Search - Various Artists :: Bottoms Up: Ultra Lounge 18

Music To Watch Girls By is in orbit around my earlobes...

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 04/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bottoms Up in the Ultra-Lounge series sports an awesome collection of nineteen great numbers displaying great artistry, panache and romantic appeal for countless people. Just one listen to this CD proves it.



The CD starts off beautifully with Martin Denny's version of "Fandango." The percussion, horns and tambourines combine to create a terrific musical arrangement. The melody is infectiously catchy and upbeat; you'll want to jump up and dance just after this first track alone! The background chorus adds a heavenly touch to this number; you will be in the mood for love! "Mah-Ná Man-Ná" is a tune you may well recognize as being great lounge music; but even if this is new to you, you are sure to enjoy this number. Again, the drums, percussion and horns carry the bulk of the musical arrangement; Leroy Holmes did a great job with this number. Love that xylophone accent! The strings work well on "Mah-Ná Man-Ná," too.



Billy May then gives us the track entitled "Music To Watch Girls By/Slick." The sassy yet elegant musical arrangement for the horns resembles the sound of the Tijuana Brass; indeed, Herb Alpert helped to write "Slick." The saxophone works beautifully and this track boasts a certain high level of elegance that I rarely hear even in lounge music. Great!



"Guys And Dolls" gives us an example of a lounge music rendition of a classic Broadway show tune; this number has a big band flavor and the piano works wonders, too. Terry Snyder makes his rendition of "Guys And Dolls" a very special one. The horns, guitar, xylophone and drums weave a magic spell that leaves you wanting more. "No Matter What Shape (You're Stomach's In)" shares a track with the famous tune entitled "Tijuana Taxi" as both numbers are performed by the New Classic Singers. No words are sung; but the chorus does an excellent job of working their way into your heart. "Tijuana Taxi" gets the royal treatment as the New Classic Singers and the musicians infuse this with relentless happiness. They bat "Tijuana Taxi" right out of the ballpark.



Martin Denny's lounge music take on "The Donkey Serenade" features the xylophone, and the piano, even the chimes come in to make this arrangement sounding fresh even today. "Baby Elephant Walk" sports a distinct late 1950s/early 1960s beat to it that reflects good judgment; and when it blends into Bill May's rendition of "Java" I was thrilled with the upbeat, catchy melody that remains timeless to this day. Look out for "Baby Elephant Walk/Java!"



Another treat is the two numbers of never before released music by the artist Dr. Samuel Hoffman. "Deep Purple," written by Derose and Parish, gets a heavenly zither treatment; and "S'Wonderful" by the Gershwin brothers follows nicely on this same track.



Although Martin Denny's "Quiet Village (Moog Version)" doesn't quite work for me, the bonus track of "Lisbon Antigua" gets the ultimate Nelson Riddle treatment to end the album very fittingly.



The liner notes include an essay by R. J. Smith, all the song credits, and you even get drink recipes for a rum swizzle and a singapore sling! The art work is nicely done; and Bob Norberg at Capitol Records did a great job of digitally remastering the tracks for this CD.



I highly recommend this CD for lounge music fans and people who enjoy the "mood music" of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Fans of easy listening and exotica music will cherish this CD, too.

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