Barber, Bilk & Ball Review by Barry McCanna

On the face of it, this reissue should be welcomed, particularly by those who can recall the trad boom of the late fifties/early sixties. It contains 45 recordings from that era by three of the foremost traditional jazz bands, which means that all are over fifty years old. Given that such material should attract also a new generation of listeners it’s important that it is presented in such a way as to inform, and the liner note makes a nod in that direction with three thumbnail sketches of the three bandleaders, but that is as far as it goes. The novitiate will search in vain for any detail of the personnel involved, apart that is from passing reference to Pat Halcox.

The compilation is a cross-section of the sort of numbers being played at that time, of which the most successful in my book are the slow clarinet solos by Acker Bilk and Monty Sunshine, although you’ll search in vain for reference to the latter, since they’re simply credited to Chris Barber (who played bass on Monty’s solos, if memory serves). The excellence of Acker Bilk’s band tended to be overshadowed at the time by their fancy outfits and arcane sleeve notes, but purists were outvoted.

Some of the Chris Barber tracks are live recordings, culled presumably from his “In Concert” LPs. I believe that “Snake Rag” dates from March 1951, and was recorded by Chris Barber’s New Orleans Jazz Band at the Hammersmith Palais, with a completely different line-up; it certainly sounds like it! Listen out also for Ottilie Patterson, aka then as Mrs. Barber, who takes several vocals, including a rousing version of “The Saints”.

Allen Pollack’s In Tune Magazine Review ( Perez Prado CD )

PEREZ PRADO: MAMBO KING, Delta Bygone Days 8YD77065

A very apt title  for this release from the bandleader musician (singer, organist and pianist), and composer often labelled "The King of the Mambo."With recordings covering the period 1949- 1958 (some vocals uncredited) I was impressed by both sound quality and choice of material with MAMBO No. 5, CHERRY PINK AND APPLE-BLOSSOM WHITE and PATRICIA emanating from Prado's hit popularity package.

However, more off-centre Latin-beat interpretations include Leroy Anderson' famous composition SYNCOPATED CLOCK MAMBO along with an effective nod towards Johnnie Ray's SUCH A NIGHT and transitional reworking of C'ESTS l BON. ANNA and SILVANA MANGANO link film and its star of the successful 1951-released ltalian movie whilst two tracks - FREDDY and SWEET AND GENTLE - are heightened by clicking cha-cha heels and purring vocal seduction of the inimitable Eartha Kitt. Twenty full-blooded tracks containing Latin pleasure!

Mambo No. 5 (listen on spotify)

Available on Amazon MP3 & iTunes

Allen Pollack’s In Tune Magazine Review (Doris Day CD)

As a postscript, for those still looking for those songs and albums from the mainstay of Doris' recording career, I can do no better than recommend four nicely packaged budget-priced CD sets from Delta Leisure that have just been released as attribute to her with some duplication affecting three of them so it's best to check track listings in order to choose the ideal set.

The main hits are included as are many other singles covering the full spectrum of the solo Day recording career. DAY BY DAY - THE GREATEST HITS & MORE- Three-CD set of sixty songs – 60385.

THE BEST OF DORIS DAY - Double-CD set containing forty songs- Performance 38337.

DORIS DAY-HER GREATEST HITS- 20 tracks on a single CD - CD6B26.

The final collection is a double-CD set DORIS DAY SINGS HOLLYWOOD & BROADWAY 40 - CLASSICS FROM STAGE & SCREEN - containing album selections from her many albums including HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD and SHOWTIME- Performanc 3E8336.

All these great Doris Day titles are available through iTunes and Amazon MP3

The Best Of Doris Day - Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Day By Day - Her Greatest Hits - Amazon MP3 | iTunes
Sings Hollywood & Broadway - Amazon MP3 | iTunes
With Love From Doris Day - Her Greatest Hits - Amazon MP3 | iTunes

Johnny Mathis - Two Facets Of a Burgeoning Talent

Five Star Review!

In 1960, when Johnny Mathis was just beginning to establish himself, Columbia recognised his burgeoning talent by producing two concept albums as a 2-LP set. Both the vinyl version, and Sony's 1999 digital reissue, are highly sought after by Johnny's legion of fans. "Rhythms of Broadway" presents a dozen pulsating showstoppers, played con brio by Ralph Burns & his Orchestra, and delivered with gusto by Johnny, who seems fired up by the accompaniment, as well he should be. The mood changes with the smoother "Ballads of Broadway", and Glenn Osser's beautifully relaxed orchestral sound, against which Johnny's velvet voice glides like a caress.

Delta is to be congratulated for making this superb set available again at such an affordable price. Sound quality is superb, and the liner note albeit brief, nevertheless sets out the details of Johnny's early career, and lists the provenance of the two dozen songs on offer, most of which are classics of the musical stage. The set should be a must have for long-standing Mathis devotees who can replace their worn vinyl. It should appeal also to younger fans who've never heard it, and aficionados of songs from the musicals. 

By Barry McCanna

Also Available on Amazon MP3, iTunes UK and Amazon CD

Songs From the TV Series Six - Five Special Review

SONGS FROM THE TV SERIES SIX-FIVE SPECIAL!

Review by Allen Pollack

Recalling the celebrated 1957 television series, this is the Original album recorded with screaming girls between tracks to suggest a live ambiance and allowing the John Barry Seven to open with the appropriate LET'S HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.  Frequent guests are naturally represented and include Jim Dale (CRAZY DREAM), The King Brothers (COLD, COLD SHOWER) Laurie London ( PICK A BALE OF COTTON) and the energetic Don Lang ( YOU STARTED SOMETHING ) whilst Jimmy Jackson contributes the apt SIX-FIVE JIVE but Adam Faith who also appeared frequently on the shows sits this one out. Seventeen bonus tracks help fill the disc with more of the same extracted from various singles; bringing in Petula Clark to represent otherwise absent females- after all she appeared in the film version singing BABY LOVER. All good fun from a less complicated age

Available on Amazon an iTunes UK and Amazon CD

Allen Pollack - In Tune International

Cliff Richard - Album Reviews

I have his 40 Golden Greats, released in the late seventies, and wanted something from his early period to supplement that collection. I saw this at a "Half-Price Books" in N. Texas, the price was right, and here I am. Much is derivative of the early period of rock and roll, which hit the UK like a massive mess of lightning. He's backed by the Drifters, who later became the Shadows.

Much is recorded in studio, much is recorded live to an apparently crazed set of female observors. If anyone has more info, I'd love to hear your views. Bottom line, the price was right and I am in. Cliff was on fire in them daze. Chris's review on www.deltamusic.co.uk

Available on Amazon & iTunes UK and Amazon CD

4 out of 5 Stars 'Best of the Early Years' minus one !!!!!, 1 Mar 2011 By weeorry10

This box is great value for money, super presentation, three discs and lots of tracks some live but with awful 'scream to order' females on several songs. One other small complaint is the absence of Mean Streak which, in my opinion ,is one of his best early Columbia releases I can't understand why it was omitted, but for that discrepancy I would have given it five stars. Still a great buy though !!!!!!

Available on Amazon & iTunes UK, and Amazon CD

Absolutely The Best Of The American Songbooks Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SELECTION, 29 May 2011 By Barry McCanna (Normandy, France)

Delta, and its associated label Bygone Days, is fast establishing a reputation for well-packaged low-cost CDs, and this is no exception. The tracklist is set out in full on Amazon.UK from which it can be seen that the composers are all from the top drawer, and the vocalists are mostly American (with the exception of Shirley Bassey and Cliff Richard). My one reservation is that given the status of these recordings the tracklist should not be confined to title, vocalist and composer. It should show at least the accompaniment, year of recording, and if appropriate the film or show for which it was it was written. But everything else about it, including sound quality, is excellent and at the asking price I'd be looking a gift horse in the mouth to award less than five stars.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great cross section of song writers and performers..., 25 May 2011 By C. FULLER (Birmingham, United Kingdom)

This brand new compilation has a running time of approx 190 minutes and for 60 tracks and a realistic selling price this is great value. The songs many of them classics of the standards era sound great and have been nicely transferred. The packaging says over 50 songs but as you can see there are in fact 60 songs by many of the great song writers and performed by many of the great singers. The selections do acknowledge artists right up to the start of the 1960s with Cliff Richard being the most obvious. No liner notes. Nicely packaged with slimline case. Part of a series of CD sets from Delta.

Available from Amazon MP3, iTunes UK and Amazon CD