Exotica-Foreign | Mid-East Afro | Brasil | Calypso | Latin Jazz | Beatnik-Crime-Spy Funk | Moog-Space-Library Pop-Rock-Strange | 45s Truck-C&W | Puppet to order Home Page Links below are to the Hyp Records guide to records & artists: See the Vinyl Safari section for pages on exotic-foreign records of all types--artists, idioms, and recordings from India, East Asia & Oceania: Australian Chinese Exotica Hawaiian Indian Indonesian Japanese Rapanui Tahitian Thai Tibetan Vietnamese and much more Unprecedented free resource -- use it or lose it! Only Hip Wax items are for sale! Exotica -- Hip Wax's oldest specialty Jerry Byrd's Guitar Magic If it's music, globalism is good Georgie Auld & his Hula-Gans Music breeds aloha Got tiki? 8 Orchids of Hawaii R-91 "Leilani" tiki mugs available (5.35" tall); inquire for set or individual pricing. We also have other individual tiki items.

Exotic/Foreign: Original LPs

The Word: The very best strict-definition exotica, Hawaiian, Tahitian, S.E. Asian, Indian, Tibetan, gamelan, & other exciting, strange, good, etc. music of the world. See also the Africa, Brasil, Latin, & Mid-East pages.

See also below: Exotica 45s & trade wants

Special Offer: Buy any 5 $15 items for just $50!

Ted Auletta: Exotica; Cameo/Parkway SC-4008; 1962; deep groove N/N S $30 -- exotica; one of the treasured, "one-off" exotica LPs EVERYONE MUST HAVE--all top interpretations of classic exotica (Baxter, Denny, Lyman); rec. in 4-channel/35mm film for impressive, clear, deep percussive, audiophile sound; all capped off by a gorgeous exotica still-life jacket!; Quiet Village, Flamingo, Adventures in Paradise, Breeze & I, Sound of Exotica (original!!!), Taboo, Baia, Voodoo Moon, Makaha, Jungle Drums, Pool of Love (Les Baxter), Return to Paradise

Ethel Azama: Exotic Dreams; LST-7104; 1st/black/deep groove E-/N S $100 (or 2nd/spectral/deep groove E-/N- S $60, specify) (or mono LRP-3104, 1st/green/deep groove E/N $50, specify) (or mono/1st/green/deep groove E-/V- $15, specify) -- exotica/Japanese/female vocal; the rarer of her 2 LPs for the label (other is jazz w/Art Pepper); Martin Denny discovered & prod. the Japanese vocalist (signed her, rec. in Honolulu, wrote liners); exotica arranger Paul Conrad accompanies as well as rest of the Denny group, incl. some talk & samisen; beautiful jacket from same photo shoot as Hypnotique!; Ringo Oiwake, Shady Lady Bird, Nightingale, Friendly Island, Green Fire, Mountain High, Kawohikukuapulani (Helen Beamer), Speak Low..

Warren Barker: William Holden Presents a Musical Touch of Faraway Places; Warner Bros. WS-1308; 1959; E/E- S $20 -- exotica; devilishly hard to find in stereo, it's a delightful, essential exotica one-off w/great liners & very unusual music (selected by exotica enthusiast Holden); Malayan Nightbird, Tokyo Trolley, Junk City Hong Kong, Shojoji, Lotus Land, Kowloon to London Express, Carnvalito, Javanese Valley, Kyoto Merry-go-Round, Moonflowers, Petite, Mountain High Valley Low

Warren Barker/Poncie Ponce/Connie Stevens/Robert Conrad: Hawaiian Eye ST; Warner Bros. 1355; 1960; deep groove E/E $20 -- exotica/crime/Hawaiian; coveted treasure (trad. collectors item but lately inexpensive) prod. by Alvino Rey packs a triple threat of 1) great tiki/poolside jacket, 2) all-star cast--all w/acting, singing, musical talents, & 3) variety of GREAT tunes, many of which are classics; as with the related Kookie, Cricket, and Poncie Ponce LPs (all essential!), it's one of the very best things on the label; highly recommended!!!

Les Baxter: Ritual of the Savage/Le Sacre du Sauvage; Capitol T-288; green/1st label E+/E- $30 (or black-spectral E+/N $35, specify) -- exotica; the original masterpiece w/Eddie Cano & great percussion; an early orchestral "tone poem" (i.e., primordial concept album) that both spawned the exotica idiom & defined the careers of Baxter, Martin Denny, & Arthur Lyman; hall-of-fame jacket completes the surfeit of attractions; Quiet Village, Jungle Flower, Stone God, Busy Port, Love Dance, Coronation, The Ritual, Jungle River Boat, Sophisticated Savage, Barquita, Jungle Jalopy, Kinkajou

Les Baxter: Tamboo!; Capitol T-655; original turquoise label E/E- $30 -- exotica; one of the most desirable Baxter LPs both for its sensational jacket (African dancers) as well as the music, all of which is among his very best; Simba, Tehran, Pantan, Havana, Mozambique, Wotuka, Batumba, Rio, Zambezi..

Les Baxter: African Jazz; Capitol ST-1117; 1st E+/N- S $60 (or 3rd E-/E+ S $30, specify) -- exotica/Afro-jazz; one of his legendary, early best; sensational jacket, original music, & all-star percussionists/musicians!; Congo Train, Banana Boy, Safari, Walkin' Watusi, Lost City, Jungalero, Balinese Bongos..; lesser copy has slightly water-damaged jacket (bottom right, plain orange part only)

Les Baxter: Jungle Jazz; Capitol ST-1184; cutout N-/N S $90 (or uncut E+/N- S $75, specify) -- exotica/crime; as w/Teen Drums, it's both better and lesser-known than almost every other great Baxter LP from his prime; Plas Johnson shines as does the percussion section (mambo & other Latin rhythms); truly nails "jungle excitement" by combining a noir feel (crime jazz) AND exotica (percussion w/some abstract ethereal female voice); highly desirable also for the truly spectacular, hall-of-fame jacket!!!; Voodoo Dreams, Go Chango, Jungla Brava, Blue Jungle, Isle of Cuba, Rain Forest, Brazilia, Coco..

Les Baxter: Teen Drums; Capitol ST-1355; E+/N- S $75 -- percussion & how!/so much more; one of his best & rarest (like Jungle Jazz); it's only "teen" as a sequel to the "Skins" LP, but this LP's much better, a powerhouse of percussion; Brasilian, Afro-Cuban, calypso, & Mid-East but mainly the kind of crime/spy bongo stuff you wish Mancini had done more of on "Touch of Evil"; killer percussion, w/Chico Guerrero, Chino Pozo, Domingo Dariea, Aime Vereicke, Oswaldo Oliveira, Milt Holland, & Plas Johnson; Ting Ting Ting, Brazil Nuts, Take One, Boomada, Uncle Tom Tom, Barbarian, Chom Chom, I Dig, Ooch-I-Baba, Calypso, Bom Bom

Les Baxter: Jewels of the Sea; Capitol T-1537; 1960; 1st/promo (timing strip on jacket back) E/E $25 -- "Titillating Orchestrations for Listening and Loving"; a suite (or tone poem, like Ritual of the Savage), tho the title theme was originally "Katia's Theme" for the film "Black Sunday"; lush, wonderful jacket; one of the rarest of his better mushy-exotica LPs (orchestral like Ports of Pleasure but worthy)

Les Baxter/Frank Pourcel & his French Strings: Les Baxter's La Femme; Capitol of the World T-10015; 1st label N-/E+ $25 -- orchestral pop; some whistling, bongos, flute, harp, & other nice touches make it a standout even for "mush" (which otherwise we avoid); as an international collaboration & tone-poem (or suite), it's also special; but many find it well worth it just for the beautiful jacket (nude w/'50s-modern furnishings); liner notes by Baxter & brief bios of both men; very nicely priced & top shape!

Les Baxter: The Primitive & the Passionate; Reprise R-6048; 1961; deep groove cutout N-/E+ $20 -- exotica; his last great exotica LP features his latest discovery, 4-octave exotica vocalist "Tiki" (ethereal/very Yma Sumac-esque) & amazing compositions that rank w/his best classics on Capitol; great jacket too; Fiesta Brava, Tenderly, Peking Tiger (AWESOME rare groove--mod, swinging, & how!), Laura, A Night w/Cleopatra, Via Veneto, Bird of Paradise (w/bird calls!), Slave Ship, Manchurian Melody, Taste of Honey, Congale, Little Girl Blue

Les Baxter: Cry of the Banshee/Edgar Allan Poe Suite [ST]; Citadel CTV-7013; 1980/1972; sealed S $50 -- classic film & TV STs from blood-curdling B-movie horror master Roger Corman & Gordon Hessler (for AIP); the Poe Suite brings together highlights from Corman's series of early '60s Poe films starring Vincent Price (considered by most to be his best period)

Les Baxter: The Sacred Idol [ST]; Capitol ST-1293; E+/N- S $35 (or E/E--top seam split-- S $25, specify) -- famed exotic suite for unreleased film; "strange & exotic music keyed to the mysterious legends of the feathered serpent of the Aztecs"; similar to Dom Frontiere's Pagan Festival & Elisabeth Waldo's LPs; great, very affecting, exotica--you need this!; "Eat, ye troubled earth-children, of this gift from the gods, and drift beyond the rainbow into a world of forgetfulness"

Les Baxter/Various: Wild in the Streets ST; Capitol/Tower SKAO-5099; 1968; gatefold 2nd press (thicker than 1st!) E+/N- S $25 -- psyche/sitar/'60s; terrific AIP film & ST, a must-have for many reasons; Max Frost & the Troopers do "Shape of Things to Come" (MAJOR psyche hit single), Fourteen or Fight, & others; scored by Baxter w/songs by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, arr. & cond. by Mike Curb; w/the Senators ("Psychedelic Senate"), the Gurus, The Second Time, Jerry Howard

MORE LES BAXTER -- see also Moog for all electronic/space (Music Out of the Moon, Dunwich Horror, Space Escapade, Moog Rock, etc.); Rock for later STs (Wild in the Streets, etc.); Pop for mod & misc. (Alakazam ST, Teen Pops, etc.)

Les Baxter/Bas Sheva: The Passions 10" box; Capitol FDS LAL-486; deep groove w/all inserts E+/N- $90 -- exotica/vocal; legendary, sensational, unique creation of Baxter, sung by Bas Sheva in her greatest performance--entirely abstract, wild, ecstatic vocalization (like Yma Sumac at her utmost) in a suite of 7 passions: Despair, Ecstasy, Hate, Lust, Terror, Jealousy, Joy; it's also the highlight of Capitol's very limited, deluxe "Full Dimensional Sound" series, never reissued & here in all-inclusive (illustrated booklet, catalog, original inner sleeve) top-shape glory (better copy only)

Jose Bethancourt/Richard Campbell & Harry Coon: Beat Tropicale; Concert-Disc CS-33; 1956; black label E+/N S $25 -- exotic percussion intended for hi-fi buffs/show-offs but good; A-side "Latin Rhythms" features great marimba & the exotic "Jungle Flute"; B-side "Savage Drum Fantasy" is melange of African-esque percussion w/some great American Indian music at the end; sensational, hall-of-fame jacket (as in Incredibly Strange Music); Concert-Disc "Balanced Acoustic" recordings originally were sold by mail at high prices

Stanley Black: Exotic Percussion; London Phase 4 SP-44004; gatefold N/N S $15 -- exotica; tho Phase 4 & Stanley Black usually mean mush, this is the exception!; sold well enough that it's very inexpensive yet essential exotica: deep percussion, Esquivellian chorus, loads of exotica standards, top sound; an affordable, unique exotica classic--what more could you want?; Temptation, Baia, Jungle Drums, Caravan, Flamingo, Babalu, Misirlou, Moon of Manakoora, Hymn to the Sun..

The Bonaires: Polynesian Sunset; Dot DLP-3585; N-/E+ $25 -- Tahitian/Polynesian/Hawaiian/vocal; very rare but worthy exotica; vocal quartet strongly endorsed in the liner notes by Mr. Exotica, Paul Page; 1 has a good falsetto; Nani Wale Na Hala, Akaka Falls, Ula No Weo, Mele Aumoe, Holo Waapa Bossa Nova, Beyond the Rainbow, E A'La, Mai Tai Bossa Nova, Lure of the Islands, Naka Pueo, Ke Kale Nei Au, Marcelle Vahine

Kent Bowman: Pidgin English Children's Stories; Hula HS-502; E+/N- S $25 -- Hawaiian/kids/spoken; great cartoon jacket by Harry Lyons (also did "Waikiki Beachnik" jacket) & keiki stories told by the wonderful Kent Bowman; authentic Hawaiian label; Goldie, Rumple, Ke Aka, Little Lei, Cinderella, Ekolu Keiki Puaa

Rahul Dev Burman: Gol Maal ST; EMI/Odeon/India Gramophone 45-NLP-1085; 1979; 12" 45rpm EP; N/N shrink S $30 -- Indian ST EP w/dialog

Jerry Byrd: The Polynesian Suite; Monument SLP-18107; 1968; gatefold white-label promo E+/N S $20 -- steel/Hawaiian/sitar/exotica; comp. Boudleaux Bryant w/arr. help from Bill Justis; unique, wonderful, beautiful suite; great photos; 6 parts comprising Invitation to a Luau, Sweet & Sour, Mamola by Moonlight, Sake Punch, Sand Waltz, Malay Girl, Kahala Hula, Pearl Harbor March, Surfside Up, Teriyaki, Diamond Head Hula, Finale (Aloha Luau)

Renato Carosone & his Sextet: Blue Italian Skies; Capitol T-10147; spectral label N/N shrink $35 -- Italian; another of the Italian superstar's crazy great LPs, all of which are mandatory if a little hard to find (particularly in top shape like this); Armen's Theme (R. Bagdasarian & the Chipmunks were big influences), Guaglione, Piccolissima Serenata, Lazzarella, I Tre Cumpari, 'A Sunnambula..

Renato Carosone & his Sextet: Carosone Caravan; Columbia Adventures in Sound WL-148; 1st/gold/deep groove E+/N $65 -- Italian/rock/whistling/bagpipes; Italy's greatest star imported for the US; 2nd-best (after Sorcery) in the CBS series, this extravaganza marks the nadir for Italy's zany, Chipmunks-influenced superstar (all of his work is mandatory & this is the best, also the only LP on Columbia rather than Capitol); 'O Mafiuso, Buon di, Atene, Cow-Boy, Baby Rock (great rock! "every girl is cute & tempting, dancing the baby rock"), Rusticanella..; fantastic!

Chaino (African drums, exotica, Latin jazz) -- see Afro page

Chango & the Polynesians: Polynesian Percussion; Premier/Directional Sound DM-5012; 1961; gatefold deep groove E+/E+ S $20 -- Tahitian; authentic, terrific, one of the 2 or so essential LPs in this series, not to mention a classic rarity among Tahitian LPs; spirited classic tunes, not just top percussion; believed to feature Afro-drummer extraordinaire Chaino (credited on some copies' side-1 label & featured on at least 1 other LP on this label!); Marcelle a Vahine, Tamure, Minoi Minoi, Vana Vana, Tahitian Festival, Tanga Tika, Papio, Vahine Anamite, Cafe au Lait, Maruru a Vaw

The Savage Beat of Augie Colon: Sophisticated Savage; Liberty LRP-3101; 1st/turquoise/deep groove promo(!) E-/E+ $70 (or 2nd/spectral/deep groove E+/E* $60, specify) -- exotica/conga/Latin; 1st of 2 by late, Puerto Rican percussion star of the Martin Denny group (Denny produced it); sensational, hall-of-fame jacket depicts Augie pounding a log-conga in front of a scary palm-frond "tiki"; exciting, upbeat, & fun tunes as well as chants & even some speech; Okolehau (the legendary ti-plant Hawaiian alcohol--on this totally swinging Denny original, Augie speaks in pidgin!), Tambo, El Doctor, Tabu, Peanut Vendor, Tierra va Tembla, Colon, Manuela Boy..*slight warp but tracks fine--great jacket!

Augie Colon: Chant of the Jungle; Liberty LST-7148; 2nd/spectral/deep groove N-/N- S $75 -- exotica/conga/bongo/Latin; one of the best, rare Martin Denny productions in a truly sensational jacket (even by Liberty/Denny standards); 2nd of 2 by the late, Puerto Rican percussion star; upbeat & fun; Pimitiva, Jungle Drums, Chant of the Jungle (nice bongo break), Witch Doctor (Ross Bagdasarian/David Seville's), Mambo Balahu..

Xavier Cugat: Here's Cugat (exotica masterpiece "Jungle Flute") -- see Latin

Anita Darian: East of the Sun; Kapp KS-3052; 1960; N-/N- S $90 -- exotica/Mid-East pop/vocal; fantastic rarity for advanced collectors by acclaimed mezzo-soprano of the NYC Opera & Broadway; "the Armenian Yma Sumac," backed by Frank Hunter of "White Goddess" fame, spectacularly sings Misirlou, Mountain High, On a Little Street in Singapore, Gomen Nasai, Chinese Lullaby plus several Armenian songs (even Come On-a My House); as with Elisabeth Waldo, a tad on the highbrow/operatic side but great, entertaining, & unpretentious; the vocal splendor is matched by a spectacular jacket!!!

Martin Denny: Exotica; Liberty LRP-3034; original white-logo jacket, turquoise label E-/E-* $15 -- exotica; THE classic you have to have in the original mono, in order to get the 1st Denny group featuring Arthur Lyman (much more exciting than the stereo remake); more than worth it for either the hall-of-fame jacket or the music alone (1/2 the tunes are by Les Baxter, from Ritual of the Savage); *brief scratch audible in Quiet Village, otherwise fine

Martin Denny: Exotica; Liberty LST-7034; blue-label promo, deep groove E+/E+ S $15 -- rare stereo advance copy!; Liberty had the second Martin Denny Group remake the classic rather than resort to fake stereo (so you need both mono & stereo versions)

Martin Denny: Hypnotique; Liberty LRP-3102; 1st/turquoise/deep groove E+/E $30 (or V+/E- $20, specify) -- exotica; one of his best LPs & definitely his best original, strict-exotica LP; lavish production, guests Jack Halloran Singers (great effect) & 3 Japanese musicians (another smart move), one of which is Bud Lee on samisen; top arrangements/originals (not just coasting on Les Baxter tunes here, tho there are 2: the wild "Voodoo Dreams" & "Scimitar"--good Mid-East fare!); "American in Bali" features gamelan; notes by James Michener; essential!!!

Martin Denny: Exotica Vol. III; Liberty LST-7116; 1st/black/deep groove N-/N- S $30 -- great, early, exotica classic w/gorgeous Sandy Warner jacket & many of the Denny group's best performances; Caravan, Jungle River Boat, Congo Train, Ringo Oiwake..

Martin Denny: Exotic Percussion; Liberty LRP-3168; deep groove E+/N $15 -- exotica; one of his most desired, featuring top instruments (samisen, magna harp), top tunes, & sensational Sandy Warner jacket (considered his last all-exotica LP in the classic early period/style); Misirlou, Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish, My Tane, Softly As in a Morning Sunrise..

The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny: Primitiva; Liberty LST-7023; 2nd/deep groove N-/N- S $35 (or 2nd/deep groove E+/E S $25, specify) (or mono LRP-3087, 1st/deep groove E+/N- $25, specify) -- exotica classic (great/early) w/Tak Shindo!; gorgeous, hall-of-fame Sandy Warner jacket, terrific tunes, notes by Les Baxter!; Burma Train, Kalua, M'Gambo Mambo, Buddhist Bells, M'Bira, Flamingo, Llama Serenade, Akaka Falls, Bangcock Cockfight, Mau Mau, Dites Moi, Jamaica Farewell

Martin Denny: The Versatile Martin Denny; Liberty LST-7307; N/N- S $20 -- although it belongs to his jazz period, it's desirable for several tunes at least: Exotique Bossa Nova, Quiet Village Bossa Nova, Sukiyaki, More (Mondo Cane)..

Martin Denny: Exotica Classica; Liberty LST-7513; 1st press E+/N S $20 -- "For Those in Love"; a decent later LP of mod & E-Z covers; "Exotic Night" & "Exotica Classica" (reprises Quiet Village) are standouts

Martin Denny: Exotic Love; Liberty LST-7585; E+/E+ S $20 -- mod/exotica; mod standards (David-Bacharach) Denny style & wrapped in a sultry jacket; I Say a Little Prayer, What the World Needs Now is Love, A Beautiful Morning, Love Exotic Style (original!), The Eyes of Love, Senza Te, MacArthur Park, This Guy's in Love w/You, Love is All Around, A Man Without Love, The Look of Love; best is Voodoo Love (original; bass & drumbreak!)..

Martin Denny: Exotic Moog; Liberty LST-7621; 1969; E/N- S $75 (or promo E/E S $70, specify) (or New Zealand import E+/E+ S $60, specify) (or E-/E S $40, specify) -- exotic-pop Moog; his legendary oddball, truly unique & GOOD!!!; despite the mod pop titles, the sound is pure, hip space-electronica or occult-Moog (deep, spacey, moody instrumentals); unlike any other Denny LPs (it's Clark Gassman on the Moog anyway); long considered his rarest & most desirable LP, here in an unprecedented choice of top copies; if the rest of this page means anything at all to you, YOU NEED THIS NOW!!!; Quiet Village; Midnight Cowboy, I Talk to the Trees, A Taste of Honey, Delilah, Yellow Bird, Cast Your Fate to the Wind, Love Me Tonight..

Walt Disney's The Enchanted Tiki Room [From Disneyland--The Original Sound Track of the Tiki Room & the Adventurous Jungle Room; Disneyland ST-3966; 1968; gatefold w/inner leaves; purple label N/N $25 (or purple E+/E+ $20, specify) -- documents 2 classic exotic attractions, "The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room" & the Jungle Cruise; the deluxe inner leaves' photos & sketches may be the best part

Robert Drasnin: Voodoo; Tops L-1679; deep groove V+/V $15 -- exotica; "Exotic music from Polynesia & the Far East"; nothing to do with Haiti/voodoo, instead it's one of the great, one-off, exotica holy grails; by occasional Martin Denny arranger; great percussion, effects, abstract vocalizing; sensational jacket; priced minimally for wear & noise (some but not too shabby)

Webley Edwards: Fire Goddess; Capitol ST-1033; deep groove N-/E- S $20 -- exotica; terrific jacket (of the Fire Goddess) & music; Flame Dance, Knife Dance, Sharkskin Drums, Forbidden Waters, Temple Dance, Fire Goddess..

Webley Edwards: Exotic Instrumentals: Favorite Instrumentals of the Islands Vol.4; Capitol ST-1409; N-/E S $20 -- exotica/Hawaiian; very desirable for the gorgeous stone-god ("tiki") jacket as well as essential, top-notch exotica (this & Fire Goddess are the ones everyone needs); Geisha, Dahil Sayo, Bamboo Shadows, Tangi Tahiti, Beyond the Rainbow, The Hands I Love, Narcissus Queen, Forbidden Waters..

Prof. A.P. Elkin, rec.: Authentic Australian Aboriginals!; Capitol of the World T-10086; N-/N- $40 -- Australian; a highlight of the exotic Capitol series, it's the 1st of 2 volumes released as "Arnhem Land" by EMI Australia; we prefer the US version (different artwork, thicker vinyl, real cardboard jacket) but either flavor is great & hard to find; the music is totally out there (didgeridoo & percussion from way back), nearly as bizarre as Tibetan ritual chants

The Folkswingers featuring Harihar Rao on Sitar: Raga Rock; World Pacific WP-1846; deep groove E+/N shrink $40 (or deep groove cutout E+/N $30, specify) -- raga rock/pop-psyche sitar; the only LP w/Harihar Rao, famed sitar master who led the Hindustani Jazz Sextet (teaching Emil Richards, Bill Plummer, & other Indo-jazz luminaries) in the early days of California sitar-psyche; also w/Hal Blaine & a slew of first-call West Coast axe-slingers: Dennis Budimir, Tommy Tedesco, Howard Roberts, Herb Ellis; Shapes of Things, Raga Rock (original!), Paint It Black, Eight Miles High, Norwegian Wood, Kicks, Hey Joe, Grim Reaper of Love..

De Wayne Fulton: The Harp Wears a Lei; Mahalo M-3005; N/N- S $20 -- harp on a top, authentic Hawaiian label; rare!

Serge Gainsbourg: Aux armes et caetera; Philips 9120-384; 1979 (Canadian pressing of 9101-218) N/N- S $70 -- reggae; w/Sly & Robbie; great stuff ("Relax Baby Be Cool" is the best), great sound!

Gamelan Orchestra from Pliatan: Dancers of Bali; Columbia Masterworks ML-4618; grey label 6-eye/deep groove N-/N- $30 -- gamelan; dir. Anak Agung Gde Mandera; a classic in colorful jacket w/good liner notes

Gamelan Orchestra from Pliatan: Music from Bali; Argo RG-1 (UK import); deep groove N-/E- $30 -- gamelan; dir. Anak Agung Gde Mandera; The Overture--Kapi Radja, Tamililingan (Bumblebees), Ketjak (Monkey Dance), Legong (all of Side 2)

Gamelan Gong Sekar Anjao & Gender Wajang Quartet: The Exotic Sounds of Bali; CBS/Odyssey 32-16-0366 (reissues Columbia Masterworks MS-6445; 1963); sealed S $30 (or cutout E/N- S $20, specify) -- Balinese gamelan; dir. Dr. Mantle Hood; terrific set, great sound, 9 cuts!; this Odyssey version features a better jacket photo

Loyal Garner: Lady of Love; Hula HS-556; 1976; E-/E $20 -- Hawaiian/soul; rare; both a live Hawaiian LP & somewhat funky rare groove!; The Other Woman, Lean on Me (Bill Withers!), Let Your Love Flow, I Shall Sing (Van Morrison)

[Gaston Guilbert] Charles Mauu, Loma..: Tahiti--Dream Island; Capitol STAO-10281; gatefold w/inner leaves; 1st press E/N S $15 -- Tahitian; one of the best of its kind, particularly on a major label; deluxe gatefold features inner leaves (color photos & notes), singing by the great Charlie Mauu and others, & more high production values in the exciting music; Marcelle Vahine, Otea (drums)..

[Gaston Gilbert rec.:] Drums of Bora Bora & Songs of Tahiti; Criterion STT-1600; 1956 (slightly later Capitol reissue, color jacket) N/N ES $20 -- Tahitian; "World famous Tahitian percussionists & their exciting island rhythms" & "A blend of the old chants, ballads, and South Pacific jazz featuring native drums, nose flute, guitars, and clarinet"; authentic & excellent!; incredible drumming (Side 1) & singing (Side 2); recommended even for collectors who have the 1st press--for the color jacket w/drummer & hula-dancing vahine/model in a slightly different pose

Francoise Hardy; Disques Vogue LD-600-30; V+/V+ $15 -- French original of the US LP "The Yeh-Yeh Girl from Paris!" (Kapp/Four Corners FCS-4208); significant wear but plays remarkably well--still a treasure/worthy at the price

Francoise Hardy: Je Vous Aime; Kapp/Four Corners FCL-4238; deep groove E-/E- $15

Francoise Hardy: Loving; Warner Bros./Reprise RS-6318; white-label promo E/N- S $30 -- "her first album in English" didn't sell very far beyond the promo stage, making this rather scarce

Francoise Hardy: Mon Amour Adieu; Warner Bros./Reprise RS-6345; white-label promo E/N- S $30 -- scarce (didn't go far past the promo stage)

Hilo Hattie at the Hawaiian Village; Paradise HH-100/HS-100; black label N/N- shrink $75 (or black label E/N- $60, specify) (or blue label N/N $50, specify) -- Hawaiian/comedy/Tahitian/calypso; Hawaii's legendary, first-rate entertainer/former school teacher rec. live by Sounds of Hawaii at the Tapa Room w/the Hawaiian Village Serenaders; similar to her later 1965 LP for Victor but a MUCH better set & far funnier; everything you could hope for & more, including lovely jacket photos & liners; tops our list of killer one-off Hawaiian rarities; highest recommendation; Any Time/Paolo, When Hile Hattie Does the Hilo Hop, Cockeyed Mayor, Red Opu, Princess Pupule, That's the Hawaiian in Me, Holoholo Kaa, Television, Hawaiian War Chant, Becky, China Nights (Shinano Yoru), Tahitian

Harry Hoomele & his Island Orchestra: Hawaii Calls (jacket: Come to Hawaii); Grand Award GA-33-405; deep groove N-/E- S $20 -- Hawaiian/exotic rock; fantastic rarity (esp. stereo!), well-rounded w/both excellent tunes & several sharp edges (standouts); compare to the Georgie Auld & his Hula-gans LP; Hula Hula Rock (it is!), Texas Has a Hula Sister Now!, & others w/Hawaiian titles are terrific

Frank Hunter: White Goddess; Kapp KS-3019; 1959; E-/E- S $100 (or mono KL-3019; N-/N $100, specify) -- exotica; classic, rare one-off in high demand (comparable to the other legendary, best-of-breed LPs by Rex Kona, Michel Magne, etc.) has everything: abstract chorus, deep percussion, spacey electronics (ondioline), top arrangements, gorgeous mystique-y jacket; own a legend & instantly improve your whole collection; Ritual of the Torch, Lost in the Stars, Zimbah!, Jungle Fantasy, Jungle Drums, Mist of Gorongoza..

The Invitations w/Russ Garcia: R.S.V.P.; Liberty LST-7117; 1959; black label N-/E+ S $25 -- 1st & better of 2 LPs for the label; classic 5-part harmony group (matching beach-boy outfits include tiki pendants) who, like the Surfers, do great versions of both Hawaiian & exotica standards, all w/Russ Garcia's ablest backing (several w/bongos); Sweet Someone, Invitation, Princess Poo-Poo-Ly, Nani Waimea, Mr. Wonderful..

Pierre Ivanoff Expedition (rec.): Music of Bali; Period SPL-1613; rec. 1953 (French recording w/1 gengong cut; reissued as Folk Ensemble of Bali: TABU-tabuhan Bali; Request RLP-10101) E/E- $35 -- gamelan; RARE! (even the Request reissue) & one of the VERY BEST, particularly for the gengong, which is a bamboo mouth organ at hyperspeed--incredible sound & ideal for sampling; beautiful jacket & rest of LP too!

Shankar Jaikishan: Sangam ST; EMI/Odeon/India Gramophone 3AEX-5036; 1964; N/N shrink $35 -- good Bollywood ST (nice photos & songs) in top shape; w/singers Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor, Mohd. Rafi, Vivin Lobo; I Love You, Bol Radha Bol, Mai Kya Karoon..

Spike Jones & the Band that Plays for Fun: Omnibust; Liberty LRP-3140; deep groove N-/N- $40 (or same but E/E- $20, specify) -- exotica/beatnik/crime/parody; highlights are the "Quiet Village" bit about searching for "the Exoticas" tribe ("I Search for Golden Adventure in My Seven Leaky Boots"), the crime jive of "Ah-1, ah-2, ah-Sunset Strip", & yet more "Kookie"-esque, madcap, beatnik fare: "Captain Bangaroo"; a worthy collectors item above all other Spike Jones LPs & absolutely essential!

Genoa Keawe: Enchanting Hawaiian Holiday; 49th State Hawaii HI-FI LP-3405; red vinyl, deep groove V+/E- $20 -- w/Ben Rogers on steel

Surf 'N Sand Under Hawaiian Skies; 49th State Hawaii HI-FI LP-3406; sealed $40 (or E/E- $20, specify) -- "Enchanting Melodies with Benjamin Rogers at the Hawaiian Steel Guitar" w/the Harmony Isles Group; nice jacket photo of surfer w/old long board; Sand, Tropic Trade Winds, Lani--Wahine U'I, For You a Lei, Waikiki Hula--Fair Hawaii, Kahelelani, Dreams of Old Hawaii, Lei Aloha, South of Pago Pago, I'll Weave a Lei of Stars, Song to Hawaii, What Aloha Means

Hawaii Weaves a Lei of Dreams; 49th State Hawaii HI-FI LP-3407; red vinyl E-/E $25 -- "Vocals in Hula Tempo"; Genoa Keawe & Her Hula Maids/Hawaiians, Julia Nui's Kamaainas, Johnny Almeida's Hawaiians, w/singers Miriam Kaulupali, Pua Alani, Nora Keahi Santos, The "K" Sisters, June Ululani Leite, Jimmy Moikeha, The Rainbow Serenaders; I'll Weave a Lei of Stars, Pua Mana, Ke Kali Nei Au, Magic Hands, Blue Hawaii, Susie Anna E, Hula Lolo, Nawiliwili..

Genoa Keawe: Romantic Hawaii; 49th State Hawaii LP-3414; E/E S $20 -- Side 1 vocal; Side 2 instrumental w/Ben Rogers on steel

Julia Nui's Kamaainas/Ben Rogers & Harmony Isles Group: Hawaiian Hospitality; 49th State Hawaii LP-3415; N/N- shrink S $25 -- jacket back of the stereo version gives you color thumbnails of most other LPs on the label, even the Japanese series!

The Tokyo Serenaders: To Remember Japan; 49th State Hawaii LP-3453; N/N- shrink $35 -- Japanese; Asatoya Yunta, Koko Ni Sachi Ari, Watari Dori de Gozan-su, Ohtone Zukiyo, Madorosu-san Wa Dai-kirai, Bungawan Solo, Yuuyake Koyake, Momotaro-san, Kisha Poppo, Kutsu ga Naru, Hana Kotoba No Uta, China Night (Shina No Yoru)

Toti's Tahitians: Tahiti Dances [to Drums of Bora Bora & Papeete]; 49th State Hawaii LP-3422; E+/N S $25 -- Tahitian/drums; great one!; 9 cuts singing & 9 FAST DRUMS (& how); beautiful jacket of hula dancer & drummer; liners give classic tacky story about Tahitian vs. Hawaiian hula dancers contest--judges resort to choosing based on what dancers said they were wearing under the grass skirts (Tahitians won, natch)

The Kit Kats: The Very Best of the Kit Kats; Virtue LPV-102067; E+/N- S $50 -- rock/exotic rock; not a compilation but instead a unique, live rocker by hit local Philly group on Frank "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" Virtue's label (rare, lively, & a worthy addition to any exotic-rock collection!); recommended for their exotic-rock takes on "Quiet Village" & "Stranded in the Jungle"; the others: Money, You're No Angel, Sweet Little Rock & Roller, From Here On In, Hey Hey Hey, Lucille, Good Lovin', Hoo Che Coo Che Coo, Our Farewell, The End

Jonathan Knight/Lonely Harpsichord: Rainy Night in Shangri-La; Dot/Viva V-36011; deep groove N/N S $20 -- exotica/harpsichord/rain effects; sure, it's hokey harpsichord & the Mystic Moods rain thing, but it's essential for a few originals as well as good treatments of exotica classics; prod. Snuff Garrett (who did the Trashmen!); Quiet Village, Flamingo, Tiki Waterfall, Bali Ha'i, Pagan Love Song, Yellow Bird, Shangri-La, Cast Your Fate..

Thurston Knudson, Augie Goupil -- see Afro page

Wolfgang Laade, Ed.: Australia--Songs of the Aborigines; Lyrichord LLST-7331; sealed w/booklet S $30 -- originally an ALBATROS, Italy recording by W. Laade, it's one of the very best LPs on the very exotic/out aboriginal idiom, from didgeridoo to singing; 29 pieces, most of them terrific & exciting; a treasure trove for the creative sampler

Akoni Lani & his Islanders: Hawaiian Favorites 10"; Tops Masterpieces L-935; E+/V+ $15 -- Hawaiian; we love these marvelous early LPs that reissue a now-forgotten treasure from the 78-album era; worth just for the jacket art (always better on 10" LPs)--dramatic sketch of hula dancer; great singing & music (mostly chestnuts but from back when they were fresh); Hawaiian War Chant, Song of the Islands, Naka Pueo, Lovely Hula Hands, Little Grass Shack, Huki Lau

Kui Lee: The Extraordinary Kui Lee; Columbia CS-9403; sealed S $25 -- Hawaiian/modern; hard-to-find classic by revolutionary artist who changed Hawaiian music forever (goodbye haole tourist tunes), gave Don Ho his best material if not career, & died young, tragically; an absolute must-have for every self-respecting fan of Hawaiian music & culture; Ain't No Big Thing, I'll Remember You, Get On Home, Goin' Home, All I Want to Do, No Other Song, Kamakani Ka'ili Aloha..

The Arthur Lyman Group: Legend of Pele; Everest/HIFI/Life SR-813; yellow label N-/N S $20 -- exotica; one of his very best & scarcest (Life reissue well worth having--stereo/top shape!); great jacket, liners, tunes; Pele, Ritual Fire Dance, Cumana, Hana Maui, Magic Island, Cubana Chant, Tropical, Fascination..

Arthur Lyman: Puka Shells; GNP Crescendo GNPS-2091; 1975; N-/N- S $15 -- exotica/vibes/vocal; late, great, unique one introduces singer Kapiolani w/vocals prod. by Les Baxter(!); that's right, it's Lyman's VOCAL LP; w/Neil Norman, guest guitar; great photos & biographical liners; top tunes by Astrud Gilberto, Neil Diamond, Bob Crewe, Mahi Beamer, etc.; nice liners/photos; Mystic Island (deep exotica w/bird cries), Swingers Lullaby, Lonely Sky, Guava Tree, Gingele, Legend of the Rain, Skybird, Paoakalani, Skybird..

The Markko Polo Adventurers: Orienta; RCA Victor LSP-1919; 1959/1958; 1st/deep groove E-/E+ S $25 -- exotica; "Adventure in Sound"; venerated, essential, scarce, landmark, one-off LP, "like dreams after a 'Fu Manchu' movie"; icing on the cake is the great jacket!; exciting orchestral percussion w/chorus on 2 cuts; Girlfriend of a Whirling Dervish, Runaway Rickshaw, Mountain High (Raymond Scott), Song of India, Rain in Rangoon, Madam Sloe Gin's Scheherazade, Night of the Tiger..

Migiani Grand Orchestre; RCA Victor International FPM-108; 1962; French import 1st press N/N shrink $15 -- modern French orchestral, notable for addition of "Anne Germaine's amazing vocalise," which lends an Esquivellian touch; Rock a Napoli, Perdido, Flamenco Guitar..

Yvette Mimieux/Ustad Ali Akbar Khan/Pandit Mahapurush Misra: Baudelaire's Flowers of Evil; Connoisseur Society CS-2007; 1968; gatefold N-/V+ $50 -- spoken/Indian; devilishly scarce & always in demand, whether for the reading or the jacket photo; extensive notes include a page by Nat Hentoff plus an inner leaf & session photos; expect marks & noise--typical w/this title & label

Mahapurush Misra: Indian Drums; Connoisseur Society CM-1466; 1966; E+/E+ $30 -- Indian percussion (tabla w/sarod & tamboura); terrific, scarce, well-made LP w/notes by Nat Hentoff (explaining such things as how Pandit Misra runs rings around the best jazz drummers of the day); 5 top tracks of masterful, instrumental percussion

Monte Moya & the Surfers: Percussionata; Everest 5212; E+/N- $75 -- Latin jazz/vibes/exotica; rec. on 35mm film, it's a spectacular rarity (from Melrose, LA, CA) hardly any even serious collectors know about; for style think mid-'60s Cal Tjader, Puente, & other great vibes players; beautiful exotica jacket!; I Waited So Long, Black Orchid, Lucero, Masa Coti, Mose's Mamba, Mint Julip Run, Summer Time, Ayre's Mamba (sic-all titles)

Tommy Morgan w/Warren Barker: Tropicale; Warner Bros. B-1214; 1958; deep groove E-/E+ $25 -- exotica/harmonica; many exotica fans who think they have everything have never heard of it, yet it's as wonderful as the other Warner Bros. & Warren Barker exotica projects; while really desirable as exotica, Morgan's playing is terrific (Leo Diamond has nothing on this); gorgeous jacket too!; Taboo, Baia, Poinciana, Misirlou, Off Shore, Moon of Manakoora, Beyond the Reef, Ebb Tide, Bali Ha'i, Ruby, The High & the Mighty, The Beach (Japanese); Note: wrong label for Side 1 but the LP is correct

Oku Shareh: Turtle Dance Songs of San Juan Pueblo; New World NW-301; 1979; gatefold E+/N S $25 -- Native American; rare field-recording LP of 4 "Turtle Dance Songs"--about 10 mins. each of songs/chants w/music; there's a "Jerry Garcia" credited but it's undoubtedly not the Grateful Dead guitarist

Poncie Ponce Sings; Warner Bros. W-1453; 1962; E+/E $35 -- 3rd, last, & rarest of the 3 GREAT LPs from the HI'n Eye show; "TV's 'Hawaiian Eye' Star Sings the Greatest Hawaiian 'Pupule' Songs" (all the craziest, funniest Hawaiian tunes--one of the best HI'n LPs just for that reason); great jacket of the uke-playing cab driver w/hula girls too!; recommended

Gene Rains & his Group: Lotus Land; Decca DL-4064; pink promo/1st/deep groove E/N $30 -- exotica/vibes; classic 1st LP by the #3 exotica leader of Hawaii (hugely influential)--and #2 vibist (after the more prolific Lyman); w/pianist-arranger Paul Conrad (also some-time arranger for Martin Denny), Archie Grant, Allen Watanabe; unique among exotica LPs, it's continuous (no breaks between tunes)--gives the DJ time to mix & consume elaborate cocktails; gorgeous, intense sound, essential!; Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, Hana Maui, Harbor Lights, Ringo Oiwake, Lotus Land, Africa, Hawaiian Wedding Song, Jungle Drums, Da Hil Sayo, Danse Arabe, Ebb Tide, The Naked Sea

Gene Rains & his Group: Lotus Land; Decca DL-74064; pink/1st/deep groove E/V+ $40 -- rare stereo; some marks & a few pops in spots but generally fine

Gene Rains Group: Far Across the Sea; Decca DL-74164; E/E+ S $60 -- exotica/vibes; rare 2nd of 3 instrumental LPs by masterful quartet; Caravan (great!), Busy Port (Les Baxter), Tropic Trade Winds, Far Across the Sea, Sayonara, Tangi Tahiti, Strange Cargo, Bird of Paradise, Exodus, You Are Beautiful

Rajput & the Sepoy Mutiny: Flower Power Sitar; Design SDLP-280; 1968; N/N- shrink S $100 (or E-/E- S $40, specify) -- pop sitar; supremely awful/psychotronically compelling/wondrously incompetent; rare kooky acid-casualty/put-on in high demand (featured in Incredibly Strange Music); Up Up & Away, Ragadelic, Child of Love, Flowers Flowers Everywhere, Beautiful Beautiful Flower, Flower Power, Flower Bed, String Beads, Do It with Flowers, Lullaby for Flower Children

Nino Rota: Juliet of the Spirits ST; Mainstream S/6062; 1st press E+/N- S $30 -- Italian; the master of Fellini film soundtracks turns in another creative wonder; very scarce & valuable in clean stereo!; Juliet's Theme, Dance of the Frog, The Master of Love, Behold the Devils, Garden of Fate, Shining Faces..

Nino Rota & Armando Trovajoli: Boccaccio '70 ST; RCA Victor International FSO-5; 1962; Living Stereo deep groove E+/E+ S $30 -- Italian; the master of Fellini film soundtracks turns in another creative wonder; rare!; worth it just for the jacket's stills of the 3 luscious stars: Sophia Loren, Anita Ekberg, & Romy Schneider

Rota special: 2 or more, $5 off each

Carlos Rubio: Tamouré [The New Dance Rage from Tahiti]; Philips/Mercury/Fontana SRF-67515 (UK); deep groove V+/E S $20 -- bossa/Tahitian/twist/exotic rock; this is it, one of THE greatest exotic-dance-rock LPs!; mostly bossa-twist, part Tahitian-exotic LP; fantastic loud sound, great voices, awesome percussion (& flute & organ, even some horns/reeds!); capped off by a groovy jacket dance scene (this jacket water-damaged but only affects the border); Anae Atoa, Manava, A San Salvador, Poto Poto Tamoure, Plenty Rum, La Tahitee est Arrivee, Desafinado, Bossa Nova Guitar, Cafezhino..

Utpala Sen & Shyamal Mitra: Songs of India; Capitol of the World T-10246; $30 -- Indian; Side 1 female singing, Side 2 male; great jacket/music/rarity; it's all great, classic stuff (as you get typically in this series), but for fans of the really unusual, we recommend it for the cut w/mouth harp--very rare in an Indian setting!!!

Ananda Shankar; Reprise RS-6398 (licensed by Gramophone of India); 1970; Indian pressing N/N S $100 (or U.S. white-label promo E/E+ S $50, specify) -- Indian/Moog/sitar/rock/psyche; long a rare psyche & Indo-rock legend, world-famous for Moog/sitar/tabla Doors/Stones covers ("he's excited by Led Zepplin and Janis Joplin and electronic music"), but his own tunes are best, particularly one in which he speaks(!) about getting in touch with the spiritual (Buddha, Allah, Jehova, whichever); ideal starting point if you're just getting into hip, modern Indian music; Light My Fire, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Snow Flower, Mamata (Affection), Metamorphosis, Sagar (the Ocean), Dance Indra, Raghupati; best copies left.

Ananda Shankar: Missing You; 12" 45 rpm (about 35 minutes); EMI S-45NLP-2001; 1977; E+/E+ S $150 -- Indian/sitar/vibes/psyche; rare; mellow psyche-exotica (rarely do we dig the downtempo, but we really like this underappreciated beauty); beautifully romantic, sentimental tribute to the great Uday Shankar (a photo shows 4-year-old Ananda & father); gorgeous cuts, several w/vibes (as well as sitar, etc.): Missing You, Lonely, Dreams Forever, I Remember, Togetherness, Baba, Almora. Note: appears flawless but slight noise in intros starting each side, an unavoidable fault of the pressing. One copy only.

Ananda Shankar: A Musical Discovery of India; 12" 45 rpm (about 35 minutes); EMI Gramophone India S-45NLP-2002; 1978; E+/E+ S $100 -- Indian/Moog/sitar/tabla; Made for India Tourism Development Corp. but definitely his own; a beautiful album, not as fierce as the first two but essential; Kaziranga Beat (a terrific long jam highlighting the tabla--Indian drums; played on WFMU & on WBAI's midnight rare-disco set to great response), Namaskar, The Hill Train, Akbar's Jewels, Brindavan Revel, Dawn at Varanasi, Discovery of India. Note: appears flawless but slight noise in intros starting each side, an unavoidable fault of the pressing. Best copies left.

Bas Sheva: Soul of a People--Hebraic Chants 10"; Capitol FDS L8287; deep groove N-/N- $50 -- female vocal; other than the great "The Passions" w/Les Baxter, the Philadelphia sensation made this other rare LP, which stands as one of the best of its kind & makes a fine companion to The Passions (if not quite as strange)

The Primitive Sounds of Tak Shindo: Mganga!; Edison International CL-5000; E-/V+ $90 -- African-themed exotica; rare Les Baxterish LP w/hall-of-fame jacket (witch doctor--see Hyp Records/Vinyl Safari logo-image), liners, & all-original music by Tak Shindo & Earle Hagen (who later wrote great exotica for "I Spy"); Mombasa Love Song, Safari to Kenya, Nyoba Festival, Slave Chains of Mtumwa, Bantu Spear Dance, Rains of Okavango, Huts of Kichwamba, Manga (Ritual), Mwanza Market Place, N'Ga--The Maiden, Watusi Drum Dance, Port of Trinkitat

Tak Shindo: Brass & Bamboo; Capitol T-1345; promo w/timing strip on back N-/N $25 (or 1st N-/N $25, specify) (or E/E+ $20, specify) -- exotica; one of the great Tak Shindo LPs in unique, swingin' style (like the music from "I Spy"); in high demand & for good reason; go w/mono for best sound/value (clean stereo costs a lot more); w/Bud Shank, Shelly Manne..; Caravan, Poinciana, Flamingo, Bali Ha'i, Brass & Bamboo, The Song of Delilah, Skylark, No Place to Go, The Moon was Yellow..

Tak Shindo: Brass & Bamboo; Capitol ST-1345; E-/V S $20

Tak Shindo: Accent on Bamboo; Capitol ST-1433; E+/E- S $30 (or mono T-1433; E+/N $30, specify) -- exotica/jazz/pop; the rarer follow-up to Brass & Bamboo offers a beautiful jacket & more original music & top sound; Stumbling, Portrait in Blue, Festival in Swingtime, Kiss Me Again, I Gotta Have You, Cherokee..

Leopoldo Silos: The New Music of the Philippines--Native Percussion Instruments; RCA Victor International FSP-117; 1964; deep groove N/N S $50 -- exotica/percussion w/a slightly Latin/So. American feel to it, oddly enough; not indispensable but a nice one that's among the very rarest of exotica LPs; here in a perfect copy; nice jacket: a still life of percussion instruments

Roy Smeck -- see pop

Society of Seven: Flashback; Silver Sword Audio; LP-7008; 1973; E/E S $25 -- lounge act/rock/Hawaiian icons -- one of Hawaii's longest-enduring acts (still going at this writing) at the Outrigger Hotel, Waikiki; groovy jacket has photos & short auto-bios by each band member; highlights are Splish Splash & I Got a Woman (waka guitar, funky); More, Volare, Blue Suede Shoes, Ebb Tide, 28 Miles, Smile, My Special Angel, Glory of Love

Gabby Pahinui with the Sons of Hawaii; Hula HS-503; N-/N S $30

[Gabby Pahinui &] The Sons of Hawaii: Music of Old Hawaii; Hula HS-506; N/N S $30 (or E+/N S $20, specify) -- w/Gabby Pahinui (slack-key guitar master), Eddie Kamae (ukulele master)..; this LP has it all: great music, musicians, label, jacket (volcano scene), & liner notes, which do a fantastic job of describing the songs

Axel Stordahl: Jasmine & Jade; Dot DLP-3282; deep groove N/N- shrink $60 -- exotica; dreamy, Baxter-esque, top percussion w/strings; very hard-to-find (esp. in top shape!) "one-off" by top arranger/composer (for Sinatra) married to June Hutton; nice jacket & notes; Jasmine & Jade (covered by Gene Rains on Lotus Land), Lotus Land, Flamingo, Pagan Love Song, Caravan, Japanese Sandman, Neiani, On a Little Street in Singapore..

Yma Sumac: Mambo!; Capitol T-564; original green label E-/E $25 -- Moises Vivanco & Billy May contribute to one of her best-loved, most exciting, & hardest to find wonders (glorious jacket, too); Bo Mambo, Taki Rari, Gopher, Chicken Talk, Goomba Boomba, Malambo No.1, Five Bottles Mambo, Indian Carnival, Cha Cha Gitano, Jungla, Carnavalito Boliviano

Yma Sumac: Legend of the Sun Virgin; Capitol SM-299 (formerly T-299); yellow N/N shrink $30 -- later pressing--top shape/noisefree sound!

Yma Sumac: Fuego del Ande; Capitol ST-1169 E+/N S $40 -- her last for the label & a great one, & rare--esp. in stereo!; more Latin & uptempo than earlier, w/some Latin rock & Latin twist!

The Surfers: On the Rocks; Hi-Fi R-408; deep groove E-/E $20 -- vocal/Hawaiian/Tahitian; classic LP by famous quartet (all their LPs are great & hard to get, as vocal-group collectors have priced them up) similar to other Hawaiian harmony acts such as the Invitations; 14 songs include I Got Hooked at a Hukilau (funny, original, & GREAT), Pidgin English Hula (funny, narrated, & GREAT), Tamure Tamure, Hawaiian War Chant, Maki, I Will Remember You..

The Surfmen: Exotic Island; Alshire/Somerset SF-10500; deep groove E+/E+ S $25 -- exotica; some of the best names in jazz & pop (Alvino Rey, Emil Richards, Jack Costanzo, Paul Horn...) made this terrific, full-on Martin Denny spoof/tribute/knockoff, complete w/superior percussion & [often absurd] bird shrieks; gorgeous jacket!; Quiet Village, Tahiti Sunrise, Bali Hai, Bamboo, Jungle Romance, Forbidden Island, Taboo, Moonlight in Paradise, Luau, Orchid Lagoon, Fire Goddess, Moon of Manakoora

Takarazuka Dance Theatre; Columbia Adventures in Sound WL-163; deep groove white-label promo N-/N- $30 (or stereo WS-315 deep groove white-label promo E+/E S $30, specify -- Japan/theatrical music; from the Takarazuka Grand Theatres in Japan; cond. Emerson Buckley w/Ren Takahashi; one of the most exciting titles in this wonderful series (that started w/Sabu's Sorcery); Ya Kyu Ken (Baseball), Mitsumen (Three Masks), Sayonara, Iwato Kagura (Masked Dance at Celestial Cave)..

Terorotua & his Tahitians: The Lure of Tahiti; ABC-Paramount ABCS-271; deep groove N-/N- S $40 -- Tahitian; tho included in the ubiquitous "Adventures in Paradise" series, the LP itself is rarely lured from hiding; here it is, in all its stereo glory: luscious jacket, top sound, 15 exciting cuts

Don Tiare & his Orchestra Exotique: The Music of Les Baxter; Mercury MG-20845; deep groove, promo E+/E $25 -- exotica; wow! swinging, vibes-led small combo treats 'em right: Quiet Village, Bangkok Cockfight, Sampan Landing, Crickets of Karachi..(and others, equally unusual, that NEED this treatment without strings!); beautiful jacket, great music

Tibetan Buddhism--Tantras of Gyütö: Mahakala; Nonesuch Explorer H-72055; 1973; N-/N S $20 -- Tibet; Grand Prix International du Disque winner

Tibetan Ritual Music--Chanted & Played by Lamas & Monks of the Four Great Orders; Lyrichord LLST-7181; 1961; sealed S $30 -- take it from exotica experts--nothing is more far out than Tibetan ritual singing (not gamelan, not Tuvan throat singing, nothing!); series/LP terrific!

Tibetan & Bhutanese Instrumental & Folk Music, Vol. 4--Tibetan & Bhutanese Instrumental & Folk Music; Lyrichord LLST-7258; 1974; w/booklet sealed S $30 -- Tibetan; rec. by John Levy

A Tibetan Buddhist Rite from Nepal--Padmasambava Chopa [with the Mahakala Offering]; Lyrichord LLST-7270; sealed S $30 -- Tibetan

Tran Quang Hai & Bach Yen: Vietnamese Dan Tranh Music; Lyrichord LLST-7375; N/E- shrink S $15 -- Vietnamese/instrumental/zither; the 16-string Dan Tranh is smallest of Far East Asian zithers (like the koto & kanun); Vietnam uses 2 modal systems; top experts offer beautiful pieces from ancient classical to modern folk; REAL exotica!

Elisabeth Waldo: Rites of the Pagan; GNP Crescendo GNPS-601; deep groove, 1st press E+/N $60 -- exotica; 1 of only 2 on the label by the great Waldo (out of 4 total), the classically trained (& accomplished) Californian devoted to ancient instruments, moods, & styles; her fantastic, all-original works have integrity in spades that's missing from almost all others in the idiom; if you don't know Waldo's work, it's like Baxter's Sacred Idol but even better

Elisabeth Waldo: Realm of the Inca; GNP Crescendo GNP-603; 1st/deep groove/blue label N/N $60 (or orange stereo GNPS-603 N/N- S $60, specify) -- exotica; "an original suite for orchestra and voices--featuring authentic pre-Columbian instruments!" (including human bone); 1 of a rare, classic pair by the great Waldo, classically trained & accomplished but very Californian & devoted to ancient instruments, moods, & styles; there is a LOT going on throughout her works (whistling, chorus, water sounds, percussion, etc.); gorgeous jacket & first-rate liners

Elisabeth Waldo: Viva California; Peer Southern Organization PSO-002; sealed S $80 -- exotica; last & rarest of her only 4 LPs, all great, this one's "an early California pastorella for orchestra and chorus performed by Elisabeth Waldo Folklorico Orchestra and the St. Charles Choir"; not as "strict exotica" as her others but unique & terrific just the same; a must-have for Waldo & exotica collectors

Daphne Walker/George Tumahai/Bill Sevesi & his Islanders: Sea Breeze; Fiesta FLPS-1722 sealed S $45 -- New Zealand LP, famous & scarce for it's naked-breast cheesecake jacket

Marty Wilson: Jun'gala; Warner Bros. B-1326; 1959; N/N $45 (or rare stereo WS-1326 E+/V+ S $25, specify) -- Afro-Cuban/big-band exotica; unique, high-impact, underscores the fact that exotica IS Latin!!!; terrific jacket photo looks 20 years ahead of its time; same first-rate WB production & sound as others on the label at the time; Manteca, Babalu, Yumba Maruma, Jungle Fantasy, Taboo, Passion, Misty Poo, Les champs de Cuba, Harlem Nocturne, Enlloro

The Yokohama Knights: Yokohama Knights; GRT/Eye GRT-10002; cutout N-/N S $20 -- mod w/voiceover by Japanese woman (in Japanese & English); Yokohama Flower Girl (original), A Man & a Woman, Hawaii Five-O/Greensleeves, Happy Heart, Goodbye, Try a Little Tenderness..; attractive jacket of Japanese woman in front of bamboo screen (same photo session as for a George Cates LP)

The Yum Yum Kids & the MGM Territorial Orchestra: Down in Jungle Town; MGM E-4405; cutout N/N $20 -- kids/exotica; rare, unique, cute record of kids singing on an exotica theme; Song of the Nairobi Trio (lyricized!), Down in Jungle Town, Tiger Rag, Aba Daba Honeymoon, How to Tell the Wild Animals, Under the Bamboo Tree, Abdul the Bulbul Ameer, Civilization..

Uncredited/Various: Buddhist Drums, Bells, & Chants; Lyrichord LLST-7200; N/N shrink S $20

Luau at Queen's Surf; Waikiki 101; red vinyl deep groove E/V $15 -- Hawaiian; early, authentic stuff on the great local label w/top stars (Pauline Kekahuna, Honey Kalima, Bill Lincoln, Andy Cummings, Kalima Brothers, Mona Joy, Val Hao, Waikiki Serenaders..); some noise but worth it; beautiful Waikiki luau scene on jacket

Exotica: Original 45s/EPs