Easy Jazz at The Tuna Melt!
My usual criteria for judging the value of any Easy Listening record is how well the music on it pairs with a Dry Martini (or, in the case of any Exotica collection, a Mai Tai). I usually find discs from this particular Hollywood Records label (there have been several with the same name) to go better with Grape Kool-Aid than any adult beverage whatsoever. I suppose, then, that it makes sense that the name Hollywood Records is currently used by a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Corporation and has released albums by Aly & AJ, The Jonas Brothers and Hillary Duff.
This Hollywood Records, though, was among the Budgetiest of Budget Labels in the 50s. Their catalog is filled with relative nobodies (such as Harry Arnold & His Orchestra, Chuck Farone & The Polka Larks, The Bengt Hindberg Trio and Uncle Bill Wiley & His Tall Corn Boys) churning out uninspired collections of pop standards and current hits, usually in jackets adorned with a photo of a female model of equal obsurity. With only a few exceptions, records on this label are often barely worth the prices (10¢ to $1.00) currently being charged by Charity Thrift Stores.
This is one of those exceptions. I have no idea who Spencer Collingwood is/was and assume, actually, that the name is a pseudonym since it appears on the label but is nowhere on the jacket. I do know that his "Orchestra" is simply a quartet. The saxophone on this record, though, is nice, relaxing and jazzy. While there's nothing here that might cause you to jump up and scream it is, at least, a pleasant enough album for kicking back and enjoying a nice beverage with. Perhaps not a Dry Martini but a blended Scotch or a snifter of cheap-ass Brandy.
- Stomping at The Savoy
- This Can't Be Love
- Willow Weep for Me
- Just You Just Me
- Sweet Loraine
- Harlem Nocturne
- Get Happy
- Perdido
- What Is This Thing Called Love
- Off Shore
- Lover Man
- Come Rain or Come Shine
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3 comments:
This is a must-get, thanks Vic!
I've several Hollywood LPs too and you're right, they are the budgetiest! Great cover art though - must post one or 2 - maybe the one with the original Betty Page cover, oooh la la!
Lounge On TV,
LT
Ooh, yeah!
I'm constantly on the lookout for the one with Julie Newmar on the cover, myself.
Thanks, LT!
-TV
Nutz, my mistake - as I look at the album now, Betty Page was on the cover of a Halo record not Hollywood. Gotta give them a listen, might post them for Valentines Day !-)
That Julie Newmar (my favorite CatWoman!) sounds purrrrfectly delightful, will keep my eyes wide for that one too!
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