Saturday, November 17, 2007

Show 60: November 2007

Airs NOVEMBER 17th (one week early this month)
Re-broadcast on NOVEMBER 24th

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT DRASNIN!

Robert Drasnin turns the big 8-0 on the 17th of November!

All you exotica fans are, of course, familiar with Robert Drasnin and his classic 1959-60 record Voodoo (and I hope you've also all purchased his excellent follow-up, Voodoo II, released earlier this year). What better way to celebrate his birthday than with a whole hour of his music!

And if you're not familiar with Robert Drasnin... shame on you! Listen to the opening of the show for a brief description of Drasnin's career and click the following links for complete bios, informative interviews, and other stuff:
As usual, I'm closing off the show with an exotica segment but I've packed in a whole half hour of exotica this time... a slew of selections from Voodoo I and II, of course, as well as other exotica tracks featuring Drasnin's touch. The show also features Drasnin's work as a composer of TV scores, an arranger, and a performer working with other artists...

* * *

PLAYLIST:

SET 1: TV AND FILM

Title :: Off And Running
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Soundtrack Gamut, Vol. 3 - I Spy With My Little Eye

Title :: The Pop Art Affair
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Vol. 1

Two TV scores from the Man from U.N.C.L.E.... just a small sample of Robert Drasnin's extensive work in the field. Check out the imdb link above for a complete list of TV and film credits.

Title :: Death of a Salesman (end credits)
Artist :: Robert Drasnin

Composed, arranged and conducted by Robert Drasnin, from the 1966 TV production (got this off of a video... apologies about the sound quality).

Title :: Chinatown
Artist :: Skip Heller
Album :: Fake Book

Robert Drasnin plays sax on this version of Jerry Goldsmith's music from the film Chinatown. This is from Fakebook, one of many great albums by the amazing Skip Heller, the man responsible for the reissue of Drasnin's Voodoo in the 1990s, and the producer of this year's follow-up Voodoo II. Check out Skip's MySpace page and website!

* * *

SET 2: OTHER ARTISTS

Title :: Laid Bare (Theme)
Artist :: John Gilmore
Album :: Laid Bare

This is the instrumental theme from a great spoken word record by noir writer John Gilmore. Skip Heller provides the music; Robert Drasnin is on flute.

Title :: I'll Remember April
Artist :: Red Norvo Quintet
Album :: Red Norvo Quintet...Naturally

One of many artists with whom Drasnin performed earlier in his career... This is from a 1957 session.

Title :: Nightmare On Yucca Steet
Artist :: John Gilmore
Album :: Laid Bare

Another one from the spoken word disc... this one actually has words on it.

* * *

SET 3: EXOTICA

Title :: Orinoco
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Voodoo!

Title :: Puente Doble
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Voodoo II

Title :: Latin Village
Artist :: Martin Denny
Album :: Latin Village

Robert Drasnin composed the title song from this mid-1960s album by Martin Denny. Drasnin also arranged this album (as well as Denny's A Taste of Honey album, I believe).

Title :: Enchantment
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Voodoo!

Title :: Desiree
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Voodoo!

Title :: Siren Song
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Voodoo II

Title :: Sophisticated Savage
Artist :: Skip Heller
Album :: Fake Book

Another one from Fakebook... This is Heller's take on Les Baxter's song, once again featuring Robert Drasnin.

Title :: Jardin de la Noche
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Voodoo!

Title :: East Of Xanadu
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Voodoo II

Title :: Moorean Moonbeams
Artist :: Robert Drasnin
Album :: Voodoo II