Les Baxter Music of the 1960s TV Special

Does anyone know where this is or how much of it exists? Dionysus released the soundtrack. On Youtube, there are videos of "Autumn Leaves" and "Big Wide Wonderful World." Where did those come from? The Les Baxter Website also has a low-rez version of the latter.

Does the entire thing exist on video someplace? Where is "Quiet Village" in particular? I especially want to see the video of that one.

On 2010-10-16 06:36, OnyaBirri wrote:
Does anyone know where this is or how much of it exists? Dionysus released the soundtrack. On Youtube, there are videos of "Autumn Leaves" and "Big Wide Wonderful World." Where did those come from? The Les Baxter Website also has a low-rez version of the latter.

Does the entire thing exist on video someplace? Where is "Quiet Village" in particular? I especially want to see the video of that one.

Good luck Drew. I have tried to no avail!! :(

Thanks Jeff! I figured either you or Jack would have info. Maybe some day...

Shouldn't we ask Skip Heller, then? Didn't he produce this, or an earlier music only version, on CD?

I am asking Skip, but I noticed this as part of the notes of the CD release. Seems pretty clear that the whole thing exists somehwere.

-Jack

"Bacchus Archives Presents Lost Episodes Les Baxter, His Chorus and Orchestra"

Note: This record was mastered from an old videotape. While every possible step was taken in the transfer and mastering steps, the source tape itself was not pristine. There are a few glitches. They're not the engineer's fault, nor did they happen in the mastering.

I asked Skip a long time ago. So long ago that I can't remember what he told me but it was not positive. That I am sure.

Curious to see what he says. Good luck Jack!

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

Some of you might have seen this up on Ebay. Anyway, I won the thing; an acetate with two tracks from this TV session (Ruby and Quiet Village). I have no idea why this was put on this acetate, maybe to promote it for airplay? Sound is pretty good, so I'm happy to have some form of a vintage pressing from this as I like this Quiet Village version a lot.

The other two tracks are a mystery to me. I was hoping someone would recognize it. I was expecting to hear Bianchi's versions of these tracks but they are not. Don't think I've seen the title Jungle Fifes somewhere else. Would this be Les Baxter recordings? Or are they lifted from some record I'm not aware of?

Here are MP3s of it. Hope someone can enlighten me.

http://www.divshare.com/download/22825249-111

http://www.divshare.com/download/22825277-b19

I can't help you with info about those tracks, but I am fascinated with the label crediting "Tiki". She is a mystery singer who was introduced by Les Baxter on his 1962 "The Primitive and The Passionate" album, obviously in the vein of his earlier voice talent discoveries Yma Sumac and Bas Sheva. But if you are a Les fan, you probably know all this:

I am curious about the story of this "Tiki", and what she looked like. Here's a clip from the above credited show - albeit no Tiki in sight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY8bdEHJ66w

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2013-01-12 12:03 ]

I totally overlooked the "Tiki" connection. Thanks!

That's exactly what I was thinking Sven. Maybe it had Tiki's vocals on it. Weird labeling that's for sure. Wonder why they titled it Tiki Sings?

I'll download those Baxter clips tonight and let you know my thoughts. Thanks for posting!

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

I hope it was clear Ruby and Quiet Village are the exact versions that appeared on the Dionysus Lost Episode release. The other two tracks, which are posted, are just flutes and drumkit so I wonder if its Baxter at all. No singing. Do you hear any of his signatures in these tracks? I want to think the drums have a Baxter sound (loose jazz beat, reverb) but it can be anything.

Baxter or not, I wonder why they released such acetates. To promote airplay? To check EQ?

That version of "Jungle Fantasy" bears some significant resemblances to Yusef Lateef's version from around the same time. I just checked my LP to see who the vocalist is on that version, and it says "unidentified vocalist" Oh well...

I listened to the Lateef track on Youtube. Nice. Dan (DJlittledanny) seemed to be pretty sure its Bob Romeo on flute on the actetate.

We can only guess of course. Maybe this was made as a rehearsal disc for Tiki?

The two "jungle" tracks definitely don't have a sound that points to Les Baxter. May have to listen to that Bob Romero LP again.

What an oddball acetate you have there. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

On 2013-01-12 11:58, bigbrotiki wrote:
I can't help you with info about those tracks, but I am fascinated with the label crediting "Tiki". She is a mystery singer who was introduced by Les Baxter on his 1962 "The Primitive and The Passionate" album, obviously in the vein of his earlier voice talent discoveries Yma Sumac and Bas Sheva. But if you are a Les fan, you probably know all this:

I am curious about the story of this "Tiki", and what she looked like. Here's a clip from the above credited show - albeit no Tiki in sight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY8bdEHJ66w

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2013-01-12 12:03 ]

"Tiki" may have been the singer Beverly Ford who also sang on the Enchanted Tiki Room soundtrack

http://www.exotictikiisland.com/the-lost-episode-of-les-baxter/

http://www.discogs.com/artist/1225415-Beverly-Ford