Customer Reviews

The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny

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4 star:		(1)
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There are many negative things you can say about exotica music in general and Martin Denny in particular:the music is kitchsy and corny, it's "easy listening" music, and its sole purpose was to aid a mass audience in getting slowly stoned on martinis.

All of which is true - nevertheless, I love Martin Denny. The innocence of the music and integrity and care in the production win me over. Martin has an unashamedly corny sense of humor, with one song in which a mosquito's buzz is the primary focus, and numerous songs punctuated by beautifully executed birdcalls. It's all put together seamlessly, as if these elements were the most natural things in the world to include. The production is meticulous, and the music surprisingly does not become repetitive or monotonous, which is no small feat in this style.

The music is not of Hawaii or Polynesia or any other "real" culture, but a complete commercial fabrication, the world of the tiki lodge and resort Hawaii. It brings the guilty pleasures of a Hawaiian vacation into your living room, soothes the spirit, and lets the mind drift away. A must for summer nights on the deck.

Martin Denny died last week. The end of an era for me. As a kid I would grab my father's vinyl LP's of Exotica and Quiet Village and transport myself to tropical lands beyond my dreams, listening to Denny's soothing sounds and exotic bird-call melodies. Julius Wechtler on the vibes was one of my early favorites. (I actually saw him, as leader of the Baja Marimba Band as the opening act for Wayne Newton!) When all my little pals were buying LP's from some English group called the Beatles, I was kickin' it to Martin Denny. This re-mastered double CD is a trip right back to those magical days in front of my parents "hi-fi"! And without all of the snap-crackle-pop of the originals! Awesome!! As long as Martin Denny's music lives, so will he!! Aloha, Mr. Denny! And thanks for everything! Keep a Mai Tai ready for me at that big Don the Beachcomber bar in the sky!!

I got this album along with the Les Baxter companion album, Exotic Moods of Les Baxter. While Les was a great arranger & studio conductor, Martin Denny brought the music out of the studio and to the Tiki lounges of the world. The incredible birdcalls of Augie Colón as well as the sparkling vibraphones, flutes and drums all work together to create an imaginary jungle world just for you. The beats are sometimes primitive and heavy and at other times like rain on a bamboo roof. The music is that of imaginary exotic lands filled with mystery and adventure...

When I was ten, my oldest brother was very cool. He's ten years older, so he was already dating. He always favored blondes. He had mailing return address labels printed with his name, the name of his fraternity at Indiana University and "International Lover."

The part I remember that I like the best was being able to play records (LPs) from his cool collection. The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny was a favorite of mine. When I discovered the CD set, I was amazed and overjoyed. Memories from my pre-pubescent days flooded back. Now at age 48, I am once again in awe of my brother's coolness.

So, besides all the imagery of being in a tropical lounge, I remember my brother and all of the blondes he dated. I came back to Amazon.com to order a CD set for him, knowing that at age 58, he'll still be totally cool and once again with a lover in his arms.

Now, I wonder what ever happened to Connie Stevens and Hawaiian Eye.

If you own only one tiki music set make it this one! For Tiki atmospherics this set would be hard to beat, with both sound, feel & music getting an A+ from this listener. Ordered from Amazon on-line, here in two days. Would agree this is not a cheap set price wise, but worth the money, you won't be disappointed. Enjoy oh great fans of Tiki!

This CD took me back to OAHU when I visited there in "91"...the music inspired me as a musician to get some bongos and write some music...Very Moody music. I like it better than the Les Baxter "best of" cd...A little more primitive, Denny is. Understood that Les is where "exotica" began, but just an opinion. Everyone should have this CD in there collection.

What an era--of the high class lounge music and escape to the tropics. This cover is a beautiful reflection of the music of this era which is nevertheless timeless and unmatchable. The artist who comes the closest is Don Tiki and I wish there were more who could mentally transport us this way.

OK, OK...OF course this music has very little to do with Hawai'i, Polynesia, or tropical life, BUT what a great mysterious, sensuous, and romantic fantasty this music created! I can barely remember hearing this music as a kid (I am Chicano and we didn't listen to this type of music...except on TV and in the radio stores when they wanted to sell you a hi fi record player...)high class lounge music and escape to the plastic tropics, but it is a great reminder of a longing for simpler, slower, and more livable times.

Especially now,with all the noise that passes for "music" and the constant shrill of hate talk on AM radio and the cable "news" channels, this music can transport you to a time when three martini lunches were typical business happenings, and we really believed that polyester would rule the future.

So plug in your lava lamp, dust off your tiki bar, and get ready to lounge around on your hammock, while waiting for sputnik to fly over your house...

First heard in Hawaii 1963 stationed there in submarines. The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny were so beautiful and in keeping with the smell of flowers and almost continuous rainbows of the islands that segments were being used for commercial purposes. All my records and reel to reel tapes are now worn. Liberty was original label but have just heard Denny has been captured on CD under the label SCANT RECORDS but cannot find. I will continue looking for this essence of the tropics which provides perfect background for parties, BBQ's, or just dreaming that you are away from the pressures of today. Better than surf noise, tropical rain and other artificial sounds for relaxation and sleep. Be careful to check before leaping. Martin Denny made a real misake (in my opinion) and tried jaz for a while. He like Don Ho are precious for their expertise in a particular area.......Exotica not drug trips.

Martin Denny is well known as a god of Tiki music. This CD is a simple explaination why. It highlight's Denny's best works and then some. I was introduced to Tiki music by my father. Anyone who listens to tiki music will definately want to pass it on. Also an excellent CD because it has so many tracks