Albums and All That, Starting with the letter H as in Hotel, Part 3

Tom Jones [00:34]
"If You Go Away"
Help Yourself
Parrot PAS 71025 1969
Nothing like a little descending scale ballad to get things going. I'm a fan of Scott Walker's version of this Brel/McKuen number so I figured I'd give Tom's version a chance.

The Decemberists [04:39]
"Billy Liar"
Her Majesty the Decemberists
Jealous Butcher Records JB~046 2003
A little ditty about Keith Waterhouse's fictional fantasist.

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 [08:46]
"Mas Que Nada"
Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
A&M Records SP 4116 1966
Perhaps the first Portuguese-language hit to crack the US, this single made it to number 47 on the Hot 100.

Def Leppard [11:25]
"Bringin' on the Heartbreak"
High 'n' Dry
Mercury SRM-1-4021 1981
This first, and better version of this power ballad for the chicks. And I'll be darned, evidently Mariah Carey covered this song. The more you know.

The High-On Music, Musicans & Singers [17:28]
"Merry Christmas"
High-On Christmas
Parade Records PA108
Look, it's over before you know it. Just bear with me.

Gilbert O'Sullivan [21:27]
"Too Much Attention"
Himself
MAM MAM4 1972
I could subject you to the world's most depressing song, but instead we're going with the track just before that.

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra [26:17]
"Satan Takes a Holiday"
His Piano and His Orchestra at Bal Masque
Columbia CS 8098 1959
An extremely refined version of this Larry Clinton number.

Curtis Mayfield [23:58]
"Gypsy Woman"
His Early Years with The Impressions
ABC Records ABCX-780/2 1973
The Impressions first single after the departure of lead singer Jerry Butler. Made it to number 20 on the Hot 100 and number 2 on the R&B charts.

Chelease Wolfe [31:03]
"16 Psyche"
Hiss Spun
Sargent House SH185-GS 2017
One of my favorite albums of 2017. Yet another artist I look forward to seeing perform live in the After Times.

Joni Mitchell [35:19]
"The Boho Dance"
The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Asylum Records EQ-1051 1975
Can you be an artist and keep your cred when success comes along?

Split Enz [39:04]
"What's the Matter with You"
History Never Repeats - The Best of Split Enz
A&M Records SP-3289 1987
Loyal listeners of Vinyl-O-Matic know of my undying love for "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" so I've decided to shake things up this time around. This Neil Finn song originally comes from their 1980 album True Colors.

Starbuck [42:08]
"Moonlight Feels Right"
Hit Machine
K-Tel TU 2480 1976
20 Original Hits! 20 Original Stars! Some hot marimba action for you folks. This number made it to number 3 on the Hot 100 in 1976.

Mantovani [46:59]
"Goldfinger"
Hollywood
London Records PS 516 1967
Mr. Mononymous brings us his take on the John Berry instant classic.

America [49:39]
"Ventura Highway"
Homecoming
Warner Bros. Records BS 2655 1972
The real questions here is, what songs hasn't Hal Blaine played drums on?

Pete Shelley [53:12]
"Homosapien"
Homosapien
Genetic Records ILPS 9676 1981
Shelley's first solo venture catches your ear with the synth arpeggiator and doesn't let go. Originally intended as a Buzzcocks demo.

Roberto Rossani and his Orchestra [57:47]
"Musetta Waltz"
Honeymoon in Italy
Somerset SF-4700 1959
Italian because there's an accordian?

Bonus Content: K-Tel Hit Machine Television Commercial

Music behind the DJ: "James Bond with Bongos" by John Barry.