Now it's time to give these weird sounds the credit they deserved.
It's amazing; just LOOK WHAT I HAVE FOUND in thrift stores, second hand markets and sometimes even IN THE TRASH CAN.
Thanks to CD I was able to save these unusual tunes on 45 rpm 7" records. It's obvious that these 45s have been played a lot, so surface noice is almost obligatory. No hi-tek cd quality, but just back to the times where no one had ever heard of digital recording studios.
All the songs on these compilations are from the original 45 rpm records released prior to 1980 when CD took over the world of warm vinyl sounds. I've tried to exclude any song that's been compiled before, but as I don't own each and every compilation album ever made, there might be some songs that you already own on another compilation album. Look, listen and enjoy...
LABEL: In The Trash Can Records
CAT # : GARBAGE01
Subtitle: Caravan - 16 exotic tunes from the Middle East to Easter Island
This is the first of 6 volumes with exotic sounding tunes or songs that deal with exotic subjects. Some of these should have been perfect on Jungle Exotica, a Crypt release.
The other five exotic volumes are "vol 12", "vol 15", "vol 30", "vol 36" and "vol 38"..
(UNITED ARTISTS UA352 from 1961)
The one song that will always be connected to Ralph Marterie is Shish-Kebab which I intended to use in this series, but recently it resurfaced on a comp called "The International Vicious Society" which I highly recommend. But I used another Shish-Kebab on volume 9. Caravan, a Duke Ellington composition from 1936, was first recorded under an alias: "Barney Rigard & His Jazzopators". It's been covered hundreds of times, but this 1953 (!) recording is the one that rocks the most and swings the best. My garbage copy is from 1961 and the b-side is Tonight.
2. the sultan of bezaaz - ray ellington
(Vogue 45-PV. 15036, first released Pye)
The Beryl Stott Choir and Bill Shepherd's orchestra help Ray in his praise for the extremely rich Sultan. Where is Bezaaz? In the Middle East? India? An Arabian prince perhaps? Half way the song the girls of Beryl Stott sing along and then the song really starts swinging and it all ends with an enchanting gong.
3. ali ben ghazi - jack hammer
(Ronnex R 1301 from 1963)
Already his 9th single release, the American-Belgian king of twist recorded this exotic Arabian bossa nova tune about Ali Ben Ghazi who hailed from Bagdad - in those days still a fairy tale city in the middle of the wonderful desert. More about Jack Hammer and his roots in volume 31.
4. allahabad - jacques ysaye
(Palette PB25459 from 1966)
Another "Pearl of the East" was Allahabad, described by Jacques Ysaye and his orchestra. Steady beats, swirling Hammond organ, strings and an oriental flavour rule this instrumental. On volume 15 you can listen to the flip "Chinese lantern feast".
5. harem dance - armenian jazz sextet
(Kapp K-181X from 1957)
I suppose this sextet were Armenian immigrants who released this 45 on the New York based Kapp Records. The instrumental "Harem dance" was covered as "Hey" by Gabriel & His Angels on the fabulous comp "Jungle exotica vol 2", a Crypt release. "Pretty girl", the B-side is also a nice eastern flavoured song which might appear on a future volume.
6. loukoum - kemal rachid & ses ottomans
(Philips P370.280F)
Labeled as "oriental cha cha" this French sung gem (with a very heavy Arabian accent though) is digested in the same way you swing to Bob Azzam's hit record "Mustapha", a very old traditional. Accidentally, Loukoum is the flip to a great version of that Mustapha. I'm told Kemal Rachid was an Algerian immigrant who lived in Paris.
7. istanbul - the night people
(Top Rank HTR-716, in US: Seafair 103 from 1961)
This is the Dutch release of the American 45. The Night People recorded only one 45, a cool version of "Istanbul". Later it was covered by They Might Be Giants (after adding new lyrics) as "Istanbul, not Constantinople". The flipside contains another great guitar instrumental, "Zazerac" which turns up on volume 38.
8. shake shake sonora - lord flea & his calypsonians
(Capitol 45-CL 14704 from 1957)
The label also reads "spanish music". But it's more like Marino Marini, a Latin influenced Italian singer. It reminds me of a southern Italian village party with women dancing around and swinging their skirts while the men encircle them handclapping. Also the flip "The naughty little flea" is more Napoli than Acapulco, but has a distinguished Caribbean touch.
9. in morocco - the classmates
(Decca F.11806 from 1964)
Was this really a British band? Now I know why the Clash recorded a song called "Rock the Casbah"! This song about a mysterious Casablanca guy really rocks. "I feel", an uptempo beat rock song, is the other song on this great 45, their third of four. Obviously they failed to hit the charts.
10. timbuctu - billy duke
(Ember EMB S160 from 1962, first released on 20th Fox 301)
And now over to desert city number one: Timbuctu. Billy Duke runs away from his love to Timbuctu and joins a caravan, just like Laurel & Hardy joined the Foreign Legion after running away from disappointment after disappointment. Billy's recording career started in 1954 and ended a decade later. The flip is an uptempo jazzy swinger called "Ain't she pretty", not so bad after all. I've selected it for volume 20.
11. my sweet watusi - mindy carson
(Columbia 4-40641 from 1956)
This has become one of my fave "unknown" exotica tunes. Mindy's first release was in 1950 and she also recorded a few singles in 1952-53 with Guy Mitchell, but this is definitely her best effort. Fast, sizzling and inviting you to date a Watusi. The b-side "You can't be true to two" is her typical pop style � la Guy Mitchell in a female version.
12. tamour� - the royal polynesians
(Capitol EAP 1-483 from 1951?)
...featuring Charles Mauu, an actual Tahitian chief, administrator and judge. During a visit to America he participated in this recording and helped give it complete authenticity. Tamour� is an invitation to have fun to the intriguing rhythms of an old island chant. This 4-track EP is called "Polynesia! - part 1". The other songs are "Vana Vana", "Papio" and "Caf� au lait". The sleeve was printed in the recent "The book of Tiki" of 2003.
13. bikini - stan applebaum
(Bigtop 45-3025 from 1959)
The Stan Applebaum Orchestra might be from Canada, but Bigtop Records hailed from New York. The only word you hear in this instrumental is ... Bikini! When the guys are shouting it, it is wishful thinking, but when the girl is whispering, it is pure sex! Take off your bikini!
14. the natives are restless - enoch light
(Command SSD-20013)
This must be a late 50s release from France and it's the closest to rock 'n' roll Enoch Light & His Light Brigade will ever come. Enoch and Command: almost synonyms. Native beats against velvet strings, a lost guitar fights exotic percussionists. It's exotica heaven up here.
15. gauchos - the jokers
(Panky 093, also on Reward 1029)
This early 70s tune is one of the best by this Belgian instrumental guitar band that sold over 850.000 albums in the 60s all over the world. Even in Japan, where they were almost as popular as the Ventures! It was also released on Panky 093 (b/w "Hiawotha"). In 2002 this song (about cowboys from the Argentinian pampas) was covered by another Belgian instrumental combo: Fifty Foot Combo. Some more Jokers can be found on volume 31.
16. dance everyone dance - betty madigan
(Coral 9-62007 from 1958)
And now that you've listened to all these songs, everyone should be dancing. This song is an English translation of Hava Nagila, the Jewish traditional, released on Decca's sublabel Coral. Forget about the ballad on the flip, but enjoy this super swinging cover version by Betty, whose recording career was about 15 years long.
