Martin Denny had a couple of hits here, way back in the 50's?   The only one I remember was  Ebb Tide,  but I'm not sure that was MD?

Ebb Tide - The Platters  1960      ( my favourite version  of the two )

Ebb Tide - The Righteous Brothers came along 5 years later 1965

Quote from: Marilyne on June 08, 2024, 12:14:18 AMMartin Denny had a couple of hits here, way back in the 50's?   The only one I remember was  Ebb Tide,  but I'm not sure that was MD?

Quite a few people, including Denny, have done that one. Martin Denny's big hit was a cover of Les Baxter's "Quiet Village".

A funny song from Austrian singer Andy Fisher. I don't know much about Fisher but apparently he recorded quite a few novelty songs in the 60s. I found him after stumbling across the French song "Monsieur Cannibale" a couple years ago (and yes it's as weird as you'd expect with a title like that) - Fisher recorded an English version of the song.

June 7th, was the Birthday of the late singer, actor and comedian,  Dean Martin.  He was born in 1917, and died in 1995, at the age of 78.  I appreciate his songs and his humor, more now than I did when he was living.  Here's one of my favorites. You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You

A really unusual version of the classic Bob Willis tune "San Antonio Rose". Great rendition, just a far cry from the western swing style of the original.

A song based on a classical music work which in turn was based on a Neapolitan folk song. You might also known this melody as "My Hat, It Has Three Corners"...

Always loved "The Quiet Village".  thank you.

Here's another great instrumental from 1959. This hit #15 on the charts in the US and was the only hit the group ever had.

Here's another big hit from the 1950's, that had that exotic/tropical sound.  This was a huge hit in California when I was in high school.  The two sisters who wrote and recorded it became briefly famous, and then faded away. Bermuda,  by the Bell Sisters. 

Tomorrow is FLAG DAY.

Here's another exotic song that was a hit for many people. This song has a long long history. It started out as a poem written in Haitian Creole in 1883 called "Choukoun", and music was written for the poem later. In 1957, English lyrics were written by husband and wife team Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and the song was recorded by the Norman Luboff Choir. It has since been recorded as both a vocal and instrumental by dozens of people including Harry Belafonte, The Mills Brothers, Roger Whittaker and Chet Atkins among many others. This is probably the most famous version.

Rick,  thanks for reminding me that tomorrow is Flag Day!  Gotta get the flag outside again . . . just had it out last week for D-Day, and soon it will be the Fourth of July.   

By coincidence, one of the people I follow on YouTube just uploaded the original recording of the song @RAMMEL posted, with slightly different lyrics. Looking into it further, the song was written for a musical called George Washington, Jr.. The title was inspired by a meeting the songwriter had with a civil war veteran, who had a tattered American flag he affectionately referred to as a "grand old rag". Unfortunately for the songwriter, this meaning was either unknown or completely lost on the general public, who did not appreciate the flag being referred to as a "rag", and the lyrics and title were quickly changed.

The 1950s and early 1960s were a fun time. A song with lyrics in Tahitian and French, written and originally recorded by an American ex-pat living in Tahiti, covered by a Hawaiian-style steel guitarist from Japan. Also recorded by Martin Denny. This is from 1963.

And related to my last post, I've found this great song, also originally written by Eddie Lund. The English lyrics were written by Jack Brooks and this has apparently been recorded by quite a few people, though this is the earliest one I could find, from 1952. It was also recorded by Alfred Newman, Alfred Alpaka and Danish group The Four Jacks among others.

A fun old Vaudeville tune. This was originally recorded by Al Jolson in early 1916. This version is from late 1937.

Tiger - anyone

A thought for these upcoming warm days ---

Another great exotica piece. This was written and originally recorded by Les Baxter in 1960. This version is from 1962. This was near the end of the popular era for this style music. "Space age pop" took over within a couple of years.

Just thinking -

I don't remember ever hearing that song before?   I like it!   

As I recall, it made it big around here.

A fun rendition of the classic song "Just Because" that I stumbled across on YouTube just now. This dates back to 1929 and is also a popular tune among polka bands thanks to Frankie Yankovic.

Wake up, wake up ---

A nice version of a classic originally recorded by The Platters. Very difficult to beat the original, but this isn't a bad version at all.

Stan Freberg's hilarious take on "The Yellow Rose of Texas" featuring a battle between an exuberant snare drummer and a patriotic Texan. "You can cover up 'yellow', you can cover up 'rose', buddy buddy, but don't you cover up 'TEXAS!', or I'll stick your head through that cotton-pickin' snare drum and secede from the union, so help me Mitch Miller, I will!"