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Page 14 The Antique Shoppe March, 2019
Some, like Julie London, had plenty of talent to go with the good looks.
“SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE” Although possessing what she described as “a thimbleful of a voice”, London’s
intimate vocalizations proved ideal for the recording studio. Adding to the allure:
Design Trends of the Mid-20th Century her abundant red hair and languid good looks, photographed to maximum effect.
When the time came to roll up the rug for a bit of pre-“Twist” dancing, old
favorites like “The Three Suns” (“Mamie Eisenhower’s favorite recording
By Donald-Brian Johnson group”), and “Lawrence Welk And His Champagne Music”, (“whether your
This Month’s Feature— party is for two dozen or simply two”), were just a platter-drop away. Album
covers often featured exuberant partygoers, dressed to the nines. For the men,
“IT’S PARTY TIME! skinny ties and elegantly tailored suits. For the ladies, cocktail dresses, beehive
RETRO-COOL RECORD ALBUMS” hairdos, and sparkling jewelry. At bachelor pad parties, the guests put in an effort.
“Party records” got the guys and gals talking.
Sophisticates reveled in the self-effacing stammer
The lights are low. The shag carpet’s lush.
The gleam from a crackling fireplace reflects off of rising young comic, Bob Newhart, and his
leather sofas and burnished wood. The drinks “button-down mind”. A lot further down the good
are cold, and the hi-fi’s humming. It’s the early taste scale was Rusty Warren, whose racy songs
1960s, and the “bachelor pad” beckons. and blush-inducing comedy routines elicited
If you were a fan of that late, lamented TV plenty of nervous giggles.
phenom, Mad Men, the scene will strike a “Specialty” albums, pulled out for their oh-my-
resonant chord. The series spent most of its time gosh entertainment value, included Yma Sumac
exploring the angst-ridden lives of ‘60s-era ad “the voice of the Xtabay”. Yma’s voice ranged
industry personnel. But it was the picture-perfect from a husky baritone to a twittering birdlike
stylistic recreations that were the real attention- soprano. Although billed as “a descendant of the
grabbers. last of the Incan kings”, who “spent her childhood
The 1960s were a far different time, with far talking with the birds, the beasts, the winds”,
different interpretations of the roles of men and there were doubters. Was Yma really just quirky-
women. The bachelor pad was where the single- voiced Brooklyn housewife Amy Camus? (That’s
young-man-on-the-move could indulge his “Yma Sumac” spelled backwards.) It made for
cosmopolitan interests, before being subdued by interesting party chatter.
suburbia. (The “bachelor girl pad” had to wait Bachelor pad record albums serve as
another decade, until Mary Tyler Moore tossed audiovisual time capsules of their era. We can
her hat into the air.) The pinup goes highbrow: Jayne Mansfield’s “classical” release once more Sing Along With Mitch. . .croon along
The pad reflected the owner’s taste in art of the early 60s. Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky & Me. $30-35. with Frank, Nat, Dean, and Sammy. . . and join
and furnishings. Necessary in as “Granny” leads a rousing
accouterments for suave rendition of “Vittles” on The
entertaining included touch- Beverly Hillbillies Sing. (Yes,
of-a-button mood lighting, “As ear-appealing they really made an album.)
whopping glass or ceramic as she is an It’s easy to chuckle over
ashtrays, a well-stocked bar... eyeful”. what now seems camp, but
and, most importantly, just the Abbe Lane during the Mad Men days,
right records. wth Xavier Cugat’s these records were what
An eclectic assortment was Orchestra. America was buying, They
available “for your listening, $5-10. accurately reflect the tastes
dancing, and romancing and trends of the times. So
pleasure”. There were jazz why not pick up one of these
greats, crooners, and songbirds; “60s soundbite souvenirs”,
“easy listening” albums, the “There’s a
perfect counterpoint to clinking swinging side to Nat” “The girl with the and give it a spin? You’ll be
glasses and tinkling conversation; Welcome To The Club, ‘come-hither’ voice”. on your way to outfitting that
“exotica”, capitalizing on the a jazz-influenced, big-band- Julie London’s first album, bachelor (or bachelor girl) pad.
popularity of faraway places; backed released by Nat Julie Is Her Name, Cool!
produced by hubby
“party records”... and, that “King” Cole, one of the most Bobby Troup.
only-of-its-time jawdropper, the popular crooners of the $20-25. •Album cover restoration by Hank Kuhlmann
“cheesecake album”. 1950s and ‘60s. •Caption quotations are from the original
album liner notes.
Whether a sultry “cheesecake” $5-10.
songstress actually possessed Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of numerous
any vocal abilities was beside the books on design and collectibles, including “Postwar
point. Mamie Van Doren, Sophia Loren, Pop”, a collection of his columns.
and Diana Dors all cut albums; none are He admits to owning Jayne Mansfield’s
particularly well-remembered for their “classical” album. Please address inquiries
to: donaldbrian@msn.com
singing skills. Jayne Mansfield even
turned out Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky
& Me, breathlessly reciting poetry over
the strains of classical music.
The “artful brilliance” of Sammy Davis, Jr. and fellow song
Polly Bergen, put to good use on The stylist Carmen McRae swing their way
Party’s Over, a collection of torch through the score of Porgy and Bess,
tunes. $3-5. the classic Gershwin/Heyward show.
