HAVE ORGAN WILL TRAVEL  -  GEORGE WRIGHT

YEAR:  1959
LABEL:  HiFi Records
TRACK LISTING:  Granada,  Far Away Places,  Istanbul,  I Love Paris,  A Foggy Day,  April In Paris,  Funiculi Funicula,  Londonderry Air,  By the River Sainte Marie,  Sabre Dance,  Eastern Romance,  Veradero,  Under Paris Skies,  German Medley
IMPRESSIONS:  One of the most prominent pipe organ technicians and the most-recorded pop organist of all time, George Wright was also notoriously hard to get along with.  A perfectionist, he would routinely find fault with organs, take them apart in order to correct it and then, after a perceived slight or altercation with the owner would not put the organ back together again.  Quite renowned for his rather bombastic style of playing -- Amok Books' Brian King, quoted in RE/SEARCH INCREDIBLY STRANGE MUSIC VOL. 1, states:  "There's one album where he visits Japan (TICKET TO TOKYO) and it'll be real quiet and then he'll go overboard -- you have to turn the stereo down all the time.  He'll take a song meant for acoustic guitar and transcribe it for organ -- that's always a laff riot."  Wright does, in fact, have a soft touch when he wants to (i.e. "By the River Sainte Marie") but then usually can't seem to resist pulling out all the stops for a wow finish.  Here, on "HAVE ORGAN WILL TRAVEL" the emphasis is obviously on songs evoking different countries.  The album cover is definitely a classic and the music on the album itself is one of Wright's most enjoyable collections.  One of his feats is that he takes "I Love Paris" -- a song I've never liked -- and made it enjoyable for me!  That's quite an accomplishment; the only other person who did that was Leona Anderson on her "MUSIC TO SUFFER BY" album.  George Wright hauls his organ around Spain, England, France, Istanbul and any other vague country of origin for his song selections.  "HAVE ORGAN WILL TRAVEL" was released in the same year as another "travel" from George Wright's fingertips:  the equally enjoyable "TICKET TO TOKYO" mentioned earlier.  Kitschy, bombastic and enjoyable.
MY FAVOURITE TRACKS:  Granada,  Istanbul,  I Love Paris,  April In Paris,  Funiculi Funicula,  Eastern Romance,  Under Paris Skies,  German Medley
FACT SHEET:  HAVE ORGAN WILL TRAVEL is George Wright's 18th album (probably).  Wright spent four years as featured organist at San Francisco's Fox Theater then became organist and musical director at New York City's Paramount in Times Square.  In 1950, Wright moved to Los Angeles and became the musical director for TV soap opera GENERAL HOSPITAL which featured his music and theme song until 1976.  Wright released over 60 albums during his career.  In 1968, however, the warehouse where he stored his pipe organ burned down and he did not record again for 10 years.  In 1995, Wright was awarded the first Life Achievement Award by the American Theatre Organ Society.  George Wright died in 1998. 

LOUNGE-A-PALOOZA  -  VARIOUS ARTISTS

YEAR:  1997
LABEL:  Hollywood Records
TRACK LISTING:  Miniskirt - Combustible Edison and Esquivel,  This Guy's In Love With You - Fastball,  She Don't Use Jelly - Ben Folds Five,  A Rose Is A Rose - Poe,  Black Hole Sun - Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme,  The Girl From Ipanema - Pizzicato Five,  Zaz Turned Blue - Polly Jean Harvey & Eric Drew Feldman,  I'm Not In Love - Fun Lovin' Criminals,  Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell & Michelle Shocked with Texas Tornados,  Witchcraft - Edwyn Collins,  Love Will Keep Us Together - Jimmy Scott & Flea,  Music To Watch Girls By - The James Taylor Quartet,  The Good Life - Cassandra Wilson,  Robert Goulet (On the River Nile) - Chris Ballew (of the Presidents of the United States of America)
IMPRESSIONS:  During the mid-90s, there was an explosion of interest in lounge music aka space-age bachelor pad music aka exotica aka whatever other moniker slapped on this genre of music.  This was also the heyday of so-called "alternative music" and the Lollapalooza concerts.  So naturally somebody thought of combining the two.  This album is the very definition of a "mixed bag".  There are some absolutely top-notch songs here and there are some extremely forgettable kitsch.  The album kicks off appropriately with the master of space-age bachelor pad music Esquivel and his classic tune "Miniskirt" performed with Combustible Edison.  Although, no one's gonna convince me that it isn't simply the original Esquivel recording with Combustible Edison playing over it.  Still, it's good fun and a nice way to start the album.  The album continues in an even stronger fashion with the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic "This Guy's In Love With You" nicely covered by Fastball.  Next is a classic version of the Flaming Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly" by Ben Folds Five, Poe's cover of her brother's "A Rose Is A Rose", Steve & Eydie's hilarious cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun", Pizzicato Five's quirky cover of Jobim's "The Girl From Ipanema" and an absolutely fabulous cover of Mel Torme's "Zaz Turned Blue" by PJ Harvey & Eric Drew Feldman.  Next there's the rather uninspired Fun Lovin' Criminals cover of 10cc's "I'm Not In Love" followed by a truly terrific version of Glen Campbell's Wichita Lineman by the man himself teamed with Michelle Shocked and Freddy Fender's Texas Tornados.  From here on out, the album peters out.  But up to this point, for the most part, we have a nicely idiosyncratic listen and a snapshot of the mid-90's music scene.
MY FAVOURITE TRACKS:  This Guy's In Love With You - Fastball,  She Don't Use Jelly - Ben Folds Five,  A Rose Is A Rose - Poe,  Black Hole Sun - Steve & Eydie,  Zaz Turned Blue - Polly Jean Harvey & Eric Drew Feldman,  Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell & Michelle Shocked with Texas Tornados
FACT SHEET:  LOUNGE-A-PALOOZA is a compilation of lounge music mashed up with alternative music.  Or something.

THE SOUND OF TIKI  -  VARIOUS ARTISTS

YEAR:  2010
LABEL:  Bear Family Records
TRACK LISTING:  Taboo Tu - Arthur Lyman,  Aku Aku - Martin Denny,  Bali Ha'i - Gloria Lynne,  Bird of Paradise - Les Baxter,  Castaway - Paul Page,  Tiki - Martin Denny & Si Zentner,  House of Bamboo - Andy Williams,  Kon-Tiki - The Shadows,  I-Ha-She - Marais & Miranda,  Hawaiian Eye - Buddy Morrow,  Hilo Boy - The Mary Kaye Trio,  Ulili-E - The Surfers,  Pieces of Eight - Paul Page,  Full Moon - Eden Ahbez,  Bamboo - The Surfmen,  Hawaii Five-O/Quiet Village Medley - Don Ho
BONUS TRACKS:  Luau Is Calling You - Radio Jingle
IMPRESSIONS:  Long after the big lounge music/exotica boom in the mid-90's, Bear Family Records came out with this handsome cd package compiled by "THE BOOK OF TIKI" author Sven A. Kirsten.  While this in no way can compare to the near-perfect ULTRA LOUNGE VOLUME 1:  MONDO EXOTICA (discussed elsewhere on this blog), any new tiki/exotica lounge music album is cause for celebration.  It's hardly surprising the author of the rather nice "BOOK OF TIKI" provides us with a lavishly-illustrated booklet for the cd describing the history of the lounge music phenomenon mid-20th century as well as brief bios of the artists and their songs.  The "big three" of exotica music -- Les Baxter, Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman -- are all represented here but it's also an unexpected, pleasant surprise to see TWO tracks by the dippy Paul Page (whose album I also have previously discussed on this blog ... see the link on the right hand side there) as well as one of my favourite songs of all-time:  Eden Ahbez's "Full Moon" (and yes, Eden Ahbez's album has ALSO been previously discussed on this blog ... follow the links).  Andy Williams is not one of my favourite people but his version of "House of Bamboo" is pretty good; although the definitive version still remains Earl Grant's.  The inclusion of the obscure Surfmen (I should post on one of their albums one of these days) is welcome as is the track by that incredibly odd pair of "musical anthropologist" folk singers Marais & Miranda (I really should also do a post on one of THEIR albums one of these days as well).  The Shadows' "Kon-Tiki" is a good track but I don't really think it belongs here as it musically belongs to the "surf guitar" genre.  Buddy Morrow (of "POE FOR MODERNS" fame) does a fun and silly version of the Hawaiian Eye theme song too.  While not as musically strong as other "Ultra Lounge" compilations, this is a worthy addition to the pile of tiki tunes.
MY FAVOURITE TRACKS:  Taboo Tu - Arthur Lyman,  Aku Aku - Martin Denny,  Bird of Paradise - Les Baxter,  Castaway - Paul Page,  Tiki - Martin Denny & Si Zentner,  Kon-Tiki - The Shadows,  I-Ha-She - Marais & Miranda,  Hilo Boy - The Mary Kaye Trio,  Pieces of Eight - Paul Page,  Full Moon - Eden Ahbez,  Bamboo - The Surfmen,  Luau Is Calling You - Radio Jingle
FACT SHEET:  THE SOUND OF TIKI is a compilation album of exotica music focusing on the tiki/exotica fad of the mid-20th century and which has been celebrated in the RE/SEARCH: INCREDIBLY STRANGE MUSIC books leading to a retro-boom in the mid-1990s.  Phew!  The collection is produced and compiled by Sven A. Kirsten:  author of "THE BOOK OF TIKI" who also appeared in a recent episode of "STORAGE WARS" as a "tiki expert".  "Taboo Tu" is from Arthur Lyman's "TABOO VOL. 2" album.  "Aku Aku" appears on Martin Denny's "AFRO DESIA" album.  "Bird of Paradise" is taken from Les Baxter's "THE PRIMITIVE AND THE PASSIONATE" album.  "Castaway" and "Pieces of Eight" are taken from Paul Page's "PIECES OF EIGHT" album.  "I-Ha-She" is from Mirais & Miranda's "GO NATIVE" album.  "Full Moon" is from Eden Ahbez's "EDEN'S ISLAND" album.  "Bamboo" is taken from the Surfmen's "THE SOUNDS OF EXOTIC ISLAND" album.

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LE COEUR QUI JAZZE - Various Artists

YEAR: 1997

LABEL: Discomagic

TRACK LISTING: Le Coeur Qui Jazze - France Gall, Marins Amis Amant ou Maris - Michel Legrand, Aruanda - Astrud Gilberto, Here We Are Falling In Love - Meta Roos & Nippe Sylvens Band, Autumn Leaves - Milt Jackson, Jive Samba - Jon Hendricks, Panema Leblon - Claudia, Five Four - Roberto Menescal, Samba Em Paris - Leny Andrade, Sombre Guitar - Dancers Inferno, Uela Uela - Charly Antolini, Sunshine Superman - Big Jim Sullivan, In Memory Of - Randy Weston, The Mad Mad Doktors - The Mad Doktors, Ladeira Da Pregula - Elis Regina, Exotica - Walter Kubiczeck, Young Blood - The Silhouettes, Conversations - The Silhouettes

IMPRESSIONS: Unaccustomed as I am to posting albums which I've just recently acquired, I just had to mention LE COEUR QUI JAZZE which was brought to my attention by Mr. Bremson over at the "Exciting Sounds" blog. As he so rightly says: "The world needs more CD comps like this." And then, of course, there's the added bonus of a cd booklet full of photos of naked ladies. The tracks here are quite rarely heard (with the possible exception of the France Gall song) and puts you right in the mood for a tropical drink while shopping for white go-go boots. Hearing the track by the great Michel Legrand makes me wanna watch LES DESMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT again. Jon Hendricks' vocal on "Jive Samba" is actually reminiscent of King Pleasure while Roberto Menescal is obviously going for the "Dave Brubeck TAKE FIVE" vibe with "Five Four" -- check the time signature.

MY FAVOURITE TRACKS: Le Coeur Qui Jazze - France Gall, Marins Amis Amant ou Maris - Michel Legrand, Aruanda - Astrud Gilberto, Here We Are Falling In Love - Meta Roos & Nippe Sylvans Band, Autumn Leaves - Milt Jackson, Jive Samba - Jon Hendricks, Panema Leblon - Claudia, Five Four - Roberto Menescal, Samba Em Paris - Leny Andrade, In Memory Of - Randy Weston, The Mad Mad Doktors - The Mad Doktors, Ladeira Da Preguia - Elis Regina, Exotica - Walter Kubiczeck

FACT SHEET: Compilation goodness!

ULTRA-LOUNGE VOLUME ONE: MONDO EXOTICA - Various Artists

YEAR: 1996

LABEL: Capitol

TRACK LISTING: Swamp Fire - Martin Denny, Moon Mist - The Out-Islanders, Caravan - 80 Drums Around the World, Hypnotique - Martin Denny, Atlantis - Les Baxter, Alika - Webley Edwards, Misirlou - Martin Denny, Lust - Bas Sheva & Les Baxter, Hana Maui - Chick Floyd & His Orchestra, Voodoo Dreams/Voodoo - Les Baxter, Jungle Madness - Martin Denny, Babalu - Yma Sumac, Simba - Les Baxter, The Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish - Martin Denny, Bali Ha'i - Tak Shindo, Pyramid of the Sun - Les Baxter, Quiet Village - Martin Denny, Wimoweh - Yma Sumac

IMPRESSIONS: Something happened in the mid-90's. A huge interest in so-called "Lounge" music or "Mondo Exotica" or "Space Age Bachelor Pad" music swept the nation. Suddenly that long dismissed and discarded music from the 50's and early 60's became vastly popular. Old LPs went for top dollar and forgotten albums suddenly appeared on compact disc. One of the strongest sparks for this renewed interest was probably the two volumes of books entitled "Re/Search: Incredibly Strange Music"; two of my musical bibles. Capitol Records scanned its vaults to come up with a new series of cds entitled "Ultra-Lounge" which featured various artists per cd featuring a different theme. The first cd in the series was "Mondo Exotica" featuring one of my favourite "genres" of lounge music: the tiki tropical exotica sound. This is one of the best "samplers" I can think of to introduce anyone to this particular style of music and one of my all-time favourite albums. The vibraphones, the screeching parrots, the bongos, and all the other "exotic" instruments bring the smell of tiki torches and the taste of tropical cocktails vividly to life via this delightful naive music. Sure, the cd is a little heavy on Les Baxter and Martin Denny but two more proficient practitioners of the genre cannot be found. This is only an introductory sampler, after all, which hopefully will open up the vast exotica landscape for a curious listener. Mix yourself a cocktail with plenty of fruit and umbrellas, recline in the bath and listen to this ultimate brain soother.

MY FAVOURITE TRACKS: Hypnotique - Martin Denny, Alika - Webley Edwards, Babalu - Yma Sumac, Simba - Les Baxter, Bali Ha'i - Tak Shindo, Pyramid of the Sun - Les Baxter, Quiet Village - Martin Denny, Wimoweh - Yma Sumac

FACT SHEET: The "exotica" phenomenon originated mainly from returning G.I.'s in World War II who had gained a taste for all things South Pacific. The statehood of Hawaii also spurred a huge interest in everything tropical and exotic; backyard luaus with wooden tiki idols and tiki torches were all the rage. A mania for exotic cocktails spread across the nation's bars sparked by the innovative creativity of Don the Beachcomber. Also the new technology of "high fidelity" and "stereophonic sound" found a perfect medium with the multi-instrumental tiki lounge music testing ones speakers like nobody's business. The Grammy-winning Ultra-Lounge cd series is still going albeit only in online download format. All the tracks naturally are culled from Capitol Records' library of master tapes. "Swamp Fire" is from Martin Denny's c. 1958 LP "Afro-Desia". "Moon Mist" is from the Out-Islanders' 1961 LP "Polynesian Fantasy"; the song (written by Johnny Mercer and Duke Ellington) features vocalisations by Loulie Jean Norman (Vampira on the 1959 "Spike Jones In Stereo" LP) and Charlie Barnet on saxophone. Duke Ellington's perennial "Caravan" is a previously unreleased track from 1961 by 80 Drums Around the World. Martin Denny's superb "Hypnotique" is from his c. 1967 album "A Taste of India". "Atlantis" is from Les Baxter's 1953 LP "Kaleidoscope". "Alika" is from Webley Edwards' 1960 LP "Hawaii Calls: Exotic Instrumentals". "Misirlou" and "Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish" are from Martin Denny's c. 1960 LP "Exotic Percussion". "Lust" is from the Les Baxter/Bas Sheva LP "The Passions" from 1953. "Hana Maui" is from Chick Floyd's 1959 "Little Grass Shack" album. "Voodoo Dreams/Voodoo" is actually a medley of two Les Baxter tracks edited together: the former from Les Baxter's 1959 "Jungle Jazz" album and the latter song an unreleased track from 1958. "Jungle Madness" is from Martin Denny's 1959 "Hypnotique" album. "Babalu" is an Yma Sumac single from 1952. "Simba" is from Les Baxter's 1955 LP "Tamboo!". "Bali Ha'i" is from Tak Shindo's superb 1959 "Brass and Bamboo" album and is my favourite version of the song. The exquisite "Pyramid of the Sun" is from Les Baxter's 1959 "The Sacred Idol" album. The exotica classic "Quiet Village" was originally written and recorded by Les Baxter but it's Martin Denny's 1958 version from his "Exotica" album which was the smash hit and remains the classic version. Yma Sumac's "Wimoweh" is another Capitol single from 1952. The Ultra-Lounge cds also featured recipes for two tropical cocktails in each cd booklet; the Mondo Exotica cd thoughtfully includes recipes for a "Blue Hawaii" and a "Zombie". Yum!