Croydon Municipal, an imprint of Cherry Red Group, has recently continued two of its popular series with the releases of Troxy Music 2 and Popcorn Exotica.

Like the first volume of Troxy Music, this edition is subtitled Fifties and Sixties Film Themes; this time around, it's Screen 2.  Compiler Bob Stanley and compiler/annotator Martin Green set out the collection's ethos in the liner notes, explaining how both Hollywood and Great Britain fought against the onslaught of television: "Hollywood thought big, producing lengthy international epics in Cinerama, Todd-AO and Vista-Vision.  Britain thought and fought dirty, challenging censorship laws with small-budget, X-rated kitchen sink dramas, juvenile delinquent musicals and saucy sex comedies in an attempt to lure audiences away from the conservative BBC.  Troxy Music - Screen 2 reflects this diversity."

Indeed, it does.  This eclectic 22-track anthology features tracks by British talents and American talents as well as international collisions such as Johnnie Spence's recording of Henry Mancini's "Baby Elephant Walk" from the film Hatari! (1962). Another Mancini composition is heard via "Experiment in Terror" from Blake Edwards' 1962 film of the same name, as performed by The Champs.  Other famous film maestros are represented here, too: John Barry with his title theme to 1960's Peter Sellers vehicle Never Let Go, John Addison with The Corona Kids' "The Big Ship Sails on the Alley-Alley-O" from 1961's groundbreaking A Taste of Honey; and Nelson Riddle with "Lolita Ya-Ya" performed by the star of Stanley Kubrick's 1962 Lolita, Sue Lyon.  Numerous well-known voices are heard, too, among them Fred Astaire on Sammy Fain and Mack David's breezy "The Notorious Landlady," Juliet Mills and Michael Redgrave with the comical "No, My Darling Daughter," Jane Russell with the hula novelty "Keep Your Eyes on the Hands," and Adam Faith with the western-tinged ballad "Mix Me a Person."

Troxy Music 2 is joined by another volume in the label's Popcorn series, subtitled R&B, Soul and Exotic Rockers from the 50s and 60s.  In his liner notes, Bob Stanley describes the Popcorn sound, bred in Belgian clubs, as "the atmospheric mix of R&B, doo-wop and continental beat with a just-so tempo."  Popcorn took in many styles; Stanley cites ska, Latin jazz and even Broadway showstoppers like Damn Yankees' "Whatever Lola Wants" or Kismet's "Stranger in Paradise" as part of Popcorn playlists.  Eventually, French ye-ye girls, Italian crooners and American bandleaders were part of the mix.  It's with this freeing spirit that Stanley has curated this 22-track return to the Popcorn realm.

As the title of Popcorn Exotica indicates, this volume leans towards the unexpected treats suitable for your next tiki party.  Hence titles like Carl Stevens' "Call of the Jungle," Anna Valentino's "On a Tropical Island," and The Islanders' "Forbidden Island."  Bandleader Les Elgart (of "Bandstand Boogie" fame) turns up with "Voodoo Drums," and clarinetist Mr. Acker Bilk does his thing on an invitation to "Take My Lips" (the B-side of his smash "Stranger on the Shore").  Underscoring this compilation's diversity, you'll find American R&B star Gary U.S. Bonds ("Time Ole Story," the B-side of "Quarter to Three"), Italy's Ornella Vanoni ("Coccodrillo") and France's Sylvie Vartan ("Tout Les Gens") plus Britain's Gillian Hills recording in French ("Maintenant Il Telephone"). There's also a sampling of doo-wop-gone-exotic from Indiana's The Delcos ("Arabia") and Los Angeles' Enchanters ("Café Bohemian").

Both Troxy Music 2 and Popcorn Exotica are made possible through current U.K. public domain laws.  These swinging, rarities-packed collections are available now from Croydon Muncipal at the links below!

Various Artists, Troxy Music: Fifties and Sixties Film Themes - Screen 2 (Croydon Municipal CR9 010, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

1. The Rebel - Frank Cordell (HMV POP 852, 1961)
2. She'll Have to Go - Dennis Lotis (Columbia U.K. DB 4706, 1961)
3. Lolita Ya-Ya- Sue Lyon (MGM K 13067, 1962)
4. Mix Me a Person - Adam Faith (Parlophone R 4930, 1962)
5. Baby Elephant Walk - Johnnie Spence (from Hatari!) (Parlophone R 4960, 1962)
6. The Wild One - Shorty Rogers (RCA Victor EPA 535, 1954)
7. Race to Midnight - Harry Robinson
8. No, My Darling Daughter - Juliet Mills and Michael Redgrave (Parlophone R 4804, 1961)
9. The Big Ship Sails on the Alley-Alley-O - The Corona Kids (from A Taste of Honey) (Philips PB 1185, 1961)
10. Scott Free - Johnny Scott (from All Night Long)
11. Doctor in Love - Richard Allen (Parlophone R 4673, 1960)
12. Riverside Stomp - Johnny Dankworth (from The Criminal) (Columbia U.K. SEG 8037, 1960)
13. The Notorious Landlady - Fred Astaire (Choreo C-104, 1962)
14. The Little Hut - Tommy Watt
15. Keep Your Eyes on the Hands - Jane Russell (from The Revolt of Marnie Stover) (Capitol F 3399, 1956)
16. Paper Chase - Ken Jones (from Two-Way Stretch) (Parlophone R 4628, 1960)
17. Tiger Twist - Armando Sciascia (from Tropica Di Notte) (KC KC101, 1962)
18. Last Night - Earl Grant (from Jukebox Rhythm) (Decca 9-30856, 1959)
19. Experiment in Terror - The Champs (Challenge 9140, 1962)
20. Never Let Go - John Barry (Columbia U.K. DB 4480, 1960)
21. The Stranger - The Hoplites (from The Melandrinos Affair) (Parlophone R 4436, 1958)
22. Ou La La - Frank Cordell (from The Rebel) (HMV POP 852, 1961)

Various Artists, Popcorn Exotica (Croydon Municipal CR9 014, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

1. Call of the Jungle - Carl Stevens (Mercury 71996, 1962)
2. The Riddle of the Papawhos - Danny Staton (Almar 1001, 1960)
3. Coccodrillo - Ornella Vanoni (Ricordi SRL 10-325, 1963)
4. Forbidden Island - The Islanders (Mayflower M-22, 1960)
5. Pu-Chun-Ga - Elena Madera (Decca 9-30835, 1959)
6. Time Ole Story - Gary U.S. Bonds (Legrand 1008, 1961)
7. Angelina - Eddie Calvert (Columbia U.K. DB 4252, 1959)
8. Arabia - The Delcos (Showcase 45-2501, 1963)
9. Maintenant Il Telephone - Gillian Hills
10. Voodoo Drums - Les Elgart and His Orchestra
11. Amici Miei - Don Powell
12. Umbe - Jack Medell (United U-213, 1957)
13. Ahbe Casabe - Marti Barris (Keen 3-4018, 1958)
14. Tout Les Gens - Sylvie Vartan
15. Café Bohemian - The Enchanters (Orbit R 532, 1959)
16. Cat Walk - Jack Costanzo (Mosaic 1012, 1962)
17. Little Indian Girl - Billy and the Moonlighters
18. The Web - Abie "Available" Baker
19. Un P'tit Beguin - Caterina Valente (London 45-10001, 1961)
20. Tabou - The Jokers
21. On a Tropical Island - Anna Valentino
22. Take My Lips - Mr. Acker Bilk (Columbia U.K. DB 4750, 1961)