Hunting for MP3s of vintage exotica on Amazon

I've been ripping my exotica CDs (Martin Denny, Les Baxter, Arthur Lyman, Robert Drasnin, Ultra-Lounge, etc.) to make a massive vintage tiki mix for my MP3 player. Once that was done, I started searching to see what was hidden away on Amazon. (As a friend just told me, "Welcome to 2001!")

First, I found I needed the several recording in their entirely: Sven's "Sounds of Tiki", Eden Ahbez's "Eden's Island," and The Surfmen's "Studio 102 Essentials."

But I also found a bunch of individual exotica or exotica-like tracks (with a tiki or Islands vibe) worth downloading. I thought others might like to see what I found, although I'm sure some of you are aware of these already. The following are arranged in this order: "SONGS" - ARTIST - ALBUM:

"Primitiva" - Augie Colon - Jungle Rock, Vol. 3
http://www.amazon.com/Primitiva/dp/B008F66Z14/

"Leyte,""Black Orchid," and "Poinciana" - Cal Tjader - Several Shades of Jade / Breeze From The East
http://www.amazon.com/Several-Shades-Jade-Breeze-From/dp/B000VRLBS2/

"Face Beside The Fire," and "Moon Goddess" - Don Ralke - The Savage and the Sensuous Bongos
http://www.amazon.com/The-Savage-And-Sensuous-Bongos/dp/B0030CNLG0

"Poinciana" and "Temple Bells" - Frank Hunter - White Goddess
http://www.amazon.com/White-Goddess/dp/B006FLGP1G

"Adventures In Paradise" - Jerry Byrd
http://www.amazon.com/Theme-From-Adventures-In-Paradise/dp/B005O9CDGQ/

"Paradise,""Deep Night, and "Mejiro" - Paul Conrad - Exotic Paradise
http://www.amazon.com/Exotic-Paradise/dp/B007ZXV3FQ/

"Javanese Valley," "Malayan Mightbird," "Lotus Land," and "Moonflowers" - Warren Barker and his Orchestra - The Very Best of William Holden
http://www.amazon.com/The-Very-Best-Of/dp/B004YX16XY/

"Koko Head," "Telani," and "Maika" - Milt Raskin and His Orchestra - Kapu
http://www.amazon.com/Kapu-Exotic-Sounds-Milt-Raskin/dp/B000S550JS

I downloaded other stuff too -- But this proved to be the best of the bunch, IMHO. Your opinions will certainly be different than mine, but perhaps someone will find this interesting or semi-useful. I was certainly excited to find all this old stuff that was new to me!

I'm also curious to hear what rare or under-appreciated gems OTHERS have found online.

The song I found that I LEAST recommend: "Tropical" by Michel Magne & His Orchestra. Stay away. The sample audio clip isn't TOO bad, but ultimately it sounds like someone trying to escape from a dumpster full of squeak toys.

Chris

P.S. - I didn't mention more recent tiki/exotic music and bands because that's a different project and a different post.

but ultimately it sounds like someone trying to escape from a dumpster full of squeak toys.

Thanks for making me shoot coffee all over my monitor! :lol:

Great idea for a post! I've noticed a number of interesting things quietly popping up as digital downloads. For example a spy flick (everyone is at Oasis, but me so I'm gonna talk about a spy flick!) called "A Man Called Dagger" was released with the tracks from the album AND a bunch of other tracks not on the original LP as well as alternate takes.

Digi-tiki is my usual source for the digital download news, but having a post to keep track of and discuss things is great.

I did notice a few seconds of bird sound effects missing from the opening of Kapu. I wonder how many of these got cleaned up in the digital transfer?

My pleasure. Anyway, it's a well-known fact that coffee is good for the nose and sinuses.

On 2012-08-18 09:01, Lukeulele wrote:

but ultimately it sounds like someone trying to escape from a dumpster full of squeak toys.

Thanks for making me shoot coffee all over my monitor! :lol: