Shaun Cassidy (eponymous)

Released in Europe and Australia in 1976,

and in the US in 1977,

this was Shaun Cassidy's debut album,

and his most successful.

"Da Doo Ron Ron"

was his only #1 hit single.

Honestly, I am not quite sure how this LP

arrived in my collection.

I know I did not specifically seek it out

and purchase it 'back in the day.'

Shaun Cassidy was a short-lived teen phenom in the late '70s.

Read more about Shaun Cassidy HERE.

Cover and Poster Photography: Michael Montfort

Back Cover Photography: Claude Maugin

Art Director: Ed Thrasher

Design: Ron Coro, Norm Ung / Gribbitt!

Billy Vaughn: "La Paloma"

Released in 1952,

this is one of Billy Vaughn's earliest recordings.

Billy Vaughn was a staple for the "easy listening"

and "mood music" crowd.

This entire LP is available as one continuous 'video' on YouTube:

La Paloma

Read more about Billy Vaughn HERE.

Stevie Wonder: "Talking Book"

Released in 1972,

this was Stevie Wonder's fifteenth (15th) album.

Includes the mega-hits

"Superstition"

and

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life."

Many say this recording is when Stevie Wonder

'hit his stride' as an artist.

Read more about Stevie Wonder HERE.

Photography: R. Margouleff

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.

Sammy Davis, Jr.: "I've Gotta Be Me"

Released in 1968,

the title song became

one of Sammy Davis, Jr.'s signature songs.

This song was covered by numerous artists.

"I've gotta" believe this one song set Walter Marks (composer)

up for life.

Cover photo: Ron Joy

Art Director: Ed Thrasher

Back Cover: B. Tanenbaum

Fifth Anniversary!

It is in the very nature of the strangeness of this past year (2014) that I 'accidentally' stumbled upon the fact that today is the fifth anniversary of the launching of FastEddie's Wax Museum.  I was idly noticing how few posts I managed to post in 2014 when I saw an entry titled 'Fourth Anniversary!'

On a personal level, much has happened in 2014 that I can truthfully say I am glad to have in my past.  Multiple health issues, for example.  I burned up more 'sick leave' on behalf of myself, my son, and my wife than I have probably used in the previous ten years combined.  The result of those events was that I went for months without giving any attention to this blog.

Hooray for blogging! Blogs are patient creatures. They wait. They don't go anywhere. I mean, it's not like I have thousands of 'followers.' That is not even an ambition of mine, truly.  I actually have something like seven or eight different blogs.  I have not literally counted them.

I know my first blog - PostPonderance - has not seen the ministrations of my mind and fingers for nearly five years. Nevertheless, it is still there waiting for me, and I can make a new post there anytime I like.  Ironically, the posts I have made there were mostly efforts to convince myself to write more blog posts.

Well, in any case, 'Happy Anniversary!' to me!  I sincerely hope that 2015 will be a more positively productive year, and that FastEddie's Wax Museum will see plenty of action.

Cheers! and Shalom to one and all.

Blood, Sweat & Tears: "Blood, Sweat & Tears"

Released in 1968,

this was Blood, Sweat & Tears' second LP.

I believe the primary reason it was self-titled

is because the line-up was almost

entirely different from their first album.

In particular,

they boasted a new front man,

David Clayton-Thomas,

who replaced Al Kooper.

This album was hugely successful,

with major hits

"Spinning Wheel,"

"You've Made Me So Very Happy,"

and

"And When I Die."

It even won the Grammy

for Album of the Year,

beating out the Beatles'

"Abbey Road,"

Crosby, Stills, & Nash's debut LP,

Johnny Cash's "At San Quentin,"

and

The Fifth Dimension's "The Age of Aquarius."

This was an influential recording

for the world

and for me personally.

The stunning musical complexity,

the songwriting, and the vocals

had a lasting impact on my approach

to music composition and appreciation.

Cover Art: Timothy Quay

Back Cover Photo: Harrie George

Inside Art: Bob Cato

Design: John Berg