Les Baxter (1922 – 1996) is best known as one of the originators of Exotica, a particular style of Easy Listening-music that offered its listeners a lush sonic vacation in the stereophonic comfort of their own living room, a trip on record full of imaginary rituals and exciting taboos. The composer, arranger and orchestra leader from Texas, who studied piano at the Detroit conservatory, decided against a career as a concert pianist in favor of Swing, the popular music of the time. At 21 he played saxophone for the Freddie Slack big band, and also worked as a vocalist, joining Mel Tormé’s Mel-Tones two years later. Studio and soundtrack work for Nat King Cole or Yma Sumac, among others led to successful concept albums of his own orchestral suites, such as Ritual Of The Savage, The Passions, Caribbean Moonlight, or Space Escapade, all of which are among the twenty original albums in this box set. Think of Exotica as the world music of the late Fifties and early Sixties then sit back, relax, and enjoy the sophisticated naïveté of these inventively and dramatically arranged and produced scores for the movie in your mind.
CD1
RITUAL OF THE SAVAGE
1. Busy Port (L. Baxter) 3.04
2. Sophisticated Savage (L. Baxter) 2.13
3. Jungle River Boat (L. Baxter) 3.05
4. Jungle Flower (L. Baxter) 2.42
5. Barquita (L. Baxter) 1.42
6. Stone God (L. Baxter) 3.09
7. Quiet Village (L. Baxter) 3.17
8. Jungle Jalopy (L. Baxter) 2.35
9. Coronation (L. Baxter) 2.57
10. Love Dance (L. Baxter) 2.17
11. Kinkajou (L. Baxter) 1.50
12. The Ritual (L. Baxter) 3.11
Written and arranged by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1951
FESTIVAL OF GNOMES
13. Part 1 – Nightfall (Prince Di Candriano) 2.20
14. Part 2 – Dance of the Gnomes (Prince Di Candriano) 2.54
15. Part 3 – Entrance Of the Fairies (Prince Di Candriano) 3.04
16. Part 4 – Finale and Daybreak (Prince Di Candriano) 2.53
17. Valse Viennese (Prince Di Candriano) 2.57
18. Santa Maria Del Fiore (Prince Di Candriano) 2.47
19. La Polonesa (Prince Di Candriano) 2.30
20. Tarantella (Prince Di Candriano) 2.57
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1952
Total Time 55.06
CD2
THINKING OF YOU
1. Thinking of You (Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby) 3.10
2. Speak Low (Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash) 2.26
3. Because of You (Arthur Hammerstein, Dudley Wilkinson) 2.49
4. With My Eyes Wide Open I‘m Dreaming (Harry Revel, Mack Gordon) 2.45
5. I Love Paris (Cole Porter) 2.21
6. Miss You (C. Tobias, H. Tobias) 2.34
7. Nevertheless (I‘m in Love with You) (Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby) 3.19
8. Lost in Meditation (Ellington, Mills, Tizol, Singer) 2.51
9. Mine (Ira & George Gershwin) 2.42
10. The Nearness of You (Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington) 3.10
11. Vieni, Vieni (Rudy Vallee, Vincent Scotto) 2.01
12. Little White Lies (Walter Donaldson) 2.59
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1954
THE PASSIONS
13. Despair (L. Baxter) 3.16
14. Ecstasy (L. Baxter) 6.06
15. Hate (L. Baxter) 3.08
16. Lust (L. Baxter) 2.53
17. Terror (L. Baxter) 3.11
18. Jealousy (L. Baxter) 2.55
19. Joy (L. Baxter) 2.40
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Bas Sheva (voc)
Recorded and released in 1954
Total Time 57.57
CD3
KALEIDOSCOPE
1. Tropicana (Bernie Wayne) 2.09
2. April in Portugal (Raúl Ferrão) 2.44
3. Julie (Charles Walcott, Dimitri Tiomkin) 2.54
4. Corn akes (Sidney Norman) 2.37
5. Elaine (Francis Lopez) 2.46
6. Invitation (Bronislaw Kaper) 2.50
7. Blue Tango (Leroy Anderson) 2.59
8. Festival Hop (Art Strauss) 1.49
9. Ruby (Heinz Eric Roemheld, Mitchell Parish) 2.54
10. Gigi (Florence Véran, Rachel Thoreau) 2.43
11. Atlantis (René Rouzaud, Roger Bourdin) 2.15
12. The High and Mighty (Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington) 2.46
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded April 6th, 1953
CARIBBEAN MOONLIGHT
13. Taboo (Al Stillman, Marguerita Lecona) 2.40
14. Deep Night (Charlie Henderson, Rudy Vallee) 3.09
15. The Breeze and I (Al Stillman, Ernesto Lecuona) 1.19
16. Nightingale (George Rosner, Xavier Cugat) 1.51
17. Temptation (Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown) 2.26
18. Poinciana (Song of the Tree) (Bernier, Lliso, Simon) 3.00
19. Ay, Ay, Ay (Osman Perez Freire) 3.02
20. Adios (Eddie Woods, Enric Madriguera) 2.34
21. Carnival (Bob Russell, Harry Warren) 2.46
22. Green Eyes (Adolfo Utrera, Nilo Menéndez) 2.52
23. Out of This World (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) 4.07
24. Sway (Quien Era) (Norman Gimbel, Pablo Beltran Ruiz) 2.16
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded February 15, 1956
Total Time 63.54
CD4
LA FEMME
1. Les Lèvres (L. Baxter) 2.48
2. Les Bras (L. Baxter) 2.45
3. Les Yeux (L. Baxter) 2.47
4. La Taille (L. Baxter) 2.35
5. Les Doigts (L. Baxter) 2.59
6. Les Seins (L. Baxter) 2.27
7. Les Hanches (L. Baxter) 3.06
8. Le Lobe Des Oreilles (L. Baxter) 4.13
9. La Chevelure (L. Baxter) 2.36
10. Le Mollet (L. Baxter) 2.16
11. Les Cuisses (L. Baxter) 2.12
12. La Nuque (L. Baxter) 3.54
Conducted by Franck Pourcel
Orchestra Franck Pourcel and His French Strings
Recorded in Paris in 1956
ROUND THE WORLD
13. (What Happens In) Buenos Aires (D‘Acosta, Dexter) 2.30
14. Melodia Loca (The Chilean Crazy Song) (P.D.) 2.07
15. The Poor People of Paris (Marguerite Monnot) 2.26
16. Japanese Parasols (Kazuo Totoki) 2.42
17. The Clown on the Ei el Tower (Michel Strop) 2.03
18. Auf Wiedersehn, Sweetheart (Storch, Sexton, Turner) 2.52
19. Venezuela (Alfredo Corenzo) 2.47
20. Purple Islands (Walt Heebner) 2.47
21. Padam, Padam (Nicols, Holiner, Glanzberg) 2.36
22. Normandy (Al Sherman) 2.32
23. Monika (Les Baxter) 3.08
24. Romantic Rio (Les Baxter) 2.27
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded August 8, 1956
Total Time 68.01
CD5
SKINS
1. Afro-Deesia (L. Baxter) 2.02
2. Brazilian Bash (L. Baxter) 2.36
3. Bustin‘ The Bongos (Dave Baxter) 5.13
4. Conversation (L. Baxter) 2.38
5. Poppin‘ Panderos (L. Baxter) 2.29
6. Talkin‘ Drums (L. Baxter) 3.50
7. Reverberasia (L. Baxter) 2.11
8. Shoutin‘ Drums (L. Baxter) 5.54
9. Gringo (L. Baxter) 2.11
10. Mood Tattooed (L. Baxter) 2.15
Les Baxter (harpsichord)
Carlos Vidal (voc, track 1)
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1957
MIDNIGHT ON THE CLIFFS
11. Midnight on the Cli s (Leonard Pennario) 3.04
12. Wake the Town and Tell the People (Livingston, Gallop) 2.33
13. End of Spring (Sylvia Fine) 2.50
14. Take My Love (Kaper, Deutsch) 2.41
15. The Shrike (José Ferrer) 2.24
16. Blue Mirage (Olias, Coslow) 2.30
17. Unchained Melody (North, Zaret) 2.31
18. Medic (Victor Young) 2.39
19. Suddenly (Heuberger, Cochran) 2.33
20. If You Were Mine (Glykson, Baxter, Polnare ) 2.48
21. When You‘re In Love (De Paul, Mercer) 2.51
22. Dream Rhapsody (Cesar Franck) 2.09
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1957
Total Time 63.19
CD6
SPACE ESCAPADE
1. Shooting Star (L. Baxter) 1.75
2. Moonscape (L. Baxter) 3.02
3. Mr. Robot (L. Baxter) 2.49
4. The City (L. Baxter) 2.53
5. A Distant Star (L. Baxter) 3.03
6. The Commuter (L. Baxter) 2.22
7. Winds of Sirius (L. Baxter) 2.37
8. The Other Side of the Moon (L. Baxter) 2.03
9. A Look Back at Earth (L. Baxter) 2.40
10. Earth Light (L. Baxter) 1.29
11. The Lady Is (L. Baxter) 2.18
12. Saturday Night on Saturn (L. Baxter) 1.39
Orchestra conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1958
SOUTH PACIFIC
13. There‘s Nothing Like a Dame (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 2.42
14. Some Enchanted Evening (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 3.14
15. Happy Talk (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 2.20
16. A Cock-Eyed Optimist (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 2.39
17. I‘m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair 1.49
(Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II)
18. Younger Than Springtime (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 2.20
19. A Wonderful Guy (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 2.07
20. Bali Ha‘i (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 3.31
21. This Nearly Was Mine (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 2.35
22. Dîtes-Moi (Tell Me Why) (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 1.43
23. Honey Bun (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) 2.04
24. Bloody Mary and My Girl Back Home 3.25
(Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II)
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1958
Total Time 59.43
CD7
LOVE IS A FABULOUS THING
1. Love Is a Fabulous Thing (L. Baxter) 2.44
2. Hot Summer Night (L. Baxter) 2.52
3. Cherchez La Femme (L. Baxter) 2.05
4. Our Kind of Love (L. Baxter) 2.05
5. Moonlight Stroll (L. Baxter) 1.32
6. Rush Hour Romance (L. Baxter) 1.49
7. Early Morning Blues (L. Baxter) 3.09
8. Paris Interlude (Mignonette, Gamin) (L. Baxter) 3.42
9. My Love and the Sea (L. Baxter) 2.50
10. Afternoon A air (L. Baxter) 2.34
11. Well, All Night Long (L. Baxter) 1.59
12. Dawn on the City (L. Baxter) 2.18
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1958
AFRICAN JAZZ
13. Congo Train (L. Baxter) 2.42
14. Elephant Trail (L. Baxter) 3.09
15. Banana Boy (L. Baxter) 2.32
16. Safari (L. Baxter) 2.30
17. Mombasa After Midnight (L. Baxter) 2.09
18. Rain (L. Baxter) 2.37
19. Lost City (L. Baxter) 3.06
20. Walkin‘ Watusi (L. Baxter) 2.30
21. Ostrich Hunt (L. Baxter) 1.49
22. Cairo Bazaar (L. Baxter) 1.21
23. Jungalero (L. Baxter) 3.25
24. Balinese Bongos (L. Baxter) 2.01
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1959
Total Time 59.30
CD8
Wild Guitars
1. Sabre Dance (Aram Khatchaturian) 2.41
2. Maracangalha (Dorival Caymmi) 1.52
3. Desilusao (P.D.) 1.47
4. Cabayo (Les Baxter, Riz Ortolani) 2.08
5. Piccolissima Serenata (Amurri, Ferrio, Hourdeaux) 2.30
6. My Buddy (Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson) 2.34
7. Ritual Fire Dance (Manuel De Falla) 2.03
8. Brazilian Slave Song (Lamartine Babo) 1.59
9. Tell Me, Margarita (Mariano Merceron) 3.04
10. Mandolino (Les Baxter, Riz Ortolani) 1.54
11. Cubana Mulatta (Les Baxter, Pepé Gamboa) 2.33
12. Tico Tico (Zequinha Abreu) 1.53
Joe Carioca, Nestor Amaral (git)
Pepé Gamboa (git, tres, cavaquinho)
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter.
Recorded and released in 1959
BABARIAN
13. Main Title – Goliath‘s March (L. Baxter) 0.58
14. Love Theme – Landa (L. Baxter) 1.54
15. Noisy Village – Barbarian Games (L. Baxter) 3.07
16. The Sacred Crown (L. Baxter) 4.21
17. Sword Dance (L. Baxter) 3.27
18. Mountains of Mystery (L. Baxter) 5.03
19. Ride of the Barbarians (L. Baxter) 1.48
20. Night Attack of the Stranger (L. Baxter) 2.56
21. Love‘s Farewell (L. Baxter) 2.40
22. Rape of the Village (L. Baxter) 2.30
23. Fire Dance (L. Baxter) 2.53
24. End Title – March of Victory (L. Baxter) 2.58
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1959
Total Time 61.35
CD9
TEEN DRUMS
1. Ting Ting Ting (L. Baxter) 3.02
2. Brazil Nuts (L. Baxter) 3.21
3. Take One (Milt Holland) 3.38
4. Boomada (L. Baxter) 2.13
5. Uncle Tom Tom (Dave Baxter) 5.02
6. Barbarian (L. Baxter) 2.12
7. Chom Chom (L. Baxter) 2.55
8. I Dig (L. Baxter) 3.17
9. Ooch I Baba (L. Baxter) 2.13
10. Calypso (L. Baxter) 2.01
11. Bom Bom (L. Baxter) 5.40
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1960
YOUNG POPS
12. Venus (Ed Marshall) 2.24
13. Running Bear (J. P.Richardson) 2.08
14. Let It Be Me (Becaud, Curtis, Delance) 2.15
15. The Battle of New Orleans (Jimmy Driftwood) 1.54
16. Mister Blue (Dewayne Blackwell) 2.24
17. El Paso (Marty Robbins) 1.35
18. What in the World‘s Come over You (Jack Scott) 2.19
19. Theme from a Summer Place (Max Steiner) 2.04
20. Tom Dooley (trad) 2.34
21. Misty (Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke) 2.23
22. Forever (Buddy Killen) 2.37
23. Mack the Knife (Brecht, Weill, Blitzstein) 2.39
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1960
Total Time 63.06
CD10
JEWELS OF THE SEA
1. Sunken City (L. Baxter) 3.01
2. Stars in the Sand (L. Baxter) 3.11
3. Sea Nymph (L. Baxter) 2.05
4. Singing Sea Shells (L. Baxter) 2.16
5. Dolphin (L. Baxter) 1.59
6. Dawn Under the Sea (L. Baxter) 2.33
7. The Enchanted Sea (Claude Debussy) 3.34
8. Girl from Nassau (L. Baxter) 2.24
9. The Ancient Galleon (L. Baxter) 3.18
10. Coral Castle (L. Baxter) 2.37
11. Dancing Diamonds (Dave Dexter) 1.33
12. Jewels of the Sea (L. Baxter) 3.48
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1961
MASTER OF THE WORLD
13. Overture (L. Baxter) 2.25
14. Topage (L. Baxter) 1.56
15. The Albatross (L. Baxter) 2.25
16. Mediterranean (L. Baxter) 2.52
17. Over the Rocks (L. Baxter) 4.40
18. Master of the World (L. Baxter) 1.47
19. Flight Concerto (L. Baxter) 2.21
20. Philadelphia (L. Baxter) 2.02
21. Drifting Clouds (L. Baxter) 3.13
22. The Conquerors (L. Baxter) 4.29
23. Ballon Waltz (L. Baxter) 2.20
24. Finale (L. Baxter) 1.47
Arranged and conducted by Les Baxter
Recorded and released in 1961
Total Time 64.48
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