the groovin' strings and things - st (1969)

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this lovely lp has more than just a beautiful cover. as soon as i spotted it in charl's shelves i remembered what a winner it was, and i was glad to not be disappointed. almost all the tracks have a strong sixties feel, that waterloo sunset-esque shuffle beat, with tambourine and what sounds like an electric harpsichord but could be a moog.

i'm really enjoy the optimism and raucus party vibe - fuzz guitar, strings, organ. keep on groovin.

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01 - walk away renee

02 - she's a rainbow

03 - you

04 - theme for the young'uns

05 - sounds of silence

06 - the fool on the hill

07 - dock of the bay

08 - explosion in my soul

09 - can't find the time

10 - tara's theme

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ES 4047

download the groovin strings and things

andre popp- if you go away (1972)

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for those not familiar with andre popp, he is the french composer responsible for writing the mega-hit "love is blue," which later became a signature tune for paul mauriat and a much covered favourite of all instrumentalists for years to come. on this release, in 1972, we still find some of the undeniable optimism and playful melody of "love is blue," but the production is clearly more 70s, and throughout the album he has used some wonderful wordless vocals by a certain "geraldine" which reminds me of morricone soundtracks of that time.

my favourites include the more mournful closing track "tombe la neige" and the very morricone "ne me quitte pas (if you go away)."

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01 - de pantin a pekin

02 - plaisir d'amour

03 - love maestro please

04 - tout tout pour ma cherie

05 - ne me quitte pas (if you go away)

06 - wakadi wakadou

07 - un jour l'amour

08 - les feuilles mortes (autumn leaves)

09 - tzeinerlin' (years may come years may go)

10 - du soleil au coeur

11 - a paris dans chaque faubourg

12 - tombe la neige

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2383 142 SUPER

download andre popp if you go away

werner muller and his orchestra- sentimental journey (1976)

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speaking of wordless vocals :). this time a werner muller album - a lush seventies retake of swingtime classics, great production, wordless lady vocals, some guitar, flute, harp and xylophone. a really wonderful ambient lp by a great arranger.

"begin the beguine" is a great version of the cole porter classic, satin doll has the most perky vocals to be found outside of a toothpaste ad... and yet the lp remains cohesive and a winner all-round.

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01 - i'm in the mood for love

02 - i've got my love to keep me warm

03 - moonlight serenade

04 - at last

05 - mood indigo

06 - begin the beguine

07 - marie

08 - song of india

09 - satin doll

10 - sentimental journey

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PFS 4383

download werner muller sentimental journey

astor piazolla

- libertango (1974)

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a couple of years ago i got myself a copy of "astor piazolla remixed," not knowing who astor piazolla was, but keen on any lounge remix projects - this album is great, highly recommended to any who enjoy electronica + lounge like the morricone remix projects etc.

i must say that i expected something more folky from the actual astor piazolla, so this album has literally blown me away! it's so dark and lush and drenched with atmosphere and fine orchestration. all i can say is get this now!, and i want more!

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01 - libertango

02 - meditango

03 - undertango

04 - adios nonino

05 - violentango

06 - novitango

07 - amelitango

08 - tristango

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download astor piazolla libertango

michel legrand

- themes and variations (1972)

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this record is AMAZING. it is pure genius. 1972 is the year, and michel has recorded 11 brilliant fully orchestrated variations of his finest film scores. i am totally blown away. this is definitely the legrand lp i have been waiting for.

at times dark, always lush, with occasional acoustic guitar and background voices, these versions are mostly off-beat and quite removed from the originals. the tinkling jazz piano through it all must be monsieur legrand. unfortunately 'windmills of your mind' is damaged toward the end but i had to post the whole lp. i hope someone out there enjoys this as much as i do :).

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01 - brian's song

02 - theme from 'the go-between'

03 - the deep blue c

04 - what are you doing for the rest of your life

05 - picasso summer

06 - dis-moi

07 - summer of '42

08 - wuthering heights

09 - pieces of dreams

10 - the windmills of your mind

11 - i will say goodbye

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download michel legrand themes and variations

werner muller

- the latin splendor of werner muller (1969)

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this is probably my favourite werner muller record. it's chaotic and crazy and high latin style. the production reminds me of the first inflight compilation, and if there'd ever been another espresso, i would've campaigned for several of the tracks off this gem of a record!

tracks that are sh**-hot dancefloor ready include "cumana," "el cumbanchero," and "mambo jambo"! "light me fire" is also a great version of the rather under-covered doors classic. this record would have to be in my desert-island / tropical-island survival pack, no doubt about it.

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01 - delicado

02 - light my fire

03 - the girl from ipanema

04 - perfidia

05 - eso es el amor

06 - mambo jambo

07 - mas que nada

08 - el cumbanchero

09 - solamente una vez

10 - cumana

11 - amor, amor

12 - a banda

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download werner muller latin splendour

mandingo - tiger in the night (comp, 1978)

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"the music of mandingo" aka "tiger in the night" is a compilation of mandingo tunes pulled from four of his albums. somebody can maybe confirm - i think geoff love only released four lps under the monniker mandingo - "sacrifice" in '73 another in '73, '74 and then in '77. listening to the '73 stuff again i could not believe how progressive it was. jungle funk exotica aside - this is serious disco in the making, and for '73 that's quite something. i also love how everyone in the uk scene wrote tracks for him - roger webb (one of my all-time favourites,) brian fahey, alyn ainsworth etc. quite a supergroup. this compilation contains a great selection of some of mandingo's finest moments, and they are darn impressive. crazy congas, funk, guitar and orchestra. nothing quite like it. the cover of this one says "if you want to discover your roots... live to... dance to... listen to... the music of mandingo the pulsating rhythm of life."

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01 - black rite

02 - jungle juice

03 - war dance

04 - sacrifice

05 - kiss of death

06 - uomo

07 - the man from takoradi

08 - chant of the virgins

09 - manhunter

10 - tiger in the night

11 - sacrifice to the sun

12 - jungle wedding

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MFP 50428

download mandingo_tiger_in_the_night.rar

paul mauriat- the soul of paul mauriat (1969)

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number two of my late sixties trio is paul mauriat's soul record. i found a sealed copy :), and it's always so much fun opening it up just like it's 1969 all over again. the cover is made of deluxe textured cardboard which is just wonderful. as an lp, this one is a must for all fans who have not heard it. there are several killer covers, including a sitar version of "keep me hangin' on." my fellow easy lover over at spiral has posted it before, but i just had to rip something i didn't even have to clean :). check out more excellent goodies over at his blog. coming up, a rare lefevre 60s moment...

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01 - i'm gonna make you love me

02 - i never loved a man

03 - i've been loving you too long

04 - you keep me hangin' on

05 - it's a man's world

06 - when a man loves a woman

07 - respect

08 - i heard it through the grapevine

09 - in the midnight hour

10 - my girl

11 - love child

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Phillips STEREO PHS-600-299

download the_soul_of_paul_mauriat.rar

various artists - black sand, white stars (2010)

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i finally made a compilation. i know, it's about time. thought i'd start with some tracks closest to my heart. lush, seventies string lounge. sometimes brooding, sometimes melancholic, moving and dramatic. give it a listen, and please let me know what you think.

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01 - berto pisano - tema di katerina

02 - astor piazzolla - libertango

03 - roberto delgado - house of the rising sun

04 - paul mauriat - lui

05 - roger webb - summer green, autumn gold

06 - nelson riddle - lamento

07 - the simon park orchestra - dawn to dusk

08 - franck pourcel - jesahel

09 - pierre bachelet - o' comme histoire d'o

10 - john barry - who will buy my yesterdays

11 - roger webb - tubular bells

12 - ennio morricone - giu la testa

13 - bobby hutcherson - the thrill is gone

14 - berto pisano - la grande bouffe

15 - the 18th century corporation - do you know the way to san jose

16 - michel legrand - theme from the go-between

17 - riz ortolani - why (cosi dolce, cosi perversa)

18 - the night strings - black sand and white stars

19 - hugo montenegro - brother love's traveling salvation show

20 - the peter thomas sound orchestra - eloise

21 - raymond lefevre - comme j'ai toujours envie d'aimer

22 - lalo schiffrin - bossa antique

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a detour compilation

download black_sand_white_stars_2010.rar