Hal Aloma



"King of the Steel Guitar" Hal Aloma is among the most accomplished and well-rounded of Hawaii's greatest artists. The young Aloma led his own orchestra in Honolulu and recorded many 78 rpm singles and albums. Later he recorded hi-fi and stereo LPs for the Dot label, several of which are classics of virtuosic steel playing. His voice also is very agreeable, and such winsome recordings as "I'm a Happy Hawaiian Cowboy" (a good match with Sol K. Bright's classic "Hawaiian Cowboy") deserved to have become standards.



Hal Aloma LPs

Rating
8Songs of Old Hawaii 10"; MGM E-169 (6 of the 8 cuts reissued on 12" Hawaiian Memories; MGM E-3273, split w/Lani McIntire)
8Lani McIntire/Hal Aloma: Hawaiian Memories; MGM E-3273 (reissues 6 of the 8 cuts on the 10")
8Hal Aloma, King of the Steel Guitar & his Hawaiians: A Musical Portrait of Hawaii; Columbia CL-538 (w/different jacket as Hawaiian Holiday; Columbia CL-538)
7The Lure of the Islands; Dot DLP-25057
6Sweet Leilani; Dot DLP-25228
8Hal Aloma Takes Your Favorite Tunes on a Trip to Hawaii; Dot DLP-25287
8At the Luau 400; Dot DLP-25367
8Sings Island Songs; Dot DLP-25451 (vocal; reissued by Victor Japan minus 3 songs but with 5 added from DLP-25367)
6On Paradise Isle; Dot DLP-25514
6Hawaiian Serenade; Dot DLP-25655
5Hawaiian Dreams; Dot DLP-25758
5Island Serenade; Dot/Hamilton HLP-174 (compilation)
5Songs of the Islands; Pickwick SPC-3099 (compilation)


Hal Aloma Sideman LPs

Rating
6Ernie Warren & the Hula Rhythm Boys: A Latin from Manhattan in Hawaii; Fiesta FLPS-1248


Hal Aloma EPs

Rating
8Hal Aloma, King of the Steel Guitar & his Hawaiians: A Musical Portrait of Hawaii; Columbia B-374 (first 8 of the 12 cuts on LP; recommended for likely superior sound/shape/availability)


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