Search - Various Artists :: Organs in Orbit: Ultra Lounge 11

The strangest & silliest entry in the Ultra-Lounge series

MilesAndTrane | Chicago, Il USA | 01/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Rare, Swanky, Greasy Hammond B-3 Cuts

Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 05/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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) !"

Buy This CD.

Eddie Landsberg | 01/21/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

""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.""