The product promo album might be the original free album. They were produced to promote a company product and given out at industry shows and stores to potential sellers and consumers. Very few of these were kept by the lucky recipients so it is uncommon to see or hear them…especially one that features such a high quality artist as this one.

Side-by-Side was produced to promote Amana’s side-by-side refrigerators/freezers of the early 60s. What makes this EP special is that it features The J’s with Jamie, the most listened to vocal group of the 60s. While you may have never heard of them, The J’s crisp harmonies and Jamie’s jazzy but girl-next-door voice were heard all over the radio and television in various commercials. The originally 2-sided EP starts with a number of versions of their Amana jingle. These are more of a treat for nostalgia fans than music lovers. Actually they bring back a few memories to this old geezer. However the real delight is the second side which contains seven tracks of standards including “Cotton Fields” and “But Not For Me”. These are excellent examples of the jazz/pop harmonies of the 50s and 60s and are up to par with better known vocal jazz ensembles such as The Swingle Singers and Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. Skim through the commercials for amusement but be sure you download and enjoy these rare pop gems.

The EP is available from WFMU’s Beware of The Blog in 192kbps MP3.

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