Al Caiola - 2016 - The Caiola Connection (The Creative World Of Al Caiola) @320

 

Al Caiola

Alexander Emil Caiola (September 7, 1920 – November 9, 2016) was an American guitarist, composer and arranger, who spanned a variety of music genres including jazz, country, rock, and pop. He recorded over fifty albums and worked with some of the biggest names in music during the 20th century, including Elvis Presley, Ray Conniff, Ferrante & Teicher, Frank Sinatra, Percy Faith, Buddy Holly, Mitch Miller, and Tony Bennett.

Career

During World War II Caiola played with the United States Marine Corps 5th Marine Division Band that also included Bob Crosby. Caiola served in the Battle of Iwo Jima as a stretcher bearer. 

Caiola was a studio musician in the 1950s in New York City. He released some minor records under his own name in that decade. In addition, he performed under the musical direction of John Serry Sr. on an easy listening album for Dot Records in 1956 (Squeeze Play).

In 1960 he became a recording star on the United Artists label for over ten years. He had hits in 1961 with "The Magnificent Seven" (#35 in USA and #27 in Canada.) and "Bonanza" (#19 in USA and #19 in Canada.) The arrangements were typically by Don Costa, using a large orchestral backing.

Caiola released singles and albums throughout the 1960s and beyond, though no others appeared on the charts except for an entry in 1964 with "From Russia with Love". United Artists used him to make commercial recordings of many movie and TV themes: "Wagon Train (Wagons Ho)", "The Ballad of Paladin", "The Rebel", and "Gunslinger". His album Solid Gold Guitar contained arrangements of "Jezebel", "Two Guitars", "Big Guitar", "I Walk the Line", and "Guitar Boogie". 

The Magnificent Seven album, other than the title track, consisted of a variety of pop songs with a jazzy bent. Guitars Guitars Guitars was similar. There was a wide variety to his albums - soft pop, Italian, Hawaiian, country, jazz. In the early 1970s he continued on the Avalanche Recordings label, producing similar work including the album Theme From the 'Magnificent 7 Ride' '73. Later, on other labels, came some ethnic-themed instrumental albums such as In a Spanish Mood in 1982, and Italian instrumentals. In 1976, Caiola accompanied Sergio Franchi, Dana Valery, and Wayne J. Kirby (Franchi's musical director) on a concert tour to Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Caiola died in Allendale, New Jersey, at the age of 96. 

Tracks; 

Cd.1

01 - A String Of Pearls.mp3

02 - American Patrol.mp3

03 - Goodbye.mp3

04 - King Porter's Stomp.mp3

05 - Honky-Tonk (Part 2).mp3

06 - Hearts Of Stone.mp3

07 - Tango Of The Roses.mp3

08 - Woodpecker Song.mp3

09 - Around The World In 80 Days.mp3

10 - Midnight In Moscow.mp3

11 - The Sound Of Music.mp3

12 - Cherokee.mp3

13 - Joey's Song.mp3

14 - Malaguena.mp3

15 - Dipsy Doodle.mp3

16 - Mambo Jambo.mp3

17 - It's A Sin To Tell A Lie.mp3

18 - Serenade In Blue.mp3

19 - Don't Worry 'Bout Me.mp3

20 - Moments Like This.mp3

21 - Early Autumn.mp3

22 - Black And Blue.mp3

23 - Indian Summer.mp3

24 - Blue The Night.mp3

25 - Drambuie.mp3

 

Cd.2

01 - Eager Beaver.mp3

02 - Begin The Beguine.mp3

03 - Jumpin' At The Woodside.mp3

04 - 720 In The Books.mp3

05 - Intermission Riff.mp3

06 - 9.20 Special.mp3

07 - Mexican Hat Dance.mp3

08 - Under Paris Skies.mp3

09 - Ram-Bunk-Shush.mp3

10 - Oh Marie.mp3

11 - Chitarra Romana.mp3

12 - Cumana.mp3

13 - I Love You.mp3

14 - Bim Bam Bum.mp3

15 - Idaho.mp3

16 - Hindustan.mp3

17 - El Cumbanchero.mp3

18 - Love Letters.mp3

19 - There'll Never Be Another You.mp3

20 - I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good).mp3

21 - Everything Happens To Me.mp3

22 - Deep In A Dream.mp3

23 - You Are Too Beautiful.mp3

24 - I Got A Crush On You.mp3

25 - Thunderbird.mp3

With covers.

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