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Building a Music Collection |
Lingam
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 23, 2006
Posts: 48 |  Posted: 2007-05-23 07:48 am Permalink
I am begining to build the ambient music selection for my tiki bar. I was wondering according to those here what the top 10 "must have" exotica albums would be. Any input would be great.
Lingam
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GatorRob
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 1766
From: 3 hrs 33 mins to paradise
| Posted: 2007-05-23 11:36 am Permalink
Try this thread
Happy hunting!
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Quince_at_Dannys
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 29, 2004
Posts: 146
From: Command Records International HQ
| Posted: 2007-05-23 11:53 am Permalink
I'll make some suggestions with the assumption that you're looking for CDs, particularly ones that are still in print (there's a lot of records I would add this list but not all of it is readily available on CD). These aren't in any particular order but I wouldn't dream of excluding any of them from my collection
Voodoo / Robert Drasnin--a bona fide classic, and the CD sounds great. Great mood music. Drasnin did this as a one-time only kind of thing but he nailed it right out of the gate. As most TCers know, he just wrapped up a sequel album that will be out in June.
Ultra Lounge Volume 1: Mondo Exotica--includes a lot of familiar Les Baxter and Martin Denny hits, plus some fantastic more obscure stuff.
The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny--This is the Ultra Lounge double CD "greatest hits" collection. I think you can still get it... I know the Les Baxter one is out of print and costs a fortune on ebay. I would actually rate the Les Baxter collection number 1 if you don't mind shelling out the dough to get a copy. MD is more subdued sounding than Les, it's a smaller cocktail lounge type of group.
Ritual of the Savage / Les Baxter
Tamboo! / Les Baxter--this one has been rereleased as a better-sounding CD, but to be honest I would suggest tracking down the CD that includes "Skins!"--another great Les Baxter record. If you're trying to do mood music the extra sound quality isn't going to matter.
Afro-Desia / Martin Denny--crazier arrangements than most Martin Denny. My favorite LP by Denny is Exotic Percussion but that is not available on CD.
Pagan Festival / Dominic Frontiere--this one flies under most people's radar, but it is excellent; it's one of my favorites and it can be had on CD with Love Eyes (which is a little more sleepy but still good)
Leis of Jazz / Arthur Lyman--I think this is his very best work, and it is a really nice balance of Lyman-esque laid back sound, yet it swings just a little harder.
Savage and Sensuous / Don Ralke--Nice CD rerelease of an obsure classic. Includes bonus tracks from "Bongo Madness" and great liner notes by Darrell Brogdon of "The Retro Cocktail Hour." Warning--quite a bit more energetic & uptempo than a lot of my other suggestions, throw this baby on when the party in your home bar gets shakin'!
Exotic Percussion / Stanley Black--Another overlooked classic. Lots of weird arrangements and creepy vocals--a little spooky, but also little too uptempo to scare anyone. Not one of my desert island favorites (actually my third-favorite record with the title "Exotic Percussion", but nice for a change of pace.
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Quince_at_Dannys
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 29, 2004
Posts: 146
From: Command Records International HQ
| Posted: 2007-05-23 12:21 pm Permalink
FYI If you are interested I would like to also suggest 10 of my favorite VINYL-ONLY Exotica albums:
Kapu / Milt Raskin (also known as Exotic Percussion)
The Versatile Henry Mancini (very easy to find)
Voodoo! / Richard Hayman (the best ten-cent record I ever found!)
Exotic Percussion / Martin Denny
The Primitive and the Passionate / Les Baxter
Tambó / Tito Puente
White Goddess / Frank Hunter
Tropical Fantasy / Michel Magne
Brass and Bamboo / Tak Shindo
Jewels of the Sea / Les Baxter (Very dreamy and sensuous. Some unfairly classify this as one of Les's throwaway "easy listening" records, but that's not the case. It's gorgeous exotica.)
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