Tom Lehrer

Another from the same table top sale as the Flanders & Swann. A 10" LP on Decca from 1952/53. Gentle and sometimes pithy social commentary songs about the old dope peddler, boy scouts and the American pre-occupation with guns, to name but a few.

Wikipedia says  -  " Lehrer was born in 1928 to a Jewish family in the New York City borough of Manhattan, and began studying classical piano music at the age of seven. He was more interested in the popular music of the age, however. Eventually, his mother also sent him to a popular-music piano teacher. At this early age, he began writing his own show tunes, which eventually helped him in his future adventures as a satirical composer and writer in his years of lecturing at Harvard University, and later at other universities.Lehrer graduated from the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY. He attended Camp Androscoggin, both as a camper and a counselor.While studying mathematics as an undergraduate student at Harvard College, he began to write comic songs to entertain his friends, including "Fight Fiercely, Harvard" (1945). Those songs were later named The Physical Revue, a joking reference to a leading scientific journal, The Physical Review.
Lehrer earned his AB in mathematics (magna cum laude) from Harvard University in 1946, when he was nineteen. He received his MA degree the next year, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He taught classes at MIT, Harvard, and Wellesley.
He remained in Harvard's doctoral program for several years, taking time out for his musical career and to work as a researcher at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. He served in theU.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, working at the National Security Agency. (Lehrer has stated that he invented the Jell-O Shot during this time, as a means of circumventing liquor restrictions.) All of these experiences eventually became fodder for songs, viz. "Fight Fiercely, Harvard", "The Wild West Is Where I Want To Be" and "It Makes a Fellow Proud to Be a Soldier". Despite holding a master's degree in an era when American conscripts often lacked a high school diploma, Lehrer served as an enlisted soldier, achieving the rank of Specialist Third Class (later retitled "Specialist-4" and currently "Specialist"), which he described as being a "corporal without portfolio". In 1960, Lehrer returned to full-time studies at Harvard, but he never completed his doctoral studies in mathematics.
From 1962, he taught in the political science department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1972, he joined the faculty of the University of California, Santa Cruz, teaching an introductory course entitled "The Nature of Mathematics" to liberal arts majors—"Math for Tenors", according to Lehrer. He also taught a class in musical theater. He occasionally performed songs in his lectures, primarily those relating to the topic.
In 2001, Lehrer taught his last mathematics class (on the topic of infinity) and retired from academia.^[ He has remained in the area, and in 2003 said he still "hangs out" around theUniversity of California, Santa Cruz."

Tom Lehrer  -  Side One.

Flanders & Swann

An LP from 1958 on the Parlophone label.  Intelligent and charming comedy songs from a bygone era.
Wikipedia says  -  "Flanders and Swann both attended Westminster School, where in July and August 1940 they staged a revue called Go To It, and Christ Church, Oxford, two institutions linked by ancient tradition. The pair went their separate ways during World War II, but a chance meeting in 1948 led to a musical partnership writing songs and light opera, Flanders providing the words and Swann composing the music. Their songs have been sung by performers such as Ian Wallace and Joyce Grenfell.In December 1956, Flanders and Swann hired the New Lindsey Theatre, Notting Hill, to perform their own two-man revue At the Drop of a Hat, which opened on New Year's Eve. Flanders sang a selection of the songs that they had written, interspersed with comic monologues, and accompanied by Swann on the piano. An unusual feature of their act was that, due to Flanders' having contracted poliomyelitis in 1943, both men remained seated for their shows: Swann behind his piano, and Flanders in a wheelchair. The show was successful and transferred the next month to the Fortune Theatre, where it ran for over two years, before touring in the UK, the United States, Canada and Switzerland.In 1963 Flanders and Swann opened in a second revue, At the Drop of Another Hat at the Haymarket Theatre. Over the next four years they toured a combination of the two shows in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United States and Canada, before finishing up at the Booth Theatre on Broadway. On 9 April 1967, they performed their last live show together. Ten days later, they moved into a studio and recorded the show for television.Over the course of eleven years, Flanders and Swann gave nearly 2,000 live performances. Although their performing partnership ended in 1967, they remained friends afterwards and collaborated on occasional projects."

Flanders & Swann  -  Side One

Shag Connors & The Carrot Crunchers

An Lp on the cheapo Starline label from 1974 featuring Shag Connors & The Carrot Crunchers who were similar the Wurzels but did vary their act to include rock and calypso inspired songs.

"West Country band Shag Connors & The Carrot Crunchers are Gloucestershire's answer to The Wurzels; a humorous and fondly remembered band led by the inimitable and sadly missed Shag Connors. The band is still doing the business in the capable hands of Shag's son Mart, as Mart Connors & The Carrot Crunchers.

Described as a 'country comedy musical act' singing ribald songs of country life such as Gloucester Calypso, Blame the Breathalyser and I'm Jealous of the Farmyard Cockerel; the The Carrot Crunchers were perhaps best known for their black cockerel, which Shag taught to drink beer from a pint glass, and which was an integral part of the act. Story has it that one night the band played at an army base, and after the gig a bunch of squaddies killed the cockerel! This might explain why the two pictures in the gallery show different coloured birds - obviously Shag trained up a replacement!

Although Shag Connors & The Carrot Crunchers didn't achieve the UK chart success of Adge and The Wurzels, they were nevertheless is demand, appearing on various TV shows in the 1970s including The Wheeltappers & Shunters Show, the David Nixon Show (7/5/73 and 22/4/74), the Sooty Show and Opportunity Knockswhich would have put them in front of a massive national audience.

Shag died in 1987 after a long fight against cancer - a sad end to a real gentleman. He is buried in Mayshill Cemetery. His son Mart (aka Martin 'Scarecrow' Connor) took over the reigns and the band still performs today."

Shag Connors  -  Side One

Trio Guadalajara

..........................................................................................................................Found at local Oxfam. A kind of cross between the Gipsy Kings and a Mexican Mariachi band..Not much discovered about them on line but this small snippet from a Spanish blog badly translated -----"SPAIN, 1959 "vocal trios and quartets have their space in this blog as they were instrumental in the development of rock in Spanish (especially in Mexico and Puerto Rico). Among repertoires specialized in boleros, were pioneers in adapting to Spanish and American themes, accompanied by rhythmic groups, let us excellent examples of rock'n'roll. Under Mexican influence, this trio Valencia made ​​a series of recordings with great pace, as this original composition with some Spanish flavor .""..............................................................................................................................Trio Guadalajara - El Pomompompero/ Cu-Cu-Rru-Cu-Cu Palermo..................................................................................................................... Trio Guadalajara - La Malaguena/ La Bamba Alegre

A Review of '69

A charity shop find from the last week. A rather dull portrait of 1969 considering all the things that happened that year! They make even the moon landing sound drab and dreary. No mention of the exciting things going on in the arts and entertainment. All serious stuff which could have been enlivened by snippets of music and comedy etc. ................................................................................................................................ Review of 69 - Side One

The Hi - Lo's

Again I was attracted by the wonderful sleeve photo of the Hi-Lo's behind some glass in the recording studio, flanked by an array of dials and knobs. At 49p from Oxfam in Crewe ( of all places!) I could not resist! Not a record I would normally buy or listen to I must admit but rather astonished at the vocal gymnastics displayed here! Great faves of The Beach Boys and one can see why......................................................................................................... Wikipedia says - "The Hi-Lo's were an a cappella quartet formed in 1953. The group's name is reportedly a reference to their extreme vocal and physical ranges (Bob Strasen and Bob Morse were tall, Gene Puerling and Clark Burroughs were short). The group consisted of Gene Puerling (bass-baritone or 4th voice, arranger and leader), Bob Strasen (baritone or 3rd voice), Bob Morse (baritone or 2nd voice and occasional soloist) and Clark Burroughs (tenor or 1st voice/lead). In 1959, Don Shelton replaced Strasen. They are considered a musical influence on groups like The King's Singers, The Manhattan Transfer, Chanticleer, The Free Design and Brian Wilson. They were also supported by Frank Sinatra. Clare Fischer was their pianist for years and did some of their arrangements. Puerling and Shelton, together with Bonnie Herman and Len Dressler, later formed another vocal group, The Singers Unlimited. This group gave a wide range for Puerling's arrangements,for the four singers multi-tracked as many as 16 voices. For that reason The Singers Unlimited were exclusively a recording group. Bob Strasen died Feb. 28, 1994, Bob Morse on Apr. 27, 2001. Afterward, Puerling, Shelton and Burroughs still appeared very occasionally as the Hi-Lo's in and around Southern California. Shelton is an accomplished reed player and has played in Clare Fischer's bands. Clark Burroughs is semi-retired and can sometimes be heard on film soundtracks. On March 25, 2008, Gene Puerling died just shy of his 79th birthday.".................................................................................................................. Tracks are as follows - 1. Chinatown, My Chinatown 2. The Surrey With The Fringe On The Top 3. IN The Blue Of The Evening 4. Cockles and Mussels 5. You're The Top 6. Long Ago & Far Away........................................................................................................................ The Hi - Lo's - Side Two.

Bryan Smith

The sleeve art caught my eye this morning in the charity shop. Some intriguing song titles including music hall favourites like I'm Henry the 8th I Am, Daisy Daisy, Cokey-cokey etc. A MOR Charlie Kunz meets Winired Atwell kinda thing. Pleasant enough for a low key party I guess. Not much info. online but seems Mr. Smith was very prolific and plenty of LP's on the Dansan label as is this one from 1979.......................................................................................................................... Tracks are as follows - 1. March Of The Mods 2. St. Bernards Waltz 3. Bobbin Up & Down Like This 4. The Quack Quack Song 5. The Lambeth Walk........................................................................................................... Bryan Smith - Side One.

Bill Doggett

Slightly warped copy of an LP on the CBS label from 1966. I think I have featured the side with Honky Tonk Pts. 1 & 2 previously much loved theme for the Charlie Gillett radio show of the same name back in the 70's. .............................................................................................................................. Wikipedia says - "William Ballard Doggett was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. His mother, a church pianist, introduced him to music when he was nine years old. By the time he was fifteen, he had joined a Philadelphia area combo, playing local theaters and clubs while attending high school. Doggett later sold his band to Lucky Millinder, and worked during the 1930s and early 1940s for both Millinder and arranger Jimmy Mundy. In 1942 he was hired as The Ink Spots' pianist and arranger. Toward the end of 1947, he replaced Wild Bill Davis as the pianist for Louis Jordan's Tympany Five. It was in Jordan's group that he first achieved success playing the Hammond organ. In 1950 he is reputed to have written one of Jordan's biggest hits, "Saturday Night Fish Fry", for which Jordan claimed the writing credit. In 1951, Doggett organized his own trio and began recording for King Records. His best known recording is "Honky Tonk", a rhythm and blues hit of 1956 which sold four million copies (reaching No. 1 R&B and No. 2 Pop), and which he co-wrote with Billy Butler. The track topped the US Billboard R&B chart for over two months.[2] He won the Cash Box award for best rhythm and blues performer in 1957, 1958, and 1959. He also arranged for many bandleaders and performers, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton. As a jazz player Doggett started in swing music and later played soul jazz. His bands included saxophonists Red Holloway, Clifford Scott, Percy France, David "Bubba" Brooks, Clifford Davis, and Floyd "Candy" Johnson; guitarists Floyd Smith, Billy Butler, Sam Lackey and Pete Mayes; and singers Edwin Starr, Toni Williams and Betty Saint-Clair. His biggest hits, "Honky Tonk" (the Part 2 side of the record) and "Slow Walk" featured saxophonist Clifford Scott. He continued to play and arrange until he died, aged 80, of a heart attack in New York.".......................................................................................................................Tracks are as follows - 1. Stop That Twistin' In Here 2. I Cover The waterfront 3. Lady's Choice 4. Mommy Pt. 1 5. Mommy Pt.2.................................................................................................................Bill Doggett - Side One