Lola's Delicious Dream, Maisel's Merry Melodies, Plus Max Goes Dark, A Bucket For Legrand And A Street Boys Secret Song!

Some people are just too pretty for words. Such is the case with Lola Albright, who earned lasting fame by playing the hot-cha! nightclub singer on TV'S "Peter Gunn" in the early 1960s.

Cult Movie Jams, Billie's Box, Mancini Madness, Plus Bad, Bad Girls, A Halloweenie Surprise, And A Juicy Secret Song!

The first time I saw "Blue Velvet" was the first showing on its first day of release. The theatre was sparsely populated; just me, a friend, and few Upper East Side golden agers who weren't at all prepared for what soon unspooled. I wasn't, either.

A Double-Feature With Robbins & Rozsa, Plus TV's Niftiest Noirs And A Lez-Be-Friends Secret Song!

Jeanne Moreau and Sean Young - together at last! Dafuq, you ask? What was France's Queen of Le Screen doing in a movie with America's favorite dead-eyed throw pillow?

A Twosome With Mancini, Anita Swings With Stan, Plus A Oui-Oui Affirmative Secret Song!

Behold the glamor! Few Hollywood actresses were as beautiful, much less as talented, as Lee Remick. As a wee li'l tot, I first discovered her in the original "Omen" movie (her blue eyes popping open in horror is an indelible image). Only later did I learn that she made an enduring mark on the Broadway stage - in a cult Stephen Sondheim musical, thankyouverymuch - and starred in countless movies. Her best, I think, was Blake Edwards' "Days Of Wine And Roses" (an absolute must if you haven't seen it), which boasted an Oscar-winning score by Henry Mancini.

Bev's Coffee Jazz, A Fantastic Plastic Party With A Panther, Three Terrif Sisters, Plus a Big Ol' Yellow Brick Of A Secret Song!

Earthquake, earthquake! We had another shake-shake-shake here, but it was fairly mild compared to the last one (since we weren't near the epicenter), which means there was no need to clean up, no need to vacuum. But it did make me think of Jeanette MacDonald - and gosh, how brave she was in "San Francisco" - and the Golden Gate Bridge and beatnik coffee shops and the always delightful 1960s and 70s-era jazz chanteuse Bev Kelly, who recorded several LPs in good ol' Fog City (see how neatly that all fits together?). 

Audrey's Latest Tiffany, La Lupe's Soul, Plus Electrifying Color And A Grammar Lesson Secret Song!

You can never have too much Audrey - or Mancini or "Cat." So if you're a fan of all three, this is your lucky day. At last there's a complete soundtrack for Blake Edwards' classic "Breakfast At Tiffany's," and its lusciousness remains as ageless as the pyramids. Why the pyramids, you ask? The answer's oh-so easy.

Happy Holidays With Steve & Eydie And Many More!

Oh, happy day - or days, plural, I should say, because this is the time of year when most of us get time off from work. Who knows what trouble you'll get into? So go on now, put on your dancin' shoes, knock back some eggnog and dance, fool, dance:

Or chill with some festive holiday music. There's so much to choose from, but let's start with a classic. You can't go wrong with Steve & Eydie (especially if your parents are visiting), and given the recent passing of Eydie this year, this LP is especially poignant.

Next, an indispensable collection of Yuletide cheer with sultry soul. This is truly one of the best holiday CDs ev-ah! And, okay, I may be a teensy bit obsessed with it, but that's because it's so shocking to find a new-ish holiday CD that'll stand the test of time. I know, right? I'm still shocked.

I don't remember my family ever playing "A Merry Mancini Christmas" over the holidays - did yours? - but I wish they had. Actually, when you listen to it, you'll almost feel as if it was played when you were a child. There's something so homespun about it - with just a light kicker of jazz. And, yes, I'll confess, it actually does warm my heart (whenever I dig it up from the backyard).

Everything's Archie! If you can't get enough of The Archies, guess what? They put out a Christmas LP. Is it as good as you want it to be? Not exactly, but it's still fun (and kids, if you know or have any, will love it). Plus, there's one track, "Archie's Christmas Party" that sounds like Bananarama on speed with sleigh bells. Which is either fabulous or horrific, depending on your point of view.

And now for some mmmmm-buttah! Actually, just so you know, this isn't a new CD, but a new compilation, and it's a pretty darn good, bringing together the best of her 1967 and 2001 Christmas LPs. I love her version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas." It's sublime, like the best French manicure. 

I adore Kelly Clarkson, too. Her music? I kinda go back and forth - some of it I enjoy, some if it's like white noise. But rejoice, Clarkson fans, because her holiday CD is Clarkson at her best. Plus she does a smashing Big Band version of "My Favorite Things," which I would like to think is a big f-u to this Swiss Miss mess, but that's me (and, really, it could be true) (please let it be true).

Meanwhile, I don't want to neglect other faiths. Unfortunately, for my Kwanzaa friends out there, all I have is the single "Happy Kwanzaa" by Teddy Pendergrass (but who doesn't like Pendergrass?).

As for my friends out there celebrating Hanukkah, I just can't with this, but I wholeheartedly endorse Kenny Ellis' now classic 2005 "Hanukkah Swings!", and believe me, it earns that exclamation point. Who knew the "Dreidel Song" would swing so well? (not me) (although on second thought, it kind of makes sense). And can you really go wrong with a CD that includes "Hanu-Calypso?" I think not.

As a kid, I never got into "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" because it felt like it was trying to be "good for me" or teach me "life lessons" and I was way too hardcore for that. Yet I enjoyed the music, and this soundtrack includes not only the songs, but plenty of incidental music, the original network intro and a few promotional adverts, too. In other words, it's a Rudolph orgy!

Stand back! Grandmas everywhere are clamoring for La Boyle's latest seasonal offering. Say what you will about her (she's ugly as butt) (she's a crazy cat lady) (she's mentally unsound), but she does have a terrific voice. Yet too often in this CD, it's buried under overbearing production. Still, a few tracks, like "The Christmas Waltz" and "In The Bleak Midwinter," are lovely; they put her little-girl-lost voice right out front where it belongs. Suddenly, she seems pretty, and maybe, just maybe, not so batshit crazy after all.

Where almost done, but we gotta keep the holiday vibe going strong, don't you think? So who, I ask, can really kick-start the room? Wait, I know! This guy:

Hell, yeah, it's Ray Charles! Timeless singer, timeless songs. No brainer. And if you've seen "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," then you're already familiar with the title song. There's even a duet with Betty Carter. Believe me, this will fire up any holiday gathering. 

Are there Beatles fans out there? Count me as one of them, of course (from "Revolver" onward, at least) (and, yes, I know I'm going to get flack for that) (bring it on, yo!). This compilation of their seasonal greetings - on the BBC and elsewhere - doesn't exactly include complete songs, but instead features the lads chatting, joking and generally being "cheeky," as they say in the UK.

If some of you are making holiday mixes (you know who you are), drop-kick a few of these tracks in-between songs to shake things up a bit. Even non-Beatles fans will be charmed.

Have you O.D.'d on the holidays already? It's no surprise. My local CVS had Christmas decorations up the day before Halloween. Before. Everywhere you go, Mariah's screaming "Jingle Bells" or Michael Buble's warbling "Santa Baby," or God forbid, this train-wreck singing "A Very Ke$ha Christmas." There's no escape. The cure to what ails you? One word: Bongos (Tino Contreras' version of "Brazil" will make you levitate with happiness). Trust me on this one.

Maybe you don't want feel all "happy-happy" during the holidays. Maybe you want to feel all down 'n' dirty. I get it. We all get it (we don't want to see it, but we get it). And, no, I'm not talking just naughty, I'm talking filth. Pure mud. Interested? Then try Avenue D, the sexually explicit electroclash duo from Miami whose underground hit, "Do I Look Like A Slut?" is obscene, hilarious, and an anthem, of sorts, for proud hos everywhere. Include it in a mix of otherwise innocuous holiday songs and you'll really get the family's attention.

Have fun at all your holiday get-togethers, but remember, don't drink and drive, carry rubbers, clean that gunk out from beneath your fingernails (people notice!), and for every gift you receive, slap a Post-It note on it with the name of the person who gave it to you.

Why? Because, silly, there's nothing more embarrassing then re-gifting a junky ashtray or a Spirit Sister silver necklace or an All-In-One soup and salad bowl or a Map Of The World rayon pillow to the person who gave it to you. It can happen!

Happy Ho-Ho, everyone!

Leave a lump of coal or a pretty-pretty thought in the comments, if you like.

Pink Cocktails, Psychedelic Kids, Tata's Love, Plus The Only Inez And A Ka-Pop Secret Song!

There's so much to share today, I almost don't know where to start! Or have I had too much sugar? Let's start with something pink, m'k? So I was reading through a string of blog comments about Henry Mancini the other day and someone wrote that in a hundred years or so Mancini will be looked upon like Mozart or Beethoven, and I thought, "Easy, kid, don't get too excited." But then I thought, in a hundred years or so, who knows what composers we'll still be celebrating? And why shouldn't Mancini be one of them (no, really)?

Think about it, his tunes are permanently lodged in our collective consciousness: "The Pink Panther Theme," "Moon River," "Peter Gunn," "Baby Elephant Walk," "Two For the Road," and the list goes on (and on). 

Below, "Henry Mancini: The Days Of Wine And Roses" is a fabulous 3-disc set with virtually every memorable Mancini tune - and the first two discs, especially, are lounge music heaven. Above, one of Mancini's last LPs, 1997's "Martinis With Mancini," which finds him still experimenting with new and swingin' interpretations of his classics (and several new tunes, too). Both of them are total bliss-outs, I swear.

Okay, so I know I'm late to the party, but I ask you (and only you), why did no one tell me about The Stepkids? If you're unfamiliar with them, as I was, they're sort of a cross between Steely Dan and Hot Chip, which, yes, sounds very confusing, but they're kinda diffy to describe. 

Let's try this: combining psychedelic rock, jazz and electro (and anything else they can think of) into one ear-popping, day-glo package, they're like the coolest and friendliest-sounding Brooklyn band around (without being twee or pretentious) (which is saying something for Brooklyn) (even though they're from Connecticut)  (and mark my word, if Gwyneth moves to Brooklyn. Then. It. Is. All. Over.) (but I digress). I can't think of another group right now that's so wildly experimental - and so much fun.

Meanwhile, do you know who Inez Jones is? I couldn't even find a good picture of her (and I thought the Internets had everything), so this LP picture will have to do for now. 

This is Inez' only LP, released in 1957 - sometimes as "Have You Met Miss Jones," and other times as "Have You Met Inez Jones." Whatever it's called, it's an Inez Cheerful Exclusive! and highlights a truly gifted jazz vocalist.

A cult favorite of jazz musicians and local club goers in the 50's and early 60's, Inez lived and primarily performed in San Francisco (whether she ventured beyond the West Coast is unknown, but seems unlikely). Plus, on this LP, she's backed by celebrated jazz pianist Carl Perkins and Nat King Cole's guitarist Oscar Moore. Every single musician here gets a solo or two, making this a special treat for jazz lovers. The LP was recently remastered with extra tracks and an awful, generic-looking new cover, so here's the remastered version with the original cover below (because it's better) (trust me).

Let's talk about Tata. And no, I'm not talking about the bodacious kind (you guys are soooo base!). I'm talking about Miss Tata Vega. Sing, Tata, sing!

I was barely a stye in my mother's eye when Tata was in her heyday, but kids, listen up, "Try My Love," her 1978 disco LP. Is. The. Bomb. Ever-so-subtle song titles include "Get It Up For Love!" and "Whopper Bopper Show Stopper!" so you know you're in for klassy, refined thrills. But really, you can't beat her voice; it growls, it screams, it soars above the disco music goin' thump-thump-thump. Everyone should know Tata.

Check it. When the Secret Song File reclines to read the day's most important news (from "People," "US Weekly," "OK Magazine"), she does not want to be bothered, so don't even think of wandering over to her side of the pool. Really. Not a good idea.  And what is she listening to?

Something new. Something trashy. Something iconic-ish, or icona-ish, or...oh, you must know who it is by now. It's their debut LP and it should have been released Stateside this past summer because it's the perfect backdrop for a beach or poolside soiree (with adult beverages) (of course).

I'll have a (very large) Chambord Cocktail, please. 

Drink it up in the comments if you like!

Who Is Lea Roberts? Plus Audrey's Melodies, Monk's San Francisco, Gobel's Giggles And A Swedish Bird Secret Song!

Who is Lea Roberts? All we know is that she was a soul singer in the late 1960's and early 70's. She was born in Ohio in 1946, recorded a handful of albums, a few of which hit the Billboard charts - and that's it, that's all we know. She's a strange anomaly; virtually forgotten by the 1980's, then rediscovered, to a certain extent, in the Internet age by way of YouTube videos and a few early blog shares. Is she still alive? Is she still singing - somewhere?

You'll likely find these questions a bit more urgent after you listen to her 1975 LP "Lady Lea" - A Cheerful Lossless Exclusive! - because she sounds like a blissful cross between Aretha Franklin and Della Reese, though you won't mistake her for anyone else. Just give a listen to the first track, her take on the Free's classic "All Right Now" which all but obliterates the original with its driving high energy and vocal ferocity. 

Or her version of "Laughter In The Rain," which, according to Neil Sedaka's bio "My Own Story" sent him and his management into a panic when it hit the airwaves - and the charts - well ahead of his own version. "We've got to push up our release before she gets too much airtime!" he exclaimed at the time. Lea beat him to the punch by an entire month (I don't why this amuses me) (but it does). The rest of the album runs the gamut from soulful rock to gospel-tinged ballads and more.

There's no Wikipedia entry for Lea, no Billboard bio, and precious little information about her on other sites and blogs beyond her LP credits and date of birth. She's a mystery wrapped up in one of the most versatile soul voices of the 70's. So who is Lea Roberts? Maybe her kitty-cat knows:

I'll bet you know who appears below in the colorful hexaptych (which is a six-paneled painting) (I so had to look that up):

Yes, it's the fabulous Audrey Hepburn. She's another anomaly, though of a different kind. Everyone likes Audrey Hepburn. No, really. Have you ever heard anyone say, "Oh, I hate Audrey Hepburn?" You haven't. And you won't. Something about her is endearing to both men (who wanted to protect her as they would a little sister) (or sleep with her) and women (who want to be like her and, especially, dress like her). Even when she appeared in stinkers, like "Paris When It Sizzles," she emerged completely unscathed. Well played, Audrey, well played.

"Music From The Films Of Audrey Hepburn" isn't just for fans of Audrey, but if you are, the music will have special appeal. But really, how many compilations out there have terrific music from Henry Mancini, Frederick Lowe, Franz Waxman, the Gershwins and more? Oh, and vocals from both Fred Astaire and Audrey herself?

Speaking of hexaptychs, the six-headed creature below is a certain monk we all know:

Get this. Monk was almost entirely self-taught on the piano. In fact, the only training he had, if you can call it that, was eavesdropping on his sister's piano lesson and a brief class in high school. Some people are just born to do what they do, right? And Monk was born to play. Period.

1959's "Thelonious Alone In San Francisco," Monk's second solo LP, spotlights a wonderful live show. Like most of Monk's work, his performance here of original compositions and covers - with his split-second timing and head-turning shifts in rhythms and style - is consistently surprising (still). Even if you're not partial to piano jazz, give it a try. You'll be surprised, too.

Do you know the milk-pitching comedian/singer/actor below?

I didn't, or thought I didn't, when I spotted the LP below. And then I was like, "Wait a minute, wasn't he on game shows or something years ago?" He was, but as I next learned, there was a lot more than game shows to George Gobel. He was a noted comic, a TV sitcom headliner, an actor and a terrific Irish tenor. Oh, and he was really famous.

I was thrown for a moment, but then I remembered Woody Allen's movie "Radio Days," particularly a scene in which a group of glamorous radio stars toasted themselves and their everlasting fame. The joke, of course, was that hardly anyone remembers old radio stars anymore - fame doesn't actually guarantee immortality (which means people like this will soon be forgotten) (I hope) (pretty please?).

I'm guessing that Gobel is forgotten at this point because his career hit its stride just as the U.S. was moving from the post-war innocence of the 1950's to the rebellious 60's, which meant that Gobel's brand of old school comedy - as polished and, yes, funny, as it was - soon found itself shunted aside.

1959's "Live At The Sands" - a Giggly Cheerful Exclusive! - finds Gobel in top form. "You might not like my act, but you've got to admire my nerve," he quips, then tells tales about his wife (or "spooky ol' Alice"), his literally blue-nosed friend Sweeney, his misfortunes on the road, calamities in the bathtub, dating as a youth, problem nudity (on his part) and more. Plus he sings really well. He'd probably have been an even bigger hit if he was around today in our more conservative times, which isn't meant as a knock at all.

The Secret Song File is weary of conservative times and having to calm men down, such as the one below. You know the type; threatened by change or new technology or sexual equality for all. Blah-blah-blah. Stuff the tears already! Because if you're that tightly-wound, you'll miss out on...doves and Swedes and drummers and foxes. Not to mention spanking new music.

Today's entry is a delish new CD from a Swedish band with a female vocalist who sounds a little like Bjork, but more innocent, and skillful bandmates who're creating some of today's most inventive indietronica (I didn't make up that ridiculous term, I swear) (don't you dare hold it against me). So go on, shirk your establishmentarian shackles and for God's sakes stop crying about stupid things. A gentle roar and a DJ to ease your mind are all you need.

I only say these things because I care (do you believe me?). 

Share your gentle roar in the comments!

Have a Jazzy Thanksgiving! Plus Green Animals, Herrmann And A Frightful-Looking Secret Song!

If you're reading this in America, then you're fasting right now. Why? Because you're about to eat the equivalent of two baby hippos on Thanksgiving Day (but hopefully, you won't bloat to the size of a baby hippo) (though if you do, I hope you're all cute like this) (and not like this offensive hippo) (but I digress).

Once you've eaten and you're ready to chill, you'll want some jazz - some Thanksgiving jazz! And, hey, who says there aren't any great jazz or bebop vocalists these days? Unfortunately, a lot of people. You know, like that crotchety friend of yours who says they don't make good movies anymore. They do, of course, but like anything else, you have to hunt for them. It's the same way with new (or new-ish) jazz vocalists.

Happily, your hunt is at least partly over, because the vocalists on the Cheerful today are (I think) some of the finest ever. Let's start with Patricia Barber, without doubt one of the more unique vocalists, jazz or otherwise, working today, and a shockingly potent songwriter. The best place to begin is with her classic "Modern Cool," a thrilling, trippy, wildly original effort that even your friends who think current jazz has become the equivalent of elevator music (here's looking at you Madeleine Peyroux) will fall in love with. No, really.

She's just as compelling live, I promise, and in "Live a Fortnight In France," which is split between her own songs and familiar ones like "Blue Prelude" and "Laura," she performs for an understandably enthusiastic audience with her superb quartet, and even tries to speak French a few times. This is a very dangerous thing to do, since the French, as is their wont, do not appreciate foreign mangling of their language (if you find yourself in this situation, simply remind them that they're responsible for Roger Vadim, Jenifer Bartoli and mayonnaise) (it always shuts them down).

Let's move on to Catherine Russell, the New York City-born daughter of Luis Russell, Louis Armstrong's music director and a renown big-band leader (how's that for a pedigree?). In other words, she's the real-deal of current jazz and blues vocalists.

Her sound can be raw and vulnerable, or slinky and smooth, and in "Inside This Heart Of Mine," she cuts loose with a remarkable collection of bebop and swing classics. She's sometimes compared to Bessie Smith or Ruth Brown, and she does give them an inflective salute here and there, but otherwise, don't worry, she's her own thing. Pure bliss.

"Nujazz" is one of those dumb-dumb, catch-all jazz categories that music executives come up with when they can't classify something, and it's sometimes bandied about for "Lamb," a perpetually risk-taking band that mixes jazz, soul, trip-hop and electronica and anything else that might suit their needs at any given moment.

In their CD "Between Darkness And Wonder" they create a gorgeous jazz landscape, one that stopped me silent when I first heard some of it on the radio. "Who are they?!" I wondered. Their vocals are wonderfully spiky and expressive and they blend with the music, like another instrument. It all feels fresh, almost maverick, like a new jazz sound is being born.

When I first got my grubby paws on their "Live At The Paradiso," I was a little busy. I figured I'd listen to the first song just to see what it was like. But I became so enthralled, I couldn't tear myself away. It almost felt like I'd been hypnotized. The music is opulent, and the vocals, unencumbered by production in this live setting, are practically sparkling. It's my favorite "Lamb" effort.

Henry Mancini is hardly new, but I just got my hands on his "More Music From Peter Gunn," so it's new to me, and it certainly sounds more alive and vital than a lot of what you'll hear from today's jazz groups. It's what George Clinton was aiming for in the "Austin Powers" movies, but never quite achieved.

It's also been recorded with stunning clarity, so do turn up the volume waaaaay up. This is swingin', daddy-o jazz that everyone can enjoy, which means it's perfect for Thanksgiving, or any day that needs brightening up. I blast it in my car with the windows open (and I don't care what anyone thinks) (because it just too much fun).

Thanksgiving is generally a time when kids are running about, and when they aren't watching some awful kiddie DVD (that they've seen a million times), they're listening to vile kiddie music - and they want you to listen to it, too. And that can hurt you. Bad kiddie music is painful. Do this: when they aren't looking, swap out their "Austin & Alley" or "Disney Princess Songs" or whatever garbage they're playing, for some music by a frog.

They'll likely recognize the tunes, and you will, too, and better still, you'll be able to listen to a lot of terrific modern rock, alternative and pop vocalists performing them. It shouldn't work at all, but surprisingly, it does.

Herrmann-heads are always thankful for newly-released Herrmann, and parts 5 and 6 of the new Herrmann collection are a must.

The yummy gem here is "Hangover Square," which, as you might know, inspired a teensy little Stephen Sondheim to start thinking about writing music. Oh, and if you haven't seen "Hangover Square," rent it. It's a hugely underrated thriller about a "mad composer" played with riveting power by Laird Cregar (above on the left).

Boys and their toys. Sometimes boys buy them, sometimes they build them, much to the confusion of The Secret Song File below, who's doing a pretty good job of pretending to look "interested" (it took years of practice).

Speaking of toys and things, grandmas don't really like to receive toys for the holidays. But they do like listening to a certain hatchet-faced British songstress. You know the one, first discovered on some inexplicably popular TV talent competition show. Yes, she can sing - but that face! Ahhhhhhhhh! Still, every single grandma in the entire world will be listening to her brand-new CD. Some of it's wretched, but admittedly, several songs are lovely, and I won't argue with her vocal abilities. But that face! Ahhhhhh!

What toys are you playing with these days (keep it clean, please)?

Have a wonderful, happy, giggly Thanksgiving Day!