Now Sound — Recently Added
Lounge, exotica, bachelor pad, instrumental pop, and Hi-Fi gems!
Paul Page & His Paradise Music
Pacific ParadiseSubliminal Sounds (Sweden), 1940s/1950s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold
A fantastic tribute to the enigmatic Paul Page – an exotic music genius from the west coast scene of the postwar years – but one who never reached the fame of bigger names like Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, or Webley Edwards! Page spent his later years in Hawaii, and right from the start ... LP, Vinyl record album
Paul Page & His Paradise Music
Pacific ParadiseSubliminal Sounds (Sweden), 1940s/1950s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold
A fantastic tribute to the enigmatic Paul Page – an exotic music genius from the west coast scene of the postwar years – but one who never reached the fame of bigger names like Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, or Webley Edwards! Page spent his later years in Hawaii, and right from the start ... LP, Vinyl record album
Columbia, Mid 60s. New Copy (reissue)
Wonderful stuff – way more than just an easy instrumental album, and a great batch of exotic tunes with lots of jazzy touches! There's enough of the Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman influence here – but Rex and group take the sound a lot further, by playing like a true small combo, and ... LP, Vinyl record album
Dave Harris
Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry CannibalsDecca/Sonitron, 1958. New Copy (reissue)
A classic session of music from the mighty Raymond Scott – performed here by a small combo led by Scott's old tenor player Dave Harris! All of the tunes here were written by Scott, and many are of the vintage that stretches back to his cool cartoon work – those jaunty, jagged little ... LP, Vinyl record album
Eden Ahbez & Others
Wild Boy – The Lost Songs Of Eden Ahbez (180 gram pressing)Bear Family (Germany), 1950s/1960s. New Copy Gatefold
LP...$28.99
31.99
A much-needed look at the untapped musical legacy of Eden Ahbez – the west coast mystic who's best remembered for delivering the song "Nature Boy" to Nat King Cole (legendarily walking in barefooted during a recording session!) – but who also made a range of other great music ... LP, Vinyl record album
El (UK), 1958. New Copy
CD...$6.99
13.99
A pretty groovy album of instrumental tracks from arranger Wally Stott – an artist who'd later craft the beautiful backdrops for some of Scott Walker's solo records! The style here is a bit more 50s instrumental – larger orchestrations with some touches of jazz, as Stott serves up a ... CD
Elsa Popping & Her Pixieland Band (Andre Popp)
Delirium In Hi FiColumbia, 1957. New Copy (reissue)
A lost Hi Fi gem! Released in America under the name of "Elsa Popping & Her Pixieland Band" – the record is actually a stunning collaboration between French orchestra leader Andre Popp and sound effects wizard Pierre Fatosme. The sound is wild and swinging, with a feel that's ... LP, Vinyl record album
Percy Faith
Disco Party (with bonus track)CBS/Sony (Japan), 1975. New Copy
A sweet little disco party from Percy Faith – a man who cut some pretty sleepy records in the 60s, but really managed to open up his groove in the 70s! The whole thing's maybe the same disco take on older instrumental styles that Henry Mancini would cut a bit during the period, too – ... CD
Hugo Montenegro
Rocket Man/Vocalion (UK), 1971/1975. New Copy
A pair of 70s albums from Hugo Montenegro – back to back on a single CD! Rocket Man is excellent – very groovy stuff! After paying tribute to Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan on other LPs, Hugo Montenegro turns his talents to the groovy compositions of Elton John in this nice album of ... CD
Jimmy Takeuchi
Blue Chateau – Drum Sound Best – Standard Best 1200Universal (Japan), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy
Very cool drum sounds from Jimmy Takeuchi – an artist who was maybe Japan's answer to Sandy Nelson – and who worked in a similar blend of instrumental rock modes! The drums are upfront on all the numbers here, but there's also a lot of twangy guitar, saxophone, and other sweet elements ... CD
Tokashi Obara
Itsudemo Yumewo – J Hits Piano Best – Standard Best 1200Universal (Japan), 1995. New Copy
Gentle solo piano from Japan – a set that recalls older easy instrumental albums of the 60s and 70s, even though it was recorded in more recent years! The sole instrumentation here is piano, recorded in a lushly echoey style that has the same softly captivating vibe of later albums by ... CD
Enoch Light & The Light Brigade
Provocative Stereo Sounds Of Our TimeCommand, 1973. Very Good+ 2LP
... LP, Vinyl record album
Living Strings
Mame & Other Songs From Broadway & Motion PicturesRCA, 1972. Sealed
... LP, Vinyl record album
Rosemary Brown
Musical SeancePhilips, 1960s. Very Good+ Gatefold
Spooky stuff! Pianist/spiritualist Rosemary Brown communicated with a number of the great dead composers – like Liszt, Debussy, Schumann, Chopin, and Beethoven – and they all gave her scores to works that were not known to the rest of the world of the living. Rosemary and pianist ... LP, Vinyl record album
Walter Carlos
Clockwork OrangeColumbia, 1972. Very Good
This isn't the official soundtrack for the film, but a separate recording of Walter Carlos' score that was released apart from the original soundtrack album. The LP includes electronic renditions of a few classical pieces – like the "William Tell Overture" and Beethoven's 9th ... LP, Vinyl record album
Rene Paulo
Black CoralLiberty, Late 50s. Very Good
A fairly straight album of piano tracks for Liberty, but with a subtle Polynesian feel to it. The cover would imply more, though – since it's got a beautiful underwater shot of an exotic looking model hiding behind some coral! Titles include "Hana", "Black Coral", "M ... LP, Vinyl record album
Spike Jones
New Band Of Spike Jones Plays Hank Williams HitsLiberty, 1965. Near Mint-
... LP, Vinyl record album
Simon Rady
Voices In MotionColumbia, 1961. Very Good
A very sweet Columbia Hi-Fi set – done with great dynamic range – using the human voice in an orchestra, like an instrument! Titles include "Dream", "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing", "Ebb Tide", and "Autumn Leaves". LP, Vinyl record album
Sid Bass
With Bells On – TintinnabulationRCA/Vik, 1957. Very Good
A groovy one from the always-great Sid Bass – a set that's filled with lots of percussion and bells! LP, Vinyl record album
Armando Trovajoli
Musical NightcapRCA, Early 60s. Very Good-
Rare non-soundtrack work from Armando Trovajoli – featuring the maestro with orchestra, on both piano and harpsichord! LP, Vinyl record album
Henry Mancini
Cop Show ThemesRCA, 1976. Very Good+
One of the funkiest albums ever from Henry Mancini – a brilliant reworking of hit 70s cop show themes, put together with a really jazzy groove! The group's a big one – filled with hip players who include Clare Fischer on organ, Artie Kane on electric piano and harpsichord, Don Menza on ... LP, Vinyl record album
Peter Sichel
On Wine: How To ServeColumbia, Late 60s. Very Good+
A goofy LP in it's own right, with wine instruction and music, but it's also been sampled by the Beastie Boys, on that part of "Check Your Head" where they talk about being in the townhouse of the guy in New York. The sample jumps right out at you, and there's a lot of other goofy ... LP, Vinyl record album
Surfmen (Paul Horn, Emil Richards, et al)
Exotic IslandSomerset, Late 50s. Very Good-
Although their name might make you think of these guys as a guitar instrumental combo, they're actually a great little exotic group – one who plays in a mode that's a heck of a lot like Martin Denny at his best! There's a highly percussive approach to the tracks that's very much in the best ... LP, Vinyl record album
Les Baxter
Caribbean MoonlightCapitol, Early 60s. Very Good-
Not as all-out exotic as some of Les' earlier Capitol albums, but still pretty darn great! The theme here is Carribean exotic, and the rhythms have a little bit more of Cuba and Haiti than they do of primitive Borneo. Les handles them nicely, as always, and contributes some wonderful arrangements ... LP, Vinyl record album
RCA, 1961. Very Good
... LP, Vinyl record album
Gil Trythall
Switched On Nashville (Country Moog)Aathena, 1970. Very Good
Moogy country stuff that actually sounds pretty great (imagine all of the plinks and ploinks of the moog in bluegrass stuff.) Tracks include "Foggy Mountain Breakdown", "Last Date", "Cattle Call", and "Walking the Floor Over You" – but our two faves ... LP, Vinyl record album
Jean De Vres & His Afro Drums
Exciting Voodoo!Palace, Early 60s. Very Good
Jean De Vres presents this collection of drum songs that use the traditional drums of Haiti. The songs are meant to invoke the happy gods of voodoo rather than the dark, black magic gods outsiders normally associate with voodoo. Tracks include "Ao-Mao", "Fire Dance", "Drum ... LP, Vinyl record album
Dick Schory
Music For Bang, Baaroom, & HarpRCA, 1958. Very Good
A classic bit of percussion madness from RCA – featuring conductor Dick Schory at the head of the "biggest battery of percussion west of Cape Canaveral"! The set was recorded in Chicago, and includes local studio talents like Bobby Christian and Johnny Frigo, as well as Schory ... LP, Vinyl record album
Aldemaro Romero
Sketches In RhythmsRCA, 1958. Very Good+
Early work from the great Aldemaro Romero – a sweet mix of exotic and Latin! LP, Vinyl record album
Les Baxter
Ports Of PleasureCapitol, 1957. Very Good+
A dreamy exploration of south sea ideals from the great Les Baxter – a set that's got a more lightly drifting quality than some of his more percussive exotica albums, and which is awash in dreamy soundscapes penned by Les himself! The orchestrations are large and bold throughout – ... LP, Vinyl record album
Al Caiola
All Strung OutUnited Artists, 1966. Very Good+
An excellent album of jazzy guitar instrumentals – mostly in the pop vein, but with some swinging arrangements by Leroy Holmes, and some tight guitar work by Caiola, all of which makes the album really cook along! Titles include "Sneaky", "All Strung Out", "Cherry ... LP, Vinyl record album
Les Baxter
Midnight On The CliffsCapitol, Late 50s. Very Good+
Dreamy work from Les Baxter – featuring his chorus and orchestra over string-heavy arrangements that match the midnight sea setting on the cover. The work's a lot more flowery than his exotic recordings for Capitol – but it's got an insanity that we find quite appealing, especially in ... LP, Vinyl record album
Jackie Gleason
Now Sound – For Today's LoversCapitol, 1969. Very Good+
A record that's definitely after our own heart – in case you couldn't tell from the title! The set has Jackie Gleason expanding his bag a bit for the late 60s – moving from the easy sound to the "Now Sound" – with the help of some cool electric sitar, pictured on the ... LP, Vinyl record album
Plastic Cow
Plastic Cow Goes MoooooogDot, Late 60s. Very Good-
One of the best, tightest, and most listenable Moog pop albums! The record has a number of the usual moogy covers of pop tracks, but with a real focus on electronic effects, and much more "out" musings than other albums of the genre. There's also some excellent originals – like ... LP, Vinyl record album
Perrey-Kingsley
In Sound From Way OutVanguard, Late 60s. Very Good
One of the moogiest records of all time – a legendary LP of "electronic pop music of the future" – sourced and claimed as an influence by everyone from Stereolab to the Beastie Boys! The legendary team of Gershon Kingsley and Jean-Jaques Perry are working here in early tape ... LP, Vinyl record album
Dick Hyman
FantomfingersProject 3, 1971. Very Good+ Gatefold
Pretty darn groovy stuff from Dick Hyman, and a record that has him getting some great tones out of the Baldwin organ! In fact, he seems to use his experience with the moog to find new ways of playing the organ, so that some of the tones and sounds have more of a moogy feel than you'd expect. The ... LP, Vinyl record album
Ferrante & Teicher
Soundproof – The Sound Of Tomorrow TodayWestminster, 1956. Very Good-
Incredible! Ferrante & Teicher play the piano like nobody ever else had – save for perhaps John Cage! The duo do a heck of a lot of work inside the piano – plucking the strings, hitting them like vibes, and sticking in all of these weird bits to create a "prepared piano" ... LP, Vinyl record album
Alvino Rey
His Greatest HitsDot, Early 60s. Very Good+
LP collection of the earlier singles that Alvino Rey made in the fifties. His groovy electric guitar's on all of these, and there's also some nice steel playing with that way-out sound he did so well! Tracks include "Hindustan", "Bloop Bleep", and "Cement Mixer". ... LP, Vinyl record album
Electronic Concept Orchestra
Moog GrooveLimelight, Late 60s. Very Good
Wonderful funky fuzzy moogy! The cover proclaims that this is the "first album of electronic rock" – and although we don't know how true that is, the record's a nice batch of moogy covers – featuring tracks like "Grazin In the Grass", "Aquarius", "Penn ... LP, Vinyl record album
Subri Moulin & His Equatorial Rhythm Group
Jungle PercussionTops/Mayfair, Late 50s. Very Good
Spare, tribal, and heavy percussion – with a sound that's a lot more credible than some of the other stuff on labels like this from the same time. We're not sure who the group is, but even if they are studio guys working under another name, they still do a pretty darn good job! Titles ... LP, Vinyl record album
Michel Colombier
WingsA&M, 1971. Very Good+ Gatefold
French arranger/composer Michel Colombier was responsible for some incredibly beautiful and nicely funky baroque easy recordings during the late 60s. This album has him working in America, bringing his unusual style to the A&M studios, and working with Herb Albert to realize a new level of pop ... LP, Vinyl record album
Irving Fields
Melody Cruise To Spain & Mexico (10-inch)Oceanic, Mid 50s. Very Good+
... LP, Vinyl record album
Cy Coleman
Party's On MeRCA, 1976. Sealed
Cy hits the funky 70s – grooving with some bigger orchestrations, and playing both acoustic and electric keyboards – in a mode that's kind of easy meets jazz meets disco! The sound is actually nice for Coleman – who was better off in a tighter studio session than a smaller freer ... LP, Vinyl record album
Pat Williams
ThinkVerve, Late 60s. Near Mint-
Pat Williams is one of the greatest overlooked arrangers of the 60s, and this great Verve album features some beautifully nutty tracks, with a sweet mix of jazz and easy stylings! Zoot Sims solos on a few tracks here, and Dick Hyman plays Calliope. Great cuts include "Chicken Feathers" ... LP, Vinyl record album
First Percussion Sextet
Most Fabulous Sound Expierience EverRCA, 1961. Very Good
... LP, Vinyl record album
Elektra/Rhino, 1967. New Copy (reissue)
The Zodiac never sounded so spooky – and the album's one of the first in a trend that explored astrology with funky musical backings! The music for the set was put together by moogy maestro Mort Garson – then making a transition from being a straight easy arranger in the early 60s, to ... LP, Vinyl record album
