September 1, 2017

Carlos Molina and his Orchestra – Dime

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This Latin side from 1933, on the Brunswick label, is a terrific little rhumba, and the bottle percussion is just the perfect, final piece for the arrangement. Palm trees, sea, and sun come to mind immediately when this tune gets going. Mr. Molina, who was born in Puerto Rico in 1899, was a very popular orchestra leader for about 40 years or so, and he had a big role in introducing tango and rhumba to Californians in the 1940s. And though his 78s are tough to track down in any condition, I found this one, and luckily in Excellent shape – “dime” (di-me) is “tell me” in Spanish.

 

Carlos Molina - Dime

 

August 31, 2017

Ernesto Hill Olvera – Pancho Lopez

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Mr. Olvera was born three days before Christmas 1936, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. He was blinded by lightning at the age of seven months, became a piano prodigy later on, and around 13yo began to play the Hammond organ in the Guadalajara restaurant where he worked. He eventually developed an original technique of gradually opening the organ bars in ways which created vocal inflections, to make the organ sound as if it was singing words! The first big success with his new style was this 1956 78, “Pancho Lopez”, a take on the popular “Ballad of Davy Crockett.” On the RCA label, recorded in Mexico, and such a very creative, colorful cover of this timeless frontier classic.

 

Ernesto Hill Olvera - Pancho Lopez

 

December 22, 2011

The Teen Queens – Eddie My Love

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“Eddie My Love” was a huge song in 1956. RPM records released it all the way to #14

on the American Billboard charts. It was recorded by the sister-duo group

The Teen Queens, Betty and Rosie Collins. They sang the song which was written by their

brother, Aaron Collins. It was their only hit, which was great for a debut single! They

would try for additional success over a few years’ time, but it couldn’t be repeated, and

the sisters hung it up, quietly, in 1961. It is interesting, too, that the Chordettes (of “Mr.

Sandman” fame) also recorded “Eddie My Love” in 1956, and also had a chart hit with it in

the same year. Anyway, this tune is so catchy, and the harmonies are so tight, that I will

sometimes be humming it for days.

The Teen Queens – Eddie My Love < < PLAY