Listen To:


Selected MP3s of guitar instrumentals, jazz, big band, and classic easy listening from the original vinyl.

Welcome to Guitars & All That Jazz

Welcome to Guitars & All That Jazz

Guitars & All That Jazz was a radio station that webcast via Live365 for 11 years, ending in June 2011. The playlist consisted of guitar instrumentals, jazz, big band, early rock 'n' roll, lounge music and classic easy listening.

I hope to share some of this music with you via this blog. Most of it will be taken from the original vinyl (LPs and 45s) , cassettes and the occasional commercially unavailable CD.

Here's hoping you'll find something to enjoy. Please note files are available only for a limited time.

I urge you to purchase the digital version of the albums featured, either on CD or via download, wherever possible.

Listen to the Music
There are now two music streams. Click the appropriate player to the right.
1. Guitars & All That Jazz: Five hours of the best in jazz, guitars and other instrumental gems. New songs are added weekly.
2. Tiki Shores: Music to sweep you away to a tropical isle, a South American dance floor or a bossa nova on the beach at Rio. About 4.5 hours of classic exotica music, Latin rhythms and bossa nova.
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Monday, April 28, 2014

Curt Massey - Curt Massey Time


The pleasing baritone voice of Curt Massey has been largely forgotten, consigned to a dusty corner in the halls of popular music history. But in the 1940s and '50s Massey, who died in 1991 at age 81, was a star on network radio and Los Angeles-area television. And he later co-composed and sang the theme song for the TV show Petticoat Junction, which ran on CBS from 1963 to 1970.

His 15-minute Monday to Friday network radio show Curt Massey Time began in 1949. The show was sometimes called Curt Massey Time with Martha Tilton to reflect the prominence of his co-star. In 1952 the title was changed to Alka-Seltzer Time to highlight the sponsor. By the following year the show was heard on two networks -- at noon on CBS and again during the supper hour on Mutual.

But Alka-Seltzer Time had run its course by November of '63, although Massey and Tilton were still heard on other network radio programs. They also co-hosted a 15-minute daily TV show in Los Angeles from 1956 to 1963.

Massey was given an Emmy Award in 1961 for his radio and TV work. That was also the year Capitol issued an album titled after his network program. The LP contained the same type of standard and novelty songs that had been popular on the radio show. The orchestra for the album was conducted by renowned studio guitarist Bob Bain, who also contribute some hot licks on his instrument.

Breezin' Along with the Breeze



The Curt Massey Time LP does not appear to be available in a digital format. There was a Curt Massey Time CD issued by the British label Hepcat around 2007 but this probably consisted of radio transcriptions. It's available from Amazon in the U.K., but there's no track listing or source information.

Massey composed the theme for Petticoat Junction with Paul Henning, who created the characters featured in the rural sitcom. A 45 single with Massey singing the theme was issued by Capitol in 1964. It differs slightly from the versions heard on the TV show -- and it's in stereo.


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