A Century of Music

[Ojai Sam]

Haitian Folk Songs (1953)

Friday and the end of 1953 always brings at least one quirky album outside of my wheelhouse - today the simple Haitian Folk Songs - ballads song simply to a solo guitar.

Away for Thanksgiving next week so not sure if I'll get to 1954 until I return - then Christmas music. Still should be embarking on the rock era in the new year!

That's an interesting one I've never seen. It's even on Spotify.

Doesn't Lolita's image look familiar?

 

[axolotl]

Doesn't Lolita's image look familiar?

Toto-lly!

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

That's an interesting one I've never seen. It's even on Spotify.

Doesn't Lolita's image look familiar?

I Kansas see what you mean.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I Kansas see what you mean.

I would be cowardly if I said you were lion.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

After taking vacation week off, I'm back with 1954
As it's December, will probably only do 1954 and 1955 with a break for my annual Christmas music listening.
The atom bomb to music that is Elvis Presley makes his first appearance with several Sun recordings though these are no where in the year's top singles - this will of course change real soon.

1954 Top Singles
1) "Little Things Mean A Lot" by Kitty Kalen
2) "Wanted" by Perry Como
3) "Hey There" by Rosemary Clooney (orig. from The Pajama Game)
4) "Sh-Boom" by The Crew Cuts (white band who had more chart success than the African American group The Chords (who did reach top 10 though)
5) "Make Love to Me" by Jo Stafford
6) "Oh! My Pa-Pa (O mein papa)" by Eddie Fisher
7) "I Get So Lonely (When I Dream About You)" by The Four Knights
8) "Three Coins in the Fountain" by The Four Aces
9) "Secret Love" by Doris Day
10) "Hernando's Hideaway" by Archie Bleyer (also originally from The Pajama Game)
11) "Young at Heart" by Frank Sinatra
12) "This Ole House" by Rosemary Clooney
13) "I Need You Now" by Eddie Fisher
14) "Cross Over the Bridge" by Patti Page
15) "The Little Shoemaker" by Gaylords

Many of the usual early 50s big artists like Perry Como, Patti Page, Eddie Fisher, and Rosemary Clooney but other R&B, doo wop, blues songs from that year show the direction music was moving towards
Other big singles:
"Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets (which would hit big in '55)
"Earth Angel" by The Penguins
"Sh-Boom" by The Chords
"Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace
"Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" by The Spaniels
"I Got A Woman" by Ray Charles
"White Christmas" by The Drifters
"Sincerely" by The Moonglows
"Tweedle Dee" by LaVern Baker
"(I'm Your) Hoocie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters
"Rock Island Line" by Lonnie Donegan
"Riot in Cell Block Number Nine" by The Robins (who would change to The Coasters)
"Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes (again hits big in '55)

And of course, these from Elvis' Sun Sessions:
"That's All Right"
"Good Rockin' Tonight"
"Blue Moon of Kentucky"
(E would record more in Sun in 1955)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Frank Sinatra - Songs For Young Lovers and Swing Easy (1954)

Sinatra had released 10" LP with his prior label Columbia (his label since 1943). His popularity had declined leading the label's A&R man Mitch Miller to comment he couldn't "give away" Sinatra's records. Columbia dropped Ol' Blue Eyes in 1952 right before his big role in From Here to Eternity. He soon met with and signed with Capitol records in 1953 - well we all know what happened next, a long successful career resurgence that started with these two 10"LP, his first albums with Capitol and his first collaboration with arranger/bandleader Nelson Riddle.

 

[axolotl]

Sinatra had released 10" LP with his prior label Columbia (his label since 1943). His popularity had declined leading the label's A&R man Mitch Miller to comment he couldn't "give away" Sinatra's records.

In an interesting turn-of- events, Sinatra's records fairly fly off the shelves at thrift shops, while Mitch's are left to linger there for eternity.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan (1954)

Vaughan's best album - showcases her incredible range. Of course, trumpeter Clifford Brown is a major plus (more about him next). "Lullaby of Birdland" is among the top jazz vocals of all time IMO

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Clifford Brown & Max Roach (1954)

Man, now we're cookin' with gas!

1954 is a tremendous year for jazz albums with some of the most important albums in the developing genre of "hard bop" this being a big one
Those who pay attention to my ramblings here (and I don't blame you if you don't ) know Clifford Brown is probably my favorite jazz trumpeter - quite the achievement considering how limited his discography is (4 years of recording). His influence was tremendous and stretch wide even til today despite his short life (atypically NOT due to drugs as most jazz artists who die "tragically young" (Brown, who avoided drugs, sadly died in an auto accident).
Between 1954 to 1956, I will probably spin most of what Brown put out - including the last album (Sarah Vaughan) and the next album...

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Art Blakey - A Night in Birdland, Volumes 1 & 2

A pair of Clifford Brown showcases as well who filled in for trumpeter Donald Byrd in the early permutation of Blakey's Jazz Messengers (before they were called that). Wonderful set of live albums - although I love Brown, the entire lineup is killer including Lou Donaldson (tenor) and Horace Silver (piano)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

The Pajama Game (Original Broadway Cast) (1954)

Been trying to throw in big Broadway plays from each year, and, with covers of two of the songs "Hey You" and "Hernando's Hideaway" on this year's top singles list, this one was indeed a hit.
Composers Jerry Ross and Richard Adler wrote this one then would have big success with Damn Yankees a year later. A word about Jerry Ross who gained meteoric success with Tony Bennett's hit "Rag to Riches" in 1953 followed by these two Broadway musicals over the next two years. Ross was only 27 when this musical opened in 1954 and would sadly be dead a year later at age 29 from complications of the lung condition bronchiectasis. By the time of his death, he wrote (either solo or collaboration) more than 250 songs (!)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy (1954)

At age 53, Satchmo can still blow powerfully. One of the best later albums by Armstrong (this and his collab with Duke Ellington are two of my go to albums for classic jazz). Those who love traditional and especially New Orleans jazz need this one (and probably already own it).

 

[Ojai Sam]

Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy (1954)

At age 53, Satchmo can still blow powerfully. One of the best later albums by Armstrong (this and his collab with Duke Ellington are two of my go to albums for classic jazz). Those who love traditional and especially New Orleans jazz need this one (and probably already own it).

As it happens, I played this one over the weekend. Thanks to the wisdom of producer George Avakian, Satch’s work for Columbia stands as a marked improvement over his novelty-ridden Decca years.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Chet Baker Sings (1954)

Allmusic.com points out that, in the jazz world, Baker's singing on this release was "revolutionary". Personally, never been a big fan of Baker's style, but a key 1954 album to spin anyway

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

June Christy - Something Cool (1954)

Playing Christy's album in tandem with Baker's is appropriate - following the development of cool jazz over the past few years was understandably the release of several cool jazz vocal albums. Mellow but, personally, I like Christy's sound more than Baker's. Still I typically enjoy a bit more punch to my jazz vocalists (Ella, Sassy, Sinatra on his jazzier takes)

 

[axolotl]

^ Finally, you play something cool.

 

[axolotl]

^^^ I was thinking of making a joke about Chet, but that would just be dark.

I won't even indulge in innuendo on that one.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Personally, never been a big fan of Baker's style

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Miles Davis - Walkin' (1954)

Released as two 10" records (now combined) in 1954 under the credit Miles Davis All Stars. Not to be confused with the action albums of Cookin', Relaxin', Steamin', and Workin' from the soon to be formed "First Quintet" - and it doesn't reach those heights. Still, darn good especially Miles' sole composition on the album, the famous "Solar". Trombonist J.J. Johnson is always welcome to my hears (here still going by "Jay Jay"). And for those who don't think Miles couldn't keep up with the speedy bop trumpeters, check out "Love Me or Leave Me".

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol 1 & 2

And speaking of trombonist J.J. Johnson - good time to listen to this pair of albums, both combinations of recording sessions from 1953-1954 (vol 1) and 1954 alone (vol. 2). Originally released as several 10" LPs

In residency, I had a fellow neuro resident who loved jazz - he hated the sound of the trombone in jazz (he didn't like vibes either), and I love the sound of both. The trombone does have a different sound that trumpet or sax, but really provides a nice deep, rich sound IMO. Johnson, of course, was the master, playing the trombone so speedily/deftly that people who just heard him on record though he was playing a valve trombone.
Vol 1 here has Clifford Brown, who (as above) was recording prolifically during this period.