Super-duper

Supraphon record sleeve

Another Supraphon record sleeve

Last year, during the UWA Save the Children book sale, I came across these really nice record sleeves. I don't know anything about Supraphon, but these look fantastic!
Cubist violin = AWESOME!!!

Fancy Feast

Sir William Walton: Belshazzar's Feast — The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Yep, I got this just 'cause it looked pretty. I also found it in an op-shop! Well all I can say is, it looks pretty but sounds terrible. I like most classical music, but this is SERIOUSLY TERRIBLE!!!

Call the guards!

Tchaikovsky: Ouverture Solennelle, Capriccio Italien — The Concertgebouw Orchestra (195?)

I got this record during the UWA annual Save the Children book sale last August. I couldn't find a release date for it, but judging by the fantastic illustration and logos, it seems very 50s to me. I really love this cover. I'm also a Tchaikovsky fan too, so I didn't just buy it 'cause it looked pretty!

Surfin' with a twist

Twistin' 'N' Twangin' — Duane Eddy (1962)

Duane Eddy was already a "show business legend at 23!" According to the back of this album. He reminds me a lot of Dick Dale and the Deltones, part of the Surf Guitar movement of the 60s. Anyway, Twistin' 'N' Twangin' is absolutely fantastic from start to finish.

A1. Peppermint Twist

B.3 Moanin' 'n' Twistin'

A little off-beat

Off Beat Percussion — Don Lamond and His Orchestra (1962)

I actually went to a proper record store in Fremantle and paid full price for this baby, as opposed to the Op-shops I normally go through. It was one of the first Space-age Pop albums I bought, and boy does it pack a PUNCH! This is one of my favourite records to date!

The track we have today is "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)". Yes, it's been done to death by soooooo many artists, but this version is fresh and different. It's the only version I can listen to over and over without getting sick of it!

Little Latin holiday

Machito and his Orchestra — Irving Berlin in Latin America (1959)

Hello again! I do realise it's been quite a while since my last post. Where have I been? Nowhere, I was just busy and then I broke my foot last month. FACEBOOK BROKE MY FOOT, to be more precise. Since I was practically house-ridden the whole time that probably would have been a perfect time to post more covers, but I didn't really feel like it. I preferred to watch TV online and make origami stuff.

So today we have Machito and his Orchestra. I just love this album. I found it for $2 it in an Op-shop many months ago. I just had to look at it to know it would sound totally kick-ass. The only thing wrong with it was that a small grand-child perhaps scribbled all over the back cover with a blue pen. But anyway, if you ever happen to find anything by Machito and his Orchestra BUY IT!!! That is if you like 50s Latin music of course!

This track is a lovely Latin version of "Blue Skies". It's a pretty song and I really like the Doris Day version too.

Nacho cheese

Bill Shepherd and his Border Brass — Tijuana Style (1967)

How could I not get this record? It looked freakin hilarious and I had to get it! The best way to describe it is super-cheesy latin. If you see the words "Tijuana", "Mariachi" or "Brass" on a cover, this is what it'll sound like. Most of the time, anyway.

The track below is called "Beautiful Dreamer", and it sorta brings back memories. Back when I was in Highschool music class, there were a whole bunch of keyboards on one side of the classroom. One of the auto-play songs on the keyboards was "Beautiful Dreamer". And it actually sounded a lot worse than this version!

Dancing in space!

Jay Norman Quintet — Dancing and Dreaming: Volume 2 (195?)

I found this in an Op Shop only a few streets away. Absolutely brilliant! That's what I'd be saying if it was in better condition... It needs a really good clean before I upload a track!
As soon as I saw it, I just knew it'd be awesome. Those crazy-ass colours just spoke to me, this is what space-age pop looks like in a nutshell!

Around the World for $2

The Cinema Sound Stage Orchestra — Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

When I was a kid, I watched a lot of 50s movies. I can't really remember most of them, however they all had absolutley beautiful scores filled with strings.

"Sky Symphony" from Around the World in 80 Days is simply "delightful". Never has an adjective described something so perfectly! Again, I found this in an Op-shop for $2!

I see red!

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Steinberg — Johann Strauss Jr. (195?)

After a slight hiatus, I'm back posting awesome LP covers! Where have I been? Nowhere, I was just a little lazy... Though, you may have noticed the fancy new banner. The sites still under construction, but it looks slightly better now.

Anyway, Today we have a little Strauss Jr. with an amazing illustration. That guy kinda reminds me of Rhett Butler for some reason. Nothing beats 50s script fonts either! 

Tropical Chav

Orquesra Cristobal Chavez — Tropical Fire (1967)

This little baby was an eBay impulse buy. I was getting a few other records from the same seller and thought one more couldn't hurt. It was only $8, after all. I didn't know anything about Cristobal Chavez, but I could tell just by looking at it, that it would sound GREAT!!! I was not disappointed. This is another great example of the "cheesecake" cover. I mean, feather boas don't exactly scream "tropical" to me, but what do I know... 

A1. Jealousie

The final frontier

Enoch Light — Spaced Out (1973)

Enoch Light is one of my favourite artists on vinyl. His mid-50s stuff is really nice. Towards the 70s he got a little too cheesy for my liking, but this album is pretty great. Not to mention the chick on the cover looks like Myf Warhurst from ABC's "Spicks and Specks" but with an orange wig!


"Bond Street"

Feeling Hungry?

Vienna State Opera Orchestra — Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 1, 2, 3 and 6 (1961)

Get it, Hungry!!! Sorry, I had to... I got this one primarily because of the really nice illustration. However, I do actually like Classical music. And I do like Liszt. See, I didn't buy this purely for the cover. I'm not completely shallow!

Here's a bit of trivia for ya...
• In the Tom and Jerry short film "The Cat Concerto", Tom is playing is Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No.2".
• "The Cat Concerto" won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1947.

Saxy movie

Johnnie Gray and His Saxophones — Movietime: Themes From the Big Films (1969)

After the way Kenny G murdered the saxophone, I never thought I'd be able to listen to it ever again. But, this album makes the sax' bearable once more, enjoyable even! Sure, the cover may look a little sus, but it's actually quite good.


This track is called "Limbo Line".

Sexy escapade...

The George Shearing Quintet — Latin Escapade (1956)

George Shearing is one of the few Space Age Pop artists that I've managed to get my hands on. It's not exactly the easiest genre to find here in Perth, but if you know exactly what you're looking for you'd be surprised what you'll find. I bought this one on eBay, as a part of a 12-record collection of George Shearing. Very nice stuff. Maybe I'll upload a track from another one.

I'll give a proper explanation Space Age Pop very soon... With pictures!!!

This track is called "Anitra's Nañigo"

Yamaha Superstar!

Koichi Oki — Yamaha Superstar! (1972)

Now this was an unexpected find! When I saw it, I just knew it would be awesome. The back cover was completely ruined, but it plays pretty well for a $1 record. Yes, I found it in Vinnes in Maylands. ^_^

It's sorta like the Moog Synthesiser but slightly different. It still fits into the Moog category. The track is called "Summer in Shima". If you ever come across this baby, get it! You won't be sorry.

Narrated Noah

Sir Ralph Richardson — Noah's Ark with Sir Ralph Richardson as Noah and Narrator

I can't say I'm all that interested in narrated bible stories, but it looks pretty cool. I should point out I didn't buy it... Since I'd probably never listen to it.

Does this look familiar?

Stanley Black — Plays the Big Instrumental Hits (1959)

This cover looks just like "Holiday For Strings", but sepia and without all the lines. I'm guessing it's from some 60s movie, but I really haven't got a clue. Anyway, really like this whole album, it has the nicest version of "Lullaby of Birdland" I've ever heard. With a xylophone!

Who the hell are you?

Mr. Acker Bilk With The Leon Young String Chorale — Mood Fore Love (1966)

I mostly got this because Mr. Bilk had such a reluctant look on his face there. His eyes say "Who let this crazy b!#¢& into my house? Make her go away!" The other reason I got it was... it looked like 60s jazz with a clarinet and I recognised a few songs, so I figured it wouldn't be so bad.
Here's the best track — Theme from Madame "X"

POP goes the typeface

Various Artists — Pop Special (1963)

This is a really great compelation from Command Records. They're a pretty great label in general. Were, I should say. If you see anything with the Command logo on the top right, get it! Anyway, most of their cover art was very modern-looking and simplistic, I included this one in particular because it has some really cool typography (in my opinion anyway). I'll include a track soon too!