Albums by artists whose names start with S

• Wanda Sá & Roberto Menescal: "Estrada Tokyo-Rio"
  • CD, Albatroz, Brazil, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: Another fairly recent recording by this bossa "diva"

• Wanda Sá, Roberto Menescal, & Miele: "Uma Mistura Fina"
  • CD, Albatroz, Brazil, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: Another fairly recent recording by this bossa "diva"

• Wanda Sá: "Vagamente"
  • CD, RGE/Bomba, Japan, 1998
    CD, Universal/ Dubas Música, Brazil, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. her debut album from 1964. Beautiful. Includes 3 bonus tacks, 1 from a Sergio Mendes album, one from her own "Softly" album, and one from paul Desmond's "from the hot afternoon". The liner notes tell a real nice story about how she came to sing on that album in such a low voice.

• Wanda Sá & Bossa Três: "Wanda Sa & Bossa Tres"
  • CD, Deckdisc 11001, Brazil, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Recorded in 2000, a Japanese production, with Bossa Três. Classic, sometimes slightly jazzy, bossa nova, both in English and Portuguese. Includes a very good "Lighty my fire"! Too bad Wanda's voice got a bit raspy, but what can you expect, she must be around 60 years old now...

• Sabu Martinez: "Afro Temple"
  • CD, Vintage Classics Series VCS 008, Hitland Distribution, Italy, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. The percussion, is great of course, but several tracks are -- in my ears -- completely ruined by the sax jazz improvisations: a lot of shreeky notes, but no melody! the tracks with flute are the best, also those 2 that have narrating (an introduction to Sabu, and about Wounded Knee). Remastered from vinyl.
    • Stefan Kéry: Exact reissue of this amazing funky exotica masterpiece. This is an exact reissue of one of his rarest lps recorded in Sweden. Born in New York, Sabu was recognized as a virtuoso percussionist at a young age. Playing for the major Latin and be-bop names as a teenager, it was not long before he teamed up with Art Blakey and created astounding African and Afro-Latin jazz. With his own group he recorded the two wildest "exotica" records ever. Next he joined Louie Ramirez to create a masterpiece of modern Latin jazz, and he continued working for great stars in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Eventually he moved to Sweden, where he led a conga school, resumed making records, and contributed to top Latin, big band, pop, jazz, fusion, and funk groups. Discover Sabu Martinez, percussionist extraordinaire
    • Jack Diamond: Sabu Martinez moved to Sweden in the 1970's and started a school for drummers All of these percussionists are/were his students This is a drummers recording, chock full and overflowing with some of the most dope and sick beats ever conceived. Released/recorded in 1973 BUT NOT limited to drums, Bernt Rosengren AND Christer Boustedt tear it up blasting sick funk Tenor Sax and Alto Saxophones on a few titles as well as funky Flute and Piccolo Flute.

• Sabu: "In Orbit"  (+ Astronautas De La Pachanga)
  • Double LP/CD, Lazarus Audio Products 1083/1084 USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Recorded in 1960. With "Cosmicon","In orbit","Descarga atomica"...

• Sabu: "Jazz Español"
  • CD, PV PCD2871, Japan, 1996
    LP, bootleg? A802, UK, 1998

• Sabu: "Palo Conge"
  • CD, EMI Toshiba, Japan, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Afro-Latin percussion jazz

• Sabu and His Percussion Ensemble: "Sorcery"
  • LP, Columbia "Adventures In Sound" Series WL 101 reissue, USA, 2001
    CD, FWM Music, Italy, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.
    • Stefan Kéry: Yes! Exact legit reissue of one of the ultimate African Exotica LPs from the 1950s. An absolute must have even for psychheads! Also features the awesome original sleeve design and liner notes: An excerpt: " From the shores of the rivers of the sun come sounds, sounds various, beautiful and horrible with life, sounds as old as time, heard when brute creatures trod the earth, sounds that owe nothing to civilization and everything to rank and teeming biology. Product of a thousand animal and insect chirps, creeks, wails, thuds, thumps and stricken cries, they are an aural anthology of nature in its true guise, that nature that owns the earth and speaks for it, nature that is as ancient as the planets and as endless as the sun itself. The brooding heat that makes fecund every mite and molecule it touches has teemed into being a million forms of curious life, forms in the water, on land, in the earth and in the air, forms that live on other forms, or within them. Even their diseases are themselves new forms of life, life spongily multiplying amid death everywhere in an eternal cycle that produces its own whirring, multi-farious cacophony like the inner workings of a monstrous biological machine turned loose and run amuk. Man, the technical beast, opens an ear to the voice that sounds and he hears the original black and sordid magic of life, that sorcery he too came out of and now fears Here a mating call and a death rattle uttered by separate and independent beasts combine into a peculiar, haunting chime. The earth moves and the air moves with it and the whole regenerate pulsing and green-grown ball of firmament plunges through space as though it had a destiny. The tentacles of insects tickle the fringes of the cosmos and the beards of hairy animals wave freely in the gaseous envelope in which we and they float as we highball around the sun. This is the sorcery of life in its rutting, elemental source-design. This is the rhythmic magic of birth and rot and the constant burning muddy indigestion of the cosmic super- imposition of life on life on life, all grown into a heap and dying while aborning, corpses and genes well mixed in a great stew of fertility and reproduction and decay. Life grows apace in lands where men still know the joys of being eaten alive by other men. SABU ...has heard all this and much more. The rhythmic cadences of nature's boiler room are here, the aural history of the sex life of a cosmic corn popper, the wail and chime and gong sound of the eternal SORCERY". Wow! Describes the music perfectly.
    • Jack Diamond: jungly jazzy rhythms pounding out voodoo beams of love and erotica! from circa 1956. Sabu Martionez on MANY different sets of drums PLUS his percussion ensemble bring us some of the most awesome jungle percussion EVER released.  Some titles feature flute and saxes, but mostly it's the tear it up drums a go go goin' hog wild in a totally melodic way. Tre' cool solid It may also be known that this SHOULD have been titled SEDUCTION as when the tribal voodoo drums o'plenty start a poundin', the female starts a gruntin', her legs start to widen and lordy oh lordy, you better be ready to rock!. 10 Stars!

• Sergeant Barry Sadler: "Ballads Of The Green Berets"
  • CD, Collector's Choice Music CCM 037, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3781]

• Wanda Sá: "Domingo Azul do Mar"
  • CD, VideoArts Music, Japan, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. when i first listened, i didn't believe my ears: this was not Wanda Sá! at least not the Wanda Sá I knew from "Softly" and "Vagamente". Then i read the recording notes: recorded in 2001, 37 years after her debut album -- of course her voice changed! Although a very good bossa nova album, I do miss her young voice, that had the same unique, magic effect on me as Astrud's voice. The music wanders between classic bossa nova, jazzy bossa, jazz samba, and soft pop.

• Wanda Sá & Menescal: "Eu e a Música "
  • CD, Discmedi DM 597 Blau, Spain, year?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. Menescal only sings now and then, and not in all songs. If you like classic, acoustic guitar based bosa nova, then you'd suppose you couldn't go wrong with these 2 big names. Unfortunately, they play too many medleys, there is no passion, nothing original, all these songs have appeared so many times before in better versions.

• Sainkho: "Out Of Tuva"
  • CD, Crammed Discs Cramworld craw6, distributed EFA CD 07609, Belgium, 1993
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. Ethnic exotica

• Ryuichi Sakamoto: "Casa"
  • CD, label?, ?, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: album devoted to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim
    • Ryuichi Sakamoto: My favourite drugs are both South American in origin. They are tobacco and bossa nova. I am a real addict of both. I have tried giving up, but failed.

• Soupy Sales: "Soupy Sez Do The Mouse"
  • CD, label?, USA?, 2002

• Henri Salvador: "Alias Henry Cording and His Original Rock and Roll Boys"
  • CD/10" LP, Philips , France, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. regarded by some as the very first French R&R record (from 1956!), and a fun one too, even if you don't understand French very well: Salvador uses many of his silly voices. Most songs written by Salvador + Boris Vian + Michel Legrand. Only 10 tracks, 2 of which are ballads, a bit too expensive.

• Henri Salvador: "Chambre Avec Vue"
  • CD, Exxos/ Source/ Virgin 7 24385 02472 6, France, 2000
    CD, Exxos/ Source/ Virgin 7 24381 18072 3, France, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Soft bossa nova comeback CD by 83 years old "Methusalem of French chanson", best known for his novelty hits. there are 2 versions of this CD available, the second one has a bonus track "all I really want is love", a duo with Lisa Ekdahl. I'm hesitating between 3 and 4 stars for this CD...

• Henri Salvador: "Henri Salvador s'amuse"
  • CD, EMI 5 31713, France, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Contains Dracula Cha Cha Cha; Faut Rigoler; Zorro Est Arrivée; Juanita Banana...

• Henri Salvador: "Jazze!"
  • CD, Universal/ Barclay 549 742, France, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Compilation of his jazz songs from 1958 - 1963. but not at all as jazzy (and no scatting at all) as on his 1956 recordings featured on the Blue Stars' "Pardon My English/ Plays The Blues": it's very light & EZ jazz songs. Nice...

• Henri Salvador: "Loufoque"
  • CD, EMI 499 811, France, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Henri Salvador is not only famous as jazz artist and "chansonnier" but also as the French novelty king. During the 1950's, 60's and 70's, he combined Stan Freberg's parody genius with Spike Jones' utter madness and released (on his own "Rigolo" label) dozens and dozens of mad songs in just about any musical genre: jazz, blues, Latin, reggae, all kinds of R&R... He succeeded in making his own versoins of (Amercian) novelty songs even funnier than the original. This CD gives only 20 exemples of his comic songs, including his hilarious version of "Mah-na mah-na", his own laughing song composition "Fugue en rire", and "Zorba's dance". Missing are for exemple his "Dracula Chachacha", "Monsieur boum-boum" (Mr. Bassman), "Le Martien" (Martian hop), "Zorro Est Arrivée " (Along Came Jones) and "Guanita Banana" but those can be found on other CDs of his. There used to be another novelty comp of his, called "Rigolo Carrere" but I'm afraid it isn't avalable anymore.

• Henri Salvador: "Mr. Boum Boum"
  • CD, EMI 5 31717, France, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. The French king of novelty, here with a varied selection of styles, some fun, some French covers of international hits, some ballads etc. Available from alapage, amazon, or fnac in France, and from Dusty Groove in the US.

• Henri Salvador: "Zorro Est Arrivé... Plus"
  • CD, EMI 531 741, France, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: , here with a varied selection of styles, some fun, some French covers of international hits, some ballads etc. Available from alapage, amazon, or fnac in France, and from Dusty Groove in the US.

• Salvador Trio: "Salvador Trio"
  • CD/LP, What Music 0024, UK, summer 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: Very conveniently available directly from What Music, where you can find MP3 samples too.
    • whatmusic.com: Rare early trio recording by piano legend Dom Salvador featuring drum legend Edison Machado!

• Salvador Trio : "Tristeza"
  • CD, What Music, UK, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: jazz samba, 3 surprisingly lush tracks with strings backing. Listen to MP3 samples @ the What Music site.
    • whatmusic.com: a rare 1966 trio recording by piano legend Dom Salvador featuring drum legend Edison Machado!

• Samaroo Jets Steel Orchestra: "CAM's Movie Soundtracks Caribbean Style"
  • CD, CAM CVS 900-060, Italy, 1997
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3792]

• Samba Trio: "Tristeza"
  • CD, TTH, 1982, deleted

• Sambôa: "Canto O Brasil"
  • CD/LP, P-Vine 23206, Japan, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: bossa jazz; a reissue of a 1983 LP album originally issued on Parsifal, a Belgian label

• Sambôa: "Sambôa"
  • CD/LP, P-Vine 23205, Japan, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Ten tracks of vocal bossa nova, samba/batucada, and a couple of "Euro" folk; those folk tracks don't sound Brazilian at all, with accordion and guitar as main instrument. This is a reissue of a 1983 LP album originally produced and recorded in Belgium, issued on Parsifal, but with a Portuguese sleeve text. One of the 2 singers and composers was Belgian: one Liliane Fontaine, but I don't know anything about her or this band. Liner notes in Japanese only. Quite good, but too expensive.

• Los Samplers: "Descargas"
  • CD, Rather Interesting RI 053, Germany, 2000?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 1 points on 5. EZ meets digital hardcore. Mr. "Senor Coconut" mutulates and de-humanize samples, and the result sounds quite harsh and "metallic" to me. The opening track is OK, the rest isn't really nice or smooth music at all.
    • DJJimmyBee: a Chilean effort that samples various Latin musics and adds such F/X as CD-stutter, power outages, electronic sounds, static, short wave signals, record crackles, the kitchen sink, and general mayhem...in a very melodically accessible framework, in a Latin-based rhythm that's sure to please. Primarily instrumental with distorted latin chants on the occasional track. I was extremely pleased.

• Dave Samuels: "Tjader-Ized: Cal Tjader Tribute"
  • CD, ?, USA, 1999?
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in "Cheese Ball" issue 2

• The San Sebastian Strings, Rod McKuen, Anita Kerr: "The Sea"
  • filed under: artists: McKuen, Rod

• Åke Sandin: "Förlorad I Toner"  (Lost In the Tones)
  • CD, Subliminal Sounds, Sweden, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: outsider music from Sweden.

• The Sandpipers: "Best Of"  (A&M Digitally Remastered Best Series)
  • CD, A&M, Japan, 1998?
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in "_Cool And Strange Music Magazine_" issue 10

• The Sandpipers: "Guantanamera"
  • CD, ? 540415, USA?, 199?
  • comment:
    • m.ace: [about the "Guantanamera" vinyl LP album] This is definitely soft pop... some of the softest pop I've ever heard. So soft, it becomes downright hallucinatory at times. Very relaxing though. They definitely worked from a formula here. And when applied to "Louie, Louie" it makes for the strangest "Louie, Louie" I've run across, complete with the bassline from the second part of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"! I can't really pull out any other tracks for special comment, as they all tend to flow together. In a pleasant way. Soothing soft pop for nights when life has left you frazzled. Derek Taylor's blank verse liner notes are fun. Excerpt: "Earning, Yearning - Seeking a corner - Of the Cave - Somewhere away - From the battle - And the fire of - Popwar."
    • Chuck: You are so right M.Ace when you say the Sandpipers are among the softest pop. Only the Fleetwoods or the Phil Spector/Teddy Bears' song "To Know Him Is to Love Him" is perhaps as soft. I kinda think these two bands set the stage for late 1960's soft pop bands like the Sandpipers. Its enlightening to compare the soft pop sound of the Sandpipers to the sunshine pop sound of the Association with their ba da ba das. Guantanamera and Louie Louie are fabulous remakes! This makes Guantanemera my favorite lp by them. They kept this formula up in later releases. I don't understand where all the A & M releases are but they do seem to trickle in at thrifts. Another cool label with this sound, White Wale has been collected by Verese Saraband on cd. Check out the song 1900 Yesterday for a similar sound to the Sandpipers.

• The Sandpipers: "Guantanamera/ The Sandpipers"
  • CD, Collector's Choice Music CCM 180, USA, 2001

• There's more by The Sandpipers than listed here: search elsewhere

• Mongo Santamaria: "Afro Blue"
  • CD, Concord Jazz 4781, USA, 199?

• Mongo Santamaria: "Mongo At The Village Gate"
  • CD, Riverside OJCCD-490-2, USA, 1990
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.

• Mongo Santamaria: "Mongo Introduces La Lupe"
  • CD, Fantasy Records/ Riverside/ Milestone MCD-9210-2, USA, 1993
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Mongo Santamaria: "Our Man In Havana"  (+ Bembé)
  • CD, Fantasy Records FCD-24729-2, USA, 1993
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Mongo Santamaria: "Skin On Skin: The Mongo Santamaria Anthology"  (1958-1995)
  • Double CD, Rhino 75689, USA, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: Rhino salutes the godfather of Latin soul, celebrates the history of this grammy-winning conga player.

• Mongo Santamaria: "Watermelon Man"
  • CD, Saludos Amigos CD 62077, Europe, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.
    • Martin Hämmel: Great comp from this cheapo label. Incl, Watermelon Man/Funny Money/Corn Bread Guajira/Get The Money(Fantastic)/Yeh-Yeh etc. I think the most comes ca. from 66 to 68

• There's more by Mongo Santamaria than listed here: search elsewhere

• Alfonso Santisteban : "Café Ipanema"
  • CD, Subterfuge, Spain, 2003

• Alfonso Santisteban : "Verano Del 72"
  • CD, Subterfuge, Spain, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. tribute to the sound of Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendes. available from Subterfuge

• Santo & Johnny: "The Best Of"
  • CD, ? SDT1027, USA, 199?

• Santo & Johnny: "The Best Of Santo & Johnny"
  • CD, ?, Canada, 1997
  • comment:
    • unknown: It has a 20 or 25 tracks, including most of the tracks from the coveted first album (but not 'slave girl'), some of which are in stereo. However, the liner notes are sparse and the other tracks are not sourced, so it is hard to tell where they are from. I gather that they are from the second album 'Encore' and from various 45s. Overall it's pretty great, but when you listen to some of these alongside someone like Roy Smeck, there is a clear difference in quality. On some of the tracks from 45s, the playing is too out of tune for my ears

• Santo & Johnny: "Come On In/ Off Shore"  (Plus 8 bonus tracks)
  • CD, Canadian American SCACD 1006, Germany?, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Originally issued as Canadian American CALP 11. Orchestra and chorus arranged and conducted by Mort Garson. Quite expensive, but the originals are so tough to find, and you get almost 80 minutes of music! Not 100% sure if these are legit reissues: Canadian American is the label that issued the original LP's back in 1959. Does it still exist? And why does it say "Printed in India" on the back? Available from www.bear-family.de.
    • (unknown): amazingly brilliant. This is a sea-themed album produced by Mort Garson. It is a seriously beautiful record, with great sound effects, haunting choruses (in one song this reminds me of Esquivel's "Harlem nocturne') and great renditions of familiar tunes.

• Santo & Johnny: "Encore/ Hawaii"  (Plus 9 bonus tracks)
  • CD, Canadian American SCA 1004, Germany?, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. "Encore" contains their hit "Teardrop". Wonderful album of EZ slide guitar instro's, with lots of wordless vocal backings. "Hawaii" is a bit too mellow, but still nice. Surprisingly rocking bonus tracks. Two original albums, in mastertape quality & true stereo. With repro's of original front and back covers and even of the original LP labels, plus liner notes. Not 100% sure if these are legit reissues: Canadian American is the label that issued the original LP's back in 1959. Does it still exist? And why does it say "Printed in India" on the back?

• Santo & Johnny: "I Grande Successi"
  • CD, BMG/Ricor LOCD 300392, Europe, 1998

• Santo & Johnny: "Santo & Johnny"
  • CD, Black Tulip 2636424, ?, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Collection of 31 of their their "exotic" tracks, plus several Readers Digest-ready tear-jerkers. Available from www.bear-family.de in Germany, or Norton in the USA.

• Santo & Johnny: "Santo & Johnny/ Around The World With Santo & Johnny"  (Plus 11 bonus tracks)
  • CD, Canadian American SCA 1002, Germany?, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Two original albums, in mastertape quality & true stereo. With repro's of original front and back covers and even of the original LP labels, plus liner notes. Includes Caravan; Slave girl; Cairo...

• Santo & Johnny: "Wish You Love/ Mucho"  (Plus 8 bonus tracks)
  • CD, Canadian American SCACD 1008, Germany?, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. "Wish You Love" is a bit mellow; "Mucho" is better, with 2 surprising samba tracks, several other with slight Latin touches, and the simply amazing "Amazon ritual", with plenty of jungle sounds!

• The Satellite Singers and Orchestra: "A Child's Introduction To Outer Space"
  • lp, Golden Records Mono Only, USA, 1959
    CD, Hit City Distribution, Italy 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Outer Space Children's record, originally issued on Golden Records in 1958 or 1959. featuring The Satellite Singers and Orchestra, Hamilton O'hara and Charlie Dobson; lyrics by William Kay, music by Jim Temmens, Scientific advisor: William Ley. Combination of music and documentary-style talking. It's great, if you like this kind of kiddie records. I think it is also known as "Journey To The Moon".
    • Will Louviere of _Show And Tell_: This one is special. Not only is it the coolest kid's outer space record ever, it was literally (famed collector's) Mickey McGowan's 1st copy. He found it at a garage sale like 100 million years ago and it still has the little 25 cent price witten on it. Totally cool. That dude has been championing this thing forever and it's crazy to think this was his first. The original 1958 version has a black label

• Breno Sauer Quarteto: "4 Na Bossa"
  • CD/LP, What Music, UK, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: jazz bossa nova from 1965. Very conveniently available directly from What Music!
    • What Music: Imagine if the MJQ had been born in Brasil and crossed with the Tamba Trio sound? A collectors' legend this LP features a vibes led group on the jazzier side of bossa!

• Breno Sauer Quartetto: "4 No Sucesso"
  • CD/LP, What Music 0064, UK, 2003
  • comment:
    • what music: explosive 1965 follow-up to "4 Na Bossa" this time taking on pop and bossa classics from Brazil, Italy, South Africa, France and England!

• Scala: "Dream On"
  • CD, PIAS, belgium, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: Second album of girl choir singing heavenly covers op rock songs.

• Scala: "On The Rocks"
  • CD, PIAS, Belgium, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. girl choir led by the Brothers Kolacny sing Nirvana, Garbage, Radiohead, The Police...

• Scanner / David Shea: "Free Chocolate Love"  (Themes Vol.1)
  • CD, Sub Rosa, Belgium, 2000
  • comment:
    • a tribute to lounge or cocktail music

• Lalo Schifrin: "Filmclassics"
  • CD, Aleph, USA, 1998

• Lalo Schifrin: "The Reel Lalo Schifrin"
  • CD, Hip-O HIPD-10127, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. Disapointing: if you already have the "Mission: Imossible" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." soundtracks and the recent "Dirty Harry Anthology" CD, then there are only 3 other tracks really worth having: the "Mannix" theme, "The Joint", great crime jazz from "Once a thief", and "Hotel Nacionale", a fine rhumba from "Voyage of the Damned".
    • Peter Risser: Yawn. I was solely unimpressed with this collection. Some alright jazzy stuff, but nothing like I was looking for. It pales in comparison with the Reel Quincy Jones (which totally rocks). Also, a weird selection, with nothing from Bullitt or Enter the Dragon and only one selection from Dirty Harry, which, annoyingly enough had the "punk" quote over it. Disappointing for sure

• Lalo Schifrin: "Black Widow"
  • CD, CTI/Legacy, USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • Jack Diamond: THE MOST unrecognizable and INSANE FUNK version of Les Baxter's Quiet Village I ever heard! This was his stab at disco in it's infancy--1976. Of interest is his completely whacked version of "Quiet Village," which owes more to Bowie's "Fame" than Baxter's exotica standard. You have to strain to hear the melody, but wotta bass line!
    • DJJimmyBee: I don't really like "Black Widow" because it epitomizes all that was wrong with CTI against which I admit a leaning. I bought my first "jazz" rekkids on that label. Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" Herbie Hancock stuff, Don Sebesky....Too fusiony, too afraid to sound anything less than "accessible." Testicular fortitude torn from a once great sound by overblown and simultaneously gentled-down production.
    • Sean: IMHO, it's hit or miss with Schifrin in the latter part of the 70's. It seems during this period, he was trying to incorporate elements of fusion which was popular at the time and ends up with a pretty dry result -- the passion of Bullitt seems gone. I also have No One Home from the same period which is even more disappointing than Black Widow. His LPs Towering Toccata and Ins and Outs from that period are not great, but not bad. The sound is a little less fusiony. On Ins and Outs especially, he has returned to more of a traditional combo formula. Another disappointment from that era is Schifrin's Free Ride with Dizzy Gillespie. It has a great moogie sound which is more or less destroyed by the drab instrumentation accompanying the Moog.
    • Stefan Kéry: Much in demand and great Schifrin lp with groovy funky versions of exotica classics like Quiet Village, Bahia and others.

• Lalo Schifrin: "Dirty Harry Anthology"
  • CD, Aleph, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Lalo Schifrin presents a "Dirty Harry Anthology", featuring music from the soundtracks of "Dirty Harry", "Sudden Impact", and "Magnum Force". Also features cues never before released on record! Tracks: "Dirty Harry's Creed", "Scorpio's Theme", "Sudden Impact", "Road to San Paulo", "Hot Shot Cop", "Magnum Force Theme", "Stake-Out", "Another Victim", "Robbery Suspect", "Floodlights", "The Cop", "Unicorn's Head", "Good-bye Cop", "The Bait", "San Francisco After Dark", "The Crooks", "The Mayor", "Palancio", "Ray of Light".

• Lalo Schifrin: "Esperanto"
  • CD, Aleph Records, USA, 2000
  • comment:
    • Pat Jennings: again with the WDR Big Band. it is very nice though more latin influenced than groovy. Features Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, one of our old favs.

• Lalo Schifrin: "Insensatez"
  • LP, Verve V6-8785 audiophile pressing, Germany, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: reissue of 1964 Verve LP of Brasil jazz with strings, issued on 180 gr. vinyl, mastered from the original mastertapes, with original cover artwork.

• Lalo Schifrin: "Intersections - Jazz Meets The Symphony #5"
  • CD, Aleph, USA, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: Reviewed at Score, Baby

• Lalo Schifrin: "Jazz Goes To Hollywood"
  • CD, Aleph Records 016, USA, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. Too close to improv-jazz for my taste, but...
    • Darrell Brogdon: ...featuring some of his movie tunes from selected flicks. It's an in-concert recording, conducted by Schifrin, featuring (I think, the CD's not in front of me as I type this) the WDR Big Band and soloists. Tracks include music from: Cool Hand Luke, Joy House, The Osterman Weekend, The Cincinnati Kid, Challenger's Gold, The Fox, Mission: Impossible, The Competition, Once a Thief, Manhattan Merengue, Bullitt, Roller Coaster, Golden Needles. You can buy it direct from Aleph, or CDNow has it for under $12.
    • Pat Jennings: the new versions ROCK! The WDR Big Band is outstanding, with BIG KAHUNAS!, and it seems they have a great affinity for Mr. Schifrin and his style of music. Any of you "Exoticats" interested in purchasing these should go to www.schifrin.com/. Definately get Bullitt and Mannix, but don't overlook Jazz Goes to Hollywood, cause it's got "Down Here on the Ground" from "Cool Hand Luke", the theme to the "Cincinnati Kind", "That Night" from "The Fox", a couple of selections from "Once a Thief", and the most INCREDIBLE version of "The Cat", from the picture "Joy House" that you can imagine. I'm not joking here. The Hammond B3 player, Frank Chastenier, from the WDR Big Band is UNREAL! Wah wah wah! Go! Also, great guest solos by Ernie Watts on tenor, Sandra Booker vocals, and Nils Landgren on Trombone. The Cat, as all you connoisseurs of vinyl will attest to, was cool in it's original form on Verve's "The Liquidator" LP, but this version rules, baby!! Trust me.

• Lalo Schifrin & The San Diego Symphony: "Jazz Meets The Symphony"
  • CD, WEA/Atlantic 7567 82506 4, USA, 1992
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3803]

• Lalo Schifrin: "Mission: Impossible... And More! The Best Of Lalo Schifrin"  (1962-1972)
  • CD, Motor Music 535 495-2, Germany, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Lalo Schifrin & The San Diego Symphony: "More Jazz Meets The Symphony"
  • CD, WEA/Atlantic, USA, 1993

• Lalo Schifrin: "Talkin' Verve"
  • CD, Verve, USA, July 1999

• There's more by Lalo Schifrin than listed here: search elsewhere

• Mary Schneider: "Yodeling The Classic, Vol. 2"
  • CD, Musigal Music RMGR0434, Australia or USA?, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Australian's Queen of Yodelling does it again; she yodels her way through Mozart, Rossini, the "Blue Danube", Gilbert & Sullivan, Strauss, Leroy Anderson, Rubinstein, "Tales from the Vienna Woods"... I like this one better than vol 1, because there's much more yodelling here, and less "normal" singing of lyrics. Recorded in Australia. I got my copy from "All Music Services", look their e-mail up in my Shoppinquarium.

• Mary Schneider: "Yodeling The Classics"
  • CD, Innerworks/Ichiban D2-24935, USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Australia's Queen of Yodeling takes on the popular classical works. If only she would stick to yodelling! Unfortunately, she spoils many tracks by plain singing.... still an exceptional record if you like novelty.

• Elvis Schoenberg's Orchestre Surréal: "Air Surreal"
  • CD, Ross Wrigh, 1998
  • comment:
    • www.cdbaby.com: An orchestral, comedic, theatrical hybrid of classic-rock, classical, and jazz tunes, with soulful singing and Rod Serling-esque monologues.

• Schola Musica: "The Beatles Gregorian Songbook"  (the Liverpool Manuscripts)
  • CD, Disques XXI-21, Canada, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Dick Schory: "Music For Bang Baaroom And Harp"
  • CD, RCA 35742, Germany, 1996
    LP, Classic Records, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Reissue of classic Living Stereo Space Age Pop percussion LP, plus 6 bonus tracks

• Dick Schory's Percussion and Brass Ensemble: "Stereo Action Goes Broadway"
  • LP, RCA Stereo Action, 1961
    CD, BMG/RCA 38582, Spain, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Not really one of Schory's best albums, but still a nice one. I hope RCA finally starts reissuing all his other records! they're not only brilliant stereo ACTION spage age percussion music, but -- just like classical music -- Schory's very dynamic arrangements sound better on CD than on vinyl.
    • Jack Diamond Music: More, Crazy Stereo Action Sounds with The Sounds Your Eyes Can Follow from RCA No need for a write up here folks Killer stuff all the way.

• John Schroeder Orchestra: "John Schroeder Orchestra"
  • CD, Sequel NEMCD772, UK, 199?

• John Schroeder Orchestra: "Space-Age Soul"
  • CD, Sequel nem769, UK, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. From The Makers Of "the Easy Project"
      Read a review of this record in the "Critiquarium".

• The Voices Of Walter Schuman: "Exploring The Unknown"
  • CD, RCA 7432178170, Spain, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Outer space wordless vocal exotica, originally issued as RCA LPM-1025, in 1955. Music by Leith Stevens, narrated by Paul Frees. Reissued with Wah-Wah's advise and collaboration, and available through Wah-Wah Distribution.
    • Wah-Wah: Composed by soundtrack legend Leith Stevens (responsible for many great jazz-inflected scores such as "Private Hell 36" & "The Wild One"), "Exploring the Unknown" is another of those much sought after "Outer Space Exotica" records which flourished in the so-called Space Age. Forget what you've heard before from Walter Schumann's Voices, here they take us to an interplanetary trip from a rocket launching site somewhere in the Pacific islands to Venus and back to earth. Amongst the drifting instrumentals (which recalls Stevens soundtrack to for cult sci-fi flick "Destination Moon") and ethereal choruses you'll hear the deep & resonant voice of Paul Frees depicting our journey through outer space. A truly unique record.
    • Stefan Kéry: Don't miss this reissue.
    • LP reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issues 5 and 8, CD in issue 20.

• Rudy Schwartz Project: "Günther Packs A Stiffy"
  • CD, Seeland 502, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. novelty
      Read a review of this record in the "Critiquarium".

• Rudy Schwartz Project: "Salmon Dave"
  • CD, Seeland?, USA, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 0 points on 5.

• Armando Sciascia: "Mondi Caldi Di Notte"  (Italian 60s Mondo Movie Sexy Themes)
  • CD, Plastic 186?, Italy, 1999 or 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. good, but nothing really exciting or special.
    • Shep: As the title suggests, all of these tracks come from "mondo" movies of the 60s, but the titles of these films seem rather obscure (probably because they're all listed in Italian). The music itself goes from sexy to zany to lush to mysterious. Most of the tracks have a conventional feel and are played by a full jazz orchestra. If you're looking for psycho beat funk and roll, look elsewhere, since this is more "soundtrack" oriented and fits well into the 60s idiom. Recommended.

• Christopher Scott: "Switched on Bacharach"
  • LP, Decca DL 75141 stereo
    CD, ?, Japan, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.
    • alan zweig: Generally I'm looking for moog records that go over-the-top without crossing the line into Keith Emerson territory - as for instance those Montenegro records featuring his son John do (imho). In other words, who needs a tasteful moog record? But I make the exception for these two records. From tune to tune, he uses different sounds, different kinds of arrangements. They're both great records even leaving aside the great tunes. I love the version of "Wives and Lovers", off the top of my head.

• Raymond Scott played by The Beau Hunks: "Celebration On The Planet Mars"
  • CD, Koch KOC 3-7909, USA, 1995
    CD, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.

• Raymond Scott: "The Electronium Years"  (1960s-70s)
  • CD, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), announced
  • comment:
    • Johan: Sequel to "Manhattan Research Incorporated"

• Raymond Scott: "Manhattan Research Inc."  (New plastic sounds and electronic abstractions)
  • Double CD + book, Basta Records 9078, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 2000
    Tripple LP, Basta Records 9045, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Too abstract music for me: repetitive, minimalistic electronic doodling, with little variation. The commercials are great, but there are far too few of them. Listen before you buy! MP3 clips: RaymondScott.com. Note: the LP set does NOT include the book, which is packaged only with the CD version
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 17
    • Jeroen van der Schaaf, Basta Audio Visuals: This album will SHOCK the world. Raymond Scott has made music no-one can imagine. Raymond was way ahead of his time. When listening close, you can hear all kinds of music styles in it, even drum `n bass, rave and so on. a double cd filled with Electronium, jingles... The sound quality is very high because we are working with material directly recorded from Raymonds instruments. This collection will feature first-time-ever releases of archival Scott recordings (1950s-70s) including such inventions as The Electronium, The Clavivox (Keyboard Theremin), The Circle Machine (early sequencer), The Rhythm Modulator, tone-generators, & other home-built equipment. The booklet that will come with this album will be app. 80 pages, since we have so much material to publish.
    • BasicHip: ...a very enthusiastic thumbs up... I'm always on the lookout for 60s radio spots, jingles, promos, etc and was thrilled to see some of Scotts music for commercials were included. Remember Ideal's "Gaylord" from 1963? Hostess Twinkies? Oh, God!! I'm in heaven. Excellent quality, highly informative book with fantastic photos. Beautifully packaged and a STEAL to boot. The reissue of the year hands down, bar-none as far as I'm concerned - GET IT!!!

• Raymond Scott Quintette: "Microphone Music"
  • Double CD, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: This looks a bit like a cash-in project: most tracks were already released on previous CDs. But if you don't have anything by Scott yet, this is a must.
    • Raymond Scott press release: The first new collection of vintage Raymond Scott Quintette recordings in eleven years is now available. The title refers to Scott's emphasis on the microphone as a "seventh member" of his legendary six-man Quintette, and the mic's importance in helping RS shape the recorded sound of his ensembles... 43-track compilation will feature unreleased titles, radio performances, first-rate rehearsals, and out-of-print gems by the RSQ, recorded between 1937 and 1939. It will include the first CD release of the following Scott titles: A Little Bit of Rigoletto, Dead End Blues *, Egyptian Barn Dance, Harlem Hillbilly *, Hypnotist in Hawaii *, Pretty Petticoat *, Shirley's Tune *, Square Dance for Eight Egyptian Mummies *, Suicide Cliff *, Swing, Swing Mother-in-Law *, The Girl with the Light Blue Hair, The Happy Farmer, The Merry Taxicab Drivers *, The Quintette Goes to a Dance *, Turkish Mish-Mush *, Yesterday's Ice Cubes. The compilation will also include remastered transfers of RSQ radio and rehearsal recordings originally released in 1991 on the now-out-of-print Stash Records CD The Raymond Scott Project, Vol. 1. Complete track list, cover art and MP3 samples: RaymondScott.com/mic.html

• Raymond Scott performed by the Metropole Orchestra, featuring the Beau Hunks Saxtette: "Raymond Scott Chesterfield Arrangements 1937-38"
  • CD, Basta Records 30-9097, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Includes some tunes that I haven't heard before, like "Suicide Cliff"...
    • Raymond Scott Archives press release: large-scale orchestral arrangements for 17 Scott Quintet titles, commissioned for Paul Whiteman's Chesterfield radio program. They are radically re-arranged versions, Carl Stalling-like in some ways
    • Peter Risser: This kicks ass. Flat out, no holds barred, it's exactly what I've been looking for: large scale big band arrangements of Scott tunes. I love all the Scott stuff, but I find the small combo a little tinny. This is rich and thick, well-recorded and well-performed examples of Scott classics. It's great from beginning to end.
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 15

• Raymond Scott: "The Raymond Scott Project Volume 1: Powerhouse"
  • CD, Stash ST-CD-543, USA, 1991
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.

• Raymond Scott: "Reckless Nights And Turkish Twilights"
  • CD, Sony/Columbia CK 53028, USA, 1992
    CD, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1998
    CD, Sony Legacy, USA, autumn 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. The Sony version has only 5 tracks that weren't already featured on the Stash CD "The Raymond Scott Project Volume 1: Powerhouse". The Basta rerelease is updated, revised, & remastered 24-bit sound, and includes previously unreleased alternate takes.

• Raymond Scott: "Soothing Sounds For Baby Volume 1: 1-6 Months"
  • CD, Basta Records 30-90464, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1997
    LP, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: recorded on Scott's home-built polyphonic sequencers in 1962. very minimalist, à la phil glass koyanisqaatsi. JJ Perrey fans would be disappointed.
    • G.R.Reader: early 90's ambient music incarnated 30 years before, very nice. Well one side is great, the other side is similar stuff, but with tapping noises of different pitches, more than a little irritating, and although you can see what Raymond Scott was driving at, 5 minutes would have been enough rather than the whole of one side. But still the first side is top.
    • SLarry: I would NOT buy any of the Soothing Sounds For Baby cds. A friend of mine had all three and I found them to be very, very boring. Not at all like the new two disc set. See if you can hear one of them before you buy any of them. Most have only a few tracks and they are simple tones that repeat endlessly. Ofcourse, that is only one opinion.
    • G.R.Reader: I'd say get the set. They are 3 songs per LP, usually one bugs the life out of me, the others are very good. very mellow, EXTREMELY repetitive synth tracks. Think Fax records ambient. I remember someone on the list complaining that the tracks were the same all the way through, and that could be a valid criticism, it could also be just a valid description. I have volume 2 and 3, not seen vol 1 on vinyl yet. I play 'em and the baby (now 2) has never expressed an interest one way or the other. If she don't like it she demands the Nursery Rhymes cassette.

• Raymond Scott: "Soothing Sounds For Baby Volume 2: 6-12 Months"
  • CD, Basta Records 30-90465, distr. Koch, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1997
    LP, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1999

• Raymond Scott: "Soothing Sounds For Baby Volume 3: 12-18 Months"
  • CD, Basta Records 30-90466, distr. Koch, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1997
    LP, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), 1999

• Raymond Scott: "The unexpected"
  • CD, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), announced...
  • comment:
    • Marco "Kallie" Kalnenek: Basta Audio Visuals will reissue it on CD, but that will probably take more than a year.

• Rhoda Scott: "Frame For The Blues"
  • CD, Polygram/Verve 513 294, France, 1992
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. bluesy, "churchy" (but not religious!) often soft and slow Hammond jazz.

• Rhoda Scott: "Live"
  • CD, Verve, France, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: Hammond jazz.

• Rhoda Scott: "Rhoda Scott & Guests"
  • CD, Verve, France, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: Hammond jazz.

• Rhoda Scott: "Stardust"
  • CD, Polygram/Verve 511 478, France, 1991
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Hammond jazz.

• Rhoda Scott: "Summertime"
  • CD, Polygram/Verve 847 862, France, 1991
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Hammond jazz.

• Rhoda Scott: "Take Five"
  • CD, Polygram/Verve 511 479, France, 1991
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Excellent Hammond jazz

• Shirley Scott: "Latin Shadows"  (Arranged And Conducted By Gary Mcfarland)
  • LP, Impulse stereo AS-93, USA, 1968
    CD, MCA, Japan, 200?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Wonderful combination of organ & vibes, with occasional flute & strings. Three bossa nova tracks.
    • Darrell Brogdon: Great version of "Dreamsville"!

• Shirley Scott: "Legends Of Acid Jazz"
  • CD, Prestige PRCD-24200, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: Actually a twofer, combining "Hip Soul" (Prestige 7205, 1961) and "Hip Twist" (Prestige 7226, 1961) both with Stanley Turrentine on tenor sax. I found it to be more a Turrentine CD, than a Scott one; in other words: waaaaaay too many sax solo's. (Roots of) Acid Jazz? Not at all, IMO.

• Shirley Scott: "Legends Of Acid Jazz: Soul Sister"
  • CD, Prestige PRCD-24233, USA, 199?

• Shirley Scott: "Roll 'em"
  • CD, Impulse 147, USA, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: great jazz funk organist

• Shirley Scott: "Talkin' Verve"
  • CD, Verve 549 539, Europe, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. "Advanced Funk, Bad Soul, Cool Kitsch, Dapper Sophistication..." says a stickker on front, whatever that means. 14 tracks taken from about 7 or 8 different albums on Impule and Cadet. Quiet some variation in sound: soul, funk, EZ jazzy, bosaa nova jazz, exotica even, but all are cool, except 2 tunes that are spoiled by husband Turrentine's stupido sax solo's. Highlights include groovy versions of "A Shot in the Dark", "Proud Mary" (go-go funk jazz!), "Feeling Good", and "Downtown".

• There's more by Shirley Scott than listed here: search elsewhere

• Screaming Lord Sutch: "Rock & Horror"
  • CD, ? CHM 65, UK?, 199?

• Screaming Lord Sutch: "Story"
  • CD, SUT 7777, UK?, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Don Sebesky: "The Distant Galaxy"
  • LP, Verve stereo V6-5063, USA, 1960's
    LP, limited issue, UK, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Outer space Moog rock
    • Stefan Kéry: A perfect reissue of this highly sough after masterpiece! "The heavens open. The clouds part. And you thrust through. Suddenly, quite irrevocably, the Milky Way - with its billions of stars blinking like pale yellow eyelids - is behind you and youre tripping 200,000 light years away. Orange flames and purple bolts and streaks colored from a different spectrum snakes across the perpetual night. Youve reached your destination, the ultimate synthesis of life, the opposite pole of the universe, The Distant Galaxy", wow! Heres a fantastic 60s exploitation Moog, outer space, sitarsploitation record featuring Dick Hyman. Although on a major label this one is pretty f*in rare...in fact Ive only seen 1 copy of the original (and Ive been looking for these type of LPs for quite some time) One of the best for these electronica outer space easy beat sounds.

• the Secret Seven: "The Unexpected"
  • CD, Basta Records, Netherlands (distributed in USA by Allegro), in production...

• Ambros Seelos: "Groove Collection. Funky Songs For Private Eyes"  (A Brigade Mondaine Release)
  • CD, 9:pm Records 019/ Brigade Mondaine BM001, Germany, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. funky, sometimes a bit too close to disco, but at least 13 out of the 20 tracks are cool & groovy tunes, and 2 are killer afro-funk gems.
    • Suitbert Kempkens: this German Dance & Show Orchestra from the '70's did some really special rhythmic things, which are compiled here: 20 tracks - except from "Shaft" all library sounds, I think never before commercially released on LP. I'm really impressed.

• Seks Bomba: "Operation B.O.M.B.A."
  • CD, YaYa Records 1001, USA, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. On about 5 tracks they sound alot like the James Taylor Quartet, so fans of JTQ: check this out.
    • Jimmy Botticelli: guru-oovy band from Boston. The album is chock-full 'o' good tunes. Covered are a wordless "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" (with a wa-wa melody line sounding very moog-like), "It Had Better Be Tonight" (from Mancini's "Pink Panther" and a surefire dancefloor packer), "The Cat" (Lalo's goodie), and several originals, including instrumentals... This one's a killer
    • Jane Fondle: The singer, Chris, has just one of these once in a lifetime voices... almost makin' ol Tom Jones sound like he could be WEARING those panties flung at him. The group is tight-now-sound, great Hammond Organ, flute, groovin geetars, innovative rhythm section....Fans of spy, surf, and the loungey-talents of folks like Combustible Edison, Oranj Symphonette and Joey Altruda will surely love Seks Bomba!

• Seks Bomba: "Somewhere in This Town"
  • CD, YaYa Records 1001, USA, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Seksu Roba: "Seksu Roba"
  • CD, Crippled Dick Hot Wax CDHW 067, Germany, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. CyberSpace rock. Quite groovy. My complaint: several tracks are too long and repetitive, without good melodies; a good exemple is "Cha cha on the moon" which starts out with a great idea, but goes on and on in "loop" mode. THE stand-out track, the only real "song" composition (though instromental like all the others) must be the Fantastic Plastic Machine-like "Crystal garden". As for comparisons: definitely closer to the trashy Sukia than to the frivolous Tipsy. And I couldn't hear any similarity with Dimitri From Paris. Air? Hm, they both root in the 1970's, but Air knows how to compose great melodies, a thing Seksu Roba is still learning. I certainly look forward to their follow-up album!
    • kevin leeeeee: Seksu Roba is a mish mash of a lot of sounds. there's psychedelia, there's samples, there's moogy analog electronics, theremin, sex, drugs, and much more. fans of Tipsy, Sukia, and the like may dig this however there's definitely a lot of musicality and melody and stuff like that. we firmly believe in using samples as a springboard for musical exploration. Other comparisons made so far include Air, Watermelon, Dimitri From Paris, Malcolm McClaren... it is now available in europe online at www.atrecordings.com/ (you can listen to all the tracks on real audio there)
    • Chuck?: I played Seksu Roba for the first time today and I was impressed. The combination of the samples on some of the songs had a great eerie outer space feel. Made me think of Disney and Space Mountain. Some of the songs were tipsyish, a very high compliment, and the last song was down right psychedelic. I was most impressed with the combination and choice of samples. This is one cool cd with some eerie spooky outer space sounds. Its fun to try and guess where the samples come form. Our own Kevin Lee, who is also the founder of popnouveau is 50 percent of Seksu Roba.
    • james brouwer: I second Chuck's recommendation. Seksu Roba are doing some really fine work on this CD - not-too-obvious samples, put in the right spots, with fine grooves, rounded out by a lush, druggy, and exotic atmosphere. Though they're not identical, if you like Tipsy you'll definitely definitely like this.
    • Reviewed at Score, Baby
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 19

• Peter Sellers: "The Peter Sellers collection"
  • 4 cd box, EMI, UK, 1993
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Everything he recorded on LP or single, with the exception of "She Loves You" (Dr. Strangelove Version)! Can you believe that? What a blunder!

• Señor Coconut y Su Conjunto: "El Baile Alemán"
  • CD, East West AMCT-4459, Japan, 2000
    CD, Emperor Norton (Pias in Europe), USA, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. These latin arrangements of 10 Kraftwerk tunes are great fun and very well done; and, although a MIDI project, the sound is good, thanx to some cleverly mixed-in Pérez Prado samples. Not sure if you could enjoy this album when unfamiliar with Kraftwerk's music...
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 18
    • Arjan Plug: an entire record of Kraftwerk tunes seamlessly reconfigured as cha chas, meringues, rumbas, etc. Tracks include "Neonlights (chachacha)", "Trans Europe Express (cumbia)", "Tour De France (merengue)", "Man Machine (baklan a la prado)", "Radioactivity (rhumba)", "Autobahn (drum 'n' cumbia)", "Numbers (mambo)", "Sex Object (salsa)", "The Robots (salsa)", "Pocket Calculator (merengue)", "Showroom Dummies (chachacha)", "Music Non Stop (cumbia)".
    • Brad yost: The previous Senor Coconut CD was a mix of old & new Latin stylings with plenty of electronics & computer manipulation. It was very highly regarded and is now out of print. Some list members have complained that this new project actually sounds too "authentic" -- i.e., one person said it sounded like Perez Prado had come to life and recorded these Kraftwerk covers with his orchestra, and there was little to none of the techno/electronica or hard drive glitchery added to it. think Other Music is selling the new CD at closer to $30, a bit lower than the other prices quoted.
    • Mr. Unlucky": I think it's pretty impressive. I love Latin music, and Atom Heart, so I'm biased here, but I'd have to say it tops both the Balanescu Quartet album and Terre Thaemlitz album of Kraftwerk covers both for novelty, originality, and its well thought-out quality. I don't know, though, what sort of fans I would recommend it to.

• Señor Coconut And His Orchestra: "Fiesta Songs"
  • CD, MultiColor, Germany, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: eleven covers of classics like "Smoke on the Water" and "Riders on the Storm"

• Señor Coconut y Su Conjunto: "Gran Baile Con Senor Coconut"
  • CD, Rather Interesting, USA?, 199?
    CD/LP, Multicolor, Germany, 2000
  • comment:
    • cheryl : Senor Coconut is actually Uwe Schmidt. Also known as Atom Heart, Lisa Carbon, etc., etc. I would guess it's all synthesizers, but I could be wrong - I know he did perform with a full band a little while back. His first Senor Coconut CD, "El Gran Baile", is also good, although not Kraftwerk covers. I find his Atom Heart CDs too cold-sounding for my taste. He also did a CD that was just issued with covers of 70s and 80s pop/rock stuff - David Bowie, Rolling Stones, etc. - I can't remember the title right now - might have been "pop electronique" but I'm not sure. An interesting CD, although I passed on it - I figured it was fun to listen to once, but I likely wouldn't play it again. (unlike Senor Coconut stuff, which I enjoy listening to again and again)
    • DJJimmyBee: Senor Coconut is a German living in Chile who records under a multiplicity of identities. As Senor Coconut he does what we all know and love. As Los Samplers he does a highly Latinized collage of beats, bloops, Electronic buzzes, blaps, static all cobbled together to make a highly funky/latin set of songs. As Atom & Tea Time he does an X-rated latinized set of tunes which showcase his love of pornography, Tito Puente samples and other oddball sounds and percussion. As Lisa Carbon Trio he does some fine but kinda repetitive bossa work. He comes highly recommended by your's truly

• Sesame Street: "Born To Add - Great Rock & Roll"
  • CD, Sony Wonder 7464 67331 4, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Sesame Street: ""C" Is For Cookie. Cookie's Favorite Songs"
  • CD, Sony Wonder LK 67332, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Sesame Street: "Sesame Street Alphabet Album"  (=Sing the Alphabet)
  • CD, Sony, Japan, 1991, deleted
    CD, Sony? Sesame Street, USA, year?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• sesame street: "Silly Songs"
  • CD, Sony Wonder, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. one of the silliest Sesame street CDs, I love it!

• Bola Sete: "Ocean Memories"
  • Double CD, Samba Moon, USA, ?
  • comment:
    • reissue of solo guitar album by this Brazilian guitarist.

• David Seville: "The Music Of David Seville"
  • LP, Liberty LRP 3073 mono
    CD, EMI, Japan, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Slapstick meets beatnik à la Three Suns. Seems to be very rare, is sold for a whopping $223 at GEMM!

• The Shadows: "30 All Time Greatest"
  • CD, ?, Australia, 1998

• The Shadows: "Best"
  • CD, Music For Pleasure MFP 6385, UK, 1998

• The Shadows: "Shadow Music/ Shades Of Rock"
  • CD, EMI UK CDP 7 97933, UK, 1992
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. The Record Collector (issue 218, page 148) described "Shades of rock" as "now" sound, with plenty of fuzz & hammond. I was hugely disappointed. All those covers ("Proud Mary", "Paperback writer", "Satisfaction", "Get back", "Something" and others) sound so dull, uninspired. "My babe" features a backwards tape loop... and that's about the most interesting thing happening on this (failed) attempt at a "now" album. "Shadow music" has that typical, super-clean, polished, nicenice, sound. Only 1 track ("Benno-San") is better than average, with exotic percussive effects.

• The Shadows: "Shadows Are Go!"
  • CD, Scamp 9711, USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in "Exotica/Etc" issue 7

• The Shadows: "Single Collection"
  • Double CD, EMI UK P8 33291, UK, 1996

• There's more by The Shadows than listed here: search elsewhere

• The Shaggs: "Philosophy Of The World"
  • CD, RCA Victor, USA, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Rock & Roll from another galaxy. A classic.
    • Irwin Chusid: The Shaggs are a touchstone of unpretentiousness, this album a monument of "aboriginal rock." Their music is earnest, authentic, and refreshingly guileless. Hacked-at chords, missed downbeats, out-of-socket transitions, blown accents, and accidental convergences abound. And yet -- it all works! The Shaggs' lost-chord wonderland has an internal logic that transcends the conventional relationship between ability, technique, and originality. This CD represents the first authentic reissue of the original PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD. In addition to the original sequence, cover art, and liner notes (and NO extra tracks), this package includes new biographical notes by Irwin Chusid.
    • alan zweig: Here's my guilty admission. For years I made no attempt to hear the Shaggs, assuming that I'd heard enough "so bad it's good" music that I didn't need to hear them. But boy was I wrong. I've only heard a few cuts at this point and I don't know how often I would listen to it but to simply put the Shaggs in that "so bad it's good" category is a huge underestimation. Yes that does describe them. They are bad. But their individual incompetence collided in the most beautiful "happy accident" I've ever heard. If like me, you just assume you've heard stuff like the Shaggs, don't assume any longer. If it weren't for happy accidents, the world would be a far poorer place. I don't necessarily want to rouse the bigshot from his lair, now that he seems to be sleeping again but it's so funny that the Shaggs were given as yet another example of his personal hall of shame. People who love the Shaggs are not celebrating bad musicianship. As a sidebar they may be acknowledging that good musicians don't necessarily make good music. But they don't love the Shaggs because they have a philosophical bent in that direction. They love them because they heard it and they thought "Wow, what's that?" Yeah the drummer seems to be playing a different song in a different world. But somehow that doesn't detract from it and even contributes to the beauty of it. If you can't love something without worrying about how it was created, then you're going to miss out on a lot of beauty. Then again, I don't like classical music.
    • Daniel Shiman: I agree there is a strange beauty to the Shaggs which goes beyond just the appeal of hearing something so un-self-consciously frank and emotional (I'm trying hard to avoid the usual condescending descriptions saved for the Wiggin sisters) and some far-out ideas about musicianship. However, novelty value I think is the limit ultimately of many hipsters' ironic enjoyment of the Shaggs. To me their lyrics are fascinating in a sort of disturbing way, but the music itself is genuinely, and repeatedly, interesting: there are some sounds created (intentionally or not it doesn't matter) which are all at once otherworldly, and dissonant, and attractive. And I love that their last name is "Wiggin".

• The Shaggs: "The Shaggs"
  • CD, Rounder CD 11547, USA, 1988, deleted
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.

• Ananda Shankar And His Orchestra: "2001"
  • LP, Shiva Sounds SS.004 reissue, Europe, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. From 1984. Not entirely clear if is this is an official reissue. One killer track (the opener, "Explorations"), 4 very good ones, that mingle western with Indian elements in a "Bollywood" way: great percussion, sitar, electric guitar, some electronics. The other 4 are of the "filler" kind, although the last one, a very loooong and slow "2001" (no, not a cover of "...Zarathustra") about 2 minutes before the ending suddenly shifts into higher gear with an energetic "apotheosis", so that one counts as a 6th good one.
    • Stefan Kéry: Hist last album, on a SPACE theme (produced for Dunlop tires). Tracks include ´Explorations´, ´Universal Magic´, ´The Voyager´, ´The Lost Galaxy´, etc. Great sleeve artwork.

• Ananda Shankar: "A Musical Discovery Of India"
  • LP (on 45rmp), Shiva Sounds reissue SS.02, Europe?, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Only 7 tracks, all good ones, a couple of very good ones. I liked this one better than "Missing You", so I'd rate it at 3.5
    • Stefan Kéry: Wow! Here's all the worthwhile Ananda Shankar LPs reissued in a long row. Originally released for the India Tourism Development Corp. Tracks include ´Namaskar´, ´The Hill Train´, ´Kaziranga Beat´, ´Dawn At Varanasi´, etc.

• Ananda Shankar: "Ananda Shankar"
  • LP, Warner Reprise, 1970
    CD/LP, Warner, UK, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. groovy sitar & Moog covers of "Jumpin Jack Flash" and "Light My Fire"

• Ananda Shankar: "Ananda Shankar"
  • CD/LP, WEA/Reprise 72631, Limited edition, UK, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Featured instruments: sitar, Moog, electric guitar, tabla. With: Jumpin' Jack Flash; Snow Flower; Light My Fire; Mamata; Metamorphosis, Sagar; Dance Indra; Raghupati.

• Ananda Shankar: "Ananda Shankar & His Music"
  • LP, EMI limited reissue ECSD 2528 stereo, Germany?, 2000, deleted
    LP, Shiva Sounds?, Europe, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. "Streets Of Calcutta" and "Dancing Drums" are the 2 only explosive and incredible and fantastic and groovy tracks here; the rest is ... well also worth hearing. If you already have those too aformentioned tracks, don't bother to find this rare LP from 1976, or the reissue. If you don't, I'd rather recommend buying the "Blue Juice" comp CD.
    • Stefan Kéry: At last a reissue of much sought-after 1975 album masterpiece, also known by the title 'Ananda Shankar & Friends'. Featuring the have-to-be-heard-to-be-believed sitar-fueled classics 'Streets Of Calcutta' and 'Dancing Drums'. A fantastic example of Shankar's personal blend of Indian traditional music and modern Western pop sounds. Comes in thick cardboard sleeve. 500 Only. Incredible stuff! Not to be confused with his more common LP on Reprise. "...His Music" was originally only issued in India. Very limited supply.
    • showandtell: Famed and way-beyond-rare 1976 lp from son of Ravi Shankar blending Eastern and Western pop/rock/psychedelic/dance styles. Absolutely one of the most amazing albums I've ever heard. Brilliant, mind blowing and otherwise indesribable. Best sitar OR moog lp I've heard by light years. High price tag reflects rarity. Mint copies have been selling in the $300-$500 range for years. This copy is marred by a scratch side 2 stretching from 1st track into beginning of 2nd track. Disc plays with annoying ticks in that area. Thankfully, these are not even close to being the best songs on the album. Disc plays with light surface noise throughout inherent in the Indian pressing. Never released on cd. This is The Best of The Best.

• Ananda Shankar: "Missing You"
  • LP, Shiva Sounds SS.001 reissue, Europe?, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. 45rpm LP, plays nice on 33 rpm too ;-) bad vinyl quality.
    • Stefan Kéry: Shankar´s beautiful tribute to his father, the great UDAY SHANKAR. Seven gorgeous, soulful, sentimental cuts, several with vibes. Tracks include ´Missing You´, ´Lonely´, ´I Remember´, ´Togetherness´, etc.

• Ananda Shankar: "Sá-re-gá Machán"
  • LP, Shiva Sounds SS.003reissue, Europe?, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Fantastic! His most exotic (in the classic, Denny/Baxter meaning) LP, from 1981. Two tracks with Moog.
    • Stefan Kéry: True masterpiece. ´View From A Jungle Treehouse´ is his most exotic and inventive song, beautiful and with great funky rock riffs. Tracks include the title track, ´Romanitc Rhino´, ´Charging Tiger´, ´Night In The Forest´, ´Jungle King´ (partly reprises ´Streets Of Calcutta´, etc.

• William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy: "Spaced Out: The Very Best Of"
  • CD, MCA, UK, 1997?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• William Shatner: "The Transformed Man"
  • CD, Rev-Ola CREV004CD (Creation), UK, 1992
    CD, Varèse Sarabande, USA, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. A camp classic.

• Roland Shaw & His Orchestra: "The World Of James Bond Adventure!"
  • CD, Decca Deram 844 586-2, UK, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• George Shearing: "Black & White Satin"
  • CD, Razor & Tie 2164, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in "_Cool And Strange Music Magazine_" issue 11

• George Shearing: "The Ultimate"
  • CD, EMI 535 935, UK, 2002

• Bas Sheva: "The Passions"
  • filed under: artists: Baxter, Les
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Shig & Buzz: "Double Diamonds"
  • CD, Mai Tai/Doctor Dream DD 0103, USA, 1994
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Good melodies in a Shadows/Ventures way.

• Tak Shindo: "Mganga!"  (+ Les Baxter's "African Jazz")
  • LP, Edison International CL-5000, USA, end 1950's
    CD, Tiki Tune (bootleg)
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Shu-de: "Voices From The Distant Steppe"
  • CD, Real World CDRW41 (distributed by Virgin) UK, 1994
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Sawada Shungo (Syungo Hamada ?): "Tokyo Modern Recording Collection: Go Go Scat Bossa"
  • CD, King Record Company KICS 867, Japan, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Very good, lots of... well, as the title says: "Go Go Scat Bossa" music. includes a "Batman" cover... LOTS of yummy wordless vocals
    • Darrell Brogdon: while I like it A LOT, the liners are all in Japanese. Anybody know someplace I could find at least a track listing in English...?
    • Jan Fornell I haven't (yet) heard this album, but the description of it sounds cool indeed. I found some information on the web in Japanese, for instance here: www.syftrecords.com/rcm2001/rcm0305 including a track listing in Japanese, which in English becomes something like this: 1. Driving Love (original) / 2. Love Guitar (?) / 3. All You Need Is Love / 4. The Frog / 5. La la la / 6. Makka na taiyou (Japanese standard, perhaps "Red Sun" in English) / 7. Moovin', Moovin' (?) / 8. What's up pussycat? / 9. Seven Golden Men / 10. Batman / 11. The Golden Man (?) / 12. A Castle in Sweden (?) / 13. You're My Everything (?) / 14. Goodbye Today (?) Those with a question mark are just direct translations of the Japanese titles. They don't ring any particular bells, so they may be originals or covers of older Japanese songs. The review doesn't say.

• The Silhouettes: "Conversations With The Silhouettes"
  • LP, YellowStone 9576, Italy, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Repro of Segué 1001. Between Brasil, EZ, Funk & Jazz. Two tracks are featured on YellowStone's "Le coeur qui jazze" comp.

• Silver Apples: "Silver Apples"  (or "Silver Apples/ Contact")
  • CD, MCA CD MCAD-11680, 1997
  • comment:
    • Tom Rombouts: CD reissue of two late 60's LP's by New York based electronic pioneering duo Silver Apples. The first nine tracks are the 1968 LP "Silver Apples" and the second nine are the 1969 LP "Contact" Booklet includes original artwork, photos, and brief interview with duo member Simeon. (Note - same audio material without booklet issued on CD as TRC 039 in 1994) Total time 73 minutes. Kind of a cross between early electronica and psychedelia. Maybe a stretch, but to me similar in some ways to Bruce Haack but not as whimsical. Duo featured a homemade oscillator with many wires, meters and dials, and an elaborate percussion setup. If you ignore the vocals, much of this anticipated today's techno music including some sampling of non-musical background sounds. However, since the oscillator could only be set to produce a few tones at a time, some of the riffs can get repititious. The second nine tracks were more elaborately produced, and have a wider range of styles and sounds including a banjo at times. Personally I would give it ++++ out of five, but keep in mind I am a big psyche fan. Detailed history of Silver Apples (including a late 90's comeback) at www.allmusic.com/

• Emilie Simon: "Désert"
  • CD, universal, France, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: if you liked Keren Ann and/or Carla Bruni, you'll also like this chanteuse.

• Simonetti, Morante, Pignatelli: "Tenebre"  (aka Unsane)
  • CD, Cinevox MDF 302, Italy, 2001
    LP, 180 gram vinyl, Dagored RED 131, Italy, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: Dario Argento movie

• Zoot Sims and His Orchestra: "Recado Bossa Nova"
  • CD, Fresh Sounds FSR-CD 189, USA, 1992
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. reissue of two 1962 Colpix LPs, "The New Beat of Bossa Nova" vols 1 & 2.
    • Brad Bigelow: Zoot is my favorite under-appreciated sax players, and the great Jim Hall's guitar fill-ins are so subtle it's easy to miss how good he is. Arrangements by Al Cohn and Manny Albam, choice assortment of NY jazz session men, and the peerless Zoot Sims, a self-effacing veteran session man and occasional star with a beautiful tone. The title cut is a gem, and there is not a cut that's less than gorgeous. A great album.

• Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim: "Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim"
  • CD, Reprise 46948, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Remastered reissue of 1967 LP, only 10 tracks, 29 minutes.
    • Jane Fondle: As a mondo-Sinatra babe, the entire album is simply beautiful and breath-taking. Sinatra fans will love his cadence and phrasing on GIRL!
    • Domenic Ciccone: I agree.E xcept for the "take me now" part.... The Downtown track is from the Strangers in the Night record and despite the cheezy organ creeping into the Nelson Riddle arrangements I like this one too. Hey, they had to try something different as they already have done everything. Even the Bad Bad Leroy Brown cut I mentioned earlier is not bad. It just seems that the selection is so inappropriate for Sinatra and that is what makes it camp.

• Frank Sinatra: "Sinatra & Company"  (7 Tracks With Antonio Carlos Jobim)
  • CD, WEA/Warner Brothers 1033, 1991, deleted
  • comment:
    • Johan: With 7 tracks from the unreleased second LP with Antonio Carlos Jobim.

• There's more by Frank Sinatra than listed here: search elsewhere

• Nancy Sinatra: "Boots"
  • CD, Sundazed SC 6052, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Nancy Sinatra: "How Does That Grab You ?"
  • CD, Sundazed SC 6053, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Nancy Sinatra: "Nancy In London"
  • CD, Sundazed SC 6054, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5.

• Nancy Sinatra: "Sheet Music"
  • CD, DCC, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. covers of love songs, including "light my fire", "California Dreamin", Something, Tired of Waiting for you, Call Me, The Shadow of Your Smile...

• Nancy Sinatra: "You Go-Go Girl"
  • CD, Varèse Vintage, USA, 1999

• The Singers Unlimited: "Christmas"
  • CD, PGD/Verve 21859, USA, 1996

• The Singers Unlimited: "Magic Voices"
  • 7 CD box, Motor MPS 539 130, Germany, 1998

• The Singers Unlimited: "Masterpieces"
  • CD, Motor 523 521, Germany, 1994, deleted?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. male/female jazz vocal group

• Sir Henry: "Ums Nackte Leben, Featuring Sir Henry"
  • CD, no label or catalogue number, distr. by Soleilmoon & Staalplaat, Netherlands?, 1998?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Apparently, this is the soundtrack to a German theatre piece after Horace McCoy's "They shoot horses, don't they?"
    • Cheryl: there is really no information on it. It has no catalogue number or label, all of the liner notes are in German (and are highly amusing, from what I've been able to translate so far), and it's manufactured in the Netherlands. I think the name "Sir Henry" may refer to the horse pictured on the cover, but I'm not sure. It's basically organs and a rhythm machine, doing versions (some instrumental, some with vocals) of Watermelon Man, and the William Tell Rhumba, along with quite a few medleys of all sorts of strange stuff. A lot of the tracks are credited with arrangements by Nijenhuis. Anyways, this CD would be a very welcome addition to any collection of those of us on the list who love cheesy organ stuff!
    • dave g: His name is actually John Henry Nijenhuis. He's a German/Canadian (?) keyboardist who dropped by the studio a few weeks ago, and ended up recording some parts for the next Tipsy album. As far as I know, he plays a lot for theatre in Germany, and occasionally backs up members of Einstuerzende Neubauten. He's a very skillful musician, but he seems to be really into a kind of self-conscious kitsch on his own releases (at least, the ones I heard) that I can't quite relate to.

• George Siravo: "Swingin' Stereo In Studio A"
  • CD, RCA Living Stereo 35741 2, Germany, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5.

• Skeewiff: "It's All Gone..."
  • CD, Jalapeno Records 01, UK, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: sound frags at their own site www.skeewiff.com/. available from: www.tunes.co.uk

• The Slackmates: "Hot Car Girls"
  • CD, Stella SR 101, USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: E-mail contact: slackmates@earthlink.net
    • Reviewed in "Exotica/Etc" issue 11
    • Reviewed in "_Cool And Strange Music Magazine_" issue 10

• Leonard Slatkin & The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: "The Typewriter - Leroy Anderson Favorites"
  • CD, RCA 68048, USA?, 1999

• Roy Smeck: "Plays Hawaiian Guitar, Banjo, Ukelele And Guitar 1926-1949"
  • CD, Yazoo 1052, a division of Shanachie, USA, 1992
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns: "'t Was The Night Before Christmas"
  • CD, ?, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Chuck: wild New Orleans rythm & blues at its best. This album has you really moving along to the beat, every song is amazing, whether written by him or a remake of a christmas classic. I've seen people that don't even like rythm and blues like this album.

• Jimmy Smith: "A Date With Jimmy Smith Volume 1"
  • CD, EMI Toshiba TOCJ-1547, Japan, 1996

• Jimmy Smith: "A Date With Jimmy Smith Volume 2"
  • CD, EMI Toshiba TOCJ-1548, Japan, 1996

• Jimmy Smith: "A New Sound... A New Star"
  • Double CD, Blue Note, USA, 1997?
  • comment:
    • Johan: his first three Blue Note albums (circa 1956)

• Jimmy Smith: "Any number can win"
  • LP, Verve V6-8552, USA, 1963
    CD, Verve 314 557 447, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. As good as "The cat". Clean "pop" jazz, nice YET soulful, swinging, powerful, with big band and guitar. 2 heavenly, soft tracks with wordless vocal choir ("Georgia on my mind", "Ruby"). "Ape woman" is exotica-flavored with subtle Latin percussion. Produced by Creed Taylor, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder.

• Jimmy Smith: "Back At The Chicken Shack"
  • CD, Blue Note 7464022, USA, 199?
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3897]

• Jimmy Smith: "Bashin'"  (the unpredictable Jimmy Smith)
  • LP, Verve CLP 1596
    CD, Polygram 539061, USA?, 199?
    CD, DCC 24 Karat Gold GZS-1072, USA, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Jimmy Smith: "The Cat"
  • CD, Verve 831 374, USA, 199?
    LP, 180 grams heavy weight audiophile pressing, Verve V6-8587, country?, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Woow, this is dynamite! Soulful big band + Hammond jazz, arranged & conducted by Lalo Schifrin. One of my favorite Jimmy Smith albums, with that BIG big band sound. Arranged & conducted by Lalo Schifrin, produced by Creed Taylor, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, and released on Verve... you can't go wrong on these!

• Jimmy Smith: "Christmas Cookin'"
  • CD, Verve 314 513 711-2, USA, 1992
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Jimmy really get things cookin' here, one of the grooviest Xmas albums I know.

• Jimmy Smith: "Compact Jazz. Jimmy Smith Plays The Blues"
  • CD, Verve 829 537, Germany, 1988, deleted?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Jimmy Smith: "Crazy Baby"
  • CD, Blue Note, USA, 199?

• Jimmy Smith: "Home Cookin'"
  • CD, Blue Note 53360, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Jimmy Smith: "Houseparty"
  • CD, Blue Note 46546, USA, 1996

• Jimmy Smith: "Jazz 'round Midnight"
  • CD, Verve 314 521 655-2, USA, 1994
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Jimmy Smith: "Jimmy Smith At The Organ Volume 1"
  • CD, EMI Toshiba TOCJ-1551, Japan, 1996

• Jimmy Smith: "Jimmy Smith At The Organ Volume 2"
  • CD, EMI Toshiba TOCJ-1552, Japan, 1996

• Jimmy Smith: "Open House/ Plain Talk"
  • CD, Blue Note CDP 7 84269 2, USA, 1992
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Jimmy Smith: "Organ Grinder Swing"
  • CD, Verve, USA, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Jimmy Smith: "Plays Pretty Just For You"
  • CD, EMI Toshiba TOCJ-1563, Japan, 1996

• Jimmy Smith: "Softly As A Summer Breeze"
  • CD, Blue Note, USA, announced for November 1998

• Jimmy Smith: "Talkin' Verve: Roots Of Acid Jazz"
  • CD, Verve, USA, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: very funky Compilation of his Verve recordings

• There's more by Jimmy Smith than listed here: search elsewhere

• Keely Smith & Louis Prima: "Ultra-Lounge: Wild, Cool & Swingin'"  (The Artist Collection)
  • filed under: artists: Prima, Louis

• Snoopy's Classiks On Toys: "Beatles Classiks On Toys"
  • CD, Lightyear Entertainment 54148, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. If you like Pianosaurus, you'll love this one! Highly recommended novelty/children's album in a series, both funny and heavenly beautiful, all virtuoso played on toy instruments, mostly instro, 3 vocal tracks by the "Peanuts" gang.

• Snoopy's Classiks On Toys: "Broadway Classiks On Toys"
  • CD, Lightyear Entertainment, USA, 1995

• Snoopy's Classiks On Toys: "Christmas Classiks On Toys"
  • CD, Lightyear Entertainment 54140, USA, 1994, deleted
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Just what it says: Xmas classics played -- very skillfully -- on toy instruments!

• Snoopy's Classiks On Toys: "Classical Classiks On Toys"
  • CD, Lightyear Entertainment, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Snoopy's Classiks On Toys: "Country Classiks On Toys"
  • CD, Lightyear Entertainment 4173, USA, 1996

• Snoopy's Classiks On Toys: "Jazz Classiks On Toys"
  • CD, Lightyear Entertainment 54160, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Snoopy's Classiks On Toys: "Nutcracker On Toys"
  • CD, Lightyear Entertainment, USA, 1995

• Snowboy & The Latin Section: "Para Puente"
  • CD/LP, Cubop CBCD039, USA, 2002
  • comment:
    • ubiquityrecords.com: ...heavyweight hard-hitting tribute to Tito Puente, the King of Mambo! What more of a personal tribute can you pay someone than name your album after them? "Para Puente" is a way of acknowledging how much inspiration Tito Puente ... gave and continues to give to ...Snowboy. Merging Afro-Latin rhythms with modern jazz was Puente's groundbreaking signature sound, Snowboy with his band The Latin Section carries the torch on this, his 11th album and 3rd for Cubop. Their authentic Latin Jazz style wears influences from the masters of the genre but continues the quest to keep the music exciting and to keep the dancers dancing. This is not Latin jazz for the faint-hearted, this is ballsy, straight for the jugular, frenetic and funky Latin music.

• Sondi Sodsai, orchestra conducted by Hal Johnson: "Sondi"  (Entertainer to the court of his majesty king Rama IX and queen Sirikit of Thailand)
  • LP, Liberty stereo LST-7110
    CD, Capitol Exotic Sounds TOCP 8326, Japan, 1994, deleted
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Sondi Sodsai= Sondi Sossey

• Dave Soldier and Komar & Melamid: "The People's Choice Music"  (The Most Wanted Song/ The Most Unwanted Song)
  • filed under: artists: People's Choice Music
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Som três: "Tobogà"
  • CD, EMI, Brazil, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: One of 45 original and important albums that have been remastered and reissued for the first time on CD in a series called "100 anos de mùsica no Brasil". This one's from 1970.

• Sonique Chef: "For Starters"
  • Double CD-R, Sonique Chef, UK, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. minimal, repetitive, sober, impressionist soundscapes

• Soul Bossa Trio: "At Wildjumbo"
  • CD, Tokuma, Japan, 1996

• Soul Bossa Trio: "Dancing in the Street"
  • CD, RCA, Japan, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: jazzy bossa

• Soul Bossa Trio: "Dolphins"
  • CD, Moonbeat Recordings, Italy, 2002

• Soul Bossa Trio: "In Native"
  • CD, Wildjumbo, Japan, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: Japanese acid jazz

• Soul Bossa Trio: "Soul Bossa Trio"
  • CD, Ubiquity 3, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.
    • Vik Trola: new Jap. group of acid bossa dance school. combination of American soul w/ sultry South American sound. An absolutely amazing cover of "Aint' No Sunshine" is the highlight in an almost flawless release. Not only recommended, but one of Vik's required albums for the new bossa fan.

• There's more by Soul Bossa Trio than listed here: search elsewhere

• Soulstance: "Act On!"
  • CD, Schema Records 322, Italy, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 1 points on 5. boring, uninspired thievery lounge-nouveau

• sound effects: "Ambiances Tropicales/ Tropical Atmospheres"
  • CD, Auvidis A 6170, France, 1991
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Sound Effects: "Erotic Sound Effects"
  • CD, Time Records/Eclipse 64651, USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. 90 selections, ranging from silly answering machine messages and Mae West imitations to multiple orgasms. Perfect to drop into tape compilations.

• sound effects: "Lifesong. Amazing Sounds Of Threatened Birds"
  • CD, Manklnd Music MANCD2, UK, 1992?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. with truly amazing, incredibly strange & exotic bird songs, sometimes sounding more like a harmonica or a Moog or other musical instrument. With a "symphony mix".

• sound effects: "Scary Sound Effects"
  • CD, Rhino 71776 2, USA, 1994
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• sound effects: "Son Of Scary Sound Effects"
  • CD, Rhino 72170 2, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• sound effects: "Sounds Of North American Frogs"  (The Biological Significance Of Voice In Frogs)
  • CD, Smithsonian Folkways 45060, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: This one is really weird! These are really the sounds of frogs, and some incredible sounds too! Not a CD to listen to from start to end, but great to put in a radio show or comp tape! (or to make sample based music with). Each frog is presented by herpetologist Charles Bogert with a very tasty Southern (American) accent.

• Sound Effects: "Tortura Volume 2. An Evening With the Marquis De Sade"
  • CD-R, Umbrella Records, 2001

• Sounds Orchestral: "Best Of"
  • CD, castle, UK, 1993
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3916]

• Sounds Orchestral: "Cast Your Fate To The Wind"
  • CD, Sequel NEM CD 617, UK, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Sounds Orchestral: "Meet James Bond"
  • CD, Sequel NEBCD908, UK, 1996
    CD, Sequel 2340 1011, USA, 1997?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Combination of Bond tunes covers and originals inspired by Bond characters. Each track is introduced by a (low sound quality) sound effect. From The Makers Of "the Easy Project" Series

• Sounds orchestral: "Sounds Chartbound"  (The Easy Project 7)
  • CD, Sequel NEM CD 938, UK, 1998
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in the "Record Collector" issue 225 & 226

• Sounds Orchestral: "Sounds Rare"
  • CD, Sequel NEM CD 992, UK, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: The Easy Project volume 5

• Soeur Sourire: "The Singing Nun"
  • CD, Collector's Choice Music 072, USA, 1999

• The Space Cossacks: "Tsar Wars"
  • cd, MuSick 0016, USA, 2000
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 17

• Space Ghost: "Space Ghost's Musical Bar-B-Que: 25 Hickory Smoked Harmonies"
  • CD, Rhino 72876, USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Imagine some seriously demented Muppet characters being locked away in the asylum, and making a record there, produced by the elusive, legendary Rhino Brothers. Zingor "sings" like Groover; Brak "sings" like the older brother of Jack Mudurian and the grandfather of Wild Man Fisher; and Space Ghost himself thinks he's one of the Rat Pack. Highly recommended for novelty nuts!
    • Lazlo Nibble: It's an excellent new example of the (sadly) almost extinct novelty record genre. I've been playing it over and over and over again for months. It is *riotously* funny, especially if you've seen the show a few times and know who all the characters are.

• Space Ghost: "Space Ghost's Surf & Turf"  (With 22 Tiki-Torched Tunes)
  • CD, Rhino R2 75487, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.
    • Carl Russo: It's not a collection of real Hawaiian or exotica or surf tunes. But it is INSANE! I mean f*ing INSANE! Hilarious and weird as hell. 3 twisted guys, some music. Could be filed under COMEDY, I suppose.
    • Otto: This Cd starts off with a pretty good Hawaiian War Chant and there are a few other really good *songs* but most of it is an odd mix of comedy and music that makes it fun to listen to yet unlistenable for most occasions.

• Space Ponch: "The World Shopping With Space Ponch"
  • CD, Moikai, USA?, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.
    • Jonathan Richardson: I heard a snippet at the _Other Music_ site and damned it if they dont sound exactly like Perry & Kingsley. I say they are ripping them off a bit.
    • chuck: Keeping up the sound of shibuya-kei, Space Ponch have released my favorite "new" release of the year. Mix a touch of Fantastic Plastic, Nino Rota on Juliet of the Spirits, the Dumbo soundtrack, carousel music, and warner brothers cartoon music and use vocoders and synths to reach a new zany height in j-pop. This tops Yukari's "New Years Fresh" for zani hijinks and is almost as varied a ride as Fantastic Platic Machines "Luxury" One of the songs felt like "powerhouse" The synths imitate organs and carousel sounds while a vocoder is on top of it. Without the vocals you get a space age 1890's feel to the music. The melodies even seem turn of the century. One song, the title song, is a pure ambient space romp that is not representative of the rest of the album. Many of the songs have a moog feel and the same wild zane that moog releases of the late 60s early 70s had. Generally the melodies are there strong and catchy. Theres a bonus space age bachelor pad stereo bouncing imaging going on to add to add to the whole effect.

• Sparky (Alan Livingston & Billy May): "Sparky's Magic Piano And Other Stories"
  • LP, Golden Guinea GGL 0297 mono, UK
    CD, EMI 8 57010 2, UK, 1992 + 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Written and produced by Alan Livingston, music by Billy May, talking piano by Sonovox, narrated by Verne Smith. "Sparky and the talking train" is by Henry Blair and Cast.
    • Chuck: arrived today from www.musicselection.com Collectors Choice told me it was out of print so I was not expecting to see this and the price was half that of CCM. Selections: 1. Sparky's Magic Piano/ 2. Sparky's Magic Echo 3. Spary and the Talking Train/ 4. Sparky's Magic Baton

• Joseph Spence: "The Complete Folkways Recordings 1658"
  • CD, Smithsonian Folkways 400662, USA, ?

• Joseph Spence: "Glory"
  • CD, Rounder 2096, USA, 1990
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. vocal folky blues

• Joseph Spence: "Living On The Hallelujah Side"
  • CD, Rounder 2021, USA, 1989
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. blues, vocal

• Joseph Spence and the Pinder Family: "The Spring Of Sixty-five"
  • CD, Rounder 2114, USA, 19??
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5.

• The Spice Mice: "Spice Mice Christmas"
  • CD, CMH Records 6289, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5.
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 16

• SPK: "Zamia Lehmanni"
  • CD, Mute, UK?, 1992
  • comment:
    • Edjunkita: Very atmospheric and very beautiful. Highly reccomended for exotica fans (who are not afraid of sampling). Reviews: www.softwatch.freeserve.co.uk/spkzamia.htm

• The Spotnicks: "EP Collection"
  • Double CD, ? RR 2103, UK?, 1999

• The Spotnicks: "Live In Paris"
  • CD or 10", Big Beat BBR 0030, France, 1997
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3935]
    • Reviewed in the "Record Collector" issue 218

• The Spotnicks: "Tracks"
  • CD, BMG 46528, Germany, 1997

• The Spotnicks: "The Very Best Of The Spotnicks"
  • CD, Koch, Germany, 1991?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 0 points on 5. The Swedish Spotnicks reunited somewhere in the 1990's, but their music (released on Koch, amongst others) really sucks: very commercial, plastic, EZ cheese -- in the sixties they already made lots of slightly cheesy stuff, but alsoseveral cool tunes. I've been looking for a comp with just those cool instro's, but haven't found any yet, any help would be appreciated! So, don't buy any of their releases on the Koch label, like "16 Golden World Hits", "highway Boogie", Hand in hand" or "in Time"

• There's more by The Spotnicks than listed here: search elsewhere

• Spring: "The Last Goodbye"
  • CD/LP, Elefant Records ER1052, Spain, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: Spanish vocal EZ pop.

• Squarepusher: "Music Is Rotted One Note"
  • CD, Warp, UK?, 1998
  • comment:
    • Robbie Baldock: it is very strange - certainly not pop music. It reminded me very much of "In a Silent Way" and it's no surprise to learn that Tom Jenkinson (aka Squarepusher) is a fan of Miles Davis, Chick Corea etc. If you can image creepy electronic space jazz then that might give a clue as to what it sounds like.

• The Squirrels: "The Not-So-Bright Side Of The Moon"
  • CD, PopLlama PL-2001, USA, 2000
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 17

• Carl Stalling: "The Carl Stalling Project - Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936-1958"
  • CD, Warner Bros. 26027-2, USA, 1990
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. If you like cartoon music, than this one is a must!

• Carl Stalling: "The Carl Stalling Project Volume 2"
  • CD, Warner Bros., USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. novelty, cartoon

• Stealing Orchestra: "Stereogamy"
  • CD, Nortesul Records 560 5231 006, Spain, 2000
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 18

• Steel Drum Festival: "Steel Drum Festival"
  • CD, Rykodisc/Tradition/Hifi TCD 1039, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3945]

• Ronald Stein: "Not Of This Earth. The Film Music Of Ronald Stein"
  • CD, Varèse Sarabande VSD-5634, Colosseum, Germany, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5.
    • Alla Telstar: It features music from "Attack of the 50ft Woman", "The Terror", "Dimentia 13", "Not of this Earth!", "Attack of the Crab Monsters", "The Devil's Partner" and "Spider Baby". I think this is still in print.
    • Chuck: This is really a fantastic release! Full of cheesy 50's horror music. If you like this style of music I can't second Allan's recommendation enough!!

• Stereo De Luxe: "Glam-O-Rama"
  • LP/CD, Bungalow 081, Germany, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. I found this ultra boring. "Press that rhythm button, now press that bass line button, add a sample, push LOOP, and we have a tune!" Aimed at the dancefloor, not really for home listening. And the vinyl is of bad quality, so try to get the CD.
    • cheryl: Having heard the demo versions of many of these pieces, I was quite surprised to hear how different many of them sound on the finished CD - but I like both versions. The music is a dance-oriented, but not overly so - fun to listen to, and fun to dance to (I have a hard time sitting still while listening to it!). And, as if it wasn't good enough on its own, it even has a track, "Zweite Moeglichkeit", featuring Peter Thomas ... The music is not technoid hard beats at all - it just makes you want to get up and dance. Stereo de Luxe's music (taken from their promo literature) is described as combining "massive big beats, wild 60s samples, basslines far in excess of the regular speed limit, bongo-mania and inspired sound bites taken from cult trash movies into a unique mondo sound." And that is a pretty accurate description. I highly recommend it.

• Stereolab: "Aluminum Tunes"
  • CD, Duophonic, UK?, 1998
  • comment:
    • Robbie Baldock: Fans of French pop, the Free Design, pop moog would love them.

• Stereolab: "Dots And Loops"
  • CD, Duophonic, UK?, 1997
  • comment:
    • Robbie Baldock: more recent examples of Mooginess

• Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited: "The Fluid Soundbox"
  • CD/LP, Dionysus 123391 USA, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Woooooooow! Neo-1960's outer space exotic spy surf with twang guitars and hammond and spacy synths! reminding me of Laika and the Cosmonauts, Booker T, JTQ. A must!
    • Hedcandy: I fell in love with it. Think Laika and the Cosmonauts and Dick Dale with a healthy dose of tempered orchestra lounge thrown in. Surf guitars and synphonic sassafrass! 4 of 5 goatee strokes.
    • Reviewed in "Cheese Ball" issue 2

• Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited: "Jet Sound Inc."
  • CD/LP, Dionysus ID123396, USA, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. highly recommended! If you feel sad too that Combustible Edison is no more, than buying this will make you feel better! Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited gets better with each CD, this is IMO their best to date, with a couple of moody and exotic tracks, more synths (is that a Moog on the last track?), bongo's... their sound tapestry gets more and more varied and complex, you get the feeling there's a whole orchestra playin wityh several guitars and organs and percussive effects...
    • Dionysus: Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited, a Swiss duo consisting of Ernest Maeschi and Karen Diblitz, create enticing instrumentals with an ultra-modern twist that draw from a variety of genres, including spy movie theme music, surf, lounge, and exotica. Their material has been used in a myriad of film and television projects, most recently The Chris Issak Show, and will appeal immensely to everyone from hipsters in their space age bachelor pads to trance DJs in the coolest clubs. "Jet Sound Inc." is the group's fourth album (the previous three are also on Dionysus) and quite possibly their best yet. don't miss!

• Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited: "Plays Lost TV Themes"
  • CD, Mai Tai/Dr. Dream DD 0126, USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Their first, still rooted in surf & instro.
    • mirageman: Lounge for the next millenium ... from a band I've never heard of before, and on the albums 'the fluid soundbox' and 'Play Lost TV Themes' they truely do live up to their name, as these are a superb resynthesis of the Now sound. Funky hammond, bossa rhythms and spaced out Moog all help shape tracks which could easily masquerade as vintage on any lounge compilation and with track names like 'Theme from Stella Interstellar' and 'Girl From Acapulco' you know exactly where their inspiration is coming from. Seek them out on Dionysus Records.

• Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited: "The Spacesound Effect"
  • CD/LP, Dionysus 123387, USA, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. This CD marks the evolution between "Plays Lost TV Themes" and "The Fluid Soundbox". More complex arrangements, richer instrumentation, more exotic, more spy-themed, less neo-surf or neo-instro. recommended, although I liked "The Fluid Soundbox" a bit better.
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 20

• April Stevens: "Teach Me Tiger"  (+ 18 Nino Tempo Tracks)
  • CD, Marginal MAR 086, Belgium, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. Classic sultry babe album, featuring "Teach me tiger"; none of the other tracks are as good, several of them are rather mediocre, and the 18 additional tracks from/with her brother saxophonist/singer Nino Tempo are completely forgettable. With: "Do It Again", "Get Ideas", "That's my name"...

• Stock, Hausen & Walkman: "Organ Transplants Volume 1"
  • CD, These QRM 101, UK, 1996, deleted
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 2 points on 5. A "Noise" view on EZ listening. Their most accessible album, still quite weird though; i didn't find it as entertaining, fun, catchy or "easy" as Tipsy, but still very... errr, interesting.
    • Allan "telstar": What a great recording! For those not in the know, on this release, Stock Hausen & Walkmen take thrift store organ records and proceed to dice and slice them into new compositions... quite often to humourous effect. Also excellent is "Giving Up with Stock Hausen and Walkman" and "Hairballs" (the latter is packaged in a fake cat fur sleeve).
    • Jonathan Richardson: Chock full of Exotica samples and devoid of dance beats. Truly interesting. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who likes Tipsy.

• Stock, Hausen & Walkman: "Organ Transplants Volume 2"
  • CD, Hot Air, UK, 2000
  • comment:
    • HOUSEOBOB: I've got it, I'm listening to it now and it is fabulous. Can't wait to hear vol 1.

• Harry Stoneham: "Hammond Hits The Highway/ High, Wide And Hammond"
  • Double CD, EMI UK 7243 4 95618, UK, 1998
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in the "Record Collector" issue 229

• Los Straitjackets: "¡viva!"
  • CD, Upstart 11673 31, USA, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. This band loves the sounds of surf, spaghetti westerns and hard-boiled detective shows

• Glyn Styler: "Live At The Mermaid Lounge"
  • CD, Truckstop ALP303, USA, 1997
  • comment:
    • (unknown): Ratpack/Jobim styled crooner with exceptional talent for melody and devastatingly witty and vicious way with lyrics. obsessively gloomy originals, compositions that make Hal David and Jacques Brel sound like romantic optimists

• The Sugar Twins: "Patio A-Go-Go!"
  • CD, Swang Records SW002, USA, 2000
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 15

• Sugarman Three: "Sugar's Boogaloo"
  • CD/LP, Desco?, USA, 199?
  • comment:
    • DJJimmyBee: Frug a-go-go meets late 6T's Jazz-Funk as Jimmy Smith clones step into the 9T's with Analog Devices.

• Sugarmen Three: "Soul Donkey"
  • CD, Desco Records DSCD 005, USA, 1999
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. instromental organ/sax/guitar soul

• Sugarmen 3: "Sugar's Boogaloo"
  • CD, Desco, USA, 1998, deleted?
  • comment:
    • Johan: Hammond instro boogaloo

• Sukia: "Contacto Espacial Con El Tercer Sexo"
  • CD, Mowax MWO73, UK, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Contains 4 Bonus Remixes not found on the US release.

• Sukia: "Contacto Espacial Con El Tercer Sexo"
  • CD, Nickel Bag Nb 0001, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Fab! Masses of samples, weird noises, primitive synths, surprises... Sukia is some kind of dirty lo-fi trash mix of Kraftwerk + The Butthole Surfers + the B-52's (lots of plagiarism from those!) + the Moog Cookbook + Joy Division bass lines.
    • Allan "telstar": This record is so hard to describe and that is probably why I like it so much. Very cheesy-electro-exotica-sleaze with analogue synths, sitars, sound effects, rhythm machines, bongos and just about everything else thrown in the mix.
    • Cheryl: Personally, I'm of the group that thinks that Sukia's "Contacto Espacial Con El Tercer Sexo" was one of the best releases of 1996 (along with Tipsy's "Trip Tease").
    • jonathan richardson: I actually enjoyed sukia while they lasted, they did tend to get a bit rough around the edges at times, a little too -"were so wacky with our samplers and fun machines!"- vibe, but I enjoyed that fact, however I love the new incarnation- Dj Me Dj You so much better. Its like Sukia, but more polished and completely listenable.
    • Nathan Miner: Sukiya was too gimmicky and the compostitions repetitive and boring - "juvenile" comes to mind when I listen...

• Big Jim Sullivan: "Sitar Beat"  (Mood Mosaic Series)
  • LP, Mercury SR 61137 stereo
    CD, RPM, UK, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. + 4 great bonus tracks from library records.
    • Jack Diamond: sitar pop. 5 Stars all time great! Rippin' rockin' fuzzy psych guitar and sitar

• Yma Sumac: "Fuego del Ande"
  • LP, Capitol, UK? mono reissue, 1969?
    CD, The Right Stuff/ Capitol 32681, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Yma Sumac: "Legend Of The Jivaro"
  • CD, The Right Stuff/Capitol 36355, USA, 1996, deleted?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Yma Sumac: "Legend Of The Sun Virgin"
  • CD, The Right Stuff/Capitol 91250, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Yma Sumac: "Live In Concert 1961"  (The Russian Tour)
  • CD, Elect CD 2116 (bootleg), Germany?, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Yma Sumac: "Mambo!"
  • CD, The Right Stuff/ Capitol 80863, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Yma Sumac: "Mambo... and More!"
  • CD, Rev-Ola/ Creation?, UK?, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: Her 1954 (mono) "Mambo" album, plus alternate takes and rarities, 24 tracks in all.

• Yma Sumac: "Shou Condor"
  • CD, ? E 367 (bootleg), ?, 1994
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#4854]

• Yma Sumac: "The Spell Of Yma Sumac"
  • CD, Capitol Pair PCD-1172, USA, 1987, deleted?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Sixteen track "best of" compilation.

• Yma Sumac: "The Ultimate Yma Sumac Collection"
  • CD, Capitol/The Right Stuff, USA, january 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: Contains 3 previously unreleased tracks: "Negrito Filomino," "Huayno" and "Inca Waltz". Other tracks: Taita Inty; Najala's Lament; Ataypura; Bo Mambo; Kuyaway; Tumpa; Taki Rari; Chuncho; Monos; Suray Surita; Wanka; Babalu; Wimoweh; Xtabay; La Molina; Llora Corazon; La Pampa Y La Puna; Virgenes Del Sol.

• Yma Sumac: "Voice Of The Xtabay And Other Exotic Delights"
  • CD, Rev-Ola CREVO34CD, a division of Creation, UK, 1995
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Compilation with 25 tracks, 4 of which previously unreleased.

• Yma Sumac: "Voice Of Xtabay"
  • CD, The Right Stuff/Capitol 91217, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5.

• Yma Sumac: "Yma Rocks!"
  • CD, ShamLys Production JOM-1027, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. First-time, long awaited, official CD rerelease of Yma Sumac's 1971-72 rock LP "Miracles", done by two of the original producers. It is not completely equal to "Miracles" since it is a slightly different mix (though I couldn't hear any differences), uses different cover art, has different liner notes and has 2, previously unreleased, additional tracks that are worth hearing. It will be sold only through the Official Authorized Yma Sumac Homepage

• Summer Songbirds: "Warm Vocals In Harmony"  (from The Legendary KPM 1000 Series)
  • CD, Pulp Flavor/ Dare Dare DD024, France, 2001
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Summer Songbirds is not really the performing group's name, there IS no group name mentioned, just the names of the 2 composers: Tony Kinsey & Pete Winslow. This is a legit repro of an album from the legendary KPM 1000 Series. Library music records sometimes had a record title (sometimes just a catalog number) but seldom a performing group or artist name, just the composer's nname(s). In this case I guess "Summer Songbirds" was part of the TITLE, but I have to have an artist name to file it under, so... Anyway, wonderful, soft and gentle summer-ish EZ with strong Brazil influences, with wordless voices, 6 tracks with several of them in harmony, 7 with "solo girl voice featurfes" -- Very conveniently available directly from Dare Dare, where you can find MP3 samples too.
    • Jack Diamond: Breezy soft and cool vocal harmonies, la la la ba ba ba male and female scat bossa sounds The sweet cool vocals dance on top of great guitars, organ, Fender Rhodes, drums percussion and is the PERFECT sound for a Sunday or Saturday afternoon BAR B Q.

• Sun Ra: "The Singles"
  • Double CD, Evidence ECD 22164, USA, 1996
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in "_Cool And Strange Music Magazine_" issue 5

• Yoshinori Sunahara: "Pan-Am '70"
  • CD/LP, Bungalow, Germany, 1999?
  • comment:
    • DJ Jimmy Bee: For those interested in new exotica/lounge influenced music may I toot Yoshinori Sunahara's horn? I just picked up this LP and it is changing my mind about new music. This guy does it all: fender rhodes samples on top of beats with pauses and scratch samples, in-flight e-z listening, distorted computerized chants, all with an easy listening sensibility clearly evident. An aural delight with every cut.

• SupaFreak (unknown artist): "Picking Up Girls Made Easy"
  • CD, SupaFreak Records, USA, 2002
  • comment:
    • Jack Diamond Music: Not done "tongue in cheek". Totally serious, but not tooo serious I mean, the guy telling us how to pick up girls IS having fun. You can hear his smile coming through the speakers. Then, it's off to a "skit" with car/street sounds, a guy meeting a woman and applying THE TECHNIQUE or NOT and doing the PICK UP incorrectly, interspersed with the narrator saying something like "Did you see how Bob did the 1st rule of how to NOT pick up a woman ?" Then they go back into the "skit" or "scene" and Bob does it correctly, as per his instructions and BINGO! Each piece is about 6 minutes long, times 8 = about 48 minutes This is an instruction recording on How To Pick Up Women, circa 1975. Needless to say, this is from the land that time forgot, THE SEXUAL 70's. Not even a miniscule hint of a possible thought of what "politically correct" was or would become. Derogatory names for women like "chick" or "babe" are here throughout. ALSO, many different names describing their breasts are here as well. This truly is a "How To" manual for picking up women.

• the Supertroopers: "Only In It For The Money"
  • CD, ?, Netherlands, 1998
  • comment:
    • Arjan Plug: the Supertroopers are the result of a longtime hobby-project by Dutch rockband Hello Venray. As the Abba's they've been doing infrequent succesfull gigs for a number of years as a funband playing only covers by the Swedish legends when finally a record company asked them to record an album. As the original name of the Abba's might rouse the wrath of Scandinavian lawyers they decided to choose this name. Tracklist: Mamma Mia/ Gimme, gimme, gimme/Money. money, money/ S.O.S./ Name of the Game/ Waterloo/Winner Takes it All/ Honey, honey/ Lay All your Love/ Dancing Queen/ I Do/ Chiquitita/ I Have a Dream Van Records,1998. Nothing overly spectacular here, all covers are done in guitarstyle. Dancing Queen is c&w upbeat, I Do has been slowed down. Chiquitita gets the fuzz grunge workout while Gimme, gimme, gimme gets a twist as it is sung by a man. No The Day Before You Came, my favorite Abba-song, alas.

• SurfLounge.Com: "Music And Vibes"
  • CD, Joe Fleming Productions 93430-0192, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Don't buy this for the music, which is rather cheap, cheesy and mediocre bossa nova and cocktail jazz muzak, played by what sounds like a one-man-band with a synth organ and rhythm box. Buy it for the ambience, the atmosphere, the virtual experience of visiting Crazy Joe's Surf Lounge, being amongst people talking, laughing, having fun. File under environments. E-mail contact: fleming@surflounge.com

• Sweet Trip: "Halica"
  • CD, Darla, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • kevin leeeeee: very nice, smooth, trippy, mellow electronics.

• Michael Andrew & Swingerhead: "A Swingerhead Christmas"
  • CD, Michael Andrews Records, USA, 1999
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 15

• Swingerhead: "She Might Be A Spy"
  • CD, Colossal COL98-0001, USA, 1999
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in _Cool And Strange Music Magazine_ issue 15

• The Swingle Singers: "A Capella Amadeus"
  • CD, ?, USA?, 199?

• The Swingle Singers: "Anyone For Mozart, Bach, Händel, Vivaldi?"
  • CD, ?, USA?, 199?
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#5151]

• The Swingle Singers: "Bach Hits Back"
  • CD, ?, USA?, 199?

• the Swingle Singers: "Christmastime = Christmas Album = Noël Sans Passeport"
  • LP, Philips PHS 600 282, 1960's
    LP, Philips 657 0220
    CD, Universal/ Philips, France, 2000, deleted
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Wonderful xmas vocalese! Thank heavens, the CD is not a reissue of their "Christmas Album" from the 1980's (#Swing 3 -- which is not vocalese, not wordless, but songs with lyrics, not jazzy, not cool, just a middle of the road capella -- stay away from it! Also stay away from anything by the "Swingle 2" group)

• The Swingle Singers: "Compact Jazz"
  • CD, Mercury 830 701, Germany, 1987, deleted?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Cool and heavenly beautiful wordless "pabadabadaa" chorus jazzing its way through Bach, Beethoven, Purcell, Chopin, Mussorgsky, Mendelssohn... accompanied by The Modern Jazz Quartet and Guy Pedersen.

• The Swingle Singers: "Going Baroque"  (de bach aux Baroques)
  • CD, Universal/ Philips, France, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Fantastic "jazz meets baroque classics" vocalese with music by 3 Bach family members, plus Händel and Vivaldi. I like this one even better than on "Swinging Mozart", probably because most of the tunes are upbeat, with incredible vocal acrobatics; you MUSt listen to this with headphones to be treated on a Enoch Light-esque ping pong stereo festival.

• The Swingle Singers: "Going Baroque/ Swinging Mozart"
  • Double CD, Universal/ Philips, France, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: I haven't seen this double CD set anywhere for sale on French mailorder sites, only Dusty Groove seems to have it...

• Les Swingle Singers: "Jazz Sebastian Bach"
  • LP, philips
    CD, ?, USA?, 199?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• The Swingle Singers: "Jazz Sebastien Bach"
  • CD, Universal/ Philips, France, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. They won 2 Grammies with this, their debut of jazz "pabadabada" vocalese arrangements, in 1963 I think.

• The Swingle Singers: "Jazz Sébastien Bach Volume 2"
  • CD, Philips 542 553, France, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. from 1968, more of the same as voliume 1.

• The Swingle Singers: "Keyboard Classics"
  • CD, Primarily A Capella, USA, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. jazzy vocal versions of works by Chopin, Satie, Bach, Mozart, Handel, Brahms, Debussy, Beethoven... Lots of popular tunes: Clair de Lune ; Moonlight Sonata; Rondo All Turca; Hungarian Dance No. 5... This is a NEW recording, not by the original (Frecnch) Swingle Singers, but by a new Britsih group, carrying on the same style, and some tunes are arranged by Ward Swingle

• Les Swingle Singers: "Les Romantiques"
  • CD, Universal/ Philips 586 736, France, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. From 1967, released outside of France as "Getting Romantic", with wonderfully hip vocalese reworkings of the music of Chopin, Schumann, Schubert, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Moussorgsky and Albeniz.

• The Swingle Singers & Modern Jazz Quartet: "Place Vendôme"
  • CD, label?, Japan, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Wonderful! if you like The Swingle Singers, you'll like this one too I think, the Modern Jazz Quartet plays a very gentle kind of jazz lite here. But all tracks (plus many more) are also on the "Compact Jazz" CD on Mercury, though that one is from 1987, so probably deleted.

• The Swingle Singers: "Swinging Mozart"
  • CD, Universal/ Philips, France, 2002
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. "Swinging Mozart" was their 3rd LP, issued after their huge hit of "Jazz Sebastien Bach" album; my LP copy is entitled "Anyone for Mozart", and it's fantastic! Ward Swingle makes Mozart swing with his jazz vocalese (wordless vocals) arrangements, sung by 4 man + 4 women, backed by nothing but drum and bass. This is so hip and cool. You can't go wrong with covers of Mozart, Bach, or Beethoven: they wrote... well... CLASSIC tunes. Even "Eine kleine Nacht Musik", which I can't stand in its original version, sounds so sparklingly fresh here. If you dig wordless vocals, then you MUST give these Swingle Singers a try. All of their albums are great.

• The Swingle Singers: "Swingling Telemann"
  • CD, Universal, France, 2002?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. from 1966, then released as "Rococo à Go Go (Swing Along With Couperin, Daquin, Telemann, Quantz, Muffat, And Marcello)", with a cool pop-art cover. Some of their scat singin gis so fast it becomes almost comical.

• The Swingle Singers: "Swingling Telemann + Les Romantiques"
  • Double CD, Universal/ Philips, France, 2002

• the Swingle Singers: "Ticket to Ride: A Beatles Tribute"
  • CD, Primarily Acapella, 2001

• Swyvel: "Glinda Street"
  • CD, Tone Casualties 9831, USA, 1998
  • comment:
    • Reviewed in "_Cool And Strange Music Magazine_" issue 11

• The Symphonic-Rock Orchestra Vienna: "Classic Beatles"
  • CD, Koch 322879, USA,
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3986]

• Synaulia: "Music From Ancient Rome - Volume 1: Wind Instruments"
  • CD, Amiata ARNR 1396, Italy, 1996, deleted
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 5 points on 5. Musical archeology not unlike like Elizabeth Waldo, featuring exotic, primitive and enchanting percussion; wind instruments; women screaming in extacy; wordless vocals... wooow, those Romans were cool!

• Synthesizers Unlimited: "Electrik Bazaar"
  • CD-R, Zippy CD Company, Japan, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: recorded in France in 1974

• Gabor Szabo & Bobby Womack: "High Contrast"
  • CD/LP, Blue Thumb, UK, 2003
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Gabor Szabo Sextet: "Bacchanal"
  • CD, DCC DJZ-617, USA, 1994, deleted?
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Tracks: Three king fishers; Love is blue; Theme from Valley of the dolls; Bacchanal; Sunshine superman; Some velvet morning; The look of love; The divided city. Reissue of great 1968 album.

• Gabor Szabo: "Macho"
  • CD, King 85664, Japan, 1996
  • comment:
    • add missing details or your own comment for this item [#3990]

• Gabor Szabo: "Sorcerer"
  • CD, Impulse? 121125, USA, 199?
    CD, ?, Germany?, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5.

• Gabor Szabo: "The Sorcerer"  (live)
  • LP, 180 gr. heavyweight vinyl, Impulse reissue, 2000
  • comment:
    • Johan: gatefold cover, just like the original from 1966.

• The Gabor Szabo Sextet: "The Szabo Equation: Jazz/Mysticism/Exotica"
  • CD, DCC DJZ-605, USA, 1990
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 4 points on 5. Light jazz guitar & some sitar too

• Gabor Szabo: "Wind Sky And Diamonds"
  • CD, Impulse 27672, Japan, 1997
  • comment:
    • Johan: My rating: 3 points on 5. Soft pop vocal group sound
    • (unknown): Gabor's playing is great it's just not as prevalent as his other albums.

• There's more by Gabor Szabo than listed here: search elsewhere

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