Whether you were a fan of rock, vocals or jazz, the early late 50s and 60s were your happy days. Here are three beauts.
The Shadows were best known as the group that backed heart throb Cliff Richard, but they had a career all their own both pre and post Richard. Their 1961 debut is a rock instrumental classic, with Hank Marvin/g-p, Rony Meehan/dr, Jet Harris/b and Bruce Welch/g influencing subsequent bands ranging from The Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin with “Blue Star,” “See You In MY Dreams” and “Nivram” which was a big influence on Peter Frampton. Their followup included the aptly titled “Kinda Cool” and the leather jacketed “The Rumble.” Next came an album with the B movie themed “FBI” and the nifty “Guitar Tango” with a bunch of bonus tracks and ep cuts including “Driftin’” and songs from “The Boys.” Sweater cool.
Best known for his work on some classic Charles Mingus albums, saxist John Handy III also put out some impressive, if overlooked albums on his own. His 1959 debut had his still with Mingus, and it shows, as he, Roland Hanna/p, George Tucker/b and Roy Haynes/dr play with fire on originals such as “Dance To The Lady” and “I’ll Close My Eyes” while his take of “I’ll Never Smile Again” is a beaut. His followup with Don Friedman/p, Bill Lee/b and Lex Humphries/dr has him on a searing alto going inside and out on “Tales Of Paradise” and “Hi Number” while his last album for the Roulette label teams him in front of Walter Bishop/p, Julian Euell/b and Edgar Bateman/dr for a mix of bebop and beyond on “From Bird” and “No Smiles Please.” A handful of tunes from his classic material with Mingus includes a rollicking “Better Git It In Your Soul” and “Boogie Stop Shuffle.” Halcyon days!
Judging by the album covers, you’d never guess that Julie London could also sing, but she could and set the standard for late night moods to woo. Separated by 3 years, her two Julie Is Her Name albums from 1955 and 58 have her give luscious orchestrated reads of “Cry Me A River,” “Spring Is Here” and “How Long Has This Been Going On”. Better known for the iconic album cover Round Midnight (what if the title tune was “Five O’Clock Whistle”?) is also musically attractive as she gives red rouge lipstick versions of “Black Coffee” and simmers like ashes on “Don’t Smoke In Bed.” Her Blues albums includes a pair of songs by hubby Bobby Troup, and she sounds convincing on “Baby Baby All The Time” and giving a “Meaning to the Blues” that rivals Miles Davis. Her most intimate album is one with Sinatra’s guitarist Al Viola and vibist and she sounds truly at home on a seductive “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To” and a desultory “The Thrill Is Gone.” She does more with little than ladies with twice her talent and half her looks.