A (relatively) minor oversight on my part was the double acquisition of Enoch Light and His Orchestra’s 1961 release, Far Away Places. You see, I’d found Far Away Places Volume 2 little over a year ago, and had forgotten picking up Volume 1 (this) a few short months after. I paid a whole $3 for this, now my second copy. Anyone want a free Enoch Light record? I mean, the cover states the obvious, “Featuring Harpsichord and Exotic Percussion”… EXOTIC PERCUSSION, PEOPLE!!
Tag Archives: Enoch Light
Good Vibrations
Enoch Light was a powerhouse in the late 50s / early 60s. Conducting a series of legendary, well, series (Persuasive Percussion, Provocative Percussion) while manning the Command Records label, and releasing a variety of 20s and 30s volumes, he managed to release random, and essential one-offs like this 1962 record with the Light Brigade titled, Vibrations. With Enogh Light-style twists on these well known classics (I Get A Kick Out of You, As Time Goes By, The Old Black Magic, Dancing on the Ceiling, Temptation), and a frame-worthy, minimalist cover, Vibrations is a steal for $2, and of course, comes highly recommended.
Big Trouble in Little Charleston
I WAS going to speak to The Charleston City All Stars and their 1955 release from Grand Award Records (Enoch Light) titled, The Roaring 20’s Vol. 2, but it dawned on me that Mondo is offering up a double LP to John Carpenter’s legendary classic, the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to Big Trouble in Little China tomorrow at noon CST. My alarm(s) are already set, so I recommend you find your way over to Mondo tomorrow and nab this essential classic (that is, of course, after I’ve nabbed mine).
When the Light Goes Out
Nowhere among the sea of self-taughting verbiage is Enoch Light’s name found on this, seemingly LAST installment in the Persuasive Percussion series. Complete with abstract minimalist cover, PP 1966 holds steady with the original four installments, but doesn’t offer very much other than, “more of the same.” That’s certainly not to say that Persuasive Percussion 1966 isn’t worth a spin, it just lacks a bit of that late 50’s flair found so prominently with the originals. The lack of Enoch Light may have something to do with that.
From: Space To: Digital
SLOWLY beginning the much anticipated digitizing process of our Space Age Pop collection. The plan was to ingest all four volumes of Persuasive Percussion… I managed to gather only the first. This painstaking process will yield countless hours of road trip entertainment. I encourage all of you to digitize your collection. A 160gb iPod comes in handy.
Roughing It Day 1
Another holiday camp outing in the works, and we had to start with Volume 2 of Persuasive Percussion. Happy Friday, wherever you lay your head and drop your needle.
Touch Dancing…
Well, it’s back, at least, according to this International Jazz release by Enoch Light and His Orchestra. It’s hard to imagine that touch dancing ever really went away, but that’s just, you know, my opinion. Appropriately titled Touch Dancing is Back, Enoch Light (and his crew) bring 10 tracks of pure, lustful touch dancing favorites like, Laughing on the Outside, I’ll Get You, and I Get Ideas. Whether you’re in the mood, or trying to plan a soft, rhythmic evening with your touch partner, consider Touch Dancing is Back. You won’t be disappointed.The New Beat from Brazil (Circa: 1962)
Can something still hold claim to “new” if it’s 55 years old? Well, if it involves Enoch Light and Command Records, then that answer is most definitely “yes.” Bossa Nova at its finest, kids, and well worth the $2 price tag. Hunt, find, acquire.
Album Ass: Enoch Light and His Orchestra’s Far Away Places Volume 2
Nothing too exciting here except for the backside of Enoch Light and His Orchestra’s Far Away Places Volume 2. The layout is a bit wonky, what, with 90 degree angles being thrown out the window, but Command Records did a pretty decent job of offering a ton of info while not seeming any bit overwhelming. That Stereo 35mm logo, though…
Bongos / Flues / Guitars
The title is all you need to know about Enoch Light’s 1960 insta-classic, Bongos / Flues / Guitars. Command Records, and Mr. Light specifically, cranked out a substantial number of quality LPs in the late 1950s – early 1960s. Though officially credited to Los Admiradores, Mr. Light acted as Director and Producer, not to mention he released the album on his Command label. Buy it for the mid-century cover, keep it for the floral, Latin jazz.
90 Degrees
Yesterday I organized my Enoch Light collection while listening to various 20s and 30s pop tunes. Enoch Light and the Light Brigade, Enoch Light and His Orchestra, Enoch Light and the Command All Stars, the awfully awkward band title morphing Provocative Percussion and Persuasive Percussion, and then just Enoch Light. (Phew!) It appears that I was taking in too much Enoch Light in a relatively short amount of time, which, really is no excuse, but today is the first day all 26 records are in their proper, alphabetical (then chronological) order. This means nothing to you, but I can enjoy my coffee now.
I Like My Percussion Provocative (Vol. 3)
Ahhh (sigh of relief). Another day, another early 60’s Space Age Pop album. Enoch Light? Check! High quality gatefold cover? Check! Command Records quality? Check! Groovy, minimalist album art? You bet’cha! Provocative Percussion Vol. III is probably my favorite so far, of those I own. Still missing Vol. II, then we’ll have all 8 volumes of both the Provocative and Persuasive Percussion series. Volume IV of Provocative currently rests on the wall of our kitchen after the wife knocked over the previous framed accent. She’s a fan of these volumes as well, so secretly, I think she wanted to display the album art. Who can blame her?!
Paris Spectacular
Nothing much to say as we haven’t yet spun this, but I couldn’t resist the “Exciting and Authentic” lure of “the Most Popular FRENCH SONGS.” Plus, it’s a new concept in spectacular high fidelity recording from the 1950s, so however she spins, she’ll be enjoyed. Groovy cover.
35 Mil
So, I’ll admit that I had to look this up, and from what I retained, here goes. (Clears throat) 35mm, when referring to audio / sound recording, was a technique championed (in the music recording world) by Enoch Light and Command Records (Mr. Light’s label). Feature films of the time were using 35mm for their film prints, and when stereophonic and widescreen advances became the popular buzz around Hollywood, Mr. Light utilized this technique to record his Space Age Pop, which, if I’m understanding this correctly, allowed for more instruments / artists to be recorded individually due to the wider, 35mm film. Magnetic sound recording had been the norm at the time, but 35mm offered much more range, which Mr. Light wisely capitalized upon. Anyway, pretty much any Command Record release from the time will diligently detail this unique and groundbreaking recording process, and I encourage you to discover the magnificent (and magnetic) wonders of 35mm sound.
Let ’em Roar
One of this past weekend’s goodies was this collection of Roaring 20’s music from Mr. Enoch Light. This particular release doesn’t appear in Discogs yet, so I’ll need to do a bit of work this coming weekend before she can join her friends on the shelf. Anyway, the music isn’t bad, not much IS from Enoch Light, just not something I’d care to listen to every day. Too happy for my taste, but for $0.92, it was well worth the price of admission. Also, happy birthday to my lovely wife. 🙂
Weekend Haul
This weekend’s hand-picked selection of circular, groovy goodies. Not bad for a flat $24. Lots of Enoch Light and a bunch of 20’s / 30’s comps. Lighthearted listening for the prudent weekend.
Persuasive
Ladies and gentlemen, the complete set of Enoch Light’s Persuasive Percussion series (only on Command Records… or ABC Records after the buy out). Have a Spaced-out weekend, kids!
Far Away Places Volume 2
I’ve taken to listening to records in the morning, now. To hell with exercising and the healthy lifestyle that comes with it, am I right?! More on that at another time. INSTEAD, let’s travel to Far Away Places Volume 2 by Mr. Enoch Light and His Orchestra. This 1963 Command Records release reinvents some distinguished classics with the sensible sophistication only this master of Space Age Pop can manage. Some cuts include, but are not limited to: Istanbul (yes, that one), Flying Down to Rio, Colonel Bogey, The White Cliffs of Dover, and The Moon of Manakoora. I (stupidly) hesitated to secure this release as I knew it would require the hunting and bagging of its sister, Volume 1. Fair enough. Challenge accepted.
The Third Dimension
Don’t take my word for it (no, please don’t. I’m still wrapping my head around this “astonishing new achievement in stereo recording.”) Ladies and gentlemen, taken straight from the inner sleeve of Enoch Light and the Light Brigade’s 1964 classic, Dimension – 3 – .
Remember when you first discovered stereo recording? Remember the excitement of finding that a single groove on a record could actually carry two separate channels of sound? Remember the revelation that the solid mass of sound which was what you were accustomed to in phonographic reproduction could actually have directional values? And that this sense of direction could also provide a sense of perspective and depth? What a tremendous change this made in the pleasures and excitement that could be provided by a phonograph! Suddenly you were in a completely different world of sound! Remember? You can experience that same sense of discovery again.
Dimension – 3 – is one of the most unusual records that has ever been made. On it you hear for the first time the perfection and an extra dimension in stereo reproduction that engineers have been striving for ever since stereophonic recording was introduced.
Dimension – 3 – the amazing new recording technique revealed on this disc, makes it possible to achieve triple presence in sound reproduction! This means that you actually hear sound coming from three sources – even though you are only using the customary two speakers!
(Truncated… for more on the mysterious and marvelous Dimension – 3 – sound, check your local record retailer, or visit us again at The Prudent Groove.)
Volume 3
1959-1961 were very busy years for Command Records, and its owner / originator and record producer Enoch Light. Releasing all four volumes of Persuasive Percussion within this time, as well as Volumes 1 – 3 of Provocative Percussion (Volume 4 came out in 1962), the label, and mastermind Mr. Light, damn-near defined the Space Age Pop sound, while offered amazing, minimalist album covers in the process. If you’ve ever wanted to fill your bachelor pad with the persuasive and provocative sounds of Space Age Pop, we strongly recommend either (both) of these collections.
The Prudent Groove 