Music Monday - #14

Ultra-Lounge

In the late 50s and throughout the 60s there was a musical genre that is seldom heard outside of retro TV shows today. Not exactly Pop, not quite Jazz and certainly not Rock. It was mostly instrumental music for bachelors to show off their new Hi-Fi systems. In the late 90s Capitol records produced a series of CDs celebrating the concept, 20 numbered albums with the best of the best. Later on Capitol also released a variety of one-offs including Christmas and Composer/Artist compilations; the series even made it into the digital download age with more titles, diluting the concept.

I’ve acquired the original numbered titles, a set as it were, and I am enjoying it immensely. Most tracks are state-of-the-art audio, with inspired arrangements and great musicians. Notable titles are Organs in Orbit (#11, featuring Major League pitcher Denny McLain) and TV Town (#13, TV themes re-interpreted.) The best of the cuts are simply great music and even the lesser tracks usually have some features of interest.

The last two of the original collection are the “On The Rocks” titles, as the title suggests that these are covers of contemporary rock hits. This is where the concept sort of falls apart, most rock songs aren’t sophisticated enough to benefit from elaborate arrangements. That said, there are some gems and you haven’t lived until you’ve heard the Julie London cover Bob Dylan and the Band in this selection, originally from The Basement Tapes: