Search - Various Artists :: Capitol From the Vaults 6: Best of 56

One Of An Out-Of-Print Series

10/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I see where there are at least seven - and perhaps more - volumes in this series which now seems to be out of distribution. Judging by the used price being asked for this one, it seems I wasn't the only one who jumped at grabbing a copy while it was generally available.



I did so for two tunes in particular which, at the time anyway, were among the hardest to find of hit singles. Leading the way in that regard was Kit Carson's Band Of Gold, a # 11 Billboard Pop Top 100 late in 1955 with the backing of the Dick Hyman orchestra. This was the only hit single for Liza Morrow (her real name) who, in 1946, was the featured vocalist on Benny Goodman's # 2 hit Symphony.



Another in that regard was Main Title From "The Man With Golden Arm" by Billy May & His Orchestra, whose version made it to # 49 Top 100 in early 1956. That was well back of the Richard Maltby rendition for the Vik label (# 14), Elmer Bernstein on Decca (# 16), and Dick Jacobs (# 22 and title "Main Title" And "Molly-O") and The McGuire Susters (# 37 as the flip of Picnic and title Delilah Jones) - both for Coral Records. But whereas those versions seemed generally available, until this popped up it wasn't to be found anywhere else.



The sound quality is excellent, and with the insert are 8 pages of background notes written in 2000 by Billy Vera, numerous vintage photos of some of the artists included, along with cartoon spot illustrations by Benton Jew, and a discography of the contents.



A quality release in every aspect of the word.



"