Friday, November 13, 2009

(9) Bye Bye Blackbird Baby Face Blue Diamonds West Ham United Anthem, All In One Long Play

BLOGGER'S 50s MUSIC EDUCATION:
The selection on this LP by The Blue Diamonds are popular in the 40s/50s and many of the 12 songs are jazz standards. Let's go through the LP:
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles debuted in 1918 and has been recorded since by Doris Day, Vera Lynn and Frank Fontaine in the early 60s in the US. The song is now better known in the UK as the club anthem of West Ham United, a London-based football club.

Bye, Bye, Blackbird is a 1926 song, another jazz standard most dixielanders are familiar with and has been recorded by many artistes, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Trini Lopez, Mitch Miller , Ringo Starr, Miles Davis, Liza Minnelli, Peggy Lee and Joe Cocker.

The very popular Baby Face and a personal favourite, together with Margie and Till We Meet Again are all jazz standards and have been sung and recorded in the 20s or earlier by many.
The rest of the songs are just as special and all personal favourites. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You is a CW evergreen, covered by dozens and by Naomi/Boys too. Everyone knows, Vaya Con Dios, Isle Of Capri, Goodnight Sweetheart and Missouri Waltz while My Grandfather's Clock is a beautiful children's song.

The Blue Diamonds are accompanied by Jack Bulterman and his Orchestra. It's a great vinyl and quite a rarity because this particular one discussed is a Fontana France (680509 TL) 1961 pressing and the cover opens both on the left and right.

Reference: Wikipedia Songs.
Image/original article: Andy Lim Collection.

2 comments:

Teoh said...

Andy, you introduced Blue Diamonds to me a while ago. I really like their style of singing in perfect harmony.

I heard the songs "Have I Told You Lately", "Vaya Con Dios", "Isle of Capri", "My Grandfather's Clock" before.

This is nice album to own.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes, BC. Their harmony is faultless. It's really great because not many 60s artistes sing and play jazz standards of 30s, 40s and 50s using the F-hole guitar and as a duet.

They are actually one of the best vocal duo I've heard from the 60s. It's sad that one is gone.