Martin Denny - The Best Of (1961) Vinyl LP • and 45 similar items

Catalog Number: S-6602 Condition Details: Vinyl plays with occasional light-crackles (play-graded). Cover has a few creases near edges; scuffing, (front/back); Surface abrasions on back. Inner-sleeve is original (Liberty Ads). Spine is partly readable with wear and splits (printed off-center). Noticeable shelf-wear along bottom-edge and splits, top edge is entirely split; wear to corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. (Not a cut-out.) Tracks: Ebb Tide Stranger In Paradise Moonlight And Shadows China Nights (Shina No Yoru) The Enchanted Sea Ruby Harbor Lights Flamingo Bali Ha'i We Kiss In A Shadow My Funny Valentine Temptation About The Record: The Best Of, by Martin Denny, released in 1961, a compilation album on Liberty Records that encapsulates his signature blend of lounge, jazz, and world music influences from the late 1950s, featuring exotic instrumentation and tropical soundscapes that fueled the tiki culture craze. This collection is historically significant for solidifying the exotica genre, which Denny pioneered, offering listeners an escapist fantasy of far-off lands during the post-WWII era?s Cold War tensions. The album showcases lush arrangements with Denny?s piano, vibes, and percussion, incorporating Latin rhythms and Hawaiian motifs, as heard in tracks like Ebb Tide and The Enchanted Sea. Notably, Ebb Tide and The Enchanted Sea were hit singles, with the former achieving significant chart success and contributing to Denny?s influence on easy listening and lounge music. The tracklist, including standards like Stranger In Paradise and Bali Ha?i, reflects his ability to transform familiar melodies into evocative, otherworldly experiences that inspired later artists like Haruomi Hosono.