The other day, Tuesday July 22nd I was at my favorite thrift store here in Aurora, Colorado and I discovered perhaps the most unique record I have found so far. This is not a popular music album, it has no music at all. As a matter of fact it is 100% dialogue. What is this unique record album, that in six days sold 4 million copies? John Fitzgerald Kennedy, A Memorial Album. That's right a record produced with-in 24 hours of President Kennedy's death. A radio station in New York WMCA. The album is narrated by Ed Brown, who expertly sets up excerpts and in a few occasions complete speeches given by President Kennedy. The speeches resonate clearly and with the depth and passion that Kennedy had in life, it is as if the President were sitting in the room with you. There is no distortion, no hisses or pops or crackles. If you did not know this was produced in 1963, you would feel it was a digitally remastered recording. The record was cut together on the day of the assassination, November 22nd 1963 using Kennedy's speeches from his inauguration, to his speech on civil rights. What is amazing is that a large portion of the proceeds from this album went to the Joseph P Kennedy Foundation for research into Mental Retardation. The cost of the album was .99 cents and the one I purchased was marked Special .19 cents. For me this is one of the most significant albums I own, and listening to it reminds me how much a different world it is today, considering that when this album was made, African Americans could not go to the same movie theaters as Whites, could not go to the same restaurants or stay in the same hotels. If you can find this album it is a time capsul and well worth adding to your collection. What other amazing things will I discover at Safari thrift? Follow my blog and find out, and let me know what you think. Til next time.
Two weeks ago, my wife and I went to Safarri Thrift, a local thrift store in Aurora, Colorado that has become our favorite. While visiting Safarri I found "The Unforgettable Glenn Miller", a six record collection that had been released by Readers Digest back in 1968. The set originally cost $16.99 back in 1968, and included a complete discography, the history of Glenn Miller and his big bands and most impressive to me, complete liner notes with detailed information on the song, composer performer and recording date. Tex Benekee, Marion Hutton Ray Eberlee a young Kay Starr and of course Glenn Miller all come across crystal clear. The music and the musicians are here to listen to again, there is a warmth that only comes across with the sound recordings on records. What is best of all, this isn't just the popular hits of other albums but some of the more obscure music. Overall 70 songs are presented here, and along with the popular numbers like Moonlight Serenade,Elmers Tune and Chattanooga ChooChoo; there are lesser known numbers such as Shake the Stars from the Sky, Baby Me and Boogie Woogie Piggie.
Baby Me featured a young up and comer, Kay Starr as a stand in vocalist for Millers' band when Marion Hutton was recovering from exhaustion while playing at the Glenn Island Casino.
Boogie Woogie Piggie has to be heard it is just that fun a piece and could inspire a whole new Geico commercial. What is amazing here is not just all the different music, but the fact that there are no hisses pops or crackles. The sound quality of the music is as if you had Glenn Miller and his big band in your living room with you. There is no distortion and sound quality as good if not better than anything digitally remastered. But here's the thing, this was years before such technology as digital remastering even existed. We are talking an era, where the new way of listening to music was the 8 track tape. If you love big band music, or the music of Glenn Miller, then "The Unforgettable Glenn Miller"/ Unforgettable series by Readers Digest is well worth the hunt. You will find it amazing and a way to discover songs you never knew were performed by your favorite Big Bands. 10 out of 10 * http://www.discogs.com/Glenn-Miller-The-Unforgettable-Glenn-Miller-70-Of-His-Greatest-Original-Recordings/release/3670603 This link goes to a page with more listings and information on "The Unforgettable Glenn Miller"
