(2010, download, - , crossfire publications)
(2011, flash-drive, usa, crossfire publications)

various artists

paul buff presents pal studios' early years - volume 2

2010 download - crossfire publications

re-releases
    (2011, flash-drive, usa, crossfire publications) = the complete 35 album series, with bonus liner notes on pdf and 56 extra tracks

various tracks recorded by Paul Buff

  1. stardusters: chattanooga choo choo
    unreleased
    recorded: mid-1959 at pal

  2. louis preti and orchestra: volare cha cha (take 2)
    unreleased
    recorded: 01/18/59 at pal

  3. diane richards: what i'll remember
    released: 03/56 as pal 1002 (a-side)
    recorded: 01/56 at capitol studios, hollywood, ca
    orchestra conducted and arranged by ruby raksin

  4. el trio los melodistas: que no aya nunca nadie (outtake 1)
    unreleased
    recorded: 09/25/60 at pal
    producer: jesus ramirez

  5. the allegros: play banjo play
    released: 01/59 as pal 1003 (b-side)
    recorded: late 1958 at pal
    producers: b. silva - b. weisman

  6. louis preti and orchestra: in a little spanish town (take 2)
    unreleased
    recorded: 01/18/59 at pal

  7. carmen lepala with mel moss: it's springtime in hawaii
    released: early 1959 as pal 1004 (a-side)
    recorded: early 1959 at pal

  8. louis preti and orchestra: merry oldsmobile cha cha (take 2)
    unreleased
    recorded: 01/18/59 at pal

  9. el trio los melodistas: lucilita (outtake)
    unreleased
    recorded: 09/25/60 at pal
    producer: jesus ramirez

  10. the george mandala trio: laura
    unreleased
    recorded: mid-1959 at pal

  11. the pal studio combo: adios
    unreleased
    recorded: late 1959 at pal

  12. louis preti and orchestra: in a little spanish town (take 3)
    unreleased
    recorded: 01/18/59 at pal

  13. stardusters: sugar blues
    unreleased
    recorded: mid-1959 at pal

  14. louis preti and orchestra: volare cha cha (take 3)
    unreleased
    recorded: 01/18/59 at pal

  15. diane richards: he says i'm too young
    released: 02/56 as pal 1001 (b-side)
    recorded: 01/56 at capitol studios, hollywood, ca

  16. el trio los melodistas: que no aya nunca nadie (outtake 2)
    unreleased
    recorded: 09/25/60 at pal
    producer: jesus ramirez

  17. phil freeman: memories lane
    released: 09/60 as emmy e-1004
    recorded: 08/26/60 at pal

  18. stardusters: i don't know why (i just do)
    unreleased
    recorded: mid-1959 at pal

liner notes by Greg Russo

Pal Records was a Cucamonga, California-based record company run by Paul Buff's mother Olivia and stepfather Ward Allen. After Paul Buff was honorably discharged from the military, he finished putting together Pal Studios in December 1957. The studio costs were $12.50/hour for mono recording and $15/hour for stereo. Local musicians booked the studio to make recordings of their rehearsals and repertoire. When Pal Records wound itself down in mid-1959, Paul Buff created his first record label - Emmy. Other labels (Plaza, Yukon and Vigah!) would follow shortly thereafter. The 20-volume series "Paul Buff Presents The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives" contains the pop and rock-based music created at Pal from 1959 to 1964.

This two-volume collection (Volume 1 is available separately at CD Baby) is drawn from original master tapes, and on rare occasions, transfers from reference discs. Nearly all of the music on these collections has never been released, and what was released is extremely rare and expensive if you can locate the original records. Paul Buff is now making these important musical performances available again for everyone to appreciate.

The artists represented on both volumes were local musicians who booked time at Pal Studios to make recordings of their repertoire for promotional purposes and the occasional record release.

The George Mandala Trio was fronted by accordion player Mandala, who later played with the North American Air Defense Command Band, also known as NORAD, in the mid-1960s. The trio is represented on this volume by Johnny Mercer and David Raksin's "Laura."

The Stardusters big band covered '30s and '40s standards like "Chattanooga Choo Choo," "Sugar Blues" and "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)." Their other tracks were on Volume 1.

The Chino, California-based Louis Preti And Orchestra did cha cha arrangements of popular songs and standards. They recorded numerous takes until they were happy! This volume includes later takes of "In A Little Spanish Town," "Merry Oldsmobile Cha Cha" and "Volare Cha Cha." All of these were recorded in stereo on January 18, 1959. Other takes of these songs appear on the first volume.

Diane Richards was a local vocalist who went back to the big band era. Richards was the female vocalist for the infamous Spade Cooley and Capitol artist Tex Williams in 1946 and recorded "I Can't Forget You" with Fred Darian in 1952. She also performed with Nick Stuart's band in 1952 and recorded the solo single "Hot Water" for the Avis label in 1953.

Olivia Buff and Ward Allen thought that Diane Richards would be the ideal artist to kick off the Pal Records label. Ward Allen co-wrote four songs for her, and he booked time at Capitol Studios in Hollywood in early 1956 to have Diane record them. All four titles were cut at the same Capitol session with orchestra conductor and arranger Ruby Raksin. The first Pal Records release, "Sentimental Oriental Dream Man"/ "He Says I'm Too Young," was released in February 1956. The follow-up, "What I'll Remember"/ "The Stranger," followed two months later. Billboard magazine reviewed both records, but neither release generated large airplay or sales. Later in 1956, Diane Richards went on to record two singles with The Three Dons for the Downbeat Records label based in El Monte, California. "What I'll Remember" and "He Says I'm Too Young" are included on this volume, with the other two tracks appearing on Volume 1. Incidentally, all four sides were released on 78 RPM records as well!

Producer Jesus Ramirez, owner of the small Discos Ramirez label, brought local act El Trio Los Melodistas to Pal Studios to record their single "Lucilita"/ "Que No Aya Nunca Nadie" on September 25, 1960. It was their only known release. The single takes were on Volume 1, and the session outtakes are here.

Johnny Fisher is well represented on Paul Buff's 20-volume Pal/Original Sound series. He brought in a local band, The Pal Studio Combo, to record some cover versions of '30s standards and other songs. This volume includes the Enric Madriguera/Eddie Woods composition "Adios," with two others on Volume 1. It is a real standout piano performance.

Mel Moss was an excellent guitarist that backed up vocalist Carmen LePala on the Pal Records A-side "It's Springtime In Hawaii." That side is included here. The flipside, Moss' "Zing Zoing," is on Volume 1.

The Allegros were a vocal group brought in by two outside producers. Their release "Dance Of Love (Cha Cha Cha)"/ "Play Banjo Play" covered all the bases! The A-side (Volume 1) dealt with the current cha cha craze, with the B-side (included here) dealing with the then-current interest in folk music. Both sides were released on Pal in early 1959.

Phil Freeman (born Phil Muehlberg) visited Pal Studios on August 26, 1960 to record the single "Wild Child"/ "Memories Lane." It was released on the Emmy label the next month. The A-side is part of Paul Buff's 20-volume series, but the B-side waltz "Memories Lane" is included here.