Wordless Chorus
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"Wordless chorus" means a [usually] female voice or voices singing nonsense syllables, humming, or otherwise ululating. This so-called background instrument was popular in the 1960s, when the advertising wisdom "sex sells" applied to everything. What better way to show off the new hi-fi stereo than the sound of an idle young woman's voice bouncing from channel to channel? Later 1960s television commercials used this technique extensively, for instance in some versions of "Music to Watch Girls By." King of the wordless chorus was Esquivel, whose astounding "zu-zu-zu-zu" and "pow!" choruses run throughout most of his work. Second to him is Bob Thompson, "the poor man's Esquivel" and an arranger with advertising in his blood (although adding the chorus in Thompson's case was an RCA producer's idea). There are hundreds of albums with wordless chorus, and many exotic albums use eerie, abstract, female voice as a "sirenish" touch. It's just fun, trivial music for swingin' playboys. |
Wordless Chorus LPs
| Rating | |
| -» | Esquivel |
| 7 | Russ Garcia & his Vocal Choir & Orchestra: Sounds in the Night; Bethlehem BCP-5006; 1957 |
| 5 | Leroy Holmes: Hawaii with a Bongo Beat!; MGM SE-3874 |
| 4 | Ray Martin: Dynamica; RCA Victor Stereo Action LSA-2287; 1961 |
| 4 | Teddy Phillips & Colleen Lovett: Five Men Plus Girl!; Carlton STLP-12/131 |
| 6 | Jean-Michel Riff: Paris in Rhythm; Columbia/Epic/Perfect PS-14034 |
| 5 | The Creed Taylor Orchestra (w/Kenyon Hopkins): Ping Pang Pong the Swinging Ball; ABC-Paramount ABCS-325; 1960 |
| 5 | Keith Textor: Sounds Terrific!; RCA Victor Stereo Action LSA-2365; 1961 |
| 3 | Keith Textor: Sounds Sensational!; RCA Victor Stereo Action LSA-2425; 1962 |
| 6 | Bob Thompson, his Orchestra & Chorus: Just for Kicks; RCA Victor LSP-2027; 1959/1958 |
| 6 | Bob Thompson, his Orchestra & Chorus: Mmm, Nice!; RCA Victor LSP-2117; 1960/1959 |
| 7 | Bob Thompson, his Chorus & Orchestra: On the Rocks; RCA Victor LSP-2145; 1960/1959 |
| 4 | Bob Thompson, his Orchestra & Chorus: Music from Wildcat; RCA Victor LSP-2357; 1961 |
Partly Wordless-Chorus LPs
| Rating | |
| 7 | The Frank Barber Percussion: Deep Percussion; Polydor 24-4508; 1970 |
| 8 | George Braith: Musart; Prestige PRST-7515; 1967 ("Del's Theme") |
| 6 | Christy Minstrels: East Meets West; Karan AW-14304; 1979 ("South American Getaway") |
| 6 | Leo Diamond: Skin Diver Suite & Other Selections (w/Murray Kellner); RCA Victor LPM-1165; 1956 |
| 6 | Bill Faith (w/Frank Hunter): A Guitar to Remember; Chancellor CHLS-5007 (rare Philadelphia LP) |
| 7 | Mel Henke: Dynamic Adventures in Sound; Warner Bros. Workshop Series WB-1447; 1962 |
| 7 | Ole Jensen & his Music; Chappell LPC-1044; 1971 (production/mod/funky rock/wordless chorus "Buttoned-Up") |
| 7 | Quincy Jones: The Hot Rock ST; Atlantic/Prophesy SD-6055; 1972 ("Hot Rock Theme"--funky!) |
| 6 | Alex O. Kulaks: [no title]; Sam Fox SF-1027; 1973 (production; mexicali/mod/wordless chorus) |
| 7 | Gary McFarland: The In Sound; Verve V6-8632; 1965 |
| -» | [Hugo Montenegro] |
| 7 | Bill Page: The Sonic Sounds of the Sixties; Capitol/Tower ST-5084 |
| 7 | The Dave Pell Singers: Mah-Na-Mah-Na; Liberty LST-7631 |
| 4 | Larry Page: Taking Care of Business; Calla CS-1102 |
| 6 | The Joe Rene Complex: Music to Read the Pretenders By; Philips PHS-600-327; 1969 (mod/funky rock/wordless chorus/Mexicali; soundtrack to a book!) |
| 6 | Pete Rugolo: The Sweet Ride ST; 20th Century Fox S-4198; 1968 |
| 7 | Dan Terry Orchestra & Chorus: Lonely Place; Happy Tiger HT-1005 (mod/chorus) |
| 7 | Armando Trovajoli: Seven Golden Men ST; United Artists UAL-?/UAS-5193 (mono-only recording; crime/spy/wordless chorus/mod/whistling/drums) |
| 3 | Billy Vaughn: The Windmills of Your Mind ("Traces"); Dot DLP-25937 |
| 8 | Johnny Williams: Not With My Wife You Don't ST; Warner Bros. WS-1668 (mod/mod-organ-breakbeat "Trumpet Discotheque"/mod jazz "Main Title (Big Beautiful Ball"/wordless chorus "Hey Julietta"/guitar "Hungarian Jungle Music") |
| 4 | Various: Stereo Action Unlimited; RCA Victor LSA 2489; 1961 |
Wordless Chorus 45s
| Rating | |
| 8 | Giorgio Moroder/Marks/Arabella: Mah-Na Mah-Na/Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo; Gema/Ariola 14431 |
| 4 | Bob Thompson: Angeltown/Carissima! (Darling) |
| 8 | Pierre Umiliani: Mah-Na-Mah-Na/You Tried to Warn Me; Musicor/Ariel AR-500 (hit version of "Mah-Na-Mah-Na" not on LP) |
Hyp Records is a 3-part guide:
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Hyp Records Guide © 1996 Hip Wax