The Word: Some call it "crime jazz," as if heaps of brass and bongos were enough to constitute jazz. Not without improvisation. But, crime pop is thrilling stuff, and when you round it out with spy soundtracks and a few other things when they fit (suspense, horror, mod), it's pretty great.
Because of the bongos and "beatploitation" movies which absurdly never failed to confuse beatniks with hardened criminals, the beatnik and crime idioms are related, so see both pages. And don't overlook the "comic" crime items such as Batman and the Green Hornet.
Further below: Crime/Spy 45s | trade wants
Links: are to subpages or artists bio/discog pages in the Hyp Records guide:
Images: accurately represent items but are not always the exact copy listed/purchased
Discount: ALWAYS try to buy more than one item at a time
Warren Barker: Barker is "In"; Warner Bros. WS-1331; 1959; deep groove V+/V+ S $15 -- crime/beatnik; jacket takes the form of an illustrated hip quiz (what's in, what's out) which makes it essential for the beatnik-record collector; hip titles, bongos, and flutes with a strong leaning toward suspense and mod crime, it's one of the three or four great Warren Barker contributions to the crime and beatnik idioms; Flute Route, Cappuccino, Harlem Nocturne, Cafe Espresso, Black Coffee, Love Me or Leave Me, Midnight Sun, There Will Never be Another You, Satin Doll, Robbins Nest, Hit the Road to Dreamland, No Moon at All
Warren Barker & Frank Comstock: TV Guide Top Television Themes; Warner Bros. 1290; 1959; deep groove E/N- $20 (or E/E- $15, specify) -- crime/TV themes; two top bandleaders (famous for other great LPs too) unite to deliver swinging, high-impact versions of the swinging chestnuts of crime and suspense, plus other classic themes (12 cuts all told) in glorious sound "without resorting to what might be called a musical beatnik approach"; very cute cartoon jacket art--liners include a TV I.Q. test!; The D.A.'s Man, Perry Mason, 77 Sunset Strip, Pete Kelly's Blues, Maverick, Peter Gunn, Have Gun Will Travel, Richard Diamond, M-Squad..
John Barry: The Ipcress File ST; Decca DL-9124; 1965; 1st press N/N $30 (or 1st press N-/E+ $25, specify) -- spy; one of the rarer, better spy/suspense classics (the movie stars Michael Caine) & our favorite John Barry LP; essential for title theme "A Man Alone," which is done in several versions--some bongos, jazz, & even samisen(!?!); LP sounds like the subtler early Bond STs but is really better (thanks in part to slick Decca red-label production); PLUS, you get one of the most bitchin' tune titles EVER to display on your iPod (or wherever): "If You're Not Clean--I'll Kill You"
John Barry: The Ipcress File ST; Decca DL-79124; 1965; E+/N S $35 -- spy; one of the rarer, better spy/suspense classics (the movie stars Michael Caine) & our favorite John Barry LP; essential for title theme "A Man Alone," which is done in several versions--some bongos, jazz, & even samisen(!?!); LP sounds like the subtler early Bond STs but is really better (thanks in part to slick Decca red-label production); PLUS, you get one of the most bitchin' tune titles EVER to display on your iPod (or wherever): "If You're Not Clean--I'll Kill You"
The Bat Boys: Batman; Pickwick/Design DLP-249; 1966; E/E- S $20 -- instrumental; terrific stuff inspired by the Batman TV show (itself a great ST, whatever you may think of the show), and the music is all original/unique to this record!; guitar, organ, drums, some effects (car engine sounds--can't forget the Batmobile); WILL YOU PURCHASE THIS RECORD IN TIME? Or will some other lucky joker get to it first? Tune in next week--same bat time, same bat channel...; Batman, Mighty Mayhem, Cheatin' Charlie, Uppercut Blues, Fight Flight, The Villain Strikes, Out with the In Crowd, Behind the 8 Ball, Mars' Visitor, It's Murder!
Elmer Bernstein: Staccato; Capitol ST-1287; 1959; 1st press E/E+ $20 -- crime/beatnik; the great hero of Beats and beatniks on film (and one of the best biker-movie bike-gang leaders) John Cassavetes --director, star, spouse of Gena Rowland, etc.-- played the lead in a fantastic TV series (all on DVD now) with great guests and jazz; as Johnny Staccato, the most wired (as in caffeine and nervouslike) detective of the time, Cassavetes relaxed by briefly playing piano jazz in a [filmed-in-Hollywood] Greenwich Village nitery that attracted plenty of trouble; seriously hip stuff; Staccato's Theme, Thinking of Baby, Poi & Juice, Night Mood, Deadly Game, The Jazz at Waldo's, Greenwich Village Rumble, Like Having Fun, One Before Closing, Walk a Lonely Street, MacDougal Street Special, Pursuit
Al Caiola: Sounds for Spies & Private Eyes; United Artists UAS-6435; N-/N S $20 -- spy/crime/guitar; his best! (or at least best loved); everything about this is great, from the jacket to the tunes to arrangements/playing and above all GREAT SOUND (both guitar tone and reproduction); Man from UNCLE, The Fugitive, Secret Agent Man, Underwater Chase, 3rd Man Theme, Slaughter on 10th, Man of Mystery, The Bronze Doll (original), Baker Street Mystery, Goldfinger, Eye in Flat 5, A Quiet Thing
Jerry Goldsmith: Our Man Flint ST; 20th Century Fox TFS-4179; 1966; E+/N S $35 (or cutout E+/N- shrink S $30, specify) (or cutout E+/N- S $25, specify) -- spy/electronica/exotica; w/Shelly Manne, Arthur Morton, Warren Barker, Ronnie Lang, Bob Bain, Al Hendrickson..; better than "In Like Flint" and one of the very best, hippest, swingingest spy grooves all the way through!; exotic tunes (Warren Barker!), guitar, and electronica (Thomas organ and solovox) make it a standout--if you know the "Planet of the Apes" ST you know that Goldsmith can be square, but not this time!!!; dig the catchy titles: Our Man Flint, Never Mind--You'd Love It, It's Gotta Be a World's Record, Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone, Take Some Risks Mr. Flint?, Tell Me More About that Volcano, You're a Foolish Man Mr. Flint, In Like Flint, Doing as the Romans Did, Galaxy A Go-Go! (or Leave it to Flint), All I Have to Do is Take a Bite of Your Apple?, Stall! Stall! Flint's Alive
John Gregory & his Orchestra: Gregory Conducts; Philips 6499.308; 1973?; "SAMPLER" UK import N/N S $15 -- compilation; showcases his big band and Latinate "Chaquito" (alter-ego) styles; Fire and Rain, Hawaii 5-0, The Onedin Line, Sunny, A Face in the Clouds, Shaft, Softly Whispering I Love You, Aquarius, La Mer, Spies and Dolls, Meditation, Softly Softly; good to have especially if you only have one or two others by him (outside of the UK that's about all you can expect)
Earle Hagen: I Spy ST; Capitol T-2839; promo N-/N- $60 -- spy/exotica; AT LAST! we present the far rarer of not one but TWO tv-show ST LPs (both by Hagen, of course) on different labels with different material; this is a very special opportunity; I Spy, Over the Wall, Montezuma's Revenge, Islands in the Sea, The Golden Age, The Voice in the Wind, To Florence With Love, Sophia, Rots Of Ruck, There's No Escape, Domingo, The International Set
Neal Hefti, his Orchestra & Chorus: Hefti in Gotham City; RCA Victor LSP-3621; 1966; sealed S $40 -- crime/comix/Batman; hip liner notes by Hefti on the follow-up to the Batman Theme LP with possibly more unusual/desirable additional fare (or would-be incidental music); the titles give you an idea of the various fun (Mid-East, Latin, mod soul, etc.) that Hefti has; worthwhile also for the striking jacket art; Gotham City Municiple Swing Band, Senorita Boo Bam, Honorable Batman, Fingers, Soul City, The Lonely Greek, Turkish Delight, Robin's Egg Blues, King Tut's Tomb, Tugboat Square, Mother Gotham, Queen of Freedom
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Music to Be Murdered By; DRG SL-5183; 1980 (UK reissue of rare US Imperial); N/N shrink S $35 -- crime; rare, even as a reissue!; partly spoken (Hitchcock's narration is what it's all about) w/spooky-spacey-suspenseful orchestral music; of course, just as decor it makes the perfect gift for that mortician, homicide detective, or assistant D.A. in your life -- not to mention the Hitchcock fan!; Suspicion, Music to be Murdered By, Alfred Hitchcock Television Theme, I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You..
Kenyon Hopkins: Nightmare!!; MGM E-4104; E+/E+ $70 -- crime/suspense/horror/effects/Mid-East/whistling/odd pop; one of his best LPs (better than the well-known "Shock," "Panic," and a few others more or less like it); produced by Creed Taylor; very rare, great jacket, liners, and of course wild, creative music!; thirteen (of course!) sensational, horror-jazz, pop-soundtrack-sounding, creepy-crawly-yet-totally-swinging tracks to bug out by: The Tell-Tale Heart, Invasion of the Locusts, The Loft, Ghost Ship, The Watery Grave, Chamber of Horrors, The Red-Eyed Rats, The Shaft, Werewolf, Living Tomb, The Chase, Tara's Theme, Monster Meet
Kenyon Hopkins: The Fugitive Kind ST; United Artists UAL-4065; 1960; deep groove E/E $75 -- twist/suspense; one of the fine rare Hopkins STs (like "The Hustler"); the film adaptation of Tennesse Williams' play "Orpheus Descending" stars Marlon Brando (pictured with Anna Magnani and Joanne Woodward); the twist "Get Crazy" and "High Pocket Blues" are uptempo picks, but the whole thing is full of great sounds and themes, such as the strange blues vocal "Let Me Out"; it's all star power, and it remains a worthy collectors item in the field of good/scarce soundtracks
Dick Hyman subpage (Man from O.R.G.A.N.)
Kojak Book & Record Set; Peter Pan BR-518; 1977; sealed $20 -- spoken/kids/crime; inspired by the Telly Savalas TV show; "It's fun to read as you hear...The Powerful Action COMES ALIVE As You Read"; comic-book style color jacket art; "2 Exciting Stories: Five Star Final, A Question of Honor"; always a treat but sealed perfection is a prize--"Who Loves Ya, Baby?"
Enoch Light: Paperback Ballet; Command RS-805-SD; 1963/1959; N/N- shrink cutout S $20 (or N/E+ cutout S $15, specify) -- crime; originally titled "The Private Life of a Private Eye," it's a welcome retitle/reissue (old) of a scarce classic for crime/suspense buffs, essential for its original tunes composed by Light & Lew Davies: The Private Life of a Private Eye, The Gang at the Green Grotto, Harry's Hideout, Dirty Work Underfoot, Frenchy's Tune, Harlem Hot-Shot in a Hurry, Blonde Bombshell, Mess in Morocco, The Creep, Serenade for a Sweet Babe, Living on Borrowed Time, Gum Shoe Lullaby
Henry Mancini: The Party ST; RCA LSP-3997; 1968; N/N- shrink S $25 (or cutout N-/N- shrink S $25, specify) -- with sitar (the great Bill Plummer!) on the title cut (both vocal and instrumental versions--uptempo, jazzy sitar-soul) make it desirable beyond even the norm, and the norm is a very happening, hard to find Mancini ST from the period: top players, wild Mad-Magazine-like cartoon jacket, groovy Peter Sellers (pictured w/sitar as "Hrundi V. Bakshi"); The Party (vocal), Brunette in Yellow, Nothing to Lose, Chicken Little Was Right, Candlelight on Crystal, Birdie Num-Num, Nothing to Lose (vocal), The Happy Pipers, Party Poop, Elegant, Wiggy, The Party
Henry Mancini: Mancini's Angels; RCA Victor APL1-2290; 1977; N/N shrink S $20 (or N-/N S $20, specify) -- crime/funk/Moog/disco/TV themes; one of his hip '70s ones w/breakbeats & synth; features Harvey Mason, Larry Bunker, Lee Ritenour, Chris Mancini on Arp; Charlie's Angels, Evergreen (A Star is Born), Car Wash (funky!), Inspector Clouseau, Silver Streak, What's Happening, The Moneychangers, Gonna Fly Now, Roots
The Marketts: The Batman Theme Played by the Marketts; Warner Bros. W-1642; 1966; cutout N-/E+ $30 -- instrumental with some voice guitar/crime/spy/mod/breakbeats; the Wrecking Crew are at it again in one last stab at the sound that begins with surf and ends never; some cool stuff, including breakbeats, organ, and twangy guitar!; Batman Theme, Bat Cave, Robin the Boy Wonder, Bat Signal, Batmobile, The Joker, The Penguin, The Bat (Dance), Dr. Death, The Riddler, Bat Cape, The Cat Woman
Billy May/Sammy Davis Jr.: Johnny Cool ST; United Artists UAL-4111; 1963; E/E $15 -- crime/jazz/mod twist/Latin/bongos; essential ST for equally worthy hoodlum flick starring Henry Silva, young Elizabeth Montgomery!, Jim Backus, and Joey Bishop; the music is great Billy May, especially some of the last tunes on the ST, which give you a Sammy Davis number, a bongo piece, and the really good title "ballad of"; The Lizard, Window Washer, Dare's Affair, Borrow a Knife, Johnny Cool Theme, Morning in Balboa, Nice Quiet Saloon, Green Tables Blues, The Coolest Pad, Juan Coolisto, Bee Boom, The Ballad of Johnny Cool
Johnny Mandel: Harper ST; Mainstream 56078; 1966;1st press N/N shrink $40 (or N/N- $35, specify) (or N/E+ $30, specify) -- crime/mod soul/breakbeat; rare ST from the terrific Paul Newman vehicle ("The Drowning Pool" was the sequel); tastefully has the various swingin' '60s sounds ("Mexican Breakfast" being Mexicali, for instance), with the star cut being the very DJ-worthy "Harper Does it Better," a mod-soul/boogaloo organ jukebox mover complete with breakbeats/funky drums (like Lalo Schifrin's "The Bird" from The Liquidator ST); great record and movie offering the indelible image of gorgeous bikinied Pamela Tiffin practising her watusi on a diving board (two stills of that scene shown on the jacket); Harper--main title, Quietly There, Magnus Cum Louder, Livin' Alone, Harper Does It Better, Mexican Breakfast, Sure As You're Born, Harper's Ferry, Temple of the Clouds, Bel Air, Finale (Susan)
Ralph Marterie & his Marlboro Men: Music for a Private Eye; Mercury/Wing SRW-16238; 1st, deep groove N-/E S $25 -- crime; "swinging themes of famous TV whodunits" (and how) arr. by crime-jazz masters Pete Rugolo and Skip Martin; truly "crime jazz" and a fun classic to boot (not just a slick jacket); M Squad, Perry Mason, Richard Diamond, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Thin Man, Private Eyeball, The D.A., Riff Blues, Peter Gunn
Ray Martin & his Orchestra: Comic Strip Favorites; RCA Camden CAL-2102; 1966; deep groove 1st press E+/E+ $25 -- mod/crime/Batman/exotic rock; with Dick Hyman; Ray Martin appears elsewhere on this page on a Victor Katie Lee LP and is best known for a couple of spy (James Bond) LPs on Camden; this rarity --on great-sounding thick vinyl-- is one of those groovy little sleeper swingers like you find on Hanna-Barbera of the period; Batman Theme (great version), Little Orphan Annie, It's Superman, Flash!-There Goes Gordon! (great!), William Tell Overture (Lone Ranger), Tarzan (exotic rock!), When the Bloom is on the Sage (Tom Mix), Richard Tracy Esq. (Call Me Dick)--fantastic mod-crime with spoken parts--hip!, I'm Popeye the Sailor Man, Alley Oop
Skip Martin: The Music from Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer; RCA Victor LSP-2140; 1959; E+/E+ S $30 -- crime/TV; "Sound of Violence" in Living Stereo; dramatic jacket and elegant music for a classic, influential series; traditionally the LP is hard to find and long-considered a collectors item, but since its typical price has declined in recent years you would do well to add it to your crime-theme collection before it goes out of sight again; Riff Blues (Theme), Corn Pone Woman, Coffee House, Bad Guys, Black Night, Back Home, Night Crowd, Summer Mood, Like Mike, Morning After, Lenox Avenue Strut, Hammer Blow
Skip Martin: The Music from Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer; RCA Victor LPM-2140; E/E $25 -- crime/TV; "Sound of Violence"; dramatic jacket and elegant music for a classic, influential series; traditionally the LP is hard to find and long-considered a collectors item, but since its typical price has declined in recent years you would do well to add it to your crime-theme collection before it goes out of sight again; Riff Blues (Theme), Corn Pone Woman, Coffee House, Bad Guys, Black Night, Back Home, Night Crowd, Summer Mood, Like Mike, Morning After, Lenox Avenue Strut, Hammer Blow
Hugo Montenegro: Come Spy with Me; RCA Victor LSP-3540; 1966; E+/N S $60 -- spy/mod; "The Music Punctuates the Drama...It Also Entertains"; as with his Man from UNCLE LPs --but rarer-- it's absolutely terrific!; most of the covers are better/stranger than the originals (The James Bond Theme is trippy with organ and horns here) and the title original is hot too!; many consider it the best Hugo Montenegro LP and it always disappears quickly when we have it (mono or stereo); Secret Agent Man, I Spy, The FBI, Thunderball, The Silencers, Get Smart, Come Spy with Me, Goldfinger, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Our Man Flint, James Bond Theme
Hugo Montenegro: Come Spy with Me; RCA Victor LPM-3540; 1966; E-/N- $30 -- spy/mod; "The Music Punctuates the Drama...It Also Entertains"; as with his Man from UNCLE LPs --but rarer-- it's absolutely terrific!; most of the covers are better/stranger than the originals (The James Bond Theme is trippy with organ and horns here) and the title original is hot too!; many consider it the best Hugo Montenegro LP and it always disappears quickly when we have it (mono or stereo); Secret Agent Man, I Spy, The FBI, Thunderball, The Silencers, Get Smart, Come Spy with Me, Goldfinger, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Our Man Flint, James Bond Theme
Hugo Montenegro: More Music from the Man from U.N.C.L.E.; RCA Victor LSP-3574; 1966; N/N- S $40 (or N-/E S $30, specify) -- spy; WOW!!!; hip, funky, happening--one of the very best of the idiom, if not THE best (much better than the 1st LP); besides being very strong all along, several cuts are deeply hip and essential for DJs (definitely for spy-crime fans); Sandals Only, Solo Busanova, Off & Running, Boo-Bam-Boo Baby, Slink, Run Spy Run, Jungle Heat, The Wiggely Pig Walk, Lament for a Trapped Spy, There They Go, Jo Jo's Torch Song, Dance of the Flaming Swords
Buddy Morrow: Poe for Moderns; RCA Victor LPM-2208; 1960; E/N- $30 (or stereo LSP-2208 E-/E- S $20, specify) -- crime/suspense/twist/spoken/whistling; rare, unique wonder (far beyond anything else by Morrow); superb production (music, concept, jacket art, liners); features vocal group The Skip-Jacks and quite affecting whistling; The Murders in the Rue Morgue, Annabel Lee (narrated intro), The Gold Bug, A Descent into the Maelstrom, The Bells, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit & the Pendulum, Ulalume, The Black Cat, The Raven, Quoth the Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart
Tony Mottola w/Ray Charles Singers: Original Music from "Danger" 10" LP; MGM E111; deep groove V+/V+ $50 -- crime; "Television's Greatest Dramatic Show!"; rare set, lovely jacket, extensive liner notes, top music (including wordless voice, lending an exotic touch) that's way ahead of its time and one of the first tone-poem or "concept albums" of very unusual, inspired music; condition is very respectable for a 10" LP, at least; "Danger" theme, Suite from "Footfalls", Beguine Tampico, "The Famous Gilson Legacy" Suite, August Heat, Carnival Time, "Sredni Vashtar" Suite
[Jerry Murad's] Harmonicats: Great Themes from TV & Motion Pictures; Columbia/Harmony HS-11223; N/N shrink S $15 -- spy/crime/harmonica: normally we avoid the Harmonicats (worthy as they may be for pop harmonica) except this LP, which really is worthwhile!; on the Harmony sub-label only; Avengers (hard to get this tune in the US!), Pink Panther, Spy with a Cold Nose, Peter Gunn, Charade; plus mod fare: Music to Watch Girls By, Georgy Girl, Wives & Lovers, Moon River, Born Free
Malcolm Peters/Ron Goodwin: Imagination; Time 70007; white-label promo E/N $45 -- odd pop/crime/suspense/exotica; super-rare, much sought-after, terrific general "odd pop" oddball similar to the best work by Kenyon Hopkins; and it's easily the best pre-stereo LP on Time!; very creative concepts, arrangements, instrumentation--especially for its day (the Golden Age of space-age pop); African Patrol, Tension Zone, Midnight in Madame Tussaud's (suspense, awesome!), Cartoooooney, Skin Diver's Ballet, Big Top Circus, Jubilee USA, Waitin' for the Dawn, Prairie Schooner, Movie Time, Hawaiian Eyebeat, Frightened Flute
Paul Phillips & his Band/Joe Harnell: The Sound of Midnight--Naked City; Kapp Medallion MS-7517; gatefold; color label E/N- S $25 -- crime/mod; best entry in the scarce Kapp audiophile series; interprets the rare/wonderful "Naked City" (noir/urban/crime ST) in truly swinging arrangements by Joe Harnell of --what else-- mod brass and bongos (here better than most similar stuff on Time, Command, Victor, etc.); In the Still of the Night, Dancing in the Dark, I Cover the Waterfront, Naked City theme, Harlem Nocturne, Stardust, Tenderly, I Only Have Eyes for You, There's a Small Hotel, Route 66 theme, Fever, All Through the Night
Piero Piccioni: The Tenth Victim ST; Mainstream S-6072; 1965/1964; E+/N- S $75 -- crime/sci-fi suspense/wordless chorus/mod jazz/organ; rare ST, here uncut, stereo, top shape ("47" marked in white space on jacket, otherwise gorgeous); film features Ursula Andress & Marcello Mastroianni
Sid Ramin: Stiletto ST; Columbia Masterworks OS-3360; 1968; sealed S $50 (or promo E+/E- S $20, specify) -- crime/mod/funk/bossa; highest recommendation as one of the very best & hippest modern crime/spy/suspense STs (we love it & look for it always); packed w/hard-hitting, '70s-sounding tunes ideal for DJs & samplers as well as crime ST fans--something for everyone, really; the film, from a Harold Robbins novel, stars Britt Ekland & features Barbara McNair; Knife Fight on the Hill, Stiletto, Sugar in the Rain, Tram, Follow That Man, Goat Island, Confrontation..
Pete Rugolo: TV's Top Themes; Mercury MG-20706; 1st press/deep groove/white-label promo N-/N- $20 -- crime; rarer than the well-loved Richard Diamond LP and highly recommended for anyone familiar with that one, it offers more great TV crime-jazz themes in high-impact style, as well as a few others of the era--some you won't find anywhere else!; Ben Casey, Dick Van Dyke/Dobie Gillis, GE Theatre, 87th Precinct, Route 66, Andy Griffith/My Three Sons, The Case of the Dangerous Robin/Barbara Stanwyck, Bonanza, Dr. Kildare, Ichabod & Me (by Rugolo!), Naked City, Nervous (Dick Powell Show theme)
Pete Rugolo/Jimmy McHugh: The Music from Richard Diamond; Mercury/EmArcy MG-36162; deep groove E+/E $25 -- crime/bongo bop; widely recognized as terrific, essential; epitomizes crime idiom in its circa-1960 heyday; high-impact w/great use of bongos & jazz elements; dramatic jacket art caps it off; Richard Diamond Theme, Diamond on the Move, Who's Sam?, The Teaser, Teen Age Rock, The Sleeve Job, Does Mama Know You're Out?..
Lalo Schifrin: Gone with the Wave ST; Colpix SCP-492; 1965; 1st/deep groove E/E S $90 (or mono CP-492 N-/N- $90, specify) (or mono CP-492 E+/N- $70, specify) (or mono CP-492 1st E/E $50, specify) -- "Modern sounds go surfing" says the jacket (four surf scenes in sequence--surf-photo collectors take note) though it's way beyond surf music; his first ST LP (YES!!!) is also one of his very rarest and best (which is really saying something!); all-star players (Francisco Aguabella, Paul Horn, Frank Rosolino, Shelly Manne, Bob Bain, Laurindo Almeida, Howard Roberts, Milt Holland..) as well very creative, fun, varied (mod, Latin, exotic...), original tunes suitable for everyone; bottom line: star-quality playing of hip, mod, exotic jazz--everything you want from West Coast players but rarely get!!!; Gone with the Wave, Laniakea Waltz, A Taste of Bamboo (hula twist), Halieva Blues, Taco-Taquito, Breaks, Aqua Blues, Surf Waltz, Five by Four (Ala Moana), Breaks Bossa Nova, Waimea Bay
Lalo Schifrin: Cool Hand Luke ST; Dot DLP-25833; cutout N/N shrink S $75 (or cutout N-/E+ S $50, specify) -- crime ST/jazz-blues (not to mention music to wash cars by); Academy Award winner, long considered a masterpiece, one of his scarcest, and a real collectors item -- particularly the stereo perfection offered here; ears to the headphones, boss!; Main Title, Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Tar Sequence, Lucille, Egg Eating Contest, Plastic Jesus, Bean Time, Ballad of Cool Hand Luke, Arletta Blues, The First Morning, The Chase, Road Gang, End Title
Lalo Schifrin: Once a Thief & Other Themes; Verve V6-8624; 1965; gatefold; deep groove cutout E+/E+ S $20 -- mod soul jazz/spy/crime/bossa; Irene Reid sings on two, but the instrumental killer, must-have, hot picks are "The Cat" and "The Man from THRUSH" (which Pizzicato Five famously remixed TOGETHER to make up their monster hit "Twiggy"--nearly as impressive as what Dee-Lite at about the same time); all great and, while very affordable, one of the finest things on Verve or by the great Schifrin, who made a lot of soundtracks, and quite a few great soundtrack albums
Lalo Schifrin: Mannix (TV Show ST); Paramount PAS-5004; V+/E+ S $25 -- crime/funky; a great ST (one of even terrific Lalo's very best) for music lovers with several major tracks DJs will love, it's heavy-duty, very scarce, & much in demand (like the Bullitt ST only even rarer); YOU NEED IT!!!; Mannix, The Edge of Night, The Girl Who Came in with the Tide, Beyond the Shadow of Today, The Shadow, Turn Every Stone (Shorty Rogers original), Hunt Down, Warning: Live Blueberries, Fear, The End of the Rainbow, End Game
Lalo Schifrin: The Liquidator ST; MGM SE-4413-ST; uncut N/N shrink S $60 (or uncut E/N S $40, specify) (or mono E-4413 sealed $40, specify) -- spy/mod soul/soul jazz/bossa; everything is great about this treasure from Lalo: 1st-rate artists/music, liners, groovy jacket design; the title vocal by Shirley Bassey rates as the hipster's "Goldfinger"; then there are the contributions of U.K. tenor sax legend Tubby Hayes(!); but the real star is "The Bird," a mod-soul blaster to die for: a blaring, bluesy jukebox riff/dirge that just screams swingin' '60s (a total mover for DJs); GET IT!!!
Morton Stevens: Hawaii Five-O--Original TV ST; Capitol SM-410 (stereo, reissues ST-410); dark red label E/N S $30 -- mod/suspense/soul jazz; argue all day about the boring original series or the tacky-flashy new series, one thing for sure is this is one funky, legendary, hip ST (great for DJs, ST collectors, and anyone with ears and soul); sold decently but the hard part is getting it clean (for the quiet passages especially), so that generally means having the slightly later SM press, which is also stereo and sounds just as good; Hawaii Five-0, Call to Danger, McGarrett's Theme, Front Street, The Long Wait, Blues Trip, The Floater, Interlude, Operation Smash, Beach Trip, Up Tight, The Chase/Hawaii Five-O
Creed Taylor: Lonelyville--The Nervous Beat; ABC-Paramount ABCS-308; 1st/deep groove E+/N S $35 (or 1st/deep groove E+/E+ S $30, specify) (or mono ABC-308 E/E- $20, specify) -- crime; reknowned, sought-after classic with hip concept/jacket is also a masterpiece by Creed Taylor, Kenyon Hopkins, and Bob Kenyon!; great sound--nice and loud!; It's a Lonesome Old Town, Dream Beat, The Lonesome Road, Lonesome River, Lonely Train, All Alone, The Nervous Beat, Lonesome & Blue, Lonely Girl, Dark Street, Lonelyville, St. James Infirmary
Stanley Wilson: The Music from M Squad; RCA Victor LSP-2062; 1959; 1st press E/E+ S $25 (or 2s E-/E S $15, specify) -- crime/noir jazz; "Sounds of TV" from the NBC series starring Lee Marvin; long a scarce collectors item, it's fantastic stuff (all 12 cuts) produced by the fantastic Russ Garcia (always a sign of go-to quality!); arranged by Benny Carter, Johnny Williams, and Pete Carpenter (mostly composed by Carter, Williams, and Wilson); M Squad Theme (by Count Basie!), The Chase, The Search, Phantom Raiders, Lonely Beat, The Juke Box, The Mugger, The Discovery, The Late Spot, The Cha-Cha Club, A Lady Sings the Blues, The End
Si Zentner: Warning Shot ST; Liberty LRP-3498; 1st press E-/N- $15 -- crime; we love having at least one of the three Zentner LPs that belong on this page (all crime-spy fare), and this rare soundtrack is the prize for collectors; all of side one and one other cut are from the film "Warning Shot"--the rest are from other films; Bob Florence (of Liberty/Martin Denny/exotica fame) is one of the two arrangers, and all themes are by Jerry Goldsmith (thankfully it's Zentner giving it the mod brass treatment rather than strings); Warning Shot, The Gasser, Messed Up, Back to the Seascape, Miss Alice, Cornering the Suspect, Mona Lisa, Von Ryan March (from "Von Ryan's Express"), "The Prize" theme, "A Patch of Blue," "Man from UNCLE" theme
The Gallants (H.B. Barnum): The Man from U.N.C.L.E./The Vagabond; Capitol 5376; E $15 -- guitar instrumental; rare one produced by David Axelrod (with some brief solos including drum, tho not funky); mild warp but plays fine
Laurie Johnson: The Professionals/The New Avengers EP; Unicorn-Kanchana CI5; 1980; picture sleeve E+ S $20 -- crime/spy/TV; The London Studio Orchestra conducted by the composer of the original Avengers theme on a rare import 3-cut EP of later ST work that's a lot hipper than the original Avengers ST!; Main Title Theme--The Professionals, On Target, Main Title Theme--The New Avengers (funky)
© Hip Wax
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