Champagne, Candlelight & Kisses

 Jackie Gleason - Champagne, Candlelight and Kisses (1963)

Hello Friends,

Tonight on "Vinyl in the Valley" we're enjoying the swooning sounds of our favorite fat bastard, Jackie Gleason.

Actually, by this point in his music career, I don't think Gleason had much to do with the recording of these albums and instead let producers and arrangers handle most of the workload.  Hey, why conduct an orchestra when you could be drinking?

"Let me show you what you can do..."

In any case, like most of his Capitol LP's this one plays out like the soundtrack to a Woody Allen movie.  There's the familiar-sounding arrangements complete with lush strings and muted horns ("Theme from Bus Stop", "Its Been a Long, Long Time", "Everything Happens to Me"), but there's also some uncharacteristically bouncy, upbeat and even dixieland-inspired jazzier tunes ("Undecided", "All By Myself", "Just You, Just Me").  I guess between the champagne, candlelight & kisses we're supposed to squeeze in some calisthenics!  

The album cover looks like a service cart in James Bond's hotel room:  Champagne on ice, vintage-looking crystal goblets, a glass tumbler with hand-rolled cigarettes,  softly burning candles and... OMG is that a Pu-Pu platter?!?!?

RATING:

3.5 Trips to the Moon out of a possible 5