Jackie Gleason “presents Music to Make You Misty”

Someday, you won’t be able to find these Jackie Gleason mood music records in thrift stores, and people won’t believe that you once could. But they must have pressed a zillion of them. This one is in fine condition, too, vinyl and cover. It’s apparently a re-release of an earlier version—indicated via a note on back—it’s like they doubled the capacity! It’s true, an earlier version I see (internet)—same cover photos, though different title font (better), from 1953, has four songs per side. This one from 1959 (my best guess) has eight songs per side. A lot of versions over the years—the prospective makeout king could age from cute to pathetic in that time—but at least he wouldn’t have to turn the record over so frequently! Not that a hot date is the only use for this vinyl—in fact, this one is on the more melancholy side. Maybe its appeal is to any gender, while going through that wistful (once dreaded but now nostalgic) period after a breakup. No cocktails are shown on the cover, but I’d recommend a well-made Manhattan. The cover photo is a classic, however, of a young redheaded woman, alone (save her discarded fur) on an itchy-looking green couch in a shoulderless something, her left hand on the silent receiver of a black cradle phone—her right hand has just brushed away tears and hair, as she looks up to… if not God, or Jackie Gleason, could be OTB race results. Her nail polish and lipstick match uncannily. Another tear is leaking from her right eye. She’s wearing the tiniest wristwatch I’ve ever seen. We can see one earring, a pearl, from which hangs a hoop, made up of, if you look closely, many tiny pearls. The background is out of focus, but it’s a vivid orange, and judging by the brass towers that I’m guessing support a spark-guard, I’d wager the tangerine hue is from a roaring fire.

As we are led to believe, Jackie Gleason has selected these ballads especially for the mood at hand—and conducted the orchestra with a languorous and slightly tipsy hand. I mean tipsy in only the best of ways. Arrangements by Sid Feller and Richard Jones. The first thing we hear is a melancholy trumpet, purported to be Bobby Hackett. Also, Toots Mondello on alto sax. The liner notes indicate that this is only the third issued of these Gleason moodfests, after Music for Lovers Only and Lover’s Rhapsody. (I own a half-dozen Gleason’s, but not those two.) I don’t know offhand how many of these similar offerings were eventually published—I could look it up, but so could you—that’s the kind of thing the WWW excels at. The songs presented here are all incredibly matching in their mellow melancholy, tone and tempo, so no unwelcome surprises—what you want under these wistful conditions. All standards, of course, though I don’t know a high percentage of the sixteen offerings—in a “name that tune” capacity, that is. I definitely hum a few in my more far-off dreams. They’re spread around among the great composers, but I’m not going to list them here—again consult your rolodex.

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