Friday, December 22, 2023

Hello, Mister Playlist: Coffeetime Homebrew ep 170

Album cover of Christmas Songs and Carols on Golden Records label, illustrated by Lowell Hess, showing Victorian carolers on a snowy evening near a gas street lamp with a wooden sign with Santa Claus's face on it.
In my imagination, that’s me in the lower left.

Coffeetime, December 22, 2023, Angelynn Grant

set 1
Red Garland / All Kinds of Weather / Winter Wonderland / Prestige / 11.27.58 
Dick Robertson / Don’t Wait ’Til the Night Before Christmas / Decca / 9.19.39 
Kay Kyser & his Orchestra / Hello, Mister Kringle / Columbia / LA 9.7.39 / vocal = Ginny Simms, Harry Babbitt, Sully Mason, & Ish Kabibble
Frank Sinatra / Christmas Dreaming / Columbia / Hollywood 6.26, 27.47 / with Axel Stordahl & his Orchestra / “no sign of snow around”
The Nic Nacs [The Robins] / Gonna Have a Merry Christmas / RPM / LA 11.2.50 / with Little Esther 
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, & Vera Ellen [dubbed by Trudy Stevens] / Snow / soundtrack, Paramount movie White Christmas / Hollywood 1953 
Ella Fitzgerald / Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas / Sleigh Ride / Verve / LA 7.15 & 16.60 / studio orchestra arranged & conducted by Frank DeVol ​
Nancy Wilson / That’s What I Want for Christmas / Capitol / Hollywood 11.18.63 / with celeste!

bed
Dexter Gordon / The Panther! / The Christmas Song / Prestige / 7.7.70 

set 2
Charles Schultz /A Charlie Brown Christmas original soundtrack / dialogue snippet / Buena Vista / LA 1977 / with Peter Robbins [Charlie Brown] & Christopher Shea [Linus]; “besides, I think it needs me”
Vince Guaraldi / A Charlie Brown Christmas / O Tannenbaum; Skating; Hark, the Herald Angels Sing; The Christmas Song; Christmas Time is Here (vocal) / Fantasy / LA 1965 / with the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael 
Dean Martin / It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas / NBC TV broadcast, The Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Show / Hollywood 12.5.52
Bing Crosby & Peggy Lee / Here Comes Santa Claus / radio broadcast, The Bing Crosby Show For Chesterfield / Hollywood 12.3.49 / with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires {Conlon, Mack McLean, Charles Parlato, Loulie “Lily” Jean Norman, Gloria Wood} and John Scott Trotter & his Orchestra
Anne Lloyd & the Sandpipers / Christmas Songs and Carols / When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter / Golden Records / 1958 / with = Mitch Miller; cover by Lowell Hess Doris Day / The Doris Day Christmas Album / The Christmas Waltz / Columbia / LA 1964

bed
Don Patterson / Holiday Soul / Merry Christmas, Baby / Prestige / 11.25.64 

set 3
Cranston East A Cappella Choir / Speak to One Another / Fum, Fum, Fum / Vogt / Cranston, RI fall 1972
Kenny Burrell / Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas / Merry Christmas Baby / Cadet / Chicago 10.66 / Burrell g, Charles Stepney p; Cleveland Eaton b, Morris Jennings d
Steve Allen Trio / A Chiaroscuro Christmas / Jingle Bells / Chiaroscuro / Pittson PA, WVIA 1973 / Allen p, Paul Rostock b, Ira Saylor d
Richard Himber & his Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra / Winter Wonderland / Victor / 10.23.34 / vocal = Joey Nash 
Henry Hall & the BBC Dance Orchestra / The Fairy on the Christmas Tree / HMV / London 11.29.36 / vocal = The Three Sisters 
Mel Blanc and the Sportsmen / Jingle Bells / radio transcription AFRS Mail Call Christmas Special / Hollywood 40s
Kay Starr / December / radio transcription / Hollywood fall 1949 / with Billy Butterfield Quintet and background vocals by The Three Beaus & a Peep: Darlene Zito, Phil Scott, Lester Brush, & Jimmy Leyden
Jo Stafford / Happy Holiday / Happy Holiday; Winter Weather / Columbia / 1955 / a sort of concept album, with Paul Weston & his Orchestra
Julie London / I’d Like You for Christmas / Liberty / LA 1957
Sammy Davis Jr. / It’s Christmas Time All Over The World / Reprise / LA mid-1965

bed
Gene Ammons / Night Lights / The Christmas Song / Prestige / 2.2.70 

set 4
Tommy Flanagan / An Uptown Christmas / The Christmas Waltz / Uptown / 8.12.87
Judy Garland / from the soundtrack to the film “Meet Me in St. Louis” / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / MGM / Hollywood 12.4.43
King Cole Trio / The Christmas Song / Capitol / Hollywood 6.14.46 / written by Robert Wells & Mel Tormé 
Johnny Mercer / Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town; Jingle Bells (Capitol Promos) / Capitol / Hollywood 9.17.47; 1946 / with the Pied Pipers
James Brown & his Famous Flames / James Brown Christmas Album / Merry Christmas, I Love You / King / 1966
Dinah Washington / Make Me a Present of You / EmArcy / LA 11.11.55 / with Ernie Wilkins Orchestra
Golden Gate Quartet / Go Where I Send Thee / Bluebird / Charlotte, NC 8.4.37

last soulful (Christmas) song
Otis Redding / Soul Christmas / Merry Christmas, Baby / Atco / Memphis 2.67

Friday, December 15, 2023

The Best Playlists Happen While You’re Dancing: Coffeetime Homebrew ep 169

Scan of the cover for the 78 rpm Golden Record, Winter Wonderland and Mr. Snow, showing a cartoon illustration of children smiling on a sled and building a snowman.
Merry Xmas, Kiddie Records Weekly!

Coffeetime, December 15, 2022, Angelynn Grant

set 1
Dizzy Reece / Asia Minor / Spiritus Parkus / New Jazz / 3.13.62 
Glen Gray & the Casa Loma Orchestra / Blue Jazz / Brunswick / 7.25.32 
Bernie Cummins & his Orchestra / I Told Santa Claus to Bring Me You [written by Truman Virgil “Pinky” Tomlin] / Vocalion / 12.12.37 / vocal = Walter Cummins
Frankie Laine / Christmas Favorites / You’re All I Want For Christmas / Mercury / 1950
Felix Gross & his Orchestra / Love for Christmas / Savoy / LA 10.25.49 / Joe Howard ts, Mitchell “Tiny” Webb g, Minor Robinson d
Sparky / I Don’t Want a Lot for Christmas / Capitol / Hollywood 1952 / with music by Billy May 
Connee Boswell / Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! / Decca / Hollywood 1946 / with Russ Morgan & his Orchestra
Jo Stafford / Ski Trails / By the Fireside / Columbia / 1955 / with Paul Weston & his Orchestra and The Starlighters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski_Trails

bed
Bucky Pizzarelli / Flashes - Solo 7-String Guitar, Volume 3 / Arbors Jazz / 2004

set 2
Bill Evans & Jim Hall / Intermodulation / Turn Out the Stars / Verve / 4.7.66 
Jimmy Hamilton / Can’t Help Swinging / Dancing on the Ceiling / Prestige Swingville / 4.4.61
Eddy Duchin & his Orchestra / When Winter Comes / Brunswick / 5.16.39 / vocal = Johnny MacAfee
Bing Crosby / I’d Like to Hitch a Ride with Santa Claus / radio broadcast, Philco Radio Time [Decca] / Hollywood 11.25.50 / duet with Lindsay Crosby; with John Scott Trotter & his Orchestra and Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires [Jeff Alexander Chorus  
Bob Keeshan & Lumpy Brannum / Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas from Captain Kangaroo / Crackerjack Christmas / Golden Records / 1958 / with Jimmy Carroll & Orchestra and Mr. Green Jeans aka Lumpy Brannum
Danny Kaye / The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing / soundtrack to White Christmas / Hollywood 1953 / with the Starlighters & Rosemary Clooney, dialogue with Vera-Ellen & Rosemary Clooney (“I don’t weigh very much.”) 
Billie Mae Richards & Paul Soles / soundtrack to TV show Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / We’re a Couple of Misfits / Decca / 1964

set 3
Ike Quebec / Bossa Nova Soul Samba / Blue Samba / Blue Note / 10.5.62 
Jimmy Forrest / Out of the Forrest / That’s All / Prestige / 4.18.61 
Sammy Kaye / Santa Claus Is on His Way / Victor / 1941 / vocal = The Three Kaydets
Mills Brothers / On This Christmas Eve / Decca / 9.8.49 
Bing Crosby & Peggy Lee / Little Jack Frost Get Lost / radio broadcast, Philco Radio Time / Hollywood 1.11.50 / with John Scott Trotter & his Orchestra and Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires  https://youtu.be/lx7YUZrdTf0
The Dinning Sisters & Bob Atcher / Christmas Island / Capitol / Hollywood 1950
Dean Martin / Christmas Blues / Capitol / Hollywood 10.5.53
Allen Keller / A New Look at the World / Christmas Road / Charlie Parker Records / early 1960s

set 4
Bill Harris / The Harris Touch / Yesterdays / EmArcy / 5.2.57 / Harris g, unknown bongos
Herb Geller / Sleigh Ride / EmArcy / 1954 https://www.discogs.com/release/8274629-Herb-Geller-Quartet-Sleigh-Ride/image/SW1hZ2U6MjIzNDU1MDE=
Oscar Moore / The Christmas Song / Horizon / Burbank 4.65 / Moore g, Gerald Wiggins p, Joe Comfort b King Cole Trio / Jingle Bells / Standard transcription / Hollywood 10.38 / NKC p & voc, Oscar Moore g, Wesley Prince b
The Starlighters / I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm / Capitol / Hollywood 1948
June Hutton / Song of the Sleigh Bells / Capitol / Hollywood 11.26.52 / with Axel Stordahl & his Orchestra and The Boys Next Door
Dean Martin / Silver Bells / NBC TV broadcast, The Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Show / Hollywood 12.9.52
Alphabetical Four / Go Where I Send Thee / Decca / 8.16.38

last soulful song
Donny Hathaway / This Christmas / Atco / Chicago 1970



Friday, December 08, 2023

The Only Thing I Want For Christmas (Is Just to Keep the Playlist That I’ve Got): Coffeetime Homebrew ep 168

Screenshot from the 1962 animated film Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol showing Scrooge's scraggly servants at the rag picker/junk collector's store selling Scrooge's possessions.
WMBR deejays after returning to the basement of Walker Memorial.

Coffeetime, December 8, 2023, Angelynn Grant

set 1
Chet Baker & Art Pepper / Playboys / C.T.A / Pacific Jazz / LA 11.56 
Buddy Banks ‎/ Jazz de Chambre / A Night in Tunisia / Club Française du Disque 33 / Paris 10.28.54 / Jimmy Gourley g, Bob Dorough p, Buddy Banks b, Roy Haynes d
Sonny Stitt / The Hard Swing / I Got Rhythm / Verve / 2.9.59 
The Rhythmic Eight aka Bert Firman Orchestra / Faces at the Window / Zonophone / Hayes, Middlesex 5.24.28
Lee Morse / Something in the Night / Columbia / 8.26.32 / Bob Downey p 
Floyd Dixon / Empty Stocking Blues / Aladdin / LA 9.19.50 / with Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers
Dorothy Dandridge / How Long Has This Been Going On / Verve [unissued] / Hollywood 1.20.58 / Oscar Peterson p, Herb Ellis g, Ray Brown b, Alvin Stoller d

bed
Bucky Pizzarelli / Flashes - Solo 7-String Guitar, Volume 3 / Arbors Jazz / 2004

set 2
Jack Wilson / The Two Sides of Jack Wilson / The Good Life / Atlantic / LA 5.13.64 
René Thomas / René Thomas et son Modern Group / ’Tis Autumn / Polydor / Paris 3.22.56 
Eddie Heywood / Eddie Heywood / Tenderly / EmArcy / 7.55 / Heywood p, Wendell Marshall b, Jimmy Crawford d
Django Reinhardt et le Quintette du Hot Club de France / Manoir de Mes Rêves / Swing / Paris 2.17.43 
Abe Lyman & his Californians / I Can’t Give You Anything but Love / Decca / Chicago 11.26.28 / vocal = Phil Neely 
Bing Crosby / You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me / Brunswick / 1.12.33 / with Guy Lombardo & his Royal Canadians, featuring Lebert Lombardo on trumpet
Paul Frees, Royal Dano, Joan Gardner, and Laura Olsher / Plunderer’s March (We’re Despicable) / soundtrack to Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol / 1961 / music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill 
Kenny Dorham / This Is the Moment! / Make Me a Present of You / Riverside / 7.7.58 

set 3
Bennie Green / Bennie Green / Sonny’s Crip / Time / 9.27.60 
John Coltrane / Blue Train / I’m Old Fashioned / Blue Note / 9.15.57 
Charlie Parker Septet / A Night in Tunisia / Dial / Hollywood 3.28.46 
The Ink Spots / I Wish You the Best of Everything / Decca / 5.19.38 
Benny Goodman & his Orchestra / A Gal in Calico / Columbia / 1946 / vocal = Eve Young
Matt Dennis / Welcome Matt / By the Fireside / Jubilee / 1958 / with band arranged & conducted by Sy Oliver

set 4
Conte Candoli Sextet / Leonard Feather Presents: Best from the West, Vol. 2, Modern Sounds From California / Burbank Bounce / Blue Note / Hollywood 12.30.54 / Conte Candoli t, John Graas frh, Charlie Mariano as, Marty Paich p, Monty Budwig b, Stan Levey d; a blindfold test record
Ellis Larkins / Blue and Sentimental / Blue and Sentimental / Decca / 1956 / Larkins p, Skeeter Best g, Joe Benjamin b, Jim Crawford d
Eddie Cantor / The Only Thing I Want For Christmas (Is Just to Keep the Things That I’ve Got) / Columbia / 11.26.39 / with Jerry Joyce and his Orchestra and The Robert Mitchell “Boychoir” 
King Cole Trio / (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons / Capitol / Hollywood 8.22.46 / NKC p & voc, Oscar Moore g, Johnny Miller b
Arthur Prysock / Arthur Prysock & Count Basie / Don’t Go to Strangers / Verve / 1965 
Nancy Wilson / Easy / Make Me a Present of You / Capitol / Hollywood 1968
Highway QC’s / I Dreamed That Heaven Was Like This / Vee-Jay / Chicago 1956

last soulful song
Jan Bradley / Mama Didn’t Lie / Chess / Chicago 1963



Friday, December 01, 2023

A Woman Alone with the Playlist, Redux

A screenshot from a black and white film of Desi Arnaz and two of his bandmates playing congas while Desi sings. Desi is in a black formal suit and the bandmates have on white shirts with multi-ruffled sleeves.
Long-fingered, sharp-dressed Desi, even

Coffeetime, December 1, 2023, Angelynn Grant

set 1
Buddy Collette / Buddy Collette in Italy / Santa Tecla / Ricordi / 1961
Dexter Gordon / Doin’ Allright / It’s You Or No One / Blue Note / 5.6.61
Bennie Green / Glidin’ Along / Expubidence / Jazzland / 3.9.61
Gus Arnheim & his Orchestra / Glad Rag Doll / Okeh / Hollywood 1.17.29 / vocal = Russ Columbo
Cats & the Fiddle / Gang Busters / Bluebird / Chicago 6.27.39
Ella Fitzgerald / Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book / All Too Soon / Verve / 6.27.57 / with Duke Ellington & his Orchestra

bed
Bucky Pizzarelli / Flashes - Solo 7-String Guitar, Volume 3 / Arbors Jazz / 2004

set 2
Bobby Jaspar / Bobby Jaspar / Before Dawn / Riverside / 5.57
Lee Morgan / Introducing Lee Morgan / P.S. I Love You / Savoy / 11.5.56 / Hank sits out
Stan Getz / Chamber Music by the Stan Getz Quintet / Autumn Leaves / Roost / 12.5.52
Golden Gate Orchestra (California Ramblers) / (Who’s Wonderful, Who’s Marvelous?) Miss Annabelle Lee / Edison Diamond Disc / 7.15.27
Paul Robeson / Lonely Road / HMV / London 1936
Julia Lee & her Boyfriends / Mama Don’t Allow / Capitol / Hollywood 6.16.47   
Quarteto Em Cy (The Girls from Bahia in the US) / ¡Revolución Con Brasilia! / Manhattan / Warner Brothers / 1967

set 3
Paul Horn / Something Blue / Something Blue / Hifi Jazz / 3.60
Wynton Kelly / It’s All Right! / On the Trail / Verve / 3.19.61
Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra / Annie Laurie / Victor / 2.3.38 / vocal = Jack Leonard Quartet 
Five Red Caps / Somebody’s Lyin’ / Beacon / 3.44
Frank Sinatra / Nice ‘n’ Easy / Nevertheless / Capitol / Hollywood spring 1960

set 4
Howard Roberts / Good Pickin’s / Easy Living / Verve / LA 1959
Lyle Murphy / Gone with the Woodwinds! / Triton / Contemporary / LA 10.11.55
Desi Arnaz & his Orchestra / La Cumparsita / RCA / LA 1947
King Cole Trio / The Best Man / Capitol / 8.19.46 / NKC p & vocal, Oscar Moore g, Johnny Miller b, Jack “The Bear” Parker d
Amos Milburn / Sad and Blue / Aladdin / LA 4.26.47 / Maxwell Davis ts
Anita O’Day / All the Sad Young Men / A Woman Alone with the Blues / Verve /10.16.61
Zion Harmonizers / Working the Road / Gotham / 1958

last soulful song
Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston / Marvin Gaye and his Girls / I Want You ’Round / Motown / Detroit 1969
Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston / When We’re Together / Motown / Detroit 1969