Elektra EKL 150 (Mono) EKS 7150 (Stereo)
Released: 1960
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: Leonard Ripley
Side 1
Side 2
A key 'hit' album for Elektra, and one that started the company on an upward trend in sales. Some songs in Russian and some in a gypsy dialect.
There are two different sleeve photographs from what seems to be the same session. The cover 'models' on the one shown here include an out-of-focus Jac Holzman holding a guitar and a balalaika-wielding Sasha Polinoff - who also plays on the album.
Stereo copy originally issued as EKL 250-X.
Elektra EKL 151 (Mono)
Released: 1958
Production: Jac Holzman
Side 1
Side 2
Originally this was going to be a three disc series but, as you'll see later volume two of the three wasn't actually released (AFAIK).
Elektra EKL 152 (Mono)
It looks as if this disc was never released due to a last-minute licensing glitch. Goldmine lists it but is probably confusing it with EKL 153. Artists included Frank Hamilton, Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Pat Foster, Paul Clayton, Ellen Stekert and Lee Charles. The program booklet for the 1959 Newport Folk Festival, in its entry for Frank Hamilton, refers to this LP saying that these were the first recordings by him.
Elektra EKL 153 (Mono)
Released: October 1958
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: Jac Holzman
Side 1
Side 2
Although the front and back covers do include the sleeve title, the spine merely gives Warner's name. (Library of Congress lists these tracks as being on EKL 151.) Frank is accompanied on guitar and banjo by Billy Faier. I have heard of copies of this with a stereo number (7153) but I don't know whether they are actually stereo. A later reissue for Frank has 7153 as the matrix number as well.
Elektra EKL 154 (Mono)
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: Leonard Ripley
Side 1
Side 2
Elektra EKL 155 (Mono)
Released: 1958
Production: Jac Holzman and Mark Morris
Engineering: Leonard Ripley
Side 1
Side 2
Guitar accompaniment by Fred Hellerman.
The front and back sleeve calls the disc 'Bobby Burns' Merry Muses of Caledonia' while the spine and label omit the Caledonia reference. The book of bawdy songs collected by Burns is actually called 'The Merry Muses of Caledonia', published around 1800. There seems to be some debate about how many of them he wrote and how many he collected. There was a note, saying that 'a very few of them are my own' which was later proved not to be writtten by Burns. The 1827 edition, according to the rear sleeve, said these songs were 'not for maids, mistresses or striplings'.
Elektra EKL 156 (Mono) EKS 7156 (Stereo)
Subtitle is 'Songs of the Negev'.
Elektra EKL 157 (Mono)
Released: 1958
Production: Jac Holzman and Mark Morris
Engineering: Leonard Ripley
Side 1
Side 2
The Folk Singers were Erik Darling, Dylan Todd, Don Vogel, and Caroly Wilcox and both the sleeve and the label include the credit 'Under the direction of Erik Darling'. The disc is sometimes called 'Run Come Hear', which appears on the front of the cover, but neither the spine nor the label carry this title. Lawless does not list 'Run Come See'
Elektra EKL 158 (Mono) EKS 7158 (Stereo)
Released: 1958
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: Leonard Ripley and Jac Holzman
Side 1 - Chain Gang Songs
Side 2 - Spirituals and Blues
This album is usually known as just 'Chain Gang Songs' and the cover reflects that but the spine, sleeve back, and labelled sides give the full title.
Elektra EKL 159 (Mono) EKS 7159 (Stereo)
Released: April 1959
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: Jac Holzman and David B Jones
Side 1
Side 2
Features Pepa Reyes and Angel Macheño (dancers ... which means 'percussion' in this context) with Juan Garcia de la Mata on guitar and Manola Leiva, singer.
Original stereo release as EKL 259-X and reissued as Nonesuch 2002 in 1965.
Elektra EKL 160 (Mono) EKS 7160 (Stereo)
Released: 1959
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: David B Jones and Jac Holzman
Side 1
Side 2
The saga continues. This was the only chunk of Dalliance to be issued in stereo.
Elektra EKL 161 (Mono) EKS 7161 (Stereo)
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: David B Jones
Side 1
Side 2
Two cover variants. The original with a black top banner and a later (from the 1960s) version with a white banner across the top.
Elektra EKL 162 (Mono) EKS 7162 (Stereo)
Released: October 1958
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: Jac Holzman
Side 1
Side 2
'At the sign of the diminished fifth, a gathering of The Catch Club to hear The Randolph Singers' says the cover: this is mixed acapella four-to-six piece singing in a broadly madrigal tradition, not to be confused with 'Barber Shop'. The booklet with the LP is quite substantial, including staff and stave as well as lyrics for once.
Originally released as EKL 204-X in Stereo, as shown here, and in this case the stereo 'sticker' is part of the printed cover. The round singing is particularly effective in stereo, and makes a change from ping-pong games and railway engines pulling up hills (other mainstays of stereo demo discs of the era).
Elektra EKL 163 (Mono)
Elektra EKL 164 (Mono)
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: David B Jones
Side 1
Side 2
The label calls this 'Songs of Love and War Between the Sexes'
Elektra EKL 165 (Mono) EKS 7165 (Stereo)
Released: 1959
Originl Stereo release as EKL 265-X. CD Re-release on Bainbridge Records 25082.
Elektra EKL 166 (Mono) EKS 7166 (Stereo)
Two cover variations known: earlier release has the cover divided into two horizontal bands with a photo of the troupe at the top and a flame drawing underneath. The later one has a full-cover shot of the troupe taken outdoors doing exactly what it says in the title.
Elektra EKL 167 (Mono) EKS 7167 (Stereo)
Released: 1959
Production: Jac Holzman
High Life music from Ghana. Reissued as 'Drum Fever' on Crestview CRV-805. Original stereo issue as EKL 267-X.
Elektra EKL 168 (Mono) EKS 7168 (Stereo)
Production: Jac Holzman
Original stereo release as EKL 268-X. (Also Bounty BY 6008 in UK)
The story behind this LP is well told on this web page: www.fabulousrocketeers.com
Elektra EKL 169 (Mono) EKS 7169 (Stereo)
Released: 1960
Reviewed by Time Magazine as ' largely unprintable tour through the racier passages of Navy mythology' ... which just about sums it up.
Elektra EKL 170 (Mono)
Released: 1959
Elektra EKL 171 (Mono)
Released: 1959
When this was reissued in the Legacy series of Elektra reissues it was entitled 'Songs of the Israeli Pioneers'. (LEG 112)
The duo are prolific recording artists. According to the Israel Folk Music Archive they recorded for seven different labels. This may be small beer for a blues singer but it's still no mean achievement.
Elektra EKL 172 (Mono)
A comedy album. Despite the name, Jean was male.
Elektra EKL 173 (Mono) EKS 7173 (Stereo)
An Israeli duo: Ron-Menahem Aliran and Nama-Nechama Hendel. As far as the US market was concerned, they were discovered by Ed Sullivan and brought over to America in 1958.
Elektra EKL 174 (Mono) EKS 7174 (Stereo)
Two versions with two hats! As I understand it, the cover where Bill Harvey (the one doing the shouting) wears a hat with no brim was withdrawn because the hat was incorrect and the 'Smokey the Bear' hat was substituted.
Elektra EKL 175 (Mono) EKS 7175 (Stereo)
Released: 1959
Production: Jac Holzman
Recorded in concerts at New York Town Hall October 12th 1958 and April 5th 1959. The sleeve includes an extra full-size page and comprises notes, film and theatre appearance information and lyrics.
An alternate sleeve, with a photograph of Theo, was used for a UK release. This so-called Elektra Special, with catalogue number EKLSP 175, was part of an initial set of albums released on the Elektra label by Audio Fidelity (England) Ltd in 1960.
Elektra EKL 176 (Mono) EKS 7176 (Stereo)
Released: 1959
Production: Jac Holzman
Engineering: David B Jones
Side 1
Side 2
The first album from Shel Silverstein, who eventually became something of a 'household name' as the writer behind Dr Hook and the Medicine Show. He contributed sleeve notes and some drawings to many Elektra albums of this period (Jean Shepherd for example - who returns the favour on this LP).
The Red Onion Jazz Band (as they are called on the rear sleeve): Frank Laidlaw (trumpet), Joe Muranayi (clarinet), Steve Knight (trombone and tuba), Steve Lardner (banjo), Bob Greene (piano), Arnie Hyman (bass) and Bob Thompson (drums). The sleeve notes that Mr Silverstein uses Stineway Kazoos exclusively and the shouts are by 'the inmates of cell 6 of our institution'.
The album, renamed 'Stag Party', was also released as Crestview CRV-804
Elektra EKL 177 (Mono) EKS 7177 (Stereo)
Elektra EKL 178 (Mono) EKS 7178 (Stereo)
Elektra EKL 179 (Mono) EKS 7179 (Stereo)
Elektra EKL 180 (Mono) EKS 7180 (Stereo)
Released: 1961
Production: Jac Holzman
This was Elektra's first Billboard Top 100 album, reaching number 72 in 1961. With typical Holzman generosity, the sleeve note refers to the Limelighter's album 'Tonight in Person' for RCA.
Elektra EKL 181 (Mono) EKS 7181 (Stereo)
Elektra EKL 182 (Mono) EKS 7182 (Stereo)
Released: 1960
Production: Jac Holzman
Conducted by Milt Okun
Elektra EKL 183 (Mono) EKS 7183 (Stereo)
Released: 1960
Elektra EKL 184 (Mono)
A unique English comedienne and actress, Joyce Grenfell made her name on record with monologues about the trials of looking after children. Her role, repeated often in films, was that of a dotty school mistress.
Elektra EKL 185 (Mono) EKS 7185 (Stereo)
Released: 1961
Items 1-7 are 'Songs of Old Russia' and the rest 'Songs of New Russia'. Alternate title seen in catalogues: 'Songs of a Russian Gysy Vol II'.
Elektra EKL 186 (Mono) EKS 7186 (Stereo)
Elektra EKL 187 (Mono) EKS 7187 (Stereo)
Released: 1960
Elektra EKL 188 (Mono) EKS 7188 (Stereo)
Released: 1960
Production: Jac Holzman
Elektra EKL 189 (Mono) EKS 7189 (Stereo)
There was an alternative album on this number - 'Dear Sir! Madcap letters from Juliett Lowell's hilarious collection' - listed on liner catalogues. [Does this exist?]
Elektra EKL 190 (Mono) EKS 7190 (Stereo)
Released: 1960
Production: Stan Rhodes and Gerald Alters
Side 1
Side 2
DJ John Jacherley had made his name as host of horror movie shows on TV in Philadelphia and New York and with a novelty hit 'Dinner with Drac' (not on this album). Reissued on Crestview records in 1963 under the title 'Zacherley's Monster Gallery', CRV 803. The original album packaging included a 'Zacherley for President' book and poster set.
Elektra EKL 191 (Mono) EKS 7191 (Stereo)
Production: Jac Holzman
Recorded: Record Supervision studios, London
Side 1
Side 2
With Ian Macpherson on piano and Alan Knox on accordian. This disc was later reissued on Nonesuch HS-72006.
Elektra EKL 192 (Mono) EKS 7192 (Stereo)
Elektra EKL 193 (Mono) EKS 7193 (Stereo)
Production: Jac Holzman and Mark Abramsom
With Bill Lee (bass) and Walter Perkins (drums). Josh White Jr appears on I know King Jesus and A Closer Walk with Thee
Elektra EKL 194 (Mono) EKS 7194 (Stereo)
Elektra EKL 195 (Mono)
Production: Jac Holzman
Comedy album. Recorded Christmas week 1960 at One Sheridan Square.
Elektra EKL 196 (Mono) EKS 7196 (Stereo)
Ben Andursky and Adam Gurion
Elektra EKL 197 (Mono) EKS 7197 (Stereo)
Production: Jac Holzman and Mark Abramson
Elektra EKL 198 (Mono) EKS 7198 (Stereo)
Elektra EKL 199 (Mono) EKS 7199 (Stereo)
Released: 1960
Another example of Jac Holzman's addiction to British humour. Pete Myers and Ronnie Cass are perhaps better known unde their pen names of Lerner and Loewe. They wrote the screenplay for 'The Young Ones', which was Cliff Richard's second movie (Cliff Who? - American Editor.) Their sketch 'Reich Pudding', when performed on the BBC, led to an official apology to the German government - but not from Myers and Cass! Oh yes ... they are apparently under sentence of death in Egypt as well. In sleevenotes veritas.