Rocks In The Attic #149: Various Artists - ‘Walt Disney’s Original Soundtrack Collection Vol. 2’ (1964)

Q: What's the difference between Bing Crosby and Walt Disney?

A: Bing sings, but Walt Disney.

Hit: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (from’ Mary Poppins’)

Hidden Gem: He’s A Tramp (from ‘Lady And The Tramp’)

Rocks In The Attic #74: Various Artists - ‘Air America (O.S.T.)’ (1990)

Of all the film soundtracks I have in my record collection, this is probably the film I’m least familiar with. I think I’ve only seen it once, and it doesn’t ever seem to be played on TV (well, not on New Zealand television at least).

I bought this as it has an Aerosmith song on it - a cover of The Doors’ Love me Two Times, presumably recorded during the Pump sessions.

The rest of the album isn’t bad - a random collection of pop rock mainly from the late sixties and early seventies. Aside from Do It Again by Steely Dan - which always sounds good - the real treasure on the album is Rescue Me - Fontella Bass’ 1965 single on Chess Records.

On a negative point, this album goes a long way to showcase how poorly made vinyl records were in the early 90s. On both sides, the run-in groove has been cut into the record incorrectly so that when you put the needle down it doesn’t actually run onto the first song - it’s just goes around in a circle without the songs starting. Idiots.

Hit: California Dreamin’ - The Mamas & The Papas

Hidden Gem: Rescue Me - Fontella Bass

Rocks In The Attic #66: Various Artists - ‘The Best Of Bacharach’ (1968)

He can write a tune and a half, Burt.

The instrumental versions of Bacharach / David songs prove that music and melody is far superior to the written word. Although when you really think about it, is the instrumental version of Do You Know The Way To San Jose just as catchy because we all know the words anyway? Who knows...

I’ve always scratched my head when you hear about bands’ royalty payments being weighted towards the lyricist of the band - which confuses me even more when you see behind-the-scenes footage of albums being made, and the so-called poets of the band are rushing around trying to think of a couple of syllables to fill a line in a song. There will be suicidal teens somewhere, poring over these lyrics and at the end of the day they’ve used purely to plug a gap, with no thought behind them.

Which isn’t to say that Hal David is guilty of this. Although maybe he is. And maybe the musical equivalent of this is when a composer of a song builds in a small section of music to join two existing pieces together, which probably happens more often.

Perhaps I should stop thinking too deeply about all this and just listen to Burt. Pass the brandy, will you?

Hit: I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself - Dusty Springfield

Hidden Gem: The Look Of Love - Dusty Springfield

Rocks In The Attic #40: Various Artists - ‘At Home With The Groovebox’ (2000)

I think I bought this album as it had a song by Bis on it - and probably because a lot of other decent bands / artists also contribute a song - Beck, Air, Pavement, Sonic Youth and Sean Lennon amongst others.

Essentially, this album is a celebration of the Roland MC-505 - or the Groovebox of the album’s title. In fact, I believe Roland coined the name ‘Groovebox’ for the 505’s predecessor - the 303 - but that’s probably one of the nerdiest things I know.

I wasn’t blown away by this album - the range of artists is so disparate that there’s no cohesion in style, although all the tracks have obviously got the same common denominator of a Roland synth as the driving force behind the composition.

Hit: Popcorn 1998 (Instrumental) - Gershon Kingsley

Hidden Gem: Insects Are All Around Us - Money Mark