Al Hirt: "Cotton Candy"

Released in 1964,

this is one of the best-loved recordings

from a long career of much-loved projects

from Al Hirt.

As always, fun to listen to,

here is a sample:

"Cotton Candy"

Read more about the Al Hirt HERE.

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.

Vince Guaraldi: "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Released in 1965

with the television airing of this

first of many Charlie Brown specials,

this became Vince Guaraldi's signature work.

He went on to compose and record seventeen

Charlie Brown specials before he passed away

at the age of 47 from an apparent heart attack.

Read more about Vince Guaraldi HERE.

Read more about the Charlie Brown specials HERE.

Ralph Carmichael and Kurt Kaiser: "I'm Here. God's Here. Now We Can Start."

Released in 1973

in the heyday of "summer musicals"

for church youth groups,

and during the height of the 

"Jesus Movement."

This type of "contemporary musical context"

was the mainstream church's response

to the advent of what would soon 

come to be called 

"Contemporary Christian Music."

Evangelistic in nature and content,

these types of musicals

were very popular

and hugely successful.

This one also involved

Andrae Crouch and Danniebelle Hall.

Cover Art: Thel Eichmann

Al Hirt: "Sugar Lips"

Released in 1964,

this is one of dozens

of fantastic recordings

from this New Orleans Jazz icon.

Always uplifting and fun listening.

Read more about Al Hirt HERE.

The Mills Brothers: "The Very Best of..."

Released in 1977,

this is a wonderful retrospective

compilation of their most beloved tracks.

Unbeatable swingin' harmonies!

I love these guys.

Read more about The Mills Brothers HERE.

BeeGees: "Greatest"

Released in 1979,

this was a compilation album

commemorating the huge sensation

that was the BeeGees

in the late 1970s.

All the great songs from "Saturday Night Fever,"

plus "Jive Talkin'"

"Fanny"

"Nights On Broadway"

"How Deep Is Your Love"

Admit it.

You love it.

Pete Fountain: "Swing Low, Sweet Clarinet"

Released in 1962,

this is one of many enjoyable recordings

from one of America's best-loved jazz musicians.

Read more about Pete Fountain HERE.

Roberta Flack: "Quiet Fire"

Released in 1971,

this was Roberta Flack's third (3rd) studio LP.

When this album hit the stores,

Roberta Flack was not yet a household name.

But in 1972, Clint Eastwood decided to use her song

"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

(from her first album, "First Take")

in his movie "Play Misty For Me,"

(Eastwood's directorial debut).

That song became a mega-hit,

and was awarded a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1973.

The only song from "Quiet Fire" to make the charts,

 peaking at #76, was

"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,"

the Carole King tune first recorded by The Shirelles in 1960,

the first recording by an "all-girl group" to hit #1.

The song had already been covered by several other artists,

including Brenda Lee, Lesley Gore, Cher, Ben E. King,

Linda Ronstadt, The Four Seasons, Dusty Springfield,

Jackie DeShannon, and others - even Carole King herself,

on her classic "Tapestry" LP.

One of the most recorded songs ever,

this song has been taken up by dozens of artists

over the years.

Photography: Rod Bristow

Cover Design: Ira Friedlander

Si Zentner: "Presenting..."

Released in 1962,

this is one of at least thirty (30) LPs

recorded by Si Zentner,

a great contributor to the Big Band Sound.

Read more about Si Zentner HERE.

Henry Mancini: "Mancini Concert"

Released in 1971,

this Mancini LP

reveals how much Mancini often tried

to stay in tune with popular musical expressions.

Here, besides a medley tribute to Simon & Garfunkel,

he also includes the overture from The Who's rock opera "Tommy"

and a medley of tunes from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's

"Jesus Christ Superstar."

Simon & Garfunkel had just broken up in 1970

after the release of their last album together:

"Bridge Over Troubled Water"

"Tommy"

was released less than two years previously

and had not yet made its way

to stage or film.

"Jesus Christ Superstar"

had been released

as a concept album

less than a year previously

and was months

away from its opening

on Broadway.

The Byrds: "Ballad of Easy Rider"

Released in 1969,

the was The Byrds' eighth (8th) LP.

The story of the song and the movie

are classic American tales

especially typifying the way it was

in the late 1960s

in the good ol' U.S.A.

Read more about it HERE.

Inner Sleeve

A mini-gallery of a tiny slice of the late '60s music scene.

Wings: "Venus and Mars"

Released in 1975,

this was Wings' fourth (4th) studio LP;

a relatively successful follow-up to their

"Band on the Run" LP.

Includes the hit

"Listen to What the Man Said"

This is recording during which

Joe English joined Wings

(after Geoff Britton left).

101 Strings: "World of Romance"

Released in 1961,

this is an easy listening compilation

of tracks from previously recorded 101 Strings albums

representing exotic locations from Baghdad to Ohio.

Read the story of "101 Strings" HERE.