Ultra-Lounge Vol.4 Bachelor Pad Royale - "Midnight music for cool cats!"

 

1 Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra – The Theme From Route 66 2:09

2 The John Buzon Trio– Caravan 2:40

3 Line Renaud– Sexe 3:35

4 Lou Busch & His Orchestra– Cool 2:33

5 Milt Buckner– The Beast 2:33

6 Elliott Fisher– Theme From "Our Man Flint" 2:32

7 Jack Fascinato– Spring, Sprang, Sprung 2:59

8 Alvino Rey– Night Train 3:49

9 Martin Denny– Harlem Nocturne 2:36

10 Sam Butera– The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams / Fever 5:58

11 Joe Bucci Trio– Topsy 2:32

12 Dave Pell– Like Young 2:43

13 Lou Busch & His Orchestra– Street Scene '58 2:25

14 Cy Coleman– Playboy's Theme 2:50

15 Jimmie Haskell– A Shot In The Dark 2:07

16 Spike Jones New Band– Shangri-La 1:59

17 Julie London– Black Coffee 3:06

18 King Curtis– Melancholy Serenade 2:08

Ultra-Lounge Vol.4 Bachelor Pad Royale

It's A Scandal! Songs For Soho Blondes - various artists compilation

 

Compiled by Bob Stanley and Martin Green, It's A Scandal! harks back to the heady world of Soho clubland in the years immediateley before Swinging London, an environment evoked on record through risqué material sung by the likes of Diana Dors, Shirley Bassey and Elke Sommer. This was the milieu for many of the characters caught up in the Profumo Affair, satirised by the Miss X single and further exploited by Mandy Rice-Davies. Most of this material is hard to find on CD, and all will appeal to the aficionados of burlesque.

1 Miss X– Christine

2 Mandy Rice-Davies– Close Your Eyes

3 Shirley Bassey– Sex

4 Lucille Mapp– Chinchilla

5 Diana Dors– Roller Coaster Blues

6 The Knightsbridge Chorale– Make Mine Mink

7 Elke Sommer– Be Not "Notty"

8 Anne Heywood– Love Is

9 Maxine Daniels– Lola's Heart

10 The Barry Sisters– Why Don't You Do Right

11 Eric Winstone Orchestra*– Picadilly Third Stop

12 Sheila Buxton– Shakedown

13 Lynn Cornell– Demon Lover

14 Jeri Southern– Run

15 The Beverley Sisters– The Sphinx Won't Tell

16 Valerie Masters– Say When

17 The Jazz Stars– The Jazz Scene

18 Beryl Bryden– Moanin'

19 Linda Laurie– Ooh, What A Lover

20 Marion Ryan– An Occational Man

21 Anita Lindblom– Mr Big Wheel

22 Toni Eden– Send Me

23 Sylvia Sands– Love Me Now! Love Me Now! Love Me Now!

24 Eve Boswell– Wimoweh Cha Cha

25 Miss X– S-E-X

 It's A Scandal! Songs For Soho Blondes

Another Lazy Sunday - Volumes One and Two - various jazz artists

 

Another Lazy Sunday - Volume One

Another Lazy Sunday - Volume Two

Martin Denny - Exotica (1957) - reissue/remastered edition

 

Martin Denny’s Exotica may or may not have actually coined the genre’s name, but it certainly pushed “exotica” to greater prominence in the late ’50s. This classic collection of lounge-jazz, much of which consists of Les Baxter-penned tunes, is a mellow and cool collection, one perhaps most famous for its cover, which depicts frequent exotica cover girl Sandy Warner peeking through a bamboo curtain. 

Its subtle, mysterious sexuality fits the mood, which is one of inebriated island leisure. That’s not to say it’s a very sexy album necessarily, just one with great atmosphere. In fact, first track “Quiet Village,” a genre standard, kicks off with the squawks of tropical birds, which, by today's standards, sounds just a little silly. But that said, exotica is a genre that wholly embraced camp value, so this is merely par for the course. There are a handful of standouts here, such as “Return to Paradise” and “China Nights,” but on the whole this album breezes by gently and warmly, mostly background music, but quite lovely background at that.

1 Quiet Village 3:41

2 Return To Paradise 2:21

3 Hong Kong Blues 2:18

4 Busy Port 2:53

5 Lotus Land 2:26

6 Similau 2:00

7 Stone God 3:09

8 Jungle Flower 1:50

9 China Nights 2:04

10 Ah Me Furi 2:11

11 Waipo 3:14

12 Love Dance 2:31

13 Quiet Village 3:48

14 Return To Paradise 2:21

15 Hong Kong Blues 2:17

16 Busy Port 2:42

17 Lotus Land 3:48

18 Similau 2:29

19 Stone God 3:16

20 Jungle Flower 2:05

21 China Nights 2:15

22 Ah Me Furi 2:34

23 Waipo 2:53

24 Love Dance 2:32

Exotica

Julie London...Wild, Cool and Swingin'..the Artist Collection

 

Julie London (September 26, 1926 – October 18, 2000) was an American singer and actress whose career spanned more than 40 years. A torch singer noted for her sultry, languid contralto vocals, London recorded over thirty albums of pop and jazz standards between 1955 and 1969. Her recording of "Cry Me a River", a track she introduced on her debut album, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.

Born in Santa Rosa, California to vaudevillian parents,London was discovered while working as an elevator operator in downtown Los Angeles, and she began her career as an actress. In the mid-1950s, she signed a recording contract with Liberty Records, marking the beginning of her professional musical career. She released her final studio album in 1969.

1        Come On-A My House
2        My Heart Belongs To Daddy
3        Girl Talk
4        You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
5        You're My Thrill
6        Makin' Whoopee
7        Black Coffee
8        'Tain't What You Do
9        Blues In The Night
10        Comin' Thro' The Rye
11        Night Life
12        You And The Night And The Music
13        Nice Girls Don't Stay For Beautiful
14        Watermelon Man
15        Go Slow
16        Wives And Lovers
17        I Must Have That Man
18        Let There Be Love
19        Mad About The Boy
20        Daddy
21        Love For Sale
22        Mickey Mouse March

 Julie London

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Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails...Hi-Fi Holiday Cheer from Santa's Pad

 

A perfect martini-and-mistletoe combo, Christmas Cocktails will gaily seduce you with its bevy of nostalgic and occasionally campy holiday fare. Vocal vixens Peggy Lee, Julie London (her "I'd Like You for Christmas" will melt the ice cubes in your fridge), Kay Starr and Nancy Wilson join forces with perennial crooners such as Lou Rawls, Dean Martin and the immortal Nat "King" Cole, along with a handful of instrumental big-band numbers and odd, at times cheese-ball-shaped jazz organ pieces from Jimmy McGriff and the flammable Eddie Dundstedter, among others. But the essential item that makes plunking down your pelts for this very chi-chi set is none other than Billy May's lovably kitschy workout called "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo." It's a scream!

Tracklist:
–Billy May     Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo     2:40
–Peggy Lee     Winter Wonderland     1:54
–Ray Anthony  Christmas Trumpets / We Wish You A Very Merry Christmas     –Lou Rawls     Christmas Is     3:15
–Jimmy McGriff     Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town / White Christmas     6:48
–Julie London     I'd Like You For Christmas     2:37
–Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani     Holiday On Skis     2:32
–Kay Starr     (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag     2:42
–Hollyridge Strings*     Jingle Bells / Jingle Bell Rock     5:15
–Dean Martin     I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm     2:44
–Eddie Dunstedter  I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / Jingle Bells Bossa Nova  –Ray Anthony     Christmas Kisses     1:58
–Jackie Gleason / Jack Marshall  I'll Be Home For Christmas / Baby, It's Cold –Nancy Wilson     What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?     2:25
–Capitol Studio Orchestra     Cha-Cha All The Way     2:22
–Nat King Cole     The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)     3:12
–Les Brown & His Band Of Renown*     The Nutcracker Suite     6:32
–Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians     Ring Those Christmas Bells     5:00
–Renzo Cesana     Today I Buy You Violets     2:26
–Nat King Cole & Peggy Lee & Nancy Wilson  Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots  –Capitol Studio Orchestra     Jingle Bells From Capitol Records     1:21

 Christmas Cocktails

 

La Dolce Vita!...Italian cool...from Rome to the Amalfi coast

Post-war Italy became a nation celebrated for its brilliant football teams, beautiful women, modernist design and groundbreaking cinema. This double CD gathers music by the likes of Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone and Sophia Loren, so paying tribute to La Dolce Vita - the sweet years in Italy.

 Tracklist
01-01     La Dolce Vita - Nino Rota    
01-02     Piccola - Adriano Celentano    
01-03     Zoo-Be-Zoo-Be-Zoo - Sophia Loren    
01-04     Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno    
01-05     I Love You - Frank Sinatra    
01-06     Nessuno Al Mondo - Ennio Morricone & Helen Merrill    
01-07     Firenze Mia - Angelo Petisi    
01-08     Tu Vuò Fa' L'Americano - Renato Carosone    
01-09     Marechiaro Marechiaro - Sergio Bruni    
01-10     Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney    
01-11     Arrivederci Roma - Dean Martin    
01-12     Domani - Julius La Rosa    
01-13     Non Ti Scordar Di Me - Al Martino    
01-14     Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered - Rita Hayworth    
01-15     Il Capello - Edoardo Vianello    
01-16     Il Cielo In Una Stanza - Mina    
01-17     La Donna Che Vale (Il Lieto Fine) Alberto Lionello, Ennio Morricone   
01-18     Torna A Surriento - Sergio Franchi    
01-19     Na Voce, 'Na Chitarra E'O Poco 'E Lune - Ugo Calise    
01-20     Thinking Blues - Piero Umiliani  
  
02-01     Comme Facette Mammeta - Sergio Franchi    
02-02     Ciao, Ciao Bambina - Jerry Vale    
02-03     Stelle e Sogni - Barbara Baldassarre and Ennio Morricone    
02-04     I Wanna Be Loved By You - Marilyn Monroe    
02-05     La Gatta - Gino Paoli    
02-06     Quando - Luigi Tenco    
02-07     Sidonie - Brigitte Bardot    
02-08     Moon River - Henry Mancini    
02-09     Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin    
02-10     Gassman Blues - Piero Umiliani    
02-11     My Only Man - Piero Umiliani    
02-12     A Vucchella - Mario Lanza    
02-13     Eh Cumapari - Julius La Rosa    
02-14     Let's Do It - Jayne Mansfield    
02-15     The Sheik Of Araby - Lou Monte    
02-16     Guaglione - Teddy Reno    
02-17     Un Po Di Cielo - Quartetto Cetra    
02-18     La Spagnola - Gina Lollobrigida    
02-19     Muriu Lu Me Canuzzu - Andrea Stocchetti    
02-20     Seddok, I'erede Di Satana - Armando Trovaioli

                                                La Dolce Vita! #1 La Dolce Vita #2

                                       
 

 

Ultra-Lounge Volume Six...Rhapsodesia...music and Martinis for lovers only

This is one of the more LAID BACK albums in the Ultra-Lounge series and is an excellent example of the "lounge" genre.

Classic mid century modern music, it's like a soundtrack to Mad Men. Lush arrangements:" Sleep Walk"," Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Tenderly", "Girl Talk", and the" Theme From Picnic". Sexy, fun lyrics performed by amazing female vocalists: "Go Slow" by Julie London, "You're My Thrill" by Dolores Gray, and "Do It Again" by April Stevens. Also notable are "Serenata" by the Jonah Jones Quartet and Jackie Gleason's "Tenderly".

For those who are uninitiated, I recommend this as an excellent entry into the genre...though really any of the Ultra Lounge collections would do about as well.

Rhapsodesia

Cocktail Capers: Ultra-Lounge Vol.8...Mondo Space-Age Bachelor Pad A-Go-Go

Powerful, high-fidelity and FUN! Cool music from the Mad Men era. A collection of lounge music by various artists with performers such as Gloria Wood whose "Hey Bellboy" is a hoot and Cy Coleman whose music is so sensual(his "Pussycat" will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck with some of its unexpected chords!).

Many of the selections that appear here are not available elsewhere, either because the original album on which the song appeared is out of print, or because the song was issued as a single and never collected in an album.

Cocktails anyone?!

Ultra Lounge Vol. 4..Bachelor Pad Royale...Midnight Music for Cool Cats

Jazzy, Snazzy Tunes for your Space-Age Bachelor Pad!

Oh, this one really swings! Quite possibly the best in the Ultra Lounge series, this one never fails to please. From the tickling ivories opening the "Theme from Route 66" (a song that makes you feel like you've gone back in time) to the fading wails of "Melancholy Serenade" (Jackie Gleason's theme song), you're in for a fun, cool, sexy ride!

People say "Sexe" is a little too obvious. Well, yeah, it is, but the real fun comes during the sax solo, which has the power to ease you into a relaxing calm...but not too relaxed! On the other end of the spectrum is the rocking, rollicking "Night Train" which (along with the suspicious and menacing "A Shot in the Dark" and the superior "Street Scene '58") is the most blasting tune that disturbs the general ease and quiet of the disc. Although Sam Butera's double-shot of "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Fever" isn't so meek, either. "Boulevard" is Sam at his raspy best, and "Fever" is no less than hilarious (listen to those deep-voiced guys chanting "Feva!")

Martin Denny turns in an excellent "Harlem Nocturne." "Topsy" takes it nice 'n easy here on an organ (sounds great), but is shown up by Cy Coleman's lovely "Playboy's Theme," from the Playboy show in the '60s. A bachelor's anthem accompanied by a soft touch on the ride cymbal and a gracefully jazzy piano, this tune is just as can be expected--smooth, silky, and sexy, leisurely floating along on gossamer strings.

See also Bossa Novaville on this blog.

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Ultra Lounge Vol.14 Bossa Novaville ... various artists..Cool and Swinging Lounge Sounds

So Cool..So Sexy..So Rio...So Ipanema

Flying down to Rio? No need to. These 18 velvet Brazilian Bossa-beaters are smoother than scratch-free Formica and cooler than a Frigidaire. 

In the 50's and 60s, dancing the Bossa Nova was the most cool and fashionable thing to do and be seen doing! There were many clubs where you could dance to it and Bossa Nova parties were all the rage.

Just the thing for your next poolside party. So, stick around, you're in Sambatown. Suave!

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