Exotic/Foreign: Original LPs
The Word: The very best strict-definition exotica (the good stuff), authentic/top Hawaiian, Tahitian, S.E. Asian, Indian, Tibetan, gamelan, & other exciting, strange, good, etc. music of the palm-treed world. You will be hard-pressed to find much orchestral mush (strings) here, and we never buy cornball thrift-store junk for "exotic" jacket art! This is the place for the music. See also the Africa, Brasil, Latin, & Mid-East pages.
See also below: Exotica 45s & trade wants.
Discounts (usually free mailing or $5 off per item) for all multi-item orders--buy 2 or more!
Georgie Auld & his Hula-Gans: Hawaii on the Rocks; Jaro International JAS-8003; deep groove N-/E- S $40 -- exotic-rock/Hawaiian twist(!)/Hawaiian-Haole/rock-r&b-jazz/steel guitar; very happening, rare-label (comes w/Jaro inner sleeve), goofin' oddball from sax hero Auld, who takes a back seat to 2 superb steel guitarists from NY's Hawaiian Room in one of the only full-length exotic rockers of the period; unique, upbeat arrangements w/enough rock-jazz-R&B (including Auld's sax, of course) to make it swing without smothering the essential Hawaiian/steel flavor; great jacket (see scan); War Chant, Song of India, Lovely Hula Hands, Marie, Sheik of Araby ("Sheik of Waikiki"), Blue Hawaii, Romeo & Juliet, Little Grass Shack..
Ted Auletta: Exotica; Cameo/Parkway SC-4008; 1962; groove N-/N S $40 (or N-/N- S $35, specify) (or N-/E+ S $30, specify) -- exotica; on a local label, one of the treasured, "one-off" exotica LPs ALL MUST HAVE; top, no-nonsense interpretations of classic exotica (Baxter, Denny, Lyman); rec. in 4-channel/35mm film for impressive, clear, deep percussive, audiophile sound; highly desirable just for the gorgeous African-art 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 $75 (or 2nd/spectral/deep groove E-/N- S $50, specify) (or mono LRP-3104, 1st/green/deep groove E/N $25, specify) -- exotica/Japanese/female vocal; rarer of her 2 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 art, uses same photo shoot as Hypnotique!; Ringo Oiwake, Shady Lady Bird, Nightingale, Friendly Island, Green Fire, Mountain High, Kawohikukuapulani (Helen Beamer), Speak 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 (some say a collectors item) 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, & Poncie Ponce LPs (all essential!), it's one of the nicest things on the label
Les Baxter: Ritual of the Savage/Le Sacre du Sauvage; Capitol T-288; spectral label E/V+ $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- 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 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 (& very early exotica); Simba, Tehran, Pantan, Havana, Mozambique, Wotuka, Batumba, Rio, Zambezi..
Les Baxter: Skins!; Capitol T-774; 1956; spectral label E/E- $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- exotica/Latin/percussion; beloved for its sensational, hall-of-fame jacket ("bongo party with Les Baxter"), it's even better listening: a tour-de-force by percussion masters; Afro-Desia, Brazilian Bash, Bustin' the Bongos, Conversation, Poppin' Panderos, Talkin' Drums, Reverberasia, Shoutin' Drums, Gringo, Mood Tattooed; priced low for some wear on Side 1 & the jacket back
Les Baxter: Ports of Pleasure;
Capitol ST-868; E+/E+ S $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- orchestral exotica; the 1st Capitol LP in stereo!; interesting titles, beautiful jacket!; for liners, each track gets a brief description & a wonderful block-cut illustration (like round, dramatic b/w stamps--we love 'em!); you may want to get both mono & stereo versions, as 2 cuts were left off the stereo (Capitol's engineers being idiots); Tahiti: A Summer Night at Sea, Hong Kong Cable Car, Gates of Annam, Shanghai Rickshaw, Tramp Steamer to Singapore, Spice Islands Sea Birds, City of Veils, Monkey Dance of Bali, Harem Silks from Bombay, Sidewalk Cafes of Saigon, Pearls of Ceylon, Bangkok Cockfight
Les Baxter: African Jazz; Capitol ST-1117; 1st E+/N- S $60 (or V+/E+ S $30, specify)-- exotica/Afro-jazz; one of his legendary, early best; sensational jacket, original music, all-star musicians!; similar to "Tamboo!" but stereo & a step closer to the prized "Jungle Jazz"; Congo Train, Elephant Trail, Banana Boy, Safari, Mombasa After Midnight, Rain, Lost City, Walkin' Watusi, Ostrich Hunt, Cairo Bazaar, Jungalero, Balinese Bongos
Les Baxter: Jungle Jazz; Capitol T-1184; deep groove E-/E- $30 (or E-/E- $25, specify) -- exotica/crime; as w/Teen Drums, it's both better & lesser-known than most other great Baxter LPs 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 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-/V+ S $25 (or mono T-1355 N-/N- $50, specify) -- percussion & how!/so much more; one of his best & rarest (a mid-career masterpiece, like Jungle Jazz); it's "teen" only thanks to Capitol's silly excuse for a marketing department; the music's instead a powerhouse of percussion-featured Baxteria: 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" (in fact "Boomada" is on the beatnik-noir "Swing for a Crime" comp); 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; terrific loud sound; on stereo copy wear is heard in 1 place (priced low for that)
Les Baxter: The Primitive & the Passionate; Reprise R9-6048; 1961; deep groove E/E+ S $20 (or cutout mono R-6048 E+/N $20, specify) -- 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: The Sacred Idol [ST];
Capitol ST-1293; E-/N- S $30 -- 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, all-American in a good way, 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
Les Baxter/Bas Sheva: The Passions 10" box; Capitol FDS LAL-486; 1st/red/deep groove w/booklet E/E $75 (or same but E/E- $50, specify) -- 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
MORE LES BAXTER -- see also Moog for all electronic/space (Music Out of the Moon, Dunwich Horror ST, Space Escapade, Moog Rock, etc.); Rock for later STs (Hell's Belles, Wild in the Streets, etc.); Pop for mod & misc. (Alakazam ST, Teen Pops, etc.)
Stanley Black: Exotic Percussion; London Phase 4 SP-44004; gatefold N/N S $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- 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..
Laura Boulton: The Eskimos of Hudson Bay & Alaska; Folkways FE-4444; (c) 1954; deep groove E-/E- $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- why this?--it's absolutely incredible, like the best Tibetan throat-singing & all other super-strange exotic weirdness combined, & the weirdest cut comes from girls at play!; one of our favorite Folkways LPs, which is saying a lot, as there are several tremendous ones--a real treat for the adventurous; w/dance songs, hunting songs, game songs, conjurer's songs, animal calls (walrus imitations!), animal stories, story songs
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
Renato Carosone, his Piano & Quartetto: Honeymoon in Rome; Capitol T-10031; N-/E- $20 -- Italian; 1st US release of his great, crazy LPs, all of which are mandatory; Scapricciatiello, Te Voglio Bene, Stu Fungo Cinese!, La Donna Riccia, Pianofortissimo, Ciribiribin, La Panse, E La Barca Torno Sola, N'Accorde in Fa, Anema e Core, Tre Numeri Al Lotto, Maruzzella
Renato Carosone & his Sextet: Blue Italian Skies; Capitol T-10147; green label N-/N- $35 -- Italian; another of the Italian superstar's crazy great LPs, all of which are mandatory, if 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! Capitol T-10163; E-/E- $30 -- Italian; one of the best (& hardest to find) of his crazy great LPs, all of which are mandatory; features big hits Torero! (Bullfighter), La Sveglietta (The Little Alarm Clock), Tu Vuo' Fa' L'Americano (You Want to Be an American), Boogie Woogie Italiano..
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
Grace Chang: Hong Kong's Grace Chang; Capitol [of the World] T-10272; N-/E+ $45 -- Chinese pop/female vocal; "The Nightingale of the Orient singing popular songs in Chinese"; one of the rarest & most sought-after in the Capitol of the World series, it features 11 songs, several in fun, worldly styles (rock, calypso, Latin, etc.): I Do Not Know What You Mean, I Love Cha Cha (mad!--goes well w/Sondi Sodsai), A Night at Sea, I Love Calypso, Flying Up in the Sky, Gongs of the Temple, Golden Phoenix, Happy Fisherman, 4 Seasons, Too Happy for Words
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 well-produced, great-sounding series, not to mention a classic rarity among Tahitian LPs; uptempo, spirited, classic tunes, not just top percussion; may even feature Afro-drummer extraordinaire Chaino (credited on some copies' side-1 label & featured on at least 1 other LP on this label); hip jacket design completes the splendor; 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; turquoise/deep groove E/E- $15 -- exotica; THE classic you have to have; only the original mono has the first Denny group featuring Arthur Lyman, which all agree is more exciting than the stereo remake!; hall-of-fame jacket & music both! (1/2 the tunes by Les Baxter, from Ritual of the Savage); no exotica collection can be without it
Martin Denny: Exotica; Liberty LST-7034; blue-label promo, deep groove E+/E+ S $15 (or black-label/1st E+/E- S $15, specify) -- rare stereo advance copy!; Liberty had the second Martin Denny Group remake the classic LP rather than resort to fake stereo, so it's a completely new & different recording; one of the few instances in which you need both mono & stereo versions!
Martin Denny: Hypnotique; Liberty LST-7102; 1st/black E-/E S $30 (or mono LRP-3102; blue deep groove E/N- $30, specify) (or mono V+/E- $20, specify) -- exotica; a masterpiece, 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..
The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny: Primitiva; LRP-3087; 1st/green/deep groove E+/N- $20 -- reduced!
The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny: Primitiva; Liberty LST-7023; spectral N-/E+ S $25 -- exotica classic (great/early) w/Tak Shindo!; gorgeous, hall-of-fame Sandy Warner jacket (worth it for that alone), 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 Enchanted Sea; Liberty LST-7141; 1960; spectral E+/E- S $15 -- exotica classic (great/early); gorgeous Sandy Warner jacket; disc looks perfect but some noise at the start, graded/priced low for that
Martin Denny: The Versatile Martin Denny; Liberty LST-7307; N/N- S $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- part of his turn to CA jazz but still exotic, desirable for at least several tunes: Exotique Bossa Nova, Quiet Village Bossa Nova, Sukiyaki, More (Mondo Cane)..
Martin Denny: A Taste of India; Liberty LST-7550; N-/E S $30 -- w/sitar!; his 2nd-most unusual (after Exotic Moog), one of his hardest to find; reworks his all-time best composition "Hypnotique" w/sitar replacing strings; the other sitar picks are "A Taste of India" & well-chosen cover of the Strawberry Alarm Clock's smash hit, "Incense & Peppermints"; Meditacao, Indrani, Live for Life, Tara's Theme, Yellow Bird..
Martin Denny: Exotic Love; Liberty LST-7585; E+/N S $20 (or cutout E/E+ S $15, specify) -- mod/exotica; nothing wrong with mod standards (David-Bacharach) done Denny style & wrapped in a sultry jacket, but the main reason we bother with this later one (and you should too!) is "Voodoo Love"--a great, swinging original w/deep bass & drumbreak; 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; Voodoo Love..
Martin Denny: From Maui with Love; First American FA-7743; 1980; cutout N-/N- S $25 -- exotica; one of his rarest (primarily distributed at performances, apparently); reprises several hits in a piano/trio setting, which makes it unlike any of his others & quite a treat for the serious Denny collector; Quiet Village, Taste of Honey, Raffles', Blue Paradise, Firecracker, Tiny Bubbles, Island of Dreams, Return to Paradise..
Martin Denny: Exotic Moog -- see Moog
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; 1st/purple E+/E+ $25 -- documents 2 classic exotic attractions, "The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room" & the Jungle Cruise; the deluxe inner leaves' photos & sketches may be the best part
Webley Edwards: A Merry Hawaiian Christmas; Capitol SM-1781; N-/N S? $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- reissues the rare Hawaiian Christmas Songs (Capitol ST-1781) minus 2 cuts; w/Haunani..
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.: Arnhem Land Volume 3; EMI Australia OALP-7516; N-/E $50 (or E/as is $25, specify) -- Australian aborigine field recording; the good news is it's the rare vol. 3 (unreleased in the US) w/lovely jacket & notes; on the lesser copy Side 1 has some sort if filmic problem that causes hiss (plays noisily), so we've priced it for Side 2 only
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; no major threat to Dorothy Ashby but unique, intriguing, & rare
Gamelan Gong Kebjar: Golden Rain--Balinese Gamelan Music/Ketjak--the Ramayana Monkey Chant; Nonesuch Explorer H-72028; N/N shrink S $30 -- gamelan; THE legendary, unabridged, 22+ min. (side-long!), thrilling, definitive version of the Ketjak (monkey-dance chant--ultimate vocal insanity--DJs/samplers will love) as well as top gamelan performances; in this 1 LP you get 1 side each of the 2 greatest aspects of Indonesian music: hypnotic Balinese gamelan & the fascinating Ketjak
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
Gamelan, Various: Scintillating Sounds of Bali; Lyrichord LLST-7305; 1976/1974; E-/E- S $20 -- rec. by Doreen Powers; Gabor, Gamelan Angklung, Gamelan Gong Kebjar, Gamelan Bebonangan, Topeng, Baris, Ketjak (Monkey Dance)
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 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- 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)..
Juliette Greco: Les Grandes Chansons (Volume III); Columbia Adventures in Sound WL-174; gold-label promo E/E $40 -- French/torch/beatnik; recorded in Paris w/full French lyrics & English translations; the original Left Banke "beatnik in black" works her magic in a classic, scarce treasure (her 2nd/one of the tiny handful of great LPs in this series)
Francoise Hardy; Disques Vogue LD-600-30; V+/V+ $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- 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 (5 $15 LPs for $50)
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)
Rolf Harris: RH Positive; EMI/Axis 6022 (Australia); N-/E+ S $25 -- compilation imported by hand from Rolf's hometown of Perth, Australia; 1/2 live (unreleased in the US); London Town, Botany Bay, Moon River, Let the Rest of the World Go By, Along the Road to Gundagi, Sun Arise, If I Were a Rich Man, Court of King Caractacus, Wild Colonial Boy, Carra Barra Wirra Canna, I'll Be Hanged, Hurry Home
Hilo Hattie at the Hawaiian Village; Paradise HS-100 (or HH-100--both stereo); black label N/N- shrink S $75 (or black label E/N- shrink S $60, specify) (or black deep groove E/E- S $40, specify) -- Hawaiian/comedy/Tahitian/calypso; a true masterpiece/collectors item of Hawaiian entertainment; Hawaii's legendary, first-rate entertainer/former school teacher rec. live by Sounds of Hawaii at the Tapa Room w/the Hawaiian Village Serenaders; like her later Victor LP but even better & funnier; everything you could hope for & more, including lovely jacket photos & liners; tops our list of Hawaiian rarities--highly recommended; 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
Hilo Hattie with the Hawaiian Village Serenaders, Lani, & the Hilton Hula Maids: Hilo Hattie at the Tapa Room; RCA Victor LSP-3442; 1965; N-/N shrink S $40 -- Hawaiian; "It's Show Time in the Tapa Room--Your Table's Waiting"; terrific live set by the Hawaiian superstar; The Beauty Hula, O Kalena Kai, Hoe Hoe, Good-Bye Honolulu, Tahitian Dance, Palolo, When Hile Hattie Does the Hilo Hop, Cockeyed Mayor, Holo Holo Kaa, War Chant..
Haunani: Aloha from Haunani; Decca DL-4705; white-label rromo; V+/E- $15 -- one of the greatest voices, well-known for Hawaii Calls appearances, on scarce, prized LP
The Hawaiian Surfers -- all items listed below as The Surfers
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 KL-1139; 1959; red/white-label promo E-/E+ $65 -- 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 an exotica legend & instantly improve your whole collection; Ritual of the Torch, Lost in the Stars, Zimbah!, Jungle Fantasy, Jungle Drums, Mist of Gorongoza..
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..
[Keawe] I'll See You in Hawaii; 49th State Hawaii HI-FI LP-3403; deep groove N/V+ $20 -- Hawaii/steel; Genoa Keawe & her Hawaiians sing 6 on Side 1 (I'll See You in Hawaii, To You Sweetheart Aloha, HI'n Wedding Song, Lovely Hula Girl, Singing Bamboos, Lei Aloha Lei Makamae), while house steel-guitarist Ben Rogers with the Harmony Isles Group plays instrumentals Side 2 (Hawaii Calls, Hawaiian Hospitality, Moonlight at Waikiki, Dancing Under the Stars, My Little Grass Shack, Isle of Golden Dreams); one of the toughest LPs on the label to find, no doubt because a different set of collectors want it for the jacket photo of a semi-bare-breasted [haole] wahini--shocking!
[Keawe] Surf 'N Sand Under Hawaiian Skies; 49th State Hawaii HI-FI LP-3406; sealed $40 (or E/E- $20, specify) -- Hawaii/steel/instrumental; "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
[Keawe] 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
Genoa Keawe & her Hula Maids: Hawaiian Keikis Dance the Hula; 49th State Hawaii LP-3420; red vinyl E/E- $25 -- "The Most Popular Hulas Danced by Hawaiian Youngsters"; best LP in the series!; vocal w/instrumental backing by John Kameaaloha Almeida & his Hawaiians; Keiki Hula, Hawaiian Sandman, Piano Ahiahi, Dolly's Lullaby, E Kuu Tutu, Kaleponi Hula, No Huhu, Coconut Willie, Princess Poo-poo-ly, Manuela Boy, When Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop
[Keawe] 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)
[Keawe] 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 a unique, live rocker by hit Philly group on Frank "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" Virtue's label; lively, 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
Ed Kenney w/Benny Kalama & the Hawaiian Village Serenaders: Somewhere in Hawaii Ed Kenney Sings [from the Songbook of Todaro & Johnston]; Waikiki LP-126; E+/E+ $30 -- Hawaiian; terrific!; tho called "hapa haole" by the label, there are some unusual tunes among the hits, all by leading songwriting duo of the Islands; Ed Kenney & Benny Kalama fans alike will be delighted by what is likely the best & rarest LP by either; Hula Belle (nearly exotic rock), Ukulele Island, Keep Your Eyes on the Hands, Dance the Hula in the Moonlight, Pleeza No Peencha Da Hula Girls, Malia Lani, A Lei A Kiss & Aloha..
Thurston Knudson, Augie Goupil -- see Afro page
[The Exotic Sounds of] Rex Kona & his Mandarins: Wild Orchids; Columbia CS-8974; promo E-/E+ S $100 -- exotica; one of the best & rarest of the prized exotica "one-offs"; fantastic!; w/uptempo killer "Bird Train"--an aviary gone mad, in tribute to Lyman's invention of bird calls & an exotica "top ten" essential track; beautiful jacket; top sound!!!; Trolley Song, Patricia (exoticized Perez Prado!), Bushi Bushi, Ginza Girl, Sushu, Peg O' My Heart, Halavah..
Akoni Lani & his Islanders: Hawaiian Favorites 10"; Tops Masterpieces L-935; E+/V+ $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- 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
[Library of Congress] Apache; Library of Congress [Archive of American Folk Song] AFS L-42; cutout E-/V+ $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- former DC Public Library copy; super-rare audio document will at last get you up to speed on girls' puberty rites, Apache violin, etc.; rec. by Willard Rhodes
[Library of Congress] Songs of the Sioux; Library of Congress [Archive of American Folk Song] AAFS L-23; red vinyl, w/booklet cutout E-/V- $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- former DC Public Library copyl; super-rare audio document of oodles of songs for the Sun, War, Grass, Societies, Sacred Stones, Treatment of the Sick, miscellany; rec. by Frances Densmore; includes Used-as-a-Shield's "Song of Sitting Bull" & Brave Buffalo's "A Buffalo Said to Me"
The Arthur Lyman Group: Legend of Pele; HIFI/Life SR-813; yellow label N-/N S $20 -- exotica; one of his very best: great "Fire Goddess" jacket, copious liner notes about the Legend of Pele, & of course essential exotica tunes here in glorious stereo; Pele, Ritual Fire Dance, Cumana, Hana Maui, Magic Island, Cubana Chant, Tropical, Fascination..
Arthur Lyman: Mele Kalikimaka/Merry Christmas; L-1018; 1959; yellow label E/N- S $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- great!; a classic, essential
Arthur Lyman: Polynesia; HIFI/Life SL-1027; yellow label E+/N S $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- one of his best!; fantastic exotica: Afro Blue (Mongo Santamaria's--intense version), Hawaii Tattoo, Polynesia, Bauna Toshi, One Night in Tokyo, Drifting Sampan..; also the ONLY likable version of Waltzing Matilda!
Sam Makia & his Waikikians: On the Beach at Waikiki 10"; RCA Victor LPM-3060; E+/V $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- Hawaiian/steel; great jacket art, music, & sound by leading lap-steel guitarist & bandleader (Makia backs lots of people on good mainland titles) who made quite a few records on various labels; this is the yummy early one!; Song of Old Hawaii, Hawaiian Hospitality, Cockeyed Mayor, Blue Lei, Hukilau, Little Brown Gal, Yellow Ginger Lei, Mai Poina; expect wear & noise but still very worthwhile
Lata Mangeshkar & Hemant Kumar: Modern Motion Picture Music of India; Capitol T-10090; sealed cutout $30 -- one of the best in the scarce series; 1 side per artist (from 1956 films "Nagin" & "Anarkali"); great elephant jacket; standouts include "Oh Zindagi Ke Denewale" & "Zamana Yeh Samja Ki Ham Oeeke Aye" (hiccupping drunken girl!); "Love makes my feet falter and everybody thinks I am dunk. Fancy the weeping heart ordered to laugh and entertain!"
The Markko Polo Adventurers: Orienta; RCA Victor LSP-1919; 1959/1958; 1st 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..
Charles Mauu: Polynesia!; Capitol T-483; spectral N-/V+ shrink $20 -- Tahitian; "Native Songs & Dances of the South Seas"; classic prize on several counts: 1) Charles Mauu, the leading Tahitian musical star of his day (as this set well indicates), starred in Pagan Love Song, 2) formerly a 10" LP, this may be the first "naked breast jacket," 3) great music: Minoi Minoi, Tamure, Tiare, Vana Vana, Manu Rere, Cafe au lait, Vahine Anamite, Tanga Tika..; some wear & noise in spots but not bad, well worth it for the jacket
Charles Mauu, his Coconut Uke & Roche's Tahitians: Tamure Tahiti Dot DLP-3494; E-/E+ $20 -- Tahitian; "Authentic Tamures, Chants, & Ballads"; rarer than the Capitol classic (as many Dot LPs are) starring the great Charlie Mauu, this one features a yummy jacket photo of gorgeous dancer Tarita, who after this went on to star in Mutiny on the Bounty and become Mrs. Marlon Brando (right?); also rare liner photos of Gaston Guilbert at the recording controls & Yves Roche; water damage on the bottom edge but not too shabby
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) that hardly any even serious collectors know about (no relation to The Surfers group); 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
Jesse Nakooka: 54 Bridges to Hana, Maui, USA; Kihei KRS-1001; AUTOGRAPHED E+/N- S $20 -- Hawaiian; backed by the Namelekanis, it's a family affair from Maui circa 1972, we guesstimate; great stuff & totally authentic/Hawaiian-only (fans of modern Hawaiian music, slack key, singing, and uke will appreciate); nice jacket design too; 54 Bridges to Hana, Maile Lei, Waipio, Kuu Hoa, Akaka Falls, Sands of Waikiki, Beautiful Makena, Hele on to Kauai, Ke Kali Ne Au (Hawaiian Wedding Song), Ua Noho au a Kupa, My Kind of Life, Canadian Girl
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; a "Jerry Garcia" credited undoubtedly is not the Grateful Dead guitarist
The Rene Paulo Group: Whispering Sands; HI-FI/Life L-1019; promo deep groove E-/N- $20 -- Latin jazz/exotica/cocktail jazz; piano-led w/vibes; rare & good; More, Blue Velvet, Whispering Sands, Kaulana O Hilo Hanakahi, Petticoat Junction (zippy)..
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
Rajput & the Sepoy Mutiny: Flower Power Sitar; Design SDLP-280; 1968; N/N- shrink $75 (or N/E S $60, specify) (or E-/E S $50, specify) -- pop sitar/strange; hippie mockery; when electric-sitar goes bad!; elsewhere hyped as "rare psyche," it's really psychexploitation but well worth the ride, as it's a kooky, supremely awful, psychotronically compelling, wondrously incompetent, acid-casualty, budget-label put-on; sporting a very groovy jacket (featured in Incredibly Strange Music), it's in high demand by BadTune collectors; perfect for embarassing hippies, who will disown it, as well as grim rock/psyche collectors needing a fun tweak; 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
Milt Raskin, Exciting Sounds of: Kapu (Forbidden); Crown CLP-5110; deep groove E-/V+ $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- exotica; one of the best exotica one-offs --other Milt Raskin is good too-- it's better known by the reissue, Exotic Percussion (Crown CLP-5189); here you get a color volcano jacket, interesting liner sketches & full notes; besides Raskin, percussionists include Larry Bunker, Milt Holland, Lou Singer, Frank Carlson; also notable for strategic applications of piano, celeste, harp, accordion, organ, & novachord!; titles: Kapu/Forbidden, Lehua/Blood Red Blossom, Lanikai/Heavenly Sea, Koko Head/Pele's Creation, Iolani/Bird of Heaven, Maika, Moon Festival/Chinese Holiday, Mileka, Leahi/Diamond Head, Telani/Evening Star
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
The Royal Polynesian Islanders: South Sea Cruise; Request SRLP-10106; E-/N S $45 -- exotica/strings; (reissues The Royal Polynesian Island Orchestra/John Peters: Musical Cruise--Hawaii to Hong Kong; Family SFLP-527)--one of the very rarest exotica LPs (either version!); Dance of the Natives, Temple Bells, Typhoon, Polynesian Paradise, March Orientale, Saigon Sunset, Flowers on the Water, South Sea Lullaby, Hongkong Harbor, Teahouse Waltz, Holiday in Hawaii, Farewell to Hawaii
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; 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 (slight water damage here only on 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; 1970; white-label promo V+/E+ S $50 -- Indian/Moog/sitar/rock/psyche/funky drums; 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 & a must-have if you are at all hip to Ananda Shankar!; Light My Fire, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Snow Flower, Mamata (Affection), Metamorphosis, Sagar (the Ocean), Dance Indra, Raghupati
Ananda Shankar; Reprise RS-6398; 1970; tan-label Indian pressing (lic. Gramophone of India) N/N S $150 -- RARE!; yes, we still have it --flawless!-- imported by hand for us several years ago (we sold all the lesser copies long ago); here you get both the full sound of a perfect original (rare!) & the added scarcity of an Indian pressing--all at a great price
Ananda Shankar & his Music; EMI Gramophone India ECSD-2528; 1976/1975; N/N S $1,000 -- for years we've held on to 2 original pressings (we'll still keep one!), both perfect, which is the hardest thing with this title (inferior copies do turn up, so don't bug us about cheap "vg" copies); Streets of Calcutta, Dancing Drums, Renunciation, The River, Vidai (Parting), Cyrus, The Lonely Rider, Back Home, Dawn
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.
Uday Shankar & his Company of Hindu Dancers & Musicians: Indian Music--Ragas & Dances; RCA Victrola VIC-1361; 1968/1937; cutout N-/N- $25 -- reissues on LP the first [& only major 78-era] album of Indian Music released in the U.S., recorded during the historic 1937 tour; Uday was brother to Ravi & father to Ananda Shankar (Uday & Ananda are the exciting, groundbreaking, theatrical side of the family); mono, great sound, wonderful liner notes & jacket photo
Uday Shankar: Hindu Dancers & Musicians; Columbia Masterworks MS-7205; E+/E+ S $25 -- the first stereo recording of Uday Shankar follows close on the heels of 1968's Victor LP reissue of the historic 1937 tour LP; Ananda Shankar's famous father (on the exciting theatrical side of the family) & Ravi's older brother, Uday opened the world of Indian music to North America, at least; extensive liner notes tell more, but suffice it to say it's the OTHER wonderful Uday LP; conch shell & other instruments make it far more interesting than even most other great Indian LPs
Emma Sharpe: Lahaina's Fabulous Emma Sharpe--Recorded Live at Discovery Room, Sheraton-Maui Hotel; Tradewinds TS-1120; E-/E S $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- Hawaiian; live w/drums, chants; copious liner notes about Sharpe & the selections; one of our favorite Hawaiian LPs (out of 1,000s), sold only in Hawaii; highly recommended
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 and Bamboo; Capitol ST-1345 (stereo); D1 press E+/N- S $35 (or E/E- S $20, specify) -- exotica; one of the great Tak Shindo LPs as well as one of only a handful of exotica LPs that can lay any claim to jazz (despite a lot of foolish notions to the contrary out there); in high demand & for good reason; w/Bud Shank, Shelly Manne..; gorgeous arrangements of tunes range from more swinging/jazzy/brassy (as Les Baxter's "Jungle Jazz" or the music from "I Spy") to full-on exotica in Tak Shindo's unique, Japanese-inspired style; 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 T-1345 (mono); promo w/timing strip on back N-/N $25 (or 1st N-/N $25, specify) (or E/E+ $20, specify)
Tak Shindo: Accent on Bamboo; Capitol ST-1433; E+/E- S $30 (or mono T-1433; E+/N $30, specify) -- exotica/jazz/pop; the slightly rarer follow-up to Brass & Bamboo offers a beautiful jacket & more original music & top sound (not to be missed!); Stumbling, Portrait in Blue, Festival in Swingtime, Kiss Me Again, I Gotta Have You, Cherokee..
Tak Shindo: Far East Goes Western; Mercury Perfect Presence Sound PPS-2031; gatefold 1st/deep groove N/N S $30 -- exotica; one of the great Tak Shindo LPs & unique exotica (exotic versions of U.S. Western standards--perfect for Japanese cowboys!); fortunately ideal copies turn up often enough that we can offer them at a low price; superb stereo in audiophile series--rec. on 35mm film!; On the Trail, Tumblin' Tumbleweeds, Wagon Wheels, High Noon, I'm an Old Cowhand, San Antonio Rose, I'm Headin' for the Last Roundup..
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
Mike Simpson: Jungle Odyssey; Evolution 2005; 1966; gatefold; cutout E/E+ S $100 -- exotica; one of the best & rarest one-offs (collectors should jump at) & truly unique in the exotica idiom; Chicago percussionist Mike Simpson (this is his best!) recorded it in South Africa (for RPM records), so it's jungle-themed but definitely exotica/fantasy rather than African; loads of great ping-pong percussion and sparing touches of guitar, vibes, strings, even organ, also African animal sounds (far beyond bird calls!); nice liners, photos, art; 14 delicious tracks that will have your stereo jumping: Elephant Drums (best cut!), Crocodile River, The Lion is a Pushy Cat, Impala Pirouette, Madame Hippo, Rhino's Tale, Warthog Hollow, Hyena Hippies, Buffalo Country, Monkey Puzzle, Wildebeest Trail, Giraffe's Gait, Leopard's Leap, "Z" for Zebra
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
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 T-299; N-/N $40 -- immaculate, w/terrific, 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! (even the CD reissue is mono thx to a mistake--doh!); more Latin & uptempo than earlier, w/some Latin rock & Latin twist!
The Surfers: On the Rocks; Hi-Fi R-408; deep groove N-/E+ $40 (or E-/E $20, specify) -- vocal/Hawaiian/Tahitian; classic debut LP by famous quartet (Clayton Naluai, Alan Naluai, Pat Sylva, Bernie Ching) famous as the house band [on Decca as "The Hawaiian Surfers"] at Duke Kahanamoku's in Waikiki (all their LPs are great & hard to get, as vocal-group collectors have priced them up, tho we're keeping it reasonable); 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 Surfers: Hawaii A Go Go!; Stereo Sounds SA-10; E-/N S $35 -- reissues On the Rocks (Hi-Fi SR-408) in stereo (extremely rare for the original, so take this opportunity!) w/new jacket art--classic Waikiki scene w/beautiful wooden longboards (LP probably from late 1960s or early '70s); clean, stereo, rare, & great; don't miss it!
The Surfers: Christmas from Hawaii; Hi-Fi R-410; stamped promo deep groove E-/E+ $60 -- vocal/Hawaiian/Christmas; our favorite by the famous quartet, and one of our very favorite HIn-Xmas LPs, is also one of their rarest (all their LPs are great & hard to get!); 14 songs include several great ones w/bongos!; the group is pictured in a red outrigger canoe with a little pink artificial tree and presents in the bow; Here Comes Santa in a Red Canoe, Hawaiian Santa, Mele Kalikimaka, White Christmas..
The Hawaiian Surfers at Duke Kahanamoku's; Decca DL-4562; white-label promo E-/E $25 -- Hawaiian/Tahitian/exotica/vocal; rare LP by top vocal group (on HI-FI label as "The Surfers") rec. live in Waikiki as the house band at Duke's; photo & lengthy liner-note endorsement by the great Duke Kahanamoku himself! (worth it just for that); great singing/playing/entertainment--uptempo exotica & harmony fans alike will be thrilled; Tangi Tahiti, Tahitian Chant, Cade au Lait, Vini Vini, Sweet Someone (HI'n vocal-group classic!), Waikiki, Ebb Tide, Hawaiian Love Call..
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)..
Don Tiare & his Orchestra Exotique: The Music of Les Baxter; Mercury SR-60845 1st/black/deep groove N-/N- S $40 (or mono MG-20845 deep groove, promo E+/E $25, specify) -- exotica; wow! swinging, vibes-led small combo treats 'em right (no strings!): Quiet Village, Bangkok Cockfight, Sampan Landing, Crickets of Karachi, Girl Behind the Bamboo Curtain, River of Dreams, Cockatoo, Sunrise at Kowloon, Jacaranda, Jungle Trail, Corazon, Quai Bir Hackeim -- classic & rare Baxter tunes done in non-orchestral, high exotica style!; beautiful jacket, great music, get it, love it!
Tibet, Nepal, Himalayas
Music of a Sherpa Village; Folkways FE-4320; 1973/1972; w/insert E+/E $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- Nepalese field recording by John Melville Bishop in Melemchigaon, Helambu, Nepal
[Tibetan monks:] The Religious Sound of Tibet; Teldec TST-76965; rec. 1969-70 (imported German version of Cho-Ga--Tantric & Ritual Music of Tibet); E/E S $75 (or E/E- S $60, specify) -- Tibetan; wow!; the greatest Tibetan LP of all, totally far out (perhaps the most exotic recording ever); better still, it's an import w/SPOOKY jacket art (different than the CA original on Dorje Ling--beautiful & rare in both cases)
Tibetan Buddhism--The Ritual Orchestra & Chants: Recorded at Pal Phuntsok Chokorlin, Tashi Jong, Himachal Pradesh, India; Nonesuch Explorer H-72071; 1976; V+/V+ S $15 -- 1st & best in this great series!; not the best copy but we'll throw it in if you get a few other Tibet LPs (which you should anyway, duh!)
Tibetan Buddhism--Shedur: A Ghost Exorcism Ritual--The Venerable Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche, Master of the Rite; Nonesuch Explorer H-72081; 1978; E-/E S $20 -- Tibetan ritual music rec. David Lewiston in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh
Tibetan Buddhism--Tantras of Gyütö: Mahakala; Nonesuch Explorer H-72055; 1973; cutout E+/E- S $20 -- Tibet; Grand Prix International du Disque winner & another in the amazing series of ritual records
Tibetan Ritual Music--Chanted & Played by Lamas & Monks of the Four Great Orders; Lyrichord LLST-7181; 1961; sealed S $30 (or N-/E- $20, specify) -- nothing is more far out than Tibetan ritual singing (not gamelan, not Tuvan throat singing, nothing!!!); the 1st LP of a superb series (all terrific) has it all (nice jacket & liners too)
A Tibetan Buddhist Rite from Nepal--Padmasambava Chopa [with the Mahakala Offering]; Lyrichord LLST-7270; sealed S $30 -- Tibetan
The Gyuto Monks: Tibetan Tantric Choir; Windham Hill WH-2001; 1987; gatefold N/N S $20 -- Tibetan; good old Mickey Hart produced the only LP on the label we care about, and it's nice to have a more modern addition to the Tibet collection; you will like
Henry Wolff/Nancy Hennings: Tibetan Bells; Island SMAS-9319; 1972/1971; gatefold cutout V+/E+ S $25 (or reissued as Antilles AN-7006; 1973/1971; E+/N-* S $25, specify) -- Tibetan/bells/new-age-occult-meditation; w/Drew Gladstone; FANTASTIC, widely heralded, super space-trippy record that launched the otherwise unexciting "New Age" movement (plus interest in previously unknown, exciting, far-out Tibetan ritual music, bells, etc.); really it's more like some of the very best primordial-Moog/electronic/avant-garde records, except that you'll want to listen to this one repeatedly!; great jacket art from a priceless, beautiful old Tibetan painting; best title for your iPod: "Wrathful Deity"; note: some background noise is endemic to this recording (all copies, both issues); gatefold original is far rarer with nice inner-leaf art/photos (this copy has radio-station writing & sticker on it)
Henry Wolff/Nancy Hennings: Tibetan Bells 2; Pacific Arts PACR7-110; 1979/1978; E+/E+ S $40 -- Tibetan/bells/new-age-occult-meditation; 48 rare (far rarer than the 1st Tibetan Bells LP), fantastic minutes of much-wanted, long-awaited sequel to their classic LP from 1971!; very exotic, sounds both occult/ethereal/meditative AND like a wonderful electronic/avant-garde experiments (it IS both); "A space-poem in two sections, 'Journey to the End' and 'The Endless Journey'"; have YOU got "The Seven Sounds of Dissolution" in your iPod?
Tran Quang Hai & Bach Yen: Vietnamese Dan Tranh Music; Lyrichord LLST-7375; N/E- shrink S $15 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- 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!
Nelson Waikiki; Tradewinds TS-108; AUTOGRAPHED E/N S $25 -- slack-key ukulele/Hawaiian; "Electrifying...never before has an ukulele sounded so rich and full...Perhaps the greatest ukulele player of all time"; lead uker of 5 uke players w/The Troubadours/Maui Hawaiians (this being their 2nd LP, recorded in Maui, on Hawaii-only label); Hi'i'awe (slack key uke), Misty, Philippine Themes, Slack Key Medley, Kokoni Sachi-ari, Nani Waimea, Kalakaua, Caravan, Yellow Bird, Nalani, Never on Sunday, Hawaiian Medley
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 shrink 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. WS-1326; 1959; E+/V+ S $25 -- 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; stereo is rare, well worth it at the price (for mild disc wear)
Stanley Wilson: Pagan Love; Capitol T-1552; 1st N-/N- $60 -- exotica; one of the top, rare one-offs, w/all the works: great music (including ethereal abstract female vocals & powerful drums--Wilson also did the great "Music from M Squad" LP), liner notes, hall-of-fame liner art (great sketches!), jacket (nude in green forest); we can't recommend this enough to the exotic collector; Zulu Love Magic, Pinchak Knife Fight, Abduction of the Bride, Ritual of the Fertility Tree, Grass Skirt Proposal, Turkana Love Dance..
Henry Wolff/Nancy Hennings/Drew Gladstone: Tibetan Bells; Antilles AN-7006; 1973/1971; N-/N S $30 -- fantastic (music & jacket); westerners use the bells to make haunting, spacey/ethereal, almost electronic-sounding original music; so good & well-received they made 2 sequels much later; reissues super-rare 1972 Island LP (seeking which is pointless)
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 (5 $15 LPs for $50) -- 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
Please note: shipping/handling for 45s is gratis!
Les Baxter, Orch. & Chorus: Flame Tree/Girl from Uganda; GNP Crescendo GNP-425; white-label promo E S $20 -- mod/bossa/chorus; rare, sensational, stereo promo for the coveted African Blue LP (one of his scarcest good ones)
Renato Carosone e il suo Quartetto EP; Pathe EA-171 (French pressing) N-/E $25 -- Italian; unique jacket photo (of Carosone at the piano); Piccolissima Serenata, Armen's Theme, 'A Sunnambula, Lazzerella
Martin Denny: Cast Your Fate to the Wind (non-LP version)/The Payoff; Liberty F-55514; promo E+ $20 -- one of the very few Denny singles w/non-LP cuts (not redundant w/LP tracks); and it's good & on thick vinyl, so snap it up!
Harry & the Croc-O-Dolls: Cheeta (Teach Me How to Do the Monkey)/Jungle Hootenany; RCA Victor 47-8244; 1963; V $15 -- exotic rock; A-side great for the words, B-side more of a guitar instro; marks, wear, some noise but a thrill
The Kingpins: Ungaua Parts 1 & 2; United Artists UA-111-X; 1958; E $30 -- exotic rock; marks but plays fine, original UA sleeve; musically fairly typical of the time but catchy; the callout "Un-ga-wa!" makes it a standout track, a classic of exotic rock
Ella Mae Morse: An Occasional Man/Birmingham; Capitol F-3210; N $20 -- exotic pop vocal; w/Billy May; both songs from film "The Girl Rush"; listed here instead of w/pop 45s bc "An Occasional Man" has become an exotica standard; one of her very best singles!
Ohta-San: Sushi/Little Tree; Warner Bros. 5412; E- $15 -- ukulele; a masterpiece, as you'd expect from Ohta-San, & possibly his only recording for Warner Bros.
Elvis Presley: Rock-a-Hula Baby/Can't Help Falling in Love; RCA Victor 47-7968; E+/E $10 picture sleeve -- we've steered this one your way (instead with other Elvis stuff) because the A-side really is a classic of exotic rock (or Hawaiian rock), and you may as well have it w/picture sleeve
Yma Sumac: Presenting...Volume 2 EP; Coral EC-81051; (c)1953; N-/E+ $15 -- rare early recordings (pre-Capitol!); it's so hard to find the 10" LP version (especially clean) that we strongly recommend this EP (for its top sound, low price/great value, & lucky availability)
Die Waikikis: Hilo Kiss/Honolulu Rag; Telefunken 169; picture sleeve (hula girl) E-/N $10 -- Euro-Hawaiian instrumental hitmakers (w/Farfisa organ all over the place), here in a rare, early import pic-sleeve single
Wanted LPs:
- 49th State Hawaii 10" LPs: 3304 & up (inquire)
- 49th State Hawaii 12" LPs:
- It's Always Springtime in Hawaii; 49th State Hawaii LP-3411
- Rhythm of the Islands; 49th State Hawaii LP-3413
- Polynesian Love Song; 49th State Hawaii LP-3417
- Evening in Paradise; 49th State Hawaii LP-3429
- Japan Goes Latin; 49th State Hawaii LP-3457
- Japan Calling; 49th State Hawaii LP-3458
- Modern Japan Dances; 49th State Hawaii LP-3459
- and up (49th State Hawaii LPs 3460+)
- Kent Bowman: Ka'umanua--Hawaii's Greatest Politician; Hula HS-516
- Rolf Harris: BBC Television's Rolf Harris Show; EMI/Columbia SX-6216
- Rolf Harris: Live at the Cave (Canada)
- Rolf Harris: Mirrored Image; EMI 3158
- Eddie Kamae: This is Eddie Kamae; Hula HS-513 (& any others)
- Eddie Kamae: Heart of the Ukulele; Mahalo 3002 (& any others)
- Eddie Lund Tahiti LPs #s 1007-11, 1013-16, 1021-23, 1030-35
- Ohta-San: The Look of Love; Surfside SF-104
- Ohta-San: Love Story; Surfside SF-108
- Ohta-San: Stringed-Out; Surfside SF-109
- Ohta-San: The Many Moods of Ohta-San; Discos Tropical ST-6002
- Ohta-San: Hawaiian Mood; Poki SP-9024
- Ohta-San: Contemporary Hawaiian Mood; Poki SP-9036
- Paul Page (any/most; inquire)
- Tibet: The Songs & Music of Tibet; Lyrichord LLST-7284
- Tibet: The Songs of Milarepa; Lyrichord LLST-7285
- Tibet: Ritual Tibetan Music; Ocora OCR-49 (France)
- Various: Mele Kalikimaka; Hula HS-522
Wanted 45s:
- Chaino (most; inquire)
- The Crew: The Jaguar Hunt (7" 45 on Brass)
© Hip Wax
to order
Jerry Byrd's Guitar Magic
Georgie Auld & his Hula-Gans
