18 Top Hits and Some Other Stuff

Here's another example of one of my sub-genre fascinations: the "Top Hits" album that isn't really the exact "Top Hits", but (cheaper) re-recordings of the "Top Hits." In this case, it's a disc from January 1957 (it says that in the run off space) from the Waldorf Record Corporation of Harrison, NJ, one of Enoch Light's early budget record labels. In fact, Light himself makes several appearances on the disc (with his orchestra) and his participation guarantees that this knock-off is of better quality than the other era knock-offs (only from an audio standpoint, though - although the front cover is a nice shot of a dancing couple, the rear cover is completely blank except for the 5"X2" song label pictured above - a label which does not accurately reflect the actual running order of the disc, nor do the song titles match up in spelling on at least one track. The final four song medley is left completely off the sticker, just to add to the general art shoddiness. There is also no title listed on the spine.).

Some of the re-recordings here are pretty good - Light employed top-flight musicians (including one of my all-time cult favorites keyboardist Dick Hyman, performing under the pseudonym Rod Gregory here). Dottie Evans later teamed up with Tom Glazer for a well-remembered series of albums of science songs. Bob Everly had big band hits in the 40's. Jimmy Blaine seems to have been an early member of the Lettermen. Artie Malvin had a long music career, including winning Emmys for his work on the Carol Burnette Show. Ray Block, of course, was a "Famous TV Personality" (at least according to the LP label). Speaking of the LP label, I've kept the somewhat erratic style of the track and artist listings intact below.

18 Top Hits - Waldorf 33-TH-10

Long Before I Knew You - Bob Eberly w/Enoch Light & Orch.
Mutual Admiration Society - Jimmy Blaine and Dottie Evans, Enoch Light & Orch.
Love Me - Loren Becker
Anastasia - Loren Becker
Rock-A-Bye Your Baby - Jimmy Blaine
Rose and a Baby Ruth - Artie Malvin, Ray Block, Famous TV Personality & His Orch.
Just In Time - Bob Eberly w/Enoch Light and Orch.
Slow Walk - The Light Brigade
Don't Forbid Me - Loren Becker
Moonlight Gambler - Artie Martin w/Enoch Light Orch.
Confidential - Loren Becker
Since I Met You Baby - Artie Malvin

On My Word of Honor - The Rhythm Rockets
Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now - The Larsen Sisters Trio
This Much I Know - Bob Eberly w/Enoch Light & His Orch.
Banana Boat Song - The Zig Zags
Young Love -Artie Malvin and The Brigadiers
Don't Knock The Rock - Artie Malvin & The Rhythm Rockets with Ray Block's Orch.
Blue Room/Manhattan/Cocktails For Two/Liebestraum/Body And Soul - Rod Gregory at the Piano, Frank Carroll on Bass, Bob Rosten on Drums