Saturday, March 1, 2008

Art Van Damme

ART VAN DAMME

Born in Norway, MI in 1920, Art Van Damme was once called "The hippest cat ever to swing an accordion." He dared to take the accordion past its polka-band stereotype and show it was just as valid as a jazz instrument. He became world famous both for his own albums and his work as an NBC staff musician from 1945 through 1960. (He continued to work for NBC even as his recording career took off!) Although he announced his retirement in 1995, he still continues to perform occasionally to this day.

Van Damme made nearly 40 albums, both for American and European labels. Listed below are his US releases:

COCKTAIL CAPERS (Capitol T178)

MORE COCKTAIL CAPERS (Capitol T300 - the cover is classic!)

THE VAN DAMME SOUND (Columbia CL-544)

MARTINI TIME (Columbia CL-630)

MANHATTAN TIME (Columbia CL-801)

ART VAN DAMME & MISS FRANCES BERGEN (Columbia CL-873)

THE ART OF VAN DAMME (Columbia CL-876)

ONCE OVER LIGHTLY (w/ Jo Stafford) (Columbia CL-968) [I have this one!]

THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG (Columbia CL-1227)

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP MUSIC (Columbia CL-1382/CS-8177)

ACCORDION A LA MODE (Columbia CL-1563/CS-8363)

ART VAN DAMME SWINGS SWEETLY (Columbia CL-1794/CS 8594)

A PERFECT MATCH (w/ Johnny Smith and Jo Stafford) (Columbia CL-2013/CS-8813)

HOUSE PARTY (Columbia CL-2585)

SEPTET (?) (Columbia CS-8992)

MUSIC FOR LOVERS (Harmony HS 11239)

BLUE WORLD (Pausa PR 7027)

KEEP GOING (Pausa PR 7104)

SQUEEZIN' ART & TENDER FLUTES (Pausa PR 7126)

ART VAN DAMME & FRIENDS (Pausa PR 7151)

LOVER MAN (Pickwick SPC 3009)

BY REQUEST (Sonic Arts Digital LS12)

For a brief but excellent bio of Van Damme, and a longer discography that includes his European albums, go to http://www.spaceagepop.com/vandamme.htm

7 comments:

anomia said...

ONCE OVER LIGHTLY (w/ Jo Stafford) (Columbia CL-968) [I have this one!]

I have a request if that's ok - please email me at the google account by replying here?!

U.P. Grooves! said...

If it's to send you a soundfile or soundfiles. I'm sorry, but I can't do that right now - I don't have the equipment.

anomia said...

Aw that's a shame, thanks for the reply...

U.P. Grooves! said...

Anomia: Check out my latest post on the blog.

anomia said...

I'm still interested in this:
ONCE OVER LIGHTLY (w/ Jo Stafford) (Columbia CL-968)

...and could be very happy to return the favour if I can.

Oh and congratulations! It'll be fun I promise...

U.P. Grooves! said...

Anomia: If you read this, please get back to me off-list at andrucharlz at localnet dot com.

U.P. Grooves! said...

testing...testing...