I've begun featuring albums by some of the leading easy listening maestros whose output was a significant presence in the early LP days.
Here's one by one of the most influential arrangers of the time, Gordon Jenkins. This Capitol 10-inch album presents what I suspect are a group of singles he made during the 1940s following his 1947 success with Maybe You'll Be There. Many of these follow a formula of orchestral introduction, a ruminative statement of the melody in the piano's lower register, and vocal chorus, all to a danceable beat (thus the title of the LP).
The album features singers Connie Haines, Martha Tilton, Johnny Johnston, and Bob Carroll. I like Carroll, who was never a big star, and will have a post devoted to him down the road.
Jenkins of course had big hits with the Weavers, and went on to work off and on with such singers as Nat Cole, Judy Garland, and Frank Sinatra. The latter made superb recordings of the Jenkins compositions PS I Love You, This Is All I Ask, and Goodbye.
NEW LINK
Hello
ReplyDeleteIt's impossible to download (I have the same problem with Quo Vadis and Golden earing/for whom..)
Can you please,reupload them in MP3 ? Thanks
Sincerely
Georges
Georges,
ReplyDeleteThese files are in flac format, which is a lossless format. There are a variety of free programs that will translate flac files to mp3 - I use Foobar2000.
Does this mean we can post comments now? Test, test, test...
ReplyDeleteErnie,
ReplyDeleteBlogger was having problems with its word authentication thingee, apparently. I shut it off.
Buster...just wondered if you might also have a complete copy of "Manhattan Tower", with Elliot Lewis narrating?
ReplyDeleteGil - I think I do. Ernie was looking for the same item. I'll see if I can find it.
ReplyDeleteWho else has done Manhattan Tower? I think I've got Robert Goulet and Patti Page doing it complete, as well as an LP length version from Gordon. Anyone else tackle it in it's entirety? Perhaps I should save this comment for if you ever post the recording in question. :)
ReplyDeleteErnie,
ReplyDeleteOff the top of my head I can recall three versions. The original shorter version, a mid-1950s version from Capitol, and the Robert Goulet edition you mention. Some of the songs have been recorded independently, including an impassioned version of Never Leave Me by Dick Haymes.
Hi Buster,
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for the 1956 recording of Manhattan Tower - the expanded work, recorded by Jenkins on 12" Capitol. Couod you share this at some stage?
Buster....I got a version, from Mel...but he seems to think it's the shorter one. It's probably the 12" Capitol he mentioned that's the longer one.
ReplyDeleteMel and Gil,
ReplyDeleteI have both versions, but I have already prepared the older one. I will post that one, and then later on I'll get to the Capitol version as well for you.
I remember there was a singer with Gordon Jenkins, Joe Graydon. He was another Haymes/Allyn type of sound. He went on to become a producer and oddly enough booked Dick Haymes Jr on the 1992 cross country tour I got him on. He has since passed away but really had a great ear. I believe the on recording he did that got some air play was Again.
ReplyDeletePaul, I don't know him either, but I will be on the lookout now!
ReplyDeleteLOL, ok cool. Hey, I have to wake up at 4am eastern. I really should stop talking here and give everyone a break. I'll keep in touch. Thanks for all your good works. My brother is a huge Sinatra fan. Maybe I should point him to those rare gems you posted.
ReplyDeleteThe link says "File Not Found" at RapidShare. Is there another way to get these?
ReplyDeleteLink is out of date. I will try to reupload, but might take a while.
ReplyDeleteBuster,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reuploading this album, for it is a real treasure. Could you please list each of the singers and their songs, I would prefer not to guess unless I have to. Thank you.
Artists should be listed in the files.
ReplyDeleteBuster,
ReplyDeleteThe singers are not listed :-)
Buster,
ReplyDeleteI found the singers, thanks. Almost four years ago you stated that you liked Bob Carroll and that you would devote a post to him. Well, how about now? I created my own digital album containing all of his charted hits with Charlie
Barnet, Gordon Jenkins and Jimmy Dorsey and even a recording with The Glenn Miller Air Force Band. My favorite is "Say It With Your Heart" (14-February 1953):-)
Hit Parade - Sorry about that. I always tag my downloads. Not sure what happened this time. I do like Bob Carroll. Just the other day I was watching the Bowery Boys classic "Blues Busters," in which Satch has his tonsils out and becomes a great Crosbyite crooner. Some say that Bob Carroll was the vocal dub. Doesn't sound like him to me, but I suppose it is possible. More to the point, I have any number of Carroll 45s and 78s and will have to make good on my promise of long ago.
ReplyDeleteBuster,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reply. You did tag the songs, correctly, my error. I have several cds that I purchased in the last two years where the songs are only listed as track 1, track 2. Can you tell me what program to purchase where I could tag the songs as you did? Also, if you have time please write to me direct.
Hi - I just use foobar2000, which is a freeware audio player. However, there are numerous taggers available; unfortunately I don't have any experience with them!
ReplyDeleteBuster,
ReplyDeleteAs you know Billy Butterfield will forever be immortalized for playing trumpet on Artie Shaw's 1941 version of "Stardust", voted in 1956 by BILLBOARD disc jockeys as their "Favorite Record of All Time". He has three Capitol 10" albums that I hope to collect: "Stardusting" (1950), "Classics In Jazz" (1953) and "Far Away Places" (1954). If you could help it would be much appreciated. Thank you :-)
Hit Parade,
ReplyDeleteThose are good ones that I would like to hear as well. Unfortunately, I don't have them. Good like with finding them!