Just Ghost to Show You

This cassette from Newport Classics is just what it promises, recordings of piano performances using a complicated pneumatic type of piano.

01 - Minuet in G - Paderewski - performed by  Ignace Paderewski  (3:50)

02 - The Beautiful Blue Danube - Strauss   (arr Schulz-Evler) - performed by  Josef Lhévinne  (8:41)

03 - La Campanella (The Bells) - Paganini   (arr Liszt) -performed by  Josef Lhévinne  (5:08)

04 - Scherzo, Op 39, No 3 - Chopin -performed by  Sergei Rachmaninoff  (10:03)

05 - Invitation to the Dance - von Weber -performed by  Artur Schnabel  (7:25)

06 - Hungarian Rhapsody 2 - Liszt -performed by  Alfred Cortot  (7:58)

07 - Mazeppa - Liszt - performed by  Erwin Nyiregyházi  (8:04)

08 - Prelude in C Sharp Minor - Rachmaninoff - performed by  Sergei Rachmaninoff  (4:12)

It's fascinating and beautiful, kind of like a woman I once married.

The Performing Piano

Prepare to be entranced.  See you on Monday.

Rick Springfield's Comic Book Heroes

This is a fun 1973 album.  I'll admit it:  I picked it up at a thrift store because of the cover.

But it's fun.

01. I'm Your Superman / Comic Book Heroes (3:43)

02. Weep No More (3:37)

03. Why Are You Waiting (3:58)

04. Believe in Me (3:54)

05. Misty Water Woman (4:36)

06. The Liar (3:42)

07. The Photograph (3:24)

08. Bad Boy (3:08)

09. Born Out of Time (3:43)

10. Do You Love Your Children (6:01)

Scans of the LP's inner and outer sleeves are included.

You can tell that the cover art was based on Wayne Boring's Superman pin-up.

Comic Book Heroes

See you on Thursday, friends!
 

Malcolm Dalglish - Grey Larson: Banish Misfortune

Here's a 1982 cassette release of a 1977 album of acoustic excitement.

01. Jig: Banish Misfortune (3:13)

02. Reels: Pigeon on the Gate / Musical Priest / Drowsy Maggie (1:29)

03. Airs: Sir John Fenwick's The Flower Among Them All / Noble Squire Dacre (4:01)

04. Jigs: The Road to Lisdoonvarna / Trip to Sligo – Slides: Dennis Murphy's Slide / O'Keefe's Slide (4:17)

05. Midnight Mountain Road (1:22)

06. Air: O'Connell's Lamentation (4:51)

07. Jigs: The Three Little Drummers / Kate Caulfield's Jig / Paddy in London (2:05)

08. Reels: Growling Old Man and Cackling Old Woman / The Nine Points of Roguery (2:15)

09. Marches: March of the King Laois / Brian Boru's March (4:52)

10. Hornpipes: The First of May / Drunkard's Path / An Comhra Donn (3:20)

11. Air: Tar Hollow / Dog in the Mustard / Kid on the Mountain (two part version) / Kid on the Mountain (four part version) / Drops of Brandy / Foxhunter's Jig / The Rocky Road to Dublin (7:26)

12. Schottisches: #1 / Maggie McGee's Schottische / Johnny, Will You Marry Me? (2:50)

13. Air: Christ Child's Lullaby (3:14)

Hop to it!

See you on Monday.
 

My Home Is in Transylvania -- Get Used to It!

I fell for this CD because of its title.  Part of me was hoping that this was spooky, Halloween-type music.  No, folk music from Transylvania.

The orchestral accompaniment is a small band of accordion, violin, etc.  There are several fascinating and sometimes unsettling aspects to this music.  First, at times the accordionist and violinist are playing separate, competing, showoff-ish arpeggios and runs that sound completely unrelated to what Máté is singing.  Second, these melodies are often strange and different to my Western-music ears.  Third, occasionally, the ding-dang songs just STOP.  It's on purpose.  Máté and her band stop at the same time.  The tape is not cut off.  The song just halts.  Fascinating!

01. Országúton hosszú a jegenyesor (1:55)

02. Álmodó Tisza part (4:19)

03. Nem lehet azt parancsolni senkinek (2:56)

04. Szomorú a nyárfaerdõ (2:39)

05. Ott, ahol a Maros vize (1:49)

06. Vadvirágos erdõ szélén rózsabokor (2:09)

07. Fenyõ, fenyõ, de magas fenyõ (3:20)

08. Udvarhelyi templom (2:21)

09. Szép vagy, gyönyörû vagy, Magyarország (4:12)

10. Van jogom a boldogsághoz (2:41)

11. Adj, Uram Isten (5:05)

12. Erdélyországban van az én hazám (2:27)

13. Édesanyám sírját (3:05)

14. Bujdokolva járok (2:05)

15. Csíkországi fenyvesekben (2:11)

16. Valahol már nap ragyog (4:04)

17. Kolozsvári kiskertekben (2:07)

18. Székely himnusz (2:48)

Máté Ottília - Erdélyországban van az én hazám

See you on Thursday!
  

Music of WWII, Volume 1

I found this fun CD at a thrift store recently, and was surprised by the obscurity of this compilation.

01. Alvino Rey, Bill Schallen & the King Sisters  - The Army Air Corps (2:41)

02. Dick Todd (with Leonard Joy's Orchestra) - Goodnight, Mother (2:43)

03. Johnny Mercer (with Paul Weston's Orchestra) - G.I. Jive (3:20)

04. Sgt. Jules Munshin, Pvt. Buddy Moreno with GI Chorus - Ain't Misbehavin'/Hinky Dinky Parlay Voos (2:48)

05. Swing & Sway with Sammy Kaye - I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen  (3:17)

06. Andrews Sisters (with Vic Schoen's Orchestra) - Here Comes the Navy (Beer Barrel Polka) (2:46)

07. Kate Smith (with Jack Miller's Orchestra) - (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover (3:01)

08. Glenn Miller (Ray Eberle, vocals) - A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (3:36)

09. Lena Horne (with Lou Bring & His Orchestra) - Stormy Weather (3:17)

10. Hour of Charm All-Girl Orchestra - We Must Be Vigilant (American Patrol) (2:52)

11. Swing & Sway with Sammy Kaye - Dear Mom (2:59)

12. Horace Heidt & His Musical Knights - Goodbye Dear, I'll Be Back In A Year (2:50)

I certainly was unfamiliar with the Andrews Sisters' "Here Comes the Navy."  Hope you too are charmed.

Music of WWII

See you back here on Monday, friends!

 

Soaring into Tepidity

This is inoffensive drivel.  I was amazed that it kept playing on, and on, and on!  I felt it dragged on much longer than the playing time.

Interestingly, the Discogs page for this cassette shows different art than on the copy I bought at a thrift store.

Tom Barabas, Dean Evenson - Soaring

01. High Flying (4:44)

02. Heartland Flight (7:49)

03. Heather Breeze (8:41)

04. Vanilla Float (7:48)

05. Over the Beach (5:33)

06. Soaring (13:11)

07. Serene Sojourn (8:43)

08. Spiral (5:18)

09. Glide Path (3:07)

Go ahead, I dare you to stay awake!

See you on Thursday with the first post of the New Year!
 

The Revengers - Batman and Other Super Men

What?  Yes, one of the zillions of attempted cash-ins on the popularity of the 1960s TV show.  This 1966 album is competent.  In my opinion, "The Revengers" get extra credit for padding out the record with a struttin' arrangement of Jerry Goldsmith's "Meet Mr Solo" theme from The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

01. Batman (2:50)

02. Robin Part 1 (2:17)

03. Robin Part 2 (2:09)

04. Our Man Flint (2:24)

05. Blue Light (1:59)

06. Meet Mr. Solo (2:08)

07. High Wire (Theme from Danger Man) (2:04)

08. The Baron (2:16)

09. The Man from UNCLE (2:07)

10. Where the Spies Are (2:16)

11. The Man from THRUSH (2:44)

12. The Saint (2:17)

The Revengers' Revenge!

See you on Monday, cool cats and kittens!
 

Greensleeves - Carols for Keyboards

This not-too-shabby album is from Intersound.  And knowing their practice of multiple releases with the same title, or the same release under multiple titles, no wonder this critter has no Discogs listing!

These are the tracks:

01. Greensleeves - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:24)

02. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:17)

03. Carol of the Bells - Tim Carroll and Geary Yelton (Convergence) (3:06)

04. I Wonder as I Wander - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:03)

05. Angels We Have Heard on High - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (4:19)

06. Go Tell It on the Mountain - Robert Strickland (2:33)

07. The Holly and the Ivy - Tim Carroll and Geary Yelton (Convergence) (3:13)

08. Silent Night - Tim Carroll and Geary Yelton (Convergence) (6:40)

09. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Herb Avery (2:24)

10. The First Noel - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:16)

11. We Three Kings of Orient Are - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (4:59)

12. O Come All Ye Faithful/Away in a Manger - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (4:23)

13. Ave Maria - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:31)

Greensleeves - Carols for Keyboards

See you back here on Thursday.  I hope you've found something to enjoy in this month of Spocky Christmas!

Christmas Snooze

There's is Nothing “Festive” about this snoozefest.

How did the players stay awake while repeating the same droopy arrangements over repeated verses?

FUN FACTS:  The record company for this release, St Clair, was sued over ripping off Alvin and the Chipmunks! 

https://www.iptrademarkattorney.com/copyright-attorneys-trademark-bagdasarian-alvin-chipmunks-st-clair-cd-music/ 

They were sued over ripping off Willie Nelson!

https://web.archive.org/web/20100106152848/http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2008/5/13/nashville_at_law_12_may_2008

And only you can decide if The Festive Players are ripping YOU off!

A New Age Christmas (64:43)

01. The Little Drummer Boy (5:28)

02. Silver Bells (6:43)

03. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (6:29)

04. Silent Night (6:50)

05. Away In a Manger (5:29)

06. O Christmas Tree (5:20)

07. O Come All Ye Faithful (8:03)

08. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (7:55)

09. The First Noel (6:28)

10. Ave Maria (5:58)  

See you on Monday, Christmas Eve, for the last selection of this year's Spocky Christmas!

20 A Cappella Christmas Carols

This is a 1989 cassette from Benson music.  The above is my recreation of the cassette art.  Of course, scans of the original tape and insert are included in the file.  The songs are:

01. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent (1:55)
02. Silent Night (2:08)
03. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (1:49)
04. We Three Kings (2:21)
05. Tell Me the Story of Jesus - Fairest Lord Jesus (2:47)
06. O Come, Little Children (1:46)
07. What Child Is This (2:29)
08. Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne (1:32)
09. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1:53)
10. Angels We Have Heard on High (2:38)
11. Mary's Boy Child (2:20)
12. Away in a Manger (1:42)
13. O Come, All Ye Faithful (2:42)
14. O Little Town of Bethlehem (1:48)
15. The First Noel (2:01)
16. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (2:09)
17. That Beautiful Name (2:17)
18. Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head (2:09)
19. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (2:08)
20. Joy to the World (1:48)

You may find it here.

See you on Thursday!

A Festival of Carols in Brass

A fine, fun album.

01. Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly (1:04)

02. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (2:17)

03. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (0:47)

04. The First Nowell (2:18)

05. Angels We Have Heard on High (1:38)

06. We Three Kings of Orient Are (1:21)

07. O Come All, Ye Faithful (1:34)

08. O Sanctissima (1:58)

09. O Tannenbaum (1:17)

10. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (1:41)

11. Good King Wenceslas (1:14)

12. Silent Night, Holy Night (2:27)

13. Joy to the World (1:11)

14. The Twelve Days of Christmas (3:51)

15. Coventry Carol (1:23)

16. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (1:09)

17. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (1:38)

18. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (1:26)

19. Good Christian Men Rejoice (0:41)

20. O Holy Night (2:39)

21. What Child Is This? (1:49)

22. Wassail Song (1:08)

23. O Little Town of Bethlehem (1:44)

24. Away in a Manger (2:33)

25. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1:02)

Festival of Carols in Brass

See you on Monday.

The Bells of Bethlehem, 3-LP set, 1973

This is an interesting mashup from Columbia Special Products.

The three LPs fit into two discs.  The "Christmas in the Holy Land" is a Christmas service recorded in a Bethlehem church.

Then you have "Christmas in Europe," with some fine performances of some old stuff.

"Christmas in America" is a mixed bag of goodies and absolutely embarrassing cheese.  The aforementioned dairy byproduct is all courtesy of the Norman Luboff choir, which takes several Christmas songs and processes them into finely milled pap.

The Bells of Bethlehem

Disc 1 (70:45)

Christmas in the Holy Land, St Catherine's Latin Church

01. Matins - The Invitatory - Jesu, Redemptor omnium - Introit and Psalm - Te Deum laudamus (5:47)

02. Silet Nox (1:24)

03. Opening Prayers - Kyrie (4:18)

04. Kyrie (concluded) (2:54)

05. Gloria (9:08)

06. Alleluia-  Announcement of  the Gospel - Et incarnatus est - Amen (3:59)

07. Puer natus est in Bethlehem -  Prayers and Announcement of the Preface (3:59)

08. Sanctus (4:45)

09. Consecration - Pater noster - Exchange of the Signs of Peace - Agnus Dei - Communion (6:51)

10. Adeste fideles - Final Prayers and Blessing - Procession to the Grotto of the Nativity - Bells of Bethlehem (6:02)

Christmas in Europe

The Deller Consort:

11. The Holly and the Ivy (2:40)

12. I Saw Three Ships (2:01)

13. Nesciens Mater (Byttering) (1:57)

Vienna State Opera Orchestra:

14. O Tannenbaum  (1:43)

15. Josef lieber, Josef mein  (3:21)

16. Es wird scho glei dumpa  (2:41)

17. Stille Nacht  (2:38)

18. Zion Hears the Watchmen (Bach)  (4:37)

The Bells of Bethlehem

Disc 2 (64:02)

Christmas in Europe, continued

01. Noël!  Il Est Né, Le Divin Enfant - Ensemble Vocal de Beauvais (2:50)

02. Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle - Martha Schlamme (1:58)

03. Et in terra pax (Ciconia) - Musica Antiqua of Vienna (2:45)

04. Pujdem spolu do Betlema - Nastal nam den vesely - Children’s Chorus of Radio Prague (2:11)

05. Przybiezeli do Betlejem - Bog sie rodzi - Children’s Chorus of Radio Prague (6:35)

06. Gymel of Guilelmus Monachus - Musica Antiqua of Vienna (1:06)

07. In die nativitas (Smert) - The Deller Consort (3:31)

08. Hodie Christus natus est (Palestrina) - The Deller Consort (1:29)

Christmas in America

09. Joy to the World - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (1:10)

10. What Child Is This? - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers (3:09)

11. Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains - Mormon Tabernacle Choir (1:38)

12. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (1:34)

13. The Twelve Days of Christmas - Norman Luboff Choir (3:34)

14. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful - Norman Luboff Choir (1:47)

15. Silent Night - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys Chorus (2:54)

16. Good King Wenceslas - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys Chorus (2:55)

17. Silver Bells - Ray Coniff Singers  (2:26)

18. Go Tell It on the Mountain - Mahalia Jackson (2:44)

19. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (1:23)

20. The Little Drummer Boy - Ray Coniff Singers (3:22)

21. Away in a Manger - Mormon Tabernacle Choir (3:15)

22. The First Noël - Norman Luboff Choir (1:47)

23. We Three Kings of Orient Are - E Power Biggs, Columbia Chamber Orchestra (3:00)

24. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys Chorus (2:04)

25. Here We Come A-Wassailing - Norman Luboff Choir (1:16)

26. O Little Town of Bethlehem - Norman Luboff Choir (1:40)

But judge for yourself!  Be advised that this is a fat file of the music and scans of the insert booklet.

The Bells of Bethlehem

 See you on Thursday with more Christmas music!