Digitally remastered by Bob Norberg.
ULTRA-LOUNGE: TIKI SAMPLER was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
With its ultra-cool faux-bamboo packaging, Capitol Record's ULTRA-LOUNGE: TIKI SAMPLER is a more than worthy successor to the celebrated LEOPARD SKIN SAMPLER of a few years back. Beginning with Les Baxter's shimmering arrangements for Yma Sumac nearly 50 years ago, the Capitol label has always maintained a strong proprietary interest in the exotica/lounge genre, as its continuing Ultra-Lounge series will attest. Since TIKI SAMPLER favors the lounge rather than exotica side of the equation, Ms. Sumac herself does not make an appearance. But Baxter, Martin Denny, and Jackie Gleason are duly represented by tracks from each of their respective 2-CD Capitol compilations. Besides a delicious version of the Turtles' "Happy Together" by Mel Torme, the sampler also features several bonus track cameos by such "legitimate" vocalists as Julie London ("Come On-a My House"), Lena Horne (Bacharach's "Wives and Lovers"), and Nancy Wilson ("Jobim's Wave"). What a party!