Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Show 30: Thrifting for the Holidays

Start counting down the 12 days of Christmas with a Thrifting for Tunes holiday show...


Song 1 : : The Most Beautiful Place
Artist : : Mikael Sundin
Album : : Sundin’s Happy Holiday

A little Christmas shopping music from a private pressing from a couple of years back. Great stuff...

* * *

Song 2 : : The Island of Misfit Toys
Artist : : Brian Dewan
Album : : Hello Family Santa Special

Great version of this song from the classic holiday TV special. Some Brian Dewan info here.

* * *

Song 3 : : Mister Santa
Artist : : Lenny Dee
Album : : Happy Holi-dee

Loved the silly “Dee” names of many of Lenny Dee’s albums (my favourite: The Lenny Dee-tour).

* * *

Song 4 : : Ding Dong Dandy Christmas
Artist : : The Three Suns
Album : : A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas!

My favorites! So glad they have a Christmas album.

* * *

Song 5 : : White Christmas
Artist : : The Waikikis
Album : : Christmas in Hawaii

Really bizarre sounding Hawaiian record by this Belgian band... not really all that Christmas-y (aside from this track, it mostly sounds like Hawaiian-flavored Oktoberfest music).

* * *

Song 6 : : Dominick The Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)
Artist : : Lou Monte
Album : : The Best of Lou Monte

I grew up in an Italian neighborhood but I doubt any of my neighbors ever listened to Lou’s great Italian-American shtick.

* * *

Song 7 : : Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Artist : : Pietra Wexstun
Album : : Last Call Christmas

I served one too many Mauna Loa eggnogs... and Pietra put a new twist on this holiday favorite.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Show 29: City Songs - Montreal

The first in a series of shows on “City Songs” – songs about cities or songs with lyrics and titles that mention specific cities – starting off with my hometown. All songs played on this show are from a recent compilation called “Montréal en 28 chansons” (Montreal as seen through 28 songs). More information on the disc can be found here. My comments about the songs selected for this compilation can be heard on the broadcast...


Song 1 : : À Rosemont sous la pluie
Artist : : Guylaine Guy
Album : : Montréal en 28 chansons

* * *

Song 2 : : Montréal en cinque couplets
Artist : : Les Bachots
Album : : Montréal en 28 chansons

* * *

Song 3 : : Un Jour, un Jour
Artist : : Michèle Richard
Album : : Montréal en 28 chansons

* * *

Song 4 : : Montréal La Nuit
Artist : : Bob Robie
Album : : Montréal en 28 chansons

* * *

Song 5 : : À Montréal
Artist : : Pierre Dudan
Album : : Montréal en 28 chansons

* * *

Song 6 : : Montréal Dans La Nuit
Artist : : Roger Ferber
Album : : Montréal en 28 chansons

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Show 28: Columbus Day/Thanksgiving

Songs originally planned for a Columbus Day show last month that I never got around to doing... Here they are just in time for Thanksgiving (well, for listeners in the US at least).

Some amazing stuff from a Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin work tape that I’ve been forcing on others for years... but I don’t think anyone finds the lyrics as clever as I do. Plus, a great track (well, maybe you need to have an Italian-American background to appreciate this one) by Lou Monte.

These artists all have “official” websites, by the way: Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin, Lou Monte.


Song 1 : : The Nina, The Pinta, The Santa Maria
Artist : : Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin
Album : : Tryout

* * *

Song 2 : : Please Mr. Columbus (Turn The Ship Around)
Artist : : Lou Monte
Album : : The Very Best of...

* * *

Song 3 : : Manhattan
Artist : : Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin
Album : : Tryout

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Show 27: Morricone

A tribute to the maestro, Ennio Morricone, who celebrates a birthday on November 10th. There is so much great Morricone music to choose from – and so much already in heavy rotation on the LuxuriaMusic playlist – that I really had to narrow things down. Most here are from 3LP box set I received as a gift some twenty years ago... still the best compilation of Morricone's western themes.

Here's a link to www.enniomorricone.com, though you'll have to read it in Italian. Links to imdb entries on each of the films from which music has been selected can be found below.


Song 1 : : Navajo Joe
Artist : : Ennio Morricone
Album : : I Western / The Italian Western

imdb link

* * *

Song 2 : : Un esercito di cinque uomini
Artist : : Ennio Morricone
Album : : I Western / The Italian Western

imdb link

* * *

Song 3 : : Ci risiamo, vero Provvidenza?
Artist : : Ennio Morricone
Album : : I Western / The Italian Western

imdb link

* * *

Song 4 : : Un genio, due compari, un pollo
Artist : : Ennio Morricone
Album : : I Western / The Italian Western

imdb link

* * *

Song 5 : : Intermezziono Pop
Artist : : Ennio Morricone
Album : : Molto Mondo Morricone

imdb link

* * *

Song 6 : : Alegretto Per Signora
Artist : : Ennio Morricone
Album : : Mondo Morricone Revisted

imdb link

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Show 26: Halloween Special

Happy Halloween folks... I promised a Halloween story from way back when, so here it is (followed by the playlist)...


Punkins

In those days, we’d actually dance when we went out to the clubs. We were wannabe new wave rude boy skasters out on Halloween... a big deal when you’re still into all kinds of gory horror movies.

Some of our nuevo wavo acquaintances had some punky acquaintances who were in this punk band that was playing in a club for a Halloween party (and in costume too! One guy we knew did all their makeup. He was an amateur movie stuntman and makeup artist who’d actually done all the bloody effects for this cheap Canadian horror flick, about a big retarded guy with a chainsaw, filmed up north just outside the city.).

So I was a zombie with a cleaver in my head and guts hanging out of my belly (another amazing use for condoms!) and we were all backstage after the show as the band was peeling the rubber off their faces. This one girl – probably the only really decadent, anarchist girl I’ve ever really spoken to – at one point grabbed my bottle of fake blood and emptied it out all over my head and shirt. This was a hell of a lot of fake blood! In keeping with the spirit of the evening, of Halloween and of punky anarchy, I wound up and gave the girl a good kick in the ass, sending her swearing down the hallway.

We got out of there and headed up to another Halloween party in a huge mainstream disco right in the heart of downtown. The blood was wet all over me and it was a cold Halloween, so by the time we’d walked over to the disco, I really needed a bathroom.

I was pushing my way through the crowd but people kept stopping me and admiring my bloody makeup job. In a particularly tight spot in a passageway near the washrooms, I ran right into this guy’s chest... a huge guy... but I was so frustrated, I just pushed him and said “Move, fuck!” Looking up, I was stunned to see that the chest belonged to David Hasselhoff (this was post-Knight Rider but pre-Baywatch). Who’d have known he’d be a big star, a chart-topping singer in Europe?

The people at the disco took my picture but I didn’t win any prize for my costume... one of the last Halloween parties I attended.


Song 1 : : Desolation Theme
Artist : : Ken Nordine, Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz
Album : : Stay Awake, Music from Vintage Disney Films

* * *

Song 2 : : Entrance
Artist : : Stan Ridgway and Pietra Wexstun
Album : : Blood, Miniature Paintings of Sorrow and Fear

* * *

Song 3 : : Black Mass
Artist : : Les Baxter
Album : : The Dunwich Horror (original score)

* * *

Song 4 : : The Witches, The Witches
Artist : : David Greenberger
Album : : Duplex Halloween Planet

* * *

Song 5 : : The Raven
Artist : : Christopher Walken
Album : : Closed on Account of Rabies

* * *

Song 6 : : Ulalume
Artist : : Buddy Morrow
Album : : Poe for Moderns

* * *

Song 7 : : My Eye
Artist : : Brian Dewan
Album : : Tells the Story

* * *

Song 8 : : Zombi
Artist : : Richard Hayman
Album : : Voodoo!

* * *

Song 9 : : Voodoo Dreams
Artist : : Les Baxter
Album : : The Exotic Moods of Les Baxter

* * *

Song 10 : : Mamba
Artist : : Richard Hayman
Album : : Voodoo!

* * *

Song 11 : : Zambezi
Artist : : Les Baxter
Album : : The Exotic Moods of Les Baxter

* * *

Song 12 : : Run Home Screamin’
Artist : : David Greenberger
Album : : Duplex Halloween Planet

* * *

Song 13 : : The Pit and the Pendulum
Artist : : Buddy Morrow
Album : : Poe for Moderns

* * *

Song 14 : : Tricks or Treat
Artist : : David Greenberger
Album : : Duplex Halloween Planet

* * *

Song 15 : : Selected Readings from RAT CATCHING
Artist : : Crispin Hellion Glover
Album : : THE BIG PROBLEM ≠ the solution. The Solution = LET IT BE

* * *

Song 16 : : Goblin Dance
Artist : : Gershon Kingsley and Peter Waldron
Album : : Ghostly Sounds

* * *

Song 17 : : Ai Margini della Follia
Artist : : I Goblin
Album : : Zombie, Le crepuscule des morts vivants

* * *

Song 18 : : Outro
Artist : : Gershon Kingsley and Peter Waldron
Album : : Ghostly Sounds

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Show 25: Jardin Tiki

The first in a series of shows on music heard at or inspired by Tiki bars I’ve written about over the years... we’re starting off with a show on the biggest Polynesian Palace in Canada, Montreal’s Jardin Tiki.

You can READ about the Jardin Tiki by clicking over to the “READ” page at www.maitaionline.com, and then clicking the “Montreal Area Tiki” rock.

You can also WATCH a video of the Jardin Tiki Brunch (shot at the Jardin Tiki, of course) by clicking over to the “WATCH” page in the menu up top.

Since the Jardin Tiki is a Canadian Tiki mecca, I’ve dug up a few tracks from a vintage Canadian exotica album, Driftwood by the Jimmy Namaro Trio. The great liner notes tell us that Jimmy – “one of Canada’s most popular musicians” – is a “suave, handsome young man of Spanish-American parentage... born in Hamilton, Ontario.”

Here is Jimmy’s bio from the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada.


Song 1 : : Soft Sands
Artist : : Jimmy Namaro Trio
Album : : Driftwood

* * *

Song 2 : : Harbor Lights
Artist : : Alfred Apaka
Album : : Adventures in Paradise

This song and the next are actually more typical of the kind of music heard at the Jardin Tiki than Namaro’s stuff. Here is a short bio of Apaka and a picture of his statue at the Hawaiian Village Beach Resort.

* * *

Song 3 : : Blue Hawaii
Artist : : The Outriggers
Album : : Captivation

Another classic that seems to be in heavy rotation every time I go to the Jardin Tiki...

* * *

Song 4 : : Driftwood
Artist : : Jimmy Namaro Trio
Album : : Driftwood

* * *

Song 5 : : Nightingale
Artist : : Jimmy Namaro Trio
Album : : Driftwood

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Show 24: Addeo/Cates

This week’s show pays tribute to two artists who made some excellent “tiki bar” music. Not quite straight ahead exotica, not quite hapa haole, not quite Hawaiian... but a good blend of it all.

Leo Addeo (b. October 14, 1914) was a Brooklyn born Italian-American who worked in several capacities in the music industry – as a performer, arranger, conductor, and producer. But, judging by the many albums he released, he seemed to specialize in Hawaiian music. A little bit of info on Addeo can be found here and at spaceagepop, of course. I’m featuring songs from what I believe are Addeo’s first two Hawaiian records. I’ve read that guitarist Billy Mure plays on More Hawaii in Hi-Fi.

There seems to be a bit more information available on our second featured artist, George Cates (b. October 19, 1911), mostly due to his 25-year association with Lawrence Welk (info and a photo here and, once again, at spaceagepop). Cates released two Hawaiian records, Polynesian Percussion and Hawaii, which some folks believe to be the same record minus two songs. However, having given the two records a good listen, I noticed that while some arrangements on Hawaii are identical to those on Polynesian Percussion, they are missing intros or certain other small details. Maybe some songs are the same recordings, maybe they just share arrangements... who knows. What matters is that it’s all good stuff.


Song 1 : : Sweet Leilani
Artist : : Leo Addeo
Album : : Hawaii in Stereo

* * *

Song 2 : : Red Sails in the Sunset
Artist : : Leo Addeo
Album : : More Hawaii in Hi-Fi

* * *

Song 3 : : Drifting and Dreaming
Artist : : George Cates
Album : : Hawaii

* * *

Song 4 : : Bali Hai
Artist : : George Cates
Album : : Polynesian Percussion

* * *

Song 5 : : The Sheik of Araby
Artist : : Leo Addeo
Album : : More Hawaii in Hi-Fi

* * *

Song 6 : : Beyond the Reef
Artist : : George Cates
Album : : Hawaii

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Show 23: Fishing with John T.

I am not a fisherman... I mean, I’ve fished before but not really in the last 20 years or so. So I figured it was time to take another fishing trip... or at least an imaginary one. Inspired by another guy who “knows nothing about fishing,” I put together this week’s “fishing trip” show.


Song 1 : : Fishing with John
Artist : : John Lurie
Album : : Fishing with John

Or rather, Fishing with John T in this case. This is the theme song to John Lurie’s hilarious TV series from a few years back. Dig around for some info on Fishing with John at the imdb.

* * *

Song 2 : : Fish Story
Artist : : Andy Loore (Janco Nilovic)
Album : : Water Show

Played another water-themed track from this album of library music a few episodes back...

* * *

Song 3 : : City Under the Sea
Artist : : The Islanders
Album : : The Enchanted Sound of The Islanders

Played these guys recently too (see last week’s show for info)... some really good exotica on this album.

* * *

Song 4 : : Forbidden Waters
Artist : : Webley Edwards
Album : : Fire Goddess

Starting way back in the mid-30s, Edwards began broadcasting Hawaiian music to the mainland on his show “Hawaii Calls,” live from Honolulu. More info at the ever-informative spaceagepop.

* * *

Song 5 : : Hello Down There
Artist : : Jeff Barry
Album : : Hello Down There

Are you familiar with this Tony Randall movie from 1969? I wanted to live in this movie’s under-sea house when I was a kid. This is the theme song from the film. Don’t know if a soundtrack album exists... I pulled this off of the DVD.

* * *

Song 6 : : Hey Little Goldfish
Artist : : Harold and His Hang-Ups
Album : : Hello Down There

This is also from the movie. A young Richard Dreyfuss plays Tony Randall’s daughter’s boyfriend Harold. His band writes this song while rehearsing in the undersea house.

* * *

Song 7 : : Some Days There Just Ain’t No Fish
Artist : : Hoagy Carmichael
Album : : Ole Buttermilk Sky

Hoagy speaks the truth... some days, there just ain’t no fish. Here is the official Hoagy Carmichael website.

Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Show 22: Autumn Leaves

That’s it... I tried my best to delay the end but – judging by the piles of dried leaves blowing around in the park across the street – summer is over... and autumn is here.


Song 1 : : Autumn Leaves
Artist : : The Three Suns
Album : : Movin’ ‘n Groovin’

Starting off like last week with The Three Suns. Complete info on the Three Suns website here.

* * *

Song 2 : : Autumn Leaves
Artist : : Dick Schory
Album : : Supercussion

Not my favorite Dick Schory album... but it suits our purposes this week. Cool clippings and info about Schory on this page from the Ames Historical Society.

* * *

Song 3 : : Autumn Leaves
Artist : : The Islanders
Album : : The Enchanted Sound of The Islanders

I love the sound of The Islanders... I like the whistling on several tunes on this album. This website says that “The Islanders are probably just the two producers, Frank Metis and Randy Starr, with maybe a little help from session musicians.”

* * *

Song 4 : : Autumn Leaves
Artist : : Ethel Azama
Album : : Exotic Dreams

Martin Denny produced this classic exotic record but I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of Ms. Azama’s voice... though there are some good things on the record.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Show 21: Goodbye Summer

Saturday was the last day of summer... The leaves are already changing color (around these parts anyway). This is my attempt to hang on to summer for just awhile longer... or at least to say goodbye until next year.


Song 1 : : Theme from a Summer Place
Artist : : The Three Suns
Album : : Fever and Smoke

Folks who know me know I love The Three Suns. This track can also be found as a bonus track on the Twilight Memories CD... the only one of Three Suns Living Stereo LPs that I’ve been able to find on CD. Excellent Three Suns website here.

* * *

Song 2 : : Cuando Calienta el Sol
Artist : : Nancy Sinatra
Album : : California Girl

Strange album of California-themed songs from Joisey Girl Nancy Sinatra. This seems to be a blend of old and new recordings. Good backing band of the usual gang of magnificent 60s LA studio session musicians. Here is Nancy’s official website.

* * *

Song 3 : : Fall Breaks and Back to Winter / Good Vibrations / Heroes & Villains
Artist : : Gary Usher
Album : : Add Some Music To Your Day

I’ve played a cut or two from this album before. It’s nice but also kind of sad, especially when you consider it was designed to cheer Brian Wilson up during one of the “dark” periods... that’s what I’ve heard anyway.

* * *

Song 4 : : Summer
Artist : : Bernie Green
Album : : Plays More Than You Can Stand in Stereo

Some info on Bernie Green can be found at spaceagepop.com. He seems to have done a lot of work as a musical director and arranger. I’ve also seen a mono version of this album as “Plays More Than You Can Stand in Hi-Fi.”

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Show 20: E-Z

After all that running around we did in last week’s set, I figured we’d need a little downtime this week. Easy listening... Enjoy...


Song 1 : : Sea of Tranquility
Artist : : Baker Street Philharmonic
Album : : Je T’aime – Moi Non Plus

An early 70s easy listening project headed by former Manfred Mann guitarist and session Moog man Mike Vickers. Some info if you go here and scroll down a bit.

* * *

Song 2 : : Le Monde Sous-Marin
Artist : : Andy Loore
Album : : Water Show

More early 70s easy listening... Library music (I think) with an aquatic theme. Andy Loore is actually Yugoslavian library music man Janco Nilovic.

* * *

Song 3 : : Everybody’s Talkin’
Artist : : Baker Street Philharmonic
Album : : Je T’aime – Moi Non Plus

* * *

Song 4 : : Jeff Bloom
Artist : : Gianfranco Di Stefano
Album : : Spaghetti Westerns Volume 1

Di Stefano was active as a film score composer in the early 70s. Can’t find too much info about him out there but some of his soundtracks are currently available. Big easy listening string section on this track... and a nice solo trumpet.

* * *

Song 5 : : Exotica
Artist : : Martin Denny
Album : : Exotica! The Best of Martin Denny

Very familiar to all you exotica fans out there, of course. I included it in this set because it’s my favorite laid-back piece of exotica... just perfect. Good Denny site here.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Show 19: Speed!

Summer has kept me busy this year... I traveled a little further and more often than in recent years, worked on various projects, and just generally ran around a lot more than usual for the summer months.

It always helps to have some fast-paced music to move me along when there are too many things going on at the same time. Here’s a selection of speedy songs that kept me going through a busier-than-usual summer...


Song 1 : : Runnin’ Wild
Artist : : Robert Maxwell
Album : : Red Hot Harp

* * *

Song 2 : : Tarantula
Artist : : Robert Maxwell
Album : : Red Hot Harp

Great speedy stuff... and an exotica connection here too: Maxwell composed both “Ebb Tide” and “Shangri-La.” Some good info on Maxwell can be found here.

* * *

Song 3 : : Twilight in Turkey
Artist : : The Raymond Scott Orchestrette
Album : : Pushbutton Parfait

A wonderful 7-piece “orchestrette” formed by Irwin Chusid and dedicated to performing (in some cases, reinterpreting) the music of Raymond Scott. They have only put out one album so far... wish they’d make more. Among the members of the Orchestrette is one of my favorites, electric zither master Brian Dewan.

* * *

Song 4 : : A Shot in the Dark
Artist : : Oranj Symphonette
Album : : Plays Mancini

I’ve played these guys on the show before and I’m still hoping they’ll eventually get together for another record. As I mentioned previously, some info on their two albums can still be found here and here. Also, make sure to check out OS member Ralph Carney’s MySpace page.

* * *

Song 5 : : Twelfth Street Rag
Artist : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang
Album : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang

* * *

Song 6 : : St. Louis Blues Boogie
Artist : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang
Album : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang

Okay, I forgot to dig up and scan that photo of Johnny Puleo and my mom... but I’ll get around to doing eventually, I promise (again!).
I’ve played these guys before too... and I’ll most surely play them again. Johnny Puleo’s biography can be found here.

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Show 18: Audio Porn

Seems some listeners mistook the word “exotica” for “erotica” a few months back when I did a show on Swedish exotica band Bo Axelzon and his Orchestra. Maybe it was the the fact that “Swedish” preceded “exotica” that made some jump to the conclusion that I’d be playing porn music.

Well, for those who were hoping for it, here it is... Porn! Music from softcore and hardcore films... and a couple of pornographic-sounding songs that aren’t from film scores at all.


Song 1 : : Erotico
Artist : : John Zorn
Album : : The Big Gundown

An Ennio Morricone piece from the film The Burglars. Not porn but this John Zorn version sexes-up this already erotic song.

* * *

Song 2 : : La Prima Volta
Artist : : Andrea et Nicole
Album : : Erotheque

A strange one... Italian title and lyrics, French artists (?), from a Greek pressing of an LP that recently made the rounds of the sharity sites once again.

* * *

Song 3 : : Ravishing Marilyn
Artist : : ???
Album : : Sex-O-Rama

This is from the Marilyn Chambers porn classic Behind the Green Door. Not by the original studio musicians who appeared on the film soundtrack but by another group of studio musicians who re-recorded a bunch of vintage porn sounds for this Oglio Records compilation.

* * *

Song 4 : : Alternative Chicks
Artist : : Andy Prieboy
Album : : N/A

Got this off a bootleg video of one of Andy Prieboy’s live appearances at Largo in LA back in 1997. Prieboy, in addition to working in bands, as a solo artist, writing a musical and a book, has scored a couple of porn videos...

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Show 17: Charge of the Light Brigade

Last Friday (August 18) marked the 101st anniversary of the birth of legendary stereo and quadraphonic recording pioneer Enoch Light.

Light’s Command label albums (along with a few Audio Fidelity label records, like Harry Breuer’s Per-cus-sive Vaudeville) were among my first samplings of space-age pop, way back in the mid- to late-60s, when they were in heavy rotation on my dad’s hi-fi.

So a couple of the Command albums – which were billed either to Enoch Light and the Light Brigade, The Command All-Stars, or Terry Synder and the All Stars, but were all produced and overseen by Light – are what I’m featuring on this show...


Song 1 : : Miami Beach Rhumba
Artist : : Terry Snyder and the All-Stars
Album : : Persuasive Percussion Volume 2

One of the writers of this song, Irving Fields – also known for his Bagels and Bongos album from 1959 – is still around and going strong at 91 years of age. As a matter of fact, he was in town for a performance this past weekend (see article here).

I still think a portion of this song was ripped off as part of the theme to the classic Canadian sitcom King of Kensington (or you could just say that the two songs share the same bridge).

* * *

Song 2 : : Blue is the Night
Artist : : Terry Snyder and the All-Stars
Album : : Persuasive Percussion Volume 2

* * *

Song 3 : : Tabu
Artist : : Terry Snyder and the All-Stars
Album : : Persuasive Percussion

* * *

Song 4 : : Aloha Oe
Artist : : Terry Snyder and the All-Stars
Album : : Persuasive Percussion

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Show 16: Up, Up and Away

I’m celebrating Jimmy Webb’s birthday today by playing one of his biggest hits... over and over and over and over again. Silly idea, I know... especially as a tribute to such a great songwriter. It’s not even one of my favorite Jimmy Webb songs.

I love the story that Jimmy Webb tells about a dinner meeting with Sinatra in Vegas. They were supposed to discuss putting together an entire album of Webb songs. Jimmy had his father with him and Sinatra asked him to bring the old man along to dinner, so he wouldn’t have to spend the evening alone. So much for the album plans... Sinatra and Webb’s dad ended up chatting away about the war, Glenn Miller, and the old days, while Jimmy just sat there, left out of the conversation.

Please make sure to check out Webb’s official website here. Also, try to have a listen to his album “Ten Easy Pieces” for Webb’s own take on some of his greatest hits.


Song 1 : : Up, Up and Away
Artist : : Susumu Arima and His Misty Sounds
Album : : The Dock Of The Bay - New Created Sounds

From a pretty cool quadraphonic LP from 1972. A little bit of info can be found here. Don’t know if this is the same guy...

* * *

Song 2 : : Up, Up and Away
Artist : : Rajput and the Sepoy Mutiny
Album : : Incredibly Strange Music Volume 1

Oi vey! A painful yet fascinating listen. It sounds like they hired the studio janitor to take over when the sitar player didn’t show up...

* * *

Song 3 : : Up, Up and Away
Artist : : Oranj Symphonette
Album : : The Oranj Album

Now this really kicks it! Oranj Symphonette are no more but they were great. Some info on their two albums can still be found here and here. Also, make sure to check out OS member Ralph Carney’s MySpace page.

* * *

Song 4 : : Up, Up and Away
Artist : : Basil Henriques and his Waikiki Islanders
Album : : Hawaiian Nights

Here’s an excerpt of Basil’s email to me regarding a review I wrote of his Hawaiian Nights LP:

“Aloha John...
Mahalo for the review in your web page... but I think you should know that I DO play and record Hawaiian tunes...”

And, you know what? He’s right. He does play Hawaiian tunes. Check out his website here.

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Show 15: Red, Red Wine

Jackie “Teak” Lazar – that little jerk who performed his corny act here in the Mauna Loa Lounge last week – somehow made off with all our booze at the end of the night! So...

This week, we’re out of rum... we’re drinking wine... we’re listening to Italian tunes to help wash the red stuff down.


Song 1 : : Che m’e ‘mparato a fa
Artist : : Sophie Loren
Album : : Greatest Hits

Who the hell knew that Sophia actually had any greatest hits? This record is actually sub-titled “The Films – The Voice – The Body.” I love that. This song is sung in the wonderful Neapolitan dialect.

* * *

Song 2 : : ‘O Russo e ‘A Russa
Artist : : Renato Carosone
Album : : I Piu’ Grandi Successi di...

Another greatest hits compilation by my favorite Neapolitan artist. In case you didn’t know, this is the guy who wrote “You Wanna be Americano.”

* * *

Song 3 : : Core ‘Ngrato
Artist : : Jerry Vale
Album : : Bella Italia 2

I guess I’m on a Neapolitan kick here. This one’s by Bronx-born Italian-American Genaro Louis Vitaliano.

* * *

Song 4 : : Chitarra Romana
Artist : : Connie Francis
Album : : Bella Italia

From Naples, we move to Rome... Another one by an Italian-American (Newark-born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero). Connie’s Italian pronunciation is not as good as Jerry’s though.

* * *

Song 5 : : Buonanotte
Artist : : Renato Carosone
Album : : I Piu’ Grandi Successi di...

Mr. Carosone bids us “Good Night.”

Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Show 14: Jackie “Teak” Lazar

Just got back into town after a whirlwind trip to a few of the continent’s hot spots... Palm Springs, L.A. and... uh, Brampton and Scarborough, Ontario.

While I was out and about, I was lucky enough to cross paths with an old business acquaintance, noted talent scout and big wheel, Jackie “Teak” Lazar.

These days, Jackie’s schtick is played out under the spotlights rather than behind the scenes... He’s been touring the lounge circuit for the last few years and, since he’s owed me a few bucks since back in 1983, I got him to agree to come perform for us today.

For more info on Jackie, make sure to visit his space on the world wide web.

Hold on to your hats, order up a couple of doubles of whatever you’re drinking, and have a listen to Jackie “Teak” Lazar.


Song 1 : : The Wayward Wind
Artist : : Jackie “Teak” Lazar
Album : : Here’s Wood In Your Eye

* * *

Song 2 : : Always On My Mind
Artist : : Jackie “Teak” Lazar
Album : : Here’s Wood In Your Eye

* * *

Song 3 : : Behind Closed Doors
Artist : : Jackie “Teak” Lazar
Album : : Here’s Wood In Your Eye

* * *

Song 4 : : A Very Good Year
Artist : : Jackie “Teak” Lazar
Album : : Here’s Wood In Your Eye

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Show 13: Music from the Ether

Finally got around to fooling with the Theremin I bought last year. An incredibly difficult instrument to master. Plenty of great info on Lev Termen’s (Leon Theremin) early electronic instrument can be found here and here.

I’m far from mastering the instrument but here’s a small sampling of songs in which you can hear the Theremin either playing a melody line or creating otherworldly effects.


Song 1 : : Galaxy
Artist : : Frank Comstock
Album : : Project Comstock: Music from Outer Space

Project Comstock is a Theremin classic from the heyday of space age pop. I read that the Theremin used here is actually an electro-Theremin, aka a Tannerin, like the one used on The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations. Here the instrument is used both to play a melody and to create an atmospheric effect.

* * *

Song 2 : : Sensual Hallucination
Artist : : Les Baxter
Album : : The Dunwich Horror (soundtrack)

A record that uses the Theremin to create spooky sounds, as it is often used on the soundtracks of thriller, horror and sci-fi films. From a film score by exotica master Les Baxter.

* * *

Song 3 : : Oracle
Artist : : Hecate’s Angels
Album : : Hidden Persuader

Pietra Wexstun sampled and added effects to a transistor Theremin on this and other tracks on her band’s first record.

* * *

Song 4 : : Sinners
Artist : : Freddie and the Hitch-Hikers
Album : : 45 RPM single

One of the earliest uses of a Theremin in rock music can be heard on this rockabilly tune. This song was later covered – sans Theremin – by The Cramps.

* * *

Song 5 : : So Attracted to You
Artist : : Herbi Silvers and his Orchestra
Album : : 45 RPM single

This one’s really great and it features a man who is regarded as one of the mid 20th century’s greatest and most famous thereminists, Dr. Samuel Hoffman.

* * *

Song 6 : : Ed Wood (video)
Artist : : Howard Shore
Album : : Ed Wood (soundtrack)

A more recent film score that features the Theremin as performed by one of today’s more well-known and well-regarded thereminists, Lydia Kavina.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Show 12: Exotic/Electronic

A few songs that blend exotica and electronics... from two different records, one old and one new.

The two tracks from Jungle Obsession are actually pieces of library music from the early 70s composed by French production music masterminds Nino Nardini and Roger Roger. Their take on exotica (a few years after the trend had died out) throws in early electronic sounds and interesting new beats.

Kava Kon are a current duo whose music combines exotica and lounge electronica. Very atmospheric stuff. More info here.


Song 1 : : Jungle Obsession
Artist : : Nino Nardini and Roger Roger
Album : : Jungle Obsession

* * *

Song 2 : : Chinese Pirate
Artist : : Kava Kon
Album : : Departure Exotica

* * *

Song 3 : : Oceania
Artist : : Kava Kon
Album : : Departure Exotica

* * *

Song 4 : : Mowgli
Artist : : Nino Nardini and Roger Roger
Album : : Jungle Obsession

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Show 11: Hazlewood

Lee Hazlewood’s birthday is on July 9...

I just can’t get enough of his music... I’ve always loved it. From the low-key poignant stuff, to the big sounding studio productions, to the hokey cheesball lounge-a-billy pieces.

Starting as a DJ, he went on to become a singer, composer, producer, sometimes actor, an influence for Phil Spector, the studio mastermind behind Nancy Sinatra...

He titled one of his records “Poet, fool, or bum.” He’s all that and much more.

Happy 77th birthday Barton Lee Hazlewood!

Lee’s got an official website (I think he designed it himself), here.

There’s also a more complete and very informative fan site here.


Song 1 : : For My Birthday
Artist : : Lee Hazlewood
Album : : For Every Solution There’s a Problem

A song composed just a few short years ago from a good album of rarities and unreleased stuff. Lee wants a P.O.A. or a B.J. for his birthday... a pear or apple or blue Jaguar.

* * *

Song 2 : : Stranger In Your Town
Artist : : Billy Strange
Album : : Strange Country

Lee has often worked worked in the studio with noted writer, arranger, conductor, producer, publisher and as a performer Billy Strange...

* * *

Song 3 : : Baha
Artist : : Jack Nitzsche
Album : : The Lonely Surfer

Lee was apparently also an influence on Jack Nitzsche...

* * *

Song 4 : : I Move Around
Artist : : Lee Hazlewood
Album : : These Boots Are Made For Walking

A nice big-sounding production of the type Lee is well-known for. This is a favourite of mine.

* * *

Song 5 : : Forget Marie
Artist : : Lee Hazlewood
Album : : Cowboy in Sweden

A more low-key song but also one of my favorites... from one of Lee’s many Swedish TV specials.

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Show 10: Clouseaux - album preview

A little sneak preview of the new album called Beyond Good and Evil by the intoxicatingly exotic Clouseaux!

I can’t say enough good things about this band! This is the real deal... an amazing amalgam of exotica, surf, spy, sci-fi, jet-set lounge... and more! You can get the full story on Clouseaux’s exciting exotica on their website or their MySpace page.

Beyond Good and Evil will officially be released on July 8th... You can pre-order the CD now at either of the above links.

Enjoy the set of four songs from the new album... Mix up a potent Mai Tai and listen up as the excitement builds from one track to the next...


Song 1 : : Paraiso
Artist : : Clouseaux
Album : : Beyond Good and Evil

* * *

Song 2 : : Genie vs. Genie
Artist : : Clouseaux
Album : : Beyond Good and Evil

* * *

Song 3 : : Hunt of the Savage
Artist : : Clouseaux
Album : : Beyond Good and Evil

* * *

Song 4 : : Jungle Witch
Artist : : Clouseaux
Album : : Beyond Good and Evil

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Show 9: Atkins/Schifrin

What do Chet Atkins and Lalo Schifrin have in common? Not much, except:
-they both made some great music
-they both had birthdays very recently (Chet Atkins: June 20, 1924 –June 30, 2001 / Lalo Schifrin: June 21, 1932– )
-though their music is not exotica, both do perform songs that are not out of place in a Tiki bar like the Mauna Loa Lounge.

So here are a couple of selections each from Atkins and Schifrin. I tried to feature Schifrin’s work both as a composer and arranger. For Atkins, I just played a couple of tunes from a great RCA Living Stereo album that features Atkins using a wonderfully warm sounding nylon string guitar.

More Atkins info here.
More Schifrin info here.


Song 1 : : Delicado
Artist : : Chet Atkins
Album : : The Other Chet Atkins

Nice version of this familiar latin number...

* * *

Song 2 : : The Wave
Artist : : Lalo Schifrin
Album : : Piano, Strings and Bossa Nova

Great early composition by Schifrin. I’m actually not too crazy about the over the top strings on this record but the piano is great...

* * *

Song 3 : : Borneo
Artist : : Cal Tjader
Album : : Several Shades of Jade

Schifrin’s arrangement of his own composition appearing on Tjader’s album. Groovy exotic jazz... and it works well in the Tiki bar.

* * *

Song 4 : : Poinciana (Song of the Tree)
Artist : : Chet Atkins
Album : : The Other Chet Atkins

More laid back but just as appropriate to play in the Lounge while enjoying a Chi Chi or a Planter’s Punch.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Show 8: Summer Songs

It’s official... summer starts tomorrow. So let’s welcome the summer season with a few different types of summer songs...


Song 1 : : The Warmth of the Sun
Artist : : Gary Usher
Album : : Add Some Music to Your Day (A 1970 Symphonic Tribute to Brian Wilson)

This record was put together by Brian’s friend Gary Usher (co-writer of In My Room) back in 1970. From what I understand, the idea was to cheer up Brian and also to cash in on the easy listening market. Due to a situation with the record label it was never released... until a few years ago. Nice versions of some good Beach Boys songs... Lots of harpsichord. As well as members of the LA Symphony, the record features several “Wrecking Crew” members who played on the original Beach Boys tracks.

* * *

Song 2 : : The Lonely Surfer
Artist : : Jack Nitzsche
Album : : The Lonely Surfer

A surf song... but not what you’d normally think of when you think of a surf song. This record also features members of the “Wrecking Crew.” Plenty to read about composer / arranger / producer / musician Jack Nitzsche and his amazing career here.

* * *

Song 3 : : Summer Breeze
Artist : : Jackie Mitoo
Album : : The Keyboard King of Studio One

A cool, breezy island version of Seals and Crofts early 70s song. Not sure they got all the lyrics quite right. Jackie Mitoo is amazing though... Founding member of the Skatalites and, yes, the keyboard king of Jamaica’s Studio One. Some info here.

* * *

Song 4 : : Summer Samba
Artist : : Combustible Edison
Album : : Blue Light (EP)

Also known as So Nice. This is a great, laid back summer tune. Cool that the late, great Combustible Edison did a version of it... from an early EP by the band.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Show 7: Swedish Exotica

A bit of Swedish Exotica courtesy of my friend Adam Axelzon and his father Bo, from Stockholm. All songs are from a recent, privately pressed CD called Tiki Twilight. A unique combination of sounds and styles, blending exotica and 50s Afro-Cuban jazz... all by way of Sweden. Read my interview with Adam from a couple of years back here.


Song 1 : : Nature Boy
Artist : : Bo Axelzon’s Exotic Orchestra
Album : : Tiki Twilight

Classic tune penned by Eden Ahbez for Nat King Cole who made it famous.

* * *

Song 2 : : Temptation
Artist : : Bo Axelzon’s Exotic Orchestra
Album : : Tiki Twilight

A melody written by the same two guys who wrote “Singing in the Rain.” Here the band uses Polynesian log drums in a driven up-tempo beat, letting a Ess-clarinet take the lead melody.

* * *

Song 3 : : Frenesi
Artist : : Bo Axelzon’s Exotic Orchestra
Album : : Tiki Twilight

Written by Alberto Dominguez in 1939... performed by numerous artists ranging from Xavier Cugat to Lee Hazlewood.

* * *

Song 4 : : Quiet Village
Artist : : Bo Axelzon’s Exotic Orchestra
Album : : Tiki Twilight

Les Baxter’s ultimate Tiki tune... This version uses trumpet, mallets, four clarinets, and drums.

Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Show 6: Architecture

Architecture! Songs about houses, homes, Brazilian architecture, little grass shacks... along with comments from a couple of iconic figures of twentieth century modern architecture...


Song 1 : : Tennis
Artist : : Lindberg-Hemmer Foundation
Album : : Brazilian Architecture

Music inspired by the architecture of Oscar Niemeyer... by a Danish organ and bass duo! Can’t tell you much about the Lindberg-Hemmer Foundation except that this record is great and they’ve got another one called “Scandinavian Supermarket Music at its Finest” that I have yet to get my hands on. Some info can be found here and here.

* * *

Song 2 : : A House is Not a Home
Artist : : Burt Bacharach
Album : : Reach Out

Mr. Bacharach can compose a fine song... but he’s not the greatest singer. I was inspired to play this after hearing a friend comment about staying in a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Here’s a link to a Bacharach fan web-site called – you guessed it – A House is Not a Homepage.

* * *

Song 3 : : My Little Grass Shack
Artist : : The Mauna Loa Islanders
Album : : Music of the Islands

One day, I hope to get me a little grass shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii. Until then, I’ll shoot for making it to Waikiki for my 50th birthday (nine years away)... let’s call it Hawaii 5-0. This record is straight out of my dad’s record collection. This is the one that is responsible for turning me on to all things Tiki! I reviewed it here.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Show 5: Someone say spaghetti?

Well, it happens at least a couple of times a year. A few spaghetti western refugees make their way into the Mauna Loa Lounge and insist on hearing nothing but spaghetti western soundtracks. I spin a few tunes to keep Ringo, Sartana, and the rest of the boys happy until they git up and mosey on out...

All of the tracks on this week’s show are from a hard to find Japanese CD on the RCA label, simply called Italian Western Movie Themes. One of the first recordings I bought when I switched over to the popular CD format way back when...

A couple of these tracks used to be quite rare, until they recently started showing up on other spaghetti western compilations. Hope you especially enjoy the last track (it’s on the LuxuriaMusic playlist and will come up from time to time, in case you miss this particular episode of Thrifting for Tunes)... I think it may be my favorite piece of spaghetti western music.


Song 1 : : Per Il Gusto di Uccidere
Artist : : Orchestra di M. de Basi
Album : : Italian Western Movie Themes

Sounds like it was pulled straight off the film’s soundtrack. IMDB link

* * *

Song 2 : : Hang ‘em High
Artist : : Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra and Chorus
Album : : Italian Western Movie Themes

Domenic Frontiere’s theme to the American knock-off spaghetti western. IMDB link

* * *

Song 3 : : All ‘Ombra di una Colt
Artist : : N. Fidenco
Album : : Italian Western Movie Themes

What lyrics! How dramatic can you get? I translated the gist of it all in my comments on the show. IMDB link

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Show 4: Musique Noire

An exploration of the musical equivalent of film noir... “musique noire” perhaps? Not necessarily only music from film noir soundtracks but also music that conveys the primary moods of classic film noir. Kind of hard to cover this adequately in 15 minutes... but hey, it’s a start.


Song 1 : : Somewhere in the Dark
Artist : : Drywall
Album : : Barbeque Babylon

For complete info on Stan Ridgway’s Drywall project, please visit Stan’s website. A lot of Ridgway’s music... especially his earlier work... has been described as cinematic, hard-boiled, and film noir-inspired. But Ridgway, one of the most unique and talented popular singer / songwriter / composers of the last quarter century, also releases music in a variety of other styles that I encourage you to seek out and listen to.

* * *

Song 2 : : Prison Break
Artist : : Irving Joseph
Album : : Crime Jazz – Murder in the Second Degree

This track is originally from a record called Murder Inc. A crime jazz cut from a coulda-been soundtrack sound-alike... but it’s not from any film at all. Goes to show you that it doesn’t have to be from film noir to sound like film noir. More on Irving Joseph at spaceagepop.com.

* * *

Song 3 : : Chinatown
Artist : : Skip Heller
Album : : Fakebook

Real film noir music from a neo-film noir classic. Jerry Goldsmith’s theme to Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, as performed by Skip Heller, and featuring Robert Drasnin.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Show 3: Wiseguys

A couple of “business associates” rent out the Mauna Loa Lounge for their social club’s annual general meeting... So we get to sample some Italian-American exotica this week...
Write to me if you want to learn more about Don Mimi, Chucky Tripoli, and the Sons of Sicily...


Song 1 : : Italian Medley
Artist : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang
Album : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang

This first tune is not an exotica track but helps set the mood for my friends from the Sons of Sicily Defense League.
Johnny Puleo is a real kick! Somewhere in a photo album at my mom’s house is a picture from when Johnny Puleo came to Montreal for a performance in the late 50s. My mom... all 4 feet 11 inches of her... towers over Johnny, who makes a funny face while my dad can be seen cracking up in the background. Great picture... I’ll scan it and post it for you all one day. You can read Johnny Puleo’s biography here.

* * *

Song 2 : : Return to Me
Artist : : Arthur Lyman
Album : : Bahia

A classic Italo-American hit (as popularized by Dino) performed here by an exotica great. No matter how exotic Lyman tries to make the tune, he can’t avoid using mandolins...

* * *

Song 3 : : Strange Enchantment
Artist : : Vic Damone
Album : : Strange Enchantment

Gotta love Vic! You can read my complete review of this record on our Mai Tai Hi-Fi page.

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

Show 2: Rewired

The Mauna Loa Lounge gets re-wired by the Geek Squad... and I play some early electronic sounds to help them get their work done.


Song 1 : : Popcorn
Artist : : Hot Butter
Album : : Popcorn

The mega hit version of Gershon Kingsley’s song... I still have the K-Tel LP on which I first heard this song (circa 1972!). Everything you ever wanted to know about this phenomenal piece of music can be found on the Popcorn Song website.

* * *

Song 2 : : Love Syndrome
Artist : : The Mind Expanders
Album : : What’s Happening!

Early electronica... but also quite psychedelic at the same time... by this studio band whose album includes electro-psychedelic adaptations of both classic and pop pieces.

* * *

Song 3 : : Quiet Village
Artist : : Martin Denny
Album : : Exotic Moog

Not the version you all know and love but Denny’s electro-exotic adaptation of his own big hit. You can find some basic info about the record here and some very surprising info about the record on Dana Countryman’s site.

Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Show 1: Into to Thrifting for Tunes

Song 1 : : Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
Artist : : The Wondermints
Album : : Wonderful World of…

A respectful glance to the past by great sunshine pop band The Wondermints from their second record (which was, at the request of their Japanese record label, a covers album). Not your usual set of covers, however.
Some of the members of The Wondermints are part of Brian Wilson’s excellent band these days. They don’t have an official website but like you, me and everyone else on the planet, they do have a myspace page and an unofficial fan page.

* * *

Song 2 : : Alla Luce Del Giorno
Artist : : Ennio Morricone
Album : : Mondo Morricone Revisted

Ah, maestro Morricone… This one is not the kind of stuff we usually hear from the maestro but it is typical Morricone nonetheless. This is from the soundtrack to the film Metti Una Sera A Cena. If you’re comfortable reading Italian, here is the maestro’s official website.

* * *

Song 3: On the Beach at Waikiki
Artist: The Outriggers
Album: Captivation

Can’t really tell you anything about The Outriggers other than I really like this album. One of the many Hawaiian/exotica records out in the 50s/60s. Great cover featuring a couple dressed for a fancy night out embracing among the lush foliage of an exotic jungle. I used this version of On the Beach at Waikiki as the musical backdrop for one of my Mai Tai Videos (Mixology 101) which you can see by clicking over to this website’s WATCH page.