Albums and All That, Starting with the letter S as in Sierra, Part 6

Heino [00:23]
"Heute Singen Wir Mit Heino/Wißt Ihr Was? Heute Hat's Geschneit"
Sing Mit Heino Folge 9 und 10 Winterzeit - Kinderzeit - Weihnachtzeit
Hör Zu 1 C 066-45 322 1979
Sing along with Heino! And evidently, the old Deustschekrooner is still alive. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the German phenomenon that is Heino, of course, there's a documentary.

The Four Roses Society [03:03]
"Hand Me Down My Walkin' Cane/Deep in the Heart of Texas"
Sing with the Four Roses Society
Four Roses K8OP-6582 / 3
Well all right then. During my brief career as a liquor store clerk (one summer during college), Four Roses bourbon was not the esteemed brand it is today. It was easily found on the bottom shelf of the whiskey section.

Kitty Wells [05:49]
"Country Girl"
Singing'em Country
Decca DL 75221 1970
One of the contenders to the title of Queen of Country Music reminiscing at the ripe old age of 51.

Elvis Presley [08:24]
"Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)"
Sings Christmas Songs - Elvis' Christmas Album
RCA Victor LPM-1951 1957 (1964 reissue)
An extremely well-worn seasonal classic. I'm surprised it sounds as good as it does, considering the state of the record surface.

Odetta [12:45]
"Don't Think Twice, It's Allright"
Odetta Sings Dylan
RCA Victor LSP-3324
An excellent rendition of this transitional Dylan single. To my mind, it is almost as good as the jangling toe-tapper version by Waylon Jennings.

Bob McGrath with the Jimmy Joyce Singers [18:30]
"Black and White"
Sings for All the Boys and Girls
Disneyland 1357 1974
Indeed, that Bob from Sesame Street. Helped out here by some of the Wrecking Crew including Tommy Tedesco and Earl Palmer. Inspired by the Three Dog Night version of this song, the song was originally recorded by Pete Seger in 1956 and with lyrics by David I. Arkin, father of Alan Arkin no less.

Nat King Cole [22:21]
"Autumn Leaves"
Sings for Two in Love
Capitol Records DT 420 1963 (original release 1953)
This monophonic classic album is reinvigorated in beautiful Duophonic sound!

Bonnie Prince Billy [25:03]
"Ohio River Boat Song"
Sings Greatest Palace Music
Drag City DC252 / Palace Records PR31
A collection of Nashville-ified reimaginings Will Oldham's earlier work, with a number of Nashville greats, including Hargus "Pig" Robbins. The thing I love about seeing Will Oldham perform live in whatever configuration is that he seemingly never plays a song the same way twice. This pass at the debut single from Palace Music exemplifies that spirit.

Wayne Newton [30:00]
"More (Theme from 'Mondo Cane')"
Sings Hit Songs
Capitol Records T 2130 1964
Despite rumblings in Memphis and New Orleans and even Liverpool by this point, the big band sound of the Greatest Generation continues to thrive in popular music.

John McCormack [32:37]
"The Foggy Dew"
Sings Irish Songs
Pickwick CAS-407 1975
Evidently, stereo, in this case, means slapping some reverb on the left channel. Despite being partially the result of Irish immigration, I am not sentimental, which is why I chose the shortest track for this collection.

Lotte Lehman [34:41]
"Ich Liebe Dich (Beethoven)"
Sings Lieder, Vol. 1
Camden CAL-378

Pretty sure I grabbed this from the dollar bin because in my haste I thought it was Lotte Lenya.

Colin Meloy [37:21]
"Bandit Queen"
Sings Live!
Jealous Butcher Records JB-065 2008
From a solo tour Colin Meloy made in 2006, recorded at various venues, including this one that I happened to attend at the Great American Music Hall. This live album does do one of those things that drives me nuts, which is to put the stage banter for the upcoming song before the track break.

Tom Jones [43:05]
"In Dreams"
Sings She's a Lady
Parrot XPAS 71046 1971
Candy colored clown!

Nat "King" Cole [46:30]
"Blue Gardenia"
Ballads of the Day
Capitol Records DT 680 1960 (original release 1956)
As performed in Fritz Lang's classic noir The Blue Gardenia.

Harry Belafonte [49:29]
"A Fool For You"
Sings the Blues
RCA Victor LSP-1972 1958
A collection of blues standards, including this Ray Charles number.

Ella Fitzgerald [53:09]
"'S Wonderful"
Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book (Volume Two)
Verve Records MG V-4025 1959
Helped out here by Nelson Riddle. An excellent cover painting by Bernard Buffet is featured on this album.

Music behind the DJ: "Games People Play" by Arthur Greenslade and his Orchesta