Marilyn Maye The Second of Maye Live From the Living Room RCA/Victor 1966

Marilyn Maye The Second of Maye Live From the Living Room RCA/Victor 1966 CAT# LSP 3546

The back cover to this LP reads; "You don't need a big orchestra behind you-When you're Marilyn Maye." To extent, it's right, she does have a booming voice. This a live LP (I'm sure with tons of overdub) recorded with a quintet fronted by Sammy Tucker.

It's a cool record, her voice is way out front and seems "live" enough.  It's also very 1966.  Not space-age, bachelor-pad 1966.  It's what you'd expect from female jazz vocal of the era.  Very cocktail hour, almost lounge, but still holding onto jazz just enough to not go pop.

Also, if you're wondering, it's her second album for RCA/Victor.  But, you probably figured that out from the clever title.

The Blue Things Listen & See! RCA 1966

The Blue Things Listen & See! RCA 1966 LSP-3603

This is an original stereo copy of this LP I recently picked up.  I've already talked about it's greatness on a reissue copy I have.  This just kind of displays the sickness of record collecting.  The reissue is fine, it plays clean, it's quiet, but it'll never be as good as finding an original item.  While I'd prefer a copy in mono copy (more proof collecting records is a sickness and not a hobby) I leaped at the chance to purchase this.

Admittedly, the reissue copy I have is nothing to write home about it.  I have a feeling the thing was sourced from a CD rather than the original masters.  The music on this original leaps off the stereo, parts of the reissue seem a bit buried and not as alive.  So despite what may seem like an unneeded investment, I'm pretty happy about it (even with some surface noise in the dead wax and quieter passages).

Anyway, I picked up this legendary Hays, KS band from a kid in Olathe, KS.  He's a pretty young guy (maybe in his 20's), but he runs a booth at an Olathe antique mall called Green Expressions where I've spent some time digging.  Actually, on a whim I picked up the Cole Hunter 7" there and it turns out it's his brother.  My dad has gotten to know the kid and was telling me about how he went to his house once and dug through some stuff.  Awhile back, I had found some really killer stuff at his booth and the store employee told me the guy was talking about 800 records he had picked up and planned to bring in soon.  Considering I was pretty happy with the purchases I made, I called my dad and asked if he could hook up a visit to the dude's house.

My old man came through and we went over.  He showed us what he was willing to part with (there wasn't anywhere near 800 records) and showed us a crate that was "special" for a party at the antique mall and mentioned he wasn't willing to sell those records, yet.  Needless to say, I flipped through that crate.  This Blue Things LP was just staring at me so I had to ask if he'd part with it early.  He sold it to me cheap and explained his philosophy, he'll take the quick nickel instead of holding out for the right guy to show up at an Olathe antique mall to give him the slow dime.

I was stoked and thought I should shout about his spot in Olathe (which my dad would prefer a secret).  He sells some good records, nothing seems to exceed a $20 price point.  He's having a party at GREEN EXPRESSIONS out in the parking lot on May 30th with a bunch of new records to flip through.  If you like records, you should go...seriously, good prices on a lot of things.  He's got an absurd amount of Zeppelin records people should buy.

Blue Things-Girl of the North Country

Mrs. Miller Mrs. Miller's Greatest Hits Capitol 1966

Mrs. Miller Mrs. Miller's Greatest Hits Capitol 1966 CAT# T2494

I've been gifting this album to friends for several years now.  It's pretty hilarious.  It's an oddity, it's obscure, and again, it's hilarious.  How and why Capitol Records, the same label that released the Beatles, decided to put this out is somewhat of a mystery.  She's a middle aged housewife that was an Opera buff, she had taken singing lessons in the past and studied music in college, but regardless, she is an awful singer.  Despite that, she put out some self financed singles and was discovered by a Capital producer and signed.

They put this out as her debut and titled the collection of covers 'Greatest Hits.'  The players behind her are solid Capitol studio musicians and it's clear, money went into the LP.  However, producer Lex De Azevedo, the same that discovered her, took the worst vocal tracks.  The first song, "Downtown", Mrs. Miller doesn't even make it through the whole song without falling apart.  The album continues in much the same fashion, solid backing tracks, horrible vocal takes by an awful singer.

The copy pictured here was just recently gifted to a friend (don't worry, I still have my own).  After looking the album over, my friend asked me, "She's local, huh?"  I replied, "I don't think so."  He sent me the Wikipedia link and Holy Crap!  She has local ties.  She was born in Joplin, Missouri which is over 2 hours South of Kansas City and doesn't fit the goal of this blog.  However, it also indicates she grew up in both Kansas and Missouri as a child.  So, I guess she counts.  There are several other LPS and singles out there, most of which are pretty hard to locate.  After this album, the novelty of her terrible singing and humble looks had wore off.

Mrs. Miller - Downtown

The Blue Things Listen & See RCA Victor 1966

The Blue Things Listen & See RCA Victor 1966 Reissue Orignail CAT # LSP-3603 (Stereo) LMP-3603 (Mono)

Here's another Kansas band that is one of best band s in a generation no one ever heard.  Hays, Kansas' own The Blue Things.

Led by Val Stöecklein this group of Kansans was in the vein of the Byrds.  Great original tunes, clever and well picked covers, the band could have easily been a national act.  Unfortunately, the bands fan base only went as far as Texas.

The whole thing is puzzling, the group's sound is very accessible.  It's folk-rock but very in line with the British Invasion sounds of the Beatles and the Searchers.  They dipped their toes into pyschedelic sounds.  And, their folk-rock feels natural, not forced like other bands doing the same thing.

The album is lost classic.  You hear their version of Dylan's of "Girl From North Country" and have to think, this version should have been a huge hit.  You hear the original tune, "Doll House," with chiming 12 string and clever lyrics and wonder why teenage girls weren't screaming for these guys.  Their Dale Hawkins cover, "La Do Da Da" and Jimmy Reed cover "Ain't That Lovin' (You Baby)" are solid ravers.  And while there is some expected 60's type filler, the album's consistency is superior to what most bands releasing on full length LPS during this time.

The band would split when Val left to pursue solo work.  It's unfortunate, as the LP is so promising as are the singles that were released around the same time.  Really great Kansas band, folk rock with a Midwest appeal and sensibility, no radicalism attached, just good music.

Doll House
Ain't That Lovin' (You Baby)
Girl From North Country