ég er john seven

Just a little kick ass polka to liven up your Friday. 

When I was a kid, there is  nothing that I thought was more of a downer than Jerry Lewis singing this song at the end of the telethon and breaking down into tears. It was so depressing to me. This version by the Winged Victory Singers lightens it up a little for me. Jerry’s version no longer rules my soul.

A bouncy little number from 1966 about leprosy, performed by many happy nuns and penned by Sister Miriam Therese, who came up with the songs sitting alone in foreign fields with nothing more than her guitar and her desire to sing. 

“At the organ console.” Console. Father Donatus was, at least at the time of this album - which is unknown, but we can at least date it sometime after The Godfather was released, obviously - the retreat director at the Cardinal Spellman Retreat House in the Bronx. “The location provides the ideal quiet and natural environment necessary for withdrawal and peace, needed to refresh the spirit of all of us in the age of Future Shock.” I never really thought about the Bronx that way, but Father Donatus sure seems relaxed at the keyboard. This is the Godfather Theme exactly as you would hear it if you showed up to mass one day and it was included as part of that program. 

If Barbra Streisand was the lead singer for The Doors … Julie Budd was a child star from Brooklyn, started at age 12 or so, and got a lot of support from Merv Griffin.  Poor Julie is so strange that a bunch of whispering guys follow her around. This album is from 1968, but Julie is apparently still at it.  

Once you sit through this 1980 whole album, you will find out that not only is Zeke Sheppard more than capable of creating perfectly maudlin lounge-style country music, but he is also quite talented at doing the same for over-dramatic outbursts of patriotism. Salute, silence, and enjoy.

On the back cover: “The Cameron Brothers have a flourishing church of their own in Peterhead, Scotland, and have two great International Holy Spirit Conventions in September and at the New Year. Why not join them and see how God is moving world-wide, bringing a wonderful love among God’s people - of every denomination!! (Special plane rates for attendance to conventions. Send for particulars.)”

If you look on the record label, you see the year 1967, but I’m unclear whether the Holy Spirit Convention is for September of that year, or of 1968. Also, plane rates - I assume this means airlines tickets? Man, religion is so complicated.

Jo Basile was apparently an accompanist to French singer Patachou, but found some renown on his own, as well. This 1961 accordion-dominated trip to Italy is a nice thing, and this particular track rocks pretty well.

The Three Suns - brothers Al and Mort Nevins and their cousin, Art Dunn - are legendary for their versatility, from the mundane to the astonishingly weird. In all my years of snapping up records by them as I find them, though, the one thing I don’t think I’ve encountered it vocal work. On this 1956 record, they do a few tracks in collaboration with the Royale Cocktail Group, who sound a bit like the Manhattan Transfer of their era. The music is pretty straightforward pop jazz - unusual enough for the Three Suns right there. It’s a pretty swanky and swingin’ affair, straight out of the hotel lounges of the era.

From the look of it, Doug Oldham has more to be excited about than merely Jesus - a head full of hair, a belly full of dinner, and some very fancy duds, not to mention a full orchestra backing him up. Oh, sure, and Jesus. 1972 was a very good year for him. The liner notes on the back talk about a trip to England with his wife, Laura. They were enthralled by all the castles and palaces, but also reminded of the one, true king and how fleeting all these sights were in comparison. So, essentially, Jesus ruined their vacation. Thanks, Jesus.

I had never heard of Dominic Cortese, but this little bio reveals he’s played just about everywhere for everybody - including with Elvis somewhere on the “Viva Las Vegas” soundtrack, as well as for high end artists like John Pizzarelli. This is an agreeable Polish/Italian mash-up, and, yes, that is the unmistakable Al Caiola on guitar.

Unearthly country muzak with psychedelic guitar and mournful choir. What more do you want post-Christmas?

This 1965 record was recorded for Doubl-Glo Decorations and recorded in stereo and “glittering” - it says on the label! I suppose it was a giveaway or cheapie, and I also suppose the company made all sorts of celebration decorations, because this record also has songs for Valentines Day, New Years, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and more, which will make it well-used on this blog in the next year. The music is by Tex Fletcher, who looks a bit like Claude Akins in the photo on back, with vocalist in duet Kit Stewart.

A nice little French number for Christmas, with lovely lady and adorable children! What more could you want?