Up early on a Saturday morning and wasn’t feeling the NPR vibe, so out came another record.
The Temptations
Cloud Nine
Cloud Nine is one of my favorite albums from The Temptations! This album has a fantastic blend of the rhythm and blues mixed with some jazz! It’s an album that is worth equal spinning on both sides. There isn’t much I can tell you about this 1969 album that can’t be read at the wikipedia site, so check the wiki article out for more information. And if you happen to be walking by a record store at night and find this album in a pile of free records by the door – grab it! And give all ten of it’s tracks a listen on the ol’ table. There are also great listens on youtube.
Woke up to NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday this morning doing a feature about John Lennon and how today would have been his 70th birthday. (A fantastic listen if you can spare the time, it features audio released from David Sheff’s Playboy interview in 1980.)
I figured a would-have been birthday is as good as any reason to celebrate. Luckily, the record library has started taking on a form of organized chaos; so I knew exactly where to look. I ended up digging out Revolver, The Beatles 7th album.
Often when I am listening to an album, I think about how cool the sound is- even if it is a little scratchy at times. I first listened to Revolver all the way through on the player, but then I pulled up the CD version and listened to it. Something about listening to this album on vinyl made the experience so much better.
To wherever you are John, Happy Birthday!
Side 1
Taxman
Eleanor Rigby
Love You To
Here, There And Everywhere
Yellow Submarine
She Said She Said
Side 2
Good Day Sunshine
For No One
I Want To Tell You
Got To Get You Into My Life
Tomorrow Never Knows
Album Info:
Recording produced by George Martin
Cover designed by Klaus Voormann
Back cover photo by Robert Whitaker
Prepared for release in the U.S.A. by Bill Miller
While waiting for some paint to dry this weekend, I reached in and dug out an album from 1972 which was recorded at The Hit Factory in New York.
Jim Croce
You Don’t Mess Around With Jim
This ABC Records album may not feature “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” but it is certainly one of those albums that fits the cliche of what I intended the point of this project to be. This album makes a great listen from start to finish, well thought out with a variety of dynamics on each side; it’s not a cherry picker album.
One awesome thing I first noticed about this album is that it folds out and has all the lyrics to the songs – in a font that is readable! Yea, CD’s have been known to enclose lyrics, but real estate is such a prime with them that you need a magnifying glass to read the lyrics and notes – not so on this album!
I think my top favorites on the album are mostly on the flip side, “Box #10,” “A Long Time Ago,” and “Hey Tomorrow.” The other favorite (on the front) being the title track, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.” Funny thing is, when I looked up the airplay charts and compared them to my list, only one made the cut. The top hits of album from back in the day are, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels),” and “Time in a Bottle.”
Although, the one song that deserves a special mentioning is, “Time in a Bottle.” With the help of ABC’s movie, “She Lives!” Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” topped the charts at number one three months after his untimely death.
Tracklisting:
Side 1:
You Don’t Mess Around with Jim
Tomorrow’s Gonna Be A Brighter Day
New York’s Not My Home
Hard TIme Losin’ My Man
Photographs and Memories
Walking Back To Georgia
Side 2:
Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)
Time in a Bottle
Rapid Boy (The Stock Car Boy)
Box #10
A Long Time Ago
Hey Tomorrow
This album features:
Jim Croce, Rhythm Guitar
(Also wrote all the songs.)
Maury Muehleisen, Lead Acoustic Guitar
Gary Chester, Drums
Tommy West, Key Boards
Joe Macho, Bass
Jim Ryan, Bass – “Box #10″
Tommy West, Bass – “Walkin’ Back to Georgia,” “Photographs and Memories,” “Time In A Bottle”
H.J Boyle, Electric Guitar – “Hey Tomorrow”
Ellie Greenwich, Tasha Thomas, Tommy West, Briggs, Digs, Slim: Background Vocals – “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim,” “Hard Time Losin’ Man,” “Time In A Bottle,” “Hey Tomorrow”
Maury Muehleisen, Terry Cashman, Tommy West: Background Vocals – “Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)”
As you can tell we’ve started having contributors, yay for more updates! I am still going to keep counting up the records for The Personal Conservatory Project, but I thought it would be nice to start including albums other people have taken the time to listen and share their thoughts on (from their own collections).
The easiest way to tell a contributor’s album post is that the title of the album will be the title of the post. (ie, contributor Braden recently posted, “Whipped Cream & Other Delights“)
Whereas, the records I am randomly pulling and going through for The Personal Conservatory Project all have post titles as “Record #__”. (I recently posted, “Record #81” the other day.)
So to sum up that whooha, Personal Conservatory stuff: Post is titled “Record #__”
Contributor items: Post is title “Album Title”
If you really want to get technical and look at the nuts n bolts of the operation; All Personal Conservatory Project items are filed under the category “Music”, while stuff from contributors is filed under “Albums” and “Contributor”.
I hope you enjoy seeing more random albums on vinyl pop up here along with the continuation of count-up for The Personal Conservatory Project. If you have any suggestions or wish to contact me, please use the contact form or leave a comment. Alright, enough of this logistical nerdy stuff, time to dust another one off the shelf!
Hi folks! Quite the snowy evening out there; which means there’s nothing better than sitting comfortably indoors sipping a hot chai latte while listening to some classic vinyl.
Tonight, I am going to share with you one of my favorites, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass “Whipped Cream & Other Delights.” I got this mint condition LP at Half Price Books several months ago for a whopping $2.00. I was so excited to get home and convert it to digital format. I also acquired the “mono” version of the same album included within a lot of Tijuana Brass LPs I won via eBay.
This LP is undoubtedly one of my favorite of the Tijuana Brass; and most fans consider this album one of their absolute best. I agree. It’ll get your foot tapping in no time.
Here’s a track listing:
“A Taste Of Honey” is a great way to start off this album. I love the bass guitar in this one. One will almost certainly get the urge to tap their foot when hearing it.
“Bittersweet Samba” is my absolute favorite. I would have to say it’s my favorite because I love how the bass compliments the trumpet reverberation(s) of the piece.
“Peanuts” is another favorite if mine. It reminds me of something I’d hear at a circus while enjoying a hot bag of freshly roasted peanuts.
As a side note, it really amazes me how much better vinyl sounds to my ears than a CD. The CD seems to lose that “warmth” vinyl provides.
What do you think?
And there you have it, my first record review for what it’s worth. I’ll have more Herb Alpert to share with you in the future!
I dusted this album off back in the fall and digitalized it for the ipod so I could have some fresh old tunes while working on my new old house.
Heading back to the rockin’ 60′s in Niles, Michigan for this set of tunes!
Tommy James & The Shondells
26 Greatest Hits
So it’s a little sad that the record I dusted off is a compilation, but its cool because there are hits upon hits for rocking out! Sorta reminds me of a live concert, except with no cheering crowd.
Of-course while I was catching my breath from jamming to Sweet Cherry Wine & air drumming Mony Mony; I was intrigued to learn that Tommy James’s first gig was at age 12 with a group he formed called, “The Tornadoes”. At age 12 for me, I remember dancing around the living room to Draggin’ The Line!
Not only was it surprising he started performing at a young age, but Pittsburgh (whoo!) provided a powerful launch to his musical career! Apparently two years after it was recored and released, a Pittsburgh nightclub DJ in 1966 started spinning Hanky Panky. The tune generated such a response with the public that local radio stations then began spinning the tune and record bootleggers began pressing out copies of the single – 8000 in 10 days!! Impressive! The number one hit in the summer of that year was Hanky Panky. Of course the rest, as they say, is history.
There are lots of interesting facts and tidbits about Tommy James & The Shondells – more than enough to overwhelm this post! Check out Tommy James’s site for the complete biography.
26 Greatest Hits (Front Cover)
26 Greatest Hits (Back Cover)
Here is one of my favorites chilling on youtube. (Sweet Cherry Wine)
I’d like to welcome a new contributor to the site, Braden Mikael. Braden has been a long time fan of music, especially on vinyl. For Christmas this past year Braden received a new turntable from his wife, perfect for being a contributor here! He will be adding posts and thoughts on albums from time to time (which should help the frequency of updates!)
Recently I’ve undertook the work of restoring an old house… once that project is completed, you will be seeing more regular postings from me.
Nothing like celebrating record number eighty on the first day of the month on a Monday! Somehow I think that phrasing could have been slightly better – but the album? Perfectly soothing.
What Now My Love became Herb Alpert’s longest lasting album in the billboard number one position – nine weeks! The album is comprised of various show tunes and pop hits. Infact, my two favorites on the album are covers. “So What’s New?” is from Peggy Lee & John Pisano. “Magic Trumpet” is a Bert Kaempfert tune.
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - What Now My Love
Nashville Brass Turns To Gold Danny Davis And The Nashville Brass
There are lots of styles and music which gives me a ‘pick-me-up’ and one of them is most certainly the sound of brass. I pulled this album out one morning to get me on the mood to cook and clean. Before I knew it I had flipped the vinyl a few times looking for nonexistent sides 3 and 4.
After listening you the album a few times over I checked out Danny Davis on wikipedia, which turned out to be a great read! The story of Davis pitching his idea of recording country with brass instruments to Chet Atkins with complete disapproval from the RCA executives in New York is classic. Personally, I love stories when someone is told that “it will never work” or in Davis’s case, country music fans “don’t like horns” / it’s a “terrible idea” to only have the story end a blazing success proving all the naysayers wrong. Props to Atkins for saying, “young fella, I run Nashville, go do it.”
Some quick tidbits on Danny and the Brass:
1969 Grammy: “Best instrumental group of the year.”
Won five consecutive Country Music Plaques (CMA) in a row: 1969 – 1974.
One of the first country music acts to have their own airplane: “Lady Barbara” (for Davis’s wife).
Side 1:
Java
Forever
Ol’ Red River Valley
Sixteen Tons
January Eighth (1972)
Side 2:
Honky Tonk
Melodie d’Amour
Riders in the Sky
El Paso
Flowers on the Wall
Here are the musicians featured on this 1972 album:
Danny Davis, leader, flugelhorn
Grady Martin, leader, electric guitar
Floyd Cramer and Larry Butler, piano
Bob Moore, bass and electric bass
Buddy Harman, drums
Ray Edenton, rhythm guitar
Lloyd Green, steel guitar
Curtis McPeake and Bobby Thompson, banjo
Harold Bradley, electric guitar
Bill Pippin, flugelhorn
Bill McElhiney and Bill Pippin, trumpet
Jim Hall, Rex Peer, Frank Smith and Roger Bissell, trombone
Bill McElhiney, arranger-conductor
Nashville Brass Turns To Gold
More albums and ordering information can be found at the official home for Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass.
Here is a fantastic Columbia album to get the ball of wax spinning after the hiatus!
Bernstein Plays Brubeck Plays Bernstein
Side 1: The New York Philharmonic with the Dave Brubeck Quartet conducted by Leonard Bernstein
- Howard Brubeck: Dialogues for Jazz Combo and Orchestra -
1. I – Allegro
2. II – Andante – Ballad
3. III – Adagio – Ballad
4. IV – Allegro – Blues
Side 2: The Dave Brubeck Quartet
1. Maria
2. I Feel Pretty
3. Somewhere – From the Musical Production, “West Side Story”
4. A Quiet Girl – From the Musical Production, “Wonderful Town”
5. Tonight – From the Musical Production, “West Side Story”
This historic album hit the mood perfectly the other night as I was making dinner. I’m gonna have to remember it for future spins during dinner parties. I found side one particularly entertaining with the Jazz combo and Orchestra, which makes for a sweet listen.
The Personal Conservatory project has been modified!
Explore Take 2 and About to discover what’s going on!
Additionally, this site is starting to have contributors post reviews of albums from their collections. All posts from contributors will be filed in the “Contributor” category and titled as the subject album; all posts referring to the main project (Personal Conservatory) will be posted in “Music” and titled “Record #__” so that it is easy to differentiate the two main types of posts.
