An Evening With Chopin

B Side Track #2

An Evening With Chopin
Benninghoff
Plantation Records PLP-502
1976 Meadow Properties

Sometimes an LP blindsides you and you just don't what to say.

First, I try to research a album on the internet. I do my searches by title, artist and record company.

I could find nary a mention.

Next I look at the cover. I bought this LP because of the horrible artwork. At least the art is worth $6 don't you think? I mean... Chopin snuggled up to a bar maid with some guys sitting in chairs (who in the hell are those guys?) and some super hero barging through the door? That's worth $6! Now wait! There is a note on the cover that explains that the guys sitting in the chairs are historical figures: George Sand, Chopin, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Heinrich Hiene, Lord Byron, Novalis and Captain America. What?!! And wait... CAPTAIN AMERICA? That is NOT Captain America and I hope Marvel Comics didn't see that mention!  I have no idea what the cover means.  It must mean something... I just can't decipher the meaning as I write this.

Not be outdone by the cover, the music is a incredibly strange mix of orchestrated "Chopin" pieces mingled with "psych" tunes. Found on the B side, track 2, is sort of a mini rock opera that includes Prelude In A Minor – OP. 28#2, Waltz – OP. 64 #2 Part 1 and Waltz – OP. 64 #2 Part 3.

This track is actually groovy and maybe Benninghoff was on to something and rock operas where starting to "happen" in the 70s. Did the Captain America cover foiled his chances of being "discovered"?  We may never know!

Korla Pandit - The Universal Language Of Music - Volume 3

Korla Pandit

The Universal Language Of Music Volume 3
INDIA Records
Recorded by Korla Pandit Production Co. 1969

This is a copy of Volume 3 with no printing on the back. Much to my surprise, when I opened the box I found that the jacket was autographed by Pandit. The autograph is in pencil. The pencil didn't imprint throughly, but it appears as if the autograph is written: Greetings Marc, Yours Korla Pandit 1977.

There is a great website you can visit to find out more about Pandit.

This LP is a lovely mix of traditional piano and organ tunes along with a few fun and funky period covers with drums and one exotica organ number.

I just found another signed copy of this album. This one is signed on the back of the jacket: Best Wishes Wilma & Elmer. Korla Pandit - 1972

And a third copy of the same release this one signed: Namaste! (Common spoken greeting or salutation originating from India and Nepal) Greetings! Doris. Korla Pandit - 1972 - Box 261 West Vancouver. B.C.

Bongos From The South

Taboo

Bongos From The South
Edmundo Ros And His Orchestra
London Records SP 44003 1961

This project was apparently a big deal for London Records. They introduced a "new" technology called "Phase 4 Stereo". This is a gate-fold jacket and the double truck is jammed full of technical data describing the process in great detail.

The engineering is incredibly good, sounding as good as the Enoch Light LPs I've listened to (recorded to magnetic film).

Some of the music is exotica, some jumping ethnic and some cornball covers.

Great jacket image.

Apparently Decca also released this record at some point.

More info on Ros.

77 Sunset Strip

After Sunset

77 Sunset Strip
Frankie Ortega & Sy Oliver
Diamond Jubilee SDJLP 1106 1959

77 Sunset Strip was a popular Warner Brothers detective TV show. According to the jacket notes "Some of the melodies have been played on the show. The others were written by Frankie Ortega and Sy Oliver for this album and will probably be used in future episodes."

Great cheesecake cover (cover design: Sy Leichman) and wall-to-wall 50s dripping crime drama/cocktail hour/stripper jazz music on the vinyl.

More about 77 Sunset Strip on IMBD.

George Shearing - Black Satin

Black Satin
The George Shearing Quintet And Orchestra
Capitol Records T858
1957

A surprise find at the record store in the discount easy listening bin. Wonderful jacket art and, yes, easy listening, but also jazz/exotica. This is a very fine LP, which is available on CD so I won't be posting a sample.

For information on George Shearing visit this great site: Space Age Pop.

Monsters

You Really Got Me

Monsters
H&L Records HL 69025-698 1979

Strange gimmick record practically lost to history (there is probably a good reason for that).

Track vocals are attributed to "monsters".  For example, You Really Got Me is attributed to "Frankenstein's Monster".

Of course... Frankenstein never sounded so good. You know, with all the throat surgery and all. And what this track has to do with "Monsters" I have no idea.

The tracks attributed to "Dracula" actually sounds a little like a cartoon Dracula singing.

It's hard to know who the target market was.  I don't think H&L had any idea either.

Exotic Dreams - Ethel Azama

Green Fire

Exotic Dreams
The Enticing Voice Of Ethel Azama
Liberty LRP 3104 1959

Ethel Azama was helped along in her career by Martin Denny. Azama was doing night club engagements in Honolulu and Denny wrangled a contract for with Liberty to make this LP. He also produced the LP. Denny is one of the "kings" of exotica. Readmore about Azama on wikipedia.

I can't say that this is my favorite exotica LP. The songs choices seem a touch uneven. Some songs seem a little out of place and not keeping with the "theme". Vocals are a matter of taste to be certain. Azama is an amazing singer. But, let's say Denny's magic makes Azamz "exotic" for me.

Taboo

Banja Je En Gay

Taboo
All The Excitement And Mystery Of The Jungle In High Fidelity
Promenade Records 2125 195?

Little to be found on this project. Jacket notes indicate that this is a project of the CAWANDA'S Group.

You could call this an "ethnic" album. But the look and feel (and sound) seems more like of an attempt to cash in on exotica.

The LP is loaded with great music.

Tennessee Saturday Night Fever

Disco Inferno

Tennessee Saturday Night Fever
Jimmy Dempsey
Plantation Records 1979

Here you have translucent green vinyl, a low budget cover, and a mix of watered down disco covers.

All the ingredients you need to create a strange music treasure.

Music For Space Squirrels

Sweet Lorraine

Music For Space Squirrels
Al Caiola's Magic Guitars
ATCO 33-117 1958

From the cover art, it is hard to believe this album is a 1958 project. The illustration is by Milton Glaser who was a fixture in illustration and design for the next 20 some years.  The illustration seems more from the late 60s or early 70s.

There is a nice long page of Caiola info on Space Age Pop.

The back cover presents a story about the U.S. sending two squirrels (Stanley and Stella) into space (squirrels this time around because the "apes" were "such prima donnas").

Space age pop and squirrels? How could I resist? The music is sort of high pitched or high strung and frenetic. I got the squirrel thing... but not the SPACE thing.  I would have preferred more "space" than squirrels in my music. Anyway. There is only one slow or laid back track on the LP and that's the song I like. Sweet Lorranie.

Enjoy!

Leis Of Jazz - Arthur Lyman

Leis Od Jazz

The Jazz Sounds Of Arthur Lyman
HIFI RECORD R607 1959

Lyman is known as terrific exotica artist. Here he shows his ability to play jazz.

Read more on Lyman on Space Age Pop.

Terrific recording and engineering on this record. It is in reprint on CD.

White Goddess - Frank Hunter And His Orchestra

White Goddess

White Goddess
Frank Hunter And His Orchestra
Kapp Records KS-3019
1959

Read more about Frank Hunter on Space Age Pop.

This is a hard-to-find exotica album. The jacket notes indicate that Hunter used an "Ondioline, an electronic instrument designed in France, which issues a strange, vibrator sound when the entire keyboard is shifted." There are a lot of other worldly sound in the mix. Like any good exotica recording you will find yourself transported to another world.

Marimbita

In A Mist

Marimbita
The Brilliant Sounds Of Leo Arnaud
Liberty Records LRP 3088 1958

This is a wonderful exotica percussion album with a jacket graced by the most exotic cover model, Anita Ekberg (who "can be seen with Bob Hope in United Artists' Paris Holiday").

Wikipedia information on Leo Arnaud.

Arnaud has a long list of film credits to his name and at least 4 albums, including this one. This project as a good as any exotica record I have yet to hear. Consistent, playful and exotic! As the case may be, Liberty Records was also home base for Martin Denny during this time.

Martin Denny - Latin Village

Angelito

Martin Denny
Latin Village
Liberty Records LST-7378 (stereo) 1964
Cover Design: Studio Five

Another great out of print Martin Denny jazz LP with world/exotica flavor.

Read more about Denny on Pop-Cult.

Great cover art and fresh smooth music.  Denny's stuff seems timeless to me. Never chasing fads or feeling forced.

Taste Of Honey -Martin Denny

Route 66

A Taste Of Honey

Martin Denny
Liberty Records LST-7237
 1962
Cover Design: Studio Five

Apparently this is one Martin Denny album that never made it to CD. So I'll post a sample above. You can easily download the entire LP elsewhere.

In this case, a jacket note says it all: The exotic sound is especially well suited to the influence of jazz.  I love Denny's lesser known small combo jazz stuff. This is a great album

Jungle Echoes

The Jungle Chase

Jungle Echoes
Chaino and his African Percussion Safari
Omega Records OSL 7 1959

Chaino is one of the elusive figures of space age pop. After growing up in Chicago, Leon Johnson left home and lived a fairly wild life, eventually taking up the bongos and making a name for himself as "Chaino" (taken perhaps from the great Cuban conga player, Chano Pozo?) on the "chitlins" circuit of black nightclubs. More at Space Age Pop

Great cover and wild exotica music, much of which is spiced up with grunts and groans. The B side leads off with a long and very funky track titled: Jungle Drum Variations. This is a cool recording.

Quiet Village - Martin Denny

Cover (model): Sandy Warner

Quiet Village
The Exotic Sounds Of Martin Denny
Liberty LRP 3122 1959

Denny bio and discography info found on this great site Space Age Pop.

1959 Liberty Records Billboard Ad

Great LP which invites you into a quite village for a few cocktails and a little tropical romance.

Hawaiian Sunset - Arthur Lyman

Hawaiian Sunset

The Sounds Of Arthur Lyman
HIFIRECORD R807

Great 1959 Billboard advertisement featuring Lyman's recent work.

You can find the LP on CD, so I won't be posting a sample. Another amazing work from Lyman one of the kings of the "exotica" form.

This album is a soooooo way smooth and soothing. Just sit back and close your eyes while the vinyl spins on your table and your feel like you are someplace tropical. Exotica transports you like no other music form.