Customer Reviews

Organs in Orbit: Ultra Lounge 11

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own every volume in the "Ultra-Lounge" compilation series, so I offer my opinion as nothing short of a very enthusiastic fan. Of the two dozen issues in this series, this remains a personal favorite. This album is clearly not the ideal introduction to lounge music, but you'll be surprised that (despite its laughable title) this is also extremely fun. This actually holds up incredibly well, partly because the album's overall pace is moderate to fast. There are very few ballads to slow things down. I still love this album after so many listens because the Hammond organ can sound soothing and spooky at the same time. If you're not partial to lounge music or the sounds of the organ, a lot of this is going to seem like baseball park music. Still, it's a lot of fun.

One wise thing the folks at Capitol Records did when compiling tracks for this album was leaving out any hardcore swing music. Hearing a Hammond organ over a hyperactive big band doesn't work. Although moving fast & funky, none of these tracks are loaded with heavy instrumentation, so there's nothing too loud coming through your speakers when you cue this up. On "Comin' Home Babay," you find yourself cruising through a 60s spy movie, while the relaxing "Enchanted Farm" makes use of birdcalls and sci-fi sound effects. Martin Denny has the best song on this issue with "Song of the Bayou" where bongos create a gentle stomp in the background while a dueling piano and flute alternate off a wah-wah sounding organ - it sounds like a downright eerie journey into swamp lounge.

Other reviewers are correct in illustrating that the songs on this compilation are very rare. While you can order a Billy May album anywhere online, the recordings of master organists John Buzon, Jackie Davis and Denny McClain are not available outside of this album. You'll be surprised by how this album exceeds your expectations, despite its cheesy title. I wouldn't recommend this album for lounge beginners (buy volumes 4 & 8 instead), but I'm sure lounge fans or anyone who loves the organ will definitely find plenty to smile when hearing this.

Late last year, Jackie Davis passed away. Jackie, along with Milt Buckner and Wild Bill Davis were really the pioneers of the Jazz organ sound, long before Jimmy Smith. - - Although he passed in November, I didn't find out until two days after I received the call that Charles Earland had passed. - - Now while plenty Post Jimmy Smith Players (like Earland, Groove Holmes, John Patton) are on the shelves, you try finding Denny McClain, Jackie Davis, Richie Varola or any of those others on the shelf at your record store. - - and if you do (most likely with disappointing results), you'll appreciate this album all the more. Consistently The Ultra Lounge has presented the swanky pop side of lounge music. Organs in Orbit is a fantastic addition to the series... Ernie Freeman rock's the house with the appropriately titled Ray Charles' groover ROCK HOUSE... Denny McClain, Milt Buckner and others keep the party surprisingly "happy" but soulful and swinging. And while you're at it... check out these Jazz organ laden CDs... Arnette Cobb : Smooth Sailing, Wild Bill Davis (Live in Atlantic City), Babyface Cortez (Anything), Bill Dogett (Greatest Hits) and Freddie Roach (Mocha Motion) !

"Organs in Orbit" is a terrific cd, probably the second best in the Ultra-Lounge series. It would have been a five star cd if it could have included Sir Julians jaw-dropping version of "Caravan." You can hear it on RCA's lounge compilation cd "Melodies and Mischief."

As a Lounge/Jazz/Rockabilly musician and rabid fan of the Ultra-Lounge series I find myself letting this disk live in my CD player. This is by far one of the best of the bunch (second in my mind only to Mondo Exotica) and you will not regret this disk one iota. I mean, you DO have to keep in mind that it IS all about the organs, and if you don't at least have SOME appreciation for the instrument it may not hold much for you, but if you can honestly play the track "Mr. Ghost Goes to Town" without moving all over, then Jack! You Dead!
www.heddamonkey.com

Love this kind of music - can't get enough - have most all of the CDs. Excellent New Jersey-based company with excellent foresight and retro-understanding for the best party and jazz combos. Excellent choice for any kind of day or evening, party or relaxation time.

Remember when you'd sit in front of the t.v. at your grandparent's place on Saturday night and Lawrence Welk would come on? You know... just after Hee-Haw? Like around 6 pm or so. Man those were the days! That's what this c.d. reminds me of. This is the soundtrack to life in the 70's at my grandparents house when they weren't listening to gospel music or watching Oral Roberts on Sunday morning. What can I say... I had a surrealistic childhood.

Two things come to mind:
1) listening to this may bring back nostalgic memories or at least give one an appreciation of organ dominated hip-swingin' tunes of the 50's-60's.
2) this may be useful as an interrogation tool for law enforcement officers, military intelligence personnel or the like. Caution should be exercised when using said c.d. for interrogative purposes as repetitive use may result in permanent brain dis-function for both the confessor and the interrogator. God be with you my friend, God be with you.

While there are some superb tracks here, namely "Rockhouse," "Movin' At Midnight," "Li'l Darlin'," "Fever," "Song Of The Bayou," and a few others, overall "Organs In Orbit" can be a bit tedious. While a few other tracks are somewhat amusing, there is a lot of cheesy old movie-theater style organ here that is not as magical, fun, or invigorating as a lot of the other music in the Ultra Lounge series. The organ really does dominate these tracks, and that's fine, but often there are players who don't make the instrument move, swing, or jump, which I'll admit IS quite a challenge. The resulting heavy blanket of purely chordal organ can really smother and overwhelm a track, and that happens multiple times on this set, bringing about feelings of dreary cheesiness, as opposed to the fun cheesiness that we expect from some of the best Ultra Lounge tracks.

I'm a fan of Ultra Lounge, and I don't think the music in the series is merely fun; I think there is a lot of real creativity, imagination and genuine musicianship represented on sets like "Mondo Exotica," "Bongo Land," and "Bachelor Pad Royale." For me, "Organs In Orbit" doesn't quite live up to the greatness of those titles. Personally, I'd recommend the titles I just mentioned over "Organs In Orbit," and gladly mention that there is some swanky organ playing on all of those sets.

Some great, groovy organ music from the same time period as "Organs In Orbit" can be found on the Blue Note compilation "So Blue, So Funky" and its sequel. Those Blue Note cuts are fun, snazzy, greasy, lively, and, in my humble opinion, superior to many of the selections here. A really amazing and hugely important musician to check out is Jackie Mittoo. Collections of the Jamaican Mr. Mittoo's brillant Hammond b3 organ playing such as "The Keyboard King At Studio One" and "Macka Fat" will open up the listener to a snazzy new world of jazz-based groove, deeply infused with funk and soul, and spiced with fascinating island rhythms and percollating percussion.

As for "Organs In Orbit", overall I'm left with about five selections which I really, really like, so for me it's just an OK set, but far short of great, especially in light of what else is out there.

While some entries in the wonderful "Ultra-Lounge" series seem to get away from their 'theme', "Organs In Orbit" stays true to it's organ-mad sound from start to finish. Even the bonus track by "The Continental" has a strong Hammond sound to it. In some ways, that makes this one of the stranger entries in the series, because it sticks *so* closely to the format.

I think every cut on this disc has some merit (except "Flying Fiddles" where Shay Torrent (?) proves that an organ can sound like a fiddle...and not much else.) One of my absolute favorites would have to be the aptly named "Movin' At Midnight" (by the also aptly-named Sir Julian)...it's the coolest and swings like nobody's business.

There's also The Joe Bucci Trio's smooth-as-the-formica-top-of-a-wurlitzer "Lil' Darlin'", Milt Buckner's ultra-cool "The Late Late Show" (you might remember his "The Beast" from Volume Four) which definitely lives up to the late night feel of it's title, and the Immortal Martin Denny's Eerie, yet cheesy "Song Of the Bayou". Not to mention the cool wind sound effects (made on an organ, of course) on "Ill Wind."

I saved a new paragraph to try and describe the best cut of all: The John Buzon Trio and "Mr. Ghost Comes To Town." These are the same geniuses who brought us "Squatty Roo" on Volume Eighteen and two more great ones on "Mambo Fever." And "Ill Wind" (see above). "Mr. Ghost" is as sax-heavy as it is organ-infested, and it is a real attention grabber with it's infectious latin rhythms...one I come back to enjoy over and over again.

Another treat is 'The Forbidden Five' and their "Enchanted Farm" a take-off on Martin Denny, who often used bird calls, etc. in his songs to give them that 'Exotica' feel. The Five take this concept much further out, where instead of tropical bird calls, we have horses whinnying and cows mooing, etc. It even has bombs exploding and a Theremin, too..although actually there's a beautiful melody going on behind all the parody. Definitely one-of-a kind!

I forgot to mention organ hero Denny McLain, well represented here with four cuts, but I feel I've said enough. If you're searching for excellent examples of that cheesy lounge organ sound...look no futher. ;oD

I was searching Amazon for Earl Grant and found what i was looking for. When I went to checkout, there was a recommendation to purchase Organs in Orbit as well. I listened to a few tracks and was blown away. What a great cd! It has full fidelity, great mixes, and sounds like a million! I can listen to this cd for hours...Ya gotta give em credit, this album is tops for anyone who loves the great Hammond sound. Usually when you buy a cd, you get a few clams along with a favorite song...not so with this cd..all tracks are tops! You really need to hear them on your big home system...TERRIFIC>> Highly recommended. Bill Green

I play the Organ and I am a fan of Hammond B3s This collection is a must for B3 lovers Buy it now.....