WFMU's Beware of the Blog

If You're Gonna Kiss Me, Kiss Me There (MP3)

Meet Me in Seattle (At The Fair) (1:39)

Seattle, 1962: The last successful World's Fair held in the United States is taking place, and organizers need music to spread the word. The call goes out to Joy and the Boys, and Meet Me in Seattle is born.

There's a reason why you can't write music that appeals to everyone, unless you're the odd genius who can pen an "Mmm...Bop" or "Macarena." When you try, you wind up watering things down to the point where they're meaningless. That's one of two problems with this song. It says nothing about the fair itself, instead serving up a "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" great-date theme, minus the baseball love or love for much of anything. To their credit, the songwriters did slip the marvelous double-entendre, "If you're gonna kiss me, kiss me there" into the lyrics, a lone conceit to songwriting skill handcuffed by the need for that elusive mass appeal.

The other problem with the song is the recording. By 1962 standards, this is dreadful. It sounds like the band was encased in an oildrum and miced from the outside. Audiophiles should note that this recording will likely reverse the magnetic fields in your Harmen-Kardon speakers.

In spite of all this, it's still a good bit of fun, and a nice reminder of the Fair. If you're feeling nostalgic, check out the Seattle Post-Intelligencer World's Fair Site, which is filled with historic photos and commentary on how the Fair shaped modern Seattle.

Bermuda Souveneir with a Beat(les) (MP3s)

1. Narrated Bermuda Tour (3:00)
2. Bermuda Holiday (2:25)

This is a gem of a souvenir record from a local Bermuda tour operator. We're not talking about one of those huge tour ships with casinos, endless drinking and an above-average chance of contracting a norovirus, but those little charter yachts that ferry people around the islands.

The first track offers perhaps the briefest narrated tour of the islands ever recorded, although they make time for some needless stereo panning at the start and two mentions of the "famous Rum Swizzle Party." At least you don't have too far to fall from the boat when the rum kicks in. It also serves up the immortal line, "If you have this recording, you have probably enjoyed a holiday island cruise."  Actually, no, I find about seven copies of this on the docks when the little boats filled with rum-soaked tourists pull up for more shopping and more sightseeing.

Side 2 serves up an allegedly Calypso tune credited to Geoff Kitson and the Island Aires (no, probably not the Hawaiian Island Aires). Everyone involved seems to have heard too much Beatles music, as "Do You Want to Know a Secret" seems to be far more of an influence than the music of the islands, from the Harrisonesque lead guitar to the minor-key harmonies. Listening to this, I can't help but wonder if Weezer had a copy when they were writing "Island in the Sun."

Quadraphonic Freakout (MP3)

 An Evolution of Man in Motion (4:17)

I've posted previously about the psychedelic flavor of quadraphonic promos, as opposed to the genteel, family-centered tone of many 1950s stereo demos. Here's another example, in the form of a sound-effect montage tracking humankind's ascension from biped to interstellar traveler.

This is the opening cut from Ovation's 1973 quad sampler, the rest of which is filled with the sort of eclectic jazz cuts that made up most of Ovation's catalog. During the 1970s, the label made a name for itself with quadraphonic sound effects and records, even signing Judas Priest for quad releases.

There's no narrative to this track, apart from the one you supply with your mind. Listen in your car for the full quad effect. Please don't try to drive if you're listening with '70s-style appreciation enhancers.

All About Life: A New Revue (MP3s)

1. Opener (2:00)
2. Which Did You Say Was Number One? (4:12)
3. People You Like to Talk to (2:11)
4. The Personal Touch (4:42)
5. As Advertised in Life (3:01)
6. Productivity (1:25)
7. 26 Market Mix (2:38)
8. Typical People (2:17)
9. Top Stories (1:03)
10. Guantanamo (2:03)
11. Rocky on the Rocks (1:35)
12. The Big Walk (2:32)
13. Do You Remember (4:15)
14. Finale: The Big Parade (2:32)

What do you get when you mix rising Broadway talent with the budget of America's top periodical in 1963? A rollicking good industrial musical promoting the benefits of advertising in Life.

What this album lacks in overall production value, consisting almost entirely of piano and voice, with a smattering of drum and horn, it more than makes up for in songwriting and talent.

Broadway afficionados may recognize the voices of Michael Allinson, Gloria Bleezarde, William Linton, Eliza Ross, Jay Stuart, and Ronny Whyte. Journeymen Mike McWhinney and Jerry Powell provided words and music, respectively, Ed Nayor and Nat Greenblatt wrote the book, and Rod Warren served as musical director. Nearly everyone involved went on to some level of Broadway or off-Broadway success. Allinson popped up recently in the film Syriana.

Is the Fix In for Slumdog?

I'm taking a break from MP3 posts this week to vent some righteous Oscar indignation.

Go ahead and check that box next to "Jai Ho" in your Oscar pool. For those who haven't seen this latest musical travesty to be graced with an Oscar nomination, here's a clip for your viewing pleasure:

Stirring, isn't it? If your definition of "stirring" happens to be overproduced world beat music that sounds like a rejected theme from the Travel Channel's latest book-your-own-adventure series. Call me culturally illiterate, if you must, but to have this Giorgo Moroder by way of Hanson and The Spice Girls track as one of only three nominations simply staggers my music-appreciating mind. Then again, Moroder's got a couple of songs that won Oscars ("Flashdance" and "Take My Breath Away."

Find out more about how this might have happened and get my picks for five songs that should have made it after the jump.

Hey-ho, Moto (MP3)

A Musical Adventure in Stereo Hi-Fi (10:02)

It's been a while since I shared a stereo demo. This one's a little different, because it was intended for home use. Everyone who bought a Motorola 3 Amplifier Stereo High Fidelity player in the 1950s would find one of these 10-inch treasures tucked into the box, much like that copy of Combat that came with the Atari 2600.

Along with narration pointing out the many virtues of Motorola's proprietary technology, we get instrumental versions of "I'm in the Mood for Love," "South Rampart Street Parade," "Misirlou," "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps," and "El Relicario." The tracks are arranged as a muscial trip around the world, with stops in New Orleans, the Far East, and Mexico.

We only get excerpts from the songs, which is a shame, because there's excellent stereo separation on each of them, particularly "I'm in the Mood for Love," which opens with bongos spread to the left and right channels. These tracks are uncredited, although the sleeve points out that all are sourced from Command and Grand Award records. You'll still find some great breaks here, and there's a minimum of pops, which is rare for an album this old.

I discovered this record at the MIT Swapfest, which takes place on the third Sunday of each month from April to October. If you're in the Cambridge area when this thing's going down, it's a must-visit, especially if you need antique electronics or unusual scientific equipment.

Mort Lindsey Studio Masters (MP3s)

1. All That Jazz (2:00)
2. Gossip (1:46)
3. Night Music (2:08)
4. Like Wow (1:53)
5. Two Little Kooks (2:04)
6. Two Beatniks (2:18)
7. Kerazy (2:04)
8. It Ain't Grendalstag (1:54)

Beat poetry and jazz fans may recognize some of these titles immediately. They're all from Don Morrow's 1961 Roulette release, GRIMM'S HIP FAIRY TALES. Only you won't find a bit of Morrow's vocals on this, as these are the raw studio recordings of Mort Lindsey and his band, which included Doc Severinson on trumpet and Phil Bodner on reeds.

This is a 78 RPM acetate, either for review by the suits or perhaps as playback for Morrow's recording session. Whoever owned this before me scratched off the artist name, and it was only by cross-referencing the track names that I was able to figure out what it was. Those are my handwritten notes on the label. Typos in the track names are courtesy of whoever put it on there ("Kerazy" should be "Kerouazy").

Like most acetates, this one's got some heavy surface wear, but also some surprising fidelity throughout the spectrum. I've left in the odd bits of control-room chatter, and astute listeners will hear Lindsey count in the beat on "Two Beatniks."

This is some terrific bite-sized jazz from Lindsey, who worked extensively in television and film, notably arranging Gay Purr-ee and winning a primetime Emmy for A Happening in Central Park.

The finished album is prized by collectors of beat-era jazz, although Morrow was accused of lifting the concept from Al "Jazzbo" Collins. Here's your chance to enjoy the tunes without the vocal overdubs.

A J's with Jamie Discovery (MP3s)

1. Little Me (2:13)
2. Come on Strong (2:14)

From their golden Columbia years, a previously unknown J's with Jamie single has surfaced. I'll let Jim Maroney, who was kind enough to share these tracks with us, fill in some details:

"In my two-year extensive search for their recordings, this never came up anywhere! I had no idea this recording existed. Do a Google search of "J's with Jamie" along with either song title or Columbia record # and you'll get nothing.

"All of a sudden, this appeared last week on e-Bay - nobody else bid on it, so I got it for 99 cents!

"The killer is that this is one of their very best - if not THE best - singles release, especially since they're not available anywhere else. Both songs are top-shelf and sung great!

"Both songs are the title cuts from Broadway shows of that time by well-known show composers - 'Little Me' by Cy Coleman (book by Neil Simon), and 'Come On Strong' by Sammy Cahn.

"The labels on both sides of the 45 are written on (a radio station copy) with the date 1/1/63 on one side."

I'll second Jim's enthusiasm. This is that swinging sound with smooth harmonies and Jamie's voice at the front that makes their other recordings lost gems of the early 1960s.

The Secret for Perpetual Life (MP3)

The Secret for Perpetual Life (10:14)

Another Bert Tenzer record found it's way into my hands last year. Like his other recordings, it's an advertising record that potential customers could take home and play to build a frothing consumer desire for a product that would turn into a sale. Bring the album back, and you get a special gift from the store, along with a chance to win a Swiss watch.

No Mason Adams this time around, but Bert Tenzer himself is listed as the narrator, so one of the mysteries surrounding these records is solved. There are several voices familiar to Tenzer fans in the cast, including, if I'm not mistaken, the actor who played the father in the sublime "Marriage Union (for teen-agers)" produced by The Christophers.

I won't spoil the surprise of this dramatic adventure in salesmanship, but I will say that the choice of the word "perpetual," rather than "eternal" is a bit of a giveaway. From 1963, this has all the qualities that make Tenzer's records a real joy and a fun change of pace for those who love radio drama.

Jamie and the J. Silvia Singers - Encore (MP3s)

1. Hold on Tight (2:37)

2. Goin' Out of My Head (2:51)
3. Secret Love (3:07)
4. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face (2:26)
5. What the World Needs Now (2:42)
6. The Inch Worm (2:50)
7. You've Got Your Troubles (2:31)
8. Sweetness Is My Love (2:37)
9. What Now My Love (2:12)
10. Dear Heart (2:20)
11. Who Am I? (2:31)
12. Sleep Away (2:00)

The final commerical album by Jamie and the J. Silvia Singers finds them again matched with Sinatra arranger Don Costa and taking on a collection of modern classics. As a whole, this is a much better collection than Jamie and the J. Silvia Singers, although the swing jazz backgrounds of the J's with Jamie albums are again sacrificed for a '70s-contemporary big band sound.

Wisely, this time, Jamies voice is back at the front of the mix. You'll even get a solid sense of the group's past triumphs on "What the World Needs Now" and "The Inch Worm," the latter of which would be the best recording of this song, if the charmingly offbeat Odd Couple version didn't exist.

Someone thought an electric guitar would be a good idea on "Hold on Tight." It's not, and that's thankfully not an ELO cover.

Again, no copyright, but the cover of Anthony and the Imperials "Goin' Out of My Head" dates this past 1964. This album followed Jamie and the J. Silvia Singers, and there's something about the mix and arrangements, a self-conscious attempt at creating the "oldies" sound that haunted AM radio, that leaves me thinking this was released after 1968.

That forced band sound winds up being the only distraction. The vocals and harmonies are much tighter here, but the backing music gets in the way at times. The producers just can't figure out what they want this album to be. It's aiming for a young audience with popular covers while still trying to please the elderly AM fans of the day with "beautiful music."

Fortunately, the group is able to rise above these background music and production meanderings. You'll find a new favorite or two among this set, though it will leave you nostalgic for the Columbia recordings.

As always, my thanks go out to Jim Maroney for the excellent transfers and album art scans.

Jamie and the J. Sylvia Singers (MP3s)

1. This Is All I Ask (3:08)
2. A Taste of Honey (2:21)
3. Days of Wine and Roses (2:40)
4. Yesterday (2:48)
5. It's Not Unusual (2:18)
6. Lost in the Stars (3:09)
7. Nature Boy (1:50)
8. A Lover and His Lass (1:59)
9. The Shadow of Your Smile (2:28)
10. Eight Days a Week (1:53)
11. We Can Work It Out (2:28)
12. Softly as I Leave You (2:44)

Following their three-album tenure at Capitol, Joe Sylvia took the J's with Jamie over to ABC records, restored the original Jamie and the J. Silvia Singers name, and produced a new album with a full orchestra under the direction of Don Costa, who had provided arrangements for Frank Sinatra's recordings. Once again, the album lacks a copyright, but using The Beatles' "We Can Work It Out" as a guide puts this album at 1966 at the earliest.

Fans of earlier J's with Jamie recordings are in for a surprise, as the swinging jazz sound has been replaced with a more AM-radio-friendly supper club orchestra sound. Jamie is relegated to harmonies for much of the album, particularly the Beatle covers.

That's not to say any of this is bad. There's excellent singing and musicianship throughout, but much of what makes the group's earlier recordings so special gets lost in the attempt to create a broader appeal. "This Is All I Ask" comes closest to the classic J's sound, with Jamie's lovely lead vocal taking center stage. The harmonies on "Nature Boy" are so smooth that you may need to hear it a few times to realize it's an a capella track. "It's Not Unusual" rounds out the highlights of the album. The one original track, "A Lover and His Lass," was penned by jazz legend Dick Hyman and injects a bit of swing into the mix.

It's a pleasant listen, but ultimately it's hard to separate this from the abundance of vocal pop that drove Tom Donohue to flee AM radio in the 1960s. The squeal of delight that comes from the thought of the J's taking on The Beatles fades when you hear by-the-numbers arrangements and production. It's done just as well as any of the other vocal group recordings of the day, it's just not done better. Fans will want to add this to their collections, but the uninitiated would be better served getting to know the group's Columbia recordings to understand their enduring popularity.

Hi! We're The Fitt Family! (MP3s)

1. Grandpa's Arrest (:56)
2. Patch of Blue (:57)
3. Company Time (:56)
4. Pac-Man Wrist (:58)
5. Team Spirit (:29)
6. A Fitt Date (:28)
7. Trump Card (:28)
8. Executive Privilege (:29)
9. Phil 'Er Up (:28)

If you're like millions of Americans (myself included), then weight loss tops your list of New Year's Resolutions. Here's a little motivation, courtesy of the President's Council for Physical Fitness, circa 1981.

Each of these fitness-encouraging public service announcements revolves around a member of the family sharing good fitness news or resolving a crisis with Mother Fitt, who seems to be getting closer to a nervous breakdown with each successive track. With a grandfather who struts around town in his pajamas, a husband who's working out with "that cute Miss Willoughby," a son who's name nobody can remember (he's referred to as both Frankie and Freddy), and a daughter who can't get a date, who can blame her?

Production credit goes to Lowengard and Brotherhood. Jerry Lowengard ran an agency that specialized in political ads, so the writing and production is a cut above most PSAs, even if they simply sped up the intro track to make it fit a 30-second spot. "Team Spirit" is the most flagrant example.

Last-Minute Gift (MP3)

Suddenly It's Christmas (2:46)

I don't normally share new music on the Web, but I simply had to post this track, recorded live during my December 10 radio show on WMFO in Boston.

Each year, my former cohost and I have a battle to decide who's got better taste in Christmas music. Choosing the songs for this show tends to be an all-year affair for both of us, and I was dismayed to find myself a week from the show with nothing that really blew me away. There were plenty of songs that I liked, but nothing that said Christmas 2008.

A few days before the show, I wandered into Sally O'Brien's in Somerville, MA, which is one of my local haunts. Kevin Byrne was behind the bar, talking about this Christmas song he'd written as a gift for his family in 2007, realizing that he was out of time to buy presents. He grabbed a guitar and played it for me, and I found the song I'd been searching for all season. Kevin was kind enough to let me share the live recording with you.

As we're tightening our belts and gazing cautiously toward the coming year, I think this song sums up what's important about Christmas. It's not presents, it's not money, it's togetherness and thoughtfulness. If you can take the time to enjoy the company of just one friend or family member this season, then it's all worthwhile.

If you'd like to know more about Kevin and his band, be sure to check out his MySpace page.

I wish everyone in WFMU land a most Happy Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Solstice, or just a Happy Day or Two Off From Work.

Christmas with the Crosby Brothers (MP3s)

4-Star Fall & Christmas Campaign 1960 (4:30)

It's just not Christmas without Bing Crosby crooning those holiday classics. But what about the rest of the Crosby clan? Here's Bing's sons swinging and talking their way through a campaign launch single for Triple S Blue Stamps.

Before there were frequent flier miles, shoppers could collect trading stamps every time they shopped. For each dollar you spent, you got some stamps. Save them up in a handy collection book, and you could trade them in at a store for free merchandise, trips, or discounts. Triple-S Blue competed with the much more popular S&H Green Stamps, and nearly every home had a stash of stamps somewhere. There's even a Brady Bunch episode about the kids cashing in their stamps.

The Crosby boys warble out three versions of the Triple S song, including one with a smattering of Jingle Bells and one where they're trying to find the right vocal key. Like most older 45s, this is on the crackly side, but it's still a fun trip to Christmas past.

MORE Christmas Disco! (MP3s)

1. Deck the Halls (3:18)
2. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (3:52)
3. Hark the Herald Angels (3:37)
4. O Christmas Tree (2:53)
5. White Christmas (4:04)
6. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (3:18)
7. We Three Kings (3:32)
8. Auld Lang Syne (2:34)
9. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (2:57)
10. Twelve Days of Christmas (3:51)

I very nearly fell over when I discovered this album at a flea market during the summer. Christmas Disco (or, if you prefer, Disco Noel) is a staple of the Christmas blogs and regularly runs out the bandwidth at my own wee blog.

I'd heard rumors about additional tracks, maybe even a second album, but it wasn't until I had this 1980 sequel from Phoenix Records in my hand that my belief in the magic of Christmas disco was validated. Yes, Virginia, there is more Christmas disco by the Mistletoe Disco Band, or at least whichever group of session musicians they could stick the name on for this outing.

To be honest, this isn't quite as good as the first Christmas Disco. The first two tracks are heavy on the synth, and "Deck the Halls" is set to a reggae beat, which just doesn't say disco to me. Horrible overdubs by a disinterested singer bring "Hark the Herald Angels" crashing down.

But then it starts to get good. The "Oh, Momma" intro on "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is priceless, and by this point the album has found its way back to the mix of vocals, synth and session funk that made the first outing a campy Christmas classic. There's even a version of "Auld Lang Syne" to get the boogie shoes moving on New Year's Eve.

While this can't compare to the original Christmas Disco, fans of that album will certainly want to have this to complete their collections. Digging through the second part of the album should yield some new holiday favorites for everyone else.

Season's Greetings from The J's with Jamie (MP3s)

1. Joy to the World (1:49)
2. Coventry Carol (1:33)
3. O Come, O Come, Immanuel (1:27)
4. Silent Night (1:57)
5. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1:44)
6. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (1:22)
7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2:17)
8. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1:30)
9. Cool Yule (1:50)

Along with Listener Greg G., I think it's time to take aim at the subtle Grinchiness around this blog with some joyous Christmas music. If the Christmas spirit hasn't got hold of you yet, these songs will provide an immediate cure.

These are the rarest albums in the J's with Jamie catalog, culled from two LPs the group recorded as a Christmas gift for friends, family, and business associates. The first, Season's Greetings, bills the group as Jamie and the J. Silvia singers, while the second, Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Men, carries the J's with Jamie name. "Cool Yule" only appears on the first album.

Columbia producer Ernie Altschuler got his first taste of the group's swinging style while they were in Chicago recording these tracks. He signed them to an exclusive record deal, launching the pop side of their career.

There's a broad range of styles across the nine tracks. The first four are straight versions that echo the popular Christmas music of the early 1960s, though you'll have to look far to find harmonies executed and mixed this brilliantly. "O Come, O Come, Immanuel," the first a capella track I've heard from the group, is perhaps the best example.

The modern songs all sparkle with the swinging sound that characterized the band's Columbia albums. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" defines the J's with Jamie sound. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" opens with the warm, soulful performace found on the group's sentimental numbers. There's no better version of this song in existence, in my opinion.

For fun, there's "Cool Yule" with it's samba-infused beat and a cha-cha and Chipmunk take on "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Check out Len Dresslar's singing on, "Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" and you'll immediately recognize the voice of the Jolly Green Giant.

Whether you've got your parents, mods, hipsters, dance or alternative fans rocking around your Christmas tree, these songs are sure to be a hit when they pop up on your Christmas playlist. Thanks go out to Jim Maroney for making this early Christmas present possible.

This One's Dedicated to Laurie Strode... (MP3s)

1. Cut 1 (0:27)
2. Cut 2 (0:25)
3. Cut 3 Review Spot (0:28)

Three decades later, John Carpenter's Halloween still tops lists as the scariest American movie ever made. Back in 1979, however, it was just another low-budget horror movie trying to make a few bucks at the box office.

This 45 was sent out by Compass International Pictures and no doubt turned into carts for easy airplay. Carts, for those who don't know, were  similar in appearance to 8-track cassettes with around a minute of recording time. A DJ could load several into a cart machine, press a single button and have an entire break's worth of commercials play out. Since the tape was on a small loop, the spot would be ready to play again as soon as it ended.

Cut 3 is the interesting track here, as the high-profile reviews put this late in the box-office marketing cycle. American cinema was being forever changed by Francis Ford Coppola's concept of the blockbuster--a film that opened simultaneously throughout the country. Prior to that, films were released on a regional basis. Movie prints were expensive to make, particularly for low-budget productions, so a few would be struck, tested in major markets, and then hand-carried to the next town. If a film got big enough, they'd make more prints.

During the early days of Halloween's release, little more than newspaper ads were affordable. As the film's reputation grew, so did the marketing budget. Halloween premiered in 1978, but the Roger Ebert review quoted in Cut 3 wasn't written until October 1979.

For those who love a scare, Halloween is a must for your viewing list. Anchor Bay has been dipping into the vaults with this one for years, producing at least seven different versions, including the latest release on Blu-ray. My personal favorite is the Extended Edition, which restores footage shot a year later so that NBC could air the movie in prime time. It's worth seeking out either on the original two-DVD release (long out of print) or in the 2008 box set.

EDIT: Third time is the charm. Cut 3 is working now.

Two Sides of the J's with Jamie

1. Commercials (12:54)

(Tracks below are linked from earlier posts)
2. Everybody Says Don't (2:14) (The Singles Collection)
3. Cotton Fields (2:20) (Hey, Look Us Over)
4. Baby Won't You Please Come Home (2:21) (The Remarkable J's with Jamie)
5. My Cigarette and I (2:24) (The Remarkable J's with Jamie)
6. A Lot of Livin' to Do (2:23) (Hey, Look Us Over)
7. Bewitched (2:52) (The Remarkable J's with Jamie)
8. Little Boy Blue (2:37) (The Remarkable J's with Jamie)

This album, a Columbia Special Products release, completes your J's with Jamie collection from Columbia records. Sent to radio stations as a promo for The Remarkable J's with Jamie, this mono release opens with "Commercials," a trip through the group's advertising work presented as a Dragnet-style narrative. It's just the thing to get your Black Friday consumer impulses stirred into a frenzy, and it includes Jamie's gorgeous version of the Mr. Clean theme.

But wait, there's more! Stay tuned after the jump for a rundown of the Columbia releases and beyond.

The J's with Jamie: The Singles (MP3s)

1. Let's Not Be Sensible (2:15)
2. One Little World Apart (2:20)
3. Theme from a Summer Place (2:15)
4. Popsicles in Paris (2:04)
5. For the Last Time (2:10)
6. Your Dog (2:18)
7. MOA (1:29)
8. Laugh It Up (2:27)*
9. Nowhere to Go But Up (2:18)
10. This Ole House (2:14)*
11. London (Is a Little Bit All Right) (2:26)
12. Here's Love (2:13)*
13. Au Revoir (2:51)
14. The Sound of Money (2:28)*
15. Momma Momma Momma (2:01)
16. Yoshiko (2:13)
17. Everybody Says Don't (2:14)

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Because these 45s were all mono releases, these tracks link to stereo versions that were previously posted.

With the able assistance of Jim Maroney, here are the eight J's with Jamie singles released by Columbia in the early 1960s. Several of these A-sides appeared on full-length albums, including "Everybody Says Don't," which was part of the Columbia Special Products release, TWO SIDES OF THE J'S WITH JAMIE, which will be posted next week.

There's a tremendous variety of musical styles and moods represented in these tracks. "Au Revoir" is almost as heartbreaking as "Little Boy Blue" from THE REMARKABLE J'S WITH JAMIE, thanks to the sadness that flows from Jamie's voice. "London (Is a Little Bit All Right)" shows off the acting skills that had Broadway calling as the band slips into British character voices.

Two tracks deserve special mention. "Yoshiko" is the only J's with Jamie song ever released on CD, as part of the now-defunct Marginal Records release, WELCOME TO CHINATOWN - ORIENTAL "POPCORN" TRACKS VOLUME 1. It's also the song that Pizzicato Five fans often cite as an influence. If they ever make another Katamari Damacy game, Konami ought to license this one, as it fits beautifully with mainstream J-Pop.

"M.O.A." was included as a bonus track for the promotional release of "For the Last Time," added to the B-side. This salute to the Music Operators of America borrows the hook from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and adds some upbeat jazz in the background.

A full list of the singles and songs appears after the jump.

Hey, Look This Over! (MP3s)

1. Hey Look Me Over (2:00)
2. When My Sugar Walks Down the Street (2:25)
3. But Not for Me (2:22)
4. A Lot of Livin' to Do (2:23)
5. Smile (2:49)
6. Good-Bye (2:32)
7. Cotton Fields (2:20)
8. Fly Me to the Moon (2:00)
9. The End of a Love Affair (3:05)
10. The Touch of Your Lips (2:48)
11. The Second Time Around (3:05)
12. Will You Still Be Mine (2:23)

From 1963, here's the very first Columbia release by The J's with Jamie. Once again, there are a few duplicates from other releases (A Lot of Livin' to Do also appeared on Columbia's excellent TWO ON THE AISLE compliation, and the first two tracks can be found on AMANA SIDE-BY-SIDE), however, the quality of these versions is superior to the ones that were posted earlier.

My thanks go out to Jim Maroney, a regular reader of this fine blog who's flooded my inbox with the J's with Jamie albums I was missing. Jim's done a great job on the rips, and I'll be posting his other finds over the next few weeks, concluding with the two Christmas EPs after Thanksgiving.

I've got to salute his record-finding skills, because two years of haunting, cajoling, and stalking every record dealer in New England has only turned up two entries from the band's catalog. I hear Jim uses this thing called eBay, which makes him far braver than I, because I'm always wary about the condition of opened records.

If you're in the East Stroudsberg, PA, area (and why shouldn't you be?), you can catch Jim's show, All Sounds Considered, on Mondays from 4 to 6 PM on 90.3 FM, East Stroudsberg University's radio station.