Paul Mauriat ~ Blooming Hits

tracks
01. Somethin' Stupid (2:40)
02. Penny Lane (2:25)
03. This is My Song (2:57)
04. Alone in the World (2:38)
05. Inch Allah (2:52)
06. There's A Kind Of Hush (All Ov (2:18)
07. Puppet on a String (2:11)
08. Love is Blue (2:35)
09. Adieu to the Night (2:13)
10. Mama (2:55)
11. Nocturne (2:48)
12. La Reine de Saba (3:05)
13. You Don't Have to Say You Love (2:47)
14. Mrs. Robinson (3:08)
15. Rain and Tears (2:27)

Helmut Zacharias ~ The Sensational Sound of Zacharias (1971)

This album turned out to be a real rarity. After many months of search, I was finally able to put my hands on a very decent copy. One of the finest, yet underrated album that somehow got overlooked over the decades.  The superb, heavenly arrangements, and as always, extraordinary artistry of Helmut Zacharias and his "talking violin" makes this collection an unforgettable experience.

tracks
01. Aquarius (2:24)
02. Carry that weight (3:28)
03. Oh, happy day (2:45)
04. Midnight cowboy (3:04)
05. Sugar, Sugar (2:11)
06. Sweet Charity (3:10)
07. Up, up and away (2:17)
08. Love at first sight (Je t'aime moi non plus) (4:05)
09. Windmills of your mind (2:59)
10. I'll never fall in love again (2:11)
11. This guy is in love with you (3:17)
12. Isadora (3:01)
13. Hare Krishna (4:05)

Carry that weight (Lennon/McCartney)

Paul Mauriat ~ The Russian Album

This album was released in 1965 as Melodies of Russia and was an instant worldwide hit. Mauriat took traditional Russian pieces and beautifully arranged them for full symphonic orchestra. I regard this this Russian 'experience' as among his best works. The other positive about this album is that it uses some traditional Russian instruments to create an original orchestral sound. If you are a dedicated Mauriat collector this album is a must; it's also a must for anyone interested in Paul Mauriat and his orchestra.

tracks

01. Bublitschki (Бублички) (2:42)

02. Evening Bells 'Les Cloches Du Soir' (Вечерний звон) (2:27)

03. Kalinka (Калинка) (3:09)

04. Katioucha (Катюша) (1:59)

05. Le Cocher De La Troika (Ямщик, не гони лошадей) (3:02)

06. Le Sarafan Rouge (Красный сарафан) (2:49)

07. Le Temps Du Muguet (Подмосковные вечера) (2:44)

08. Les Bateliers De La Volga (Эй, ухнем) (2:45)

09. Les Deux Guitares (Две гитары - Эх раз, ещё раз) (3:31)

10. Les Yeux Noirs (Очи чёрные) (3:06)

11. Plaine, Ma Plaine (Полюшко) (2:59)

12. Stenka Razine (Стенька Разин) (3:03)

Les Deux Guitares (Две гитары - Эх раз, ещё раз)

Anita Kerr Singers ~ Bert Kaempfert Turns Us On! (1968)

One easy listening giant pays tribute to another on this 1967 release, as Anita tackles 12 tunes composed and inspired by the great German songwriter/arranger.

tracks

01. L-O-V-E (Love) (2:34)
02. Two Can Live on Love Alone (2:39)
03. Remember When (3:21)
04. Strangers in the Nigh (3:16)
05. A Swingin' Safari (2:42)
06. The World We Knew (2:36)
07. I Can't Help Remembering You (2:29)
08. Spanish Eyes (2:40)
09. Danke Schoen (2:42)
10. Wonderland By Nigh (3:42)
11. Lady (2:19)
12. For Bert (3:02)

Love

Elvis' Christmas Album (1957)

Elvis' 1957 original Christmas album is one of his most inspired early outings and the first time he tackled anything resembling a thematic concept. Split evenly between rockers and bluesy numbers like "Santa Claus Is Back in Town," "Blue Christmas," and "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me," perennials like "White Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and "Silent Night," and straight-ahead gospel favorites like "I Believe," "Peace in the Valley" and "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," the disc revealed a different side of the rocker for the first time on a public instead conditioned to expect something outrageous. One of the King's shining moments, this is quite simply still one of the best holiday albums available.

tracks

01. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
02. White Christmas
03. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
04. I'll Be Home For Christmas
05. Blue Christmas
06. Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
07. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
08. Silent Night
09. (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)
10. I Believe 2:06
11. Take My Hand, Precious Lord
12. It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)

You might also like:

Dave Kotz & friends ~ A Smooth Jazz Christmas

Anita Kerr ~ And Now ...The Anita Kerr Orchestra

In the 1950s and early '60s, arranger Anita Kerr and her aggregate of backing vocalists helped to define "the Nashville Sound" -- having supported the likes of Eddy Arnold, Perry Como, Floyd Cramer, Red Foley, Jim Reeves, Hank Snow, and Roy Orbison. Along with the Anita Kerr Singers, she re-scored and re-recorded a number of concurrent crossover country and pop singles.

Released in 1966, And Now...The Anita Kerr Orchestra! was the first of five long-players that would bear her name during a brief but prolific run on Warner Bros. Records. It was likewise the only one to credit the Anita Kerr Orchestra, as opposed to the usual Anita Kerr Singers moniker. Her previous tenure in the music business gave her great insight into selecting and recasting the better-known tunes. Rather than a large and pompous display, she gives a refreshing lightness to the update of "Spanish Harlem," which absorbs just enough Latin influence to be effective. Returning briefly to her Nashville digs, Kerr turns up the infectiously fun syncopation of "Sweetie Baby" -- a song that initially gained prominence as the B-side to Floyd Cramer's mega-hit "Last Date."

Refusing to limit her inspirations to any specific genre classification, the swinging "Sermonette" comes from the Julian "Cannonball" Adderley songbook, while the anthemic staple of Americana "This Land Is Your Land" adopts a mod sax-fueled ragtime feel that all but abandons the preconception of its former folkie self. The bluesy "I Almost Lost My Mind" and the slight R&B vibe on "That's Life" are proof Kerr possesses something that her instrumental easy listening contemporaries rarely display...soul. The Italian pop hit "Con Te Spiaggia" could easily be the hippest entry of them all, with a light, bouncy backbeat and an oddly nasal-sounding "yeah yeah" singalong chorus. The cover ofDuke Ellington's "Mood Indigo" -- concluding the album -- stands as a singular triumph for the variety of solo instruments Kerr incorporates, ranging from an eerily lonesome electric guitar to a powerful brass section. In 2007, Collectors' Choice Music reissued several of Anita Kerr's Warner Bros. packages, including And Now...The Anita Kerr Orchestra!, making a sizable portion of her discography available for the first time in decades to a whole new generation of listeners.

tracks
01. Spanish Harlem (2:38)
02. Sweetie Baby (2:43)
03. Sermonette (2:39)
04. I Almost Lost My Mind (2:32)
05. Susie (2:15)
06. Over The Rainbow (2:36)
07. That's Life (2:33)
08. Con Te Sulla Spiaggia (2:56)
09. Firefly (2:18)
10. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York (2:27)
11. Mood Indigo (3:34)

I Almost Lost My Mind

Martin Böttcher ~ Die großen Film und TV Melodien

The noble music of  Martin Böttcher has survived the challenges of ultra-modern times where large orchestral sounds are pretty much thing of the past.  The art of laying out beautiful arrangements is slowly dying and today only few really appreciate this disappearing art.  Martin Böttcher started out his career as a jazz guitar player, but very quickly traded his instrument for a manuscript paper and ever since he has produced the finest music in a genre or movie, TV and lounge.   

cd1

01. The High And The Mighty (2:09)
02. High Noon (3:51)
03. Carnival (4:36)
04. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (2:58)
05. Laura (3:47)
06. A Man And A Woman (2:55)
07. Theme From A Summer Place (2:21)
08. Tara's Theme (2:18)
09. Theme From Love Story (2:42)
10. Wonderland Of Love (3:10)
11. Moonglow / Theme From Picnic (2:40)
12. Pater Brown-Thema (3:37)
13. From Russia With Love (2:47)
14. The Shadow Of Your Smile (3:22)
15. Charade (2:39)
16. Moon River (3:08)
17. The Man With The Harmonica (2:55)
18. Olé O'Cangaceiro (3:32)
19. My Foolish Heart (3:10)
20. The Man I Love (3:07)
21. Exodus (3:17)
22. Somewhere My Love (2:15)
23. Strangers In The Night (3:55)
24. This Is My Song (2:44)
25. Endstation Liebe (3:41)

cd2
01. Kriminalmuseum (3:06)
02. Es muss nicht immer Kaviar sein (2:53)
03. Friedhofsballarde (3:15)
04. Salute Sardegna (3:28)
05. Sonderdezernat K 1 (2:12)
06. Easy Going (3:18)
07. Ein schöner Tag (2:31)
08. Judy (2:49)
09. Liebesmelodie (4:03)
10. Flucht (3:25)
11. Midnight In Hamburg (2:57)
12. Melodie für Jessica (3:29)
13. Schöne Ferien (Titelmelodie) (1:57)
14. Happy Teddy (2:23)
15. Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi (2:36)
16. Salzburg Melodie (3:28)
17. Lilli's Melody (2:46)
18. Tausender-Melodie (2:06)
19. Blumenmörder-Thema (2:58)
20. Fernsehmelodie (3:32)
21. Stranger's Serenade (3:20)
22. Marianne's Melody (3:05)
23. Einsam (3:47)
24. Vera's Melodie (3:14)
25. Last Dance (3:44)

art and booklet

Bert Kaempfert ~ The most beautiful girl (1974)

Bert Kaempfert had almost too much talent, ability, and good luck rolled into one career to be fully appreciated, even by his own chosen audience, the lovers of fine orchestral pop music. He was one of the most successful conductors, arrangers, and recording artists in the latter field, but was also a major producer and played a key (if indirect) role in the roots of the British beat boom of the early '60s, which evolved into the British Invasion of America in 1964.


tracks
01. The most beautiful girl (2:44)
02. Why can't you and add up to love (2:43)
03. Touch the wind (3:28)
04. Jumpin' blue (2:42)
05. Opus one (3:56)
06. I found my love (2:35)
07. Let me be there (3:09)
08. Easy glider (3:01)
09. Tuxedo junction (3:08)
10. Moon over Baja (2:38)
11. I cover the waterfront (2:54)
12. In the Everglades (3:14)
mirror

The most beautiful girl

Franz Löffler ~ Black Eyes (Очи чёрные)

 The unique combination of classical Spanish guitar, the modern pop orchestra and Russian balalaikas.

tracks
01 Black eyes (2:56)
02 Katjuscha (2:25)
03 Kallinka (3:35)
04 The red Sarafan (2:42)
05 Stenka Rasin (2:22)
06 The twelwe robbers (2:56)
07 Song of the Volga boatmen (3:00)
08 Pity (2:42)
09 The light (3:07)
10 The Troika (3:25)
11 Bublitschki (1:51)
12 Old Mother Volga (2:51)

alternate link 

Black eyes

The Anita Kerr Quartet ~ We dig Mancini

Some years ago somebody brought a very fine octet from Tennessee to New York to audition for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scout Show. They were great, but I suggested that they would be less expensive and less cumbersome and, therefore, more practical in our business if they were to cut the outfit in half. Thus was born the Anita Kerr Quartet, an organization with which I have ever since been madly in love. Each member is an accomplished, educated musician (an oddity in itself these days), and each possesses a beautiful voice and knows how to use it. The Anita Kerr Quartet, which made this beautiful album, is probably the most popular singing group in the recording industry today. You have heard these voices many, many times whether you realized it or not. Anita and her group have turned out hit after hit with just about every major recording star in the business. I have been trying for years to get the Anita Kerr Quartet to come to New York as a regular feature of my daily radio show and to appear with me on TV and personal appearances in the night clubs and theaters, but trying to get these people out of Nashville is like trying to get gold out of Fort Knox. Of course, I can hardly blame them.

There, they live happily-each in his own home with his own family in the comparative quiet of Nashville with little, if any, "everyday stress and strain"-and they are netting much more money that we could ever hope no manage for them up here. (Even at minimum scale, a quartet is expensive radio fare!) In addition to the fact that their voices blend superbly, they have great versatility. They are as much at home with Homer and Jethro as they are with Perry Como. Their musicianship is such that they can sight-read anything put before them and are equally capable of turning out a "head" arrangement on the spot, which will sound as though they had worked on it for weeks.

You will love this album. Mr. Mancini, who has won several Academy Awards, writes some of the most beautiful music extant, ranging from the hauntingly melodic Moon River to the highly satirical Pink Panther Theme. The Anita Kerr Quartet meets him more than halfway, and the magnificent blend is that which is preserved on the album you now have in your hand. You, I am sure, will play this album over and over as I already have. It is one of those rarities which grows on you - the more you play it, the more you will want to
play it again. It is a great pleasure to commend this Anita Kerr album to you most heartily.

tracks

01. Baby Elephant Walk (2:33)

02. Charade (3:16)

03. Mr Lucky (2:52)

04. Bye-Bye (2:41)

05. Days Of Wine & Roses (2:28)

06. Dreamsville (2:35)

07. How Soon (2:15)

08. The Pink Panther Theme (2:50)

09. Dear Heart (3:11)

10. Too Little Time (2:39)

11. Moon River (2:52)

12. The Sweetheart Tree (2:20)

The Pink Panther Theme

The Sound of The Anita Kerr Singers

Anita Kerr is easily the most remarkable and accomplished female musician of the Space Age Pop era, yet she barely rates a mention in most pop music reference books. When she does, it's usually so the writer can make a wisecrack about her 1965 Grammy Award.

See, in 1965, her quartet's album, We Dig Mancini!, beat out the Beatles' Help! for the award for "Best Vocal Group Performance," a fact that's used to damn the record industry for its ignorance and perfidy. While the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Temptations, the Beach Boys, and others were at the top of the pop charts, the Grammy electorate preferred to recognize a group of thirty year-olds with mortgages.

Now, in hindsight, it wasn't a completely inexcusable choice. Help!, after all, by the admission of Dave Dexter, Jr., the Capitol Records exec responsible for it, wasn't even intended to be an album, and Dexter and George Martin had to dig up a few incidental instrumental tracks from the movie just to pad out the vocal numbers. And the offerings from the other competitors--We Five, Herman's Hermits, and the Statler Brothers--have certainly not aged as well as We Dig Mancini!, which many Space Age Pop fans with plenty of listening time under their belts rate as one of their all-time favorites.

At a time when most women in music were still considered "girl singers," Anita Kerr was routinely pulling off triple plays: not just performing, but producing and arranging her records as well. And she did it more and more, expanding her scope beyond her own groups to others, including several purely fictious ensembles, as well, even as she moved from one major label to another.


tracks
01. What's New Pussycat (2:44)
02. Galveston (3:52)
03. You and I (2:05)
04. The Look Of Love (2:34)
05. Lalena (2:06)
06. Make The World Go Away (2:22)
07. The Windmills of Your Mind (2:46)
08. The Windmills of Your Mind (2:47)
09. Walk On By (2:38)
10. My Own Peculiar Way (3:34)
11. What The World Needs Now Is Love (3:18)
12. Natural to be Gone (2:00)
13. Goodbye (3:16)

Make The World Go Away

The Three Suns ~ Movin' 'n' Groovin' (1962)

The story of stereo action 
Stereo Action is a revolutionary new concept of stereo recording in which instruments, singers, whole sections, and even full orchestras are placed into movement so that the listener has, literally, music his eyes can follow.
Stereo Action is a conscious and deliberate effort to set music in motion by utilizing actual movement of instruments and sounds from one speaker to the other, and even, at times, suspending an instrument or sound between speakers. It is a pioneering concept in stereo listening, and resulted from years of extensive experiments and remarkable technical breakthroughs by the RCA Victor corps of engineers.
Stereo Action requires a wholly new approach to recording. Musical motion is first conceived by the composer and arranger. Every note of the music to be recorded must be scored with Stereo Action in mind, as if it were a new and dominating musical instrument or voice. An elaborate system of charting each and every instrument for proper stereo placement guides the actual scoring. In addition to the musical annotation, companion series of non-musical diagrams for the studio work is developed.
This wedding of musical artistry and electronic creativity produces Stereo Action -- literally, the sound your eyes can follow.

Sound, Dimension and Movement find the Three Suns once again Movin' 'n' Groovin'. Add to this performance brilliante, Blend aromatique, Taste magnifique and we sit down to a Suns-Stopper. The imaginative artistry of producer Al Nevins is again combined with the magic of arranger- composer Charles Albertine and, for the first time on records, that talented team -- which gave NBC- TV its theme music for Midnight Movie (Alone with the Blues) and Movie Four (Night Theme) --paints a picture for us in true depth of focus. Albertine has extended his musical thinking into fresh and unexplored worlds with his exciting arrangements for this stimulating new medium, Stereo Action. A very special bow to Alan Lorber (one of America's youngest arrangers) for his help musically in making this album possible. The musical core of the Three Suns -- the familiar guitar, accordion and organ -- has been here augmented by an extraordinary assortment of instruments, including jaw bone, wind bells, chains, tapping shoes, harpsichord, ad infinitum -- all gliding and sliding in a whirlwind of pattern and a maelstrom of motion, sometimes subtly and variously violent, but always Movin' 'n' Groovin'.

tracks
01 April Showers 02:54
02 Caravan 02:48
03 Autumn Leaves 03:11
04 Dancing with Tears in My Eyes 02:08
05 Jungle Drums 03:53
06 Movin' 'n' Groovin' 02:54
07 Anniversary Song 03:14
08 Beyond the Sea 03:05
09 Some of These Days 02:52
10 Danny's Inferno 02:49
11 Vagabond King Waltz 03:30
12 Stumbling 03:04
13 I Got Rhythm 02:23
14 They Can't Take That Away from Me 02:35
15 Bidin' My Time 02:52
16 Liza 02:34
17 Sunday Showcase Theme 02:23
18 Twilight Memories 02:19
mirror

April Showers

Hugo.Montenegro & His Orchestra ~ The Good The Bad & The Ugly

The Man With No Name" has made a name for himself after all via three hard-hitting, action-packed motion pictures in which a new kind of screen hero - or anti-hero - is born. The "Man" is a cold-blooded, cigar-smoking gunslinger who appears unannounced in Western towns where trouble is brewing and plunges headlong into battle with the troublemakers. By the time he moves out again, the towns are usually a good deal quieter, and the townspeople find that much of their population has been moved to the cemeteries. Clint Eastwood, the rugged actor who was once known to TV viewers as the star of the "Rawhide" series, first portrayed this enigmatic character in "A Fistful of Dollars," which was set in a Mexican border town and dealt with two rival gangs involved in selling contraband whiskey and guns to the Indians and the Mexicans. The "Man" and the movie won so much acclaim around the world he was asked to stands by itself as far as good listening is concerned Written by one of Italy's foremost composers  Ennio Morricone, it is played here by Hugo Montenegro and his orchestra. The selection entitled For a Few Dollars More was originally released as a single and scored a tremendous success for Montenegro. In addition to this hit, the album includes many hauntingly exciting compositions.

tracks

01. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (2:43)

02. March With Hope (2:23)

03. The Story Of A Soldier (3:00)

04. The Ecstasy Of Gold (2:34)

05. Theme From "A Fistful Of Dollars" (2:04)

06. For A Few Dollars More (2:41)

07. Aces High (3:12)

08. The Vice Of Killing (2:15)

09. Sixty Seconds To What? (2:18)

10. Square Dance (2:08)

11. Titoli (2:14)

Sixty Seconds To What?

Isaac Hayes ~ New Horizon (1977)

After 1975's classic Chocolate Chip and a strong production job for the Masqueraders album Everybody Wanna Live On, Hayes' subsequent work with ABC was often poorly executed and conceived, save for the one or two tracks that properly displayed his melodic genius. With his last ABC effort being a live album with Dionne Warwick that just didn't sell, some changes had to be made. This is the first effort for Polydor and it turned out to be successful partnership. With a new label, Hayes also began to record at Master Sound in Georgia rather than his studio in Memphis, Hot Buttered Soul. Both the label and locale switch seemed to freshen up his musical approach. This album didn't start off on the best footing though. Hayes' ghastly discofied cover of "Stranger in Paradise" shows little trace of his arranging skills or song picking abilities. The other dance tracks are markedly better. "Moonlight Lovin' (Menage a Trois)" has him doing Barry White one better by bringing an extra woman into the mix. With its playful rhythm and sweeping changes, he sang gleefully about the "the rendezvous of me and you and you" and said menage a trois enough times his until his "dates" thought it was their idea. On New Horizons Hayes turns in two of his best ballads. The meditative "Don't Take Your Love Away" has him going for more subtle surroundings in a style that suffered the most on his post Chocolate Chip work. On "It's Heaven to Me" he displays a winning vulnerability, and it is easily one of the prettiest songs he's ever recorded. Although some of the best tracks on New Horizon are available on compilations, the entire album is worth seeking out.

tracks
1  Stranger In Paradise   10:14
2  Moonlight Lovin' (Ménage Á Trois)   16:15
3  Don't Take Your Love Away   7:39
4  Out Of The Ghetto   5:51
5  It's Heaven To Me   4:20

alternate link

It's Heaven To Me

Martin Böttcher ~ Sound Kaleidoscope

Martin Böttcher -  composer, arranger and a bandleader whose music remains as fresh as it was many years ago.  Although his domain was film music, the arrangements of other popular tunes were equally memorable and exciting.  For true fans of instrumental music at its best, this album will give you an idea who Martin Böttcher is and how his skillful manipulation of orchestral sounds can contribute to your good mood.  This compilation contains both, film and popular music.

Many attempts have been made to outline the personality of a composer with the help of music: and frequently these attempts were failures. The reason, perhaps, is that the images evoked by music cannot be traced so easily and are not nearly as transparent as those painted before our eyes.

'Visible" music - this is a term anyhow justly applied in connection with composer and conductor Martin Bottcher. His domain is film music. Martin Bottcher's pictures of sound are directly related to the action visible on the screen - his music always implies an effect on the viewer. Whoever listens to him wilt feel after a while that his music can also paint a portrait: that of composer Martin Bottcher.

tracks
01. Dr. med Fabian (1:45)
02. Bengelchen Bossa Nova (2:47)
03. Fiesta In Belo Horizonte (2:48)
04. Wonderland Of Love (3:12)
05. Melodie Für Jessica (3:29)
06. This Guy's In Love With You (3:58)
07. The Shadow Of Your Smile (3:22)
08. Sonderdezernat K1 (2:12)
09. Tausender-Melodie (2:06)
10. Judy (2:49)
11. Fernsehmelodie (3:33)
12. Endstation Liebe (3:42)
13. Bengelchen (2:36)
14. Moonlight Guitar (3:02)
15. Salzburg-Melodie (3:29)
16. Die Ente Klingelt Um Halb Acht (2:03)
17. Klassenkeile (1:54)
18. Examination (2:51)
19. Adagio In G-Minor (3:33)
20. Einsam (3:48)
21. Snow Frolic (4:13)
22. Wenn Du Da Bist (3:17)
23. Stranger's Serenade (3:21)
24. Ich Schlafe Mit Meinem Mörder (3:21)
25. Segeln (3:44)

Moonlight Guitar

Martin Böttcher ~ The Score

Martin Böttcher. The Grand Old Man of deutsche Filmmusik. Wohl jeder in diesem Land wird mindestens eine seiner Melodien gehört haben - etwa in immer noch für Kindergrusel sorgenden "Edgar-Wallace"-Schinken, in "Winnetou", "Der Alte", oder alten TV-Filmen mit Götz George - und zudem ist er, anders als Kollegen wie Peter "Raumpatrouille" Thomas, bisher noch nicht durch den Mix-Wolf gedreht worden. Das klingt böse, ist aber nicht so gemeint: Die zu "The Score" gehörende Geschichte mit Böttchers Enkelin, die ihn drängt, doch mal "was Modernes" zu machen, klingt nicht erfunden, und es sind denn auch mal nicht die üblichen Verdächtigen, die hier verwursten dürfen.

Also endlich mal eine Coffeetable-Remix-CD ohne Jazza, Terra und Nova. Die wohl bekanntesten Namen hier sind Pit Baumgartner (De-Phazz), Gabriel Le Mar und die Strike Boys. Aber auch ziemlich unbekannte Studiocracks zeigen sich mit schönen Ideen, so etwa Paul-van-Dyk-Kollaborateur Chris Zippel, der für mein persönliches Highlight auf der CD verantwortlich zeichnet: Einen Mix der "Old-Shatterhand-Melodie" aus dem "Schatz im Silbersee", der die unvergessliche Melodie ganz cool mit den guten alten "Apache"-Funk-Beats unterlegt - das gibt allein fünf für den Humor und noch mal so viel für den Style. Auch toll: Der Gabriel le Mar-Mix vom Stück "Moonlight Guitar" aus einem längst vergessenen Rühmann-Streifen. Und, und, und. Eine dann doch herausragende Compilation - vor allem, weil erfrischend unbedarfte Remixer weitgehend auf die üblichen Klischees verzichten, die ein solches Format gerne mit sich bringt.

tracks
1. Auf Engel Schießt Man Nicht (Shanti Roots/Scheibosan's Peace Pipe Dub)
Remix – Scheibosan, Shanti Roots
Remix [Credited To] – Markus Dohelsky 6:11

2. Einsam (The Strike Boys Version)
Remix – Strike Boys, The
Remix [Credited To] – Martin Kaiser, Tommy Yamaha 5:14

3. Old-Shatterhand-Melodie (Genuine Album Mix)
Remix – Genuine
Remix [Credited To] – Chris Zippel 5:19

4. Die Halbstarken (Ohm-G's Evissa Garage Haeven Mix)
Remix – Ohm-G 5:13

5. Starlight Serenade (Gabor Deutsch Mix)
Remix – Gabor Deutsch* 5:01

6. Melodie Für Jessica (Deep-Dive-Corp. Mix)
Remix – Deep-Dive-Corp.*
Remix [Credited To] – DJ Turn, P.M.FM 6:28

7. Endstation Liebe (Rauschfaktor Mix)
Remix – Rauschfaktor
Remix [Credited To] – Frank Rückert, Marcus Schmahl 5:16

8. Old-Shatterhand-Melodie (Orbient Mix)
Remix – Orbient
Remix [Credited To] – GM Electronics (2), Zero G (3) 4:18

9. Jet (Bazille Noir Mix)
Remix – Bazille Noir
Remix [Credited To] – Paulsen*, Ebinger* 4:06

10. Der Fälscher Von London (Phazz-A-Delic Mix)
Remix – Pit Baumgartner 4:12

11. Moonlight Guitar (Gabriel Le Mar Mix)
Remix – Gabriel Le Mar 7:36

12. Unser Haus In Kamerun (AK Musique Mix)
Remix – AK Musique* 4:30

13. Stranger's Serenade (Manikin Mix)
Remix – Keller & Schönwälder 5:47

14. Winnetou Melodie (Hippiehaus Mix)
Remix – Hippiehaus
Remix [Credited To] – Krallmann*, Haupt* 4:00

Old-Shatterhand-Melodie (Orbient Mix)

Martin Böttcher ~ The most beautiful melodies (Ars Nova Compilation 2012)

Böttcher was born 1927 in Berlin/Germany. After the second world war the young Böttcher began as solo guitarist at Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk. In 1955 he scored the music for his first film The Captain and His Hero. His next movie Teenage Wolfpack ( Die Halbstarken.) (1956), was a great artistic success.. He becomes one of the busiest composers for Cinema and TV in Germany. At the height of his career he made the music of 10 Karl-May-frontier-sagas in which actors Lex Barker and Pierre Brice are the central figures (1962-68). All in all Böttcher made the music for about 60 Films and 100 television productions. This collection is a tribute to a great composer/arranger whose music, often underrated, deserves much more attention.

tracks
01. Carnival (4:37)
02. Theme From Love Story (2:42)
03. Snow Frolic (4:13)
04. The Man I Love (3:07)
05. Melodie Für Jessica (3:29)
06. Laura (3:47)
07. Salute Sardegna (3:28)
08. A Man And A Woman (2:55)
09. This Guy's In Love With You (3:58)
10. The Shadow Of Your Smile (3:22)
11. Midnight In Hamburg (2:57)
12. Endstation Liebe (Titelmusik) (3:42)
13. Charade (2:39)
14. Salzburg Melodie (3:29)
15. Adagio In G-Minor (3:33)
16. Ensam (3:48)
17. Strangers In The Night (3:55)
18. Wonderland Of Love (3:12)
19. Stranger's Serenade (3:21)
20. Ich Schlafe Mit Meinem Mörder (3:21)
21. This Is My Song (2:45)
22. Vera's Melodie (3:14)
23. Segeln (3:44)

 The Man I Love (Gershwin)

Vera's Melodie

Brazilian Dreams ~ A Romantic Evening In Rio

Harmonica, human voicing, upbeat music, something you hear at a nice, upscale,and quiet social evening.

tracks

01. Sao Paulo Groove (5:18)

02. Roasted Bananas (4:26)

03. Amor Profundo (4:31)

04. Chameleon Tales (4:06)

05. Beverlia (2:43)

06. Canto Triste (4:30)

07. Balile De Anitra (3:46)

08. Hipnotismo (3:21)

09. Brazilian Evening (5:34)

10. Duett (1:55)

Sao Paulo Groove

The Anita Kerr Singers ~ My Colouring Book (1973)

Possibly the finest album ever released by Anita Kerr and her singers. It contains tracks that have been previously released on other albums as well as some new material. This album has been lifted off of the web and unfortunately does not contain good artwork. I used to own this album, many years ago, but somehow I lost it. There is ample of Anita Kerr's albums available, however, this one remains a rarity, not only because it's next to impossible to find the LP, but the choice of songs makes it very unique and the most pleasurable albums of all.

tracks
Side A
01. My colouring book
02. The fool on the hill
03. If
04. Cherry, cherry
05. The balance of nature
06. Good vibrations

Side B
01. You are the sunshine of my life
02. Alone again
03. Michelle
04. All you need is love
05. The long and winding road
06. Be aware

My colouring book

Power Samba Band

Pe De Boi the power samba band whose pulsating rhythms have electrified the New York club scene since 1980, produced only one memorable album during its nearly two decade-long existence which you hold in your hand. Born of the rich Brazilian musical tradition and inflected with elements of American jazz, rock and salsa, the songs on this album feature as many as 10 different percussionists. Band founder and leader, Guilherme Franco - a native of Brazil, a veteran of the McCoy Tyner group and one of the leading jazz percussionists in the world - named his group for a Brazilian slang term whose literal translation is the "foot of an ox" but whose real meaning is a musician with a great sense of rhythm.

 
Material for the album includes some Brazilian standards and compositions written specially for the album. From its beginning in the streets of New York, IV; has gone on to  perform at Giant Stadium, S.O.B.'s, The Byrne Arena, The Beacon Theatre, The Bottom Line, The Mudd Club, as well as the historic Peppermint Lounge, Danceteria, Studio 54 and jazz Forum.

tracks

01. Essa Nega (3:17)

02. Zazueira (5:35)

03. Reza Forte (4:14)

04. Samba Summer (3:59)

05. Pabaruba (6:08)

06. Capoeira (6:27)

07. Sequence-Part 1 (4:34)

08. Sequence-Part II (5:10)

09. Drums Evolution (4:50)

10. Amazonia Jungle (2:19)

Essa Nega

101 Strings ~ Romantic Latin Favorites

The lush magnificence and stereo/digital depth of the "101 Strings" is due to a combination of factors. First, in importance, is the concept of scoring for the strings. The necessity of using very large sections of string instruments is to utilize various harmonies and voicing and not weaken the dynamics or quality of any one line when playing counter lines. This is particularly important with violins and violas, and creates a wonderful rich channel separation for stereo/digital recording. The listener will note that at times the melody line is in full presence, and possibly a full and lovely counter line is being played, without sacrificing the full dynamic value of either. Second, the original performances have been recorded under the most exacting audio engineering standards with specially designed microphones with characteristics to compensate for any possible distortion from the tremendous bass frequency response in cello and string bass. Third, and of extreme importance, are the players themselves. They represent the finest musicians in Europe today - digitally mastered to perfection. Enjoy...


tracks

01. Malaguena (9:52)02. Quando, Quando, Quando (2:54)
03. La Cumparsita (2:54)
04. Blue Tango (4:21)
05. Cu Cu Ru, Cu Cu Paloma (2:53)
06. Adios (3:15)
07. Brazil (3:42)
08. A Taste Of Honey (2:29)
09. Spamish Flea (2:33)
10. Puerto Vallarto (2:27)
11. Adios Mariquita Linda (1:49)
12. Jalousie (3:13)

Adios Mariquita Linda 

All the best from Latin America ~ 20 Great Favorites

Very fine collection with some outstanding arrangements and performances.  However, I could not obtain any info on performers or arrangers.  This CD is very unusual because it is evident and obvious that it was ripped from a LP.  There are occasional clicks and pops that can be heard on certain tunes, as well as "fade-ins" possibly introduced to alleviate hiss, clicks and pops.  The CD was purchased in the USA somewhere in early 90's and by then, the LP was no longer available.  The CD artwork does not provide any info or clues who is the author/producer of such an outstanding collection.  

tracks
01. Copacabana (3:12)
02. Fernando (3:27)
03. Quiereme mucho (3:42)
04. El lute (3:51)
05. Ay no digas (2:39)
06. Samba pa ti (3:47)
07. Una paloma blanca (3:38)
08. Valencia (2:02)
09. Brasil (2:20)
10. Cuando, cuando, cuando (2:09)
11. Argentina (3:20)
12. Agua (2:25)
13. Que sera (3:01)
14. Oye-como va (3:07)
15. Rise (3:25)
16. Chiquitita (4:36)
17. Mexico (2:36)
18. Quando calenita el sol (2:59)
19. Granada (2:06)
20. El condor pasa (2:56)

Copacabana

Charles Shirley and his orchestra ~ Moon Over Moscow: Exciting & Soulful Instrumentals

Nice and very easy going.  The Charles Shirley orchestra delivers pleasant and soothing sounds of these old  and timeless classics.

tracks
01. Night Trolley (2:57)
02. Meadowland (2:33)
03. Song Of A Friend (2:07)
04. Far Away (2:32)
05. Midnight In Moscow (Moscow Nights) (2:37)
06. Hi-Li-Li (2:50)
07. The Light (2:11)
08. Dark Night (2:36)
09. Volga Flows (3:10)
10. Roads (2:29)
11. Let There Always Be Sunshine (2:32)
12. Lonely Accordion (2:26)

The Light 

Armando Zulueto & his Dancing Orchestra

This great collection was released on "Jugoton" label somewhere in the early 70's. The LP was found in a second hand store in the USA and it was in a terrible condition. The clean up software did the fine job eliminating about 80% of the clicks and pops, (unfortunately, at the expense of the overall sound quality which was pretty low to begin with) however, some remained.

tracks
01. Frenesi (2:10)
02. La Paloma (2:18)
03. Nocha de Ronda (2:09)
04. Adios (2:09)
05. Tico Tico (1:49)
06. Guadalajara (1:58)
07. Siboney (2:32)
08. ACucurrucucu Paloma (2:03)
09. Adelita (2:06)
10. Celito lindo (2:25)
11. Maria Elena (1:46)
12. Sabras que te quiero (2:31)

Siboney

The Anita Kerr Singers ~ Sounds

Finally "the Collectors choice" decided to reissue this masterpiece in digital format. However, the critics say, it was "mastered from a LP rather from master tapes. Regardless of it, and the fact that sometimes remastered versions just do not sound right, I think they've done a fine job. There's little famous music here, but but this is the good album that their ability is shown

tracks

01. Happiness (2:00)
02. Wine In The Wind (2:46)
03. Today Is (2:20)
04. Say You Do (2:38)
05. I'm Falling In Love Again (2:24)
06. Long Live Our Love (2:53)
07. I Would Love You (3:12)
08. The Beat Goes On (3:05)
09. The Two Of Us (2:54)
10. I've Got Love Going For Me (2:56)
11. They Always Ask Me (3:18)
12. Swinging On A Star (3:00)

Wine In The Wind 

Anita Kerr (with The Antia Kerr Singers) ~ Favorites

Back in 1950, when Anita Kerr recorded her first album with her eight-voice group, The Anffa Kerr Singers, she launched a career that has spanned more than tour generations, arranging for and performing with a virtual who's who of the music world: Burl Ives, Eddy Arnold, Brenda Lee, Perry Como, Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Vinton, Roy Orblson, Willie Nelson, Al Hirt, and many others.
Anita has received seven Grammy Award nominations; three Grammys, including one for "A Man and a Woman," as well as Gold and Platinum records, including one each for her collaborations with Rod McKuen and the San Sebastian Strings. In 1992 she was awarded the NARAS Governor's Award recognizing her outstanding contributions to American Music. She was also the first woman ever to score a full motion picture, for the Universal film "Limbo" (1972).
Anita Kerr has built a loyal following of listeners who appreciate her gen-, tie vocal stylings and timeless arrangements. Favorites is a compilation of Anita's best loved songs... personal choices of both Anita and her fans.

tracks
01. The Fool on the Hill
02. Your Song
03. The Long and Winding Road
04. Good Vibrations
05. Sunny
06. Superstar
07. It's Impossible
08. Alone Again (Naturally)
09. Cherry, Cherry
10. If
11. You've Got a Friend
12. Blame It on a Monday
13. I Never Meant to Hurt You
14. If Not for You
15. Amazing Grace

The Fool on the Hill