Post #466979 by thegalaxybeing on Sun, Jul 5, 2009 2:00 PM

THIS IS THE REAR COVER OF "THE SOUNDS OF EXOTIC ISLAND" (although usually the logo, spectrum etc is in black and white)
SINCE IT IS A BIT SMALL, I WILL COPY THE SMALL PRINT:

Here are the sounds of far away Exotic Island.
This is music with the hypnotic enchantment of a jungle paradise filled with both the romantic and the forbidden. From the delicate eroticism of the "Orchid Lagoon," the calling surf of "Moonlight in Paradise," to the terror of the volcanic sacrifice in "Fire Goddess"; this is music of a unique and spicy flavor. This is the lure and spell of Exotic Island.

The arrangements of this album were scored by two very capable beachcombers-Joe Kuhn and Bob Louden. The Surfmen include such top notch west cost musicians as Paul Horn, Rowland Bundock, Al Hendrickson, Alvino Rey, Jack Sperling, Sam Weiss, J. Castonza, Milt Holland, Gene Estes, Ann Stockton & Emil Richards.

Special percussion instruments used were: Tahitian log, Chinese wind glass, Guatemalan Gourd, coconut shells, lava stones, bamboo rods from Hawaii, bamboo puppet shakers from Hong Kong, and congo drums from Tanganyika, Africa. Tropical bird calls, surf and jungle sounds are authentic recordings of the same.

Recorded under the direction of D. L. Miller at United recording Studios, Hollywood California. Cover photo George Pickow. Cover art Will Dressler.

Ask your dealer for these other Stereo-Fidelity albums

(then there is then the box of 16 Somerset record titles, then)

This stereophonic 331/3 R.P.M. long playing record has been mastered employing the Westex cutter head system driven by a Scully Lathe. We do not claim full fidelity when played on a monaural phonograph. This is a stereo recording manufactured to the highest stereophonic audio standards.

Stereo-Fidelity records are manufactured by Miller International Co., Media, Penn., U.S.A.

AHH!! SUCH WAS THE EARLY DAYS OF STEREO. (this was circa 1960)

The cover photo (& art) they refer to is, of course, the nude woman coming out of the orchid.

Something odd too. Note that the record jacket indicated that it was recorded in Hollywood. Now, when the LP was re-released under the name "Tradewinds - Romance from Hawaii to Tahiti" the group was now given the name "The South Sea Serenaders" Also in Big letters, it states "Recorded in Honolulu".

Maybe while in California, Mr. Miller jumped into a ship to Hawaii carrying the master tapes in his waterproof briefcase, and once in Honolulu he jumped off the ship, swam to shore, jogged to a recording studio and re-recorded the music onto a new blank tape. I guess he also couldn't remember the name he originally gave the band!! I mean after out swimming the sharks, dodging surfers (or should I say surfmen?? Ouch) and all.

Anyway, he did manage to produce one hell of an exotica album even if he was the PT Barnum of record producers.

I would bet that by the time the 2nd Surfman LP "Hawaii" (or "The Romantic Lure of Hawaii") was released, The Surfmen was made up of different musicians. The music on the new tracks sounds very VERY different. More like what we came to know as standard Hawaiian music.

During the past decade, Exotica has had quite a resurgence. So maybe Mr. Miller had the last laugh. Along with Martin Denny. Thanks for the great music you guys!!