In The Trashcan Records
GARBAGE-X1
"What is exotica? An escape route to long forgotten ages? A
trip to an unreachable paradise? Or just an old name for "world music"?
No, or maybe a means to be "tiki"? I've been listening to these tunes
for more than half of my life and I still don't know. So please tell
me why they make me feel so good.."
From volume 15 "Magic Carpet".
Ray, a Moonglow Records subsidiary and thus there's a Belgian link to this American 45. I will always link Homer Dennison to his super crazy song "Chickie run" which I heard for the first time on the "Psycho serenade" compilation from the Wavy Gravy series. The original release was on the Madison label. Hot oriental tunes for bedtime stories...
9. The Chiefs: Enchiladas
From volume 9 "Kitchenette".
Another song that should've been perfect for Frolic Diner, perhaps right
after Boots Brown's "Cerveza". An exotic ode to enchiladas. Is there anyone
who dislikes enchiladas? Mexican food can be hot. Need for more tortillas or
enchiladas?
2. Orlie & The Saints: King Kong
From volume 11 "TV Nightmare".
Oh wow, a monster
movie! King Kong on Channel 4 tonight!!! And if you think you have ever
heard of Orlie, then you're right: just look at
volume
7.
From volume 29 "In the middle of the floor".
Also known as “Come on and be my sweet darlin’”. Other 45s include “Nothing like a mother”, “I’ll be your winner”, “Do it right now” and “Tell her”. His two Soulhawk 45s are his rarest releases. Perhaps this is not the most exotic one, but it sure reminds me of one specific exotic beauty.
From volume 36 "O El Cha Cha"
Now follow me deep into the heart of the cha cha jungle and listen to what the watusi has to say. You won’t understand him, but I’m pretty sure you’ll dance to his music.
11. Al Verlane: Marihuana
From volume 28 "Protest rock"
A great lurid latin dance tune about “Marihuana”. Getting high in Rio! But
he was a Belgian, and that not so far from The Netherlands, isn’t it? Most
of his recordings were with The Montebellos, but this is with The Tropicanas.
Is Al Verlane the same artist as Al Vandam?
4. Preston Epps: Bongos in pastel
From volume 45 "Bongos in pastel".
Originally on Original Sound also with”Doin’( the cha cha cha)” as flipside.
Mano Negra recorded a song called “King of bongo”. I hope that they were
thinking of the real bongo king Preston Epps. This is one of his lesser
known bongo recordings.
From volume 12 "Sombrero".
Exotic Italian cha cha cha on an Italian label, probably the best known label in Italy in the 50s and 60s. I suppose this was recorded around 1960. On a later volume I might include the Adriano Celentano version of this song that invites you to dance the cha cha cha with the beautiful girl next to you.
From volume 54 "Copacabana".
I have absolutely no clue about the year of this bongo beatin’ exotic tune; actually I don’t have any info at all. Only that both sides are fantastic exotic novelty dance tunes.
13. Aldo Pagani: Eri mia
From volume 43 "Continental pop"
It’s a flexi 45 with one track only. Wow, what a great speedy cha cha cha
tune this is AND it’s sung in Italian. Who was Aldo Pagani? I don’t know.
6. The Marketts: Cobra
From volume 30 "Cobra".
The Marketts (yes, the ones from “Out of limits” and “Balboa blue”) recorded
this mysterious exotic tune only to put it on a b-side. It’s one of their
best!!!
From volume 12 "Sombrero".
On volume 9 you could listen to "Screwball"; its other side is even better. "Chunky" is a superb example of British instrumental soundtrack music using twangy guitars and John Barry-esque arrangements.
From volume 1 "Caravan"
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.
15. Les Chakachas: Twist twist
From volume 7 "Twisters".
This is the best twist song from Belgium. Exotic twist by six gentlemen and
one lady from a rainy country. If you want to know more about the musical
surprises of this tiny country, you have to check out vol 3, vol 26 and vol
31.
8. Duane Eddy: Lost island
From volume 38 "Lost Island"
One of the most exotic instrumentals Mister Twangy Guitar has ever written.
If there’s ever going to be a third volume of “Jungle exotica”, this must be
the opening track. Just close your eyes and think about your Polynesian love
on that lost island.
From volume 11 "TV Nightmare".
A super sexy swinging ode to the strongest of all cartoon heroes by a latin cha cha band. "Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Soopermaaan".
