ALBUM REVIEWS

“COMING ATTRACTION—LIVE!”—The Jour- neymen—Capitol ST 1770 “THE MUSIC OF BRAZIL”—Percy Faith—Co- Among the current crop of new folk singers, the lumbia CL 1822 Journeymen immediately stand out because of Percy Faith, a consistent album seller, comes up their fine voices, superior musicianship, and un- with a bag of Latin flavored rhythm tunes from derstanding of the folk media. On this set, cut Brazil performed with his usual verve and bril- live at a concert in Minneapolis, the 'group’s dis- liance. Despite the superabundance of LP’s of the tinctive vocal chemistry carries them in good South American genre, this entry by Faith ranks stead on a bag of familiar and little known pop- as one of the best. The orkster and his men give folk items. With a youthful vitality, the gang lyrical and pulsating essays of “Brasil,” “Amo- offers top-drawer renditions of “In The Evening,” rada,” “The Minute Samba,” and “Little “Gypsy Rover,” and “Jack The Sailor.” A fine Dreamer.” LP has strong sales potential. showing.

“JACQUEUNE BOYER CHANTEUSE”—Capi- “EDDIE HEYWOOD’S GOLDEN ENCORES”— tol ST 10313 Liberty LST 7250 dACOUELINE. Jacqueline Boyer, a newcomer to the American Here’s a top-flight instrumental mood album of scene, has cut an impressive first disk for Capi- popular standards rendered by ace 88’er Eddie tol, and could be an important name on this side Heywood. The pianist, who has rolled up an out- of the Atlantic in short order. Her delivery, un- standing sales record with his past efforts, should like the throaty, emotion-packed delivery of Piaf garner plenty with this delightful package which and like French vocalists, sparkles in an upper boasts Hugo Winterhalter conducting the ork. register and reflects a lilting, lyrical quality, Some excellent tracks here are “Canadian Sun- especially on such tunes as “Pepe,” “Pianissimo,” set,” “The High And The Mighty” and “Exodus.” and “Jenny, Oh Jenny.” The lark uses her talent Album should spark loads of excitement. with assurance, and this first LP entry should J-laJ ill win her many new friends.

“SWINGING DOWN THE LANE”—Ralph Burns “EMIL COLEMAN LIGHTS UP ’THE PLAZA” —Epic LN 24015 —Philips PHM 200-041 With the growing trend to sweeter sounds, this Emil Coleman, who holds court nightly at the new Ralph Burns entry on Epic which features Persian Room of the Hotel Plaza, guides his so- the talented orkster leading his crew through ciety band through a session of sturdies on this their paces on a dozen, free-flowing jazz-flavored new outing on Philips. The orkster employs a items should create plenty of interest. With the variety of tempos for dancing on this Jim Tyler exception of two Burns originals, all the tunes and Sy Oliver-arranged set which includes such here are fine old sturdies. The ork shines as they goodies as “The Man I Love,” “I’ve Got A Crush offer “Ebb Tide,” “I’ll Get By” and “Mean To On You,” and “I Wish I Were In Love Again.” Me.” The package is top-notch ballroom fare.

“IN A NEW MOOD”—Oscar Brown, Jr.—Co- “JOSE MELIS AT THE OPERA”—Mercury SR lumbia CL 1873 60709 Oscar Brown, Jr., who has established quite a A dozen staid operatic arias are gpven a new reputation for himself with his distinctive, self- lease on life and a Latin-pop flavor by the tal- penned folk-flavored items, is superbly showcased ented 88’er on this very melodic set from Mer- on this first-rate Columbia set singing a dozen cury. Melis has selected the arias from operas evergreens. The balladeer’s intense, sensitive ap- which are inherently more melodious and plays proach coupled with his fine lyrical, wide-range them in easy listening, danceable tempos. Pleas- voice carries him in good stead on “Where Or l^ant tracks here are “One Fine Day,” “Sextet” When,” “Mood Indigo” and “It Ain’t Necessarily fifrona “Lucia,” and “Che Gelida Manina.” The So.” An excellent, tasteful listening experience. ipianists’s recent TV stint should spark sales for

Should win the chanter a flock of new admirers. i the disk.

CONCERTOS HOLLYWOOD BILLBOTLER “CONCERTOS FROM HOLLYWOOD” — Bill Butler—Epic LN 24014 “THE BALLADEER” — Hoyt Axton — Horizon 1601 In recent months, one of the most popular sub- WP Occassionally, jects for album product has been flick themes. a new true folk talent in the vein of Guthrie Pianist Bill Butler cashes in on this trend, on this Woody comes along who deserves a spe- highly listenable session of tunes from current cial mention. Such an artist is Hoyt Axton. This young artist displays and while-back movies. The 88er’s lyrical, pro- a distinctive, vibrant, rich style which is eloquently to fessional keyboard artistry is aptly demonstrated suited the folk idiom. in top-notch Jack Pleis arrangements of “Willing With a varied bag of tunes, some standards, some And Eager,” “Maria,” and the theme from “The self-penned, Axton dishes up top-drawer per- formances “Peggy-0,” Apartment.” Fine fare for terpsichorean or lis- on “John Henry” and “Fiva tening pleasure. Hundred Miles.” An impressive showing.

“RHAPSODY BY CANDLELIGHT”—Liberace— Coral CRL 757395 “MEADE LUX LEWIS BOOGIE WOOGIE HOUSE PARTY”—Philips 600-044 The talented pianist takes off on a warm, roman- PHS This unusual offering from Philips tic tack in a highly listenable program of pop- boasts a honky tonk piano doing boogie flavored classical melodies on this new outing for woogie with a mash po- tato beat. At the Coral. Backed by the ork of Gordon Robinson, the keyboard is Meade Lux Lewis, an old timer best known 88’er shows his artistic control and sensitive feel- for his “Honky Tonk 'Train,” which is ing for melody on “Eighteenth Variation,” “Inter- included in this set. Other top drawer bands here mezzo,” “Clair De Lune,” and “Shubert’s Sere- are “Yancey’s Special,” “Celeste Boogie,” and “Beartrap nade.” Liberace’s legion of admirers will want Stomp.” The disk this one. is a solid item for spinners and dancers.

“EXOTIC SUITE OF THE AMERICAS”—Perez “THE MUSIC MAN & OTHER MOTION PIC- Prado—RCA Victor LPM-2571 lEPRUbSiyimiOfflRTETPliAYS TURE FAVORITES”—Paul Smith Quartet— This excellent album by Perez Prado features the MGM E4065 orkster playing one of his own compositions, a THElttUSIGPU Here is a sparkling, jazz-oriented version of the tone poem from which the LP was tagged. An current box office hit backed with six other melo- exciting work with a recurrent theme which high- dious tidbits from recent flicks. The tiff SoMMMf « MaWW lUf. L&UdUAM Paul Smith lights a folk-roots melody with an African in- Quartet makes effective use of percussion to en- fluence, the orkster is sure to garner new laurels hance the Is^cal qualities of the tunes, and ^vith this new offering. Top-notch excerpts from Smith’s handling of the keyboard is vivid and the suite are the “Theme Of Two Worlds” and bright. Top-drawer tracks here are “Seventy Six “Blues In C Major.” Side two is aimed at Latin Trombones,” “Till TTiere Was You,” “Walk On rhythm pop tunes. Eye this disk for wide accept- Km The Wild Side,” and “Maria.” Disk is choice item ance. for spinners.

Cash Box—September 22, 1962 27