Alvino Rey Connection - The Army Air Corps + Disney's Casey Jones (Sonophone) + Andy Russell - Enamorado + Vince Salerno - The Bat

The Army Air Corps
written by Capt. Robert Crawford
performed by
Alvino Rey & His Orchestra
Bill Schallen with The King Sisters, vocals
recorded 27 January 1942

originally issued in 1942 as Bluebird B-11476 issued here on V-Disc No.6B, circa 1943

All gave some and some gave all

. . .

it is to you that this video is dedicated!

In 1937, Army Air Corps second-in-command Hap Arnold persuaded his superior, Oscar Westover, that airmen needed a song reflecting their unique identity, and proposed a song competition with a prize to the winner. However, the Air Corps had no control over its budget, and could not give a prize. Liberty magazine stepped in, offering a purse of $1,000 to the winner.

Around 757 compositions were entered, and evaluated by a volunteer committee chaired by Mildred Yount, the wife of a senior Air Corps officer, and also featuring several distinguished musicians. The committee had until July 1939 to make a final choice. However, word eventually spread that the committee found no songs that satisfied them, despite the massive number of entries. Arnold, who took over command of the Air Corps in 1938 after Westover was killed in a plane crash, solicited direct inquiries from contestants, including Irving Berlin, but not even Berlin's creations proved satisfactory. Just before the deadline, Capt. Robert Crawford entered his song, which proved to be a unanimous winner.

The V-Disc project actually began in June 1941, six months before the United States' involvement in World War II, when Captain Howard Bronson was assigned to the Army's Recreation and Welfare Section as a musical advisor. Bronson suggested the troops might appreciate a series of records featuring military band music, inspirational records that could motivate soldiers and improve morale.

Meanwhile, the American Federation of Musicians, under the leadership of James Caesar Petrillo, were involved in a major recording strike against the four major record companies. This continued until the intervention of recording pioneer George Robert Vincent, who was at that point a lieutenant. On October 27, 1943, Vincent convinced Petrillo to allow his union musicians to record sides for the military, as long as the records were not offered for purchase in the United States. From that moment on, artists who wanted to record now had an outlet for their productivity - as well as a guaranteed, receptive, enthusiastic worldwide audience of soldiers, sailors and airmen.

The V-Discs were an instant hit overseas. Soldiers who were tired of hearing the same old recordings were treated to new and special releases from the top bands of the day. And such a varied selection - big band hits, some swing music, classical performances from the top symphonies, a little jazz here and there, even some marching music to keep Major Bronson happy.

V-Discs stayed in production until 1949, providing entertainment to soldiers stationed overseas as part of the Marshall Plan.

After the V-Disc program ended in 1949, the Armed Services set out to honor the original AFM request that the records not be used for commercial purposes. Original masters and stampers were destroyed. Leftover V-Discs at bases and on ships were discarded. On some occasions, the FBI and the Provost Marshal's Office confiscated and destroyed V-Discs that servicemen had smuggled home. An employee at a Los Angeles record company even did some jail time - his crime was the illegal possession of over 2500 V-Discs.

The man watching is Robert Benchley.


well, if you look at his wheel areangment, the changed him. Here he is an 2-4-0 with the main rod on the forward driving wheel...in the circus he is still a 2-4-0, but his rod arangment changed to the back wheel! also his bell is in a difrent spot and he became more stubby!


Actually, he didn't have a bell in Dumbo. And he also didn't have a front cab window either.


actually, he did have a front cab window in Dumbo.


Also, his whistle was changed. In this video, he had a more deep toned whistle, In Dumbo, he had a peanut like whistle.

Vince Salerno

Vincent Frank Salerno, a jazz pianist who continued to perform even as prostate cancer weakened his bones, died on Oct. 10. He was 78.

Salerno started playing the piano when he was seven years old. A decade later, he was able to perform George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," a 52-page piece of music, from memory.

Salerno's professional music career lasted for six decades. He took one three-year break during World War II to serve with the Army Air Forces. Before he was assigned to the infantry, Salerno played in the Air Force Marching Band and with the USO.

Once he returned to the states, Salerno toured with the Alvino Rey and Ted Fio Rito orchestras. He received a bachelor's degree in music and a master's in musical education from San Diego State College. He also spent 22 years with The Variations, the house band at the Hotel del Coronado. "The Bat" (1959) is uphill sledding for Vincent Price fans. There's little life in writer-director Crane Wilbur's tedious adaptation of the classic story by Mary Roberts Rinehart. All the ingredients are there -- the spooky house, the hooked-handed killer and a solid story that had already been filmed three times before. But Price is wasted as the prime red herring, as is Agnes Moorehead as the family matriarch. Watch for Our Gang's Darla Hood in an adult role, and dig that crazy "Bat" theme by steel guitar ace Alvino Rey

"THE BAT" WITH REY'S STEEL

1959's "The Bat" is an ultra-campy horror flick, featuring many occurrences that defy all manner of human logic.A mysterious mansion holds secrets and terror for the owner and visitors alike in this thriller based upon a classic stage play. Cornelia Van Gorder (Agnes Moorehead) has taken up residence in an old mansion that was the scene of some mysterious deaths years ago. www.millcreekent.com

But you know what? It doesn't matter. Because "The Bat", co-starring two of Hollywood's best (Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead) is still a really fun movie to watch, no matter how silly and impossible-to-believe the storyline is.

And this trailer is a real dandy too, especially the beginning of it, with Mr. Price inviting the viewers to "come closer" as he sits in his easy chair. Well done.

Esther Phillips With Martin Scheller's Orchestra

Lew Soloff (tp) Garnett Brown (tb) Hubert Laws (fl) Bobby Capers (as, bars) Rodgers Grant (p) Alvino Rey (g) Victor Venegas (b) Leo Morris (d) Osvaldo "Chihuahua" Martinez (cga) Hungria Garcia (per) Esther Phillips (vo) Martin Scheller (arr, dir)

Andy Russell Enamorado 60's

WE LOVE ANDY RUSSELL: OUR MAN IN HOLLYWOOD

They called him the WEST COAST SINATRA. He was the first Mexican-American Pop singing sensation. A veteran of BIG BANDS led by GUS ARNHEIM and ALVINO REY, he was as skilled a drummer as he was a vocalist. Recording solo for CAPITOL RECORDS, he introduced the popular Latin standards "BÉSAME MUCHO", "AMOR" and "CUANDO VUELVA A TU LADO" (What A Difference A Day Makes) to American audiences. His English language hits included "LAUGHING ON THE OUTSIDE", "I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU" and "PRETENDING." ANDY parlayed success on records into a film and TV career that spread his fame to MÉXICO, ARGENTINA and SPAIN. Although he could easily have passed for White, ANDRESITO never hid his MESTIZO roots! ¡QUE VIVA LA RAZA! He was a source of MUCHO ORGULLO for the East Los Angeles community that he called home. The West Coast Sinatra passed away in 1992, but his smooth BOLEROS and sexy SONRISA won't soon be forgotten.

Elvis-Weak 2009 (Pt. 2) Elvis and Alvino Rey Discography

Blue Hawaii 1961

The song Blue Hawaii
was first introduced by Bing Crosby
in the 1937 film,
"Waikiki Wedding"

Showcased by beautiful panoramic shots of Hawaii the film boasts one of the best selling soundtrack albums of all time. Elvis is in top form returning to the islands after a stint in the army to take up a position with a travel agent showing tourists around. Elvis' relaitionship with Maile Duval (Joan Blackman) is threatened when Elvis has to escort a bunch of amorous school girls around the island on a holiday as well as getting unwelcome attention from the glamorous teacher.

The songs featured in the film were:

"BLUE HAWAII"
"ALMOST ALWAYS TRUE"
"ALOHA OE"
"NO MORE"
"CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE"
"ROCK - A - HULA BABY"
"MOONLIGHT SWIM"
"KU-LI-I-PO"
"ITO EATS"
"SLICIN' SAND"
"HAWAIIN SUNSET"
"BEACH BOY BLUES"
"ISLAND OF LOVE"
"HAWAIIN WEDDING SONG"

Musicians:

Elvis Presley (vocals), Hank Garland, Tiny Timbrell (guitars), Bernie Lewis (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Bernie Mattinson, Hal Blaine (drums), Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brookes (piano), Boots Randolph (sax), George Field (harmonica), Fred Tavares, Alvino Rey (ukeleles)the Jordanaires and the Surfers (vocals).

3/21/61

Aloha-Oe
Ku-U-I-Po
(Hawaiian
Sweetheart)
Slicin’ Sand
Hawaiian Sunset
Released: October
1961 Elvis and Joan Blackman
No More
Released: October 1961 November 1972
&nbs p; All recorded for the movie “Blue Hawaii”.
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley
(vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore, Hank Garland, Hilmer J. "Tiny" Timbrell
(guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Dudley Brooks (piano, Celeste), Bob
Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine, Bernie Mattinson (drums),
Bernie Lewis (pedal steel), Homer "Boots" Randolph (tenor ax), George Fields (harmonica), Fred
Tavares, Alvino Ray (ukulele), The Jordanaires, The Surfers, Dorothy McCarty, Virginia Rees, Loulie
-Jean Norman, and Jacqueline Allen (background vocals).

KEY: Red Letters: Elvis’ Gold Records
Red Letters #1:Elvis’ Number One Hits UNK: Unknown
Green Letters: Unreleased recordings
Bold Letters: Released recordings

1960

Tues. 3/1/60

Recorded Interview
Elvis holds a press conference at Friedberg Army Base. It’s tape
recorded and filmed.

Tues. 3/8/60 Recorded Interview
Elvis, out of the army, holds a press conference in Vernon’s office at
Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. It is filmed and tape-recorded.

Sun. 3/20/60 Make Me Know It
Soldier Boy
Released: April 1960
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. Elvis Presley
(vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore (guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Bob
Moore (bass), Hank Garland (guitar, bass), D.J. Fontana, Murrey "Buddy" Harman (drums), and
The Jordanaires

Mon. 3/21/60 Stuck On You #1
Released: March 1960 September 1963 August 1970
January 1974
Fame And Fortune
Released: March 1960 September 1963 August 1971
It Feels So Right
Released: April 1960 May 1965
A Mess Of Blues Hank Garland (bass)
Released: July 1960 February 1968 August 1970
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Studio B, Nashville,
&nbs p; Tennessee. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore
(guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano),Bob Moore (bass), Hank
Garland (guitar, bass), D.J. Fontana, Murrey "Buddy"
Harman (drums), and The Jordanaires (background vocals).

Sat. 3/26/60 Witchcraft
Love Me Tender
Duets with Frank Sinatra.
The Frank Sinatra ”Welcome Home
Elvis” TV-special is video taped at
The Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami,
Florida.

Sun. 4/3/60 Fever
Released: April 1960 March 1975 Frank Sinatra and Elvis
Like A Baby
Released: April 1960
It’s Now Or Never #1
Released: July 1960 April 1961
September 1963 August 1970
January 1976
Recorded at the RCA Studio B,
Nashville, Tennessee. Elvis Presley
(vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore (guitar),
Floyd Cramer (piano), Bob Moore
(bass), D.J. Fontana, Murrey "Buddy" Harman (drums), Homer
"Boots" Randolph (tenor sax), and The Jordanaires (background
vocals).

Mon. 4/4/60 The Girl Of My Best Friend
I Will Be Home Again
The Thrill Of Your Love
The Girl Next Door Went A Walking
Reconsider Baby
Released: April 1960
Dirty, Dirty Feeling
Released: April 1960 July 1965
Such A Night
Released: April 1960 July 1964 January 1976
Are You Lonesome Tonight #1
Released: November 1960 April 1961
September 1963 August 1970 January 1974
I Gotta Know
Released: November 1960 September 1963
August 1970
Recorded at the RCA Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore (guitar),
Floyd Cramer (piano), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Murrey "Buddy" Harman (drums), Homer
"Boots" Randolph (tenor sax), and The Jordanaires (background vocals).

Wed. 4/27/60 G. I. Blues
Didja' Ever
Doin' The Best I Can
Released: October 1960
Frankfort Special (fast tempo)
Pocket Full Of Miracles
Tonight Is So Right For Love
Shoppin' Around
These four songs were started but
left unfinished.
What’s She Really Like
18 seconds of this song is sung by Elvis in the beginning of the
movie in the shower.
Whistling Blues
Instrumental
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore, Hilmer
J. "Tiny" Timbrell, Neil Mathews (guitar), Dudley Brooks (piano), Ray Siegel (bass), D.J. Fontana, Frank
Bode (drums), Jimmie Haskell (accordion), Hoyt Hawkins (tambourine), and The Jordanaires (back ground
vocals).

Thurs. 4/28/60 Wooden Heart #1
(Fred Wise and Ben Weisman rewrite of German children’s
song entitled "Muss I Denn" by Kay Twomey and Bert
Kaempfert)
Released: October 1960 November 1964 October 1965
August 1970
Big Boots
Bootleg release.
Two versions, a slow and a fast one, were attempted and
then left unfinished.
Pocketful Of Rainbows
Bootleg release.
These two songs are worked on again.
What’s She Really Like
Blue Suede Shoes (re-recording)
Both released: October 1960
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore,
Hilmer J. "Tiny" Timbrell, Neil Mathews (guitar), Dudley Brooks (piano), Ray Siegel (bass), D. J.
Fontana, Bernie Mattinson (drums), Jimmie Haskell (accordion), Hoyt Hawkins (tambourine), and The
Jordanaires (background vocals).

Mon. 5/2/60 Filming
Filming begins on “G. I. Blues”.

Fri. 5/6/60 Frankfurt Special (medium tempo)
Pocketful Of Rainbows
Big Boots (medium tempo)
Big Boots (slow tempo)
Shoppin' Around
Tonight's All Right For Love
Released: October 1960
November 1972 January 197 4
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Elvis and Juliet Prowse
Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore,
Hilmer J. "Tiny" Timbrell, Neil Mathews (guitar), Dudley Brooks
(piano), Ray Siegel (bass), D.J. Fontana, Bernie Mattinson (drums),
Jimmie Haskell (accordion), Hoyt Hawkins (tambourine), and The
Jordanaires (background vocals).

Late 6/60 Filming
Filming is completed on “G.I. Blues”.

Mon. 8/8/60 Summer Kisses, Winter Tears
Released: April 1961 Released: July 1965
Britches
Cut from the film. Bootleg release.
Black Star
Not used in the film, it was one of the original titles for the film and the
title song.
UNK release date on bootleg.
A Cane And A High Starched Collar
Released: January 1976
Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (movie version)
Left out of the movie “Flaming Star”.
Recorded at the 20th Century Fox Studios, Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty
Moore, Hilmer J. "Tiny" Timbrell, Neal Mathews (guitar), Dudley Brooks (piano), Ray Siegel (bass),
D.J. Fontana (drums), Jimmie Haskell (accordion), The Jordanaires (background vocals), and the
remaining musicians are unidentified.

Tues. 8/16/60 Filming
Filming begins on the movie
“Flaming Star”.

Tues. 10/4/60 Filming
Filming is completed on
“Flaming Star”.

Wed. 10/11/60 Flaming Star
Released: April 1961 November 1968
Flaming Star (end title version)
UNK release. Bootleg.
Recorded at the 20th Century Fox Studios, Hollywood, California.
Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore, Hilmer J. "Tiny" Timbrell,
Neal Mathews (guitar), Dudley Brooks (piano), Ray Siegel (bass),
D.J. Fontana (drums), Jimmie Haskell (accordion), The Jordanaires (background vocals), and the
remaining musicians are unidentified.

Sun. 10/30/60 He Knows Just What I Need
Mansion Over The Hilltop
I Believe In The Man In The Sky
Released: December 1960 April 1965 August 1971
Milky White Way
Released: December 1960 April 1965 February 1966
His Hand In Mine
Released: December 1960 April 1969 March 1976
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
One source says this song was also recorded on this day, but I don’t find
any confirmation of it.
Surrender #1
(New lyrics/arrangement to Italian song, "Torna a Sorrento".)
Released: February 1961 September 1963 August 1970
Elvis had some trouble with the final high notes and was taken
into the bathroom by the Jordanaires' bass singer, Ray Walker,
to get instruction in breath control. Elvis finally got the ending
right and it was spliced into the take 4 they had finished with a
poor ending.
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. Elvis
Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore (guitar), Floyd Cramer
(piano), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Murrey "Buddy"
Harman (drums), Homer "Boots" Randolph (tenor sax), The
Jordanaires, Millie Kerkham, and Charlie Hodge (background
&nbs p; vocals), and the remaining musicians are unidentified.

Mon. 10/31/60 I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs
In My Fathers House (Are Many Mansions)
If We Never Meet Again
Working On The Building
Released: December 1960
Swing Down Sweet Chariot
Known Only To Him
Joshua Fit The Battle
All of the above three released: December 1960 February 1966
One source says these songs were recorded on 10/30/60.
Crying In The Chapel #1
Released: April 1965 March 1967 August 1970
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.
Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore (guitar), Floyd
Cramer (piano), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Murrey
"Buddy" Harman (drums), Homer "Boots" Randolph (tenor
sax), The Jordanaires, Millie Kerkham, and Charlie Hodge
(background vocals), and the remaining musicians are
unidentified.

Mon. 11/7/60 Lonely Man (record version)
(The original title of the film “Wild In The Country.)
Released: February 1961 February 1968 August 1971
Forget Me Never
Released: February 1961 January 1973
These two songs were cut from the film “Wild In The Country”.
Wild In The Country (record version)
Released: May 1961 August 1971
In My Way
Released: July 1965 January 1973
Husky, Dusty Day
&n bsp; Never released other than in the movie. Duet with actress Hope Lange.
Recorded at the 20th Century Fox Studios, Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty
Moore (guitar), Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brooks (piano), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Murrey
"Buddy" Harman (drums), The Jordanaires (background vocals), and the remaining musicians are
unidentified.

Tues. 11/8/60 I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell
UNK first release date. January 1973
Recorded at the 20th Century Fox Studios, Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty
Moore (guitar), Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brooks (piano), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Murrey
"Buddy" Harman (drums), The Jordanaires (background vocals), and the remaining musicians are
unidentified.

Fri. 11/11/60 Filming
Elvis starts filming the movie “Wild In The Country”.

1961
Wed. 1/18/61 Filming
The filming of the movie
“Wild In The Country”
was completed.

Sun. 3/12/61 I Feel So Bad
Released: May 1961
September 1963
August 1970
Gently
Give Me The Right Hope Lange and Elvis
I Want You With Me
In Your Arms
It’s A Sin
I’m Coming Home
All released: June 1961
There’s Always Me
Released: J une 1961 August 1967
These songs are for the album “Something For Everybody”.
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar),
Scotty Moore, Hank Garland (guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Bob Moore (bass),
D.J. Fontana, Murrey "Buddy" Harman (drums), Boots Randolph
(tenor sax), The Jordanaires and Millie Kirkham (background vocals).

Mon. 3/13/61 Starting Today
Sentimental Me
Released: June 1961 January 1973
Judy
Released: June 1961 August 1967
Put The Blame On Me
Released: June 1961 July 1965
These songs are for the album “Something For Everybody”.
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. Elvis Presley
(vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore, Hank Garland (guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Bob Moore (bass), D.J.
Fontana, Murrey "Buddy" Harman (drums), Homer "Boots" Randolph (tenor sax), The Jordanaires, Millie
Kirkham (background vocals).

Fri. 3/17/61 Filming
Elvis starts filming the movie “Blue Hawaii”, his most successful film.

Tues. 3/21/61 Aloha-Oe
Ku-U-I-Po
(Hawaiian
Sweetheart)
Slicin’ Sand
Hawaiian Sunset
Released: October
1961 Elvis and Joan Blackman
No More
Released: October 1961 November 1972
&nbs p; All recorded for the movie “Blue Hawaii”.
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley
(vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore, Hank Garland, Hilmer J. "Tiny" Timbrell
(guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Dudley Brooks (piano, Celeste), Bob
Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine, Bernie Mattinson (drums),
Bernie Lewis (pedal steel), Homer "Boots" Randolph (tenor ax), George Fields (harmonica), Fred
Tavares, Alvino Ray (ukulele), The Jordanaires, The Surfers, Dorothy McCarty, Virginia Rees, Loulie
-Jean Norman, and Jacqueline Allen (background vocals).

Wed. 3/22/61 Blue Hawaii
Almost Always True
Ito Eats
Ito Eats (movie tag)
Island Of Love (Kauai)
Hawaiian Wedding Song (movie version)
The duet with Joan Blackman is recorded.
Hawaiian Wedding Song (album version)
Released: October 1961
Moonlight Swim
Duet with co-star Joan Blackman. Elvis leaves openings for
her vocal to be dubbed in later.)
Steppin’ Out Of Line (record version)
Steppin’ Out Of Line (movie version)
Cut from the film.
All songs are for the movie “Blue Hawaii”.
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California. Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore,
Hank Garland, Hilmer J. "Tiny" Timbrell (guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Dudley Brooks (piano, Celeste),
Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine, Bernie Mattinson (drums), Bernie Lewis (pedal steel),
Homer "Boots" Randolph (tenor ax), George Fields (harmonica), Fred Tavares, Alvino Ray (ukulele),
The Jordanaires, The Surfers, Dorothy McCarty, Virginia Rees, Loulie-Jean Norman, and Jacqueline
Allen (background vocals)

Thurs. 3/23/61 Beach Boy Blues
Released: October 1961
Beach Boy Blues (movie version)
Rock-A-Hula Baby
Released: October 1961 November 1961 August 1970
Can’t Help Falling In Love (movie version)
Can’t Help Falling In Love #1
Released: October 1961 November 1961 August 1970
January 1974
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, California.
Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore, Hank Garland,
Hilmer J. "Tiny" Timbrell (guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano),
Dudley Brooks (piano, Celeste), Bob Moore (bass), D.J.
Fontana, Hal Blaine, Bernie Mattinson (drums), Bernie
Lewis (pedal steel), Homer "Boots" Randolph (tenor ax),
George Fields (harmonica), Fred Tavares, Alvino Ray (ukulele), The Jordanaires, The Surfers, Dorothy
McCarty, Virginia Rees, Loulie-Jean Norman, and Jacqueline Allen (background vocals)

Mon. 6/26/61 I’m Yours
Released: June 1962 August 1965
(Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame #1
The 8th take was used.
Released: August 1961 September 1963 August 1970
August 1971

Little Sister
Both released: August 1961 September 1963 August 1970
Recorded at the RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.
Elvis Presley (vocal, guitar), Scotty Moore, Hank Garland,
Neal Mathews (guitar), Alvino Rey (steel guitar), Fred
Tavares, Bernie Lewis (ukulele), Floyd Cramer (piano),
Dudley Brooks (Celeste), Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana
and Murrey "Buddy" Harman, Hal Blaine (drums), Homer
"Boots" Randolph (tenor sax), The Jordanaires
(background vocals).

Les Paul 14-Karat Gold Guitar

mrjynRT @mrjyn Les Paul 14-Karat Gold http://bit.ly/43mRUy #video #followfriday @nichopoulouzo #youtube*

Les "Lester William Polsfuss" Paul

		Les Paul was hospitalized last year with fluid in his lungs, but he has since recovered and said he plans to continue his Monday performances at the Iridium Jazz Club, in Manhattan, N.Y., "even if they have to bring me here on a stretcher." By Colin Archer, AP

LES PAUL Birthname: Lester William Polsfuss. Age: 91; born June 9, 1915. Now lives in: Mahwah, N.J. Innovations: Developed prototype for solid-body electric guitar produced by Gibson; developed recording techniques such as close miking, multitracking and use of echo and delay; introduced first eight-track tape player in 1950s; built early model synthesizer. Notable awards: Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1988), Songwriters Hall of Fame (2005), National Broadcasters Hall of Fame (2006), National Inventors Hall of Fame (2005). Five Grammy Awards (three for instrumental albums, one technical award, one lifetime achievement award). Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award (2004). Quote: On his motivation for building a solid-body electric guitar: "I was playing an apologetic, sweet little instrument that was always in the background. It had a lot to say but nobody could hear it. I was playing a little drive-in barbecue stand outside of Waukesha, and one of the guys in the rumble seat wrote a note to the carhop and said, 'Red, your voice, your jokes, your singing, your harmonica is fine, but the guitar's not loud enough.' I went home to my mother and said, 'Mom, one of the critics at the barbecue stand just lit the light for me that the guitar has to be amplified also."'

NEW YORK — Some 80-plus years ago, long before his name became synonymous with the invention that changed the course of popular music, Les Paul was fascinated by sounds.

Barely out of kindergarten, he was intrigued by the tinkling of the player piano in his mother's parlor and the different tones he could create by tapping the wooden banister rails on his way upstairs at bedtime.

That childhood fascination drove him as a young man to experiment with what would eventually become one of the first mass-produced electric guitars that still bears his name and is considered an industry standard.

Watching Paul meticulously check his levels and fiddle with a battalion of electronics before a recent performance, it was obvious that as he approaches his 92nd birthday, his musical curiosity is as undiminished as his love for performing.

"It takes your whole life, because you're constantly thinking up new things," Paul said in a backstage interview at Iridium Jazz Club, where he has commuted from his home in Mahwah, N.J., almost every Monday night since 1996. "I have a list of things that you should be able to hear and are not yet created."

Paul wears one modern gadget when he performs. What looks like a standard hearing aid actually doubles as a miniature wireless monitor speaker that allows him to better hear his band onstage.

"He's always looking at new technologies," Marty Garcia, president of Future Sonics, which makes the ear monitors. "He'll call me at 9 o'clock at night and we'll be on the phone for hours."

Arthritis in his left hand prevents Paul from playing the lightning-fast scales for which he was known in his heyday, but he has adapted his style to combine chords and single-note runs. He nearly lost his right arm in a car accident in 1948, but persuaded doctors to set it at an angle that would allow him to still play the guitar.

"I said, 'Aim it at my navel and I'll be just fine,"' he recalled. "The rest is history."

The set list at Iridium changes from Monday to Monday but usually features old standbys such as "Over The Rainbow," "Embraceable You" and "Sweet Georgia Brown." Paul also includes an up-tempo version of "Tennessee Waltz," one of the songs he popularized with his late wife, singer Mary Ford, in the 1950s.

The shows are equal parts music and Borscht Belt comedy shtick. Rhythm guitarist Lou Pallo, bassist Nicki Parrott and pianist John Colianni play straight roles as Paul riffs on any number of topics.

During a recent performance he bantered with Colianni about what crosses a musician's mind when he pauses during a solo.

"Know what I think about?" Paul asked.

"What's that, Les?"

"My wife's sister."

The room shakes with laughter.

Paul credits his smooth delivery to years spent playing TV and radio gigs with some of the biggest names in comedy.

"I would sit there in the conference room and Jack Benny would be rehearsing the show for that night," he said. "Jackie Gleason, they were all dear friends of mine. There's where I learned."

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In person, Paul is an engaging raconteur with an extraordinary ability to recall the details of his more than seven decades in show business — like the time in the 1970s when he was approached by country-and-western star Chet Atkins with what seemed a puzzling proposal.

"Chet said, 'I'll play my violin and sing and you'll play your banjo and your harmonica and we'll do all the things we're not known for,"' Paul said. "Well, I was terrible on the harmonica, terrible on the banjo and I sang just as bad as I always do. And Chet was no better, so between the two of us we were horrible. I said to Chet, 'Don't you think we should do what we can do best?"'

The result was a Grammy-winning album, one in an almost endless number of awards and accolades Paul has received. He is likely the only person who has been honored by separate national halls of fame for broadcasting, inventing, song writing and rock 'n' roll.

The story of Paul's role in the development of the solid-body electric guitar in the 1940s has become part of rock folklore: how he fashioned an early version out of a piece of railroad track before settling on a more manageable size and weight. (Around the same time, Fullerton, Calif.-based Leo Fender was developing an electric guitar that remains Gibson's chief competitor.)

Once Paul developed a reliable prototype, he immediately began to experiment with altering the basic sounds of the guitar, and laid the groundwork for the reverb pedals, flanges and other effects guitarists use today.

"I said, 'Look what I can do here, I can make it sound like it's underwater, I can make this thing sound like it's in the Alps with all the echo and delay,"' he said. "It was a giant step forward."

Gibson began mass-producing the Les Paul model in 1952, and it eventually became the instrument of choice for generations of rock musicians, many of whom grew up unaware that its brand name refers to a person.

Paul's interest in sound dates back to when he was barely out of kindergarten: He would make sounds on the staircase banisters as if he were playing a marimba or vibraphone.

He also noticed that when he slowed the tempo of his mother's player piano, the notes would play at the same pitch, yet when he slowed the family's Victrola, the notes got lower. With the help of a school science teacher and the local library, he discovered a distinction that many adults might find challenging today: the phonograph operated on analog principles, while the player piano used digital.

More than 80 years later, his influence on popular music is incalculable, largely due to his early use of recording techniques such as multitracking, delay and echo. His 90th birthday at Carnegie Hall in 2005 drew a diverse roster of guitarists including Peter Frampton, Jose Feliciano, Steve Miller and Edgar Winter, and he collaborated with Frampton, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and others on a rock album, Les Paul & Friends: American Made, World Played.

In addition to the guitars spread all over the world, some of Paul's items are on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, and he is donating more for an exhibit at the Waukesha (Wis.) County Historical Society, in the town where he grew up. He is scheduled to play a concert in Waukesha in May to benefit the museum project.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History also is discussing an exhibit.

"He has far more artifacts of interest and significance than any one institution could take," said John Fleckner, the Smithsonian museum's senior archivist. "There's no question that we would welcome a donation of materials from someone as significant in so many different ways as him."

Paul was hospitalized last year with fluid in his lungs and missed the Grammys, but has since recovered and said he plans to keep playing at Iridium on Mondays "even if they have to bring me here on a stretcher."

"It's better than any award I could get," he said. "It is the greatest therapy you can get, to be among your friends, make new friends, make people laugh, make people happy. You feel like you're doing something with your life rather than just letting the days pass by."

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.