Customer Reviews

Other Worlds Other Sounds / Four Corners of World

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This LP, Juan's first American recording, helped to usher in the "bachelor-pad, stereophinic sound spectacular" demonstration music of the early stereo years. Yet his arrangements are all first class originals. Whereas many other arrangers resort to gimmickry (sound effects and such) Esquivel integrates unusual tonal voices with the standard big band/woodwind/percussion group. It is seamless and quite enjoyable. BUT MAKE SURE AND GET THE IMPORT VERSION. It boasts the original liner notes and, to my ears, a tape that is as least one generation closer to the master (maybe it is the original master). Bottom line is the import simply sounds fuller than the domestic release. It is definitely worth the few extra bucks to get it.

I enjoy Lounge music and exotica especially when the conductor/arranger is trying to experiment with new high tech stereophonic or Hi Fi sound. Ok so its nothing new to us now but back then in 1958 it was the latest brake through in recording technology. And Esquivel was at the time trying to use this new tech to its fullest by arranging the music not only to present the music in a unique manner as any other arranger would, but also thinking about right channel, left channel, fade in, fade out, and also both channels. I always suggest to anyone, who purchases any music from this time period, "have you listened to it wearing headphones". And truly Esquivel's music is not fully appreciated until it is heard wearing headphones. The music and arrangements are beautiful and Esquivel's piano stylings are unreal. This and all of Esquivel's work is a must have for any Lounge music fans.

This CD is pretty darn good. The songs on it are, I suppose, what would normally be considered cheesy, easy-listening standards. But Esquivel puts a slightly odd twist on the arrangements and in doing so gives them a hard-to-define, vaguely uneasy edge. And as a pianist, the man really does seem, at times, to playing two keyboards at the same time. Versatile bloke or what?

This CD actually contains two separate original albums, The lusher "Other Worlds.." followed by the sparser "Four Corners.." Legend has it that after Esquivel had recorded the "Other Worlds..." album with a bigger orchestra, he found he had 90 minutes allotted studio time left and so recorded the "Four Corners..." album using a stripped down ensemble (none of your "our new record took, like, 3 years to make and is, like, based on Orwells "Animal Farm", man..." approach here). Another great point is the use Esquivel makes of stereo, (as part of RCA's contemporary Living Stereo series) In some ways, this predates the experimental methods that psychedelic pioneers would use in the studios in the late 60's, and all this adds further to the slightly skewed atmosphere this CD generates. The whole conspires together (as least in my head, anyway) to produce mental images of early sixties Neil Simon-scripted films, usually starring Jack Lemmon, and probably set in Noo York. (I don't know why, tho'. It just does)

So, want a slightly more off-the-wall, atmospheric easy listening? Then Esquivels yer man...A genius!

One of the first albums my dad bought to accompany his new HI FI!! in the sun-drenched, super-optimistic California of the late fifties. Our family is from Mexico---as is Esquivel---and, like Esquivel, my dad was a real non-traditionalist. He'd probably rip the Ivy off of college walls, and had the makings of a real lounge lizard. He loved everything modern, what today would be called retro--cantileaver furniture, etc. And Esquivel was, for all practical purposes, his life's soundtrack. The "zu zu's" on the samples bring back tons of memories. Check it out, swizzle a really dry, really cold martini, turn on the a/c and have a ball. This is the music to do it by.

This is the compilation of 2 albums. The first one "Other worlds, other sounds", features a full sized orchestra with the piano played by Juan himself (He is a self -taught pianist). Its arrangements are quite lively, and the arrangements and use of instruments is outstanding and original. The second album, "4 corners of the world", seems at first glance to be totally different. It sounds in some passages as a Jazz quartet with a lot of percussions. You have to listen to it twice to fully appreciate the piano player's huge skills- at times it appears as if 2 pianos were playing, but it is only Juan by himself! I don't think there's another piano recording as this. If you're new to Esquivel, try this for starters- it's a good entry choice. If you think you get with one Esquivel recording a typical sample of his sound- wrong. Every album I own has a distinctive sound of its own, as if it were recorded with different bands, that have had Esquivel as the leader and arranger. If you like this, no doubt you'll be hooked with the rest of his albums

Esquivel was, to the end, a gentleman's artist. He never flaunted his fame on his fans, but was always thankful for their undying support, until his failing health won the fight.

The Alvino Rey style use of the steel guitar is unmatched, and who can fault the very seamless, and understated vocals in the "Other Worlds.." selections. No one ever did "That Old Black Magic" like you hear it on this one. Sadly this collection is long forgotten by all but the curious and true fans. I am grateful that Spain's RCA re-mastered numerous RCA releases of the 50's and 60's. They were commercial and fun. A fan of "Mad Men" must surely have this music to sooth their zealous desire for the greatest period of the 20th century..there was style, music and Playboy!

Finally, I have never heard a better horn solo than on "Ballerina" and would buy the whole package for the two mentioned selections. "Other Worlds Other Sounds" is a true music collector's "desert island" piece.

As a kid in the 50s listening to Esquivel on my parents stereo, little did I know this type of music some day would be referred to as "lounge", "bachelor pad", "exotica" or any other form it is now listed. The term "lounge" back in the 50s and 60s usually referred to an "inferior" act not able to play the main room at a night club or casino. I was always mesmerized by the sound that came out of the BIG stereo system when I played an Esquivel recording...it was out of the future, or at least seemed so at the time. And yes, the stereo was "living", the use of back and forth made it even more exciting. while nothing compared to today's high tech wizardry, in the 50s this was cutting edge.
And then there is the music itself. No one can tickle those ivory's the way Esqivel can. He is effortless in style and grace. His arrangements are spell-binding and his talent, as a composer, musician, arranger and producer are astonishing. "Other World..." was one of his first recordings for RCA Victor, and for a rather conservative label at the time, they took a big risk with someone like Esquivel. Yet someone at RCA must have noticed the talent...and I am sure the dollar signs associated with that talent weren't bad either.

Get this CD, even if you are not fond of "lounge music", it is a must for any music lover.

If you're reading this, you most likely know of Esquivel's music. Both of these albums are fantastic retro lounge listens from front to back. To have them together on a single CD is a real bargain. I believe these have been released on CD separately and are now out of print and very rare. Even the LPs can command a pretty good price. My advice, get this CD - slip into a smoking jacket, pour a martini and enjoy every note!

If you are familiar with the character from Family Guy, you know what I'm talking about. This music puts me in the zone. I imagine myself an architect relaxing in my mod pad circa 1960, furnished with Herman Miller, relaxing in an Eames chair. It's a shame when great music goes out of print and becomes virtually lost to a generation. Luckily, I grew up in the bowling-shirt-wearing-swing-dancing hipster era of the mid 90's, when this "Jetsons" sensibility saw a revival and these CD's had just been released. I just wish someone like Rhino would get these discs back into production or on iTunes/ Amazon MP3.