Sunday Apr 21, 2024
Volume 173: Dean's Swingin'
Spinning My Dad’s Vinyl
Extensive and Eclectic and we hear them as is with skips, scratches, and pops. Being a radio and mobile DJ for a decade and a half, I collected several hundred albums. I had nothing on my dad who owned more than 500 (33 1/3) LPs and over 100 78 RPMs at the time of his death in December 2019. I had no idea he had so many. We found them spread all over the house when we prepared for the estate sale. I went through every one and categorized them on an app called Discogs. I thought so many were unique, I decided to start a podcast called Spinning My Dad’s Vinyl. Each episode will feature an album. I’ll tell stories about the family listening to these albums and I’ll give other info about the album and the time it was released.
Listen on:
Episodes
Episodes
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
One hundred twelve years ago today, on April 14, 1912, while on its maiden voyage from England to New York, the unsinkable RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the north Atlantic… then the next day did the unthinkable…it sunk.
In 1960, Meredith Willson followed up his Broadway hit The Music Man with a musical version of the fictionalized life of one of the aristocrats who survived the sinking, Margerat Brown. The musical was made into a movie in 1964 starring Debbie Reynolds as Mrs. Brown and Harve Presnell reprising his role from the stage as JJ Brown.
The film was nominated for 6 Oscars. It won none. The Titanic and scenes of the aftermath of its sinking take all of two minutes and five seconds of the entire movie that runs two hours and fifteen minutes, but there are some great song and dance numbers in the show. As well as some very funny scenes.
So, get ready to hear a raucous MGM soundtrack sung by characters molded by the backwoods and mountains of Colorado in Volume 172: Molly is Unsinkable.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Credits and copyrights
MGM Studio Orchestra with the Overture for the musical the Unsinkable Molly BrownDebbie Reynolds featured in I Ain't Down YetHarve Presnell & Orchestra - Colorado, My HomeHarve Presnell And Debbie Reynolds–I'll Never Say NoDebbie Reynolds And Chorus– Belly Up To The Bar, BoysMGM Studio Orchestra– Dolce Far Niente (Meaning Pleasant Idleness) although literally meaning sweetly and softly do nothingHarve Presnell & Cast– He's My FriendAll music written by Meredith Willson
I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Sunday Apr 07, 2024
Talk about your comeback albums. This release became the Chairman of the Board’s most commercially successful album. My dad’s favorite voice was finding it hard to sell records during the early days of rock and roll. And he wasn’t finding the top of charts as often.
He once again teamed up with the Nelson Riddle orchestra and this time struck Grammy gold.
So get ready to hear The Voice most heard around our house when I was growing up in Volume 171: Sinatra is No Stranger.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Credits and copyrights
Strangers In The NightArranged By – Ernie FreemanProducer – Jimmy BowenWritten-By – Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder
Summer WindWritten-By – Henry Mayer and Johnny Mercer
All Or Nothing At AllWritten-By – Arthur Altman and Jack Lawrence
You're Driving Me Crazy!Written-By – Walter Donaldson
On A Clear DayWritten-By – Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane
Yes Sir, That's My Baby!Written-By – Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (classic Sinatra phrasing)Written-By – Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.
Monday Apr 01, 2024
Monday Apr 01, 2024
IMPORTANT! If you downloaded this before 7PM April 1, there is an 18 second SKIP in the original mp3 file. Not sure how that happened. Sorry for the inconvenience. This new one should be fixed.
This is not an episode of Spinning My Dad's Vinyl. It was the only place I could share this music mix for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Music to watch an eclipse by
We've been looking forward to the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse that is hitting parts of North America for a long time. I bought a special camera filter to take photos of the phenomenon. We bought really nice Eclipse glasses a couple of months prior. We'll be smoking ribs and chicken while enjoying the spectacular with high school friends in from D.C. IF THE WEATHER HOLDS! It is northeast Ohio.
But, of course, I needed to create a special music mix for the occasion.
Most people think you should just play Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon to time the song Eclipse's last words to end at the start of totality: "...and the sun is eclipsed by the moon." While my playlist starts with the beginning of that classic album and brings in totality with those lyrics from that song, the list will showcase more eclipse/moon-themed songs from many different music genres. After totality, you'll get to enjoy more sun-based music to bring you to the end of the eclipse, which will be capped by Satchmo's What A Wonderful World.
By the way...I chose Disturbed's version of Sound of Silence for totality.
No matter where you are along the path, if you start this 2024 Eclipse Music Mix EXACTLY 1 hour and 15 minutes before totality starts in your vicinity, the transition I just described should line up properly. You can see the playlist below the audio player.
Enjoy the show that nature is providing us backed by some great music.
Were there other great tunes to use? You bet. But I had time constraints and needed to back time exactly to totality and then to the end.
Sunday Mar 31, 2024
Sunday Mar 31, 2024
We finish up a month of celebration for what would have been Glenn Miller’s 120th birthday March first. And we finish by getting back to the man himself.
We’re not ending this memorial month with just any album in my dad’s collection. I refer to it with the same name as a popular and influential Beatles record.
This album has always caught my eye, and a few times my toe as it has the largest cover in the collection and sticks out beyond all the others, and it is made of a near-wood material. It also has one of the best selections of Glenn Miller’s recordings. Some studio. Some from his live national radio broadcasts.
So get ready to hear the last two sides of this great compilation record set from the most famous big band conductor there was in Volume 170: Miller's White Album Record 5.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Credits and copyrights
Glenn Miller And His Orchestra – RCA Victor Collectors Issue Second PressingLabel: RCA Victor – LPT 6700Format: 5 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, ReissueReleased: 1960Genre: JazzStyle: Big Band, swing
Released in a binder with a 14 page liner notes booklet.
The original release of this set was a limited edition in 1953, and the Second Pressing was actually first released in Canada in 1956.
We will hear 6 of the 12 songs from record five of the collection, which is sides 5 and 6. Spindle numbering. The other side of the record is not the next side. The next side is the next record.
Baby MeVocals – Kay StarrWritten-By – Archie Gottler, Harry Harris and Lou HandmanJanuary 26, 1939
Love With A Capital "You"Vocals – Kay StarrWritten-By – Leo Robin and Ralph RaingerJanuary 26, 1939
Oh So GoodWritten-By – Jerry GrayBroadcast September 5, 1941Bobby Hacket on guitar
Sun Valley JumpWritten-By – Jerry GrayJanuary 17, 1941
Rug Cutter's SwingWritten-By – Horace HendersonJanuary 29, 1940
King Porter StompWritten-By – Jelly Roll MortonBroadcast March 12, 1940
I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Week four of celebrating what would have been Glenn Miller’s 120th birthday March first, brings us to another album from a different orchestra playing music made famous by Miller.
A couple of weeks ago I played an album by Bobby Hackett. THAT Bobby actually played with Glenn Miller before world war 2. Music you are about to hear features the Bobby Krane Orchestra. THIS Bobby…doesn’t exist.
So get ready to hear recordings that came from a sound-alike record label playing more of that famous clarinet over saxophone swing in Volume 169: Krane's Miller Tribute.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Credits and copyrights
Bobby Krane His Trombone And Orchestra* – A Tribute To Glenn MillerLabel: Bravo! Records – K-118Series: Grand Prix SeriesFormat: Vinyl, LP, Album, StereoReleased: 1962 Genre: Jazz, PopStyle: Big Band
We will hear 6 of the ten songs from the album
I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoowritten by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren
Jeannie With The Light Brown Hairwritten by Stephen C. Foster
Volga BoatmanA traditional Russian songBill Finegan's jazz arrangement for the Glenn Miller band took the song to #1 in the US charts in 1941.
HabaneraWritten aby Georges Bizet the 19th century French composer
Anitra's DanceWritten by Edvard Grieg the 19th century Norwegian composer
Chattanooga Choo Choo written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren
I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
We continue Glenn Miller month in celebration of what would have been his 120th birthday on March 1.
My dad was obviously a big Glenn Miller fan or we wouldn’t have been able to do this month-long celebration of his music. He owned 12 33 ⅓ RPM Vinyl records of Glenn Miller performing his music, later conductors of the Miller band, and other band leaders recording Glenn’s music. My dad owned even more Miller music on the original 78 RPM Shellac records.
Now, if you are a follower of this show, you’ll also know my dad was a really big Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass fan. He owned 12 records of the TJB.
In this episode we bring them together with the Buddy DeFranco led Glenn Miller band from the 1960s. Sort of an early mashup.
So get ready to hear one popular band play music from another popular band in Volume 168: Miller Band Translates TJB.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Credits and copyrights
The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Buddy DeFranco – Something New - Translates The Tijuana Brass HitsLabel: Epic – LN 24206Format: Vinyl, LPReleased: 1966 Genre: JazzStyle: Big Band
We will hear 7 of the 10 songs on the album.
A Taste Of HoneyWritten-By – Bobby Scott and Ric MarlowHerb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass recorded the most popular instrumental version of the song with a cover on their 1965 album, Whipped Cream & Other Delights.
I'm Getting Sentimental Over YouWritten-By – George Bassman and Ned Washingtonfrom the album Going Places in 1965
The Third Man ThemeWritten-By – Anton Karas!!Going Places!! (1965) for A&M Records.
Dating Game DuoWhipped CreamWritten-By – Naomi NevilleIt is the title track of their 1965 LP, Whipped Cream & Other Delights, and was released as the lead single from the album.
Spanish FleaWritten-By – Julius Wechterfrom the album Going Places in 1965
Tijuana TaxiWritten-By – Ervan Coleman!!Going Places!! (1965) for A&M Records.
The Lonely BullWritten-By – Sol LakeThe song was the title track to the album The Lonely Bull, released in December 1962. The Herb Alpert single represents the first release on A&M Records.
I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
I think this record might go down as my favorite from the five records we are playing in the month of March to celebrate what would have been Glenn Miller’s 120th birthday on March first.
The featured trumpet player on this album has such a soft sound that really fits in with the Miller sound, yet stands out to make each song his own. His solos are delicate, yet hardly boring. As they were when he played for the Miller band.
He was a cool-toned cornetist who always sounded relaxed no matter what the setting or the tempo.
So get ready to hear some great songs made famous by the Glenn Miller orchestra in a setting of wall to wall strings and brass in Volume 167: Bobby's Miller Pearls.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Here's the article from Kim Filed mentioned in this episode.
Credits and copyrights
Bobby Hackett – A String Of PearlsLabel: Epic – LN 24174Format: Vinyl, LP, AlbumReleased: 1965Genre: JazzStyle: Big Band
We'll hear 6 of the 12 songs on this album.
A String Of PearlsComposed by Jerry Gray
Moonlight SerenadeComposed by Glenn Miller
Georgia On My MindWritten by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell
Tuxedo JunctionWritten by Erskine Hawkins, Bill Johnson, and Julian Dash
Poor ButterflyMusic was written by Raymond Hubbell inspired by Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly
In The MoodBased on the composition "Tar Paper Stomp" by Wingy Manone
I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
My dad really loved his big bands. And what bigger big band than the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
March first, Glenn Miller would have been 120 years old. So we are going to celebrate his birthday all month with his music and musical style.
My dad had a ton of Miller music, and while I have already featured him many times on this show, you’ll be introduced to an even larger portion of it this month including a return to the most distinctive album in his collection which we’ll feature in four weeks.
So, get ready to hear one of this bandleader’s compilation disks released 12 years after his death, to kick off an entire month of his music in Volume 166: This Is Glenn Miller.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Credits and copyrights
Glenn Miller And His Orchestra – This Is Glenn MillerLabel: RCA Victor – LPM 1190Format: Vinyl, LP, CompilationReleased: 1956Genre: JazzStyle: Swing, Big BandPressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis
Liner Notes – George T. Simon
Johnson RagWritten-By – Guy Hall, Henry KleinkaufArranged By – Bill FineganSoloists on sax – Al Klink and Tex BenekeSoloist, Trombone – Glenn MillerSoloist, Trumpet – Clyde Hurley
Beautiful OhioWritten-By – Ballard MacDonald, Mary EarlArranged By – Jerry GraySoloist, Piano – Chummy McGregorSoloist, Tenor Saxophone – Tex Beneke
AdiosWritten-By – Eddie Woods, Enric MadrigueraArranged By – Jerry GrayBass – Doc GoldbergTrumpet [Muted] – Mickey McMickle
Londonderry Airtraditional Irish melodyArranged By – J. C. McGregor and Glenn MillerCelesta – Chummy McGregor
Anvil ChorusWritten-By – Giuseppe Verdi yes, the 19th century Italian Opera ComposerArranged By – Jerry GraySoloist – Tex BenekeSoloist, Bass – Trigger AlpertSoloist, Clarinet – Ernie CaceresSoloist, Trumpet – Billy May
Bugle Call RagWritten-By – Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel and Jack Pettis
I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.
Former DJ Trying His Hand at a Podcast
Although I’m currently working in public relations and marketing, I spent 16 years in radio broadcasting. Some of that as a news and sports reporter, but mostly as a disk jockey.
My first two years in radio were spent learning from giants in the business at the nation’s number one nostalgia station, WBBG in Cleveland. That station is now long off the air.
From 1982 to 1984 I worked with and for my father’s favorite 1950s DJ Bill Randle, who helped put Elvis Presley on the musical map north of the Mason Dixon line. My dad was so excited when I told him I would be the intern writing his newscasts. Even after I took a full time position at the station, I relished the opportunities to have conversations with Bill about the radio business. He once told me a great Elvis story as I drove him to the bus station for one of his weekend trips.
I also can’t forget the influences of other on air legends like Carl Reece and Ted Alexander who now has his own internet show of oldies.
This collection isn’t made up of just a bunch of albums I found in my dad’s house after he died. I listened to these albums. Mostly at Sunday dinners. But I wore a few of these out on my own turntable. So I know this collection and I think you’re going to enjoy some of the unique selections.
My dad and I had very similar taste in a lot of music. I also have over 400 albums in my personal collection. Even after his death I found some of my albums in his collection and visa versa.
I consider myself a bit of an amateur music historian. I’ve always loved music that came way before I was born, although I’m still partial to Led Zeppelin.
Additionally, extra understanding and appreciation of much of what you will hear in my dad’s collection came from a great upper level class I had in college: The History of Jazz.
I do know one thing. It will be fun to get behind a microphone again and share some great recordings.