1970

Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians - Dancing Room Only

Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians – Dancing Room Only

Sleeve Notes:

Here is an album of favorites in that traditional Lombardo style that crowds dance floors whenever the Royal Canadians play. There is also a wealth of mood, melody, and lyric in the recording for those who enjoy just listening to Guy’s rich arrangements.

To enchanting instrumentals, Guy has added a selection of warm vocal stylings by Don Rodney, Bill Flannigan, Kenny Gardner, and the Lombardo Trio. There are wonderful memory songs, such as “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” and more recent standards, including “Autumn Leaves,” and “Our Love Is Here to Stay.”
Waltz fans haven’t been forgotten, either. For them, Guy has supplied “Now Is the Hour,” the popular “Around the World,” and a charming instrumental arrangement of “Fascination”— one of the loveliest of all three-quarter melodies.
These stylings are the kind that brought prominence to the Guy Lombardo orchestra more than three decades ago, and have kept the Royal Canadians at peak popularity for all these years. Today no other orchestra can claim greater fame over such a long period of time.
The popular tunes of the day may change, but the Guy Lombardo stylings, like the ones in this album, are timeless and basic. Guy has always played his music with the emphasis on melody; played it for easy, relaxed listening, and pleasant.

Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians - Dancing Room Only

Label: Capitol SF-521

1970 1970s Covers

The Ed Sullivan Singers and Orchestra - Really Big Hits

The Ed Sullivan Singers and Orchestra – Really Big Hits

Sleeve Notes:

There is no need to go into any detail about the songs in this album. Just a mere look at the titles will evoke memories of the great times you spent listening to them. I have chosen them carefully from a list of my own favorites, and the chorus and orchestra have done beautifully by them. Please note the sound quality we have achieved—it will come right out of the speakers and involve you completely. Big chorus and orchestra—big sound —really big hits. I know you will enjoy every one of them.

ED SULLIVAN

ABOUT HARMONY RECORDS

Columbia Records proudly presents on its Harmony label the most renowned artists in the world of musical entertainment in fine quality recordings. The artists and performances have either been newly recorded expressly for Harmony or have been carefully selected from Columbia’s vast library of great recordings. Every Harmony album is engineered and pressed in accordance with the highest manufacturing standards. The distinguished Harmony name has been associated with the recording industry for over 40 years, and the Columbia name on the Harmony label is your guarantee of superb artistry and quality at a price well within the means of every record collector.

The Ed Sullivan Singers and Orchestra - Really Big Hits

Label: Harmony HS 11387
Cover Photo: Columbia Records Photo Studio

1970 1970s Covers

Sad Songs Irish Style - Various Artists, Frankie McBride sings "WITH PEN IN HAND" and Big Tom sings his 'monster' hit song "GENTLE MOTHER"

Sad Songs Irish Style – Various Artists

Sleeve Notes:

Irish people seem to enjoy a sad song, whether it be an Irish song or a Country and Western type song; and many on this fine album are of the latter.

Frankie McBride sings “WITH PEN IN HAND” and Big Tom sings his ‘monster’ hit song “GENTLE MOTHER”. They are all fine examples of the sad songs enjoyed so much here in Ireland, though most of them originated in U.S.A.

The songs have become part and parcel of the Irish music scene — and it is advisable to have a handkerchief ready as the needle drops.

© 1970, Emerald Records Limited.

Sad Songs Irish Style - Various Artists, Frankie McBride sings "WITH PEN IN HAND" and Big Tom sings his 'monster' hit song "GENTLE MOTHER"

Label: Emerald Gem GES 1029
Sleeve Photography: Stanley Matchett

1970 1970s Covers

Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra - Dreaming The Blues

Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra – Dreaming The Blues

Sleeve Notes:

Over several years and many records, musicians have searched for that elusive, different — and commercial — ‘sound’. And one or two of them have even found it. Glenn Miller, as a notable example. He truly struck gold in the big band field with those distinctive and so individual arrangements. But that Miller Magic was born many years ago and few, if any, bandleaders have been able to emulate him since.

Few bandleaders, that is, with the exception of the remarkable Bert Kaempfert. For the Hamburg-born musician did a Miller and hit upon a unique, inspired may in which to blend and voice the instruments under his command. A way which produced an overall sound — the dominant bass line, the regimented swing of the beat, the muted brass, and the general air of quality — that quite literally grabbed the public by the ear. All of which is very evident from the many millions of Bert Kaempfert LPs which have delighted record listeners the world over.

Bert Kaempfert became interested in music at a very early age —when he was discovered trying to make tunes on the old piano in the parlour. His parents encouraged him by sending him for private lessons and later he was enrolled at the Hamburg School of Music from which he graduated with flying colours.

In addition to piano, he learned to play clarinet, saxophone, and accordion. And, before long, his talents as arranger and composer began to emerge. His recording career began effectively in 1960 when the ‘single’ of his own song, “Wonderland By Night”, topped the American charts and became a million-seller. And there were to be many more successes along the way — notably his “Strangers In The Night” composition, which he wrote for a film and which gave Frank Sinatra a long-awaited Number One hit, and “Bye Bye Blues”, his British chart debut record.

The Bert Kaempfert talents are all contained on this LP, with many of his own compositions, like “Happy Trumpeter”, “The Bass Walks” “Explorer”, and “Catalania”, sharing the honours with such well-loved ‘standards’ as “Blue Moon” and “Cherokee”.

The Kaempfert Sound, in fact. And for a musician’s work to be that instantly recognisable must be satisfaction indeed to the man whose brainchild it was in the first place.

Syd Gillingham

Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra - Dreaming The Blues

Label: Contour 2870 441
Photograph: Michel Leguens
Sleeve Design: Jack Levy

1970 1970s Covers

Peter Covent's Stereo Special!

Peter Covent’s Stereo Special!

Sleeve Notes:

As exciting as today’s youth is also the Party-Sound by Peter Covent, known for his always topical hits. Who is hiding behind this musical pseudonym? Carlos Diernhammer, born in Munich, born in Buenos Aires while passing through. Together with his current producer Egon L. Frauenberger, he printed the school desk in Bavaria’s metropolis. At the age of 13, “Don Carlos”, as his friends call him, composed his first sonata. After the conservatory he jazzed with Freddie Brocksieper and with Max Greger, for whom he still works as an arranger today. Carlos turned down an offer from Woody Herman to America because he was just in love with his current wife. He later went into business for himself, arranging and composing for the best known German big bands. The musical and personal connection with his old school friend finally became “Peter Covent a la Mr. Hits a gogo” to the enthusiasm of all young people.

Label: Philips 88415 DY
Front design: Helmut Shiefer
Front Cover Photo: Frits Van Swoll

1970 1970s Covers

Top of the Pops Vol. 14

Top of the Pops Vol. 14

Sleeve Notes:

Every single Pop fan in the country has been screaming for our next issue of ‘Top of the Pops’ (or so it seems to our hard pressed staff). Well, here it is – brighter, breezier, beatier than any of our previous issues and packed with twelve of the current hit tunes. You’ll listen to this album once, and you’ll play it over and over again. Never mind the neighbours – they’ll probably love it too’. If you have a neighbour who’s a Square, never mind again, he’s bound to be converted after you’ve played it a few hundred times.

So Hip, Hip, you hippies; and Yippee, you yippies; go grab yourself this handful of rhythm and beat its brains out on your player until our next issue comes out – and when it does, yell for it loud and clear, for they’ll be moving off the shelf – but fast.

Top of the Pops Vol. 14

Label: Hallmark SHM 710

1970 1970s Covers Top of the Pops Collection

Pick of the Pops Vol. 4

Pick of the Pops Vol. 4

Sleeve Notes:

Here is a selection of 12 top titles from the Top 20. Ballads and Pop to please everyone’s tastes in popular music. We have tried to get as near to the original sound as possible and our only aim is to give you top value for money with 12 top titles that we know you will enjoy.

Pick of the Pops Vol. 4

Label: Deacon DEA 1015

1970 1970s Covers

Percy Faith and His Orchestra - Younger Than Springtime

Percy Faith and His Orchestra – Younger Than Springtime

Sleeve Notes:

Percy Faith is one of the best musical arrangers working today. And for good reason. Percy has the unique capability to prove and feel the heart of a musical composition. And he has the talent to ex-press the musical intent of the composer. A master at his trade, Percy arranges small group or full orchestra with the unbridled enthusiasm of the very best.

He impeccably transcribes classics to gain total respect from the more con-servative older long hairs. Percy makes Broadway scores memorable and bright as he combines stir-ring melodies with just the right beat.
This record of orchestral arrangements is a prime example of Percy Faith’s ability to search out and score the real worth of quality music.
Listen to Percy’s arrangement of Begin the Beguine. Perhaps for the very first time you begin to appreciate its hidden well of intricacies and nuances . . . without missing any of the obviously beautiful and thrilling melodic highlights of this Cole Porter classic.
Tune yourself into Percy’s unforgettable reading of Summertime, from George Gershwin’s folk-opera :’Porgy and Bess.”
Peter De Rose’s Deep Purple—originally crafted as a piano solo—has never been performed as eloquently as Percy’s tasteful scoring.
Laura—the spell-binding beauty, brought to musical life by David Raksin—becomes more memorable and totally unforgettable when portrayed by the impressionable Mr. Faith.
The light-hearted Richard Rodgers—of Rodgers and Hart—and the more mature Richard Rodgers—of Rodgers and Hammerstein, is represented by admiration-laden Faith-filled arrangements of three standards: Where Or When (from “Babes In Arms”) and Some Enchanted Evening and Younger Than Springtime (from “South Pacific”).
Frederick Loewe’s magnificent score for “Camelot” is doubly blessed with singularly fine keep-sake Percy Faith arrangements of I Loved You Once In Silence and If Ever I Would Leave You.
Prepare yourself for a unique and fully-listenable experience. You will discover again why Percy Faith is one of the best and most requested arrangers on the music scene today.
—Ron Gold
Percy Faith and His Orchestra - Younger Than Springtime

Label: Hallmark CHM 686

1970 1970s Covers