Post #810526 by Traitor Vic on Sun, Aug 27, 2023 8:53 PM

Okay…

I'm about to show my age here. Way back in the Dark Ages of the Innerweb there was a Blog concerning Exotica, and related, music called Xtabay's World.

It was out of Australia and it was Marvelous!

Xtabay (moniker used by the operator) would post Compilation Collections, occasionally, of Exotica, Exotic Jazz, Exotic Surf Guitar and Bongo Jazz.

In 2006 he posted two collections entitled "The Exotic Sounds of Quiet Village", Volumes 1 & 2. They contain 42 different recordings of the song including both Mono and Stereo by Les Baxter and four different by Martin Denny. The Jonathan Knight Harpsichord version is included on the 2nd volume. The artists and the musical styles included are probably as varied and original as any that had existed between 1952 and 2006.

These two collections are both listed (and their cover art displayed) on the Endless Exotica website at: Volume 1 & Volume 2

I have since collected 93 other versions of the tune (many recorded since 2006!) and created additional editions of "The Exotic Sounds of Quiet Village", Volumes 3 through 6.

These are also listed on Endless Exotica (it Truly Is ENDLESS) at: 3, 4 (featuring our own Bam Bam as Electrospinner), 5, & 6.

There are a couple of nice versions by The Martini Kings in this "extended" set as well.

I'm currently working on the next Volume (which will include the version by Seattle's Grooviest Steel Drum Band - The Toucans!, and Pancho Graham, as well as the Absolutely Crap-Ass Jimmy Buffet Live Recording featuring Martin Denny, at the age of 93, for an entire 1 minute and 23 seconds) but it may take a while to find enough versions to fill the entire collection.

Go ahead and check this one out (from Xtabay's Vol. 2): Quiet Village by My Skinny Wonderland

Now that I've started it, this could keep you busy for a while. Be Warned: It's a Sickness! More info soon!

[ Edited by Traitor Vic on 2023-08-27 22:10:00 ]