Slippers, A Fireplace and Good Music!

If anyone reading this knows me, they know that I have unusual tastes for a thirty five year old. I like some of what comes out today, but for the most part, I'm stuck in the past....before Vietnam, before they killed the Kennedys, and before our society experienced a painful downturn. Percy Faith once said that he was the chief advocate of the perfect evening at home, "...a pair of slippers, a fireplace, and great music on the phonograph." I know what he means. Columbia Records in the 1950's and early '60's really had a formula. America's best band-leaders, composers, choir directors and arrangers were all on the label. It was the place to be. The red and black label with the 6 CBS eyes on it almost invariably assured that whatever was in those grooves, it was good. Columbia's diverse roster assured that there really was something for everyone. If you liked brassy, bigger band arrangements, there was Benny Goodman and Harry James. If you liked it more serene and mellow there was Percy Faith, Paul Weston, and the Norman Luboff Choir. And If you wanted rhythmic dance music, you couldn't do any better than Ray Conniff, who released his first five albums on that iconic six-eye label. Oh, and did I mention that Sinatra's solo career started on Columbia? Classical Music Lovers weren't left out, either. From the beginning, there was always that great Russian maestro, Andre Kostelanetz. Well, if what I've said here intrigues you, the news is very good. This vast catalogue of treasure is for the most part still in tact. Now there are 2 ways to go about it. If you no longer believe that LPs are viable (and shame on you for that), Most of Columbia's Easy Listening Catalog was transferred over to The Hallmark Corporation, where they released most of it on iTunes, and Amazon.com. But see, to me, that's not as fun. You can also pour over the thousands of flea markets, antique shops, thrift stores and other places where people are liquidating their past, and you can find a huge chunk of what you're looking for, and in most cases not only are these LPs playable, they're in remarkable shape and sound fantastic when played back on modern turntables. I recently came across a three record set while I was in a flea market in Billings, Missouri. Originally released in 1956, "The Columbia Basic Library Of Listening And Dancing Favorites" was the original springboard for me into the world of Columbia's Easy Listening Department. Released on Columbia's "Masterworks" sub-label, it's a who was who of the time in popular music. The albums were 50+ years old, and they sounded amazing...and they recorded onto digital even better, assuring that not only can I have the slippers, fireplace, and great records at home, I can also take them with me wherever I go on my iPod. So, do yourself a great favor, and come with me back to a time in America when life was liveable, cars were huge, kids still played outside, and some of our country's greatest music makers reigned supreme via the recording arm of the Columbia Broadcasting System. Happy Hunting!