Spinning My Dad’s Vinyl

I’m on the front porch of Cleveland, Mall C, which is across the freeway from Huntington Bank Field where the Cleveland Browns play, The Great Lakes Science Center, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and most importantly down the shoreline a ways is Burke Lakefront Airport. Home to the annual Labor Day weekend Cleveland National Airshow. 

My girlfriend Karen will join me for a break a little later. This has been a regular event for us since we started dating seven years ago and both of us had seen the show several times before that.

Now every other year we get to see the top navy aerobatic flight team, who happen to be performing overhead right now.

And of course, my dad had an album just for this occasion. It’s an album that features these planes on the front cover. Although they’re the F11’s they flew in 1958.

The music is softer and slower than the jets overhead, but every tune's title mentions the color of their hull. 

So, off we go to experience grace, beauty and precision in Volume 254: Into the Wild BLUE Yonder.

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. https://www.discogs.com/release/4622953-Joe-Bushkin-Blue-Angels

Credits and copyrights

Arranged By, Conductor – Kenyon Hopkins

Blue, Turning Grey Over You

Serenade In Blue

Blue Moon

Under A Blanket Of Blue

I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues

Beyond The Blue Horizon

Where The Blue Of The Night Meets The Gold Of The Day

The Blue Room

Blue Prelude

My Blue Heaven

Blue And Sentimental

Blue Angel Blues

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.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Of course my dad had plenty of romantic music. So that’s why we are able to do this special episode.

There was a popular radio format known as Easy Listening. We listened to one of those stations from Cleveland when we were young. And there was one extremely popular orchestra that was the backbone of those radio station playlists. 101 Strings.

So, get ready to hear the lush sound that immediately gets you into a romantic mood in Volume 253: Valentines is for Lovers. 

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. 

Credits and copyrights

101 Strings – 101 Strings In A Symphony For Lovers

We will hear all 7 songs on the album.

Evening Star - From Tannhauser

Barcarolle - From Tales Of Hoffmann

Poem

Serenade

2nd Piano Concerto - 3rd Movement

Reverie

Cradle Song

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.

#valentinesday #valentines #romanticmusic #vinylcollecting #vinylrecords #musicalmemories #fyp

Merry Christmas!

My dad had a couple dozen records meant just for this time of year. So I HAD to come back for a Christmas Day music show.

I talked a lot in yesterday's deep dive into the music of the seasonal favorite, The Nutcracker. So we're going to do a lot of listening in this one…and thinking about Christmas dinner pasts.

This four record box set is filled with lots of holiday hits and some songs I’ve never heard before. Its source is one of the most beloved TV hosts and orchestra conductors from my youth.

So get ready to hear that effervescent music from holidays past complete with a longed-for litany of my family’s favorite holiday food items in Volume 252 A Champagne Christmas.

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. 

Credits and copyrights

Lawrence Welk And His Champagne Music Makers – Merry Christmas From Lawrence Welk And His Champagne Music Makers

We will hear 12 songs from the first two records in the box.

Merry Christmas From Our House To Your House

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.

#merrychristmas #lawrencewelk #champagnemusic

The Nutcracker: Concert Suite vs. Ballet

My girlfriend Karen and I partook in a Northcoast Christmas season tradition a week and a half ago for the very first time. And of course, my dad had a record for that. 

It’s not a vinyl record, but a shellac album set recorded nearly 100 years ago that probably belonged to my dad’s dad. And it’s filled with music from a US holiday tradition. But if you’ve ever seen the ballet it’s connected to, you’ll notice plenty of music missing.

I’ll tell you why as we go along. In fact, this is going to be a lengthy dive into the difference between the suite and the dance.

So, get ready to hear the most notable themes from a fairytale ballet as Stokowski conducts Tschaikowsky in Volume 251: A Cleveland Ballet Christmas Tradition.

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. 

Credits and copyrights

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - The Philadelphia Orchestra Conducted By Leopold Stokowski – Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a

We are listening to all 6 sides of this collection which includes 8 songs.

Overture Miniature

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.

#nutcracker #christmastradition #tchaikovsky

My Dad's Greatest Hits

One of the last songs my dad heard in his hospital bed the day he died and the one we played as we wheeled his casket out of the church was the Frank Sinatra song, My Way. It’s how my dad lived his life. And it’s how I will bring this show to a close. I’ll use paraphrased lyrics from the song.

So Yes, the end is near.

Strap in. This is going to be a fun musical ride.

So, get ready to hear 20 songs that had meaning to my father, my family, and me in Volume 250: Fading Out My Way.

Credits and copyrights

Louis Armstrong

Lou Monte

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Henry Mancini

Ray Conniff

Willie Nelson

The Sons Of The Pioneers

Luciano Pavarotti with The National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gian Carlo Chiaramello

unknown artist

Roy Meriwether Trio

Kay Kyser And His Orchestra

Bing Crosby

Pete Fountain

Glenn Miller Orchestra

Jonah Jones

Harry James

Al Hirt

Dean Martin

Sammy Davis Jr.

Frank Sinatra

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.

#dadsrecords #vinyl #musichistory #vinylcollecting #vinylrecords #musicalmemories #fyp

Historic Papal Visit

60 years ago yesterday, on October 4, 1965, Pope Paul VI visited the United States for a 14-hour trip that was entirely contained within New York City. The visit marked the first time a pope had visited the U.S. and included addressing the United Nations, meeting with President Lyndon B. Johnson, celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium, and visiting the New York World's Fair. 

It is estimated that at least 1 million people saw the pope in person, while 100 million watched his visit on television

This record commemorates that historic day.

So, get ready to hear the voice of a man that met with world leaders looking to find a path to peace among nations in Volume 249: A Pope Visits.

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. 

Credits and copyrights

Pope Paul VI – An Historic Occasion: Pope Paul VI Visits New York City October 4, 1965

We will hear 5 of the 8 tracks from this album.

Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, Rome

Kennedy Airport, New York

United Nations Address

Address To United Nations Staff Workers

Kennedy Airport

I do not own the rights to this recording. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.

#thepope #popepaulVI #musichistory #vinylcollecting #vinylrecords #musicalmemories #fyp

TJB South of the Border

While I did play plenty of his music in Volume 222: A TJB Concert Rewind earlier this year, that was a special episode shortly after I saw Herb and the gang in concert.

It’s been over a year since I’ve pulled out one of the 11 records my dad had of one of his favorite groups. Since I grew up listening to his music, and have now seen him in concert three times, Alpert has been one of MY favorite artists as well.

So, get ready to hear from this group’s third album that features music from south of the border in Volume 248: Down Mexico Way.

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. 

Credits and copyrights

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass – South Of The Border

We will hear 9 of the 12 songs on this album. 

South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way)

Hello, Dolly!

Up Cherry Street

Angelito (Little Angel usually meant for children)

I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face

All My Loving

The Girl From Ipanema

El Presidente

Mexican Shuffle

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.

#herbalpert #tijuanabrass #musichistory #vinylcollecting #vinylrecords #musicalmemories #fyp

Ray Conniff Improvisations

My father must have really loved the music of Ray Conniff. This is the sixth of eight albums from this arranger and orchestra leader in my dad’s collection. This one has a bit of a twist to it. No. Not the dance.

While the title of the album makes it seem like it will be a live album, that is not the nature of the concert here. Several of the songs you hear will be improvisations or interpretations of some pretty popular melodies from throughout time.

So, get ready to hear those lush strings paired with those lyric-less vocals in Volume 247: A Conniff Concert.

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. 

Credits and copyrights

Ray Conniff His Orchestra And Chorus* – Concert In Rhythm Volume II

We will hear 7 of the 12 songs on this album.

An Improvisation On "Liebestraum"

An Improvisation On The Fibich "Poéme"

An Improvisation On Chopin's "Nocturne In E-Flat"

Yours Is My Heart Alone

Favorite Themes From Greig's A Minor Piano Concerto

Warsaw Concerto

I'll See You Again From the 1929 operetta Bitter Sweet (thought it was going to be Tequila for a second)

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.

#rayconniff #musichistory #vinylcollecting #vinylrecords #musicalmemories #fyp

Real Country and Western Music

One side of this record features songs from the dusty trail. The other side features theme songs from Western TV and Movies.

So, get ready to hear what is technically Tumbling Tumbleweeds Part 6 in Volume 246: Western Trails.

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. 

Credits and copyrights

Various – Tumbling Tumbleweeds

We are pulling out Record six of this seven record box set and we'll hear eight of the 11 songs on sides K and L.

Al Caiola - Theme From Bonanza

Hugo Montenegro - The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

The Sons Of The Pioneers - Along The Santa Fe Trail

The Sons Of The Pioneers - Twilight On The Trail

Al Caiola - Theme From The Magnificent Seven

Warren Barker - Theme From Gunsmoke

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with The Whippoorwills and Orchestra - Happy Trails

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.

#countryandwestern #wevegotbothkinds #oldcountrymusic #musichistory #vinylcollecting #vinylrecords #musicalmemories #fyp

Joy from Sammy and Joya

She is not widely known today, despite her significant contributions, because of a combination of historical and social factors that often affected women and African American artists in jazz.

But the gang at the Design Label teamed her up in 1957 with a fast rising star in Davis Jr to introduce her solo recordings to the world.

So, get ready to hear a voice that brought joy when I saw him on stage and a voice that brought joy when I heard this record in Volume 245: Sammy Jumps With Joya.

For more information about this album, see the Discogs webpage for it. 

Credits and copyrights

Sammy Davis Jr., Joya Sherrill – Sammy Jumps With Joya

We will hear 7 of the 10 songs from this album.

Sammy Davis Jr. backed by Orchestra under the direction of Morton Stevens  – The Gypsy In My Soul

Joya Sherrill – Baby Me

Joya Sherrill  – Easy Street

Joya Sherrill  – Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

Joya Sherrill  – Thou Swell

Joya Sherrill  – The End Of A Love Affair

Sammy Davis Jr. – Chloe

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.

#joyasherrill #sammy #sammydavisjr #musichistory #vinylcollecting #vinylrecords #musicalmemories #fyp