Sunday, August 13, 2017

Saturday Night Music Club #42: The 1950s

We are back with a new edition of Saturday Night Music Club! The SNMC started up as an idea I had years ago - to recapture the feeling of being a kid and getting together with your friends in the basement to listen and discuss music. Over the last few years we've re-capped our monthly get-togethers with a video feature. For the time being, we are replacing the video aspect of the SNMC with a blog feature, where each member of the club will briefly discuss their record. A track from each album (when available) is collected in an ongoing SNMC Spotify playlist at the bottom of this post. So please listen in and enjoy the tunes along with us.

This month's theme: The 1950s. Each member of the SNMC (and our special guest - Carl Helm Sr. aka Bret's Dad) was tasked with sharing a record featuring music that came out in the 50s. Let's take a look at what everyone brought.



Ritchie Valens - s/t
Original Release: Del-Fi Records | 1959
Favorite Song:
Donna
Why did you add this record to your collection:
Like most teenagers in the 1980s, I saw La Bamba in the theatre. 'La Bamba' was also one of the first songs that my brother learned on his first acoustic guitar. We would perform it for my family - me on vocals (Soy capitan)
Describe this album in one sentence:
The smell of french fries is in the air while the nickel drops in the jukebox slot, the intro groove crackles and the sound of rock 'n' roll fills the diner


Ravi Shankar - Three Ragas
Original Release: His Master's Voice | 1956
Favorite Song:
Raga Simhendra Madhyamam
Why did you add this record to your collection:
The use of sitar in late 1960s music and movies fascinated me, so I tracked back to the man who was the master
Describe this album in one sentence:
Indian classical music for beginners - aka Sitar 101


Sarah Vaughan - After Hours with Sarah Vaughan
Original Release: Columbia | 1955
Favorite Song:
Black Coffee
Why did you add this record to your collection:
My friend Adam played some Sarah for me and I was sold. This is a record I would play during a windy rainstorm whilst with Thalia (my lady) just staying in
Describe this album in one sentence:
Somewhere between a Sinatra movie and a sleepless night


Bascom Lamar Lunsford - Minstrel of the Appalachians
Riverside | 1956
Favorite Song:
I Shall Not Be Moved
Why did you add this record to your collection:
Got this in at the store in 2014, heard it after it sold and it took 2 years to find another copy
Describe this album in one sentence:
Comfort food


Frank Sinatra - This is Sinatra!
Capitol | 1956
Favorite Song:
The Gal That Got Away
Why did you add this record to your collection:
I grew up listening to him. I probably have every song he ever released
Describe this album in one sentence:
What life is all about


Billie Holiday - The First Verve Sessions: The 1952-54 Recordings
Verve | 1976
Favorite Song:
Blue Moon
Why did you add this record to your collection:
First jazz album I really loved
Describe this album in one sentence:
Classic Billie


Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue
Original Release: Bethlehem | 1958
Favorite Song:
My Baby Just Cares for Me
Why did you add this record to your collection:
This is a reissue of Nina Simone's first album. I got it by accident but kept it
Describe this album in one sentence:
The sound of New York City in the winter with a lady at 2 A.M.



If you're a vinyl enthusiast, check out our feature on the Spin Clean Vinyl Record Cleaning Machine (click image below)
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