Io E Mara
A Milan-born multi-instrumentalist of Venetian heritage, Alberto Baldan Bembo was a gifted vibraphonist, organist, pianist, arranger, and composer whose work bridged jazz, pop, and film music. By the early 1960s, he was performing with Italy’s leading ensembles, including I Menestrelli del Jazz and Bruno De Filippi’s group, and soon became an in-demand session musician. For several years, he toured with the legendary Mina, providing the piano and organ backbone to her live shows—a role that shar…
Whipped Cream & Other Delights
Originally released in 1965, Whipped Cream & Other Delights stands as the landmark fourth studio album from Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. Universally recognized as the group’s most popular and commercially successful record, the album masterfully blends elements of pop, jazz, and Latin-inspired instrumentals, offering an irresistible listening experience that continues to captivate audiences across generations.
Known for its smooth, catchy melodies and vibrant, upbeat arrangements, Whipped Cr…
Exotic Percussion
Now joining the Jackpot Record’s ever-expanding collection of Martin Denny re-issues is the hypnotic “visual sound” of Exotic Percussion, which has not been on vinyl since its original release in 1961. His production on Exotic Percussion is ambitious, adventurous, and fascinatingly futuristic, especially when a tumbler with ice was still the preferred way to let loose. Xylophones and chimes swim from ear to ear; traditional jazz instrumentation collides with such musical oddities as boo bas, sha…
The Enchanted Sea
Long before Martin Denny started heading into outer space with his Moog work, he was keeping us just floating slightly above the ground with the sounds of the earth—and The Enchanted Sea is one of his most grounded and beautiful works. Unlike many of his other exotica records (which are filled with the sounds of the jungle, its wildlife, and the smell of tiki bar smoke) this one has the feeling of a tumbler full of ice, walking barefoot on a sandy beach in the twilight, while breathing in the sa…
Forbidden Island
There’s a reason why Martin Denny remains a cultural touchstone—his records are as earthly as they are from outer space. Forbidden Island was Denny’s third record, recorded after a nine-month residency in Hawaii. This era finds Denny just on the cusp of being a household name, a period where his records would shortly become certified Gold. Forbidden Island is a solidification of Denny being the King of the Exotica sound, where his recordings could illuminate just enough darkness across the Tiki …
Italian Library Songbook Vol. 2: Piero Umiliani
The Italian Library Songbook series, where contemporary producers and songwriters breathe new life into hidden tracks and outtakes from Italian soundtrack maestros, is back with its second installment. This time, beat-maker and bass player Moonbrew, along with composer and keyboardist Paolo Apollo Negri, reimagine the iconic Piero Umiliani, whose influence resonates deeply with anyone who grew up with a passion for b-movies, library music, and soundtracks.
The Complete Liuto and Sound Work Shop Heritage
For the first time ever, the whole Piero Umiliani’s production on his Liuto and Sound Work Shop record labels is collected in a two sensational box sets.
Exotic Dreams – Martin Denny Presents The Enticing Voice Of Ethel Azama
Exotica masterpiece finally re-issued ! Which record is produced by Martin Denny, arranged by pianist Paul Conrad and features vintage Exotica's second lady who is only outclassed by the Peruvian chantress Yma Sumac? It's Exotic Dreams, released in 1958 that puts – so tells the cover artwork – "the enticing voice of Ethel Azama" (1934–1984), a Hawaiian Jazz singer, into the spotlight. Martin Denny discovered her a few years later and was able to negotiate with his house label Liberty Records, wh…
Mganga
Japan goes to Africa ! It's more than a bit ironic that Tak Shindo's most "exotic" album, the superb Mganga!, boasts no connection to his own Japanese heritage, instead focusing on the primal rhythms and tribal chants of Africa. Rooted largely in the arranger's experience on the Latin jazz circuit, its Afro-Cuban rhythms, sampled animal sounds, and chants capture an African musical culture based far more in fantasy than reality, much as rival exotica maestros like Martin Denny and Les Baxter con…
The Sounds Of Patchwork Vol. 1
Farfalla Records presents its new compilation dedicated to one of the most mythical and influential French library labels “Patchwork”.A collection of tracks focusing on groovy psyche pop, adventurous jazz funk, electronic experiments featuring analog synths, vintage keyboards and cosmic guitars recorded between 1976 and 1986 by renowned musicians from that era such as Jean-Pierre Decerf, Pierre Dutour, Teddy Lasry, Claude Perraudin and many more.
Paesaggi
Finally putting an end to a long wait for library music lovers, Four Flies Records is proud to present the first reissue of Piero Umiliani's Paesaggi – a record that, despite remaining for many years pretty obscure compared to other titles in the maestro's discography, is now regarded by collectors and experts as the gold standard in Italian library music. Originally released in two versions with different sleeves, the first on Liuto Records in 1971 and the second on Ciak Record in 1980, the al…
Eden Ahbez's Dharmaland
Eden Ahbez's Dharmaland, arranged and performed by Ixtahuele, is the first-ever recording of this long-lost masterwork by the original hippie composer. Resurrected from Ahbez’s unrecorded sheet music, c. 1961-63. Ixtahuele has woven an enchanted tapestry of mystic exotica and experimental pop that re- establishes the songwriter as a forefather of psychedelic music and brings his work into the present.
They are joined by a host of guest artists, including nine of Ahbez’s friends and former collab…
Continente Nero
Dialogo launches their brand new Piero Umiliani Legacy Series, with stunning reissues of "Africa" and "Continente Nero", two of the celebrated Italian composer's most important and creatively visionary works, which have been remastered from the original analogue master tapes.
Nella Misura in cui
Tip! Back in 1979, Italian director Piero Vivarelli made Nella misura in cui, a delicious erotic- exotic flick about a middle-aged, leftwing filmmaker who, being also an inveterate playboy, steals his son’s girlfriend and takes her on a holiday in the Caribbean where, a few years earlier, he shot his breakthrough feature. In real life, Vivarelli’s breakthrough feature was Il Dio Serpente (1970), a film whose sexy scenes have glued generations of viewers to the screen (actress Nadia Cassini has a…
Femina Ridens
** 2021 Repress ** If a jewel were to be chosen amongst the more than three hundred soundtracks that Maestro Stelvio Cipriani has composed during his long and prodigious career, that choice would probably not fall on the super classic and hyper known Anonimo Veneziano (the box-office and hit-parade champion who triggered the international fame of the Roman musician), but probably on his previous and less celebrated Femina Ridens – perhaps the most iconic of his soundtracks, along with Mark Il po…
Cha Cha au Harem - Orientica - France 1960/1964
** 2021 Stock ** In 1963, David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia won seven Oscars. Launching its actors to stardom, including Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif who played Prince Ali Ibn Kharish at the age of thirty. The latter incarnated the West’s vision of the Middle East which was simultaneously elusive, refined and elegant. His fiery stare, impeccable mustache and immaculate haircut had something to do with it: the Egyptian actor was a sex symbol of an era passionate for James Bond and OSS117 spy adven…
A Taste of India
Tip! This is the one and only Martin Denny diving into the highly exotic sounds of India. Originally released in 1968 on Liberty Records, A Taste of India stands as one of the best later Denny's work. Here the king of Exotica injects his gorgeous instrumental arrangements with tons of sitars and tanpuras as the main ingredients of another stylized sound trip. The album highlights include a memorable version of The Strawberry Alarm Clock's Incense and Peppermints and Denny's own masterpiece Hypno…
Rains In The Tropics
Gene Rains is a hot tip within the tiki scene. His works are not as known as those of Martin Denny or Les Baxters, but musically they play in the same league. Rains colourful compositions write their own story. Once the record starts playing, you'll be taken on a orchestral journey through polynesian isles, treasures in the jungle, old stone gods and also take a short side trip with songs like "Chines Nights" or "Bangkok Cock Fight".
Sondi
First time reissued on CD outside of Asia! Sondi Sodsai represented Thailand in the Miss Universe 1959 beauty pageant. She went by the alias "Sondi Sodsai" in her acting career because her last name "was too difficult for foreigners to pronounce“. The same year her sole album "Sondi" was released on Liberty Records in the USA. The fact that it was produced by the star of the Exotica scene; Martin Denny, led (and still leads) to a huge interest in this record. Lot's of new songs where written for…