Andre Kostelanetz Exotic Music Vs. Lure of the Tropics

One of the earliest exotica albums ever - aside from symphonic pieces like "Scheherazade" or "Rite of Spring" - must have been the Andre Kostelanetz album "Exotic Music" from 1945. This album consisted of two 12" 78s, rather than the standard 10" size, with one track per side: "Poinciana,""Flamingo," "Song of India," and "Lotus Land." The cover is gorgeous. I have a copy but have nothing to play it on. I have heard that it was also released as a 45 rpm set, but have never seen one.

In the 1950s, Kostelantetz made an exotica LP called "Lure of the Tropics" which contains all four of these tunes. I used to have a beat up copy but it has disappeared.

I am wondering if anyone here has heard both of these and compared the two. I am assuming that the versions on the LP are hi-fi recordings and not the same recordings as those on the 78 set. But I wonder if the arrangements are the same. "Lure of the Tropics" is on a Collectibles twofer CD. I don't think the four recordings that comprise "Exotic Music" have ever been released in digital form, unless they are indeed the same recordings as those on "Lure."

Can anyone shed some light on this?

[ Edited by: OnyaBirri 2012-08-25 14:06 ]

Just got around to listening to this CD finally - some good stuff on here. Sounds like my old days of playing orchestral pops music haha! The Lotus Land is really nice on here.

Lure of the Tropics has been a favorite of mine - if for no other reason than the version of "Lotus Land."

It's iconic (to me).

Drew, I don't know the earlier versions that you mention, but I will certainly be on the lookout, now that you have brought it up...

Bumping this old thread. Someone posted the "Exotic Music" 78 set on YouTube (4 separate videos), and they are indeed the same recordings as those on "Lure of the Tropics."

Here are the links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQny5eTQuHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6FG9du2eFU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL9BhbLUvuI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80vUWCRkLoA

[ Edited by: StolenIdols 2018-08-28 15:42 ]

Thanks Drew!! :)

On 2018-09-05 12:59, Jeff Central wrote:
Thanks Drew!! :)

One less exotica album to worry about! :wink:

....although, on an interesting related note. Andre Kostelanetz's "Lure Of The Tropics" and "Lure Of Paradise" each have DIFFERENT versions of "Moon Of Manakoora," "Lotus Land," and "Kashmiri Song."

Really!

I have both also. I never noticed that. I look forward to comparing them. I mainly play my copy of Lure of the Tropics.