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Category Archives: Popular & Crooners
CONNIE FRANCIS – Happiness – (MGM ) – 1967
The album is subtitled “Connie Francis on Broadway Today” And that sums up the album. Connie does Broadway songs popular circa 1967. Every song (with one exception) from “current shows or shows about to open”, according to the liner notes. … Continue reading
ROD McKUEN – Seasons in the Sun – (Stateside) – 1964
This is one I have had for a while but a better copy has come into my hands so why not revisit it. Regular readers of these pages will know of my love of Rod McKuen. Those who don’t know … Continue reading
CONNIE FRANCIS – Sings Award Winning Motion Picture Hits – (MGM) – 1963
Regular readers of this blog will know my affection for Connie Francis. Please refer to other comments regarding ravings as well as biographical detail. Regular readers will also know of my fondness for albums of film song interpretations. I love … Continue reading
BOBBY RYDELL – Somebody Loves You – (Capitol) – 1965
Bobby’s peak of popularity was over. His fortunes declined with the rise of the Beatles (and others). People were ready for more beat, more soul, more experimentation and more attitude. The Beatles and other English acts supplies the beat, Afro-Americans … Continue reading
TOMMY SANDS – When I’m Thinking of You – (Capitol) – 1959
Read my other comments for biographical detail on Tommy Sands. Sands is one of the many otherwise convincing rockers who were encouraged to try their hand at trad pop, or at least, trad pop numbers with rockin’ rhythms in the … Continue reading
BOBBY RYDELL – Salutes the Great Ones – (Cameo) – 1961
The era before the rise of The Beatles, The Beach Boys and others was a particularly exciting time, though not for hard-core rock ‘n’ roll enthusiasts. Pop rock ruled along with big pop ballads, teen dramas, white doo wop, and … Continue reading
CONNIE FRANCIS – Sings Bacharach and David – (MGM) – 1968
Anyone who reads this blog knows I’m partial to vocalists, and, partial to Connie Francis. Connie is perhaps the greatest of the non-writing female singers. And much like her male counterparts, Elvis and Frank Sinatra, she is a wonderful interpreter … Continue reading
CONNIE FRANCIS – Sings Spanish & Latin American Favorites – (MGM) – 1960
I have said this before: Connie could do anything. She put out albums in (or partially in) Italian, Jewish, Spanish and German. She sang rock, pop, Broadway standards, film songs, country, vocal jazz, R&B, vocal jazz, children's music, spiritual music, … Continue reading
FRANKIE AVALON – Swingin’ On A Rainbow – (Chancellor) – 1959
I have waxed lyrical on the much maligned talents of Frankie Avalon before so check that for reasons, bio and pseudo philosophical ephemera. Avalon had a time and place and never transcends it but he does reflect the time and … Continue reading
THE FOUR FRESHMEN – Different Strokes – (Liberty) – 1969
As a result of watching a lot of old movies as a kid I learned to love trad pop music … the crooners, the songstress', the vocal groups. My ears did not discriminate against them in favour of the more … Continue reading
