Tomorrow, May 25, Numero Group is conjuring up a world of tikis, palm trees, and colorful drinks - in other words, a Technicolor Paradise.  After years of successfully excavating the rarest soul, jazz, R&B, New Age, and more, the label has turned its attention to the realm of exotica.  The genre's blend of lounge, jazz, pop and all sounds beyond inspired a number of artists who didn't receive the same attention as, say, Martin Denny, Yma Sumac, Arthur Lyman, and Esquivel.  An alternate history of exotica appears on Technicolor Paradise: Rhum Rhapsodies and Other Exotic Delights, which is coming on 3 CDs (54 songs) or 3 LPs (48 songs).

This collection is thematically divided into three parts: Daiquiri Dirges (guitar instrumentals), Mai Tai Mambos (uptempo danceable tracks), and Rhum Rhapsodies (vocal treats).  In digging through the vaults of small, obscure labels like Brass, Camelia, and Jax, the compilers discovered numerous cover versions of exotica favorites including Lenny and the Thundertones' "The Moon of Manakoora," Don Reed and a Sumac-alike's "Nature Boy," and both The Five Glow Tones and Darla Hood's interpretation of "Quiet Village."  (Yes, it's the same Darla Hood from Hal Roach's Our Gang series.)

A couple of famous names do appear, in addition to Hood.  Stage and screen veteran Martha Raye is heard on "Lotus Land," a 1950 track which predates the exotica movement but is a stylistic match.  Veteran soul jazz organist Jimmy McGriff got into the spirit, too, as evidenced by "Jungle Cat."  Other prominent names include bandleader Russ Garcia (Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London) and Paul Whiteman's drummer Bobby Christian.  Still other boldfaced names are not the more famous groups with whom they share a moniker, including The Castiles, The Wailers, or The Blazers.

Technicolor Paradise promises to feature the same hallmarks of quality as past Numero Group reissues, presenting an exhaustive overview of the "exotica underground."  With summer upon us, there likely won't be a better time to bask in some sunshine, pour a Mai Tai, and drink in some tropical sounds.  Look for this release from Numero Group on May 25 on CD and vinyl at the links below!

Various Artists, Technicolor Paradise: Rhum Rhapsodies and Other Exotic Delights (Numero Group, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Daiquiri Dirges

1. Blue Oasis - Chuck "Big Guitar" Ernest with the Satellite Band
2. Marooned - The Sound Breakers
3. Driftwood - The Wailers
4. The Moon of Manakoora - Lenny and the Thundertones
5. Midnight in Montevideo - Biscaynes with Co-Encidentals
6. Chant of the Jungle - Red Harrison and His Zodiacs
7. Jungle Guitar - The Palatons
8. Live with the Moon - Chayns
9. Cobra - Bailey's Nervous Cats feat. James Mills
10. Sound of Mecca - The Blazers
11. Jaguar Hunt - The Crew (*)
12. Slave Girl - The Gems
13. The Arabian Knight - Jerry and the Catalinas
14. Night Walker - The Jaguars
15. The Voodoo Walk - The Voodoos (*)
16. Blue Castaway - The Shelltones
17. Atlantis - The Blue Bells
18. Paradise Island - Bill and Jean Bradway

Rhum Rhapsodies

19. Enchantment - The Melody Mates
20. Nature Boy - Don Reed feat. The Voice of Love
21. Tumba - The Baton of Andre Brummer
22. Silent Island - Darla Hood
23. Lotus Land - Martha Raye with the Phil Moore Orchestra
24. Nightingale of Paradise - Baha'i Victory Chorus
25. Isle of Love - Carmen
26. Forever Walks a Drifter - The Monzas
27. Voodoo Drums - Akim
28. Magic Voodoo Moon - Fred Darian with the Bill Loose Orchestra (*)
29. Voodoo Kiss - Don Sargent and His Buddies
30. Captured - The Joan Joyce Trio
31. Tobago - Pony Sherrell
32. My Quiet Village - Darla Hood (*)
33. Enchantress - Jerry Warren and The Valids
34. Polynesian Paradise - The Centuries
35. My House of Grass - The Potted Palm
36. Enchantment - The Castiles

Mai Tai Mambos

37. Quiet Village - The Five Glow Tones
38. Silent Island - Modesto Duran and Orchestra
39. Tam-Bu Theme - Ross Anderson Orchestra and Chorus
40. Caravan - Bobby Christian
41. Arabian Rhythm - Bruce Norman Quartet
42. Hari's Harem - The Slaves
43. Similou - Arnie Derksen and Chise
44. Caribbean Cruise - The Three Bars feat. Nicky Roberts
45. Chant of the Moon - Robert Drasnin
46. Moon Mist - The Blue Jeans
47. The Enchanting Melody - Artie Barsamian
48. Jazz in Port Said - Eddie Kochak and Hakki Obidia
49. Tanganyika - Gene Sikora and The Irrationals
50. Dark Continent - Bobby Paris
51. Lion Hunt - Walter Bolen (*)
52. Jungle Cat - Jimmy McGriff (*)
53. Locura (Madness) - Chico Jose
54. Lost Island - Clyde Derby

(*) denotes track available on CD only