Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra: "Nola & Other Piano Instrumentals"

This LP was released in 1959,

when Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra

had already been household names

for nearly forty years.

"Nola," written by Felix Arndt,

was Vincent Lopez' theme song

from his earliest days on radio.

Vincent Lopez' orchestra was among

the first true "big band/swing" ensembles.

Here's a nice "soundie" compilation from 1939:

Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra with Betty Hutton

Read more about Vincent Lopez HERE.

Henry Mancini: "The Music From Peter Gunn"

Released in 1959,

the theme for the television show "Peter Gunn"

was one of Henry Mancini's most popular tunes.

This version of the album art apparently is not the most widely distributed

version of this LP.  I have not been able to find any explanation for the two very different

versions of the cover art, but it seems likely that one is a re-issue of the album.

I'd put my money on this one being the original and the other one being the re-issue,

which would have come after the show and the theme song became

extremely popular.

HERE is a look at both covers.

Artwork by Jason Kirby

Read more about Henry Mancini's life and times HERE.

I find the graphic design of the inner sleeves

to be interesting, too!

Some more than others, of course.

And actually, since this inner sleeve advertises

"Carlton Records"

it is clearly not the original inner sleeve

for this RCA Victor LP.

Paul Weston: "Music for Dreaming"

Released in 1959,

this LP joined the swollen ranks of 

highly popular "mood music."

Read more about Paul Weston HERE. 

Ray Charles: "The Genius of Ray Charles"

Released in 1959,

this LP was in some ways Ray Charles

"breakout" recording

because it highlighted his soulful

vocal style.

Rolling Stone magazine has placed this album

at #263 on its list of The Top 500 Albums of All Time.

Listen to Ray's version of "Come Rain Or Come Shine"

from this recording.

Read more about Ray Charles HERE.

Liner Notes: Nat Hentoff

Roger Williams: "With These Hands"

Released in 1959,

this is one of many Easy Listening recordings from the pianist

Roger Williams.

Read more about the life and times of Roger Williams HERE.

Terry Snyder and the All-Stars: "Persuasive Percussion"

BRING DA BEAT!

Released in 1959,

this is a terrific "modern" mid-century offering

from Terry Snyder and the All-Stars.

Here's an audio sample:

"I''m In The Mood For Love"

Minimalist cover art by Josef Albers.

Shelley Berman: "Outside"

Released in 1959,

this recording is classic in the world of comedy.

Shelley Berman is legendary.

Find out more about Shelley Berman HERE.

This album and several others by Shelley Berman

are available on CD at Laugh.com

and for download at Amazon.com and iTunes.

Dave Brubeck: "Gone With The Wind and Time Out"

Released in 1959.

These two LPs were released separately,

then together as a double LP.

Read more about Dave Brubeck HERE.

Artwork for Time Out cover: S. Neil Fujita

Guy Lombardo: "Berlin By Lombardo"

Released in 1959,

this LP is an easy-listening collection

of Guy Lombardo's interpretations

of a handful of Irving Berlin's timeless tunes.

Couldn't resist

including pics of the inner sleeve!

Ricky Nelson: "Songs By Ricky"

Released in 1959,

this was Ricky's fourth (4th) studio LP.

Notice for this photo

he got the "Elvis sneer"

just right;

but Ricky had his own voice

and plenty of his own screaming fans.

The Flamingos: "Flamingo Serenade"

Released in 1959,

this is one of several great recordings

from this seminal doo-wop group.

Find out more about The Flamingos HERE.

Columbia Jazz Festival - 1959

This 1959 recording

is a rare gem.

Just ponder the names on the cover for a moment...

OK.

Stop drooling.

And, yes,

it is as great a collection of tracks

as it appears to be.

Marty Robbins: "Marty's Greatest Hits"

This was Marty Robbins' first (1st) compilation LP,

released in 1959.

Marty was indisputably an icon of

the country and pop charts in the 1950s and '60s.

Read more about the life and career of Marty Robbins HERE.

Couldn't find any references to art/design/photography credits for this LP,

but back then it was uncommon to find those credits listed.

Harry Belafonte: "At Carnegie Hall"

Enjoyable double LP.

As the cover states,

it was "recorded on the spot"

in 1959.

Sons of the Pioneers: "Cool Water"

Recorded in June 1959.

The Sons of the Pioneers were arguably the godfathers of Country & Western music.

Founded in 1933 by Leonard Slye (aka Roy Rogers) the group was greatly popular during the '40s, '50s, and '60s when everything Western was "all that."

Even if you are not specifically a fan of western music styling, you cannot honestly deny the essential musicality and primal simplicity of this classic music.

This LP ended up with a fan in Pennsylvania.

Cover painting by Mel Doyle (?).

The Whiffenpoofs: "1909-1959"

I'm still trying to figure out what's up with having their picture taken with a flock of sheep...

This longstanding Yale select men's chorus created this LP in 1959 as a Golden Anniversary retrospective of the first fifty years of Whiffenpoof history and artistry.

It is a fun listen.

This LP went to a collector in Florida.

Terry Snyder and the All Stars: "Persuasive Percussion"

Released in 1959, this LP featured several hallmarks in the recording industry.

First of all, the music itself is grand.

This LP was the first to use a gatefold cover.

It is an early example of true stereo recording technique.

The artwork is by Josef Albers.

This LP now resides in Washington state.