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The Connoisseur Collection began with a single tape (the Electric Slide tape--Side One) made for a dance at a Jewish day camp. I had so much fun putting it together, that I added a second side. Then I made a country tape. Now, I'm working on a Calypso tape.

Please understand that these tapes were made solely for my own enjoyment and are not for sale. I'm posting the track lists here as a monument to my good taste. Your comments are welcome.

Goto:
The Dance Collection
The Country Collection
The Vocal Harmony Collection
Jacob's 1999 Party Tape
Spanish tape
Calypso tape

The Electric Slide Tape

Side One

Electric Slide Neginah Orch
Yeshivah Medley Neginah Orch
Hot Hot Hot Buster Poindexter
Yom Sababa Atraf
Boogie Woogie Dancin’ Shoes Claudja Barry
Oi Tata Don Byrun
Ussak Ndja Tchando
Beautiful Life Ace of Base
She-hecheyanu Alan Eider

Side Two

Wooly Bully Sam the Sham
Didi Khaled (Funk Club Mix)
Popcorn Hot Butter
Purple Haze Jimi Hendrixz Experience
Mehbooba Mehbooba Bally Sagoo
Gloria Laura Branigan
Talk Talk Music Machine
I Feel Love Donna Summer
Pepper Box The Peppers
Wheels The String-A-Longs

Your Cheatin' Heart

Side One

Song Artist Comment*
Your Cheatin Heart Hank Williams LK: Perfect. I also like "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
Why Not Me The Judds LK: Call me a snob, but I never cared for the Judds.
Bye Bye Love Everly Brothers LK: Another goodie. Almost rockabilly.
Walk Away Renee Vonda Shepard  
Flowers on the Wall Statler Bros LK: I don't like much Top-40 Nashvile, but this is pretty prime.
Desperado Linda Ronstadt LK: Maybe "Silver Thread and Golden Needles" instead?
NOS: But this is a better song, and when push comes to shove, the better song wins.
The Devil Went Down to Georgia Those Darn Accordions  
I’m Not Lisa Jesse Colter  
King of the Road Roger Miller  
The Pain of Loving You Parton, Ronstadt, Harris  
Are You Lonesome Tonight? Elvis Presley  
Wildflowers Parton, Ronstadt, Harris  
Battle of New Orleans Johnny Horton  
Nobody’s Darlin But Mine Emmylou Harris & The Chieftains  
Cotton Eye Joe Rednex  

Side Two

Working in the Coal Mine The Judds  
Devil’s Right Hand Highwaymen  
Live Forever The Highwaymen  
You Belong To Me Vonda Shepard  
Rebel Rouser Duane Eddy  
Something to Talk About Bonnie Raitt LK: If this is country, then I'm from France!
Tobacco Road JD Loudermilk  
When Will I Be Loved Linda Ronstadt  
The Three Bells The Browns  
Can’t Even Get the Blues Reba McEntire  
Me and Bobby McGee Kris Kristoferson  
Papa Come Quick Bonnie Raitt  
Goodnight Irene Willie Nelson and the Chieftains  
Happy Trails Roy Rogers and Dale Evens  

* LK=Lori Kopp

Lori Kopp said (7/29/98): Okay, so where are Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, and George Jones, for goodness sakes? Where's Chet Atkins, Bob Wills, The Carter Family? For more newish rock-oriented stuff, how about Steve Earle, Rockpile, Junior Brown, Roseanne Cash. For lyrics, how about Townes Van Zandt and some Gram Parsons? I know, I know: you did the best you could with what was on hand. You want me to dig you up anything fun? Just let me know . . . (everyone's a critic . . . ) ;-)

Vicki Presser said (7/28/98): Nice selections. That's a country tape I might be tempted to listen to. I'd suggest "I walk the Line" or "Ring of Fire" by -- oh rats, can't remember his name. catch you later.

Kathie Niederhoffer said 9/27/99: I clicked on the comments thing on your music page, but nothing happened, so i’ll give a few of them to you here and maybe you can post them when you have time. I was sure LK was a guy, because she didn’t like "Why Not Me" (Judds). This is a true "woman’s" song, and i oughta know, since i’ve been living it for a year. The one weakness: "Singapore" is such a bad and obvious rhyme for "girl next door", (baby)--one of my favorite Juddsongs. But, don’t worry, LK (who is she, anyway, Nos?), i agree with you that "Silver Threads" beats "Desperado"—great fiddle, melody, and energy. The bad line here is "i cannot drown my sorrow in the warm flow of your wine" (is it "warm flow" or something else? Enunciate, Linda!!). Other than that, a classic! "Desperado"? Nos, you’ve been watching too many "Seinfeld" reruns!! I dislike most of the other choices (there are 4 i don’t know). I’d pick any Roger Miller song over "King of the Road" (ok—maybe not "Husbands & Wives"). I never liked it and i never will!!!! So there!!!!! Hank—"no" to "I’m So Lonesome"—i like "Jambalaya" and "Move It On Over" (though i only know the G. Thorogood version) better (even "Hey, Good Lookin’"). I saw some of Hank’s hand-written lyrics at the Hall of Fame in Nash. He might’ve been a good songwriter, but his spelling left a lot to be desired. Jessi Colter—"I’m Not Lisa"—nonononononono. Nos, are these all your choices? If it has to be slow and sensitive, i’d go with "Storms Never Last" (w. Waylon). As someone who has seen many, many Waylon & Jessi shows (all but one that they did in the NYC/LI/NJ area between ‘83 and ‘94--and if they did 2 shows, i saw both)(J was usually W’s opening act)(and, in case you couldn’t tell, whose #1 Country God is/was/and always will be Waylon), i generally preferred J’s up-tempo numbers (she used to open with one that was a little "Gimme Shelter"-ish—i forget the title—the one with the lines about "too much ain’t enough" and "you can park your car in my yard"). For a little Baptist girl outta Arizona revival meetings, she sure kicked ass!!! Did you think Waylon’s woman would be a wuss??? What was i saying? Oh, yeah. I wish i had your list in front of me. Emmylou—not "One of These Days"? Not "Two More Bottles of Wine" (thanks, Delbert!)? Not "Those Memories of You" (from "Trio")(was that by Bill Monroe?)--incredible instrumentals, great harmonies, great lyrics & melody—"I’ll always love you, little darlin’/ Until the day they lay me down"—blue-eyed soul deluxe!!! I have more to say (i know you can’t wait), but i’ll save it for another time. Oh, one more thing—Junior Brown. If you haven’t seen him, you’ve got to. Saw him 2x at Tramps—he is so incredible!! He did an unbelievable version of "Walk, Don’t Run". I had never heard any of those surf instrumentals live before (ok—except for "Wipeout")--it was great. I know this is kind of long. Thanks for reading it! -- squeaky k (it’s ok to send here—it’s working now)

10/3/99 Nos defends himself: Yes they are all my choices. The criteria were 1) all songs were drawn from my and Iris's collection, so the selections could not be "the best of country music" in any way; 2) my taste is catholic not purist; 3) I almost never listen to the words (well, I have listened to the words of songs such as "the Three Bells," "No Charge," "Phantom 309," and "Teddy Bear."); 4) I was trying to get an equal number of women on the tape--given that our collection was a bit weak on women, it made for some suboptimal choices. If I were doing the tape today, I'd want to include Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and Kitty Wells; 5) I like novelty; 6) I was trying to make a "listenable" tape, one that I could stand to play over and over again. And by that measure, I think I pretty much succeeded.

The Vocal Collection

Side One

Featuring mostly DooWop, Oldies and A Capella. Dedicated to Stormy Weather, a working A Capella group, whose CD inspired me to do this. My primary objective was to showcase vocal harmony singing. My secondary object was to make sure that some white acts got included. I'd like to hear your comments.
 
Come Go With Me—Stormy Weather
Stormy Weather is great! Even though I had to go to a toy store to buy the CD, they sing DooWop for grownups.
To Know Him is to Love Him—Parton, Harris and Ronstadt
Little Darlin’—Sha Na Na
Spanish Harlem—Mamas and Papas
Buffalo Soldiers—The Persuasions
Fabulous!
Agnes, The Teenage Russian Spy—Mike Russo & The Dellwoods
A search for the Dellwoods on Altavista yielded only the album this came from ("Mad Twists Rock 'n' Roll") and some other Mad Magazine albums.
Come Softly to Me—Fleetwoods
A+
Yaaleh—Josef (Yossele) Rosenblatt
There isn't a lot of vocal harmony in classical chazzanut (Jewish liturgical singing), but here Rosenblatt kicks out the jams.
Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? -- Lovin’ Spoonful
Amen—The Impressions
It's a march--go figure.
‘Cross the Mason-Dixon Line—Pacifiaires
Barbershop is an acquired taste, but this song is pretty accessable.
Ready for Your Love—Shep and the Limelights
All I Have to Do is Dream—Everly Brothers
Get Up, Get Out—The Weavers
In the Still of the Night—The Five Satins
More Money for You and Me (Medley) -- The Four Preps
I have this thing for parodies. Can't help it. Sorry.

Side Two

Chain Gang—Persuasions
Think for Yourself—The Beatles
So Tired—The Chambers Brothers
Sh-boom—Stan Freberg
Bohemian Rhapsody (2nd half)—Queen
Iko Iko—The Dixie Cups (Arranged by Joe Jones)
Stewball—Chad Mitchell Trio
My God Can Do Anything—Luther Barnes and the Red Budd Gospel Choir
You Belong to Me—The Duprees
M.T.A.—Kingston Trio
Till Then—The Classics
Scarborough Fair/Canticle—Simon and Garfunkle
Shout Part 1—Isley Brothers
Somewhere Over the Rainbow—Stormy Weather

DON’T HAVE: Lettermen, Brothers Four, Mills Brothers, Ink Spots, Roches, McGarigles, Neville Brothers, Four Seasons, Jay and the Americans, Drifters, Coasters, "Heavens Just a Sin Away" The Kendalls, Bobby McFerrin, Dion and The Belmonts, Four Tops, Rockapella.

TRIED BUT COULDN’T FIND WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR: BeeGees, Vogues, We Five, Magnificent Men, Monkees, Paragons and Jesters, The Casinos.

CONSIDER FOR A FUTURE TAPE: Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Shirelles, Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs.

SOUND QUALITY NOT GOOD ENOUGH: Golden Gate Quartet, "Puff the Magic Dragon" Peter Paul & Mary.

Vicki Presser 11/2/98: Ahh, sweet harmony!! I agree with the ones I’m familiar with, and intrigued to hear the ones that are new to me. If you can handle something a bit edgier, I urge you to listen to recordings by Queen—their harmonies were outstanding -- I understand they were classically trained musicans. I think nearly all the Mamas and Papas recordings qualify for this set (Dream a Little Dream of Me is a favorite), but I liked the one you picked. I may have more thoughts on this. Stay tuned? [Vicki's comments predate my creating Side Two.]

Deven Black 11/23/98: Nice stuff, Nos, but I’m suprised you do not have any of the sweet soul voices. Sam Cook doing Chain Gang beats the heck out of anyone else. No Al Green? No Otis Redding (Try A Little Tenderness is a MUST!). No Clyde McPhatter? No Tracy Nelson? No Darlene Love? No Ronnie Spector? Okay, enough of your deficiencies. Stay well.

Nos responds: I am a bit embarassed that I own virtually nothing by the fine artists Deven named. During the years that I should have been buying those records, I was concentrating instead on white soul like the Young Rascals and Rolling Stones. Such is the folly of youth.

Jacob's 1999 Party Tape

Made 5/99, along the same lines as the Electric Slide tape, but with more of Jacob's input.

I played a whole bunch of records and CD’s for him over the last year and made notes of which songs he liked. Then I assembled a cassette of his favorites, so he could easily listen to it or play it when going to bed. Then I wanted to give it a name, and I thought: This is the kind of tape that an eight-year old would make for a party. So I call it "Jacob’s Party Tape."

YMCA -- Village People
My Soul Thirsts for You -- Rebbe Soul
School's Out -- Alice Cooper
Red Red Wine -- UB40
Shashkin -- Mavisakal [Chuck Berry licks, sung in Turkish]
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor? -- Lonnie Donegan
Ale Brider -- Yitzhak Perlman and the Klezmer Conservatory Band
Yummy Yummy -- Ohio Express
Devil Went Down to Georgia -- Those Darn Accordions
Email Tells Me -- DZ 2000
Joy to the World -- Three Dog Night
Kazotsky 'til You Dropsky -- Shirim
New Orleans -- Gary U.S. Bonds
Dovid Melech -- Neginah Orchestra

Side Two

Ne mondj Nemet -- Szandi
Balsam Shafee -- Khedr
Doh Touch Meh President -- Sparrow
Pipeline -- The Chantays
Cat Scratch Fever -- Ted Nugent [Second-rate Alice Cooper knockoff]
Knock on Wood -- Amii Stewart
Sofrito -- Mongo Santamaria
Mony Mony -- Tommy James and the Shondells [Mitch Ryder meets the Ohio Express][6/7/99: I listened to it again and decided that it is white gospel.]
Der Heyser Bulgar -- Yitzhak Perlman and the Klezmer Conservatory Band
Double Vision -- Foreigner
Amor Garantizado -- Los Tigres Del Norte
Call to Freedom -- Rebbe Soul

Vicki 5/18/99: Jacob’s musical tastes are impeccable. I want to know more about the Mighty Sparrow song, Doh Touch Me President—is that new? He’s one of my all time favorites, but I haven’t bought a recording of his in a long time. Maybe I will now.

Spanish tape

Side 1

La Gota Fria—Carlos Vives

Besame Mucho—Brave Combo

Hermandad Fania—Fania All Stars

Odelia—Atraf

Descarga Cachao—Cachao

Pintame Un Son—Lou Perez y su Orquesta

Spanish Popcorn—Pacheco

Me Vuelvo Guajiro—Tam Tam 2000

La Bamba—The Ventures

La Pringamosa—Wilfrido Vargas & Sus Beduinos

Tell Me How to Say—Cheech Marin

Side 2

Elena Elena—Libre

Tengo Que Olvidarte—Los Cominantes

El Rancho Grande Potpuri—Steve Jordan

Bamboleo—Gipsy Kings

Asi Es La Vida—Joe Veras

Numero 6 -- Bobby Rodriguez y la Compania

Toro Mata—Lucila Campos

Coplas Revisited—The Kingston Trio

Hasta Ayer—Marc Anthony

El Circo—Los Tigres Del Norte

Tribute to Manolo—Willie and Lobo

El Rey Del Timbal—Tito Puente

I made this tape in May of 1999. It is a survey of Spanish music, based on my own collection. I tried to balance different styles because I find 90 minutes of the Fania All Stars too intense; and 90 minutes of the Ventures too bland. I have included the following countries: U.S. & Puerto Rico, Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Columbia, Israel, Peru, and Cape Verde. I’ve included Afro-Cuban, Salsa, Cumbia, Mariachi, Charanga, Merengue and Norteña.

I wish I had had room for "A Boy Like That" by Selena. I could have used several more songs from any of the following albums: "The Best of the Gipsy Kings," "Big Noise: A Mambo Inn Compilation," "Afro-Peruvian Classics," "Putumayo Presents: Afro Latino," "Master Sessions" by Cachao, and "Humansville" by Brave Combo. All of those albums are highly recommended.
I wish I had had room for Linda Ronstadt and/or Ruben Blades, Santana, Jose Feliciano, Sertanejo, "Spanish Harlem." And some Venezulelan Parang.
I would have included Wooly Bully (by Domingo Samudio [Sam the Sham]) and Sofrito (Mongo Santamaria) if I hadn’t already included them on other tapes.
I considered: Freddy Fender, Germain Montero, Ismael Santiago, Claudia de Colombia, New Riders of the Purple Sage ("La Bamba"). I love "La Bamba" and wish I had the Richie Valens version. I chose to use the one by the Ventures mostly for its novelty value. I was also seriously considering Rudy Martinez (Question Mark) and Frankie Garcia (Cannibal). Listen for a riff from Question Mark and the Mysterians’ "Land of a Thousand Dances" on Cachao’s "Descarga Cachao."

Calypso Tape

Probably assembled in late 1998. Posted here 5/2001.

Side 1

Bom Bom—Jimmy Castor Bunch
Talking Fool—Jimmy Cliff? [Goombay Soca Party]
G Man Hoover—Gerald Clark & His Calypso Orchestra, vocal Sir Lancelot
Carnival in Trinidad—Bolivar 
Brown Girl in the Ring—Boney M
Rose—The Mighty Sparrow
The Big Bamboo—The Jolly Boys
Cold Cold Day—Hubert Smith
Shaka Shaka—Bally [Errol Ballantyne]
Hog Hamayim—Atraf

Side 2

Doo Doo Darling Dhulanie— Ramdeen Maraj
Netball Queen—Lord Kitchner
Horsie—Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
Garrot Bounce/Don't Stop the Carnival—Merrymen
Fete—Mat Securities Merrytones
Icecream—Lou Bega
Lootala—Vina Khetani
Bacchanal Lady—Boogsie Sharpe and the Rebels
Lok' Dance—Soukous Stars
Passen Passen—The Lara Brothers