Jazzy mambos from the king – and easily the most successful of Perez Prado's albums for RCA in the 50s! The album showcases the Latin mode that Prado crossed over big with on his hit "Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White" – a tune that almost single-handedly grabbed the energy and audiences of the late swing years, and grafted them onto the growing New York Latin scene of the time! Prado's got that great growl in his chants, as usual – pushing the band to even more rhythmic heights and brassy horn flourishes with his trademark calls – and titles include the classic "Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White", as well as tracks like "Tomcat Mambo", "Mambo Ala Kenton", "The High & The Mighty", "Marilyn Monroe Mambo", and "Skokiaan". (Latin, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

A mix of now sound, jazz & classical – Includes tracks by Les Baxter, Stan Kenton, Les Paul, Ray Anthony, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

Sublime instrumental work from the great Jackie Gleason – a beautifully-done collection of his classic sides for Capitol Records – music that's definitely steeped in the romantic moods promised in the title! Jackie's got a way with a tune that few other leaders can touch – cool, shimmering horn parts that often have the lush hues of a Kenton arrangement, but which come across with a lot more warmth overall – just the sort of music to set the mood back in the day – and a really strong contrast to Gleason's dynamic persona as a comedian. The package has a beautiful cover, and features 40 tunes that include "It All Depends On You", "Mystery Street", "If He Walked Into My Life", "I'm In The Mood For Love", "Out Of Nowhere", "The Best Is Yet To Come", "The Moonlight", "That Certain Party", "Glamour", "Ruby", "Lover Man/Smile", "The Girl From Ipanema", "Moon River", and "Days Of Wine & Roses". CD

A killer album from Johnny Richards – possibly the best he ever cut! The album sparkles with all the intensity he brought to Stan Kenton's Cuban Fire album – with bits of Latin, jazz, and some of the modernist scoring that Kenton, Richards, and Pete Rugolo were using at the time. However, the main thing about this album is that it swings like a mo-fo – moving past any tricks and gags to hit a strong jazz mode, with excelelnt solo work by players like Frank Socolow, Gene Quill, and trumpeter Burt Collins. Willie Rodriguez brings some nice Latin percussion to the set – and titles include "Cimarron", "Eyes", "Nipigon", and "The Ballad Of Tappan Zee". (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful stuff from one of the most overlooked arrangers of the 50s! Richards was Stan Kenton's right hand man at one time – and he's got a style that mixes jazz and modernism in the same style as Pete Rugolo, but with a bit more of a commitment to swinging. This rare 1958 set for Capitol is less experimental than the title might make you think – but the jazz is infused with plenty of freshness, and the whole thing's packaged in a really wonderful abstract cover! Players include Gene Quill, Ray Copeland, Frank Socolow, and Julius Watkins – and titles include "Terpischore", "Neolore", "This Time", and "Omo Ado". (Jazz, Now Sound) LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Dick Kent, Bobbi Blake, The MSR Singers, Norm Burns & Singers, Rod & The MSR Singers, Gene Marshall, The Music Magicians, Bill Joy, Rod Rogers With The "Swinging Strings", Teri Summers & The Librettos, Rodd Keith, and ,ore - 28 tracks in all. (Rock, Now Sound) CD