Sunday 23 December 2012

Off Beat Cha Cha - All Star Orchestra (1965)



Here comes another great post from our friend Al Gates from Perth, West Australia!

A very nice 60s dancing album from Asia, it is quite the curio, and a very interesting listen, as most of the albums shared here and elsewhere are from Europe and North and South America!

Highlights include fine versions of You Belong To My Heart, Sukiyaki, Moon River, and a song made famous by one of my dad's favourites, Jim Reeves, in He'll Have To Go.

Thanks again to Al for these posts, and best wishes for the festive season, too!

Should anyone else reading this, like Al, have some albums they would also like to share, but do not have a blog of their own, please do send me the links, and if they are in keeping with the tone of the rest of the blog's material, could well end up on this blog being shared with hundreds of other Easy Listening enthusiasts!

I have more treats to share over the holiday, so please stay posted!

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - He'll Have To Go

I'm In The Mood For Dancing - Mick Urry & His Orchestra (1985)

 


Courtesy of our friend Al Gates of Perth, Australia comes this rather nice album of ballroom dance music from the 1980s.

If you like Joe Loss, Ray McVay and others you will like this, too!

Thanks to Al for another fine post and please keep them coming!

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - I'm In The Mood For Dancing

Sunday 2 December 2012

Instrumental Favourites - Geoff Love & His Orchestra

 


I recently came across the seven volumes of Geoff Love's Instrumental Favourites collection, so I thought it would be good to make a compilation of the tracks on them recorded especially i.e not the tracks off previous albums (which have generally been blogged themselves).

I think it makes for a good collection, it should come to three volumes when finished, so here is the first one.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - In The Mood

 

Sunday 4 November 2012

Say It With Music - The Wally Mackenzie Orchestra



A must for those who enjoy big band or ballroom dancing music, this is a very enjoyable album from a band which I understand were very popular locally to where i live in East Manchester.

The arrangements are traditional but with energy, and very well recorded for a release which was clearly designed to be sold at the concerts and dances themselves.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment, leaving your name, if you do!

Album Preview - Hooked On Swing


Sunday 28 October 2012

Migration - Mike Leander Orchestra (1969)




Another excellent Easy instrumental album, this has been out there before, in its original version, titled "Together", this later reissue features a slightly altered tracklist.

Some nice arrangements of some 60s pop classics, standards, and an original, Mike Leander seems to have come up with a good sound and uses this sound on most of the arrangements on this album.

One of the tracks, the version of the Fab 4's Here There And Everywhere, became very well known in the UK in the 1970s as the theme from BBC Radio 2's Ray Moore show, and indeed, the notes on the rear are from Ray Moore himself.

A very interesting album, well worth a listen, the vinyl sounding in fine condition!

I hope you enjoy it and please comment, leaving your name, if you do!

Album Preview - Here There And Everywhere


Saturday 20 October 2012

The Don Lusher Collection (1976)



An excellent collection of big band lounge from one of Britain's finest trombonists and arrangers.

An eclectic selection of repertoire, my highlight is Don Lusher's own library classic, Carnaby Chick, a different recording and better arrangement to the more commonly available Amphonic version, or the Harry Roche Constellation version!

50 minutes long, it is a great listen with its blend of two different types of band with his quartet playing the the quiet, loungey tracks, and the big band playing with energy on the rest of the album.

The rear of the sleeve contains much interesting information and synopsis in it with full recording and band personnel details.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment, leaving your name, if you do!

Album Preview - Carnaby Chick

Thursday 4 October 2012

Café Continental - Tony Compton & Brian Dexter (1990)




Thanks again go to Al Gates of Perth, Australia for this new post, a fine album of accordion instrumentals for dancing.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment, leaving your name, if you do!

Album Preview - Chanson D'Amour


Sunday 30 September 2012

Up-Up and Away - Ray Martin, His Orchestra & Chorus (1967)




A very nice instrumental and vocal album from the great Ray Martin, it features a blend of originals, standards, and pop songs of the era.

It was shown by Mike Flowers on the BBC's Joy Of Easy Listening programmme, and is well worth a listen.

I hope you enjoy it and please leave a comment with your name if you do!

Album Preview - Brave New World

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Latin - The Modern Way - Carlos Romanos & His Orchestra (1980)



Big thanks to our friend Al Gates once more with this very nice latin dance album.

I would like to say how much I am enjoying Al's contributions, and would love to see more!

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - La Bailaora

Sunday 16 September 2012

Pete Moore's Solid Rockin' Brass (1974)



A truly brilliant album, a treat from start to finish, it features a blend of funky, brassy arrangements of pop classics from the 50s to the 70s with a couple of funky originals thrown in, too, one of which (as featured below) is called Solar Wind, which is simply a rearranged take on The Jackson 5's I Want You Back!

This one has been out there before courtesy of Lemoncat's rip of a few years ago, but I was so pleased to be able to add the vinyl of this one to my collection, and it sounds in extremely good condition!

Don't miss this one, as there is a great deal of Pete Moore available on all the usual download retail sites, and so this could be on there soon!

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Solar Wind

 

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Dance Guitar - Peter Walton (1991)



Another rather nice guitar album courtesy of our friend from Australia, Al Gates!

Thanks very much Al, and keep them coming!

I will post some more myself very soon, I promise!

Please leave a comment if you have enjoyed this album!

Album Preview - Frenesi

Thursday 6 September 2012

The Latin Guitars Of Ike Isaacs (1978)




A fine instrumental album featuring a blend of 70s pop songs and standards arranged for dancing and played by one of the finest session guitarists, Ike Isaacs.

I posted some years ago the only album I have ever found of his, Fourteen Great T.V. Themes, so I was pleased to see this album.

The rip is courtesy of our good friend from Australia, Al Gates, whose vinyl rips are always excellent, and this one is no exception.

Thanks again, Al!

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Copacabana

Monday 20 August 2012

Dancing Easy - Various Artists (ELW Original Compilation)




I do hope you enjoy this a much as I enjoyed making it!

Most of the tracks have appeared on, or are planned to appear on Easy Listening World on their respective albums, they are a blend of popular disco classics given Easy arrangements, standards brought into the 70s, and funky Easy disco originals.

Please leave a comment if you have enjoyed this collection!

Album Preview - Sweeney II Theme (Tony Hatch Orchestra)


Tuesday 7 August 2012

The Cool Latin Sound - Antonio Pedro Hatch [1968]




Another fine latin instrumental album from the legendary Tony Hatch.

Album Preview - Sole Bossa Nova

Thursday 26 July 2012

20 More Vocal Charbusters - Various Artists





Not my usual type of post, but this LP was one that I couldn't resist from the Oxfam shop in Stockport.

A fine collection of great vocal easy listening from the 50s to the 70s.

I especially like the version of Lara's Theme by The Mike Sammes Singers, plus nice songs by giants such as Dean Martin, Matt Monro, Shirley Bassey. Rolf Harris's hit song Sun Arise, and a superb version of the Les Reed classic, Love Is All, by Malcolm Roberts.

MediaFire link here

Friday 20 July 2012

Brasilia Mission - The Tony Hatch Orchestra (1969)




 Thanks for all the brill comments on my last Tony Hatch post!

For all those and more, here is another fab Hatch latin LP, perfect for those long summer evenings, on your own or with good company!

i hope you enjoy it and please leave a comment if you do!

Album Preview - Light My Fire

Thursday 19 July 2012

Latin Velvet And Other Warm Sensations - The Tony Hatch Orchestra (1968)



Very smooth orchestral latin album from the legendary Mr. Hatch.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Love Is Blue

Saturday 9 June 2012

Moog Party Time (1973)



Fairly standard but very listenable album of moog covers.

My highlights are the fine versions of Popcorn, Song Sung Blue, and Son Of My Father, with What's Your Name and Horse Theme being very good, too.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Son Of My Father

Friday 1 June 2012

Caribbean Ros - Edmundo Ros & His Orchestra (1974)



After the fine post of some classic Ros at Inflight Entertainment recently, celebrating the very hot early summer weather here in the UK, I offer this rather nice album featuring a mix of pop and standards, vocal and instrumental.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - You Are The Sunshine of My Life

Sunday 27 May 2012

Lennon And McCartney Tijuana Style - Torero Band (1969)





A very nice summery tijuana brass feel to these arrangements of 12 classic Beatles tracks.

It doesn't say on the sleeve, but I am sure these were arranged by Alan Moorhouse, as I believe he arranged the classic Tijuana Christmas album, also by Torero Band on MFP, and also the version of Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (see below) is very similar to his arrangement performed by the Joe Loss Orchestra, I think.

This album has been out there before, but doesn't seem to be now, so here is my rip!

I have had this one for quite a long time, have seen it in the charity shops several times since I bought it, and just never got round to digitising it until now.

The arrangements are exactly what you may expect, no surprises, just excellent 60s brass arrangements of these well-known songs.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da

Thursday 24 May 2012

The Fluegel Knights (1966)



A rather nice brass-filled 60s beat album emphasising the fluegelhorn, as the write-up on the rear sleeve states.

Some very groovy arrangements featuring 60s hits such as Roger Miller's England Swings, The Toys' Lover's Concerto and Dean Martin's Memories Are Made Of This, among others.

I do prefer such albums in stereo, but the mono sound of this one is quite charming nonetheless.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Memories Are Mde Of This

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Dancing In The Dark / Disco Greats - Enoch Light And The Light Brigade (1977)




Probably the very last original album put out under Enoch Light's name while he was still alive (he died in 1978), it contains 10 excellent tracks, all of which you could best describe as Easy Disco. 

Smooth and funky, my highlights are the marvellous version of Gonna Fly Now from Rocky, The Devil's Gun, and from the sadly missed Donna Summer, a fine cover version of I Feel Love.

Like many albums of its time, it is a mixture of vocal and instrumental, but do not let the vocals put you off, they are not at all overpowering to the wonderful Easy Disco arrangements from Jeff Hest, who also plays some great ARP synth on the record too.

It is always pleasing to find a record like this in such fine condition from a charity shop, as many are not even stocking donated vinyl anymore!

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Theme From Rocky (Gonna Fly Now)

Saturday 10 March 2012

Yesterday - Those Romantic 60's - Various Artists (1991)

Another top-class compilation featuring Easy greats Johnny Howard, Ronnie Aldrich, Frank Chacksfield, Mantovani, and Cyril Stapleton.

Concentrating on the big love songs of the 60s, with lush orchestral arrangements, it is a great album, and well worth a listen if you have enjoyed the other compilations I have posted.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Love Is Blue (Johnny Howard Orchestra)

Friday 17 February 2012

Thank You For The Music (Radio 2 Top Tunes Vol. 5) - Norrie Paramor & The Midland Radio Orchestra (1979)



A fine collection of late '70s pop songs arranged for BBC Radio 2 play and made available on this album, the very last one by the great Norrie Paramor (there is a tribute on the rear sleeve).

Featuring excellent versions of classics such as I Will Survive, Just The Way You Are, Music Box Dancer, Cavatina, Copacabana and more.

I hope you enjoy it and please comment if you do!

Album Preview - Does Your Mother Know