Search - Various Artists :: Cocktail Capers: Ultra Lounge 8

Cuttin' Capers

winkingtiger | Oakland, CA | 04/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Everyone has their favorites in the Ultra-Lounge series; this is one of mine. Unlike most of the volumes, this one doesn't stick to any one type of lounge music (Bossa Nova, Exotica, TV Themes, etc.). Instead, it is kind of an overview of ALL the styles this great series covers. So, if you'd rather start with a series entry and not the famous 'Fuzzy Sampler', this might be a good place to begin.Highlights of Vol. 8 include: The eerie exotica of 'Jungalero' by Les Baxter, the fantastic movie theme 'Charade' (very James Bond), great spy music cuts 'Underwater Chase' and 'I Want To Be A James Bond Girl' (A song you want to sing along to, even though it hasn't any words!), a killer rendition of 'The Pink Panther Theme', and the two sultry & steamy vocal numbers 'Hey Bellboy' and 'Teach Me Tiger'. Saving the best for last, my absolute favorite 2 cuts on the disc are 'Honorable Hong Kong Rock' (what WOULD Austin Powers listen to if he were in Hong Kong?), and Nelson Riddle's astounding 'Lolita Ya-Ya' (from the film 'Lolita'). 'Ya-Ya' sounds like some demented fantasy of a bubble-gum pop song, as imagined by someone who HATES bubble-gum pop songs! Mindlessly cheerful and endlessly amazing...it's truly unique.And don't forget our old friend 'Mr. Continental'and his hidden bonus track, 'You Go To My Head'!"

Smooth Enough

Sir Charles Panther | Alexandria, Virginny, USandA | 11/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Eighteen tracks, plus a bonus, and probably 7 really good ones. All in all, a good collection. The real standouts: A pumpin' "Pink Panther Theme" from the Hollywood Studio Orchestra. The solos portion is very reminiscent of Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island" and/or Us3's remake, "Cantaloop." Check out "Hey, Bellboy;" I swear you can hear the stiletto heels and the peroxide blonde hair in the ether of this track. Ya gotta like "Underwater Chase," from the original album "Music To Read James Bond By." An then there's the obligatory Burt Bacharach track, "Call Me" by the New Classic Singers. It's replete with those ubiquitous "bah bah buh-buh" non-lyrics, evoking those long-banned Benson&Hedges cigarette commercials. The liner insert is quite good too, with detailed info on the tracks, and the standard Ultra-Lounge graphics and drink recipes. All in all, a winner."

Not the Best Entry, But Has its Moments...

loungelizard7 | 05/07/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This Ultra-Lounge installment is very different in flavor from the others (with the exception of Vol.18), and somehow misses the mark almost all-around, save for a few shiny golden tracks buried among much of the forgettable songs included here.Les Baxter has a few entries, being the hyper-frenetic "Roller Coaster," which if listened to carefully, does resemble a coaster ride. If you let it play out, it's actually a very pretty song. His "Shooting Star" is delightfully spacey, and his "Jungalero" (which accompanies it) is a beautiful jungle-inspired exotica tune. I'm not sure what I make of Gloria Wood's "Hey, Bellboy!" but I do know it gets better as it goes along (although it doesn't seem to have a point). She really screams out those high notes! Dave Pell's perky "This Could Be the Start of Something" (written by renaissance man Steve Allen) is a fun scatted choral arrangement, as is the lovely '60s pop/easy listening-sounding "Call Me," by the New Classics Singers. A little cheesy, the latter, but nice. There are some selections really worth mentioning, though, as they largely carry the wright of the rest. The Ernie Freeman Combo (an Ultra-Lounge staple) is marvelous on the bright, brassy, bluesy "Mountain Greenery." No matter what anyone else tells you, the hard-swinging "Pink Panther Theme" cover by the Hollywood Studio Orchestra is great music. Hip, sassy, and fun, with a cool sax solo (Ultra-Lounge regular and Les Baxter's saxophonist, tenor player Plas Johnson, was the sax player on the original "Pink" theme), this version is just as viable as Mancini's. Al Caiola on the James Bond-inspired "Underwater Chase" is fantastic. A tight, fast, tense, dynamic arrangement guides Caiola's quivering guitar sounds with punching brass and an organ to make this one of the CD's best. David Rose won a Grammy for his gorgeous arrangement of "Like Young." A real treasure, this cool, light track combines crystal-clear vibraphones and soft strings, and it's breathtaking. Si Zentner, another found on many a U-L disc, always offers up something exciting. His swinging take on Henry Mancini's "Charade" is far better than the original, with his big band blowing for all they're worth, accompanied by an organ and a deeply infectious electric bass grooving below the action. (If you like this, you'll love his "Mister Lucky" on Vol.13.)There are an embarrassing share of boring songs on this volume, especially when compared to more full, popular volumes (like Vols. 3-7). But, there are a few that make it worth the money anyway. It's still worth buying."