Early ‘60s exotica: show tunes, bossa novas, island melodies

Hawaii-born Arthur Lyman joined with Martin Denny to invent “exotica” on the latter’s 1957 debut album. Exotica combined the melodic sounds of the islands with unusual percussion (notably the scratching sound of the guiro), pop changes, and human-voiced bird calls to create a soundtrack to the late ‘50s fascination with all things tiki. As a vibraphonist, Lyman’s jazz background added an element of cool to Denny’s classical training. Splitting after their debut release, Lyman created a new quartet and recorded dozens of exotica-inflected albums for the Hi-Fi, Life and Crescendo labels. Collectors’ Choice latest series of reissues gathers eighteen of Lyman’s releases from Hi-Fi and Life, fits them two per CD, includes full-panel reproductions of both album covers, adds a full-panel back cover and new liner notes from Scram’s Kim Cooper and David Smay.Lyman's eleventh album, 1962's Many Moods of Arthur Lyman followed the same pattern as his earlier releases. The song list includes show tunes ("Something Wonderful," "March of the Siamese Children" and "America"), film hits ("Anna" and "El Cid"), Hawaiian melodies ("Pua Maiole" and "Ka Anoi"), a Les Baxter composition ("Jungle Flower" from 1952's seminal LP "Ritual of the Savage"), and popular classics that include "Londonderry Air" (better known as the melody to "Danny Boy") and "Babalu." The album's most obscure selection, and its most radical rearrangement, is a drowsy march-time version of the Ink Spots' western-tinged mid-50s work song, "Planting Rice." The album works its traditional exotica spell, with bird calls, percussion, and scratching guiro, and arrangements that range from lush and tranquil to percussive and forceful. Tracks 3 and 6 are mono. 1963's Love For Sale, originally released (with the same catalog number) as I Wish You Love, follows a similar pattern of song selection, though lighter on the exotica vibe and traditional Hawaiian melodies. There are show tunes ("Love," from the mid-40s Zigfield Follies), film tunes ("Love Song From Mutiny on the Bounty (Follow Me)," "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," "Pagan Love Song," "Secret Love"), American pop classics (Les Brown's "Sentimental Journey", and a jaunty take on Cole Porter's "Love For Sale"), international themes ("I Wish You Love"), and the requisite Les Baxter composition ("Love Dance"). Lyman really gives his vibraphone a ride on "Sentimental Journey," which is one of two songs here that are closely associated with Doris Day, the other being "Secret Love." Pianist Allan Soares pulls out all the romantic flourishes he can find on "It's So Right to Love." The album offers two new touches: the accordion heard on "To You My Love," and the panning of the guiro back and forth across the sound stage (ala RCA's Stereo Action, but less frenetic) on "Pagan Love Song." This is a solid pair of albums with a serene vibe that's more jazz supper club than tiki bar. The group's continued dependency on material from Hollywood, Broadway and tin-pan alley lends the song list little individual distinction within Lyman's overall catalog. [©2008 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]