Reader’s Digest Selections Vinyl Collection (Part 2)

Greetings, happy week Hive Collectors Community. Today I have returned to share another collection of vinyls, which I inherited from my aunt Chichita; This, like the previous collection that I shared here, was marketed by Reader's Digest, that famous brand of magazines, books and records that operated in many countries in the last 20th century. In this case, this collection is called “Popular Music that Will Live Forever”.

This collection that I have brought today is very heterogeneous, both in the musical genres and the orchestras that perform the songs, which makes it very interesting. Like the last collection, this one also comes in a beautiful box, in this case aqua green, a color that I personally find very elegant, beautiful, and I always associate it with the mid-20th century, perhaps because it was a color that marked the aesthetics of the 50s and 60s. I must mention that even though this collection is beautifully presented, it does not indicate the date of manufacture or issue, which seems very strange to me, so I suppose it corresponds to the beginning. from the 60s, because at that time my aunt Chichita already had a little more income and could buy these vinyls, which she paid in installments.

The packaging of this collection is somewhat damaged, and I suppose that many years ago, someone, I don't know if it was my aunt or someone else, put some adhesive tape on it, which is still there. Although there are 10 vinyls in the collection, I did not find the brochure that usually comes inserted, nor did I see a prize record, however, on the labels on the box that resemble a jukebox, they do not indicate this. The external packaging shows art very typical of the 50s and 60s, scenes from movies and musicians playing. It also indicates that it is an exclusive production for Reader's Digest, made by the RCA Víctor record company, specifically by the Special Recordings Division.

The ten vinyls are complete and in good condition. Each one comes inside a paper sleeve labeled with aqua green letters, which indicate the album number, the name of the collection, and the songs on each groove and side of the album, as can be seen in the following photos.

Below I will present each album. Record number 1 is called “Pops Concerts Favourites– I”, whose melodies are performed by the New London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by master René Leibowitz.

Record number 2 is also titled “Pops Concerts Favourites– II”, that is, it is the second part. The melodies too are performed by the New London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by master René Leibowitz, and like record 1, the solo musicians who participate are indicated.

Record 3 is titled “Film Music – I”, and those who perform these melodies are Hill Bowen and his Orchestra. I am familiar with the music from the movie “The Wizard of Oz,” “Gone with the Wind” (I read the book many years ago, and saw the movie on TV).

Vinyl number 4 is also from “Film Music – II”, and its melodies are performed by Malcom Lockyer and his Orchestra. I remember the music from the movie “Love Story”, very beautiful.

We continue with record number 5, which is titled “Marches”; and as it could not be otherwise, the songs are performed by a military big band, the Regimental Band of the British Guards, directed by Major Hillary Wilkenson. There is “La Marseillaise”, a very well-known march.

We are already on vinyl number 6, and this is titled “Music for Dinning”, and it contains melodies that were very popular on the radio in the middle of the 20th century. I know this, because mom and my aunt Chichita always talked to me about music, and because my grandfather worked at a radio station too. There is “La Vida en Rosa” which is well known in the voice of Edith Piaf, but on this album the music is performed by Hill Bowen and his Orchestra.

Disc number 7 is called “Music for Relaxation”, and contains softer music, precisely for relaxing and resting. On this record, the musicians who perform the songs are Robert Bentley and his Orchestra.

Vinyl number 8 is from Valses para Bailar, and obviously, it contains dance songs of this genre or similar, highlighting “Que rico mambo” and “Mambo N° 5”, this last song was very popular in the early 2000s, when maestro Dudamel included this song in the concerts he conducted. Those in charge of this record are Hill Bowen and his Orchestra.

Record number 9 is by Fox Trots, the incredible North American dance music, which was very popular throughout the 20th century (especially in the 1930s), and which is still practiced today. Malcom Lockyer and his Orchestra are in charge of performing these interesting songs.

And finishing this beautiful and unique collection, is vinyl number 10, which is titled Canciones Latinoamericanas Inmortales, a compilation of the most relevant and popular Latin American songs of the past 20th century. There is the second National Anthem of my country, the “Alma Llanera”. There are two orchestras in charge of interpreting these melodies: Mario Ruiz Armengol's and Chucho Ferrer's.