All reviews by ed

Barbara Sipple - Barbara Sings for Life Barbara Sipple - Barbara Sings for Life

Obscure private press christian folk recording by pro-lifer Barbara Sipple, released on the Lazarus label out of Willingboro, NJ. The majority of the record is pretty deep (and good) folk music, while a few of the tracks are accompanied by a group of kids called the “Lollipop Express Chorus,” who join Sipple on some […]

Barton Smith - Reelizations Barton Smith - Reelizations

Bedroom electronics from a relatively unknown experimental composer on Folkways circa 1980.  This one is the first of a two part “Reelizations” series. While there are a few acoustic guitar-only tracks on here, the majority of the record contains a real wide selection of instruments; ranging from heavily processed synthesizers to Roland drum machines […]

Bernard Estardy - Electro Sounds Volume 2 Bernard Estardy - Electro Sounds Volume 2

Bernard Estardy was one of the most prolific (and sought after) sound engineers in the French music scene during the 60’s and 70’s. After being involved on a number of sessions with Nino Ferrer, he took the initiative to build his own studio from scratch (the CBE as it’s known, built in 1967). It […]

Bernard Fevre - The Strange World of Bernard Fevre Bernard Fevre - The Strange World of Bernard Fevre

File under: late 70’s science-fiction-themed after school special background music.  This is one of the last releases on the great L’Illustration Musicale label; an “all electronic” album, as the back cover states. A top late 70’s electronic library (well, to me at least) — spacy moogs, clavinet, and analog drum machines. Fevre […]

Breakfast in Bed - Australian Coffee Breakfast in Bed - Australian Coffee

Released in 1982 on the Crunch Ltd label from Medford, Massachusetts. Fairly enjoyable mixture of post punk elements and synth pop/new wave. You get the feeling after listening to a few of these tracks that these guys were fans of groups like A Certain Ratio.
Here’s the obligatory group lineup, in hopes that one of […]

Cecil Leuter & Georges Teperino - TV Music 104 Cecil Leuter & Georges Teperino - TV Music 104

TV Music was a sub-division of Chappell in the late 1960s. To the best of my knowledge there are only four releases on this label (the other three I desperately need to hear). Cecil Leuter (otherwise known as Roger Roger) handles the “Electro Themes” on one side, while Georges Teperinos’ (Nino Nardini’s real name) “Electrosonics” […]

Cecil Leuter - Les Sons Electroniques Cecil Leuter - Les Sons Electroniques

Consider the contents of this record the “left-overs” of the Pop Electronique session that Leuter is so famous for. There’s very little song structure to any of the tracks on here, it’s mainly just wild analog keys and effects throughout the entire thing. Audio coming soon.

Charles Bellonzi & Robert Viger - Structures Percussions Charles Bellonzi & Robert Viger - Structures Percussions

Recorded in France, 1972. Very repetitive percussion “structures,” ranging from jazz, bossa, avant, and march. Not much information (in English at least) on this guy. Here is a biography and discography of Bellonzi in French. I must say that this is one of my favorite library covers ever.

Chevrolet Sings of Safe Driving and You Chevrolet Sings of Safe Driving and You

Chevrolet’s hilarious attempt at promoting safety for young drivers by singing about the laws of motion and centrifugal force, among many other automobile-related things. If you ever wondered what it would sound like if Belle & Sebastian were around in the 60s making music about driving, well then today is your lucky day. […]

Daniel Humair - Drumo Vocalo Daniel Humair - Drumo Vocalo

Percussion library recorded in France, 1970 (or so the cover says). IML (International Music Label) was a subsidiary of Montparnasse 2000, hence the slight similarity in cover design. There’s a mix of weird scat vocal stuff, tape delays, and reverse effects on here.
Daniel Humair - Dingo Conversation

Daniela Casa - America Giovane 2 Daniela Casa - America Giovane 2

Here’s a jazz/psychedelic library from Italy on the very scarce Leo label. “America Giovane” means “young America” in Italian, so my guess is this was their take on the “scene” in the US during the early 70s. The cover art on this one is great. Faceless teens hanging out at Inspiration […]

Electronic Age - Modern Science, Space & Mystery Electronic Age - Modern Science, Space & Mystery

Absolute classic as far as avant garde/electronic library records are concerned. A number of Studio G regulars are on this LP, all of whom display a deep appreciation for tape delay, distortion, warbling synths, and minimal ’space age’ electronics. If there were ever a soundtrack to everyday space station living in the 22nd […]

Ennio Morricone - April Orchestra Vol. 1 Ennio Morricone - April Orchestra Vol. 1

If you’re reading this site you’ve probably at least heard of Ennio Morricone, without a doubt the most well-known Italian soundtrack composer. You may not be aware of the fact that he also did a few not-available-to-the-public library records during the height of his career (or maybe you are. sorry.)

Ennio Morricone - Un Uomo da Rispettare Ennio Morricone - Un Uomo da Rispettare

Here’s the soundtrack of an Italian made thriller from 1972 directed by Michele Lupo (title translates to A man to Respect). The highlights on here are two jazz instrumentals which are a change of pace from the dark orchestral, semi-avant garde main theme. “L’incarico” is the first - a slow-moving track that unfortunately […]

Felice Fugazza - Megamoog Felice Fugazza - Megamoog

Here is another ’space electronics’ library, quite similar to the Electronic Age LP i posted a week or two ago. Released on Orly’s “Kaleidoscope” series, these tracks probably first appeared on a small Italian label and were soon after re-licensed to this particular French library (there are a few other records in this series […]

Frank Rocco - Audio Therapy Frank Rocco - Audio Therapy

Spoken word LP for those looking to shed a few pounds through the use of “progressive relaxation.” It is pretty self-explanitory and I probably shouldn’t waste any time discussing it. Basically the dialogue is this: “You will relax.” “You will relax more.” “You will relax more and more.” (etc)
I am […]

Gianni Safred - Futuribile (The Life to Come) Gianni Safred - Futuribile (The Life to Come)

This was originally released on the obscure “Music Scene” Italian library label, but soon after found a home with our good friends at Folkways. Rather than trying to come up with an entertaining review of this futuristic electronic/jazz/disco record, I’ll just let the liner notes do the job. It seems the people at […]

JJ Perrey & Pat Prilly - Moog Expressions JJ Perrey & Pat Prilly - Moog Expressions

The first father-daughter electronic library record? I can get with this. I’m sure most of you who read this site are already well aware of Jean Jacques Perrey, one of the biggest names in the 60’s moog scene. Well apparently his daughter (a musician herself), would join him in the […]

Larry Page and his Orchestra - Waltzing to Jazz Larry Page and his Orchestra - Waltzing to Jazz

Honestly, don’t even waste your time taking the record out of the sleeve and playing it. The music is nothing special. Your standard 60s easy listening jazz cheese-fest. I’d be willing to go as far as to say it is horrendous. The cover on the other hand, is pretty great.

Mario Nascimbene - Major Library 6074 Mario Nascimbene - Major Library 6074

Not a bad library if funky jazz is your thing. Nascimbene was an Italian soundtrack dude who did his fair share of libraries as well. He does all the tracks on the b-side of this record (most of which found their way onto the first Cinemaphonic Soul compilation).

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