Welcome to The Tuna Melt Music Sharity Blog!

It is here that I post old records that I've ripped
to Mp3 format (and grouped in .ZIP files) via File Sharing Sites,
album cover scans and, sometimes,
somewhat coherent ramblings related to said shares.

Most of the items shared are rips of Out-of-Print
(or, at least, very difficult to acquire)
Vinyl Records from my own collection,
or Compilations ("Seasonal" or "Genre-Specific") made up of Mp3 files
either digitally collected or ripped from Compact Disk.

Come on in. Look around.
Scroll downward to find available links.
I hope you find something you like.

If you don't,
you can always come back later, as the variety
of what is made available should be pretty wide-ranging.


Sunday, January 25, 2009

Andre Kostelanetz: Stereo Wonderland of Sound


Tuna Melt Pops Into the Space Age!


This record is a prime example of what has since become known as a Stereo Demonstration Album. These were records produced to exhibit the range of capabilities available using the new, at the time, Stereo Hi-Fi Systems and are otherwise known as Space Age Pop, or Space Age Bachelor Pad, records. Many were created by the manufacturers of these systems and given away with the purchase thereof. Others, however, were produced to demonstrate the latest recording techniques being utilized by different record labels and to convince customers that their products sounded wonderful on the new Stereophonic playback units.

This one is from Columbia Records, in 1961, features Andre Kostelanetz and is one really groovy record. The arrangements are, apparently, designed to showcase the recording technique more than they are to make a whole lot of sense. This results in some really strange combinations (such as "Unchained Melody" with a sumptuous Exotica background rhythm and featuring Italian Restaurant-style Mandoline along with a standard Big Band Brass Section). Weird as some of the juxtopositions may seem at first, however, the overall effect is spectacular.

Check it out!

  1. Be My Love
  2. Everybody Loves a Lover
  3. Wonderland By Night
  4. Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)
  5. Greenfields
  6. It's Not for Me to Say
  7. Vaya Con Dios
  8. Round and Round
  9. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
  10. So Rare
  11. Unchained Melody
  12. Marianne
You may note that I identified the record as being named "Stereo Wonderland of Sound" whereas the album jacket say's "wonderland of sound" (as well as "TODAY'S GREAT HITS"). Well… The BACK of the jacket says "Stereo Wonderland of Sound". So does the label on the record. Also, the jacket, front and back, and the label all read "The New Andre Kostelanetz" and, since I don't believe that anyone ever actually got rid of "The Old Andre Kostelanetz" and replaced him with a new one, I just left the name as plain ol' "Andre Kostelanetz". Taggin' this bugger could'a been a real pain if I'd let it be, boy howdy. Sorry for any confusion.

10 comments:

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ said...

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Traitor Vic said...

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You Know Who... said...

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Very good album, thanks

Your Pal Doug said...

You're already on a new album and I missed this one. Thanks for the wonderful stereo!!

Traitor Vic said...

Yeah… We Move FAST Around Here, Boy Howdy! VA-Room!!!

Anonymous said...

My comment may come late but it´s still a fantastic LP. And the sound is good......Yes! Thank You!

Sten

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing.

Devlin Jamison said...

Thanks much!

Anons Little Helpers said...

Great read thank yyou