Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Merry Xmas From The Space Age Realm of X Bachelor Pad




OK to make up for my shameful lack of shares lately, here’s one that is mysteriously OOP:
The inimitable Esquivel with his Christmas favourites.
Originally recorded in 1959 as one side of “The Merriest of Christmas Pop” (Ray Martin did the other side), these were re-released in 1996 and filled out to 29 minutes of fandangled Christmas fun with the addition of "Snowfall", "Sun Valley Ski Run", "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "I Feel Merely Marvelous". The collection was book-ended with new recordings by Combustible Edison: Jingle Bells & Auld Lang Syne, with cute voice-overs by Señor Esquivel himself.

"What holiday cocktail party would be complete without some zooma-zoom-zoom and doo-doo-doo to add to all of the ho-ho-hos? Take some Christmas classics, add a little retro sci-fi, hand it off to Señor Juan Esquivel and let him shake. (Or stir.) The result is still the same, as Merry Christmas from the Space Age Bachelor Pad turns every lounge into a swingin' Santa joint. The real highlight here is a reworking of "Jingle Bells" as only a masterfully hip maestro like Esquivel could achieve, with the help of some latter-day cocktailors from Combustible Edison. There's also a surprise cut, not a holiday classic per se, but a festive tune all the same: "I Feel Merely Marvelous," an old B side from Esquivel's heyday that was all but forgotten until now. Who knows--with the right mix of mistletoe and martinis, "I Feel Merely Marvelous" could become a seasonal favorite yet". –Steve Gdula, amazon.com


Juan Garcia Esquivel died in 2002, after living long enough to see his music find favor with a new generation.

tracklist
01. Jingle Bells (Greetings From Esquivel!)
02. White Christmas
03. Here Comes Santa Claus
04. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
05. The Christmas Song
06. Frosty The Snowman
07. Snowfall
08. Sun Valley Ski Run
09. Blue Christmas
10. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
11. I Feel Merely Marvelous
12. Auld Lang Syne (Adios From Esquivel!)


Ho Ho Ho [192kps]

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Cha Cha Cha!

Not exactly maraca-less...
– a frivolous recording of questionable significance:



A Dutch release on the Carmen label, from Vroom & Dreesmann.
Light and fluffy, perfect for warming the winter nights for those north of the equator, or for that up-coming pool party for those lucky enough to reside on the summer end of the globe.
Hardly compensation for my appalling lack of attention to the Realm of X, but check back soon for an imminent Christmas present of far greater value...

Kant A
01 Le Gusta Su Chocolate
02 Despedida De Cuba
03 Everybody's Cha Cha Cha
04 Labios Rojos
05 Arroz Con Pollo
06 Hasta Mañana

Kant B
07 La Cantina De Salvador
08 Rayos De Luna
09 Conchita Bonita
10 Mi Sueño De Amor
11 Papillon Negro
12 Mujer Bonita

shake it! [192kbps stereo Carmen LP afspeelbar 3503082/undated]