Show 55: Tiki Road Trip - Chicago

I recently returned from a somewhat eventful road trip to Chicago, where I had the chance to make a couple of first-time visits to two of the area's vintage tiki bars thanks to James Teitelbaum, author of the truly indispensable TIKI ROAD TRIP, the 2nd edition of which is now available. This show features musical selections inspired by the two bars I visited, Hala Kahiki and Paradise Club.

If you're in any way interested in tiki culture, you need a copy of Tiki Road Trip. It is the most comprehensive listing of all of the world's tiki bars... old and new, still-in-existence and long-gone, worth frequenting and to-be-avoided... You will no longer be able get into your car without first checking the book for possible places to stop!

The 2nd edition has been completely updated, refined, and expanded with more listings, reviews, photos, and other stuff! Get your copy directly from the author by clicking this link: Tiki Road Trip, 2nd edition.

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HALA KAHIKI SET

Song 1 : : Vive la liberté
Artist : : The Waikikis
Album : : Christmas in Hawaii

Belgium band, German producer, weird Christmas record with almost no Christmas songs on it... and this polka-inspired Hawaiian arrangement. Thought the (mostly) Polish patrons at Hala Kahiki might enjoy this...

Song 2 : : Mapuana
Artist : : The Outriggers
Album : : Captivation

The type of music you hear at Hala Kahiki... until someone puts some change in the jukebox and drowns it out with Depeche Mode's greatest hits...

Song 3 : : Song of the Islands
Artist : : Leo Addeo
Album : : More Hawaii in Hi-Fi

We'll get rid of that jukebox yet...

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PARADISE CLUB SET

Song 4 : : Tabu
Artist : : Michel Magne
Album : : Tropical Fantasy

Weird exotica from a truly bizarre record... to liven up the strangely quiet Paradise Club.

Song 5 : : Happy Voodoo
Artist : : Arthur Lyman
Album : : Bahia

This darker sounding arrangement also fits the bill for the Paradise Club's somewhat scary back room... Ladies, make sure to order a Banana Spider (the waitress told us "It's good for the girls.")

Song 6 : : Bali Girl
Artist : : Nino Nardini and Roger Roger
Album : : Jungle Obsession

When I walked into Paradise Club, I couldn't help but think of this funky, sleazy exotica record...

Encore Presentation...

I'm busy mending my broken coconut this week...

(My car was rear-ended on the Toronto leg of a Montreal–Chicago drive and I ended up in the hospital getting 11 big stitches to close up a huge gash on my forehead... a permanent souvenir of Highway 401. Maybe I'll eventually cover up the scar with a big tattoo...

I did make it to Chi-town though, and I'll be back soon with a little musical review of a couple of Chicago-area tiki bars... Thanks to Tiki Road Trip author James Teitelbaum for showing me the highs and lows of Chicago tiki.)

... so please enjoy this encore presentation of Robert Drasnin's new exotica recording, Voodoo II.

Click here for the playlist

Shaow 54: Harmonica Men

Thought I might try (again) to learn to play the harmonica this summer. So far, I haven't had the time. So I'll content myself with listening to a few great harmonica based performances by these masters of the instrument...

Related links:
Eddy Manson
Johnny Puleo
Franco De Gemini

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Song 1 : : Slaughter on 10th Avenue
Artist : : Eddy Manson
Album : : Percussion Sounds and the Harmonica

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Song 2 : : Sheik of Araby - It Had to Be You (Medley)
Artist : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang
Album : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang

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Song 3 : : Beat 700
Artist : : Franco De Gemini
Album : : The Man With The Harmonica

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Song 4 : : Cheyenne
Artist : : Eddy Manson
Album : : Percussion Sounds and the Harmonica

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Song 5 : : Tzena, Tzena
Artist : : Johnny Puleo and his Harmonica Gang
Album : : Jewish and Israeli Favorites

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Song 6 : : Sulla Riviera
Artist : : Franco De Gemini
Album : : The Man With The Harmonica

Show 53: Love and Other Crimes

To mark the occasion of Lee Hazlewood's 78th birthday on July 9th, I am playing a few songs and excerpts from Hazlewood's 1968 Swedish television special, Love and Other Crimes...

Here's a link to an excellent fansite about Lee.

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Song 1 : : Love and Other Crimes
Artist : : Lee Hazlewood

This is presented as a videoclip on the show. It also appears, of course, on Lee's album "Love and Other Crimes."

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Song 2 : : She Comes Running
Artist : : Lee Hazlewood

Great song, also featured as a videoclip, that opens the show. Also on the album "Love and Other Crimes."

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Song 3 : : Dragon Story intro / First Street Blues / outro
Artist : : Lee Hazlewood (with Donny Owens)

Lee intros this with a story that doesn't really have anything to do with the song. I believe this one is performed live (with guitarist Donald Owens accompanying).

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Song 4 : : Rainbow Woman
Artist : : Lee Hazelwood

Currently, my favourite Lee Hazlewood song (but that'll change, as it has at various points in the past). A wonderful song released only as a 7" single in 1967.

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Song 5 : : You Lost That Lovin' Feeling
Artist : : Lee Hazlewood and Siw Malmkvist

Lee also covered this song using the exact same arrangement (super slow, no bridge) with Nancy Sinatra. Siw Malmkvist also sings two other songs solo on this television special, amazing Swedish versions of I Say A Little Prayer and Ode to Billy Joe.

Show 52: Happy Canada Day!

Happy (belated) Canada Day!

Here's a set of music by a few Canadian artists... including some great Canadian exotica... and one track with a "Canadian" theme performed by Americans...

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

One of the only (or maybe the only) classic Canadian exotica albums out there. Here is a little info on Mexico- or Michigan-born and Hamilton, ON-raised Namaro: LINK

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Song 2 : : Moanin'
Artist : : Peter Appleyard
Album : : Per-cus'-sive JAZZ

Another Canadian jazz man who has been active for years and years, and is still going strong today. Love these "Doctored for Super-Stereo" records, by the way. Here is Peter Appleyard's website.

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Song 3 : : Are You There (With Another Girl)
Artist : : Percy Faith
Album : : Themes for the "In" Crowd

A king of the easy listening genre who started out at the CBC. Some info here: LINK

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Song 4 : : Canadian Sunset
Artist : : The Three Suns
Album : : On a Magic Carpet

No, they're not Canadian but I can only go so long without playing something by The Three Suns... this one seemed appropriate for today.

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Song 5 : : Tahiti Boat
Artist : : Jimmy Namaro Trio
Album : : Driftwood

One more by Jimmy Namaro to sail us off into the Canadian sunset...