Felix Slatkin Conducts Fantastic Percussion Bob Thompson, Arranger, Composer
"When he made this record, Felix Slatkin
had won two Grammy awards for classical conducting
with the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra.
Fantastic Percussion was his first and best
popular record, primarily because he resisted
drowning everything in strings. The war horses
'Caravan' and 'Night Train' are handled even
better than the consistently pleasing other
standards. The one original tune [Happy Hobo]
is by none other than 'space-age bachelor' Bob
Thompson. ~ Tony Wilds, All Music Guide."
Felix Slatkin's Fantastic Brass Marches the
Blues Bob Thompson, Arranger, Composer
Another Slatktin record features Marching
the Blues, scribed by Bob, a swinging version
of John Philip Sousa.
Girl Singers
Julie London, Whatever
Julie Wants Bob Thompson, Arranger
She's dressed to kill and her voice does too!
She was married to Jack Webb at the time. Went
on to star as Nurse Dix on Emergency!.
The Andrews Sisters, The Capital Years Bob Thompson, Arranger
Three arrangements on this album were provided
by Bob.
Ruth Olay, various projects Bob Thompson, Arranger
Bob arranged several projects for Ruth, a star
who should have been: "Born in San Francisco,
jazz singer Ruth Olay's family moved to Los Angeles
when she was eighteen months old. Her father was
a rabbi, her mother a singer. While still a teenager
in the 1940s she sang with Benny Carter's great
band. A major fixture of the Hollywood nightclub
scene in the mid-1950s"--Bill Reed. Bob also
composed songs for Olay with his writing partner,
Alan Alch.
Thanks for Nothing Bob Thompson, arranger
Conducted and arranged by Bob Thompson. Rosie
is at her bitter and melancholy best on tracks
like Black Coffee, and shows flexibility
with some poppier numbers. It was re-released
on CD in 2002 by Wounded Bird Records.
Clap Hands! Here Comes Rosie! Bob Thompson, Composer and Arranger
Her first solo album was orchestrated
by Bob who tapped jazz greats Jimmy Rowles,
and Bud Shank for these sessions. Includes:
"Too Marvelous For Words" and "Makin' Whoopie!"
Some of these tracks appear on the re-release
Cocktail Rosie.
Judy Garland, Live at Carnegie Hall Bob Thompson, Composer
Bob composed special material for the song
Anything But Love and I'm Confessin'.
Maureen O'Hara, Love Letters From... Bob Thompson, Arranger
Includes: I Only have Eyes For You.
Exotic Projects
George Fields
and His Orchestra, Harmonica Favorites (1959)
Bob Thompson, Composer
Space age female vocals with virtuoso harmonica.
A few tunes were penned by Bob, including "Left
Bank Louie."
Katie Lee, Songs of Couch and Consultation Bob Thompson, Arranger
When
psychoanalysis became a mass phenomena, several
songs-about-therapy albums were released, this
one featuring Katie Lee. Includes: "Shrinker
Man," and what would become the Buffalo
Bills' Theme Song--"The Will to Fail."
According to the All Music Guide, Katie Lee
"was the darling of the New York crowd,
singing outlandishly funny, and often bawdy
uptown folk songs."
That Agency Thing: CBS Radio Sales
Industrial Musical (195?)
Bob Thompson, Composer
This is an industrial musical starring Broadway
stars who depict "Life at an Agency" where creative
types, preppies, and admen work to create great
advertising through the "new and exciting medium"
of radio. Music is humorous and light hearted,
moving from Three Penny Opera-type numbers to
Broadway tunes and back again. Lyrics by Alan
Alch and voices by Herschel Bernardi and Paul
Frees, the man of a thousand voices.
Jerry Lewis, Jerry Lewis Just Sings Bob Thompson and Alan Alch, Composers
Candelabra Boogie, a Liberace satire, was written
by Bob Thompson. To quote Sandra Bernhard, "I
wanna get crazy, Jerry."
Mae West, The Fabulous Mae West Bob Thompson, Arranger
Mae handed the lyrics of Criswell Predicts
to Bob on a napkin, detailing her obsession
with the Hollywood psychic who was later depicted
in the film Ed Wood. He put music to it and
later denied it. You'll hear this wacky song
on WFMU. Mae went on to appear in an incorrect
televised duet with Timothy Dalton.
Various, Premiere: The Top Motion Picture
Stars of Hollywood Make Their Record Debut
Chihuahua
Choo Choo, Ricardo Monteblan;
Let's Dance, Let's Dance, Let's Dance Marge
and Gower Champion singing their 1957 NBC sitcom
theme song; Rita Moreno; Eve Arden; Debra Paget.
This album is funny, classsy, and unique.
King Richard's Fluegel Knights: Just One of
Those Songs Mrs. Robinson
Other Gigs
Various, How The
West Was Won Bob Thompson, Arranger
A theme album that inspired the movie a few
years latervocals by Bing Crosby and Rosemary
Clooney. Bob arranged a few tunes and is credited
as "Tom Roberts."
GE Theater (TV)
Bob Thompson, Composer
Bob wrote music for episodes of this show,
hosted by Ronald Reagan. He also composed one
of its themes (#4), known as Symbol MT.
Hi Los, Love Nest
Bob composed the tune Fairyland on this record,
later recorded by Elaine Dunn.
Duane Eddy, Twangy Guitar Silky Strings Bob Thompson, Arranger
Hi-Lili Hi-Lo stands out in this easy listening
masterpiece. Bob arranged Because They're
Young (a top ten LP) and other Eddy records.
French Singers
Jacqueline Francois,
Chansons de Charme & Mme. de Paris
Bob Thompson, Arranger
Aimer Comme je T'aime and Utrillo arranged
by Bob.
Gloria Lasso, Manha de Carnaval
Parfait
Ne Changez Rien was composed by Bob.
60s and 70s Projects
Ron Elliot,
Candlestickmaker (1969)
Bob Thompson, Arranger
Recently reissued by Collector's Choice music,
this cult hippie classic, penned and performed
by Ron Elliot (formerly of Beau Brummels) features
a 14-minute(!) suite graced by a section of
Bob's strings.
Roger Nichols, Small Circle of Friends
Bob Thompson, Arranger
"Don't Take Your Time" arranged by Bob. This
album is 60s vocal pop at it's bestlike
Canadian happiness-peddlers Free Design.
Harpers Bizarre, The Secret Life of Harpers
Bizarre
Bob Thompson, Arranger
I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise (arranged
by Bob) is another example of 60s vocal ultra-pop.
Take notice: Harpers Bizarre are NOT soft!
Van Dyke Parks, Various Projects
Bob Thompson, Arranger
Bob provided arrangements for songs on albums
such as Discover America and The Clang
of the Yankee Reaper.
Bing Crosby
Holiday In Europe Bob Thompson, Composer and Arranger
Bob Thompson's composition, Moment in Madrid,
(re-recorded as Les Baxter's Ruby Lips)
appears on Bing Crosby's Holiday in Europe.
Bob also worked with Bing on "Sing Along with
Bing." When the dollar was strong and the liquor
was too...