Go Greyhound...and Leave the Driving to Us (1963)

A nice copy of this 1963 advertising disc, sent to employees of Greyhound.  One buck on eBay.

Sample narration: "The music, the instruments, the voices, the slogan--all wrapped up in a pleasant parcel of power-packed sell."  Good grief.  Jingle writing is presented as an exacting process of trial and error, with simplicity and singability the goal.  Then why is the finished jingle so syncopated (and, with the samba-like backing riffs, so polyrhythmic)?  Anyway, a fun disc--and doesn't the main narrator sound like Peter Graves, sort of?

If you want to play along, it's in C Major.  In fact, it's in C Major even if you don't want to play along.  Dunno if Raymond Scott wrote this as well as arranged.  I kind of, sort of remember this, though I was only six in 1963.

A pop or two, but otherwise I've MAGIX-ed out what little noise there was.  I combined both sides.

Leave the driving to Greyhound: Go Greyhound--Raymond Scott Orch., Quartet (1963).



 Lee

My new blog: Lee's Pontifications

I've decided to transfer my trenchant commentaries to another blog--it is here if you wish to look at it.  Of course, technically speaking, it's still there, even if you don't wish to look.

So far, one post (by Lee), and it's about the Council for Secular Humanism's rebuke of President Obama's call to prayer.  Tom Flynn acknowledges that today's shootings are a tragic event, but, please--we've got to keep the paint fresh on the state/church separation line.  We should be thankful for such unwavering ideologues and their do-as-I-say counsel--namely, thankful that we aren't in the same rut.

And here's my second commentary, Such Freedom.



Lee

The Unheard Ferde Grofe, including "Hawaii Suite"!

Courtesy of Kevin Tam and Irv Lipscomb, ten Ferde Grofe tracks from the Florida State University Ferde Grofe Audio Collection.  We're talking about two movements from Hawaii Suite, as well as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, Ode to an American Soldier, Hollywood Suite (not the NAXOS recording!), and more!  Rush, don't stroll over, to: The Unheard Ferde Grofe.

Note: We've already heard Kentucky Derby Suite at this blog, as well as another version of Hymn of Gratitude (as part of the Valley of the Sun Suite)--plus, a portion of Ode to an American Soldier as Over There Fantasie (different version, again).  Otherwise, everything's "new."  Enjoy!


Lee

A Tops "Western Series" EP

Cheap, copy-cat country is not necessarily bad cheap, copy-cat country, as demonstrated by this delightful four-song "Western Series" EP from Tops.  To put it another way, this single doesn't sound nearly as cheap as it looks.

"Covered" are 1954 hits by Eddy Arnold, T. Texas Tyler, Wanda Jackson, and... Eddy Arnold. Therefore, these fake versions are almost certainly from the same year.  Inductive reasoning in action.

Best track, imo: the hilarious Courtin' in the Rain.

So, mosey on over to Mediafire without delay: Tops Western Series EP 

Hep Cat Baby--Rusty Howard, The Rhythm Rangers
Courtin' in the Rain--Same
You Can't Have My Love--Gayle Larson, Bob Sandy
This Is the Thanks I Get--Bob Sandy


(Tops EP R244X45-49, prob. 1954)

Lee

The Conqueror--Frank Verna w. Jack Pleis Orch. (1956)

Yup, *that* Conqueror--the 1956 flick starring John Wayne as Genghis Khan. (Google "infamous," "wayne," and "conqueror" for 5 million-plus matches.) The song we are about to hear was, quote, "based on a theme from" that flick, with music by Victor Young and lyrics by Edward Heyman.  Indeed, I can verify, after checking Youtube, that the theme in question shows up right after the movie titles.

Never heard of Frank Verna before, which is curious, since he's quite a good singer.  Terrific orchestral backing by Decca staff conductor/arranger Jack Pleis.  Even better is the flip, Midnight in Paris, the 1935 pop classic composed by Con Conrad.  From a Decca 45 recently inducted into my collection.

To the tunes: The Conqueror/Midnight in Paris 

Frank Verna w. Jack Pleis Orch. (Decca 9-29855; 1956)


Lee

R.I.P., William Raspberry

 Obit

Mr. Raspberry's columns helped teach this flaming liberal how to temper his views (well, I think so, anyway)--and they demonstrated the wisdom of valuing truth over partisan position.  I mention this only because I'm sure there are many who were thus affected by this great journalist's wise words.  Taking the middle ground is often the most courageous thing to do (especially these days), and he did it nonstop.  It is precisely because of people like William that I consider the center the vantage point for understanding political and social realities, and it's just where I trust I would be if I were blessed with a less shallow grasp of those realities.  Few people can navigate the middle at all, let alone with such grace and integrity.  Great moderates are a national treasure; now we are one fewer.

Rest in peace, Mr. Raspberry.


Lee

Secular Christianity. Ohhhh-kay.

Now, why has it taken me this long to encounter the concept of secular Christianity?  Such a thing never even occurred to me until I stumbled onto a Facebook page for secular Christians.  Googling the concept, I see that it's been around for five years, at least.

Yeah, a secular Christian.  Sounds terrific--I think I'll become one.  Unless I decide to become, say, a pacifist mercenary.  Or a spiritual atheist.  Or a quiet blues shouter.  A humanist without pity.  A timid daredevil.   A loudmouthed mime.  A squeamish paramedic.  A fantasy-prone realist.  A....

(To be continued)

Out Where the Moonbeams Are Born

I'm migrating music files between two PCs, so I'm still getting the gist of what I'm doing.  Isn't that a good metaphor for life itself?  For living, I mean?  (Still getting the gist, I mean--not migrating between PCs.)  Anyway, today's playlist has no theme, except maybe all-shellac.    The post title refers to a marvelous (and marvelously campy) 1929 George Olsen side featuring George himself talking through the vocal refrain.  I love his contrived style of speaking.  I first heard the side when I was about 10, and it's been on permanent replay in my head.  Maybe I should be telling this to my analyst.

Marv Lockard's cheap cover of Hound Dog (on the Gateway label) is actually quite good; the record condition, not so.  I also plan to put up the missing Hound Dog of several posts back, but it's on the other PC as we speak.  Until then, we have this version.

Acquavina was Joni James' husband and arranger, and he shows up on line under two first names.  He's in Wikipedia.  His stuff is ultra-lush, yet more solid than your usual easy listening--we get to hear three examples of same.  The Williams College Mandolin Club track, from 1914, is a repeat but in a less noisy restoration.  It still sounds muffled, which is probably due to the frequency range of the instruments in question--unlike banjos, mandolins (and marimbas)  sounded like mush when horn-recorded, and I've always wanted to type that.  I can swear there's a snare drum in the background, though it's quite quiet (quite quiet?) and may be a sonic artifact.  The main thing about this track is that it sounds amazingly like African-American string band music of the period, which is likely no accident, since mandolin "club" repertoire, c. late 1800s-1930, included rags and cakewalks.  The musicians are white, but the genre not.  You find the coolest things where you're not looking for them.

Also pretty amazing is a 1949,  rockabilly-style cover of the R&B hit Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-o-Dee on the tiny Texas label, Western Magic.  This is another repeat, and another (hopefully) improved file.  It's amazing because (imo) it's such an early instance of country musicians playing r&b, but it's just that, and no more--country musicians playing R&B.  Allegedly, when Bill Haley and/or Elvis did the same thing, a new pop music form was created.  Yeah, right.


All ripped from 78s in my strange collection.


To the sounds: Out Where the Moonbeams Are Born

Alone with You--Acquaviva and His Orch. (MGM 30883; 1955)
Prayer for Peace--Acquaviva and His Orch. (MGM 30883; 1955)
A Man with a Dream--Acqauviva and His Orch. (MGM 30881; 1955)
Hound Dog-Marv Lockard (Gateway 1184; 1956)
The Royal Purple--Come Fill Your Glasses Up--Williams College Mandolin Club (Columbia, A-1546; 1914)
Out Where the Moonbeams Are Born--George Olsen and His Music (Victor 22063; 1929)
Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-o-Dee--Western Playboys (Western Magic--Hit Parade Tunes 1203; 1949)


Lee

Well, at least our summer hasn't been boring....

Friday evening, we were in the ER.  We, being Bev, myself, and former neighbor Julia.  Bev had tripped on a porch pallet and hit her face and head on the back doorway.  She remained calm and alert, as always, and I called the squad, and they arrived, and I was too doped (new meds) to follow the ambulance in my car, so I rode in front, and we got to the ER, and they took CAT scans, and Bev is in no danger, thank goodness.  However, the colorful aftermarks remain (photo posted with subject's okay):

Ouch!

First thing after getting back, I hauled away the porch pallets, leaving a gravel-only surface, which is safer, by far.  We're looking into having a sidewalk made--or, rather, a sidewalk extension.  Operation: Reduce Tripping Hazards has begun.

The main villain is arthritis, which has of course slowed down Bev's walking and made her less able to break a potential fall.  At least it's not an issue of seizures, or dopiness, or spatial disorientation (Bev is more "there" than I am, though that's maybe not saying a ton).  So mainly we have to minimize any potential for sudden disruption of footing.  I hope the cats are listening and taking notes.

Regarding the new meds I'm taking (and which initially doped me out)--one is for cholesterol, the other for blood pressure, the third for glucose.  Side effects have been annoying but mild.  I've been newly dx'ed with Diabetes Type II, which means that my borderline c. and blood pressure are no longer okay.  Must lose weight.  If age is just a number, then drugs are merely weird-sounding syllables.  And weight simply a readout on a digital scale.  And food choices nothing but word jumbles.  And....

In some alternate universe, time and space are going the other way, and people are reverse-aging.  And it seems totally normal to them.  In fact, they'd find our younger-to-older dimension pretty weird.

Lee