As requested by musicman1979, a revival of RCA Camden's The Biggest Hits of '59, Vol. 1 and biggest hits of '59, vol. 2. From "The Biggest" to "biggest." And, for some unknown reason, I forgot that I'd already ripped and posted the second volume--this, despite the fact that musicman requested that I "revive" same. It's rather hard to revive/restore something that hasn't already been offered--hence, "revive" is a hint that a given offering has already been offered. Then again, could we conceive of a multiverse in which this wouldn't be true? Great material for a two-hour debate. Or not. Anyway, I done spaced out.
As noted in my previous post, plus my earlier Biggest Hits of '58 entry, by this point RCA was no longer using its own artists (Stuart Foster, Robert Alda, Tex Beneke) for its "Biggest Hits" LPs. Come 1958, this most popular record label of its time was trading tapes with... SPC (Synthetic Plastics Co.), the folks behind Promenade, Prom, Peter Pan, and other rack-jobber operations! And why not, I guess. Furthermore--and I had forgotten this discovery--the tracks of the second 1959 volume also appeared on Eli Oberstein's bottom-of-the-barrel Ultraphonic (Record Distributors of New Jersey) label. Thus, RCA was sourcing its fake hits (as I call them--"hit facsimiles" doesn't have the same ring) from the bottom of the bottom of the barrel. However, pressed on better-quality vinyl than anything offered by the "fake RCA" (Record Corp.) or SPC. With classier cover art, to boot. And, in the case of volume 2, in stereo!
Some excellent fakes between the two volumes--topped by I Need Your Love Tonight, which is graced by terrific Elvis-sound-alike singing--long before that became an industry. And Hawaiian Wedding Song features an expert impersonation of Andy Williams--something that never became a trend. (No cut on Andy, who was a superb vocalist.) And I have a vague memory that this particular Pink Shoe Laces isn't, in fact, the SPC cut. Which, if so, raises the mystery of, "Where did it come from?" Enough to keep fake-ologists busy for years. I, on the other hand, am too lazy at the moment to dig through my record rows and track-compare.
And, though I have two copies of biggest hits of '59 vol. 2 (I'm going with RCA's lowercase font), at least one of them was a thrift gift from Diane, so... thanks again, Diane!
As musicman noted, when I put up the Promenade I Ain't Never at my Lee's Fake Hits channel at YouTube, I should have used the stereo cut here. Maybe I should do a second posting.
And, though I have two copies of biggest hits of '59 vol. 2 (I'm going with RCA's lowercase font), at least one of them was a thrift gift from Diane, so... thanks again, Diane!
As musicman noted, when I put up the Promenade I Ain't Never at my Lee's Fake Hits channel at YouTube, I should have used the stereo cut here. Maybe I should do a second posting.
Sorry for my recent blog absence. I do intend to offer some Halloween slaylists this month--or one, at the very least. Fresh Halloween sides are tough to dig up (especially if they're been buried for a spell), in distinct contrast to Christmas LPs and singles, which--like Xmas decorations in October--are everywhere.
10 comments:
YES I WAS LOOKING FOR AFEW OF THOSE SPECIAL LEE HALLOWEEN TUNES PERHAPS SOME NEW VERSION & SONGS. HAPPY TO KNOW YOUR STILL AROUND. TAKE CARE & THANK YOU FOR ALL...STAN
Yes, it was the Stereo version of Biggest Hits of '59 Volume 2 that was from Diane, as you mentioned in your original June 30, 2022 post. Great binaural Stereo on that one. Haven't come across a copy yet. Lots of great fakes on this one, especially on Volume 2, with Primrose Lane, Just Ask Your Heart, I'm Gonna Get Married, and the aforementioned I Ain't Never.
Primrose Lane, Till I Kissed You, Sleepwalk, The Three Bells, and Just Ask Your Heart originally appeared on LP on Hits A Poppin' 109, so you can feature the cuts from this Stereo album on Lee's Fake Hits while you post the original cover, which you told me is not in the best of shape as my copy. Looking forward to hopefully having Volume one of Biggest of '58 posted on here, the last to feature acts like Stuart Foster and Hill Bowen.
I was the one who wrote the previous comment.
Stan,
I have some "slaylists" nearly ready to go!
musicman1979,
Yes, I figured that was you! Re vol. 2, I was wondering which of my two copies is the Diane gift. Both, possibly. And thanks for the stereo-post suggestions. I did a rip of the mono "Till I Kissed You," but I should utilize the RCA Camden version. And I hadn't noticed that the old gang is featured on vol. 1 of the '58 LP. My copy is a bit beat, but I might manage a decent file.
Looking forward to it! You have been able to pull off little audio miracles with trashed vinyl in the past, like the Herbie Layne Hollywood album you posted in late May of 2023. Hopefully, with the RCA Camden vinyl, it won't be an epic remastering job as the Layne album was.
Always happy to provide fodder for Lee's masterful offerings. I've been away for awhile, yet always on the lookout for more -- uh -- what should I say? -- fake fakola for fakola fans. (Like me.)
I think one of the reasons why RCA Camden switched to swapping with SPC in mid-'58 could be that could have been the time that RCA Camden discontinued their EP line and concentrated on LP's; in addition to the abridged highlight versions of 12" Camden albums, they also did a series of EP's generically titled "Today's Hits", 4 current hits sung by a certain artist like Tex Beneke, Snooky Lanson, Polly Bergen, Snooky Lanson, Connie Haines, etc. Many of the songs on the early "Biggest Hits" albums originally appeared on those EP's.
Also, if you are looking for GOOD Beach Boys string music, look up and look for the Hollyridge Strings' Beach Boy Songbook albums; both are up on YouTube posted as individual song vidoes.
Personally, I think RCA Camden started to "Put tons of pride into their budget line" after they hired Ethel Gabriel and they began to put out the "Living" series of records in the '60's (Living Strings, Brass, Marimbas, Guitar, Trio, etc.)
musicman1979,
Sorry for my late reply. And I have a number of those Camden EPs, and I even have a couple pre-SPC RCA fakes fit to put on my channel, I think. However, I'm conflicted over RCA Camden's "So Rare" budget cover, and because it doesn't have those empathically presented eighth-note triplets. Those MAKE the selection, in my opinion. RCA softened it. I'll probably put up the wonderful "Fontanna" cover of "So Rare," since it's probably the best of the many fakes. And you forgot to mention Robert Alda! Agreed on the excellent of the Hollyridge Strings' BB LPs, and I'm pretty sure I have both. The Alshire Singers sucked immensely. I'm debating whether or not to hang on to that LP simply for its trash value...
Diane,
And thanks for dropping in. And for all your wonderful gift vinyl. I hope I can get myself to finally send YOURS. They are in a here-and-there state right now in my overflow rows, but I'm making some progress in organizing the stash. I keep finding items of the "Oh, yeah, this is for Diane" variety. I'm trying!
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