Jay Perdue and Company - YMCA/Hot Stuff (1980)

 

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YMCA/Hot Stuff

Jay Perdue and Company

Most Requested 

(1980)

Jay and Vicki Perdue, along with synth and bass player Gary Mingus, form "Jay Perdue and Company." Their second (they only had two!) album, they would go under the name: Jay & Vicki plus Gary.

They were natives of Borger, Texas and seem to have made that their entertainment hub for the bulk of their career. The whole album is fun AOR throughout, so O figured I'd offer you one song featuring Jay on vocals and one featuring Vicki.

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Rick Chandler and his Orchestra - Brazilian Carnival (1985)

 

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Brazilian Carnival

Rick Chandler and his Orchestra 

A Week To Remember 

(1985)

Less a record to highlight Rick Chandler's musicianship, and more a record to advertise Carnival Cruise Lines. The record mentions how Rick Chandler is following in his father's footsteps as an English Carnival Cruis Line entertainer.

The liner notes go on to explain the new additions to the Carnival Cruise fleet the company plans to add over the next two years...

The music? Standard background lite jazz faire... but this song, "Brazilian Carnival" stands out to me... almost sounding like background music to an 80s crime TV series.

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Kay Armstrong - It's You, It's You (1980)

 

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It's You, It's You

Kay Armstrong 

Because I Love You

(1980)

At age 16, Kay Armstrong had her own orchestra. Not sure how long prior to this album being recorded, or if the photos on the front reflect that era of her life... but Kay Armstrong certainly sounds of a certain age.. to me, the whole record has a vibe that could fit perfectly with Eraserhead's "Lady In The Radiator"... but judge for yourself!!!

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Alice Armand - Peek Up At The Stars (1953)

 

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Peek Up At The Stars

Alice Armand

Erica Sings

(1953)

Erica Hermann, aka Erica Newman, aka Hollywood actress Alice Armand, would act in a dozen-ish major motion pictures from the mid 30s into the early 1940s.

Around age 50 she would leave Hollywood and retire to a farm in the Adirondack region of New York where she would take up learning instruments, and writing songs.

This "talent" would result in the release of this private press vanity album... The songs are certainly of the folk persuasion, ranging from subjects like a Patriotic anthem, to a protest song against speedy drivers, to sappy children's songs such as "Mommy Do They Shine Shoes Up In Heaven?"

What is DEFINITELY clear, she is an amateur at both songwriting and instrumentation... giving every song a surreal, outsider, real people music feel... which based on the liner notes, certainly wasn't the intention, as you can see, she viewed herself as a professional. 

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Ernie Menehune - Aquarius-Let The Sunshine In (1970)

 

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Aquarius-Let The Sunshine In

Ernie Menehune

My Way

(1970)

Ernie Menehune! Hawaii's Sun-tanned Irishman! Whatever that means. This album is dedicated to the proprietors of the Spanish Trail Motel & Supper Club in Tucson, Arizona... where Ol' Ern would frequent performance at until his death.

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Matthew's Exit - Get Ready-Higher (1973)

 

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Get Ready - Higher

Matthew's Exit

1

(1973)

Liner notes:

"The entertainers who can make a room become very much alive. They stimulate participation and establish a charisma with the audience, young, old and indifferent. Together Matthew's Exit can come on as heavy as Chicago, 7-man Rock and Roll ground, or as easy listening as The Carpenters for dining audiences. Though they emphasize all the current songs and medleys of the 70s, they have audience participation and games of nostalgia of the 60s and 50s that immediately bring them acceptance from a new audience. This is the feature that brings up their first albu by big and popular demand - The nostalgia of the oldies. The songs featured are the songs most requested for them to do. They provide you with their own total sound system which add dimensions of musical variety and a quality of excellence that is unequaled. There is that feeling of excitement that something is being created. Now, for the very first time you have it, MATTHEW'S EXIT."

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Los Angeles Central High School For The Arts - Spanish Flower (1987)

 

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Spanish Flower

Los Angeles Central High School For The Arts

Jazz

(1987)

The LACHSA is a visual and performing arts high school, founded in 1985, and housed in the Cal State LA campus.

Solely auditioned bases, the tuition-free studies, offer conservatory level curriculum. 

This album is filled with top tier jazz, but I absolutely love this exotica-tinged cut... 

The organ work is exceptional, which makes since, as their director, Craig Kupka, has released several electronic keys albums in his own right.

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