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Record #82

12 January 2010 in Music by DJ Drew | No comments

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:

  1. You Don’t Mess Around with Jim
  2. Tomorrow’s Gonna Be A Brighter Day
  3. New York’s Not My Home
  4. Hard TIme Losin’ My Man
  5. Photographs and Memories
  6. Walking Back To Georgia

Side 2:

  1. Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)
  2. Time in a Bottle
  3. Rapid Boy (The Stock Car Boy)
  4. Box #10
  5. A Long Time Ago
  6. 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)”
  • Pete Dino, String Arrangements
  • Bruce Tergersen, Recording Engineer
  • Paul Wilson, Album Photography

“You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” on youtube.

Links:
Jim Corce – The Official Site, Wikipedia
You Don’t Mess Around With Jim – Wikipedia

Record #81

7 January 2010 in Music by DJ Drew | 2 comments

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)

Record #80

1 June 2009 in Music by DJ Drew | No comments

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.

Today we head back to May of 1966!

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
What Now My Love 

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

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - What Now My Love

Track listing:
Side One:

  1. What Now My Love
  2. Freckles
  3. Memories Of Madrid
  4. It Was A Good Year
  5. So What’s New?
  6. Plucky

Side Two:

  1. Magic Trumpet
  2. Cantina Blue
  3. Brasilia
  4. If I Were A Rich Man
  5. Five Minutes More
  6. The Shadow Of Your Smile

Here is “So What’s New?”

Here is “Magic Trumpet”

Record #79

21 May 2009 in Music by DJ Drew | 1 comment

Vocal hits remanufactured as brass instrumentals:

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:

  1. Java
  2. Forever
  3. Ol’ Red River Valley
  4. Sixteen Tons
  5. January Eighth (1972)

Side 2:

  1. Honky Tonk
  2. Melodie d’Amour
  3. Riders in the Sky
  4. El Paso
  5. 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

Nashville Brass Turns To Gold

More albums and ordering information can be found at the official home for Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass.

Record #78

8 May 2009 in Music by DJ Drew | 1 comment

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.

Record #77

1 November 2008 in Music by DJ Drew | No comments

I think this album could be branded a recovery record. Was easy on the mind and ears after a night of the living dead.

Frankie Laine’s
Golden Hits

I find it quite interesting that Frankie Lain’s career spanned over 75 years! From his concerts in 1930 through his final performances when he died in 2005. I think it really shows the true talent of a musician when they have played and performed for such a long period. He is someone who loved doing what he did best.

This album features one of his most known songs, though not original, “Thats My Desire.”

Frankie Laine's Golden Hits

Frankie Laine's Golden Hits

Record #76

31 October 2008 in Music by DJ Drew | No comments

Happy Halloween! This albums clearly came out decorated for the occasion! I have included extra pictures to show the album art. So who was the ButterFly for Halloween? The personal conservatory was!

Barbra Streisand
ButterFly 

Barbra Streisand - ButterFly

Barbra Streisand - ButterFly

Barbra Streisand - ButterFly (back cover)

Barbra Streisand - ButterFly (back cover)

Barbra Streisand - ButterFly (inside cover)

Barbra Streisand - ButterFly (inside cover)

Record #75

30 October 2008 in Music by DJ Drew | No comments

The eve of Halloween brought more than devils, it brought the 75th record!

How very inappropriate though, because if anything this album is far from scary.

Presenting the stand-up comedian,

Sam Kinison
Have You Seen Me Lately?

This is certainly an albums that needs discretion exercised when playing. That said, it was pretty damn funny. I’ve included the track listing on this one.

Have You Seen Me Lately (track listing)

Have You Seen Me Lately (track listing)

Sam Kinison - Have You Seen Me Lately?

Sam Kinison - Have You Seen Me Lately?

Record #74

29 October 2008 in Music by DJ Drew | No comments

From the time the needle fell into groove till it was bouncing along the label… I was snapping my fingers and tapping the toes!

Diana Ross & The Supremes
Greatest Hits: Volume 3

What is it with these songs getting stuck in your head for the day? 

Diana Ross & The Supremes - Greatest Hits: Volume 3

Diana Ross & The Supremes - Greatest Hits: Volume 3

Record #73

28 October 2008 in Music by DJ Drew | No comments

This was a really treat to wake up and toss on the table. This album made for a very relaxing start to a hectic day!

Ronnie Milsap
Greatest Hits: Volume 2

Ronnie may have been blind, but he was quite the superstar when it came to music. By far, I was digging this album when, “Lost In The Fifties Tonight” came on.

Ronnie Milsap - Greatest Hits: Volume 2

Ronnie Milsap - Greatest Hits: Volume 2

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