KIPP Academy - Village Grove (2003)

01-007 07

Village Grove

The KIPP Academy 

Volume II

(2003)

No trace of Volume I, or this Volume for that matter on the web. A CD of Middle School kids doing renditions of rhythmic pop hits such as Gloria Estefan, Diana Ross, the Theme to Shaft and medleys to hits from Motown, Marvin Gaye and this one titled Village Grove, a medley of songs by the Village People.

Think of it like a middle school Salsoul Orchestra!

From the liner notes:

"The 2002-2003 school year marked the sixth consecutive year that KIPP Academy was the highest performing public middle school in the entire Bronx...

The 180-piece KIPP String and Rhythm Orchestra is widely regarded among the finest middle school orchestras in the nation..."

Listen here

Buryl Red and Grace Hawthorne -It's Cool In The Furnace (1972)

01-06 006

It's Cool In The Furnace 

Buryl Red and Grace Hawthorne 

(1972)

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were three young Jewish men exiled in Babylon, friends of Daniel, known for their unwavering faith when they refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's giant gold statue, leading them to be thrown into a blazing fiery furnace but miraculously protected by God, appearing unharmed with a fourth divine figure, teaching lessons of courage, faithfulness, and God's deliverance."

I honestly bought this for the cover. Three goofy looking dudes hanging around in a mound of ice and fire. 

A children's album thru and thru of pure dreck and the old Bible parable about the power of faith. 

The voice of the King sounds like the head elf from a Rankin-Bass holiday special, or Yoda doing a Bill Cosby impression.

Pretty hip beatnik arrangement by Nashville A-team session players... Harold Bradley, Bob Moore, Buddy Harmon and Charlie McCoy to name a few.

Listen here

Harry Breuer and his Quintet - TV Funeral March (1958)

 

01-05 05

TV Funeral March

Harry Breuer and his Quintet 

Mallet Mischief Vol. 2

(1958)

For me, and for some of you I'm sure, the Re/Search Incredibly Strange Music books were absolute text books for music curios 101. The CDs were fantastic too. For those familiar with the books (and CDs) will remember this LP cover gracing the front art of Volume 1.

Harry Breuer was very much a session musician, but did release three LPs with his Quintet for the Audio Fidelity label.

The Incredibly Strange CDs featured the cut "Bumble Bee Bolero" from the Quintet's first album (Mallet Magic) and "Minute Merengue" (from this LP.)

So, I offer a third cut here, "TV Funeral March," which I'm sure some of you will recognize as Gounod's "Funeral March of a Marionette," the theme song to Alfred Hitchcock Presents...

Which begs the question, to me... is there still relevance to Re/Search books, or to Alfred Hitchcock Presents???

Listen here

Johnny Redd - Party, Party, Party (c. 1980s?)

 01-04 004

Party, Party, Party

Johnny Redd

Country Hot 

(c. 1980s?)

Vague, ambiguous release with absolutely no information on the artist on the back. The front cover is just as vague. Any research on the JRS label, out of Palmdale CA, that this album was released on leads only back to this album. I would assume this was a tax scam album if it didn't include so many covers.

This cut was sent to me on a tape via visual artist Nate Abels, who always includes some unique and interesting stuff on the mixtapes he sends my way.

Maybe someone out there may have some information on the elusive Johnny Redd.

Anyway... here is one, of a handful of original cuts that appears on this LP.

Listen here

Cathie Christie - What The World Needs Now (1972)

 01-03 003

What The World Needs Now

Cathie Christie

A Quiet Place

(1972)

Not sure if Cathie wanted to release a pop album or a Christian album here... there certainly are a few pop songs in here with religious themes. The combo sound just as suited for a church function as they do for a hotel lobby. 

Her voice however has the commanding presence of someone who probably has only taken solos on hymnals in a church choir.

It appears she released one more album, also religious material, about a decade later... in Australia. 

Liner notes:

"A Quiet Place" is Cathie Christie's first venture into the recording field... and we trust the first in a series of coming albums.

Together, with her arranger Gene Roberson, they selected a variety of contemporary songs that we'll expresses her living faith. The lyrics become her own... and each melody conveys a new and meaningful message to the listener. 

Cathie Christie is blessed with an exceptional singing voice. The range and quality of her singing are truly warm and inspirational. Her love for the Lord Jesus Christ adds a deep dimension of spiritual power to her songs. It is a pleasure to commend Cathie and her songs to you.

Emil A. Balliet 

President 

Southern California College

Listen here

Larry Decker - Someone Nice Like You (1978)

 01-02 002

Someone Nice Like You

Larry Decker

S-11-16-78

(1978)

Music That Shapes and their amazing limited edition Real People Music cassette comps and You Tube channel have absolutely been lighting the torch of uncharted waters with some really amazing finds... It was through them that I found out about the great Larry Decker. As far as I know he released two singles and an LP. Perhaps MTS can elucidate with more knowledge. Still need to track down Larry's album, but both singles are amazing. Check out that last note in this song... wow!!!! 

What I like best about Larry is that he totally could have gone the loner folk, gloomy route... but all of the cuts I've heard have a feeling of love and optimisim.

There are still a couple copies of "Real People Music Volume 2" on their bandcamp, and you can check out a few more Larry Decker cuts on the Realpeople Music YouTube channel.

Listen here!

Unknown Man Singing - Poem / Indian Love Call (c. 1950's)

 01-01 001

Poem - Indian Love Call

Unknown Man Singing

National Hollywood 78rpm (Acetate)

(c. 1950's)

Blind bought in a stack of unlabled acetates many years ago. A man singing some kind of politically incorrect poem and then doing a warbly whistle rendition of "Indian Love Call." You can hear him flirting with his wife? Girlfriend?? Some unknown woman in the background. Quality of the disc is very scratchy and times sounds like it was used as a coaster, but to clean it up would be pointless, and it would lose some of its charm(?!)

Listen here