Post #515890 by Kaiwaza on Mon, Mar 8, 2010 11:03 AM

Of the CDs you mention:

1. Johnny Coco: Very nice, cocktail-type mix of male & female vocals & instrumentals..suitably background. Nice also in that there a few bossa nova tempo numbers.
2. Prince Kalua: This artist is acrtually Roy Smeck recording under a pseudonym. Like his other ecording, this is very cartoonish, over the top steel guitar..quite aggressive style, not "pretty background"..more like Spongebob Squarepants.
3. Ethel Smith. Organ music..some dreamy, some peppy. Could be amusing as background mixed with other CDs...I wouldn't play it solo...very Lawrence Welk.

As for the New Hawaiian Band CD..it's ABSOLUTELY quintessentially mid century Hawaiian music. They have actually released both vol. 1 & 2 on CD and both are EXACTLY what one would expect at a luau...tasteful, traditional arrangements and it's actually a "super band" consisting of mid century Hawaiian music artists ALL well known on their respective instruments.

I would recommend on CD also "Golden Hawaiian Hits" by Duke Kamoku (aka Freddy Tavares) & His Islanders. Very classic steel guitar combo mixed with ocean waves.