musicman1979 requested a re-upload of this offering, which seemed like a good idea, and so here it is. Originally posted in 2020, but with the original upload junked by Workupload some time ago. This is a revised version of my original text.
This Promenade LP features an overview of the 1950s, credited to bandleader Eddie Maynard, but with no Eddie Maynard to be heard--the usual cheap-label game. Well, unless that's Eddie on the cover, which I doubt. For once, we have a budget LP model holding, not major-label LPs, but albums from the very budget label itself--smart move.
So, my job was to figure out where these tracks, reissued here in 1957 or 1958, originally came from. And I knew this had to be 1957 or 1958 because the liner notes refer to the 50s as "not yet completed" and mention a "man made satellite" (Sputnik or Explorer?) as a new item. From the notes: "(The 50's) are the years that saw a Republican Administration replace a long-incumbent Democratic one. Progress in Atomic Research to such an extent that it might prevent us all from witnessing 'The Stupid Sixties.' Atomic Research devoted to the ways of peace could however change our out-look on this approaching era to such an extent that certainly the 60's will be called 'Stupendous.'" Interesting and weird liner notes, and at least Promenade provided something beyond a stock back cover.
Anyway, I figured these were all Prom/Promenade tracks (Homes-level deduction, there), and I was mostly correct. The big exceptions: Because of You, sung by the famous Perry-Como-soundalike vocalist Johnny Kay, best known for his SPC Christmas tracks, and Cry (more on that second track in a moment). From the Internet Archive:
Finding this was pure luck. Since the singer sounded so much like Johnny Kay, I plugged "Johnny Kay" and "Because of You" into the IA, and up popped this. And it's the LP track! "Popular Records" (not to be confused with the "Popular" Extended Play Records series) was obviously either 1) a Synthetic Plastics Co. sublabel to begin with or 2) a label bought up by SPC after it tanked. And there's Cry by Larry Foster with the Preston Saniford Orch., and originally issued on the obscure budget label, Cameo (Cameo Records 323). And Cameo seems to have been in the same label group as Popular Records.
Why Promenade didn't use Loren Becker's version of Cry is a major mystery, and it should have us wondering whether maybe Columbia decided to threaten Prom over its deft copy of Johnny Ray and the Four Lads. Could that be? Columbia may have sent a nasty-gram threatening a day in civil court, and a lawsuit would certainly have sunk SPC's record division/laundry closet. ("Your sound-alikes are sounding too alike. Tread softly or we'll sink you. Yours sincerely, Columbia Records.")
The others are Prom, Promenade, and Waldorf label jobs, and I've done my best to track down the original artists, labels, and years, though there's a lot of guesswork on the release years. Nevertheless, at worst, the recording dates would only be off by a year or, at the most, two.
Very good sound on this cheap-vinyl pressing, despite the usual loud hiss in the space between tracks (which I did my best to edit out). But, despite the junk pressing, these tracks were reissued by Promenade without fake, "rechanneled" stereo or tons of reverb. For that we can be thankful.
DOWNLOAD: Eddie Maynard, His Orchestra and Chorus.zip
Here in My Heart--Loren Becker w. Enoch Light Orch. (Prom; 1952)
Because of You--Johnny Kay w. Milton Herbert Orch. (Popular Records)
Young Love--Larry Star (Promenade; 1957)
That's Amore--Artie Malvin w. Bobby Byrne Orch. (Prom; 1954?)
Make Love to Me--Betty Glenn w. Enoch Light Orch. (Waldorf, 1954?)
Till Then--Brigadiers Vocal Quartet, w. Prom Orch. (Prom; 1954)
Cry--Larry Foster w. Preston Sandiford Orch. (Cameo Records 45-323, 1951?)
Earth Angel--The Rockets, The Prom Orch. (Prom, 1955)
Outside of Heaven--Loren Becker, w. Enoch Light Orch. and Chorus (Prom; 1952?)
Jamaica Farewell--Jim Galdys, w. the Promenade Orch. and Chorus (Promenade; 1956)
Heartbreak Hotel--Bill Marine, Maury Laws Orch. and Chorus (Prom; 1956)
Fabulous Fifties, Eddie Maynard and His Orch. (not), Promenade 2084, late 1950s.
Lee
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