap-steel guitar work is a highlight, and I suspect was played by Mr Atkins himself.

Another ancient and battered poece of vinyl that required heaps of restoration - the end result is surprisingly good - little surface noise and a purty darn good sound if I say so myself. The cover scans also reveal the work of some infant hand drawing biro additions to Hank's face...

01 - Hula Love
02 - Beyond The Reef
03 - On The Beach At Waikiki
04 - Hawaiian Sunset
05 - My Little Grass Shack
06 - Trade Winds
07 - Don't Sing Aloha When I Go
08 - Blue For Old Hawaii
09 - Hawaiian Cowboy
10 - To You Sweetheart, Aloha
11 - The Crying Steel Guitar Waltz
12 - Oahu Rose

RS
Hank Snow - Snow In Hawaii

MU
Hank Snow - Snow In Hawaii

Mr Snookles

Rawicz and Landauer - The Two Grands

2009-02-21T13:37:00.005+11:00

I got a couple of comments about my post "Ferrante and Teicher - Rhapsody" - in particular the cover which raised a few eyebrows... Well, in sharp contrast we turn to an album by piano duo Rawicz and Landauer where they decided (some might say bravely) to put their own faces on the cover. Of course the fact that they look like a couple of British character acters who always played the inept criminal in all those 60's B movies has no bearing on the quality of their playing, but lets face it, it probably didn't help the sales of their album.

If you haven't heard of them before, they were famed for their 'near psychic affinity' which enabled them to play all sorts of virtuoso music in beautiful concord.

A quote from the lyrics of British folk-rocker Richard Thompson's song 'Let It Blow'...

He was a species on the verge of extinction
She was an Air New Zealand hostess
They were mystically joined, like Rawicz and Landauer
Like Pinky and Perky, like Porgy and Bess

Lots of notes in this one...

01 - Warsaw Concerto
02 - Waltzing With Strauss
03 - Thunder And Lightning Polka
04 - Arabesque No. 1
05 - Ritual Fire Dance
06 - Golliwog's Cakewalk
07 - Claire De Lune
08 - Waltz From 'Eugene Onegin'
09 - Rustle Of Spring
10 - Sabre Dance
11 - Waltz From 'Masquerade'

RS
Rawicz and Landauer - The Two Grands

MU
Rawicz and Landauer - The Two Grands

Mr Snookles

Klaus Wunderlich - Golden Sound Of Hammond

2009-02-15T21:07:00.005+11:00

Once again Klaus returns to Third Island. Yes that inscrutable smile and incomparable Hammond artistry are back - many have tried to imitate Klaus' uncanny ability to to a Hammond organ into an orchestra, but in the end there's only one Wunderlich.

01 - Mondo Cane, High Noon
02 - Blue Heaven, So In Love, Amor Amor Amor
03 - Hey Jude, Saved By The Bell
04 - Oh Lady Mary, You
05 - Moulin Rouge, Limelight
06 - A Song Of Joy, Julie Do You Love Me, Teneriffa Song
07 - La Felicidad
08 - Summertime
09 - Darling, Come And Look
10 - Toselli Cha Cha
11 - Anema E Core
12 - Warsaw Concerto

RS
Klaus Wunderlich - Golden Sound Of Hammond

MU
Klaus Wunderlich - Golden Sound Of Hammond

Mr Snookles

Les and Larry Elgart - Wonderful World of Hits

2009-02-14T23:30:00.005+11:00

Snappy swing band arrangements make this all-too-brief outing by les freres Elgart well worth a listen. While each tune is short (around two and a half minutes) there's plenty going on. The highlight for me is 'Ode To Billie Joe' which even has some psychedelic fuzz-tone guitar.

01 - Torino
02 - Tara Theme
03 - Camelot
04 - When I Look In Your Eyes
05 - The Bobo
06 - Ode To Billie Joe
07 - Lady
08 - To Sir With Love
09 - Live For Life
10 - What A Wonderful World
11 - Spanish Eyes

RS
Les and Larry Elgart - Wonderful World of Hits

MU
Les and Larry Elgart - Wonderful World of Hits

Mr Snookles

Stan Getz - The Dolphin

2009-02-14T21:47:00.005+11:00

They say the two things people want to do before they die are to see the world from space and swim with the dolphins. Well, I don't think Stan's hopped aboard a Virgin Airways Star-liner just yet but it looks like he did get to fulfil wish no. 2. This album was recorded just after he moved the New York to San Francisco in the early 80's, and it looks like the new-age flavour of the times was rubbing off on him.

The jazz on offer is of the cool, swingin', cocktail sippin' variety, which is how we like it at Third Island. Laid-back quartet, Stan delivering those tasty licks and occasionally lifting the tempo and heading towards be-bop territory.

01 - The Dolphin
02 - A Time For Love
03 - Joy Spring
04 - My Old Flame
05 - The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
06 - Close Enough For Love

RS
Stan Getz - The Dolphin

MU
Stan Getz - The Dolphin

Mr Snookles

Fluegel Knights - One Of Those Songs

2009-02-14T12:50:00.003+11:00

Short and sweet. The second side is ten minutes long... Can't tell you too much about these guys - I presume the Fluegel part refers to the fluegelhorn - a more mellow-sounding form of the trumpet. Any knowledgeable persons out there - feel free to share your pearls of wisdom in the comments

01 - One Of Those Songs
02 - Cabaret
03 - The Crusades
04 - Everybody Loves My Baby
05 - Horn Duey
06 - Castle Holiday
07 - In The Still Of The Night
08 - Camelot
09 - Miniskirt Waltz
10 - Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf
11 - A Lover's Concerto

RS
Fluegel Knights - One Of Those Songs

MU
Fluegel Knights - One Of Those Songs

Mr Snookles

p.s. wrongly tagged as Fluegal with an "A" not fluegel with an "E" - you may want to fix yer tags...

Ferrante and Teicher - Rhapsody

2009-02-09T21:11:00.004+11:00

F & T slap the ivories in this collection of light classics. No orchestra, just 176 keys played with the usual F & T gusto. Stand-out track for me George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue in its original two-piano arrangement.

This album needed major restoration, and the many quiet passages make any surface noise glaring obvious. I've done my best, but you will hear the odd pop...

A sad day for all in Oz today. As you may have heard the worst bushfires in our history have devastated much of Australia. All the flags at school at half-mast this morning, and a sombre mood throughout. Please say a prayer and send you best wishes to those who have lost family and friends. Thanks.

01 - Hungarian Rhapsody
02 - Swedish Rhapsody
03 - Rumanian Rhapsody In A, Op 11 No. 2
04 - Cornish Rhapsody
05 - Rhapsody In Blue
06 - Hollywood Rhapsody

RS
Ferrante and Teicher - Rhapsody

MU
Ferrante and Teicher - Rhapsody

Mr Snookles

p.s. On a brighter note I have just discovered Kelly's Lounge Soundz and it's a cracker of a site... I'd like to extend a Furry Snookle welcome to Kelly, its Kiwi proprietor - Check it out.

Philip Green - Follow The Sun

2009-02-07T21:49:00.004+11:00

Philip Green began his long recording career began with EMI in 1933, and during the following years he directed and played piano and harpsichord on 78s with many leading bands, including Teddy Foster, Henry Jacques, The New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, Harry Roy and Jack Simpson - as well as lesser-known ensembles with intriguing titles such as The Bravour Dance Orchestra, The Celestial Beings and The Bunkhouse Boys.

However the vast majority of his numerous pre-war records had his own name on the label, directing diverse groups like The Seven Kings of Rhythm, Busketeers, Swing on Strings, Rhythm on Reeds and Don Miguel and his Cuban Music (one of his many pseudonyms, some others being Louise Duke, Jose Belmonte, Ricardo Lamarr and Don Felipe). More Info...

When it comes to vinyl its often the case that older is better, and this album from 1958 shows why. Beautiful arrangements by Philip and friend and co-composer Norrie Paramor show why the Exotica craze became so popular. Evoking the atmosphere of far-away lands yet still inhabiting that cosy familiar BBC Light Orchestra sound world, this is armchair travel at its finest.

01 - Rendezvous In Rio
02 - Viva Venezuela
03 - Miami Beach
04 - Spring In Siam
05 - Honolulu Honeymoon
06 - Jamaican Jamboree
07 - Tangier Intrigue
08 - Baghdad Bazaar
09 - Midnight In Malaga
10 - Mexico Ole
11 - Venetian Blue
12 - Las Vegas Vacation

RS
Philip Green - Follow The Sun

MU
Philip Green - Follow The Sun

Mr Snookles

p.s. Welcome to new blog Portal Of Groove hosted by our friend Oracle. Lots of goodies to be found in his eclectic collection.

KPM 1104 - Electrosonic

2009-02-07T15:21:00.005+11:00

This Library album is from KPM's 1100 series. The 1100 series features all sorts of cheesy synths and elctro-warbles. Great if you're into that sort of thing.... This album is from my Don Harper collection (actually Shadrac's), and I decided to post it after the success of the "Homo Electronicus" post which proved to be one of the most popular albums on the blog.

Updated info thanks to Keir

Not just Don Harper, but Harper/Russe/St. George - Li De La Russe and Nikki St. George being Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop under their contract-dodging pseudonyms they also used for the Standard Music Library.

01 - Quest
02 - Quest - Fast
03 - Computermatic
04 - Frontier Of Knowledge
05 - The Pattern Emerges
06 - Freeze Frame
07 - Plodding Power
08 - Busy Microbes
09 - Liquid Energy #1
10 - Liquid Energy #2
11 - No Man's Land
12 - Depression
13 - Night Walker
14 - Electrostings
15 - Electrobuild
16 - Celestial Cantabile
17 - Effervescence
19 - The Wizard's Laboratory
20 - Shock Chords

RS
KPM 1104 - Electrosonic

MU
KPM 1104 - Electrosonic

Mr Snookles

Ray Martin - Dynamica

2009-02-07T15:08:00.003+11:00

Ray Martin's Dynamica is one of the defining albums of the Space-Age-Pop Genre. From RCA's Stereo Action series ("The sound your eyes can follow") it features exaggerated use of the new space age stereophonic sound.

As I only had a low-bitrate copy downloaded about two years ago, I was delighted to find this Australian vinyl reissue. Alas this album inexplicably omits two tracks from the original, even though they are listed on the front cover. Oh well - higher quality, less tracks... Grab it if ya want it.

01 - Flight Of The Bumble Bee
02 - Mood Indigo
03 - Bye Bye Blues
04 - Humoresque
05 - Stormy Weather
06 - Shadrack
07 - Indian Summer
08 - Malaguena
09 - The Moon Was Yellow
10 - Lullaby Of The Leaves

RS
Ray Martin - Dynamica

MU
Ray Martin - Dynamica

Mr Snookles

p.s. the cover shown is not the same as the original. I have included the original covers in the album.

Ronnie Aldrich - The World Of Ronnie Aldrich In Phase 4

2009-02-07T12:25:00.002+11:00

Some thoughtfully arranged twin-piano offerings from Ronnie and the London Festival Orchestra. Released in the early Seventies, lounge music had morphed into 'Easy-Pops' in an effort to remain current, so the song choices are, to say the least, middle of the road. However the piano work lifts an otherwise mundane outing to a higher level, and those little touches of orchestration that make all the difference make this well worth a listen.

01 - Something
02 - Tie A Yellow Ribbon
03 - Song Sung Blue
04 - Clair
05 - I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing
06 - My Sweet Lord
07 - Good Morning Starshine
08 - The Candy Man
09 - Alone Again (Naturally)
10 - Killing Me Softly
11 - Theme From 'Love Story'
12 - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
13 - Sugar, Sugar
14 - Diamonds Are Forever

RS
The World Of Ronnie Aldrich In Phase 4

MU
The World Of Ronnie Aldrich In Phase 4

Mr Snookles

Webley Edwards Presents - Hawaii Today

2009-02-03T22:05:00.004+11:00

Webley Edwards was the person who presented the famous "Hawaii Calls" radio and TV shows back in the sixties. This album showcases some of the local talent and was recorded in Waikiki.

Most of the album features the Hawaii Calls Chorus conducted by James Kaopuiki. See the back cover scan for the names of the soloists.

01 - Sweet Someone
02 - Hasegawa General Store
03 - Quiet Village
04 - Painted Sands
05 - Ho-Le Waimea
06 - Sands Of Waikiki
07 - Pearly Shells
08 - I'll Remember You
09 - Hawaii Tattoo
10 - Kealoha
11 - Just Oceans Away
12 - Beyond The Rainbow

RS
Hawaii Today

MU
Hawaii Today

Mr Snookles

p.s. welcome to new blog Bongos Flutes Guitars. Check it out...

Tony Mansell - Hits From Burt Bacharach

2008-12-30T19:30:00.003+11:00

Smooth and surprisingly classy - think Singers Unlimited meets Mike Sammes and you'll get the idea. Satisfyingly dense harmonies, and of course A-list material....

I can't find any biographical info on Tony (Wikipedia - how could you let me down!!). Any words of wisdom from lounge gurus welcome in the comments.

01 - This Guy's In Love With You
02 - I Say A Little Prayer
03 - Close To You
04 - What Made You Go
05 - What The World Needs Now Is Love
06 - The Look Of Love
07 - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
08 - A Very Good Year For Young Love
09 - Trains And Boats And Planes
10 - I'll Never Fall In Love Again
11 - Do You Know The Way To San Jose

RS
Tony Mansell - Hits From Burt Bacharach

MU
Tony Mansell - Hits From Burt Bacharach

Mr Snookles

ps. some of my previous rips have sounded a bit grungy - alas worn records that simply did not restore well. This one is back to the normal Mr Snookles Standard of Excellence (MSSOE), so you can download without fear or favour.

The Sounds of our Times - Galveston

2008-12-29T20:38:00.005+11:00

Here's a few uploads from Shadrac that have been sitting on the HDD for a while. first up, and belonging to that special genre - "Albums With Front Covers That Show Young Lovers Kissing in a Field" we have the anonymous but surprisingly good "The Sounds of our Times - Galveston".

Full of "Now Sound" arrangements - check out Scarborough Fair with its harpsichord accompaniment and bassoon/oboe melodies.

No musos listed - produced by George Cates for Mod Productions.

01 - Galveston
02 - I've Gotta Be Me
03 - Scarborough Fair
04 - Cast Your Fate To The Wind
05 - Somewhere My Love
06 - California Dreamin'
07 - Fly Me To The Moon
08 - If You Go Away
09 - Wichita Lineman
10 - Lalena
11 - Goodnight My Love

RS
The Sounds of our Times - Galveston

Shadrac Blintz Via Mr Snookles

Benders - Distance

2008-12-29T20:30:00.004+11:00

Shadrac Says:

The Benders were a Sydney jazz band who existed from 1983 to 1985. The band comprised Chris Abrahams (keyboards), Dale Barlow (sax on E), Jason Morphett (sax on False Laughter & Distance), Lloyd Swanton (bass) and Andrew Gander (drums).
Chris Abrahams (born 1961 in New Zealand) is a Sydney-based pianist, best known for his jazz work. ...
Lloyd Swanton (born 1960) is an Australian jazz bassist and composer, based in Sydney.

Discography

* E (Hot, 1983)
* False Laughter (Hot, 1984)
* Distance (Hot, 1985)

Swanton and Abrahams later formed The Necks with percussionist Tony Buck.

01 - Verandah
02 - Tozan
03 - Ice
04 - Monsoon
05 - The Brunt
06 - Spirit Of Progress
07 - Algebra
08 - Propaganda
09 - The Island

RS
Benders - Distance

Shadrac Blintz via Mr Snookles

Glenn Long - Success Show Music

2008-12-29T20:18:00.002+11:00

Shadrac Says:

"... This album of show music successfully captures the nostalgia of a bygone era. The artist is a young talented keyboard performer; between his versatile organ and his piano, Glenn Long has created a variety of moods and images from show that will bring many nostalgic memories flooding back to you."
They don't write album notes like that any more - they don't make albums like this for them to go on.

Includes the theme from Ernest Bluntpencil, a genuine Australian rarity.

01 - There's No Business Like Show Business
02 - The Summer Knows
03 - Nobody Does It Better
04 - On A Clear Day
05 - Can You Read My Mind
06 - Lullaby Of Broadway
07 - The Earnest Bluntpencil Theme
08 - You Light Up My Life
09 - Copa Cabana
10 - Speak Softly Love
11 - Moonlight Serenade
12 - The Stars And Stripes Forever

RS
Glenn Long - Success Show Music

Shadrac Blintz via Mr Snookles

Tommy Garrett - Takes You To Hawaii

2008-12-14T22:22:00.003+11:00

Our convivial co-blogger Mr Lounge "I never met a Martini I didn't like" Tracks did some arithmetic in one of the comments due to the abundance of 101 strings and 50 guitars posts - Well LT time to get your calculator back as Tommy and his gaggle of guitarists gear up for some more laid-back exotica goodness.

I've seen a low bitrate version of this posted before in the bloggosphere, but having found a good-quality vinyl version, I decided it's time to see it back online. Let the Summer of Lounge (you northern hemispherites will have to settle for the Winter of Discontent) continue...

01 - Blue Hawaii
02 - Hawaiian Wedding Song
03 - Pagan Love Song
04 - My Little Grass Shack
05 - Now Is The Hour
06 - Hawaiian War Chant
07 - The Hukilau Song
08 - Song Of The Islands
09 - Lovely Hula Hands
10 - Sweet Leilani
11 - Moon Of Manakora
12 - Aloha Oe

RS
Tommy Garrett - Takes You To Hawaii

MU
Tommy Garrett - Takes You To Hawaii

Mr Snookles

Christmas at Home

2008-12-12T22:15:00.005+11:00

I upload this primarily to annoy my brother who used to cringe when my dad insisted on playing this record at Christmas. Bless him, Dad meant well, probably attempting to get engender some Xmas atmosphere but, frankly, it's corny pap of the highest order.
I used to like 'Little Drummer Boy' and 'Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer'.
It's a real nostalgia jerker for me and the only Christmas LP I'll ever have anything to do with.

By some technical sleight of hand track 5 - Silent Night is missing. Agghh!

Merry Christmas from Shadders and Snooks!!

RS
Christmas at Home

MU
Christmas at Home

Shadrac Blintz

p.s. Welcome to Peet - our new South African friend. - check out his blog here.

Enoch Light - Big Hits of the Seventies

2008-12-12T19:56:00.005+11:00

It’s a double album, it’s in quadra-frickin-phonic, and its got a ga-roovy psyche-couple grooning meaningfully together on the front.

It’s Enoch ‘Knocker’ Light (and many of the world’s greatest musicians) playing the beeg heets of the seventies. Well, the early seventies at least.

A plethora of banjos, harmonicas, a hint of steel guitar, mandolin and, great heavens, tabla pick out these well known tunes ably supported by EL’s crack team of session musos.

You’ve heard them all before but here you can imagine gaily sunning ones self on the poop deck of the Love Boat as ‘Isaac’ the smiling bartender serves your pina-colada whilst “You are the Sunshine of my Life” pipes tunefully through the PA system.

Enoch Light - Big Hits of the Seventies (Disc 1)

01 - I Feel The Earth Move
02 - The Candy Man
03 - Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree
04 - The Entertainer
05 - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
06 - Alone Again, Naturally
07 - Sing
08 - I Never Promised You A Rose Garden
09 - Song Sung Blue
10 - Baby I'm A Want You
11 - You've Got A Friend
12 - The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia

RS
Enoch Light - Big Hits of the Seventies vol1

MU
Enoch Light - Big Hits of the Seventies vol2

And yes, here's volume 2...

RS
Enoch Light - Big Hits of the Seventies vol2

MU
Enoch Light - Big Hits of the Seventies vol2

Shadrac Blintz

Leo Addeo - The Magic Of Hawaii

2008-12-06T14:04:00.004+11:00

Hear Ye, Hear Ye:

I, Mr Snookles, in my official capacity as a Furry Composite Being of Impeccable Musical Taste do hereby declare 2009 to be The Summer Of Lounge (Southern Hemisphere Only).
Let the cheesy strains of our chosen music bring peace and contentment to all and sundry, soothe the malcontented, and give succor to the afflicted.

And what better way to kick off The Summer Of Lounge than with some easy-vocal renditions of Hawaiian standards from 1968? As inconsequential and fluffy as it gets...perfect.

01 - One Paddle, Two Paddle
02 - Lovely Hula Hands
03 - My Little Grass Shack
04 - Beyond The Reef
05 - The Hukilau Song
06 - Pagan Love Song
07 - Hawaiian Wedding Song
08 - South Sea Island Magic
09 - Tiny Bubbles
10 - Mauna Loa

RS
Leo Addeo - The Magic Of Hawaii

MU
Leo Addeo - The Magic Of Hawaii

Mr Snookles (Official Ambassador to The Summer Of Lounge)

Lubomir Pleva - Harmonica Magic

2008-12-06T10:22:00.004+11:00

LUBOMIR PLEVA, b. July 31, 1929, at Grygov near Olomouc, Is a true master of the harmonica, or rather the chromonica, a version of the instrument which features all 12 notes in the octave.

I know this because when researching Lubomir, I found a post of his at a previously unknown blog - Audio Design Studio - and shamelessly pinched some of his extended commentary about him. Looks like a great blog - check it out.

01 - Ciocirlia
02 - Danza Espanola
03 - Clair De Lune
04 - Hora Staccato
05 - Air On A G String
06 - Sabre Dance
07 - La Mer
08 - Mexican Dance
09 - Lonely Night Rider
10 - Stardust
11 - Isn't It Romantic
12 - Le Grisbi
13 - Make Love To Me

RS
Lubomir Pleva - Harmonica Magic

MU
Lubomir Pleva - Harmonica Magic

Mr Snookles

101 Strings - Gypsy Campfires

2008-12-03T23:37:00.004+11:00

And from the even more prehistoric year of 1958 we have Gypsy Campfires (file under Gringo Gypsy??). The multudious strings are well suited to the Romany sound and throb with suitable Gypsy passion. Does anyone know how many albums these guys made? They seemed to be around forever. Correct answers in the comments please...

01 - Dark Eyes
02 - Slavonic Dances
03 - Two Guitars
04 - Gypsy Song No. 4
05 - Hungarian Dance No. 6
06 - Golden Earrings

RS
101 Strings - Gypsy Campfires

MU
101 Strings - Gypsy Campfires

Mr Snookles

101 Strings - The Soul Of The Blues

2008-12-03T20:58:00.004+11:00

Here's a 101 Strings album from 1960 to add to your Easy Orchestral collection (you do have your easy listening albums sub-categorised don't you?) Some of those strings sound distinctly like muted trumpets, and a sedate sense of swing permeates this white-blues effort from our favourite century of strings...

01 - Birth Of The Blues
02 - St Louis Blues
03 - Mood Indigo
04 - Slow, And With Soul
05 - Goodbye
06 - Symphony For Blues
07 - Blues Pizzicato
08 - Definitely Blues
09 - The 'In-Crowd'

RS
101 Strings - The Soul Of The Blues

MU
101 Strings - The Soul Of The Blues

Mr Snookles

The 50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett Take You To Spain

2008-11-30T00:37:00.004+11:00

There seems to be a few themes emerging from the recent postings to Third Island. Exotica - 'cause it's summer down here; light classics, 'cause we're such cultured folk, and European themes (France, Italy and now Spain) 'cause we happen to like 'em.

Tommy and the crew dust off the castanets and settle in for some serious flamenco-flavoured strumming. I must admit the guitar orchestra really does it for me, and the natural drama of Flamenco suits TG down to the ground...

01 - Lady Of Spain
02 - Malaguena
03 - Flamenco
04 - The Lonely Bull
05 - La Violeterra
06 - Adios, Mariquita Linda
07 - Spanish Eyes
08 - Valencia
09 - In A Little Spanish Town
10 - El Relicario
11 - Marchetta
12 - El Choclo

RS
The 50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett Take You To Spain

MU
The 50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett Take You To Spain

Mr Snookles

Hawaiian Beach Boys - Bali Hai

2008-11-29T23:45:00.003+11:00

Yes, the Hawaiian Beach Boys - because too much exotica is never enough...

01 - Hawaii Sang Me To Sleep
02 - Flower Lei
03 - Song Of Old Hawaii
04 - Bali Haii
05 - Moana Chimes
06 - Pretty Red Hibiscus
07 - Sweet Gardenia Lei
08 - It Happened In Koloha
09 - King Kamehameha
10 - Pidgin English Hula
11 - Lovely Hula Hands
12 - Aloha Beloved

RS
Hawaiian Beach Boys - Bali Hai

MU
Hawaiian Beach Boys - Bali Hai

Mr Snookles

Robert Delgado - Blue Hawaii

2008-11-29T23:03:00.003+11:00

Well, in our usual back-to-front way us southern-hemispherereons are just getting ready for summer, and what could be more refreshing than an ice-cool drink and some languid exotica floating on the hibiscus-scented breeze?

Roberto Delgado, more often known for his gringo latin efforts, dishes up a groovy selection of tunes, a particular fave being the exotica-ragtime blend "Honolulu Ragtime Doll". One can see the shock in the studio when Mr Delgado asks for some honky-tonk piano in the arrangement...

No back cover scan for this one as both sides are identical.

01 - Sweet Leilani
02 - Hawaiian Wedding Song
03 - Pagan Love Song
04 - Hawaii Tattoo
05 - Polynesian Waltz
06 - Blue Hawaii
07 - Sun Of Hawaii
08 - Blume Von Hawaii
09 - Sleepy Lagoon
10 - Wini-Wini, Wana-Wana
11 - My Tane
12 - Hawaiian Blue Beat Baby
13 - Honolulu Ragtime Doll
14 - Maori Farewell Song

RS
Robert Delgado - Blue Hawaii

MU
Robert Delgado - Blue Hawaii

Mr Snookles

Stanley Black - Spectacular Dances For Orchestra

2008-11-24T19:08:00.004+11:00

More light classics here, this time from the redoubtable Stanley Black. Gorgeous Phase 4 sound, big orchestra - fill your home with sound.

01 - Slavonic Dance
02 - Fledermaus Waltz
03 - Russian Sailors' Dance
04 - Dance Of The Hours
05 - Danse Macabre
06 - Hungarian Dance No 5
07 - Miller's Dance And Finale

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Stanley Black - Spectacular Dances For Orchestra

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Stanley Black - Spectacular Dances For Orchestra

Mr Snookles

Al Caiola - Solid Gold Guitar Goes Hawaiian

2008-11-23T22:13:00.007+11:00

Yep, Third Island stalwart Al Caiola is back, and he and his golden guitar (golden refers to the sound not the ridiculously overpriced yellow stuff) are off to Hawaii.

Al tremolos his way though the standards with the band cooing gently in the background. So waltz your Wahine and sip your mai-tai to Al and the gang...

BTW Edmundo Floss joins the Immortals of Lounge - his fab Lounge Musica site is our latest addition to our blogroll on the right. Lots of tasty goodies, so check it out...

01 - Blue Hawaii
02 - Hawaiian Wedding Song
03 - Song Of Old Hawaii
04 - Sugar Island
05 - On The Beach At Waikiki
06 - Hawaiian Tattoo
07 - Sweet Leilani
08 - To You Sweetheart Aloha
09 - Drifting And Dreaming
10 - Aloha My Tani
11 - Hawaiian War Chant
12 - Aloha Oe

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Al Caiola - Solid Gold Guitar Goes Hawaiian

Mr Snookles

Gone Phishing...

2008-10-27T08:27:00.002+11:00

No posts for a coupla weeks as Mr S. is out-of town. Congrats to Shadders for his first solo contribution - if you're lucky he might drop you some more pearls from his collection...

Much more exotica when Mr S. returns, so stay tuned.

Mr Snookles

Roger Laredo - Italy

2008-10-25T11:39:00.010+11:00

Roger Laredo does Italy.
One of the Decca label's hi-fidelity 'Phase 4' series.
Put up to compliment Lounge Legends' post "Phase 4 - Spain", which has unfortunately been deleted...

Try this new link...
megaupload - Roger Laredo - Italy

Shadrac Blintz

Ron Goodwin - Gypsy Fire

2008-10-19T09:34:00.004+11:00

Lurking behind this cheesy cover is a real light classics gem. Produced by George Martin, the tracks on this album show a quality of arrangement and orchestration that owes much to British composers such as Vaughn-Williams and Elgar. This is also one of the best-preserved records I have ever purchased, and you will hear the difference - the violins in particular have a clean, crisp presence that adds to the overall air of orchestral respectability.

p.s. A big thanks to everyone for all the kind comments...

01 - The Gypsy Fiddler
02 - Black Eyes
03 - The Ritual Fire Dance
04 - Andaluza
05 - Hora Staccato
06 - Gipsy Moon
07 - Czardas
08 - La Paloma
09 - Bublitschki
10 - Play Gypsy
11 - Two Guitars
12 - Hejre Kati

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Ron Goodwin - Gypsy Fire

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Ron Goodwin - Gypsy Fire

Mr Snookles

Alf Barrie - A Lei Of Stars

2008-10-13T19:44:00.003+11:00

Whilst away on his travels Mr Snookles uncovered a treasure trove of 20 Hawaiian-themed albums, so expect a few exotica posts in the next few weeks.

First up Alf Barrie and the HMI (Hawaiian Music Ind.) All-Stars serve up some laid-back steel guitar and vibes. They avoid the standards, and serve up some intriguing tunes that take some odd and unexpected angles.

01 - A Lei Of Stars
02 - Moonlight In Waikiki
03 - For Ever And Ever
04 - Evening In The Islands
05 - The One Rose
06 - South Sea Island Magic
07 - That's The Hawaiian In Me
08 - The Hands I Love
09 - Sea And Sand
10 - Soft Green Seas
11 - Maui Girl
12 - Serenade To Nalani

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Alf Barrie - A Lei Of Stars

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Alf Barrie - A Lei Of Stars

Mr Snookles

SDS All-Stars - Electone and Brass

2008-10-07T12:25:00.002+11:00

Good news folks, Mr Snookles found a bunch of fresh vinyl in his travels. First up, at the request of Third Island visitor Captain Chelicerate, a rare LP from the King Records label featuring the redoubtable Tetsusaburo Hirai and the red-hot SDS All-Stars.

Listen to 'Baby Elephant Walk' to here the ensemble playing at its grooviest, or hear the fabulous Electone organ produce its trademark swirls of sound in 'Moon River'.

Essential Japanese Lounge!

01 - The Longest Day
02 - Tonight
03 - Baby Elephant Walk
04 - Orfeo Negro
05 - Fascination
06 - Un Amore A Roma
07 - King Of Kings
08 - L'eclipse
09 - Moon River
10 - Deguello
11 - Never On A Sunday
12 - Al Di La

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SDS All-Stars - Electone and Brass

Mr Snookles

No i-Pods, Just Macropods

2008-10-07T11:47:00.003+11:00

Ah, you've got to love the Australian Bush. Two snapshots here of a friend's backyard. Spring down under and the new Joeys (baby roos) are just emerging.

Back soon with more music...

Mr Snookles

Les vacances de Monsieur Snooklés

2008-09-12T14:32:00.003+10:30

Greetings one and all.
This is just a quick note to say that Mr Snookles has gone on a long holiday.

Normal service will be resumed in November although I might manage to upload something in the intervening time...
Thanks for the nice comments and see you soon.
Shadrac Blintz

Raoul Meynard - Continental Visa Renewed

2008-08-29T10:58:00.005+10:30

A delightful and carefree outing from Raoul Meynard dating all the way back to 1959 ( A year notable for, amongst other things, being the year when Mr Snookles arrived on the planet.
"It's a small furry creature" the doctors told a proud Mama Snookles)

However, I digress. Raoul's orchestra is reinforced with zimbalons, zithers and mandolins, along with the ubiquitous French accordion to give that essential Gallic atmosphere.

Premiere Classe.

01 - Mam'selle
02 - Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
03 - Meet Mister Callaghan
04 - Intermezzo
05 - Two Guitars
06 - C'est Si Bon
07 - The Maxixe
08 - Golden Earrings
09 - Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
10 - When A Gypsy Makes His Violin Cry
11 - Play Gypsy, Dance Gypsies
12 - Lisbon Antigua

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Raoul Meynard - Continental Visa Renewed

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Mr Snookles

Ruth Wallis - Naughty Naughty

2008-08-29T09:34:00.005+10:30

Ruth Wallis (5 January 1920 – 22 December 2007) was a novelty cabaret singer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Wallis began her career singing jazz and cabaret standards, but gained fame in the 1940s and 1950s for her risqué, satirical songs, rife with double entendre that she wrote herself. She did have a mainstream hit with "Dear Mr. Godfrey," a song about his public firing of Julius La Rosa.

She sang with a studio orchestra and often took on an accent for songs about characters from other countries. Her music was occasionally featured on the Doctor Demento show in the 1970s.

She started singing in lounges and cocktail bars, where she met her husband Hy Pastman. Eventually it became clear that her novelty songs, which relied mostly upon double entendres, were the most popular. These songs discussed a number of topics that were taboo in fifties America, such as homosexuality and infidelity. For this reason, her songs were banned from Boston radio stations. She often had difficulty securing distribution for her works, so she started her own record label, Wallis Original Recordings. When she arrived in Australia for a tour customs agents seized her records. Rather than ruin her career, this only brought out crowds.

Wallis retired in the 1970s to spend more time with her husband and two children, but continued to work on material for Broadway shows. Some of her most famous songs were collected and turned into a theater production called BOOBS! The Musical: The World According to Ruth Wallis. BOOBS! opened at the Triad Theater in New York City on May 19, 2003; by closing date it had played nearly 300 performances. It has had subsequent runs in New Orleans and Wichita.

In March 2007 Wallis was honored by the National Archives of Australia. Memorabilia of hers was included in 'Memory of a Nation', a permanent exhibition opening in Canberra. (Thanks once again Wikipedia)

01 - Queer Things
02 - Johnny Had A Yoyo
03 - Hawaiian Lei Song
04 - Sweater Girl
05 - Man Mink Million
06 - The Bells Song
07 - Brandy In Me Tea
08 - Chile Was Hot
09 - First Time Starter
10 - Jamaica Rum
11 - Large Size Mama
12 - Long Playing Daddy

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Ruth Wallis - Naughty Naughty

Mr Snookles

Werner Muller - Budenzauber

2008-08-29T07:49:00.005+10:30

Good morning.

As we reflect upon our previous evening's postings, we cannot help noticing the quality of the prose in the comments added to each post changing as the evening progressed.... I'm sure T.S. Elliott used a similar martini-fueled method to achieve his finest efforts. Oh well - you need to let your fur down once in a while.

Still, in the sober light of dawn I notice that a couple of albums intended to be upped last night never made it because of our inability to perform any action except closing our eyes and laying in a prone position after 11pm. So, here's Werner in his earlier Shlager-Schlock phase dishing out the sunshine pop for your next party. Swill your steins and sing along to Downtown and Pretty Woman...and don't forget to wear that coloured sweater that Auntie Mabel knitted for you in 1972...

01 - America
02 - Medley
03 - Hello Dolly
04 - Downtown
05 - Schon, Schon
06 - Humbta Tatera
07 - Budenzauber
08 - Memphis Tennessee
09 - Teenagers Ragtime
10 - Spanish Harlem
11 - Whistle Stop
12 - Guitar On The Rocks
13 - Pretty Woman
14 - Schaffe, Schaffe, Hausie Baue

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Werner Muller - Budenzauber

Mr Snookles and Shadrac Blintz