Martin Denny's " Exotic Percussion "

I'm sitting here on a sweltering Saturday morning in Sushiland listening to a fairly worn " Exotic Percussion " LP . Got it for cheap years and years ago in some used record shop in Manchester , CT . Since it does have it's share of scratches and surface noise ( not to mention a few skips ) , I don't listen to it as often as I'd like . As far as I know this record was never released on CD , which is a shame because the group does some super percussive covers of tunes like Softly , As In A Morning Sunrise ; Cherokee ; and Misirlou . Talk about percussion , we 've got Burmese gongs ; Japanese shamisen ; wind chimes ; boo bams ( tuned sections of bamboo with skins as percussive heads according to liner notes ) ; ipo ( Hawaiian gourd ) , etc...etc...

Just wondering how this LP rates in the MD discography ?

I'm tempted to pick up a nicer copy here in Japan for $ 30 . Fair price for a VG++ ?

If its in VG++ or NM $30 would be the absolute highest I would pay. Hopefully its in stereo!

Eventually you will find it cheaper though so you might want to hold out.

It has never been released on CD but it is an excellent album.

Hope this helps.

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

On 2007-08-17 19:01, Jeff Central wrote:
If its in VG++ or NM $30 would be the absolute highest I would pay. Hopefully its in stereo!

Eventually you will find it cheaper though so you might want to hold out.

It has never been released on CD but it is an excellent album.

Hope this helps.

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

Thanks for posting Jeff .

Sadly , it is not stereo . Cheaper in Japan is not likely ! Hehe...Even if it were $ 20 on Ebay , once the postage is added it'd be over $ 30 to Japan .

I'll pass on this one though , and keep a look out for a stereo version .

Mahalo ,

John , who is anxiously awaiting the Drasnin discs !

On their way buddy!!

Should hopefully be there by next weekend!!! :)

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

I forget how this one is mixed offhand, but if it has the same lopsided stereo mix on his earlier albums, you're better off with the mono.

On 2007-08-17 16:10, sushiman wrote:
I'm sitting here on a sweltering Saturday morning in Sushiland listening to a fairly worn " Exotic Percussion " LP . Got it for cheap years and years ago in some used record shop in Manchester , CT . Since it does have it's share of scratches and surface noise ( not to mention a few skips ) , I don't listen to it as often as I'd like . As far as I know this record was never released on CD , which is a shame because the group does some super percussive covers of tunes like Softly , As In A Morning Sunrise ; Cherokee ; and Misirlou . Talk about percussion , we 've got Burmese gongs ; Japanese shamisen ; wind chimes ; boo bams ( tuned sections of bamboo with skins as percussive heads according to liner notes ) ; ipo ( Hawaiian gourd ) , etc...etc...

Get you some software that will convert it to CD and remove the barbecue sounds. I have used Audio Cleaning Lab for some pretty scratchy vinyl with good results. Takes a little playing with to get it right, but worth the effort to preserve your good wax.

Well, I just got done comparing both the mono and stereo versions of Martin Denny's "Exotic Percussion" album. The mono copy, while still classic exotica does absolutely nothing to highlight the exotic instruments used on this recording. The stereo copy though really sounds nice. It highlights the piccolo xylophones, steel chimes and wind chimes to stunning effect. Not only does the exotic instrumentation on this album sound clearer but the seperation of these sounds actually enhance the music. I forgot how many oriental percussion instruments were used in this recording. How about tuned Burmese Gongs, a Samisen and a Magna Harp anyone?

What a great album! Nice cover too!!

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

On 2007-08-21 18:42, Jeff Central wrote:
Well, I just got done comparing both the mono and stereo versions of Martin Denny's "Exotic Percussion" album. The mono copy, while still classic exotica does absolutely nothing to highlight the exotic instruments used on this recording. The stereo copy though really sounds nice. It highlights the piccolo xylophones, steel chimes and wind chimes to stunning effect. Not only does the exotic instrumentation on this album sound clearer but the seperation of these sounds actually enhance the music. I forgot how many oriental percussion instruments were used in this recording. How about tuned Burmese Gongs, a Samisen and a Magna Harp anyone?

What a great album! Nice cover too!!

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

My mistake. You are dead on about the stereo. It has a very natural spread, with bass and piano centered and percussion instruments across the spectrum.

The lopsided mixes I was referring to are on the earlier albums, at least through Enchanted Sea. By the time of this one, though, they had a better understanding of stereo.

Speaking of the cover, does anyone know the name of the model on the cover? She's on at least one other cover from the post Sandy Warner era.