“The program you are about to see…well hear… is All in the Family. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show — in a mature fashion — just how absurd they are.”

That was the disclaimer made before the start of the first episode of an early 1970s TV show where the main character is an obnoxious, prejudiced, big mouth, bigot, played by a brilliant actor, who actually was credited with bringing highly controversial subjects to light every week. But no matter what the subject, he was highly humorous. And millions laughed along.

The character and the show was the brainchild of a TV mastermind that we just lost last month at the age of 101.

So, Boy…get ready to hear the way Glenn Miller played, and songs on the hit parade, not really, there’s no music on this record, in Volume 159: Those Were The Days.

Promised link to Norman Lear’s obituary on NPR.org.

Video Intro

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All In The Family – 2nd Album
Label: Atlantic – SD 7232
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Released: 1972
Genre: Non-Music
Style: Dialogue, Comedy

Archie Meets Mike
Breasts
The Man In The Street
The Elevator
Stifle
Sammy’s Visit

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

Here’s a great compilation disk to kick off the new year and season. It’s one of my dad’s favorite trumpet players who is famous for playing my dad’s favorite kind of music. Dixieland. In fact, Al is known as the king.

But he also played some straightforward instrumentals that the critics complained about. Not only will you hear some of both those styles on this best of album, you get to hear him with a full orchestra and one of the most famous sex symbols and actresses of the 1960s and beyond.

So get ready to hear a musician hailed as a one-man trumpet section in Volume 158: Hirt So Good.

Promised link to Al Hirt’s Obit in the Guardian. 

Video Intro

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Credits and Copyrights:

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Al Hirt – The Best Of Al Hirt
Label: RCA Victor – LPM-3309
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono, Indianapolis Pressing
Released: 1965
Genre: Jazz
Style: Dixieland

Conductor [Orchestras And Choruses] – Billy May, Henri René, Marty Paich

8 of the 12 songs on the album.

Java
Written-By – Allen Toussaint, Alvin Tyle, and Freddy Friday
taken from the album Honey in the Horn released in 1963.
Of the 21 times Al Hirt was nominated for a Grammy Award, this was his only winner, bringing home the gramophone shaped trophy in 1964.

Stranger In Paradise from the Broadway musical “Kismet.”
Written-By – George Forrest and Robert Wright
taken from the album Trumpet and Strings released in 1962

The Best Man – Another trumpet player and his singing
Arranged By, Conductor – Marty Paich
Vocals – Al Hirt and Ann-Margret
Written-By – Fred Wise, Roy Alfred
taken from the album Beauty and the Beard, an entire album he did with Ann Margret, released in 1964.

Holiday For Trumpet
Written-By – Mario Ruiz Armengol
taken from the album Horn-a-Plenty released in 1962.

I Love Paris from the musical Can Can
Written-By – Cole Porter
That was taken from the album Al (He’s the King) Hirt and his Band released in 1961.

Sugar Lips
Written-By – Billy Sherrill, Buddy Killen
taken from the album Sugar Lips released in 1964.

Cotton Candy
Written-By – Russ Damon
taken from the album Cotton Candy released in 1964.

Bourbon Street Parade
Written-By – Paul Barbarin
from the album Al Hirt at the Mardi Gras released in 1962.

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 New Year’s Eve!

When some of us think about our earliest memories of watching New Year’s Eve on TV, we’ll remember long before Ryan Seacrest and even before Dick Clark. This Guy, who brought the New York City ballroom celebration into our living rooms every year, goes back to even before this holiday was celebrated live on television.

He formed the band during 1924 in his hometown of London, Ontario, Canada and sold more than 100 million records. Maybe as many as 300 million.

So get ready to hear The Sweetest music this side of heaven, with a little sweet champagne to go with it, in Volume 157: 50 Years of Lombardo.

Promised Link for CHARM.

Video Intro

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Credits and Copyrights:

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Here’s a disk that was in the record player stack every December. It was definitely played during Christmas eve and day…a lot! You can tell by the shape it’s in.

This is one of 12 records by this artist and one of a large list of Christmas Recordings from my dad’s collection. And it once again includes my dad’s favorite trumpet player SINGING a song.

So get ready to feel that south of the border holiday spirit with Volume 156: Christmas Herb.

Video Intro

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Credits and Copyrights:

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Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – Christmas Album
Label: A&M Records – SP 4166
Format Vinyl, LP, Stereo
Released: 1968
Genre: Jazz
Style: Latin Jazz, Holiday, Easy Listening

Voices and Strings arranged by Shorty Rogers.
Art Direction – Tom Wilkes
Engineer – Larry Levine
Photography By – Guy Webster
Producer – Jerry Moss
Producer, Arranged By – Herb Alpert

Recorded At – A&M Studios

Winter Wonderland
Written-By – Dick Smith and Felix Bernard

Jingle Bells
Arranged By – Herb Alpert and John Pisano

Sleigh Ride
Written-By – Leroy Anders and Mitchell Parish

The Christmas Song
Written-By – Mel Torme and Robert Wells

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
Written-By – Jule Stein and Sammy Cahn

Jingle Bell Rock
Written-By – Jim Boothe and Joe Beal

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.

Even though he was mostly into early jazz and pop, my dad liked his cowboy music too. And he bought a great collection in a 7-record box set. We’ve already featured two of those records in previous episodes. This record features a lot of music you have probably heard over the years yourself, but most likely by other bands. In fact, the eight songs you’ll hear have been recorded more than a thousand times combined. But you may have to check my math.

So get ready to hear what is really Tumbling Tumbleweeds part 3 in Volume 155: Western Favorites.

Video Intro

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Various – Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Label: Reader’s Digest – RDA-229 / A
Format: 7 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation Box Set
Released: 1982
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Country

The Sons Of The Pioneers–(Ghost) Riders In The Sky
written by Stan Jones

The Sons Of The Pioneers–Ragtime Cowboy Joe
written by Grant Clarke, Lewis F. Muir, Maurice Abrahams

The Sons Of The Pioneers–Don’t Fence Me In
written by Cole Porter, Bob Fletcher

Al Dexter–Pistol Packin’ Mama
written by Al Dexter

Slim Whitman–Rhinestone Cowboy
written by Larry Weiss

Tennessee Ernie Ford–Mule Train
written by Hy Heath, Johnny Lange, Fred Glickman

Bing Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey– I’m An Old Cowhand
written by Johnny Mercer

Bing Crosby–Sioux City Sue
written by Max Freedman, Dick Thomas

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.

Here’s another great compilation album from my father’s collection. It’s filled with music from some pretty big names in the music world. And every tune swings…hard. There is some serious 1950s grooving going on within these recordings. And it was put together to promote pens. And not the ballpoint kind.

So, get ready to hear some of the most uptempo music you’ll find on this show with Volume 154: Swingin’ Sounds.

Video Intro

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Various – Swingin’ Sound!
Label: Columbia Special Products – XTV-8229 and 30 (each side has a number)
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Stereo
Nobody seems to know when this ablum was released, it’s not even listed on the CSP discography with a date, but I’m going with about 1961 or 62.
Genre: Jazz, Classical

Dave Brubeck – I’m in a Dancing Mood
written by Al Hoffman, Al Goodhart, and Maurice Sigler
recorded at Newport Jazz Festival July 6, 1956.

Duke Ellington – Perdido
written by Juan Tizol
First recorded on January 21, 1942. Ellington went on to record this song many times and I’m not sure when the version you just heard was recorded.

Buddy Greco – The Lady Is A Tramp
written by Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart
recorded at Le Bistro, on Rush Street in Chicago some time in 1959.

André Previn, His Piano And Orchestra – Like Love
written by André Previn, and Dory Previn
Released in 1960

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross – Cloudburst
written by Jon Hendricks, Leroy Kirkland, and Jimmy Harris
Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross Recorded that in 1959

The Dave Brubeck Quartet With Carmen McRae – Paradiddle Joe
Written by John Morris
Recorded in New York City on September 9, 1960

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.