Sunday May 14, 2023
Volume 124: Frank’s All for Mother’s Day
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 May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
We pull out the first of five albums my dad has of this popular pianist. His first hit is still the greatest selling piano instrumental recording of all time. He played for presidents and performed an annual marathon of requests. So get ready to hear plenty of arpeggio flourishes from the guy they called Mr. Piano in Volume 123: Roger by Request.
Credits and copyrights
Roger Williams – By Special RequestLabel: Kapp Records – KS-3Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Club Edition, StereoReleased: 1964Genre: PopStyle: Easy Listening
We will hear 6 of the 12 songs on this album.
Roger's Bumble BeeWritten-By – Roger Williams based on Flight of the Bumblebee written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
I'm going to be flying all over this album. I usually play them some sort of album listed order.
The Merry Widow WaltzWritten-By – Charles Ross Perlee, and Franz Lehár
Listen To The Mocking BirdMusic written by Richard Milburn in 1855.Arranged By – Roger Williams
Moonlight SonataWritten-By – Ludwig van Beethoven
O Sole MioWritten-By – Eduardo di Capua
We are going to whirl our way out of hereWhirlawayWritten and Arranged By – Roger Williams
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 30, 2023
Sunday Apr 30, 2023
Back to the distinct album from my dad’s collection that sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s slightly broader than normal LP records and the cover is a soft padding that holds a small booklet and five records in a spiral binding, inside a perfect binding. So get ready for two more sides filled with the music from a band leader who lost his life in the service of this country with Volume 122: Glenn Miller Collection Part 4.
Credits and copyrights
Glenn Miller And His Orchestra – Second PressingLabel: RCA Victor – LPT 6700Series: Collector's Issue SeriesFormat: 5 x Vinyl, LP, CompilationCountry: CanadaReleased: 1956Genre: JazzStyle: Big Band, Swing
American PatrolWritten-By – FW MeachamBroadcast April 23, 1942
I Guess I'll Have To Change My PlanVocals – Marion Hutton, Tex BenekeWritten-By Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz (lyricist and composer respectively)Broadcast July 30, 1940
Bugle Call RagWritten-By – Billy Meyers, Elmer Schoebel, and Jack PettisBroadcast November 25, 1941
Chattanooga Choo ChooVocals – Tex Beneke, The ModernairesWritten-By – Harry Warren, Mack GordonBroadcast December 30, 1941
Sleepy Town TrainWritten-By – Allan Roberts, Bill FontaineRecorded July 16, 1942
Medley My Melancholy BabyWritten-By – Ernie Burnett, George Norton, and Maybelle WatsonMoon LoveVocals – Ray EberleWritten-By – André Kostelanetz, Mack David, Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyStomping At The SavoyWritten-By – Andy Razaf, Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, and Edgar SampsonBlue MoonWritten-By – Composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz HartBroadcast January 10, 1940
FlagwaverWritten-By – Jerry GrayBroadcast November 25, 1941
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 23, 2023
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Here’s an interesting album in my dad’s collection. It is filled with stars of the jazz era. It’s from a special recording session for a TV show that went live a couple days later. As we’ll find out, that show was groundbreaking. So get ready to hear an all-star list of who’s who of jazz in the late 1950s with Volume 121: Jazz Sounds.
Credits and copyrights
Various – The Sound Of JazzLabel: Columbia – CL 1098Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo, MonoReleased: 1958Genre: JazzStyle: Big Band, Swing
Red Allen All-Stars – Wild Man BluesWritten-By – Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong
Billie Holiday With Mal Waldron And All-Stars–Fine And MellowWritten-By – Billie Holiday
Pee Wee Russell, Jimmy Giuffre, Danny Barker, Jo Jones – BluesWritten by those musicians
Count Basie With All-Stars – I Left My BabyWritten-By – Andy Gibson, Count Basie, and Jimmy Rushing
The Jimmy Giuffre Trio – The Train And The RiverWritten-By – Jimmy Giuffre
Count Basie All-Stars – Dickie's DreamWritten-By – Count Basie, Lester Young
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 16, 2023
Sunday Apr 16, 2023
Of all the musicians in the Franklin Mint Greatest Jazz Recordings of All Time multi-box collection, only one has his own box all to himself. Composer, pianist, influencer, band leader and legend, Ellington composed thousands of scores over his 50-year career. So get ready to hear an originator of big-band music in Volume 120: Duke, A Jazz Classic Part 2.
Credits and copyrights
Duke Ellington – Great Jazz ClassicsLabel: The Franklin Mint Record Society – JAZZ6Series: The Greatest Jazz Recordings Of All TimeFormat: 4 x Red Vinyl, LP, Red Compilation Box SetReleased: 1983Genre: Jazz
We will hear six of the 12 songs from record 22 of this collection.
Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra (1940s)
Ko-KoDuke EllingtonRecorded March 6, 1940
Jumpin' PunkinsMercer EllingtonRecorded February 15, 1941
RaincheckBilly StrayhornRecorded December 2, 1941
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra (Post 1940s)
HeavenDuke EllingtonRecorded January 19, 1968, released in 71
Aristocracy A La Jean Lafitte (From New Orleans Suite)Duke EllingtonRecorded April 27, 1970
Rockin' In RhythmEllington, Harry Carney and Irving Mills. Recorded February 2, 1954. It was first recorded by Ellington in January 1931 at the Cotton Club.
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 09, 2023
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
We once again have a musician claiming he's top trumpet. Or at least his recording label is saying that. I can see why my dad liked this album. This is a high-flying trumpet player surrounded by more than just the other five or six musicians he’s used to. So get ready to hear a wildly successful and talented trumpet player with Volume 119: World's Greatest Horn.
Credits and copyrights
Al Hirt – The Greatest Horn In The WorldLabel: RCA Victor – LSP2366Series: Living StereoFormat: Vinyl, LP, StereoReleased: 1961Genre: Jazz
Stompin' At The SavoyWritten by Edgar Sampson
Begin the Beguinewritten by Cole Porter
Undecidedwritten by Charlie Shavers and published in 1938.
What's New?composed by Bob Haggart
Stella By StarlightWritten by Victor Young
Let's Do Itcomposed by Cole Porter
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 02, 2023
Sunday Apr 02, 2023
Gather around the radio, kids, it's story time. My first radio job was on a historical frequency in the Cleveland market, 1260 AM. I learned from some radio legends. During that time, the station put out an album of big band music from a local group. So get ready for lots of reminiscing while listening to Music of Your Life standards in Volume 118: Big Band Grandstand.
Credits and copyrights
Harry Hershey And The WBBG Orchestra – Big Band GrandstandLabel: Peters Sound – PSLP 102Format: Vinyl, LP, AlbumReleased: 1982Genre: JazzStyle: Big Band
Chattanooga Choo ChooI Can't Get StartedShoo Shoo BabyWhy Don't We Do This More OftenAnniversary WaltzWell Dressed Man In HarlemBoogie Woogie Bugle Boy
A phone call with Ted Alexander
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 26, 2023
Sunday Mar 26, 2023
Welcome to a 78 RPM Sunday. Yes, I know 78 RPM records were made from shellac, not vinyl. But I wasn’t going to completely ignore the more than 100 of the original record format - disks in his collection. I even played them back for the digitizing process using a manual 1917 Victrola. So get ready to crank that handle up to get the disk spinning in Volume 117: 8 Sides From Victor.
Credits and copyrights
Since Henry Ford Apologized to Me - The Happiness BoysPastafazoola - The Happiness Boys
Down by the Sheltering Palms - Swing and Sway with Sammy KayeLavender Blue - Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye
Just for now - The Three SunsA Lovely Rainy Afternoon - The Three Suns
And the Angels Sing - Benny GoodmanI Sent for you Yesterday and Here You Come Today - Benny Goodman
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 19, 2023
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
Back to one of my favorite voices in my dad’s collection. He was a singer I was supposed to see, however he got sick before the show, which included Sammy and Frank. He’s often referred to as the King of Cool.
So get ready to hear the stereo copy of the two my dad had of this album with Volume 116: Dean Hits Again.
Promised links:Copacobana: https://youtu.be/NLS1gPo0VFAMDA Telethon: https://youtu.be/K3KAMg9LIzw
Credits and copyrights
Dean Martin – Dean Martin Hits AgainLabel: Reprise Records – R 6146Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, MonoReleased: Feb 2, 1965Genre: Jazz, PopStyle: Easy Listening
Accompanied By – Ken LaneArranged By, Conductor – Ernie FreemanEngineer – Eddie BrackettLiner Notes – Stan CornynPhotography By [Cover And Liner Photos] – Ed ThrasherProducer – Jimmy Bowen
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves YouWritten-By – James Cavanaugh, Larry Stock, Russ Morgan
My Heart Is An Open BookWritten-By – Hal David, Lee Pockriss
Send Me The Pillow You Dream OnWritten-By – Hank Locklin
Send Me Some Lovin'Written-By – John Marascalco, Leo Price
In The Chapel In The MoonlightWritten-By – Billy Hill
I'll Be Seeing YouWritten-By – Irving Kahal, Sammy Fain
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.