Popcorn Exotica: R&B, Soul & Exotic Rockers from the 50s & 60s

Overview

Popcorn was a style of music popularized by DJs at Belgian dance clubs in the '60s devoted to the fine art of playing it cool rather than getting hot. While popcorn encompassed soul, rock & roll, vocal group sounds, pre-rock dance styles, jazz, pop, and more, the common threads were slinky slow or midtempo rhythms that were suitable for dancing close or lounging around, depending on the mood of the listener, and playful melodic twists that enhanced the cool factor of the music. Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne is a devoted fan of classic popcorn, and he compiled and released (via his Croydon Municipal label) Popcorn Exotica: R&B, Soul & Exotic Rockers from the 50s & 60s, a collection that brings together 22 playfully outre sides from the golden age of popcorn. As the use of "Exotica" in the title suggests, many (but not all) of these tracks are influenced by the mysterious faux-tropical sounds of Martin Denny, Les Baxter, and those like them (especially Carl Stevens' "Call of the Jungle," the Islanders' "Forbidden Island," and "Voodoo Drums" by Les Elgart & His Orchestra), though there's plenty of soul and pop to go with the vintage bachelor pad sounds on this collection. The Enchanters' "Cafe Bohemian" plays like a part-homage, part-satire of the hipster pursuit of exotic sounds, and the Afro-Cuban percussion on Mr. Acker Bilk's "Take My Lips" suggests anyone could be exotic for at least an afternoon. There are also surprises from echo-laden rock & roll shouter Gary U.S. Bonds ("Time Ole Story") and French pop thrush Sylvie Vartan ("Tout les Gens"), an effective late-night mood piece from Abbie "Available" Baker ("The Web"), and a charming jungle-themed novelty tune with superior Alvin Chipmunk-style vocals from Danny Staton ("The Riddle of the Papawhos"). Popcorn enthusiasts or folks with a taste for offbeat pop from the '50s and '60s will all find plenty to like in this well-sequenced and smartly annotated collection. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	04/28/2015
Label:	Croydon Municipal
UPC:	5013929831483

Tracks

1. Call of the Jungle  - Carl Stevens
2. Call of the Jungle  - Carl Stevens
3. The Riddle of the Papawhos  - Lincoln Chase  - Danny Staton  - Betty Wade
4. The Riddle of the Papawhos  - Danny Staton
5. Coccodrillo  - Ornella Vanoni
6. Coccodrillo  - Ornella Vanoni
7. Forbidden Island  -  Islanders
8. Forbidden Island  -  Islanders
9. Pu-Chun-Ga  - Elena Madera
10. Pu-Chun-Ga  - Elena Madera  - Carmen Taylor  - Arthur Truscott
11. Time Ole Story  - Melvin Beckner  - Gary "U.S." Bonds
12. Time Ole Story  - Gary "U.S." Bonds
13. Angelina  - Eddie Calvert
14. Angelina  - Eddie Calvert
15. Arabia  -  Delcos  - Juanita Henson
16. Arabia  -  Delcos
17. Maintenant Il Telephone  - Gillian Hills
18. Maintenant Il Telephone  - Gillian Hills
19. Voodoo Drums  - Les Elgart
20. Voodoo Drums  - Les Elgart
21. Amici Miei  - Don Powell
22. Amici Miei  - Don Powell
23. Umbe  - Jack Medell
24. Umbe  - Jack Medell
25. Ahbe Casabe  - Marti Barris
26. Ahbe Casabe  - Eden Ahbez  - Marti Barris
27. Tout les Gens  -  Vartan  - Sylvie Vartan
28. Tout Les Gens  - Sylvie Vartan
29. Cafe Bohemian  -  Enchanters
30. Cafe Bohemian  -  Enchanters
31. Cat Walk  - Jack Costanzo
32. Cat Walk  - David Castell  - Jack Costanzo  - Sean Martin
33. Little Indian Girl  -  Billy & the Moonlighters
34. Little Indian Girl  -  Billy & the Moonlighters  - Ken Sanes  - Bernie Short
35. The Web  - Abie ‘Available’ Baker
36. The Web  - Abie ‘Available’ Baker
37. Un P¿¿¿tit Beguin  - Caterina Valente
38. Un P¿¿¿tit Beguin  - Caterina Valente
39. Tabou  -  Jokers
40. Tabou  -  Jokers  -  Lecuona
41. On a Tropical Island  -  Lecuona  - Anna Valentino
42. On a Tropical Island  - Anna Valentino
43. Take My Lips  - Acker Bilk
44. Take My Lips  - Acker Bilk  - Virgilio Sabel  - Teo Usuelli

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sylvie Vartan   Primary Artist
The Islanders   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
The Enchanters   Primary Artist
The Delcos   Primary Artist
Eddie Calvert   Primary Artist
Ornella Vanoni   Primary Artist
Acker Bilk   Primary Artist
Gillian Hills   Primary Artist
Marti Barris   Primary Artist
Don Powell   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
Elena Madera   Primary Artist
Anna Valentino   Primary Artist
The Jokers   Primary Artist
Carl Stevens   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
Abie ‘Available’ Baker   Primary Artist
Billy & the Moonlighters   Primary Artist
Danny Staton   Primary Artist
Jack Costanzo   Primary Artist
Gary "U.S." Bonds   Primary Artist
Caterina Valente   Primary Artist
Les Elgart   Primary Artist
Les Elgart & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Jack Medell   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Teo Usuelli   Composer
Virgilio Sabel   Composer
Bob Stanley   Liner Notes
Bernie Short   Composer
Ken Sanes   Composer
Melvin Beckner   Composer
Carmen Taylor   Composer
Lincoln Chase   Composer
Vartan   Composer
David Castell   Composer
Lecuona   Composer
Sean Martin   Composer
Betty Wade   Composer
Juanita Henson   Composer
Lora Findlay   Design
Arthur Truscott   Composer
Eden Ahbez   Composer