Sunday Aug 27, 2023
Volume 139: Party Polkas
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 Aug 20, 2023
Sunday Aug 20, 2023
Latin jazz, especially Cuban music, was wildly popular in the 1950s and my dad’s collection has plenty of examples of that. That popularity is partly because of the artist you are about to hear. He’s really known for his mambo recordings. This style of music is just a slower tempo. But not much slower.
So, get ready to hear The King of Latin Jazz in Volume 138: Cha Cha With Tito.
Credits and copyrights
Tito Puente And His Orchestra – Let's Cha Cha With Tito Puente And His OrchestraLabel: RCA Victor – LPM-1392Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Indianapolis PressingReleased: 1957Genre: LatinStyle: Cha-Cha, Guajira
We will hear 6 of the 12 songs from the album.
Lindo Cha-ChaWritten by Tito Puente
Let's Cha-ChaWritten by Ray Coen
HabaneroWritten by Ray Coen
Just For YouWritten by Johnny Conquet
Cha-Cha FiestaWritten by Johnny Conquet
CubaramaWritten by Tito Puente
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 Aug 13, 2023
Sunday Aug 13, 2023
We pull out the second of five records my dad has from this artist. His career started in the late 1930s and spanned almost three decades where he found success and recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. So get ready for him to meander through some older hits in Volume 137: Nat is Ramblin'.
Credits and copyrights
Nat King Cole – Ramblin' RoseLabel: Capitol Records – T 1793Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Scranton PressingReleased: 1962Genre: Pop, Folk, World, & CountryStyle: Easy Listening, Country
It was also available in stereo.
We'll hear 8 of the 12 songs on this record.
Ramblin' RoseWritten-By – Joe Sherman, Noel Sherman
Wolverton MountainWritten-By – Claude King, Merle Kilgore
He'll Have To GoWritten-By – Audrey Allison, Joe Allison
When You're SmilingWritten-By – Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay, and Mark Fisher
Goodnight, Irene, GoodnightWritten-By – Huddie Ledbetter, John A. Lomax
Your Cheatin' HeartWritten-By – Hank Williams
Skip To My LouArranged By – Edith Bergdahl, Nat King ColeWritten-By – Traditional
The Good TimesWritten-By – Lee Porter, Ron Miller
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 Aug 06, 2023
Sunday Aug 06, 2023
Here’s an album I used to steal so much from my dad’s collection I thought it actually might be mine when I went through his records. This entertainer had an unmistakable voice, an unmistakable style, AND unmistakable cool. He seemed to always sing the most recognizable version of most of the standards. And he only ever needed one name to introduce him. So get ready to hear from who I think is the most outstanding showman of all time in Volume 136: Sammy Record 1.
Promised link: Highway Of Agony: How Traffic Safety Films Introduced Millions Of Kids To Scenes Of Real Death
Credits and copyrights
Sammy Davis, Jr. – SammyLabel: Sessions (2) – ARI-1001Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, CompilationReleased: 1976Genre: Jazz, PopStyle: Vocal, Swing
What The World Needs Nowwritten by Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Mr Bojangleswritten by Jerry Jeff Walker
Singin' In The RainWritten by Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed
What Kind Of Fool Am IWritten by Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley
Talk To The Animalswritten by Leslie Bricusse
For Once In My Life written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden
I've Got You Under My Skinwritten 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 Jul 30, 2023
Sunday Jul 30, 2023
The team of Rodgers and Hammerstein was a multiple award-winning and highly influential broadway show writing duo. They also weren't afraid of touching on controversial subjects in their shows. The show we will be hearing music from started as a book, became a highly successful broadway show, then an award-winning movie. So, get ready to hear cuts from one of the two copies my dad had of this soundtrack with Volume 135: South Pacific.
http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/2012-south-pacific-about
Credits and copyrights
Rodgers & Hammerstein – South PacificLabel: RCA Victor – LOCD-2000Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, GatefoldReleased: 1958Genre: Stage & ScreenStyle: Soundtrack
Deluxe edition. Gatefold sleeve with booklet of film stills. Front cover is textured with raised "lei" of flowers. Leather library-style binding at spine. Gold print on spine.
The album became a major success, reaching No.1 in both the US and UK. In the US, the album stayed at No.1 on the Billboard 200 for seven months, the fourth longest run ever. The album remained in the top five of the UK Albums Chart for 27 consecutive weeks before reaching No.1 in November 1958. It stayed at the top for a record-breaking 115 weeks and remained in the top five for 214 weeks.
South Pacific Overture
A Cock-Eyed OptimistPerformer, Vocals [Nellie Forbush] – Mitzi Gaynor
Some Enchanted EveningPerformer, Vocals [Emile De Becque] – Giorgio Tozzi
Bali Ha'iChorus – The Ken Darby SingersPerformer, Vocals [Bloody Mary, Uncredited] – Muriel Smith
I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My HairChorus – The Ken Darby SingersPerformer, Vocals [Nellie Forbush] – Mitzi Gaynor
I'm In Love With A Wonderful GuyChorus – The Ken Darby SingersPerformer, Vocals [Nellie Forbush] – Mitzi Gaynor
Carefully TaughtPerformer, Vocals [Lt. Cable, Uncredited] – Bill Lee (4)
Younger Than SpringtimePerformer, Vocals [Lt. Cable, Uncredited] – Bill Lee (4)
FinalePerformer, Vocals [Children] – Unknown ArtistPerformer, Vocals [Emile De Becque] – Giorgio TozziPerformer, Vocals [Nellie Forbush] – Mitzi Gaynor
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.
#southpacific #rodgersandhammerstein #broadwaymusical #broadwayfilm #oldvinyl #oldmusic #skipsscratchesandpops #spinningmydadsvinyl #spinvinyl #spinoldvinyl #giveitaspin
Sunday Jul 23, 2023
Sunday Jul 23, 2023
After this episode we will be two thirds of the way through a great Jack Benny hosted box set from my dad’s collection. The six records of the set had Benny reminiscing about the era when most families were crowded around their radios instead of their television sets for their news and entertainment. This record had the same subjects on both sides as episode 92 of this show.
So get ready for a severe contrast as we hear radio broadcasts about our country at war and the radio comedians who kept us laughing during it with Volume 134: Golden Memories of Radio Part 4.
Credits and copyrights
Jack Benny – Golden Memories Of RadioLabel: Longines Symphonette Society – noneFormat: 6 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono, Box SetCountry: USReleased: 1969Genre: Non-MusicStyle: Radioplay
Radio comedians:Lum 'N AbnerFanny Brice As Baby SnooksBob HopeFred Allen With Jack BennyMel Blanc As "The Maxwell Car"
Broadcasts from World War IIPearl Harbor BulletinManila BombingFDR "Day Of Infamy"Last Broadcast From CorregidorInterview With Radio Operator
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 Jul 16, 2023
Sunday Jul 16, 2023
We break out another of my dad's favorite musicians, but he's not a trumpet player. He does however play the style of music that is a big portion of my dad's collection...Dixieland. While this album was released 57 years ago, all of the music on it was written over 100 years ago. In fact four of the songs on this episode were written in the 19th century. So get ready for some old traditional music in true New Orleans fashion with Volume 133: The Village Fountain.
Promised links
Pete Fountain at New Orleans Jazz FestPete Fountain NY Times Obituary
Credits and copyrights
Pete Fountain – Pete Fountain & The Village Scramblers (Jazz)Label: Crown Records (2) – CLP 5478Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, MonoReleased: 1966Genre: JazzStyle: Dixieland
We will hear 6 of the 10 songs on the album.
Dixieland One StepWritten by Nick LaRocca, Eddie Edwards, Larry Shields, Henry Ragas, and Tony Sbarbaro in 1917All the members of the Original Dixieland Jass Band
There Is A Tavern In The Towna traditional folk song, which first appeared in the 1883 edition of William H. Hill's Student Songs.
Washington And Lee Swingwritten by Mark W. Sheafe, Tod Robbins, Thornton W. Allen in 1910
Battle Hymn Of The Republicwritten by William Steffe in 1856
My Wild Irish Rosewritten by Chauncey Olcott in 1899
When The Saints Go Marchin' Inwritten by James Milton Black, Katharine Purvis in 1896
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 Jul 09, 2023
Sunday Jul 09, 2023
Here’s an interesting combination from my dad’s shellac disks from RCA Victor Records. He had several albums made FOR children and several that seem like they were made BY children. Four sides you’ll hear is a familiar story of encouragement, determination and pride. The other four sides are pure musical comedy by the master of the art.
So get ready to put these eight sides together in one show with Volume 132: A 78 RPM Railroad Spike.
Credits and copyrights
Paul Wing / Henri René / Norman Leyden – The Little Engine That CouldLabel: RCA Victor – Y 384, RCA Victor – 45-5251, RCA Victor – 45-5252Series: Little Nipper SeriesFormat: 2 x Vinyl, 10", 78 RPM, AlbumReleased: 1949Genre: Stage & Screen
Conductor – Henri RenéMusic By – Norman LeydenNarrator – Paul WingOrchestra – Frank Milano
Spike Jones And His City Slickers – Musical DepreciationLabel: RCA Victor – noneFormat:5 x Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, AlbumReleased: Genre: PopStyle: Novelty, ParodyThe Album is generic. Customers could buy the album, and any Spike Jones records available at the time to put in the album.
Chloewritten by Gus Kahn and Neil MoretReleased in March 1945
Hawaiian War ChantLyrics written by Ralph FreedOriginally written by Johnny Noble, Prince LeleiohokuReleased in June 1946
Little Engine that Could pts 1-4based on the book published in 1930 by Platt & Munk
Our Hour (The Puppy Love Song)Cover of song originally by: The ModernairesWritten-By – Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston, and Mack DavidRecorded July 15, 1947
Spike Jones And His City Slickers Old MacDonaldA traditional song...meaning nobody knows who wrote it.Released April 1946
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 Jul 02, 2023
Sunday Jul 02, 2023
They were television shows filled with suspense, intrigue, and excitement, and their theme songs had to represent that feeling. Some of those tunes became top 40 radio hits, which meant we heard them more than once a week. So get ready for music that may have had you sit up and pay closer attention with Volume 131: The TV Detectives.
Credits and copyrights
The Johnny Gregory Orchestra – TV's Greatest Detective HitsLabel: Compleat Records – 671019-1Format: Vinyl, LP, AlbumReleased: 1986Genre: Jazz, Stage & ScreenStyle: Theme
The Rockford FilesWritten-By – Michael Post and Pete Carpenter
KojakWritten-By – Billy Goldenberg
McMillan & WifeWritten-By – Jerry Fielding
Police WomanWritten-By – Morton Stevens
77 Sunset StripWritten-By – Jerry Livingston and Mack David
The Six Million Dollar ManWritten-By – Oliver Nelson
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.