Ambergris - Ambergris! (1970)

Ambergris - Ambergris (1970)

Latin Soul Rock with twangy guitar riffs, hip-shaking percussion and a big funky brass section. Everything good about the 70s! As far as I can see, this is their only release. 

Features founding member of Blood Sweat and Tears, Jerry Weiss (bass and piano).

Other notable names include Jimmy Maelen (vocals & percussion) who played with John Lennon, the Jacksons, Talking Heads, Alice Cooper, Marlena Shaw, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Gabriel, Buddy Rich & too many others to mention. Lewis Kahn (trombone / violin) who later played live with Tito Puente. Larry Harlow (piano, organ & percussion) who had previously put out releases on the lauded Fania label and would much much later record with the Mars Volta.

Produced and engineered by founding member of Booker T & The MG's, Steve Cropper. Love this record.

01 - Something Happened To Me
02 - Play on Player
03 - Gotta Find Her
04 - Chocolate Pudding
05 - Forget it, I got it
06 - Walking on the water
07 - Sunday Lady
08 - Home Groan
09 - Soul Food
10 - Endless Night

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7 Mladih - Huanita Banana (1966)

7 Mladih - Huanita Banana (1966)

A damn weird Yugoslavian 45. Side A's opener is a Latin Novelty number (about a banana seller's daughter who wins stardom as an opera singer), followed by a slick little latin pop number. On the B side, easy listening male vocal group gospel, with a rad upbeat version of 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot'. So. Yeah.

a1 - Huanita banana (written by T. Howard & M. Kenton)
a2 - El Vagabundo (written by V. Simon & A. Gill)
b1 - Jericho (traditional)
b2 - Swing Low Sweet Chariot (traditional)

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Marino Marini Quartet w. Ruggero Cori - Me Que, Me Que / Guaglione (1957)

Marino Marini Quartet w. Ruggero Cori - Me Que, Me Que / Guaglione (1957)

Its hard not to be charmed by this light and boppy Italian 45. 'Me Que, Me Que' is a bouncy little samba, 'Guaglione' (winner of the fourth Napoli Song Festival) a sweet and breezy mandolin number. This is the Jugoton pressing, no year printing but the release code puts it either in 1957 or 1958 (I'm leaning more toward 57).

a - Me Que, Me Que (written by Becaud-Arnavour)
b - Guaglione (written by Fanciulli-Nisa)

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Nico Fidenco - Legata A Un Granello Di Sabbia / Ridi, Ridi (1961)

Nico Fidenco - Legata A Un Granello Di Sabbia / Ridi, Ridi (1961)

I still can't fathom that this is the same Nico Fidenco who later scored Zombi Holocaust. Anyway, light, poppy and romantic stuff from the Italian songsmith. This is the 1962 RCA pressing. The quality of record on side a is pretty worn out, but side b is decent. 

a - Legata a un granello di sabbia (written by Marchetti-Fidenco, performed with Luis Enriquez Orchestra)
b - Ridi, ridi (written by Aloisi-Fidenco, performed with Luis Enriquez Orchestra)

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Adriano Celentano - Non Esiste L'Amor / Basta (1961)

Adriano Celentano - Non Esiste L'Amor / Basta (1961)

Nice little hand-me-down single from Italian rock & roll sleaze-ball Adriano Celentano. Latin-infused rock and roll from Italy. This is the Yugoslav diskos pressing from 1962. 

a - Non Esiste L'Amor (written by Leoni, Beretta, Vivarelli, performed with Giulio Libano Orchestra)
b - Basta (written by De Vera, Lossani, performed with Giulio Libano Orchestra)

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Betty Curtis & Johnny Dorelli - ST (1962)

Betty Curtis & Johnny Dorelli - Self Titled (1962)
With the Gianni Ferrio & Gianfranco Intra Orchestras
10"

Brassy Italian Musica Leggera in a style spanning big-band, crooner ballads to cha-cha. Classic sound. 

Collects Compagnia Generale Del Disco recordings of singers Betty Curtis (Sanremo Music Festival winner, Eurovision Song Contestant in 1961) and Johnny Dorelli, a popular singer of the late 50s (and Sanremo winner in 1958). 

Most of the tracks don't appear to have been issued as singles, or are otherwise difficult to find. Radiotelevizija Beograd (Jugoslav) pressing, no year printed, but the dates and ages listed in the bio mean it could not have been released any later than 1962.

a1 Carolina Dai!
a2 Al Di La
a3 Guardala (That's my girl)
a4 La Verita
b1 Il mare nel cassetto
b2 Buondi
b3 Mare di decembre
b4 Tu Con Me

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VA - 4 Uspjeha sa Festivala Sanremo 1962

4 Uspjeha Sa Festivala Sanremo 1962
"4 Successes from the Sanremo Festival 1962"
Various Artists
A sweet 45 handed down to me from my grandmother's collection. Sunny, romantic and cheerful Musica Leggera from early 60s Italy. 

Features the four original song winners of the 62 Sanremo music festival, performed by the Marino Marini Quartet, Orchestra Reverberi, and vocals from Benvenuti, Marisa Rampin, and Marino Marini. Jugoton pressing. 

a1 - Marino Marini Quartet with Benvenuti - Addio, Addio
ab - Orkestar Reverberi with Marisa Rampin - Gondoli', Gondola'
b1 - Marino Marini Quartet with Benvenuti - Tango Italiano
b2 - Marino Marini Quartet - Quando, Quando, Quando

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