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!

This looks like a fun party!

Alan Gardiner Accordion Band — Play It Again (1968)

Ever got something because you just knew it was going to be absolutely terrible? This is the equivelent of going to see some shitty low-budget horror movie just to laugh at it... It sounds about as good as it looks, but I had to get it!

Holiday for strings, whatever that means

Radio City Music Hall Symphony Orchestra — Holiday For Strings

Another great album. Very 50s pop-orchestral. I really like the  composition of the cover. In other words, I bought it because I'm shallow...

Here's a nice track called "Pavan".

f holes everywhere!

Yehudi Menuhin — Two Mozart Concertos

I found this excellent looking cover in a Fremantle Vinnies for 50¢! Couldn't resist. In case you thought it was weird, the holes on violins, violas, cellos and double basses are called "f holes", so I wasn't being rude!

Ka-POW!

Dynamic Brass — The Blue Velvet (1970)

That's one way to describe this album. It's pretty explosive from start to finish! And by far, one of the best op-shop finds I've had to date. I can't believe I find this kind of stuff for only $1! I say this with a very self-satisfied, sheepish grin. It's things like this, that make trawling through dross (Kamal) entirely worth the effort, you see...

Now to the track... When I was in Highschool — which wasn't so long ago, I might add — I studied Classical Guitar. One of the duets I played was "Two Guitars". Here is a brassy, jazzed-up version of it that sounds better than anything I ever played!

If computers could sing...

Christopher Scott — Moog Plays Switched-On Bacharach

Whenever I see the word "Moog", I pounce! The moog synthesiser is a wacky keyboard-type instrument that was quite popular in the late 60s/early 70s, just think Kraftwerk. It's a little cheesy and futuristic at the same time. I just love it. If computers could sing, this might be what they'd sound like! Now imagine all your favourite Bacharach tunes sung by this hypothetical singing computer. Brilliant!!!


"The Look of Love"

Pretty piano medleys

Charlie Kunz — Piano Medleys

In case it wasn't obvious, I bought it 'cause it looked pretty! Yes, I'm shallow.

No Leprechauns here...

David Curry's Irish Band — More Irish Rhythms

I don't have much to say about this one, really. It sounds okay for what it is, I guess? 

Vocalion!

Another nice label from Vocalion, whoever they are. Again, I'm not that into male duets or anything to do with Ohio. Plus it's a 78, which I can't play, I don't have a gramophone. Hmm, maybe I should get one! 

Brunswick!

I was looking through a Vinnies record bin today and saw this awesome looking label. I would have bought it too, but it was pretty scratched up and I'm pretty sure it only plays on a gramophone... which I don't have. But definitely worth a mention! 

Hey there, sexy lady!

The International Hits Orchestra — Lightly Latin (1968)

Welcome to the wacky world of Cheesecake! It's a term given to records that have a random hot lady on the cover, wearing various amounts of clothing. I have no idea where that term originated.

"Southern Festival"(below) is quite a good track. It's what I imagine the soundtrack of a 60s spanish spy movie would sound like...

Surfing in France, with an accordion!

Armand Lassagne — Son Accordéon et son Ensemble

Some unexpectedly nice label art too

I found this little gem while I was sifting through crap in the Salvos record bin. It looked very 50s/60s, and I thought French accordion music from that era would sound pretty cool. I wasn't wrong. The track below in particular has a bit of Surfer guitar going on, it's really cool and totally bazaar! ENJOY!!!

Xavier and Abbe

Xavier Cugat / Abbe Lane — Self titled

Abbe Lane with Tito Puente and his Orchestra — Be Mine Tonight

Today we have a little Latin treat... Xavier Cugat was a well-known band leader from the 50s and 60s. For 12 years, he was married to singer/dancer/actress Abbe Lane. So this track "Nightingale", is actually taken from "Be Mine Tonight" by Abbe Lane and Tito Puente and his Orchestra but it's on this compilation album "Xavier Cugat / Abbe Lane". I really wish I had "Be Mine Tonight"!

Here's a test to see if I can upload tracks I recorded onto my computer, to my Sound Cloud account, then to here! Hooray, it worked!!!

Strauss Festival!

Carl Schuricht: Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera —Strauss Festival

I do like a bit of classical, but this was the first time I listened to Strauss. One track in particular sounded very familiar, like it came out of a Disney movie waltz or something.

If you can't tell, the main reason I got this record was because it was pretty... On the left, next to the cape, it's signed M. R. Zwolinski. Can't find him on Google. Anyway, it was $1 in a Salvos store.

Hello...

WELCOME TO BLACK SOUP!!!

I bought a record player a few of months ago and I've become obsessed with vinyl. I really wanted to share the awesome music I've found with everyone, because it's just too good to keep to myself. From amazing artwork to completely zany, cheesy music and everything in between. Soon I should be able to upload tracks from my ever-growing collection, so stay tuned!

I can guarantee there'll be music you've never heard before!

As you can see, the site's still under construction. I need to do a nicer heading and some background artwork. If you'd like, you can check out my other design blog d! Konstruct.