Thrift Store DJ

This is from the Epic “International Series” and despite the rather “blah” cover, the music is quite good. According to the back cover, “… the marimba has the sweetness of a woman’s voice. The Marimba Mexico of Don Fortino is the best in the country. The arrangements are strictly for dancing and the repertoire is a varied program of cha cha chas, boleros, danzones and rhumbas — all instrumental and all flavored in the inimitable south-of-the-border manner.” This record is labeled “FOR DEMONSTRATION USE ONLY.” I bet they moved many a marimba with this one. [<– A JOKE]

Give a listen to “Ayudame, Dios Mio!”:

Marimba.zip (41 MB)

Side One:
Luz Y Sombra
Ansiandote
Cuando No Se De Ti
De Quien Estas Enamorada
Crei
Caramelo

Side Two:
Ayudame, Dios Mio!
Por Una Cara Bonita
Mario Del Socorro
Donde Estas Corazon
Mis Siete Novias
Pedacito

Another great Charles Magnante release. This one is from ‘67 and features “…a new kind of musical excitement that combines the provocative talents of Charles Magnante, the musician, and Charles Magnante, the sound expert. It combines the musical and technical creativity of Magnante with the most famous engineering staff in the recording world…” Hyperbole, but actually not far off. These are great arrangements, bringing “new” life to these standards. And the vinyl is in pristine shape. Enjoy!

Check out “Never on a Sunday:”

Carnival.zip (48MB)

Side One
Carnival
Two Guitars
Brasilia
Anna
April In Portugal
Yellow Bird

Side Two
La Cucaracha
Never On Sunday
Espana Cani
Czardas
Under Paris Skies
Just Say I Love Her

Sweet Hawaiin Moonlight — Ray Kinney

Two for your Luaus this summer.

Blue Pacific Moonlight:

Hawaiian Moonlight.zip (47MB)

Side 1
Ka-Lu-A
Drowsy Waters
Aloma
Pagan Love Song
Kona Moon
When My Dreamboat Sails Tonight for Honolulu

Side 2
Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight (Tell Her of My Love)
One-Two-Three-Four
Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula (Hawaiian Love Song)
Blue Pacific Moonlight
Hawaii’s Charm
On a Honolulu Holiday

Echoes of Hawaii — Benny Kalama

Makala Pua

Hawaiian Echoes.zip (45MB)

Side 1
Akaka Falls
The Old Plantation (Kuu Home)
Kamalani O Keaukaha
Makala Pua
Mapuana
Kau Lana O Hilo Hana Ko Hi

SIde 2
Ua Like No a Like
Kuu Ipo I Ka Hee Pue One
He Mana’o He Aloha
Na ‘Lii
Holoholo Kaa (Car Ride Hula)
Kilakila Haleakala

Now with “Phase X” technology. Grand Award records are usually worth picking up, and this one is no exception. Led by the prolific Charles Magnante, this record also features Dick Hyman on piano and George Barnes on guitar. The arrangements are interesting and varied, and the other musicians on this record compliment Magnante’s playing very nicely on these standards. From the jacket: “This is music that calls for performers with zest, with verve, with flair for the grand gesture. All of these attributes abound in the orchestra that Charles Magnante leads.”

Try out Seguidilla:

Spanish.zip (51MB)

Side 1
La Comparsa
Espana Waltz
La Cumparsita
La Virgin De La Macarenas
Valencia
Seguidilla

Side 2
Jalousie
Espana Cani
Spanish Dance No. 5
El Relicario
Andalucia
Tango in D

Here is the authentic gaiety of one of the most bombastic dances to ever come out of the Caribbean. Twelve exciting tunes in true Charanga instrumentation Dressed in colorful arrangements — recorded in brilliant sound. La Pachanga is the dance craze that is sweeping the world and gaining new favor over the mambo and cha-cha.

Or so claims the back cover.

Here’s the title track:

Pachanga.zip (48MB)

Side One
La Pachanga
Piano Charanga
Pachanga Brasilera
Ole Ole Pachanga
La Moruna
Cuatro Palomas

Side Two
La Charanga
Balada
Sinfonia de Pachanga
Para la Fiesta Voy
Pachanga Montuno
Chi Chi Charanga

Bit of an oddball album here. The first track is a vocal rendition of the Hawaiian Wedding Song, fairly ho-hum, but the rest of the album is all instrumental steel guitar, and a few of the tracks even veer away from the islands and dip their toes into blues and country. Good stuff too. So if you are a fan of Hawaiian music, check this out, and if you’re not, but you like a good steel guitar tune, also have a listen.

Try “Stars Over Hawaii”:

BlueWaters.zip (44MB)

Back cover artwork.

Side One
Hawaiian Wedding Song
Luau
Mood Hawaiian
Pineapples, White Sails and Cocoanuts
Island Mood
Hawaiian Promenade

Side Two
High TIde
Stars Over Hawaii
Hawaiian Serenade
Beautiful Girls and Sunshine
Hawaiian Mood
Lost Love

If you cast your eyes upward, you’ll see a link to the new “Thrift Store DJ Radio.” There’s a player on that page that will allow you to hear and browse all the songs on this site and view thumbnails of the album covers. If you like what you hear, click the “Info” button and you’ll be taken to the post where you can grab the whole zip file. Enjoy!

This album has been “on loan” from my high school Spanish teacher for over 25 years now. Mr. E., if you’re reading this, drop me a line and I’ll send it back to you.

To my small-town Ohio ears, La Sonora Matancera sounded exotic, like tuning in to a distant A.M. radio station on the short wave. It made me feel like I was missing out on something and I wanted to see what it was. And in that sense, it was profoundly influential on my life.

Here’s No Te Quedes Mirando:

Sonora.zip (47MB)

Side 1:
El Disgusto De La Rumba
El Beep Boom
Cacungaca
Cualquiera Resbala Y Cae
Y Del Vedado Que
Tropico

Side 2
Lindo Omelenko
Sujetate La Lengua
No Te Quedes Mirando
El Pregon Del Enyucao
Rumbero Vamos a La Rumba
Hay Que Dejarse De Cuento

This is another Seeco records release.

Sometimes a guitar is just a guitar…but not in the hands of Tony “Mr. Big” Mottola. This one has all the hallmarks of a wonderful Enoch Light release: dynamic stereo effects, lots of Dick Schory-style percussion and a “live” in the studio sound.

Check out Neapolitan Tarantella:

Mottola.zip (44MB)

Side 1
La Strada
Anna
Arrivederci, Roma
Sorrento
Violetta

Side 2
Volare
Italian Serenade
Neapolitan Tarantella
Non Dimenticar
Woodpecker Song
Na Voce

OK, Internet. Now that I have your attention, I have a confession to make. I’ve been holding out on you a little bit. This is one of my favorite albums. And for you, it’s a nice mix of quality and obscurity. Just looking at the cover makes me happy. It’s another one on the Seeco label (see the earlier Nilo Lopes Bossa Nova post). If you liked the Perez Prado, you should like this as well.

Listen to A Bailar Merecumbe:

Belisario.zip (46MB)

Side 1
Celosa “Cara Sucia” (Merecumbe)
El Cochero (Guaracha)
El Bombon (Merecumbe)
Cayetano Baila (Merenge)
Pegadito (Merenge)
El Merecumbe “El Monito” (Merecumbe)

Side 2
A Bailar Merecumbe (Merecumbe)
Sancocho E’Guesito (Guaracha)
Ay Que Rico Amor (Merecumbe)
Vamos A Guarachar (Guaracha)
El Yayabo (Rumba)
No Llores “Vaciladora” (Merecumbe)