Tahitian Music
 |
The tunes and hulas of Tahiti generally are faster and wilder than those of Hawai'i. ("Minoi Minoi" is the Tahitian "Mah-Na Mah-Na.") While Tahitian drums are paramount, other typical instruments are nose flute, coconut ukuleles, and accordion (or concertina). There are traditional recordings, ones with electric guitar, curious exotic-rock efforts, and even Carlos Rubio's unexpectedly crazy and wonderful mix of bossa nova and Tahitian. The truly traditional Tahitian type of music is the chant, in which singing closely follows drumming. Also there are native instruments such as the bamboo nose flute, log, ukulele, and bongos. The Spaniards introduced the guitar in 1772, followed by the English missionaries with their hymns in 1797. The German traders later brought the concertina, a small accordion that figures prominently in Tahitian folk music. Most of the better Tahitian records were recorded beautifully under the auspices of Gaston Guilbert or Eddie Lund. Arriving in Papeete in 1936, Oregon pianist Lund quickly learned the language and established himself in a band at Quinn's niterie in Papeete. Beginning in 1943 he wrote a substantial portion of Tahiti's music. Also he travelled to outlying islands to tape native performers, many of whom had never seen a microphone. In 1948 he started Tahiti Records, first publishing 78s. Some of the first records were used in the movie "Tanga Tika." As dedicated as Genoa Keawe on Hawaii's 49th State label (which also released some Tahitian lps), Lund and Guilbert captured inspired, creative performances as well as more predictable, traditional fare. And it is mostly great. As the Tahitians say, tamouré! (enjoy yourself -- party)! Buying: In addition to LPs by Guilbert, Lund, and 49th State, albums by Charles Mauu and Augie Goupil are first picks. |
Tahitian LPs
| Rating | |
| 5 | Catamaran Serenaders: Tempos of Tahiti; MGM SE-4091 |
| 7 | Chango & the Polynesians: Polynesian Percussion; Premier/Directional Sound DS-5012; 1961 (may feature Chaino) |
| 7 | Augie Goupil & his Royal Tahitians: Tahitian Rhythms 10"; Decca DL-5226; c.1950 (78 album A-34; partly on Thurston Knudson & Augie Goupil: Tahitian Rhythms & Jungle Drums; Decca DL-8216) |
| 6 | [Gaston Guilbert]: Drums of Bora Bora/Songs of Tahiti; Criterion/Tiare Tahiti SST-1600 |
| 6 | [Gaston Guilbert]: The Beat of Tahiti; Criterion/Tiare Tahiti STT-1700; 1957 |
| [Gaston Guilbert]: Tahiti Fete!; Criterion/Tiare Tahiti TT-1800 (2 volumes) | |
| 7 | [Gaston Guilbert]: Drums of the South Seas; Tempo TT-2254 |
| 5 | [Gaston Guilbert]: South Seas Honeymoon; Capitol T-10080 |
| 7 | [Gaston Guilbert] Charles Mauu, Loma..: Tahiti--Dream Island; Capitol STAO-10281 (Criterion/Reo Tahiti SRT-540) |
| 6 | [Gaston Guilbert]: Tahiti--Island of Paradise; MGM SE-4082 |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & his Native Tahitians Presents Tahiti Dances, Vol. 1 10"; Tahiti (partly reissued on 12" LPs) |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & his Native Tahitians Presents Tahiti Dances, Vol. 2 10"; Tahiti (partly reissued on 12" LPs) |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & his Native Tahitians: Tahiti Dances; Tahiti [no #] (same jacket art as 10" Vol. 1; 1 cut not on 10") |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & his Native Tahitians: Tahiti Dances; Tahiti TR-201 (photo jacket; 1 cut different than previous 12" LP) |
| 6 | Eddie Lund & his Tahitians: Rendezvous ŕ Tahiti; Criterion/Tahiti EL-1002 |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & his Tahitians featuring Mila Spitz: To the South Seas; Criterion/Tahiti EL-1003 (or no #; pan-Polynesian) |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & his Tahitians: Call of the Coral Isles; Tahiti EL-1004 (second jacket features Sylvain photo) |
| 6 | Eddie Lund & his Tahitians & Mila: I Remember Tahiti; Tahiti EL-1005 |
| 6 | Eddie Lund & his Tahitians: L'Echo d'un Lointain Lagon; Tahiti EL-1006 (Sylvain photo jacket) |
| 6 | Eddie Lund & Tahitians: Rendezvous in Tahiti; Decca DL-8189 |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & Tahitians: Your Musical Holiday in the South Seas; Decca DL-8608 |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & Ceremonial Musicians from "Mutiny on the Bounty": A Musical Adventure in Magic Tahiti; Columbia CS-8701; 1962 |
| 7 | Eddie Lund & Tahitians/Mutiny on the Bounty Drummers: Tahitian Paradise; ABC-Paramount ABCS-444; 1962 |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...Make Mine Tahitian; Tahiti EL-1012 |
| Eddie Lund Presents...Pepe & the Rarotongans: Rarotonga; Tahiti EL-1014 (probably same as Siren Songs of the South Seas; Viking/Olympic 6153) | |
| Eddie Lund Presents...Will Crummer & the Seastars: Tahiti Meets Manihiki; Tahiti EL-1015 | |
| Eddie Lund Presents...: Tahiti--Mon Amour; Tahiti EL-1016 | |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...Aparima et Otea; Tahiti EL-1017 (1/2 drums; w/Hiriata et son Choeur, Salamon et ses Batteurs, Maono et le Groupe de Patutoa) |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...Mariterangi/Jean Masson: Ua Reka Mariterangi; Tahiti EL-1018; 1965 |
| 5 | Eddie Lund Presents...Bora Bora; Tahiti EL-1019 |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...Les Barefoot Boys et Loma: Au Tahiti Village; Tahiti EL-1020; 1966 |
| Eddie Lund Presents...Salut a Aitutaki; Tahiti EL-1021 | |
| Eddie Lund Presents...Les "Mama Ruau" Mormones: Tempo-Tuamotu; Tahiti EL-1022 | |
| Eddie Lund Presents...Les Barefoot Boys et Loma: Encore!; Tahiti EL-1023 | |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...[Various:] For Beachcombers Only; Tahiti EL-1024 (Eddie Lund & his Tahitians, Sam Koki & the Islanders, Loma & the Barefoot Boys, Daphne Walker & the Kiwis) |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...Les Barefoot Boys: Bar Lea; Tahiti EL-1025 |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...Otea Tare Tahiti/Saloman et son Groupe: Tane te Vahine; Tahiti EL-1026 |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...Loma avec ses Copains; Tahiti EL-1027 |
| 6 | Eddie Lund Presents...Marie Terangi et les Bel Air Boys: Paumotu Party au Bel Air; Tahiti EL-1028 |
| 7 | Eddie Lund Presents...L'Orchestre Hotel Tahiti: Hotel Tahiti; Tahiti EL-1029 |
| 5 | Eddie Lund Presents...Eddie Lund & his Tahitians: Paumotu Guitar; Tahiti EL-1036 ST |
| 5 | Eddie Lund: Mai Tai Time; Capitol/Tower T-5001 (organ) |
| 7 | Maeva & Manuia: Otuitui-Tahiti; Criterion/Reo Tahiti RTS-520; 1965 (partly rock; most songs by Eddie Lund but prod. Michael Goldsen) |
| 8 | Charles Mauu & his Royal Polynesians: Polynesia!; Capitol T-483 (reissues 10") |
| 6 | Charles Mauu, his Coconut Uke & Roche's Tahitians: Tamuré Tahiti; Dot DLP-25494 (Criterion/Reo Tahiti SRT-550) |
| 6 | Francis Maziere [recorded]: The Gaughin Years--Songs & Dances of Tahiti; Nonesuch H-72017 |
| 8 | Mokulani: Twilight in Tahiti; Repeat RS-170-9 |
| 8 | Te Popaa Groupe & Les Tahitians: I Left My Heart in Tahiti; Criterion/Reo Tahiti SRT-570 |
| 6 | Punaauia Serenaders: Tamure! Tamure!; Tiare Tahiti STT-1900 |
| 6 | Quinn's Combo & the Tahitian Native Group: Tahiti Yesterday & Today; RCA Victor LSP-3344; 1965 |
| 7 | Revue Tahiti Nui: Tahiti Nui; Barclay 920.457; 1974 (France; group formed from amateurs) |
| 8 | Carlos Rubio: Tamouré; Fontana SRF-67515/MGF-27515 (UK label) |
| 5 | The South Sea Champion Drummers: Pahu Tahiti!; Dot DLP-25297 (Criterion/Reo Tahiti SRT-560) |
| 4 | The South Sea Serenaders: Beachcomber Serenade; Criterion/Tahiti TR-200; 1950-55 |
| 6 | Terorotua & his Tahitians: The Lure of Tahiti; ABC-Paramount ABCS-271 |
| 8 | Toti's Tahitians: Tahiti Dances; 49th State LP-3422 |
| 8 | Toti's Tahitians: Little Brown Gal; 49th State LP-3426 |
| 7 | Voices of the Atolls & Zizou Bar Trio: Ta'u Tahiti (Mon Tahiti); Criterion/Tiare Tahiti TT-2000 (Gaston Guilbert) |
| 6 | Uncredited: Drums of Bora Bora & Papeete; 49th State LP-3422 |
| 5 | Uncredited: Polynesia; Sutton SSU-337 |
| Unknown: Call of the South Seas; Tahiti | |
| Unknown: I Dream of Tahiti; Capitol | |
| 7 | Various: Special Ute-Tamure; Tamure 3005 (w/Charles Mauu; arr. Yves Roche) |
Partly Tahitian LPs
| Rating | |
| 7 | Hal Aloma: The Lure of the Islands; Dot DLP-25057 ("Tahitian Drums") |
| 8 | Hal Aloma at the Luau 400; Dot DLP-25367 |
| 8 | Hal Aloma Sings Island Songs; Dot DLP-25451 |
| 6 | The Bonaires: Polynesian Sunset; Dot DLP-25585 (vocal group similar to the Invitations, w/orch. led by Sam Kaapuni) |
| 7 | Lanakila Brandt: Polynesian Potpourri; Mahalo M-4003; 1963 |
| 6 | Webley Edwards & Hawaii Calls: Waikiki!; Capitol DT-772 |
| 8 | Siegfried Fink/Das Wurzburger Percussions Ensemble: Talking Drums; Gema/Capella/Thorofon MTH-124 (drums; "Les Echanges") |
| 7 | Chick Floyd: Hula-La; Liberty LST-7106; 1958 (w/Martin Denny Group, Danny Stewart, Pua Almeida, Barney Isaacs, Sonny Kamahele..) |
| 6 | Jon Hall Brings Music from Hawaii; Mercury SRW-12510 ("Minoi Minoi E") |
| 7 | Haunani: Aloha from Haunani; Decca DL-74705 ("Tanga Tika") |
| 6 | Haunani: Trade Wind Islands; Capitol ST-1203 |
| 7 | Haunani: Moon of the Southern Seas; Capitol ST-1381 |
| 5 | Haunani!; Capitol ST-1700 |
| 6 | The Hawaiian Surfers at Duke Kahanamoku's; Decca DL-74562 |
| 4 | The Hawaiian Surfers: Coral Reef; Decca DL-74700 ("Minoi Minoi") |
| 8 | Thurston Knudson: The Rhythm of Tropic Drums 10"; Tempo TT-2212 |
| 8 | Thurston Knudson: Alibi for Drums 10"; Tempo TT-2266 (w/Danny Stewart, Sam Koki, George Worth, Milt Holland) |
| 5 | Thurston Knudson & Augie Goupil: Jungle Drums 10"; Decca DL-5426; 1952 (78 album A-718; 1949; also on Tahitian Rhythms & Jungle Drums; Decca DL-8216) |
| 6 | Henry Mancini: Charade ST; RCA Victor LSP-2755; 1963 ("Orange Tamoure") |
| 5 | Jack de Mello/Marie Tarangi Trio: James Michener's Favorite Music of Hawaii; RCA Victor LSP-2150; 1959 |
| 7 | Ernie Menehune Presents Enchanting Songs of the Islands: Back to Aloha Land; Heath/Roadrunner S-1313 ("Minoi Minoi"--different than 45 version) |
| 5 | James Michener's Favorites of the South Seas; RCA Victor LSP-2995; 1965 |
| 7 | Johnny Poi & the Oahu Islanders: Aloha Hawaii; Design DLP-130 ("Tahiti") |
| 6 | The Royal Tahitian Dance Company: Monitor Presents...; Monitor MFS-758; 1974 (w/1 Augie Goupil composition) |
| 5 | The Royal Tahitians: Soft Sounds from the South Seas; Dot DLP-25305 |
| 5 | The Royal Tahitians: Soft Sounds from the South Seas Vol. 2; Dot DLP-25411 |
| 5 | The Royal Tahitians: Soft Sounds from the South Seas Vol. 3; Dot DLP-25485 |
| 4 | The Royal Tahitians: Soft Sounds from the South Seas Vol. 4; Dot DLP-25623 |
| 5 | The Royal Tahitians: Melodies from the South Seas; Dot/Hamilton HLP-12123 (compilation) |
| Don Tiare: Strings Over the South Seas; Dot DLP-12483 | |
| Bill Wolfgramme & his Islanders: Sounds of Hawaii; Fiesta FLPS-1701 | |
| 4 | Tihati's South Seas Spectacular |
| [Unknown]: Tahiti--Ile de Paradis; MGM (Criterion/Reo Tahiti SRT-530) | |
| 5 | Various: Adventures in Paradise; ABC-Paramount ABCS-329 |
| 5 | Various: Adventures in Paradise Vol. 2; ABC-Paramount ABCS-358 |
| 5 | Various: Adventures in Paradise Vol. 3; ABC-Paramount ABCS-414 |
| Various: Adventures in Paradise Vol. 4; ABC-Paramount ABCS- |
Tahitian 45s
| Rating | |
| Teaitu Mariterangi: Paumotu!; Criterion EP-45 RPM-RT-419 (Eddie Lund) |
Tahitian 78s (10")
| Rating | |
| 7 | Augie Goupil & his Royal Tahitians: Marcelle Vahine (Ute)/Maruru a Vaw; Decca 1326 |
| 7 | Augie Goupil & his Royal Tahitians: [Decca Presents an Album of] Tahitian Rhythms; Decca 78 album A-34 (10 singles, 2252-6 A&B; w/Bob Nichols; notes by Thurston Knudson; partly on Thurston Knudson & Augie Goupil: Tahitian Rhythms & Jungle Drums; Decca DL-8216) |
Hyp Records is a 3-part guide:
|
Go to Hip Wax Some of these records may be for sale at |
© 2001 Hip Wax