Cocktail Swing

Cocktail Swing

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Any album that covers such a wide range of artists--from Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller to Guy Clark, George Jones, and Lefty Frizzell to Anne Murray and the Cheap Suit Serenaders--is bound to catch your eye. To be sure, Rani Arbo's quirky string-swing sound will intrigue fans of genre-benders like Dan Hicks, even if the licks here are sometimes only lukewarm rather than hot. Ukulele, mandolin, tenor banjo, Dobro, and homemade percussion all contribute to the musical mix. The result is certainly an eclectic and enjoyable listen, although pastiche sometimes does get in the way of the picking. Then again, isn't a pleasant, lounge-ready mix what you'd expect from an album called Cocktail Swing? --Marc Greilsamer

Tracks:

The Theme From Route 66 - Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra
Caravan - The John Buzon Trio
Sexe - Line Renaud
Cool - Lou Busch & His Orchestra
The Beast - Milt Buckner
Theme From 'Our Man Flint' - Elliott Fisher
Spring, Sprang, Sprung - Jack Fascinato
Night Train - Alvino Rey
Harlem Nocturne - Martin Denny
The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams/Fever - Sam Butera
Topsy - Joe Bucci Trio
Like Young - Dave Pell
Street Scene '58 - Lou Busch & His Orchestra
Playboy's Theme - Cy Coleman
A Shot In The Dark - Jimmie Haskell
Shangri-La - Spike Jones New Band
Black Coffee - Julie London
Melancholy Serenade - King Curtis

Customer Reviews:

Ted Nugent, please phone home.......2007-06-25

Ultra-Lounge Bachelor Pad Royale gives us a great selection of steamy romantic hits from the late 1950s and early 1960s that still sound great today! The lush and creative musical arrangements hold your attention rather easily and the quality of the sound is excellent.

The CD track set kicks off with "The Theme From Route 66" performed by Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra. The sound is cool, savvy and the melody goes along at just the right pace. The strings and percussion enhance this classic number, too. Great! The next track has The John Buzon Trio performing "Caravan" using the organ as they so often did to embellish the beauty of the number. The percussion hits it all just right and "Caravan" boasts a romantic and relentlessly upbeat melody.

"Cool" by Lou Busch & His Orchestra gives us an awesome rendition of this song from West Side Story; and "The Beast" by Milt Buckner oozes class and a certain type of panache you rarely hear these days. Like John Buzon and his buddies; the arrangement for "The Beast" makes good use of the organ. The piano shines on this number, too.

Alvino Rey's rendition of "Night Train" slinks along with a steamy, naturally romantic style that will prove beyond doubt that this music still retains its high quality control to this very day. Martin Denny was doing a lot of exotica by the late 1950s, but his version of "Harlem Nocturne" is sublime! The chimes work well; and the piano together with the bass make this number an instant classic. Hooray!

Sam Butera and his buddies perform a medley of "The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams/Fever" that leaves you sweating from its hot, hot, hot delivery; and "Street Scene '58" makes great use of the sax to romanticize this tune.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The last two tracks on this CD are Julie London's "Black Coffee" and "Melancholy Serenade" by King Curtis. Julie sings "Black Coffee" without a single superfluous note; but you should know that although "Melancholy Serenade" gets the royal treatment from King Curtis, this is not the interpretation of this song that I have heard before. Instead of the dramatic and somewhat boisterous use of the horns; King Curtis's rendition places the organ squarely into the spotlight of the arrangement and the single horn tones down this angle drastically. Nevertheless, the arrangement works well.

The liner notes include an informative essay by R. J. Smith; and the song credits and recording dates are there for you, too. The artwork reflects good taste and there are even two drink recipes!

I highly recommend this CD for fans of "lounge music" and for people who want to remember a time when cool music for lovers actually was cool music for lovers.

Enjoy!

Cool!.......2007-05-13

Brought me back to the days of tuxedos, secret agents and private detectives. Cool, very cool.

LOVE ULTRA LOUNGE!!.......2007-05-12

Nothing can be finer that Ultra Lounge - never a bad thing to say.

Title a bit of a misnomer but..........2007-01-27

Hard to see how some of the tracks on this disc fit in with the whole late-night bachelor pad ethos as they are, quite simply, and in the words of the great Stan Freberg, "too loud, man". That said, this is a great CD. The music is fabulous and beautifully re-mastered (Cy Coleman's "Playboy's Theme" is the epitome of bachelor pad cool and, by itself, worth the price of the disc) while RJ Smith's liner notes are, as ever, entertaining, witty and evocative. In fact the whole package is life-affirming, high-quality fun: just the thing to chase those blues away.

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

The sound quality of the Ultra-Lounge series is excellent, even though the songs were recorded mostly in the 50's and 60's. Capitol Records packs each CD with carefully chosen tracks consistent with the theme of the particular volume in the series. Many of the selections that appear here aren't 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. A few 'previously unreleased' tracks also appear here. This series is a wonderful introduction to the music of a by-gone era, and each album includes detailed notes on each track (artist, writers, date recorded, how released, etc.). I heartily recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this type of music.

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 5: Wild Cool & Swingin

Average customer rating:

The club is cookin'; the band is hot and you just walked in--CRAZY !!!
LOVE IT!
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.
Great lounge/cocktail sampler
Grab a Gin and Tonic, sit in a booth in the back, and enjoy the show.

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 5: Wild Cool & Swingin
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Jump Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Retro Space Age | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocalists | Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 15: Wild Cool & Swingin' Too
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 14: Bossa Novaville
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 6: Rhapsodesia

ASIN: B000002U1T
Release Date: 1996-02-20

Tracks:

Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin
Dig That Crazy Chick - Sam Butera & The Witnesses
More - Bobby Darin
Fever - Peggy Lee
Jump, Jive, An' Wail - Louis Prima
Please Don't Talk About Me When l'm Gone - Sammy Davis, Jr.
Danke Schoen - Wayne Newton
French Poodle - Sam Butera & The Witnesses
What Is This Thing Called Love? - Keely Smith
Sunday In New York - Bobby Darin
Closer To The Bone - Louis Prima
Nobody But Me - Lou Rawls
Little Girl - Vic Damone
L.O.V.E. - Nat King Cole
Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu) - Dean Martin
That Old Black Magic - Louis Prima & Keely Smith
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To - Julie London
Hello, Dolly! - Bobby Darin

Customer Reviews:

The club is cookin'; the band is hot and you just walked in--CRAZY !!!.......2007-07-12

Ultra Lounge, Volume 5: Wild Cool & Swingin gives us eighteen swinging tracks to delight your ears and make you dance all through the night! The collection of hits doesn't have a dud in the set; and the diversity of the artists couldn't be broader.

The CD track set begins with Dean Martin's classic interpretation of "Ain't That A Kick In The Head." The Nelson Riddle arrangement relies on the horns and the piano is awesome! Dean's voice is in perfect form--energetic and full of masculine warmth as he sings of his new love. A previously unreleased track of "Dig That Crazy Chick" by Sam Butera & The Witnesses follows; Sam & The Witnesses swing hard. Sam's voice is clear and full of excitement as he describes his new girlfriend. The musicians never miss a beat, either!

Bobby Darin performs "More" with sensitivity and panache; I love that piano arrangement by Richard Wess! Peggy Lee's classic rendition of "Fever" absolutely oozes the feminine desire for a man; the people snapping their fingers along with the beat really add to the number! Peggy's voice is rich and vibrant for "Fever." Excellent!

"Danke Schöen" by Wayne Newton will surpass your expectations if you've never heard this ballad before; Wayne sings this with all his heart. Wayne's interpretation of "Danke Schoen" makes his rendition THE definitive interpretation of "Danke Schöen." Jimmie Haskell's orchestra performs beautifully with a firm emphasis on the horns, percussion and strings.

If you want a more playful number, however, check out "French Poodle" by Sam Butera & The Witnesses. Sam sings this to perfection and the horns sound great on "French Poodle!" "Closer To The Bone" by Louis Prima continues in this vein; I believe that you will enjoy "Closer To The Bone" by Louis Prima.

The CD provides us with still more traditional love ballads. Nat King Cole performs "L-O-V-E" without a superfluous note; love that horn solo in the middle of this number! Moreover, Dean Martin croons "Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu)" with a great musical arrangement; I really like how Dean Martin sings this number in both English and Italian. Great effect!

Julie London delivers "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" with all the style of a consummate performer; and the CD track set ends well with Bobby Darin crooning a great "Hello, Dolly!" Darin sings "Hello, Dolly!" with great care and sensitivity. "Hello, Dolly" provides a strong ending to the CD track set.

The liner notes include great artwork; and R. J. Smith contributes an essay about lounge singers and the nightlife of the late 1950s and early 1960s especially on the Vegas strip. The song credits and recording dates are there for you; and there are even two drink recipes! Bob Norberg at Capitol Recording Studios did a great job of remastering these tunes.

The very special, golden age of The Vegas Strip with its superstars of the 1950s and 1960s may be behind us but this album does a great job of recreating those special times. I highly recommend this CD for fans of lounge music; and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will cherish this CD for years to come.

Enjoy!

LOVE IT!.......2007-05-13

Love this kind of music - can't get enough - have most all of the CDs. Excellent New Jersey-based company with excellent foresight and retro-understanding for the best party and jazz combos. Excellent choice for any kind of day or evening, party or relaxation time.

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

Great lounge/cocktail sampler.......2005-10-12

The UltraLounge series definately covers the genre throughly, and this one is about the best in the series. Not every song is well-known, but most are very very enjoyable. This is a good place to start if you are introducing yourself to the genre. I thought Bobby Darin's More was the most lush and enjoyable of the tunes. You'll get a chuckle out of Prima's Closer to the Bone, a song not found on the usual Prima samplers. You certainly get a "you are in old Vegas" feel off of these tunes! Check out their UltraLounge website for a good look at the full series. Definately recommended.

Grab a Gin and Tonic, sit in a booth in the back, and enjoy the show........2005-09-29

This is one of my favorite Ultra Lounge discs, as it combines many of the great live acts of the 50s/60s. If you close your eyes while listening to it, you may think you're sitting in the Copa room of the Sands in Las Vegas. A little Louis Prima, some Dean and some Bobby Darin make the night just right.

Average customer rating:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!
Great for parties, easy to listen to
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.
One of the better ultra lounge CD's
Mambo your way to fun

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 2: Mambo Fever
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Retro Space Age | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 9: Cha-Cha De Amor
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 3: Space Capades
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 17: Bongo Land

ASIN: B000002TWG
Release Date: 1996-02-06

Tracks:

Hooray For Hollywood (Cha-Cha) - Don Swan & His Orchestra
Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me) - Jackie Davis
Peter Gunn Mambo - Jack Costanzo & His Orchestra
Chihuahua - Luis Oliveria & His Bandodalau Boys
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me - The John Buzon Trio
Mambo Jambo (Que Rico El Mambo) - Dave Barbour
Cumana - The Twin Pianos Of Henri Rose & Bobby Stevenson
Taki Rari - Yma Sumac
Way Down Yonder In New Orleans Mambo - Van Alexander & His Orchestra
El Cumbanchero (Guaracha-Fast Rhumba) - Don Swan & His Orchestra
Oink, Oink Mambo - Chuy Reyes & His Orchestra
Diga Diga Doo - The John Buzon Trio
Hernado's Hideaway - Billy May's Rico Mambo Orchestra
Tico Tico (Samba) - Don Swan & His Orchestra
Glow Worm Cha-Cha-Cha - Jackie Davis
Malambo #1 - Yma Sumac
Can-Can Overture - Jack Costanzo & His Orchestra
Oye Negra - Terry Snyder

Customer Reviews:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!.......2007-05-13

Great for parties, easy to listen to.......2007-04-04

The Ultra-Lounge series is overall is GREAT. I bought a couple of these CD's at first to try out, and also because I wanted to have some nice background music for a dinner party. I immediately purchased 3 more after that, and I'm really pleased. The songs are cool and set a really nice atmosphere if you're having guests over.

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

One of the better ultra lounge CD's .......2006-06-04

this is a fun CD to listen to. Not a lot of "serious" salsa here, quite a few novelty tunes, but they get your feet moving and your toes tapping. You will enjoy listening to this CD.

Mambo your way to fun.......2004-05-01

Imagine yourself on a wrap-around porch of some grand house basking in the warmth of a summer sunset. Maybe you are simply lounging on a beach with a cocktail in one hand and the hand of the one you love in the other. Perhaps you are in a tuxedo or flaming red cocktail dress and having a wonderfully dry martini (shaken, not stirred) before you get ready to head to the dance floor.

If any of those situations are real or just party of your dreams, this CD from Ultra-Lounge is for you. Rare is the day when you will find some neon decorated, pseudo-tropical paradise lounge or restaurant where drinks were served in coconut cups with little umbrellas. But you can hear the music from them. This CD has the Mambo interwoven in each and every song. You can literally see the band in their white jackets and the lavish costumes on the showgirls as they entertain you.

Yma Sumac drops in for a two song trip down memory lane. You can hear the passion and the fun in her voice. Mariah Carey eat your heart out. The organ tracks are quite amusing, and the Glow Worm Cha Cha will change your life. (Well, not really, but it shouldn't be missed.)

If you ever wanted to visit the famed Coconut Grove or be part of the action with Ricky Ricardo's Band, you need to order this CD. Even if you find that the music is just a throw-back to the days when people in limos were movie stars (and not two girls from Encino using daddy's credit card), it is still a hilarious and joyour romp threw yesteryear.

Tracks:

Frenesi - Eydie Gorme
Night And Day - Steve Lawrence
Charade - Bobby Darin
A Lot Of Livin' To Do - Nancy Wilson
5 Months, 2 Weeks, 2 Days - Louis Prima
Wives And Lovers - Vic Damone
The Boy From Ipanema - Peggy Lee
Strangers In The Night - Wayne Newton
With Plenty Of Money And You - Tony Bennett
Call Me Irresponsible - Bobby Darin
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby - Dinah Washington
Snootie Little Cutie - Bobby Troup
Daddy - Julie London
Just In Time - Dean Martin
Perdido - Sarah Vaughn
Angel Eyes - Jack Jones
Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody - Louis Prima
Midnight Swinger - Mel Torme
Destination Moon - Dinah Washington
It Had Better Be Tonight - Lena Horne
Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai) - Ella Fitzgerald

Customer Reviews:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!.......2007-05-13

Great Compilation!.......2007-03-20

I would recommend this CD as well as the original "Wild Cool & Swingin'".

You'll like them both!

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

Wild, Cool & Swingin' Too is #1 in my book.......2006-10-10

Don't get me wrong - I've got most of the Ultra-Lounge discs and I love them all - but this one is the best. Each disc focuses on a facet of Lounge music (Bossa Nova, Mambo, Exotica). Most of these are a kick in a "They sure did some crazy music" way, but the two Wild Cool discs focus on the more popular acts of the era.

The disc is hopping starting off with Eydie Gorme in a blistering read of the latin classic "Frenesi". Steve Lawrence follows with a barnstorming take on "Night and Day". I can't even listen to Sinatra's version without falling asleep now. The pace doesn't let up with Bobby Darin's phenomental "Charade" and Nancy Wlson's "A Lot of Livin' To Do".

Dinah Washington contributes the hot jazz classic "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" (a.k.a. the song from the Tom & Jerry classic) and the sultry "Destination Moon". Tony Bennet does "Plenty of Money and You" which was featured on the Swingers soundtrack. Mel Torme sings the cheeky and hilarious "Midnight Swinger".

Other standout tracks include everything. No seriously, there isn't a bad track on the disc with one outstanding cut after another. If you want some classic lounge tracks, you've found them. I think this is better than Wild, Cool & Swingin', but it's great, too, so why not buy both of them?

Perfect for the midnight swinger in all of us!.......2006-07-26

This CD is chock full of great songs performed by some of the greatest talents of the 20th century. There is a total of twenty-one (yes, twenty-one) tracks on this CD making it both a lot of fun and a great value. It's also excellent for lounge music lovers and fans of classic pop vocals.

The CD starts off with Eydie Gorme doing a smash "Frenesi." The song is beautifully arranged and Eydie's voice is in excellent form. Her other half, Steve Lawrence, follows up quickly with the beautiful "Night And Day." Awesome!

The songs on this CD are all wonderfully musically arranged and the quality of the sound is excellent. No excess noise here! Bob Norberg at Capitol Recording Studios did an excellent job of digitally remastering these tracks.

I loved Nancy Wilson's electric version of "A Lot Of Livin' To Do;" and Peggy Lee does some hot job of "The Boy From Ipanema." Bobby Darin fans will delight that two of his songs are on this CD: "Charade" and "Call Me Irresponsible." Dinah Washington fans get an equally nice treat; Dinah sings both "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby" and "Destination Moon" on this album.

Wayne Newton does a particularly good job with "Strangers In The Night" and I also liked the style with which Louis Prima delivers "5 Months, 2 Weeks, 2 Days." One playful number that I really enjoyed was the medley of "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" by Louis Prima. A chorus accompanies Louis on this number and the result is thrilling!

The liner notes are very, very good. You get song credits and the dates the songs were recorded by the artists. There's an extensive essay by R. J. Smith--and there are even two drink recipes: one for a "blue blazer" and the other for a "millionaire." Not bad, not bad.

I highly recommend this CD for fans of classic pop vocals, lounge music, and the great vocalists of the 20th century such as Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Louis Prima, Dean Martin and Bobby Darin. All these performers and many more can be found attacking their songs with all their might here on this CD! Get this CD, turn down the lights and enjoy your favorite drink--and maybe enjoy a little romance while you do!

Average customer rating:

LOVE ULTRA LOUNGE!
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.
Cure Your Saxophobia
Where's the Sax?
Mellow

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 12: Saxophobia
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Retro Space Age | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 11: Organs in Orbit
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 10: A Bachelor in Paris
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 6: Rhapsodesia
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8: Cocktail Capers
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 17: Bongo Land

ASIN: B000002U4T
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

I Dig - Les Baxter
Street Scene - Sam Butera
All Or Nothing At All - George Auld
Bernie's Tune - Curley Hamner/Milt Buckner
Watermelon Man - King Curtis
Volare (Not Blu Di Pinto Di Blu) - Nelson Riddle
Tanya - Plas Johnson
Samba De Orfeu - Bill Perkins
Peter Gunn Twist/Tequila With A Twist - Ray Anthony & His Bookends
Goldfinger - Count Basie & His Orchestra
Caravan - Gordon Jenkins
Speakeasy Blues - Nelson Riddle
One Mint Julep - Earl Palmer/King Curtis
Ebb Tide - The Out-Islanders
The Big Twist - Plas Johnson
Harlem Nocturne - Louis Prima & Sam Butera
The Misfits - Don Costa
Bongo Bash - Pepe Dominguin
Sax Con Ritmo - Jack Costanzo

Customer Reviews:

LOVE ULTRA LOUNGE!.......2007-05-12

Nothing can be finer that Ultra Lounge - never a bad thing to say.

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

Cure Your Saxophobia.......2003-07-16

With the saxophone as the link between these selections, I was a little nervous that the Ultra-Lounge series might have gone too far - but not to worry! From "Samba De Orfeu" by Bill Perkins to a smooth version of "Harlem Nocturne" by Louis Prima & Sam Butera - you have a great collection of Lounge Sax music. Another great addition to a wonderful series!

Where's the Sax?.......2002-05-09

Another get what you pay for thing. There is so much other instument accompaniment, the sax gets lost, few of these songs feature the sax and many times it is subdued. This could have just as easily been called Bongo-phobia.

Mellow.......1998-11-10

I liked the swinging sounds of mellow saxophone, just beautiful background music while I work at the dreary job of accounting. I especially like the Bongo Bash. Most sax CDs are much too "Jazzy" but this is relaxing and refreshing.

Average customer rating:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.
Beatniks and Bongos can't Be Beat
Beatnik Lounge Bongos
Ultra-lounge's most rigorous entry.

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 17: Bongo Land
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 14: Bossa Novaville
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 18: Bottoms Up
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 12: Saxophobia
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 6: Rhapsodesia

ASIN: B000002UHA
Release Date: 1997-06-03

Tracks:

Deep Night/Softly As In A Morning Sunrise - Terry Snyder
Latin Fever - Jack Costanzo
Taboo - Leo Arnaud
Nightmare - Joe Loco
On Green Dolphin Street/Hernando's Hideaway - Martin Denny
Dr. No's Fantasy - Elliott Fisher
A Night In Tunisia - The Latin Jazz Sextet
Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White - Les Baxter/Billy May
Bernie's Tune - Al Caiola
Brazil - Tino Contreras
Caravan - Dick Hyman
The Inch Worm - Jack Costanzo
Misirlou/Quien Sera - Nick Perito
The Young Savages - Martin Denny
Balinese Bongos - Les Baxter
Club Caballeros - Laurindo Almeida
Moderna Muchacha - Joe Loco
La Cumparsa/Harlem Nocturne - Jack Costanzo
Colon - The Savage Beat Of Augie Colon

Customer Reviews:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!.......2007-05-12

Nothing can be finer that Ultra Lounge - never a bad thing to say.

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

Beatniks and Bongos can't Be Beat.......2006-10-28

A number of these Ultra-lounges are decent, some are duds, and then there are those that are next to impossible not to love-this is one of those. 'Bongoland' is really one of the very best. It starts out a little slow, but it seems to almost get better with each selected piece. By #13's 'Misirlou' it's reached a high note. However, once #18 picks up 'Harlem Nocturne'(literally three minutes in), this thing is kicking. I like a lot of lounge from the late 50s-early 60s, bossa nova, some of the tiki stuff(Lyman's especially), and Mancini's, of course, but I just ADORE this album.

Beatnik Lounge Bongos.......2005-05-15

This is the 'beatnik' volume in the ultra lounge series featuring bongos. Quoting from the booklet: "you need to spank your palms approximately 800,000 times before you can get your MBA (Master of Bongological Arts)...The bongos were the original air guitar."

There's at least a dozen great tracks including:
"Latin Fever" by Jack Constanzo - has the energy of Woodstock-era Santana, with a saxophone lead, recommend the album 'Latin Fever' for a full dose,
"A Night In Tunisia" by the Latin Jazz Sextet - begins with the classic bass line and adds vibraphone, flute, and Eric Dolphy on saxophone,
"Brazil" by Tino Contreras, bird chirps and cocktail piano segue into lively bongo with muted trumpet lead interspersed with bongo solos accompanied by chanting and birds,
"Caravan" by Dick Hyman - exotic lounge sound with lively piano and strings,
"Club Caballeros" by Laurindo Almeida - fast-tempo bass line overlaid with cool trumpet, guitar and piano, plus bongos,
and "La Cumparsa/Harlem Nocturne" by Jack Costanzo - slow bass/bongo rhythm with expressive clarinet lines and staccato piano, segueing into a live "loungy" rendition of Harlem Nocturne with saxophone lead.

Ultra-lounge's most rigorous entry........2004-02-07

This 'Bongo-land' volume is the most rigorous of the 'Ultra-lounge' series.Most of the series has strong latin elements, but this one is further latin than any of the others.Its the only one that sounds like North-Americans didn't make, at least not on their own (which is in no way a criticism of the ones that 'do' sound North-American made).It is the most spontaneous sounding, though still in keeping with the polished/composed approach of the Ultra-Lounge series.
There are 17 listed tracks PLUS little unlisted solo bongo interludes spotted thru-out.There is alot of variety.Each melody is distinctive, and there are tempo-changes all over the place.The rhythm is so successfull at ful-filling the expectations that a title like "Bongo-land", brings.But, as in all 'ultra-lounge' cd's, its never just one instrument taking the lime-light.As long as you realize that the bongos aren't always in the fore-ground (except for the interludes), you can't be dis-appointed.
(There are so many 'ultra-lounge' volumes that could be named as the best.My votes go eerily close to a previous reviewer's.Mondo-Exotica is my muse at n.1.This one, Bongo-land, belts me at n.2).

Average customer rating:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.
Sit back and relax, while the lights dim down low...
the most beautiful music ever!
I agree with reviewer Julie Stuart !

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 6: Rhapsodesia
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Retro Space Age | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8: Cocktail Capers
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 12: Saxophobia
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 14: Bossa Novaville
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 3: Space Capades

ASIN: B000002U21
Release Date: 1996-02-20

Tracks:

Girl Talk - Howard Roberts
Serenata - The Jonah Jones Quartet
Sleep Walk - Henri Rene & His Orchestra
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - The Mallet Men
Go Slow - Julie London
Ebb Tide - Al Anthony-Wizard Of The Organ
If I Should Lose You - George Shearing
Willow Weep For Me - The Whistling Artistry Of Muzzy Marcellino
Dansero - The Don Baker Trio
Lunar Rhapsody - Les Baxter
You're My Thrill - Dolores Gray
Fever - Richard Marino & His Orchestra
Blues In My Heart - The John Buzon Trio
Tenderly - Jackie Gleason
Theme From Picnic - Terry Snyder
Turquoise - Milt Buckner
Do It Again - April Stevens
Ruby - Les Baxter & His Orchestra

Album Description

disregard this test

Customer Reviews:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!.......2007-05-13

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

Sit back and relax, while the lights dim down low..........2005-06-21

This album was one of my first forays into the lounge/easy listening music of the 1950s and 60s. I bought it during the summer of 2004 and haven't looked back since! I now own nearly 14 entries in the Ultra-Lounge series, including their Christmas Cocktails pt. 1 & 2, but this album is one of my absolute favorites. To me, Rhapsodesia is the epitome of late night, end of the day, melt your sorrows away music. It is slinky, sexy, and ready made for a candle lit dinner for two. Just press play on the old hi-fi system and let songs such as "Go Slow," "You're My Thrill," and the poignant "Tenderly," performed by none other than Jackie Gleason himself, do the wooing of your sweet heart for you!

Comprised of hits by well known artists, Rhapsodesia also features many lesser known renditions from the Capitol Records vaults - and many of the tracks are only available on CD from Ultra-Lounge. I highly recommend this album, to anyone who's ever dreamed of, been in, or fallen out of love. Remember the good times and forget the bad. Dim the lights, pour yourself a martini, and treat yourself to Rhapsodesia.

the most beautiful music ever!.......2001-11-12

This, without a doubt, has got to be THE most beautiful music I have ever heard, especially in the Ultra Lounge series. It is soooooo relaxing....BUY IT NOW!

I agree with reviewer Julie Stuart !.......2001-01-04

I agree with reviewer Julie Stuart....I never imagined that Nurse Dixie from Emergency 51 (Julie London) could sound so HOT ! "Go slow" always gets me going.

Tracks:

Dragnet/Room 43 - Ray Anthony
I Spy - Earle Hagen
Thinking Of Baby - Elmer Bernstein
From Russia With Love - Count Basie
Big Town - Laurindo Almeida & The Danzaneros
Man With The Golden Arm - Billy May
The Untouchables - Nelson Riddle
The James Bond Theme - Leroy Holmes
Mission: Impossible - Billy May
Harlem Nocturne - Spike Jones New Band
Walk On The Wild Side - Si Zentner
Mister Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - Elliott Fisher
The Wild Ones - Lou Busch
Staccato's Theme - Elmer Bernstein
Search For Vulcan - Leroy Holmes
Peter Gunn Suite - Ray Anthony
The Silencers - Vikki Carr
Music To Be Murdered By - Jeff Alexader With Alfred Hitchcock
Bonus Track - Ultra-Lounge Volume 7: The Crime Scene

Customer Reviews:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!.......2007-05-13

The best driving CD!.......2007-01-31

Aside from being a collection of great retro lounge music (as all the Ultra Lounge is), this CD sparkles in the car. It has the great blend of being lively enough to keep you alert, yet soothing enough to keep the road rage at bay. Best of all, even traffic is fun done to the tune of 007's theme!

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

my favorite ultra lounge cd.......2005-09-15

I have quite a few in this series of CD's, but this one is my favorite. It's slick, cool, mysterious, and sounds like there's danger lurking around every corner. You'll feel like you're being interrogated when you listen to Dragnet/Room 43 (Ray Anthoney). I can't complain about the lack of inclusion of more well known songs on this album, the way one of the other reviewers did, because I have a lot of this kind of music on different CD's. If you like this one, you should also pick up Hugo Montenegro's "Come Spy With Me" CD, it's one of my alltime favorite CD's and it's great. Also one of the reviewers wrote that the Count Basie version of "From Russia With Love" is dull. HUH? He should turn up his stereo and listen to the Count's orchestra swing. This tune is originally from the Basie Meets Bond CD which is also another good one to get.

Music to be murdered by.......2003-10-24

I picked this album up to help complete my Ultra-Lounge collection, and they haven't missed the mark with Crime Scene.
With jazzy and slick tunes, this one doesn't fail to please. Theme songs to TV shows and movies alike make up a refreshingly familiar and cool set of tunes.

Some reviewers have complained that themes like "Pink Panther" and "Hawaii 5-0" should be included, but this CD introduced me to some theme songs that I'd never heard before ("Walk on the Wild Side," "Search for Vulcan") and besides, "Pink Panther" is already on Mondo Hollywood.

The best part of this entire album is the last (real) track, "Music to Be Murdered By." Jeff Alexander is credited, but the track is introduced by the Master of Suspense and Macabre himself, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, who assures us that "naturally, the record is long playing, even though you may not be." It's a morbid yet pleasant surprise.

The very last track, a "bonus," continues Ultra-Lounge's long-running inside joke with the "Man About Town" soap opera series, this time a love poem (the Hammond Organ is still there).

Tracks:

Heart Full Of Soul - The Johnny Mann Singers
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - David McCallum
Carry That Weight - Francis Lai
Games People Play - Mel Torme
I Get Around/California Girls - Hollyridge Strings
Summer In The City - Buddy Morrow
Everyday People - Peggy Lee
Mrs. Robinson - Guy Lombardo
Hush - The Royal Blue
Blue Jay Way/Blackbird - Lord Sitar/Sandler & Young
I Heard It Through The Grapvine - The Little Big Horns
Oh Pretty Woman - Henry Jerome
Wear Your Love Like Heaven/Workin' On A Groovy Thing - David Rose
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy - Julie London
Superfly - Peter Duchin
Holiday - Mariano Moreno
Baby Love/Respect - Zacharias
I Can See For Miles - Lord Sitar
Happy Together - Mel Torme
Can't Buy Me Love/Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Hollyridge Strings
Light My Fire - John Andrew Tartiglia
These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Mrs. Ella Miller
Sugar Sugar - Kurt Russell

Customer Reviews:

LOVE ULTRA-LOUNGE!.......2007-05-13

Cross our hearts and we hope to die........2005-05-27

These recordings date from 1964 to 1972. During this time period, there were two kinds of "pop" music. There was the kind for teenagers, which featured the likes of the Beatles, the Beach Boys and the Ohio Express. And then there was pop music for the parents of teenagers, featuring the likes of Mel Torme, Peggy Lee and the Hollyridge Strings. This CD features teenage pop songs as performed by pop artists for the older folks. Boy, talk about a style clash! Can you imagine Peggy Lee singing "Everyday People", or Julie London singing "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy"? Well, you don't have to imagine it, you can get this CD and hear it for yourself. There are some strange renditions of songs that will be familiar to anyone who ever turned on an oldies radio station. Most of the songs are instumentals, although I wouldn't call it "elevator music", for the most part. Special mention to the Little Big Horns, who include sounds of an Indian attack in their version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (Little Big Horn = Custer's Last Stand, get it?). Fans of "kitsch" should dig this CD.

Get Part 1 instead.......2005-05-07

I think they used up all the 'good' songs on the first On The Rocks compilation - this one seems to be scraping the bottom of the barrel a bit. Part 1 is highly recommended for lovers of things tacky, but Part 2 is a bit thin.

Mel Torme, Peggy Lee and Kurt Russell (?) sing rock 'n' roll.......2004-07-22

Just think of it: Kurt Russell as the Hillary Duff/Lindsay Lohan (take your pick in that contemporary turf war) of his generation. When Russell found himself in a series of successful movies for Disney he was quickly signed to a record deal where he covered bubblegum classics like Tommy Roe's "Dizzy" and The Archies' "Sugar Sugar," which is the final track on "Ultra-Lounge: On the Rocks, Part 2." Make no doubt about it, this is a collection of what would be considered "classic" kitsch 'n' roll (or rock 'n' kitsch if you like). You probably will never be able to get a CD version of Kurt Russell's self-titled debut album, or any of the other bizarre albums that attempted to make rock 'n' roll more palatable for the masses or were simply produced by people heavily into drugs (e.g., "Sebastian Cabot, Actor, Bob Dylan, Poet," "Jayne Mansfield: Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky & Me," Jack Webb's "Just the facts of life, ma'am," or Tony Perkins' "On a Rainy Afternoon"), but you can get this collection of misses and misses (and, to be fair, you can get Robert Mitchums' "Calypso is Like So...," Tony Perkins' self-titled album, and, of course, the mother-lode itself, William Shatner's "Transformed Man").

Overall there are two types of songs included in these 23 tracks. First there are essentially instrumental distortions, er, versions of classic rock songs, such as "Carry That Weight" by Francis Lai. But be prepared for anything because this is an album where "I Can't Get No Satisfacation" begins with the opening notes played on a dulcimer. There is a touch of psuedo class here, with the Hollyridge Strings (NOT the "Hollywood" Strings mind you) doing a Beach Boys medley of "I Get Around/California Girls." Peter Duchin shows up to do "Superfly," which was a bit of a shock. Other instrumentals include "Summer in the City" by Buddy Morrow, "Mrs. Robinson" by Guy Lombardo, and my favorite of the bunch, Deep Purple's "Hush" by the Royale Blue. If you like sitar music you get a double dose, with Lord Sitar joining Sandler & Young for a Beatles medley of "Blue Jay Way/Blackbird" and then returning solo to do the Who's "I Can See for Miles." But expect lots of strings (e.g., the Hollyridge Strings with "Can't Buy Me Love/Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and John Andrew Tartaglia's "Light My Fire") and horns (e.g., Little Big Horns' "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and Henry Jerome's "Oh Pretty Woman").

Then there are the songs were singers actually do some singing. These range from "chorale" type versions of songs, such as "Heart Full of Soul" by the Johnny Mann Singers, which opens up the album, to covers of familiar songs by familiar artists, like Mel Torme doing "The Games People Play" and "Happy Together," while Peggy Lee does Sly Stone's "Everyday People." Julie London does a really slow version of "Yummy Yummy Yummy," but that is really it for recognizable names. Then we jump to the other extreme and have the likes of Mrs. Miller doing Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'", the fun-loving senior who I would have given the final spot in the collection to, because after mangles that song (including her breathless "Yeah" at the end of the first chorus) there is no place to go and you might not actually being aware the Russell is doing "Sugar Sugar" until the silence afterwards pierces your consciousness. I have a definite preference for the songs with singers in terms of the kitsch quotient here because the instrumental tracks at least can be categorized as elevator muzak, which takes a star away from the rating because if a song on this album goes not make part of your groan in delight, it is just not doing its job.

Too funky.......1999-08-06

The "On the Rocks" UltraLounge pair are just too funky. Were these done "tongue-in-cheek"? I certainly hope so. In any case, I recommend this CD to anyone with a bizarre sense of humor and a taste for theme parties. "I Get Around","Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" and "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" hit the spot. Which spot? That depends on you...

Average customer rating:

Cheese-fest
I love the Ultra-Lounge series.
Generic Ultra-Lounge
Cuttin' Capers
Smooth Enough

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8: Cocktail Capers
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing Jazz & Big Band | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Lounge | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Retro Space Age | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

1950s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

1960s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 4: Bachelor Pad Royale
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 18: Bottoms Up
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 6: Rhapsodesia
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 12: Saxophobia
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 10: A Bachelor in Paris

ASIN: B000002U4R
Release Date: 1996-07-09

Tracks:

Roller Coaster - Les Baxter
Hey! Bellboy! - Gloria Wood
This Could Be The Start Of Something - Dave Pell
The Pink Panther Theme - Hollywood Studio Orchestra
Like Young - David Rose
Underwater Chase - Al Caiola
Binga Banga Bongo/Percolator - Terry Snyder/Earl Palmer
Call Me - The New Classic Singers
Mountain Greenery - The Ernie Freeman Combo
Charade - Si Zentner
Shooting Star/Jungalero - Les Baxter
Honorable Hong Kong Rock - The Out-Islanders
Odd Job Man/I Wanna Be A James Bond Girl - Leroy Holmes
Heap Big Chief - Muzzy Marcellino & His House Party Group
Blue Danube Rock - Jonah Jones Quartet
Pussy Cat - Cy Coleman
Teach Me Tiger - April Stevens
Lolita Ya Ya - Nelson Riddle
Bonus Track - Various Artists

Customer Reviews:

Cheese-fest.......2007-02-06

This is one of the cheesiest CDs around! It has a funky blend of music that is ideal if you believe you are Hugh Hefner and living in the 1950's and 1960's. Put on your smoking jacket and break out the cognac and cigars!

I love the Ultra-Lounge series........2006-12-10

Generic Ultra-Lounge.......2005-05-18

While there are some solid tracks such as "Like Young", "Underwater Chase", and "Odd Job Man/I Wanna Be A James Bond Girl", this volume is patchy compared to the others in the Ultra Lounge series. I think it's supposed to have an "international spy" theme considering its title and some of the tunes. It's probably worth getting to complete your Ultra-Lounge collection, but not essential as the best Ultra-Lounge volumes have at least a dozen great songs each.

Cuttin' Capers.......2003-04-11

Everyone has their favorites in the Ultra-Lounge series; this is one of mine. Unlike most of the volumes, this one doesn't stick to any one type of lounge music (Bossa Nova, Exotica, TV Themes, etc.). Instead, it is kind of an overview of ALL the styles this great series covers. So, if you'd rather start with a series entry and not the famous 'Fuzzy Sampler', this might be a good place to begin.

Highlights of Vol. 8 include: The eerie exotica of 'Jungalero' by Les Baxter, the fantastic movie theme 'Charade' (very James Bond), great spy music cuts 'Underwater Chase' and 'I Want To Be A James Bond Girl' (A song you want to sing along to, even though it hasn't any words!), a killer rendition of 'The Pink Panther Theme', and the two sultry & steamy vocal numbers 'Hey Bellboy' and 'Teach Me Tiger'. Saving the best for last, my absolute favorite 2 cuts on the disc are 'Honorable Hong Kong Rock' (what WOULD Austin Powers listen to if he were in Hong Kong?), and Nelson Riddle's astounding 'Lolita Ya-Ya' (from the film 'Lolita'). 'Ya-Ya' sounds like some demented fantasy of a bubble-gum pop song, as imagined by someone who HATES bubble-gum pop songs! Mindlessly cheerful and endlessly amazing...it's truly unique.

And don't forget our old friend 'Mr. Continental'and his hidden bonus track, 'You Go To My Head'!

Smooth Enough.......2000-11-18

Eighteen tracks, plus a bonus, and probably 7 really good ones. All in all, a good collection. The real standouts: A pumpin' "Pink Panther Theme" from the Hollywood Studio Orchestra. The solos portion is very reminiscent of Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island" and/or Us3's remake, "Cantaloop." Check out "Hey, Bellboy;" I swear you can hear the stiletto heels and the peroxide blonde hair in the ether of this track. Ya gotta like "Underwater Chase," from the original album "Music To Read James Bond By." An then there's the obligatory Burt Bacharach track, "Call Me" by the New Classic Singers. It's replete with those ubiquitous "bah bah buh-buh" non-lyrics, evoking those long-banned Benson&Hedges cigarette commercials. The liner insert is quite good too, with detailed info on the tracks, and the standard Ultra-Lounge graphics and drink recipes. All in all, a winner.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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