The Frank Barber Percussion - Deep Percussion (1967)

I personally only knew Frank Barber as a notorious Dixieland-performer. I can remember hits like "Icecream" ("You scream, I scream..."). Huaaaah! I´m gettin´ sick again... But this album from 1967 is pretty cool, because it features many hits from that happy-hippie-era. According to spaceagepop this album was originally released in the UK as "Happy Percussion" and was one of the last percussion showcase albums of the Space Age Pop era. This is the German release from the Polydor label. Please enjoy the multi-talented Frank Barber.

Richard Hayman - Genuine Electric Latin Love Machine (1969)

Hayman, born 1920, started at 18 as a harmonica virtuoso in Borrah Minevitch's Harmonica Rascals, then went with Leo Diamond when Diamond left to form the Solidaires. Later he worked as an arranger for the Boston Pops and he often served as a back-up conductor for Arthur Fiedler. But his best album is this, an early moog album from the year 1969. If you collect moogy stuff, then this one might interest you.

Emil Richards - New Sound Element: Stones (1966)

Emil Richards, or Emilio Radocchia, started playing xylophone at age six. Later he joined the Hartford Symphony Orchestra while in tenth grade, working under Arthur Fiedler and Fritz Mahler. He began to work around New England with Bobby Hackett, Flip Phillips, and Chris Connor. In 1959 he moved to Los Angeles where he worked with the Paul Horn Quintet, Jimmy Witherspoon, the Shorty Rogers Big Band, Lennie Bruce, and Lord Buckly. He started recording for Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, and Doris Day. This record is sort of a concept record in different ways: 1) playing around with sound elements within jazz forms 2) naming each tune after a) a different month b) a different gemstone, and 3) then playing this funny music with jazz but adding-in the incredible sounds of Dr. Irv Wilson's 22 tone-to-the-octave electronic instruments. Believe me, this is one of those great records you don´t want to miss. Please sit back and enjoy some psychedelic percussion.

Enoch Light - Brass Menagerie Vol. 2 (1969)

Now! This time it should work... Also from the year 1969, like Volume 1, is Volume 2 of Enoch´s "Brass Menagerie". I guess I don´t have to tell You about Mr. Light. Now sit back and enjoy stuff from the Musical "Hair" and especially "Happy Heart", written by our German Big Band Legend James Last in Enoch´s unique style...

Chet Atkins - Teensville (1959)

Chet Atkins was one of the most famous guitar pickers. Along with Floyd Cramer and Owen Bradley, he was one of the creators of what became known as the "Nashville sound", which paired country singers with lush orchestration and a steel guitar. Some of his best works you can find on this LP from 1959, where you can hear his metamorphosis from a mainstream country musician to a pop star. Chet died in 2001.

Frank De Vol - Portraits (1958)

Everybody knows Frank De Vol, even if you don´t know him. He was one of the busiest composers of the 50´s and 60´s and wrote more than 50 movie scores ("Guess Who's Coming To Dinner", "Pillow Talk"). But it was his work for television, that made him famous, so he wrote the themes for series such as "My Three Sons" and "The Brady Bunch". He also worked as a band leader and arranger on recordings by Vic Damone, Doris Day and Tony Bennett. Here he is with some lush arrangements of standards you can relax by. Frank died in 1999.

Mel Henke - Dynamic Adventures in Sound (1962)

This is the predecessor to "La Dolce Henke" from the same year. Not so ambiguous, but more cartoonish I think this is almost as weird as its follow-up: Cray-see stuff! Sold through the stores as a regular title, this disc nevertheless plays heavily on the description of the technical tricks and studio wizardry used to create the ground breaking effects on this record. Tracks like "Exotic Adventure (Adventure In the Steaming Tropics)" and "See The USA in Your Chevrolet" were designed to push stereo effects to the max. But now hear for yourself...

The Enoch Light Singers - Whoever You Are, I Love You (1968)

Yep, it´s Easy-Listening, but it´s very hard to listen to. Why? Have you ever listened to "Born to Be Wild" in a singer´s version? No? Now, here´s your chance to do so. But don´t come complaining, ´cause you have been warned! ;o) Anyway, great stuff from the maestro, the Doors and Tom Jones were raped too. Have fun!

The John Buzon Trio - Inferno! (1958)

Hot, hotter, hottest! I promised I would find something, and this is it. Actually this is lava! Leader of the group is John Buzon. This talented young organist comes up with some of the most astounding orchestral effects produced on the Hammond. Saxophonist Loren Holding, with his Cuban background, is responsible for the Latin American treatment of the great standards. He doubles on clarinet or flute and lends a hand with the maracas, aiding drummer Jack Russell to maintain their driving beat on the cha chas and mambos. Buzon abandoned the usual keyboard trio format, using a second lead instrument, the saxophone, instead of a bass. The result is an appealing blend of lounge and rock that swings and sizzles. Now take your seat in the hottest "Caravan" ever. And don´t forget to crank up your air-condition, ´cause otherwise you might not stand this...

Perez Prado & Rosemary Clooney - A Touch of Tabasco (1960)

This is a superb cooperation from 1960. And yes, they mean the world-famous pepper-sauce. These songs are hot, you´ll see... hear, I mean. I don´t have to say anything about Perez Prado, do I? Rosemary Clooney was an actress, TV-Show-host and singer. And a close friend of Bobby Kennedy, who was shot in 1968. She was married to the famous actor Jose Ferrer, and she is the aunt of George Clooney, but that´s not her fault... Hot rhythms, a hot voice and the bashy sound of Perez Prado, who could ask for more? More hot? Even hotter? Hmm, I´ll see what I can do... But till then, it´s Mambo-time!

Gil Trythall - Nashville Gold (1973)

This is the follow-up to his "Country Moog" album. You might wonder how anyone could possibly want to listen to weird stuff like this, and I must confess: I have no idea. Maybe country-hipsters, maybe hardcore-countryboys, I just don´t know. I guess these songs would sell pretty good as ringtones, but I´m not sure. But the more you listen to this, the more you can stand the pain. After a while, you may like this kind of music, it´s pretty dangerous. But now it´s your turn to decide: Should I? Am I a real countryboy? Well, make up your mind with Mr. Trythall...

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - The Brass Are Comin´ (1969)

Since many people like Herb Alpert in blogs, I will contribute another one of his works. This is an album from a TV-Special from 1969. Shortly after its release, a burned-out, personally troubled Alpert disbanded his Brass and retired from music for awhile. Indeed, stretches of this record reveal a tired group and a leader whose trumpet has lost much of its old zip. Even so, as on all TJB albums, there are several gems -- the stunning shifts in texture and tempo that enliven the worn-out "Moon River", the chugging bluegrass-tinged arrangement of Villa-Lobos' "The Little Train of the Caipira" that masquerades under the name of the title track, a haunting rendition of the Beatles' "I'll Be Back", the fast samba treatment of "Anna", which is my personal favorite from the Three Suns (you can find it on "Twilight Memories").