One of my MAJOR record collecting fetishes is the wild & wonderful world of Exotica Music.  Exotica music (named after the Martin Denny album "Exotica" that came out in the mid-50's) was popular during the 50's and 60's, and unfortunately, disappeared after that.  I first became familiar with Exotica music thanks to the industrial band Throbbing Gristle.  Their album "Throbbing Gristle's Greatest Hits" had a cover and some liner notes that were a homage to Martin Denny.  I found some Denny albums during my travels, and have been a major fan of Denny's and Exotica music since. 

On my old page at perkypat.com, I did an Exotica special a few years ago.  Since then, I've discovered a lot more interesting music, and decided to inaugurate my new site with a new Exotica special.  Lots of liner notes are included below (when I do music shows from here on, I will be adding as much info about the music as I can...(Thanks to Henry Rollin's "Harmony In My Head" site for the idea to include copious notes).

As an aside, this show (and all future shows) will be less than 80 minutes so that the shows can be downloaded & burned to a CD if you want.  The show was recorded in 128 Bit MP3 format, so sonically it should sound pretty good for you.  I'll be experimenting with RSS & posting as more of a podcast in the future.  Thanks for listening to my show!!! If you have any comments, please email me at quispquake@quispquake.info. 

	From the LP: Hypnotique 1959 Liberty Records
	Starting off our show with the Exotica Master.  Martin Denny was the first to integrate bird sounds and more into his music (he was playing a show in Hawaii and some frogs started croaking, and they played to the frogs croaking...the audience loved it, and a new music genre was born!).  This track is from an album that I don't think has been released on CD (this is from an LP rip from my collection).  It's one of my favorite Denny albums, so enjoy "Jungle Madness".
	From the LP: Sounds of Exotic Island Somerset Records
	Here's a GREAT exotica album I picked up years ago at a record show solely on the strength of the cover.  The music is very Denny-Like, and was obviously released as a cash-in on the exotica craze that was happening.  Many exotica classics, and excellent use of bird calls and other animal sounds.  As far as I can find out, the Surfmen were solely a studio group, probably tied to Somerset Records.
	From the LP: Tropical Fantasy Columbia Records 1962
	Here's a recent discovery of my exotica search.  Michael Magne's "Tropical Fantasy".  Truly one of the most BIZARRE exotica records, Michael not only used the usual bird calls & animal sounds, he used ALL KINDS of weird sounds.  I'd have to say that this album is probably the strangest exotica record that I've heard, but it's REALLY FUN!!!
	From the LP: Realm of the Incans GNP Crescendo 1961
	Elisabeth Waldo is still around (check out here website at http://www.elisabethwaldomusic.com/).  She released a couple of albums back in the early 60's featuring "Authentic Pre-Columbian Instruments".  Ms. Waldo was a virtuoso on the violin that was 'discovered' by Leopold Stowkowski.  Each of her GNP albums are excellent exotica pieces, with none of the classic 'bird calls' or anything, but rather her attempt at creating music that provided a tribute to the many cultures that her music mined.
	From the LP: Tamboo! Capital Records
	Tamboo! was Les Baxter's take on the whole Exotica movement.  Les uses his usual over the top orchestration, but does retain a feel for the music.  I was wanting to hear this album is Stereo, but it turns out the Mono Copy of the album I have is the only way this album exists.  It has been re-released as a two-fer along with his album "Skins".  Jello Biafra for one says he prefers Les Baxter to Martin Denny, for the reason that his is so over the top.  QuispQuake.info presents "Simba" so that you can make up your mind for yourself :)
	From the LP: Chant of the Jungle 1960
	Augie Colon was originally one of the two percussionists with the Martin Denny Band (the other being Julius Wechter).  In 1960, he did his own album of Exotica, and it's quite good.  Obviously, it's a bit more percussive heavy than Martin Denny's albums, but the album is indeed a lot of fun...One of the coolest things I've found recently is an Augie Colon tribute Tiki Mug...Check it out at Oogamooga.com.
	From the LP: Voodoo Tops Records 1959
	Due to this record originally coming out on "Tops Records" back in 1959, it has existed pretty much in obscurity since then.  However, Dionysis recently released this album to great acclaim.  Drasnin was known more for his scores for TV and Movies, but did this as a 'quickie'.  People loved it, and he actually made a "Voodoo II" recorded live in 2007!!!  Obviously he's still active, and you can check out his Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/drasnin.
	From the LP: Taboo: Exotic Sound of Arthur Lyman Hi Fi 1958
	Arthur Lyman was originally the vibes player with the Martin Denny Band, and played on Denny's first classic album "Exotica".  Lyman's sound wasn't as frenzied as Martin Denny's, but he put out a lot of enjoyable music.  Check out this selection from his classic "Taboo-Exotic Sound of Arthur Lyman" album.
	From the LP: Exploring New Sounds in Stereo RCA 1959
	Esquivel is definitely the king of stereophonic exotica!  He made many albums that pushed the new stereo technology (RCA was at the forefront of stereo, since they also made the stereos that people played their records on!!!).  His music is very unique, and he basically created a very multi-layer sound on his recordings.  QuispQuake.info presents his version of Anton Karas' "Third Man Theme" for your listening pleasure!
	From the LP: Twilight Zone 1961Columbia Records
	What a great record!!! This was the first non-Denny exotica type album I ever bought (found for a happy dollar way back when at a thrift store.  Manning creates some very weird soundscapes (his Twilight Zone theme mixes the actual theme with some exotica singing to great effect).  Check out "Night On Bald Mountain" in wonderful stereo (I found this recently...the album I had all these years was glorious monophonic).
	From the LP: Zounds What Sounds Capital 1963
	I first heard about this album from the good folks at ReSearch in their "Incredibly Strange Music" book.  Basically, Elliott takes some jazzy arrangements, and adds multiple sound effects up to and including the kitchen sink.  The album is very 'busy', but it's a really fun listen.  Enjoy "It's All Right With Me".
	From the Ed Wood Soundtrack Hollywood Records 1994
	What a great movie, and what a great soundtrack!!! Howard Shore outdid himself on what is to my ears the best exotica music made in the past 30 plus years.  It was also cool to see Korla Pandit during the party scene (Korla's heard later on in this exotica special).
	From the LP: Fantastica! Liberty 1959
	I was introduced to this album from a web site of a few years ago, Jack Diamond Music (now defunct I think?  PLEASE prove me wrong!!!).  This is an AMAZING record, all having to do with outer space.  It almost has a classical feel in parts...But, it's extremely innovative, and honestly, this is a VERY unique and recommended record...grab it if you see it!!!
	From the LP: Korla Pandit Plays Music of the Exotic East Fantasy Records 1958
	Korla Pandit was very popular in the 50's because of a show he had on TV which featured him playing his organ music.  I really enjoy his sounds which although simple, have a lot of feeling. I don't think this has been released on CD, and was ripped from my beautiful BLUE VINYL copy...Enjoy!!!
	From the LP: Legend of the Jivaro Capital 1957
	The Incan Princess is still active recording and performing (check out her site at http://www.yma-sumac.com/).  I originally found a sealed copy of this at a thrift store in the late 80's and it's been a favorite ever since.  Lots of chanting surrounded by Yma's amazing multi-octave voice...
	From the LP: Eden's Island 1960 Del-Fi Records
	Eden Ahbez was best known for writing "Nature Boy" for Nat King Cole.  However, he was a very free thinking individual (some people call him the first hippie).  He released one album called "Eden's Island" featuring exotica music, cool vocals, and best of all, lots of his philosophy of life.  A very unique record, by a very unique individual.
	From the LP: Lotus Land Decca
	As somebody on the great blog Xtabay's World pointed out, Gene Rains had the same instrumentation as Martin Denny or Arthur Lyman, but instead of the music being based in Jazz, Rains was based in Classical.  This gave Gene Rains a unique, but quite beautiful sound.  Enjoy "Lotus Land".
	From the LP: Pink Hawaii Strand Records 1962
	Billy Mure was a guitarist best known for his "Super Sonic Guitar" series on RCA where he played in a very spastic style.  However, I found this album a few years back in a thrift store, and Mure mellows, and plays some very pretty, and yes, exotic type Hawaiian songs.  A very nice, very "Pink" album.
	From the LP: Futura RCA 1962
	Best known as the composer on the "Musically Mad" album, Bernie Green also put out a super entry in RCA Record's "Stereo Action" series.  DEFINITELY put on a pair of headphones for any of these records!!! Bernie Green does a song called Ping Pong, and that's exactly what the sound does...Enjoy!!!
	From the LP: Tambo RCA 1960
	One of my favorite albums.  This album features the great Tito Puente's take on the exotica genre...he merges Latin beats with an exotic sound to GREAT effect.  The entire album just swings hard!  As an aside, "Tambo" also has one of my favorite album covers.  I think this one has been reissued on CD, so pick it up if you find it!
	From the LP: Jungle Echoes Omega Records
	Another cool thrift store find...this one is the most percussive of the albums that I've heard by him.  (All his albums are percussive, but this one is almost minimally so).  In glorious Stereophonic sound on the cool Omega label (I also have a sound effects record on Omega that just sounds amazing...they obviously had super pressing & quality control).
	From the LP: Tropical Fantasy Columbia Records 1962
	Another track from Michael Magne's "Tropical Fantasy".  This one is pretty darned weird if I do say...I hope you enjoy it!!!
	From the LP: Realm of the Incans GNP Crescendo 1961
	And another track from Elisabeth Waldo's "Realm of the Incans".  I think her compositions are quite interesting, and hope you do too.
	From the LP: Afro-Desia Liberty records 1961
	And finally, we end the show like we began the show, with Martin Denny.  This track is from his ultra-cool "Afro-Desia" album.  On this album, Denny combined his traditional (?!) exotica sounds, with African rhythms to great effect.  I read in an interview where he said friends would bring him all kinds of exotic instruments when they travelled, and I'm sure he had some interesting ones here, as there are all kinds of unique sounds.