The Tuna Melt

Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra: A Christmas Cocktail

2010-12-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

Voldar is BACK!!!

'Bout Damn Time, Too! I know, I know… Christmas is almost here and we're gettin' off to a late start.

The fact of the matter is that the current economic misfortunes effecting much of the planet Earth have begun to take their toll on Mars as well. As our few-in-number and highly secretive Earth-Based Trading Partners have experienced financial downturns, we've suffered right along with you. As a result, my schedule has become rather erratic to the point at which it is difficult to plan ahead and/or work around.

Now that I'm here, though, I'll try to spruce up the season with a few choice holiday offerings from Traitor Vic's expansive collection.

Speaking of whom, Vic apparently took my late arrival as a sign that I had decided not to show up this year and, so, was caught completely off guard by my appearance. I've taken it easy on him this year and locked him into the shed in the back yard instead of the closet that I usually put him in. He should be relatively comfortable there for the time being. I'll allow him to come out on Christmas Eve, of course, so that he can run to the store to get me some refreshments to enjoy as we await a visit from Santa Claus. In the meantime… I plan to share some of the selections he has that are on Compact Disc, as opposed to the time consuming Vinyl Rips that he limits his own offerings to.

You are welcome to enjoy this holiday collection, from 1996, by Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra. Jaymz is a musician, writer and radio personality from Canada. Along with The Royal Jelly Orchestra, and another combo called The Deep Lounge Coalition, he has released several collections of modern day pop tunes performed in an Easy Jazz, Lounge Style. He's also recognized as a bit of a Cocktail/Lounge Authority, having written "Cocktail Parties for Dummies" in 1997.

Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra: A Christmas Cocktail

Jingle Bells
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
It's Christmas Time (Oh Yeah)
Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
The Christmas Song
Christmas Cocktail
Sleigh Ride
Space Age Santa
Carol of the Bells
The Little Drummer Boy

The Rite of Exorcism

2010-10-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

I've thought about posting this record at Halloween several times over the last few years, but my good sense has always won out and kept me from doing so.

It's not like it's HORRIBLE or anything. Okay. Maybe it is. But it has a Really Great Cover and at least one pretty cool song on it.

Other than that, it is a mostly "spoken word" or "audio drama" presentation that purports to be a "Simply and Faithfully Presented" reenactment of what might have gone on during the act of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person at some unspecified point in the past (as the current Rite, updated most recently in 1999 I believe, calls for the presence of two priests).

This record lists no Artist or Group as being responsible for it's creation. I decided to ascribe it to Rev. Patrick J. Berkery, Ph.D. because:
A - It is he who came up with the original concept and who followed up by doing the Theological and Liturgical Research that it required and…
B - He also recorded at least one other record, 1969's "Prayers for a Noonday Church" (which can be found over at Dr. Schluss' Garage of Psychedelic Obscurities).

It's not horribly scary (although it does contain some pretty weird squeals and shrieks), but it is an interesting artifact.

This record has also been shared at least one other time (in two parts, as individual files for Side A and Side B) at WFMU's Beware of the Blog, where you can read a rather lengthy discussion of it's qualities (and/or lack thereof) if you'd like.

It is presented here in all six (6) individual tracks at 320kbps.

The Rite of Exorcism

Day of Wrath
THE STORY (Part I)
The Lord's Prayer
THE STORY (Part I)
THE STORY (Part II)
Ron Aimee Fugue

Billy Boyd: Twangy Guitars

2010-10-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

There's no such person as Billy Boyd. Okay. There is, of course. But the guy that played a Hobbit in The Lord of the Rings movies didn't record this record in 1960.

This Billy Boyd was actually Jerry Cole.

Cole played with The Champs. He also worked with just about every important musician in America between 1959 and 1991. Find his story (along with a list of albums he released under different names) here: Jerry Cole @ The Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Billy Boyd: Twangy Guitars

Shuffle Boogie
Night Rock
When the Lights are Low
Jivin' at The Savoy
Stompin' at the Crossroads
Diggin' the Blues
Mambo Boogie
South Hampton
Bolero Boogie
Duck Walk
Oop Shank
Drifting

The Gaylords: Let's Have a Pizza Party

2010-05-24T20:26:00.000-07:00

Back in the 60s and 70s, when you went to an Italian Restaurant in the US, chances are good that you heard Italian Music being pumped through the sound system. Mandolin and Accordian would serenade you as you enjoyed your Spaghetti and sipped your Chianti.

Nowadays, most of the better Italian restaurants with which I'm familiar have no music playing (canned or otherwise) and the popular chains are usually brightly lit, loud, and feature Soft Rock or New Age-ish background music. Thank God for Unlimited Salad and Breadsticks!

This record reminds me of the stuff they played back in the old days. The Gaylords were Ronald L. Fredianelli, Bonaldo Bonaldi and Don Rea (with Bill Christ replacing Fredianelli when the latter did a stint in the US Army). Fredianelli later took the stage name Ronnie Gaylord and Bonaldi became Burt Holiday.

Most of their records were of Italian folk melodies translated to and sung in English, thereby introducing them to a wide American audience. This one, though, consists of Italian Songs sung in Italian and played in the old country Italian style.

Find more info on The Gaylords here:

http://www.thegaylords.com/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gaylords_%28American_vocal_group%29

http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/gaylords.html

The Gaylords: Let's Have a Pizza Party

Ah Marie
Neapolitan Nights
Quando Mi Bacio Teresa
Ti Voglio Tanto Bene
Sicilian Tarantella
La Romanina
Bionda Biondina
Scrivimi
Sbarazzina
Panzy
Carmela
Non Ti Scordar Di Me (Say You Will Not Forget)

Sammy Laului Orchestra: Hawaiian Wedding Song

2010-03-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Like a Budget Hawaiian Vacation

As we complete our tour around the mighty Pacific Ocean, we approach the shore of Waikiki only to discover a record on Diplomat Records! Diplomat, one of several labels of Synthetic Plastics (of Newark, NJ), was the Budget Record Label to End All Budget Record Labels. My record doesn't even list an artist name on the sleeve or the label. Luckily, the record was released with several different variations on the sleeve over the years and some of them identified the music as being performed by the Sammy Laului Orchestra: a group with such a wide range of different sounds that it's almost difficult to believe the entire record is by the same combo.

It's a nice record, though, and should help you to relax at the end of a long, hard day. If you find yourself thinking that the song "Island's Goodbye" sounds an awful lot like "Now Is the Hour", you're correct. You are also correct if you find yourself thinking that much of this album sounds remarkably (EXACTLY!) like the album "Hawaiian Enchantment", by Luke Leilani, on Spin-O-Rama Records or, perhaps "Hawaiian Enchantment", by The Hawaiian Islanders, on Wyncote.

Sammy Laului Orchestra: Hawaiian Wedding Song

Hawaiian Wedding Song
Dreams of Hawaii
Waikiki Moods
White Sands
Girl of the Island
Hawaiian Skies
Island's Goodbye
Chanting Waves
Isle of Dreams
Hula Moola

Various Artists: Songs of Guam

2010-03-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

This one is Oddly Charming…

Well, okay… Mostly it's just odd.

Upon happening upon this record I thought I had found a collection of, perhaps, Traditional Guamanian Folk Songs or Historical Recordings of The Chamorro People. What I had actually found is a bunch of songs by an American woman who had lived in Guam for a couple of years that were recorded in Hawaii, apparently by Hawaiian recording artists.

From the liner notes:

"With the exception of four Guamanian folk songs… this KONA RECORDS Album reflects the musical impressions of Mrs. D.S. (Jean) Lennox. She has completed a labor of love for the Island she called home for a little while.

"Her affection for Guam and it's people is rewardingly evident in each of her ten original compositions. For a "Statesider", who lived just two years on the Island of Guam, our composer has created a truly remarkable musical montage."

The native language of the Island of Guam (and all of The Marinara Islands) is a Malayo-Polynesian language called Chamorro. The Chamorro language was heavily modified during Guam's occupation and colonization by Spain from 1668 to 1898 and now contains many words and phrases of Spanish origin. Guam was captured by the US in a bloodless landing during the Spanish-American War. Since then, Guam's official languages have been Chamorro and English and, again, the Chamorro language has incorporated many English words. It makes for a bit of a strange mix.

Something tells me that Mrs. D.S. (Jean) Lennox had no idea, while writing these songs, that they would ever end up being recorded for commercial release. They're nice enough, and charming in their own way, but they sound more like songs intended to be sung by school children than professionally created pop pieces. The quality of the recording is poor and the singers involved, while competent, sound uninspired and disinterested. That being said, since our recent visit to Tahiti I figured I'd continue the Pacific Cruise and steer the Good Ship Tuna Melt on over to Guam for a visit.

Various Artists: Songs of Guam

Guam is Good
The Old Spanish Bridge
Song of Guam
The Wizard Lizard
The Island of Cocos
Statesider's Song
Guamanian Medley -
Panguengue / Toma Na Plangpang Tres / Gumupo Si Paluma / Nobia Cahula
The Ladrones Latte Stones
It's Always Manana on Guam
Honeymoon Island
Hafa Adai

Piiraa É: Autrefois

2010-02-02T19:46:00.000-08:00

There's a lot more that I don't know about this than there is that I do.

It comes from French Polynesia and, so, all of the information provided on it's packaging is done so in a mish-mash of different languages that I don't understand. Even the name of the group is spelled in two different ways on the cover.

Once the music starts, though, I understand all that I need to.

The warmth of the sun… The coolness of the Sea Breeze… The gentle rhythm of the waves lapping at the shore… The tinkle of ice as it swirls in the exotic concoction that I hold in my hand… It all takes me to long ago and far away Tahiti.

Chanté par le groupe de Piiraa É: Autrefois

Aue Te Mauiui
Pae Minuti
Fautaua
Tapau Féi
Maraamu
Te Ua´a Rii Pitate
Po Iti Ava´e
Enere
Faariri
Piiraa É
Hoi Hoi Rii Mai Na Ra

Özel Türkbas: How to Make Your Husband a Sultan

2010-01-16T15:40:00.000-08:00

Shake It, Baby! Shake It!

Özel Türkbas was a huge talent and a huge star! After starting out as a child star (at the age of seven), in her native Turkey, she went on to play starring roles in fourteen Turkish movies. She was brought to the US by Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, in 1959, in order to appear in the role of La Oriental in his production of Opera Thais.

This is the first of five Belly Dance records she released. She also wrote and published two Belly Dancing books and a Turkish Cookbook.

As Belly Dancing became a huge fad in the United States through the 60s and 70s, Özel was extremely influential in it's promotion. As a Turk, she wore the traditional Turkish Belly Dancer costume (generally regarded to be considerably "sexier" than some other outfits, but probably the best known type in the rest of the world), but she was always careful to emphasize the beauty and discipline of the dance as opposed to it's more sensual aspects.

Well… Except for the title of this record, I suppose.

Özel Türkbas: How to Make Your Husband a Sultan

Özel's Dance Music
Hoplada
Tín Tín
Tokat
Kandirali Çíftetellí
Taksímler
Anadolu
Fasulya

Note: Each of Özel's albums included at least one selection that was nearly the length of an entire side. If you are going to use this record as a Belly Dancing beginner, let me advise that you might want to skip to the second track as the first is about 14 minutes long and may result in Gut Bustage.

Lenny Dee: Most Requested!

2010-01-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

Most Dee-manded!

Of all the Pop Organists of the Easy Listening / Space Age Pop era, Lenny Dee is my favorite. While others played with much technical savvy and brilliant arrangements, Lenny performed with a flair, rhythm and humor all his own.

This is a great record. It includes two pieces by Henry Mancini (always a plus!) and handful of others that I absolutely love. All are played with the patented "Lenny Dee Bounce" and plenty of Pizazz!

Lenny Dee: Most Requested!

Hello, Dolly!
Canadian Sunset
The Girl from Ipanema (Garota De Ipanema)
Baby Elephant Walk
Bluesette
Moonlight Cocktail
Java
Summertime in Venice
Cafe Oriental
On Green Dolphin Street
The Pink Panther
Honky Tonk Train Blues

International Pop Orchestra / 110 Musicians: Christmas Favorites

2009-12-24T17:55:00.000-08:00

One Last Shot Before Santa Get's Here!

Boy Howdy! I've had a Hoot here on Earth over the last few weeks. I got to go to some cool places and see some cool stuff!

This is the barn in Traitor Vic's backyard. I think it looks pretty nice at Christmas Time.

This is the wreath that hangs on the barn at Christmas Time.

I also got to visit a place called Tiny Town (which, of course, we on Mars were already aware of because of it's Extreme Incandescence). It was Marvelous! It was Horrifying! It was Awful!

Now, sadly, it comes to an end. I'll be letting Traitor Vic out of the closet that I've had him locked in in just a few moments. We'll sling up in the den, waiting for that fat dude to tumble down the chimney, and get to work on the remainder of the 12-pack of Yuengling from which Santa's beer was chosen.

This is what we did last year and it didn't turn out so well. Santa arrived to find that I had consumed his beer and eaten his "patè on a cracker" treats and, to say the least, was not happy. He immediately announced that he found me to be "Bad", tossed a lump of coal into my stocking, yanked it from the mantel and began pounding me in the head with it.

I'm learning the Respect that comes with the Fear of that dude. Santa Claus is not to be messed with.

Hope all of you have been good little boys and girls this year! And, whether you have or not, here is my final present to you for 2009. It's a good ol' Wyncote record, so you know it's just perfectly mediocre, but in a marvelous way!

It's 10:10PM, Eastern Standard Time, on Christmas Eve now and NORAD has just reported that Santa has just arrived on the East Coast of the United States, so I need to run now. I've got a long drive tomorrow. Hope to see you all again next year!

International Pops Orchestra / 110 Musicians: Christmas Favorites

O Come All Ye Faithful
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Joy to the World
Deck the Halls
The First Noel
Good King Wenceslaus
O Holy Night
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Silent Night

Ken Griffin: The Organ Plays at Christmas

2009-12-21T22:40:00.000-08:00

Gettin' all ORGANIC at Christmas Time!

This Album Is Good for the Planet! If you Download It, and listen to it, You'll Be Less Likely to Purchase a "Environment Destroying Product".

Ken Griffin was HUGE in the 50s (probably the most popular and biggest selling Organ Player of all). I've never found him to be nearly as interesting as Lenny Dee, but I do like his Holiday Offerings.

I think you will too!

Ken Griffin: The Organ Plays at Christmas

Joy to the World
Silent Night
Silver Bell
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Away in a Manger
The First Nowell
Adeste Fideles
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Kringle's Jingle
Here Comes Santa Claus
I'll Be Home for Christmas
White Christmas

I gotta admit… This record just Dries Me Right the Hell Out! It makes me Thirsty as Can Be!

I allowed Traitor Vic to come out of his closet earlier tonight and he hit a HONERUN, boy howdy! We enjoy this drink, too, around The Holidays on Mars. Of course, the Holidays we enjoy it around are different from yours, but that's okay. We call this one The Thing Attached to The Side of The Supersonic Space Rocket. It's a cultural difference.

The Sidecar

Here's how you make it:

2 oz. brandy

½ oz. cuantreau

Juice of ½ lemon

Shake and serve in a Cocktail Glass with a Sugar Rim.

Various Artists: The 2009 Tuna Melt Christmas Mix

2009-12-21T05:06:00.000-08:00

Another Big Ol' Pile o' Christmas!

Okay. I've been bad, I suppose. I told Traitor Vic that I'd let him come out of his closet for good if he helped me put my 2009 Christmas Mix together. I lied. I pushed his butt back into the closet and locked the door the second we got done with this. I'll let him come out and stay, though, when it's time for me to leave.

In the meantime, here's our 2009 Christmas Mix! Hope you enjoy some of it!

Various Artists: The Traitor Vic 2009 Christmas Mix

We Three Kings of Orient Are - The Boxmasters
Santa Claus Is Back in Town - Canned Heat
Blue White Christmas - Barely Pink
Rasta Reindeer - The Bobs
Merry Christmas James Brown - The Peanuts Gang
Gettin' Down for Xmas - Milly & Silly
Christmas Time All Over the World - The Smithereens
Psycho - Thirsty Dave's Western Caravan
Squat - Shelby Lynne
Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk - Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison
Merry Christmas from a Bar - Mike Ireland & Holler
Santa's Out of Rehab By Christmas - Adam's House Cat
Black & Blue Christmas - Unknown Hinson
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Rocket Park
Something Horrible
Hark! The Helter Skelter - Dave aka Tuco
Here Comes Santa Claus Back in Black - Elvis vs AC/DC (a Voicedude Mashup)
Away in a Manger - Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra
Inglejay Ellsbay - A Pig Latin Christmas
The Little Drummer Boy - Kenny Burrell
Jingle Bells - Wing
Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels
Chrismastime - The Nourallah Brothers
Christmas Boy - The Spongetones
Fruity-Cake Fruitcake - Bah & The Humbugs
Christmas Rhapsody - Pledge Drive
Happy Kwanzaa - Teddy Pendergrass

The Ames Brothers: There'll Always Be a Christmas

2009-12-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

Back to Mono for the Holidays!

Here's one that it is possible to find on Compact Disc, but I highly doubt you're gonna run out this week and get it at your local record store. It's one of Traitor Vic's favorite Christmas Records of all time and he's been listening to and loving this monophonic copy for over 45 years.

The Ames Bros.: There'll Always Be a Christmas

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Deck the Halls
O Holy Night! (Cantique de Noël)
Silver Bells
What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
Jingle Bells
Good King Wenceslas
The Night Before Christmas Song
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Go Tell It on the Mountain
There'll Always Be a Christmas

I have found that some of the tracks on this album can cause one feel a bit dry. If this happens while you're listening to it, I would suggest quenching your thirst with one of these.

The Candy Cane Martini

1½ oz. vodka
1 tsp. peppermint schnapps
1 oz. club soda

Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.
Shake once or twice. Stir. Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with small candy cane.

Various Artists: Happy Sparkly Christmas 2007

2009-12-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

More Old-Timey Christmas!

Okay. This isn't THAT Old-Timey, but it IS the Christmas Mix that I made back in 2007. That was only about a year ago on Mars, but its Two Years on Earth and that is A Long Time.

It's silly. It is, just as the one from 2008, the collection that I put together to show my friends on Mars how silly you Earthlings get around the holidays. I think you will enjoy it.

Various Artists: Happy Sparkly Christmas 2007

S. Claus Files Unusual Flight Plan - North American Air Defense Command
Linus n Lucy - Ursula 1000
Santa Claus Done Brought Himself to Town - Justin Wilson
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Michael Doucet
Santa's Got a Bag of Soul - The Soul Saints Orchestra
Hang on Rudolph - The Ebenezer Scrooge Appreciation Society
Do You Hear What I Hear? / You Really Got Me - Bobby Lloyd & The Skeletons
Sock It to Me, Santa - Marshall Crenshaw
Santa Had a Wreck - Terry Anderson & The O.A.K. Team
Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' - Mack Rice
Soul Christmas - Graham Parker (with Nona Hendryx)
Noël - Kees Kraayenoord
The Little Drummer Boy - The Dandy Warhols
In the Bleak Mid-Winter - Shawn Colvin
Boas Festas - Joyce
We Three Kings - Cuba L.A.
Candy Cane Madness - Lowell George & The Factory
Boogie Woogie Christmas - Ricky Godfrey & Rudy Blue Shoes
I Hate Christmas - Oscar the Grouch
Ho Ho Ho & a Bottle of Rum - The Cucumbers
S.A.N.T.A. - The Christmas Jug Band

William Wright & John Reiman: A Christmas Present

2009-12-15T20:21:00.000-08:00

It's an Old-Timey Christmas

This record consists of Christmas Tunes played in the Old-Time Music style. Old-Time Music is a term used to refer to real Appalachian Folk Music of the Pre-Bluegrass era and is, actually, just old White Folks' Folk Music. It is the type of music that was made by early Anglo-Celtic settlers in America. The instruments used on this album are Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Bells, Triangle and Tambourine.

This album was released on Rooster Records of Bethel, Vermont, in 1980 and includes several "newer" songs (such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" from 1948, and "Frosty the Snowman" from 1950), but the musical arrangements remain true to the Old-Time style throughout.

For more info on Old-Time Music see David Lynch's Old-Time Music Home Page.

William Wright & John Reiman: A Christmas Present

Good King Wenceslas
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Frosty the Snowman
O Tannenbaum
God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen
Oh, Holy Night
Jingle Bells
Angels We Have Heard on High
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We Three Kings
Deck the Halls
Joy to the World
Wassail Song

As you're listening to this Old-Time Music, allow me to suggest an Old-Time Heartwarmer:

Hot Toddy
1 oz. bourbon

4 oz. boiling water
1 tsp. sugar
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon slice, thinly sliced
1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

Put sugar, cloves, cinnamon stick and lemon slice into a mug or Irish coffee glass.
Add 1 oz. of boiling water. Stir. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Add bourbon and 3 oz. of boiling water. Stir well. Dust with freshly grated nutmeg.

Last Year's News: The 2008 Christmas Mix

2009-12-11T23:05:00.000-08:00

I Wish He Would Shut Up!!!

Traitor Vic is raisin' all kinds of hell in that closet I keep him in. He's not tryin' to get out. He's just ticked off 'cause he knows that each year, upon visiting your planet for the Holiday Season, I put together a Mix of Holiday Enjoyments to share with my buddies back on THE RED PLANET. He's pissed 'cause I have not been sharing them with all of you Earth Morons.

I gotta admit… He doesn't like the fact that I'm taking his lousy Earth Music back to Mars and telling all of my friends how coo… uh… I mean Interesting it is, and not sharing such information with Earthbound Humans. He thinks I should begin sharing these items with you! Just to shut him up, I think I'll do it. I prefer a Silent Bartender, for Pete's Sake!

That being said… Here is last year's mix. I'll probably share the one from the year before pretty soon, but don't think that's going to slow the irregularity with which I post Christmas Stuff otherwise.

Various Artists: Merry Christmas 2008

The Mexicali Brass: Christmas with The Mexicali Brass

2009-12-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

Santa's Goin' South of the Border!

This record has been shared numerous times on several sharity sites and blogs over the years, but I thought I'd toss this copy out because, as technology and internet bandwidth have improved, the ability to post files of a higher bitrate has expanded. This is a pretty darn clean copy at 360kbps. I also gave in to my more prurient desire to post this cover on The Tuna Melt. Hubba Hubba!

I have no information whatsoever on The Mexicali Brass except that they were, apparently, created by Crown Records (a subsidiary of the Bihari Brothers' Modern Records) in order to cash in on the popularity of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass and The Baja Marimba Band.

All of the budget labels had these bands but The Mexicali Brass put out quite a few albums. This was one of three Christmas collections by them. The other two are called "Jingle Bells" and "Winter Wonderland". Search around the blogosphere and you'll probably be able to find them. Also, get over to Easy Listening World to check out "Tijuana Christmas" by the Torero Band.

Get this one first, though, if you want it.

The Mexicali Brass: Christmas with The Mexicali Brass

Jingle Bells
O' Little Town of Bethlehem
The First Noel
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
White Christmas
O' Come All Ye Faithful
Deck the Halls
Joy to the World
Silent Night

Traitor Vic got to come out of his closet again this evening because it got COLD OUTSIDE! I needed something to warm me up and he helped out with a Hot Buttered Rum.

Hot Buttered Rum

1 tsp. brown sugar

4 oz. boiling water
1 whole clove
2 oz. dark Jamaican rum
1 tsp. unsalted butter
1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

Combine the brown sugar with the boiling water in a mug or Irish coffee glass. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the clove and the rum and float the butter on top. Dust with freshly grated nutmeg.

The Popular Players' Orchestra: The Pop Christmas Melodies

2009-12-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

POP goes the Holiday!

Here's one that's a bit lighter and more casual than the Heavy-Handed Sound of Organs and Chimes. It's from 1959 on the Rondo-lette label (an even lower budget division of Rondo Records). It's a nice, simple record that makes for good listening by the fireplace on a cold night.

The liner notes refer to this music as: "popular jazz style with a slight beat, with a little feeling of the intimate jazz, but always in good taste." I don't know about you, but I can't stand intimate jazz that's done in bad taste!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Let it Snow
White Christmas
Little Jack Frost
The Christmas Song
Silent Night, Holy Night
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Happy Holiday
Jingle Bells

I decided to allow Traitor Vic to leave the closet that I've had him in for a few minutes in order to help me get in the mood for this record. I put him to work at the bar and this is what he came up with.

He got the recipe from the packaging on a CD by Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra (1996, Milan Records 7313835820-2) called "A Christmas Cocktail". It's a great record and was sponsored by Smirnoff, who also supplied the included cocktail recipes.

Rudolph's Martini 2¼ oz. Smirnoff vodka
3 oz. cranberry juice cocktail

Pour ingredients into Cocktail Shaker filled with ice and shake.
Strain into Cocktail Glass and garnish with Cranberries.

Robert Eason & Gerald Knott: The Spectacular Organ & Chimes of Westminster

2009-11-30T13:50:00.000-08:00

Chime on In for Christmas!

There are, of course, about 5,792,478 (give or take a few) "Organ & Chimes" Christmas Records out there. It was an incredibly popular format from the 30s through the 60s. Since the music on these records was performed on traditional "church instruments" the songs contained tend to be, primarily, the more traditional and religious of the Christmas choices (no "Frosty the Snowman" or "Up on the Housetop" here).

Amazingly, the range of sounds available within the "Christmas Organ & Chimes" catalog is wide and deep. Some records feature the organ over the chimes and others the chimes over the organ. Some records include an orchestra or choral group in addition to the primary instruments while others do not. You could easily fill an entire 160GB iPod with nothing but "Organ & Chimes" Christmas music and have enough variety to hold your interest for at least an hour or so.

The music on this record tends to remain very similar throughout and features the chimes playing the melody with the organ backing. While it may not be the most exciting holiday music ever heard, it is lovely traditional music for the season.

Robert Eason (Organ) & Gerald Knott (Carillon):
The Spectacular Organ and Chimes of Westminster

Silent Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Good King Wenceslas
Angels We Have Heard on High
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
O Tannenbaum
We Three Kings
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
The First Noel
Joy to the World
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly
Away in a Manger
What Child Is This
Angels from the Realms of Glory

Tex Johnson and His Six Shooters: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

2009-11-27T17:33:00.000-08:00

Stick 'em Up, Earth Pardners!

Okay, boys and girls. Get ready for some Rootin', Tootin' Holiday Cheer of the Country & Western variety. This record, as a matter of fact, contains several songs that have not a darn thing to do with Christmas or Holidays at all. It remains, however, a sentimental favorite for many of the American Baby Boomer Generation.

For an album released by such an obscure group/artist, there is an amazing amount of discussion concerning this one out there in Cyberville. There's not much actual information available, but there's a great deal of discussion. Just do a search on "Tex Johnson & His Six Shooters" and you'll find out everything that anybody knows about it.

I have tagged the Christmas songs as being such (in the Genre tag category), and tagged the non-Holiday material as Country & Western, in order to assist in keeping them separate.

Tex Johnson and His Six Shooters: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter
Fum Fum Fum
Wait for the Wagon (On Christmas Day)
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Cheyenne
A Merry Merry Christmas to You
Pride of the Prairie Mary
The Night Before Christmas Song
San Antonio
Just as the Sun Went Down
Go Tell It on the Mountain

Liberace: A Liberace Christmas

2009-11-25T21:23:00.000-08:00

Voldar Returns!

Yes, silly Earth People, I am back! I have traveled the entire 48,678,972 or so miles in my tiny personal interplanetary shuttle in order to spend the holiday season with you. I hope you are all enjoying your silly Earth holidays and are ready to listen to some of the extraordinary sounds that I have gathered (mostly from thrift stores) in my cosmic travels. Traitor Vic, as usual, will not be spending the holidays with us. I am planning to ambush him when he returns from his Thanksgiving Feast Celebration tomorrow and locking him in a closet until the first of next year. Don't worry, though. He's used to it by now. He'd probably be disappointed if it didn't happen. In his absence, I'll plan on sharing with you a pile of Holiday Tunage guaranteed to put you right into the Holiday Spirit.

I'm also going to allow Traitor Vic to emerge from his closet, on occasion, to mix for me a Festive Holiday Cocktail or two (or seven). I will be posting photos and recipes as time and sobriety allow.

Now lets get started with our Holiday Celebration, shall we?

For starters I present a record that I rescued from an organization calling themselves The Salvation Army. I am somewhat familiar with this group as Martian Intelligence Agencies have identified them as the employers of many of your planet's Santa Claus Wannabes during the Christmas season. I also rescued a really cool Blender from them and plan to return for more goodies before I leave your stupid planet.

This record is by a man who wears very beautiful clothes. He, like myself, goes by only one name. Traitor Vic has told me that he passed on in what you know as 1987. I know little about him otherwise, but I feel he must have been a very decent human being. I do not understand what Traitor Vic meant when he told me that Liberace was a "flaming queen".

Liberace: A Liberace Christmas

Medley: O Tannenbaum / We Wish You a Merry Christmas
What Child Is This?
Medley: Jingle Bells / White Christmas / Adeste Fidelis / Silent Night
Coventry Carol
Jesu Bambino
The Little Drummer Boy
Medley: O Little Town of Bethlehem / It Came Upon a Midnight Clear / Joy to the World
Ave Maria
Silver Bells
O Holy Night
Medley: Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Here Comes Santa Claus

Nelson Riddle: The Joy of Living

2009-11-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

Reasons to be Thankful

"The Joy of Living" is an album from Nelson Riddle released, on Capitol Records, in 1959. Riddle was one of the greatest arrangers in the history of American popular music and was involved in the production of hundreds of albums between 1953 and 1985. He worked directly with such giants as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Dorsey, Nat King Cole, Les Baxter, Julie Andrews and 101 Strings.

He was also very involved in television and film music, contributing to the soundtracks of programs such as The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Tarzan, Emergency! and Batman. He composed and conducted the soundtrack to the 1966 Batman movie. He wrote the theme songs to television's The Untouchables and Route 66. I could go on, of course, but you can find out more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Riddle.

He was best known, perhaps, for his "Swingin' Sound". Most of his records are uptempo and energetic compared to this one, which is rather relaxed and laid back by comparison (described, in the liner notes, as "restful yet zestful"). I dig it quite a bit and hope you do as well. It is presented here in all of it's Monophonic, High Fidelity Wonderfulness.

Nelson Riddle: The Joy of Living

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries
You Make Me Feel So Young
Makin' Whoopee!
Bye Bye Blues
It's So Peaceful in the Country
The Joy of Living (Know the Real Joy of Good Living)
It's a Big Wide Wonderful World
June in January
Isn't This a Lovely Day
Indian Summer
It's a Grand Night for Singing
I Got the Sun in the Morning

Here in the USA we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving Day this coming Thursday. Thanksgiving is a harvest festival holiday devoted to giving thanks for the year's harvest and expressing gratitude in general. I thought this record fit the season because of the statement, posted on it's back cover, that reads "Nelson Riddle presents twelve danceable, gently swinging reasons why it's great to be alive."

Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau / Hui Ohana

2009-09-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

The Real Music of Hawai'i

As summer winds down and the temperature begins to drop the moments spent in the backyard with a Mai Tai or a Tonga Punch become fewer and farther between. That's why the right music is so important during this time of year. Don't let the end of summer be ruined by limiting yourself to continued listenings of that same old "Reparata & The Delrons" album you've been listening to repeatedly since 1964.

Allow The Tuna Melt to, once again, whisk you away to a magical place where the sun shines bright, the palm trees sway in a warm breeze and you live in constant fear of being struck in the noggin' by falling coconuts; Hawai'i!

This is the REAL music of Hawai'i. Of course, I realize that Reggae is Huge in Hawai'i these days, and I remain a large fan of good ol' Hapa Haole hits with which we're all so familiar as well as Exotica (perhaps my favorite of all these genres). But Slack-Key Guitar is a truly original Hawai'ian art form. This is really beautiful music.

The first group represented here is "Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau". The group was founded in 1976 and led by Skippy Kamakawiwoʻole. It's best known member, however, was probably Skippy's brother Israel , who later became enormously famous (as well as, due to a genetic disorder, simply enormous) as a ukulele player of great creativity and virtuosity. "No Kristo" is their premier album, from 1976 on Poki Records, and is guaranteed to send your thoughts to ports of pleasure.

Makaha Sons of Ni'iahau: No Kristo

Hanakeoki
Pua Tubarose
Waikiki Hula
Morning Dew
Manu Kolohe
Hele Mai
E Nonoi I Ka Haaku / Kanaka Waiwa
Po'e Koa
Freedom of Makaha
Nane
Papalina Lahilahi
No Kristo

Next are two albums by one of my favorite Slack-key groups of all time: Hui Ohana. Led (no pun intended) by Ledward Kaʻapana and featuring his brother Nedward and cousin Dennis Pavao, Hui Ohana were at the forefront of the Hawai'ian Music Renaissance of the 70s.

Hui Ohana: Young Hawaii Plays Old Hawaii

Nani Waimea
Salomila
E Liliu E
E Mama E
'Ulupalakua
Sweet Lei Mokihana
U'i Lani
Kaloaloa
Pua Lililehua
Nanakuli
Pua Maeole
Hula O Makee
Pui Lilia

Hui Ohana: Ono

Hele On to Kauai
Magic Island
Punahoa Special (Slack Key Instrumental)
Kaulana Kawihae
Hanalei Moon
Ke Kali Nei Au (The Hawaiian Wedding Song)
Ka'a Ahi Kahului
Pili Aloha
Kaulana Na Pua
Wai Ulu
Granada (Ukulele Solo Instrumental)
Blue Darlin'

Onipa'a E Na Lei O Hawai'i

Divine Horsemen: Handful of Sand & Snake Handler

2009-07-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

Rock & Roll: American Style

As Rock & Roll is a completely American invention, I thought it appropriate to post some Rock & Roll music as part of my July 4th celebration. Divine Horsemen were the brainchild of Chris D(esjardins), who had previously masterminded The Flesh Eaters. Whereas The Flesh Eaters were, as I suppose the name implies, a magnificent Punk Rock outfit, Divine Horsemen took a Punk Attitude and conveyed it through straight-ahead, Hard Rock rhythms and tunes. It was a powerful combination.

These were the bands final releases. Both are from 1987 on SST Records. "Handful of Sand" is a 6-song EP.

Divine Horsemen: Handful of Sand

Handful of Sand
Curse of the Crying Woman
Tenderest Kiss
Frankie Silver
Past All Dishonor
Sanctuary

"Snake Handler" is a full length LP.

Divine Horsemen: Snake Handler

Snake Handler
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Stone By Stone (Fire Is My Home)
Curse of the Crying Woman
Someone Like You
Fire Kiss
What Is Red
Blind Leading the Blind
That's No Way to Live

The Accelerators: Leave My Heart

2009-04-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

One of the Best!

There were quite a few bands in the Carolinas that were quite good back in the 80s and these guys were among the best of all of them. They grew from an outfit known as Moon Pie, from Greenville, SC, and became The Accelerators just before this record was released. Soon after, the band's leader and front man, Gerald Duncan, moved to Raleigh, NC, and, following a few personnel changes, took the band into a less Rockabilly and more Hard Rock direction (leading to the album that I've posted previously here - The Accelerators: The Accelerators).

Moon Pie once rented a former Church building in Greenville as a practice space. It became rather well known as The Church of Rock & Roll throughout a good part of the 80s and was a place where we could all congregate after the local bars closed at 12:00am on Saturday nights (as a result of South Carolina's legal condemnation of "Drinking on The Lord's Day"). I still have special (if a bit Foggy) memories of this place, and of the authentic Electric Chair that they kept in one of the Sunday School rooms.

It's Good! Git It!

The Accelerators: Leave My Heart

Leave My Heart
Tonight
She's the Only Girl I Can Stand
Terminal Cafe
The Alien Way
Regina
She's Fifteen
Stiletto
Tore Up
Two Girls in Love
Jenny

This is a video that was released in promotion of this record: