Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra Bye Bye Blues [1965]

Decca Records DL 74693

Bert Kaempfert was coasting at the peak of his popularity when he released Bye Bye Blues in early 1966. Perhaps that's the reason why he decided not to change his formula at all on this breezy collection of standards, originals, and contemporary tunes. The title is no joke: this is a sunny album without a care in the world, lightly swinging to its own beat. Kaempfert's big, brassy arrangements are appealing but a little similar, which means that the entire record kind of blends together; there's no beginning or end, just 12 easy listening tunes that flow into the next. That means, naturally, that nothing -- not even hit singles like the title track -- stands out, which logically means that this isn't one of the more distinctive albums in his canon. Nevertheless, Bye Bye Blues is a pleasant album, ideal for background cocktail music, which is all that Kaempfert fans old or young will want anyway.

Tracklist:
01 Bye Bye Blues
02 Remember When (We Made These Memories)
03 When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)
04 Tahitian Sunset
05 Once In A While
06 Steady Does It
07 It Makes No Difference - Trumpet Solo, Fred Moch
08 You Stepped Out of A Dream
09 Wiederseh'n
10 I'm Beginning To See The Light
11 Melina
12 Out of Nowhere