Post #479227 by OnyaBirri on Mon, Aug 24, 2009 8:11 PM

OK, here's a short list of some exotica tracks that pre-date the first Martin Denny album. Some of these pre-date even "Ritual of the Savage." I have included these tracks because both the tunes and the arrangements have a decidedly exotica feel, whether or not that term was in use at the time. I don't have recording or release dates handy, but I know I'm in the right date range. If you need specifics, I can probably get them to you on short notice:

Lotus Land - Calvin Jackson (blows away Martin Denny's version)
Siboney - Chico O'Farrill (sounds like an outtake from Les Baxter's "Tamboo")
Bakiff - Duke Ellington (50s version on Capitol)
Caravan - Duke Ellington (50s version on Capitol - best version he did of this, IMHO)
Fellow Delegates - George Russell
Cubano Chant - George Shearing (with chorus)
In A Chinese Garden - George Shearing (stunningly beautiful far-east exotica)
Desert Dance - Machito
Oboe Mambo- Machito (this and the previous tune are Latin/middle east exotica; MItch Miller of all people plays oboe; maybe the only cool thing he ever did other than produce Johnny Mathis's first Columbia LP with arrangements by Gil Evans and Teo Macero)
Poinciana - Pete Rugolo
Quiet Village Cha Cha Cha - Pete Rugolo
Sambamba - Pete Rugolo (Les Baxter composition)
Sabre Dance (AKA Bongo Dance) - Pete Rugolo
Eddie and the Witch Doctor - Sauter/Finegan (WILD!!!)
Moonlight on the Ganges - Sauter/Finegan
Tale of an African Lobster - Shorty Rogers
Equador - Stan Kenton
Evening in Pakistan - Stan Kenton
June Christy - Stan Kenton (opening sounds like "Portrait of Leda")
Mambo Buda - Tito Puente
Jungle Flute - Xavier Cugat (animal screams by humans; pre-dates Martin Denny by several years).

Happy hunting!

[ Edited by: OnyaBirri 2009-08-24 20:12 ]