Sunday May 12, 2024
Volume 176: For Mama on Mothers 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 05, 2024
Sunday May 05, 2024
When you think of bebop and other improvisational jazz, your mind usually hears a trumpet or saxophone as the lead. We rarely think about that instrument with the long slide that makes some pretty funny sounds as taking on any serious solo work, because, the thinking went, there was no way to be as intricate with some of the fast solos in that type of jazz.
The trombone player you are about to hear proved them all wrong. And made a pretty good name for himself in that trumpet and sax dominated world. He is joined by three amazing big names from the era as well.
So get ready to hear the musician who brought the bone to bebop in Volume 175: JJ is Blue.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Promised link for arts.gov article.
Credits and copyrights
J.J. Johnson – Blue TromboneLabel: Columbia – CL 1303Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, MonoReleased: 1959Genre: Jazz
We will hear 5 of the 7 songs on this album.
Hello, Young LoversWritten-By – Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers Better known together as Rodgers & Hammerstein
What's NewWritten-By – Bob Haggart and Johnny Burke
Blue Trombone, Part 1Written-By – J.J. Johnson
Blue Trombone, Part 2Written-By – J.J. Johnson
100 ProofWritten-By – J.J. Johnson
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 28, 2024
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
One of the box sets that goes almost ignored is on the bottom row of my dad’s collection. It has a somewhat misleading title, but it includes some of the most classic standards in music.
Once again, we have no record of the musicians, the arrangers, the conductor or conductors, just that the box set is part of a much larger series put out by a company who produced radio shows…and hocked watches.
The title definitely doesn’t prepare you for the instrumentation used to perform this classic music, but it definitely grows on you.
So, get ready to hear tunes originating from the roots of American music in Volume 174: Birth of the Blues Record 2.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Credits and copyrights
The Longines Symphonette – Birth Of The Blues - Vol. 11Label: Longines Symphonette Society – C-7-11 1Series: Our Century In Music – 11Format: 3 x Vinyl, LP Box SetCountry: CanadaReleased: 1974Genre: Blues
1974 Longines Society A Library of Memorable Hits from 1900 to the Present
We are listening to record two which is side C and D.
We will hear 6 of the 10 songs.
St. Louis Blues composed by W. C. Handy
Muskat Ramblewritten by Kid Ory
Jazz Me Bluesby Tom Delaney
Wabash Bluesarranged by Joseph E. Maddy
Blues in the Nightwritten by Harold Arlen
That's A Plentyby Lew Pollack
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 21, 2024
Sunday Apr 21, 2024
This is the second of the three main Rat Pack members we will hear from here in season four of this show. This crooner is the one we DIDN’T get to see in concert with the other two back in March of 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum.
He’s a singer, actor, and comedian. One of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century, he was nicknamed "The King of Cool". And his music is still among the most streamed today.
So, get ready to hear the voice that had just as many teenage girls swooning as Old Blue Eyes did in Volume 173: Dean's Swingin'.
More information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it.
Promised Links:Dean Martin's IMDB listingDean Martin's official website About page.
Credits and copyrights
Dean Martin Orchestra Conducted By Nelson Riddle – This Time I'm Swingin'Label: Capitol Records – T1442Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Los Angeles PressingReleased: Oct 3, 1960Genre: JazzStyle: Easy Listening, Vocal, Swing
It was recorded during three sessions in May of 1960.
We will hear 7 of the 12 songs on the album.
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With MeWritten-By – Clarence Gaskill and Jimmy McHugh
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You (the 1964 re-release reached number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1964 and number 1 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.)Written-By – James Cavanaugh, Larry Stock, and Russ Morgan
ImaginationWritten-By – Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke
Until The Real Thing Comes AlongWritten-By – Alberta Nichols, L.E. Freeman, Mann Holiner, Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm GoneWritten-By – Sam Stept and Sidney Clare
SomedayWritten-By – Jimmie Hodges
Just In TimeWritten-By – Adoph Green, Betty Comden and Jule Styne
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 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.
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.