Etta James "At Last!" (1960)

At Last! [debut]

release date: Nov. 15, 1960

format: cd (1999 remaster / vinyl (2018 reissue, blue vinyl)

[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,45]

producer: Phil Chess, Leonard Chess

label: Chess / MCA // WaxTime In Color - nationality: USA

Studio album debut by the 22 year old Etta James originally released on Argo Records. The original album was a ten-track album with a running time just above 29 minutes. The 2018 vinyl reissue (on WaxTime In Color) comes with the four bonus tracks that have been released with the album since 1999 when the first remastered 'expanded' edition came out on Chess / MCA, and it has a total running time just above 40 minutes.

This is such a wonderful and mindblowing debut. It's a must-have in any album collection.

Highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 5 / 5, Pitchfork 9 / 10 stars ]

Cliff Richard and The Shadows "Please Don't Tease" (1960) (single)

Please Don't Tease, 7'' single

release date: 1960

format: vinyl (45-DB 4479) (yellow vinyl)

[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,45]

producer: ?

label: Columbia - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Please Don't Tease" - - B) "Where Is My Heart"

Single hit by Cliff Richard and The Shadows with misprinted B-side label: "Were Is My Heart" instead of "Where Is My Heart". This Norwegian issue is a yellow vinyl where the original sleeve has gone missing. The A-side is credited (British) Bruce Welch (aka Bruce Cripps) and Peter Chester, and the B-side is credited Tepper-Bennett, and alias for the (American) songwriting duo of Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett.

This issue comes from my parents' record collection, and I recall playing this at age 6-10 years old, and for some years found this a preferred single. Some years later, it was not the kind of music I enjoyed, and I never saw myself as a huge fan of Richard.

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This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Elvis Presley "O sole mio (It's Now or Never)" (1960) (single)

O sole mio (It's Now or Never), 7'' single

release date: 1960

format: vinyl (47-9314)

[single rate: 4 / 5] [4,00]

producer: ?

label: RCA - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) "O sole mio (It's Now or Never)" (5 / 5) - - B) "Make Me Know It"

Single release credited Elvis Presley and The Jordanaires. The title song is a cover of an Italian song credited Eduardo di Capua and Alfredo Mazzucchi with English lyrics by Wally Gold and Aaron Schroeder.

This German issue was part of my parents' record collection, although, I don't have clear memories of actually having heard my parents play this particular single. I did, however, used to play it on a portable turntable at 6-10 years of age. I liked Elvis but frankly never was a big fan. I think, growing up in the early seventees I had a more fixated image of Elvis in his late career, when he had gained weight, was all dressed up, and sometimes behaving as if intoxicated. I thought of him as a performer as someone more for my parents - say on par with Charles Aznavour and Frank Sinatra - and in that battle, Sinatra always won. And then, I was more a fan of The Beatles, whom I saw as more vital and with more to offer. In retrospect, and already into my 30s I had a more mature and positive perspective on the role of The King. His legacy is unquestionable, despite him overshadowing many great performers, who would only be known and put to fame long after Presley's death. His music lives on, and he made some truly great recordings, and "O sole mio" is one of many to know of.

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This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Ella Fitzgerald "Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas" (1960)

Original cover

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas
release date: 1960
format: cd / vinyl (2017 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Verve / DOL - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Jingle Bells" - 2. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - 3. "The Christmas Song" - 6. "Winter Wonderland" - 8. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" - 9. "White Christmas" - 11. "Frosty, the Snowman"

A Christmas studio album with Ella Fitzgerald released on Verve Records. My cd version is the Verve Master Edition remastered and released in 2002, and my vinyl edition is released on European label DOL with a frequently used alternative cover.
This is entirely Christmas songs but a rather fine collection. The original album contains 12 tracks, the remastered edition: 18 tracks. Normally, I prefer original releases to Expanded, Deluxe Editions, or Bonus tracks editions with new or additional songs, but with the cd issue, it somehow makes sense to have an expanded version 'cause they're are perfectly within the context of the original album, although, 3 of the 6 bonus tracks are basically 'only' alternate versions of the original recordings.

2002 Verve Master Edition		2017 vinyl reissue

BEST OF 1960:Miles Davis "Sketches of Spain" (1960)

Sketches of Spain
release date: Jul. 18, 1960
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Tracklist: A) 1. "Concierto de Aranjuez" (Adagio) (Joaquín Rodrigo) - 2. "Will o' the Wisp" (Manuel de Falla) - - B) "The Pan Piper" (aka 'Alborada de Vigo') (traditional) - 2. "Saeta" (Gil Evans) - 3. "Solea" (Gil Evans)

Studio album by Miles Davis released on Columbia Records and produced by Teo Macero and Irving Townsend. Initially, Davis went to the studio to do his and Gil Evans' version of "Concierto de Aranjuez" (classical concert by Joaquín Rodrigo), but in the rehearsal process the idea to make a Spanish album came up. This is great, beautiful, and really cool jazz with much Spanish tone to it.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone Album Guide 5 / 5 stars ]