Vintage Obscura Presents: Exotica (1946-1962)

To countdown to our Halloween festivities we are having special mixes with this one showcasing the wild and often times misguided genre of Exotica. Please enjoy some easy mindbending soundscapes from the late 50's as it tried to explore the world through easy listening. Cover replicated after Les Baxter's Jewel of the Sea (1961) with Diane Webber as the model. For more information on the music keep reading after the tracklist: Program One 0:00 Les Baxter - Sunken City (US, 1961) 2:57 Martin Denny - Quiet Village (US, 1956) 6:26 Tak Shindo - Huts Of Kichwamba (US, 1958) 8:05 Yma Sumac And Moises Vivanco - Chuncho (Peru, 1956) 11:15 Korla Pandit - Magnetic Theme (US, 1950) 14:25 Stanley Black - Jungle Drums (UK, 1962) 16:20 Charles Mauu - Tamuré (Tahiti, 1954) 19:05 Muhammad El Bakkar - Hamdillah (Lebanon, 1958) Intermission 22:18 Arthur Lyman - Caravan (US / Hawai, 1958) 24:42 Esquivel - Granada (Mexico, 1958) 27:10 André Kostelanetz - Lotus Land (Russia,1954) 29:10 Tommy Dorsey - Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-hu-wa-hu-wai) (US, 1956) Program Two 32:12 Frank Hunter - White Goddess (US, 1959) 35:00 Katsuhiko Haida -- Kirameku Seiza (燦めく星座) (Japan, 1946) 37:50 Robert Drasnin – Chant Of The Moon (US, 1959) 40:10 Chaino – Poko Cha Cha (US, 1959) 42:38 Dominic Frontiere - Goddess of Love (US, 1959) 45:30 Monty Kelly - Tropicana (US, 1959) 48:10 The Paris Theatre Orchestra - Song of India (?, 1957) 51:46 Ethel Nakada - エセル中田 さよならは云わないで /// エセル中田 ハワイのお正月 (Japan, ???) The Strange World of Exotica Before r/vintageobscura I was a moderator for the subreddit r/exotica which celebrated interest in the genre of the same name. I created r/vintageobscura out of the desire to have other vintage and obscure forms of music that people could share that wasn't just exotica. Exotica was a genre of easy listening music which was created out of the western interest in exotic island cultures and can be thought of as the music which is associated with "tiki culture." Following World War 2, there was a surge of interest in trans Pacific regions which resulted in restaurants, cocktails, and music for the suburban market. Because of the time period (or because there wasn't a big market for authentic global music or because everyone was kinda racist) light jazz and easy listening musicians interpreted this music with albums that range from the delightful to the downright exploitative. Exotica experienced its heyday running alongside of other popular forms of music including blues, rock and roll, and what can be seen as one of jazz's golden age. Exotica''s peak was in 1959 though looking at the most popular records of the same year, none of this music would make it to historical lists. Its understandable why as by 1959 Exotica was more of a marketing ploy than anything of artistic value. By the mid 60's, perhaps unable to compete with a younger more authentic market, Exotica went into dormancy until the 1990's when it experienced a small revival with "bachelor pad music" or "lounge music" and CD compilations intended for kitschy party music. This mix is intended to present some of the more popular names in the genre as well as some lesser known. To ignore the genre's problematic roots would be a disservice as it simplified many locations and cultures into colonial fantasy for audiences who perhaps never cared about experiencing real places it fantasized. To ignore the sometimes progressive and experimental platform these musicians had, who might not have been allowed otherwise, would also be a disservice. If one wants to read interesting stories, look up Yma Sumac and the wild history of Korla Pandit. Take this music however you will and draw your own conclusions as history is rarely simple. For me, this music is many things ranging from the garish to the sublime which makes me laugh as much as I cringe at its album covers. It is many things and never one thing at one time. If you enjoy this type of music but you wanted to trade exotic cultures for the optimism of space travel, Space Age Pop, is sort of seen as a sister genre which explored easy listening through the new and overused style of stereophonic sound. We will be back next month with the Best of 1985. Stay cool KAP (2025)