V/A - Always Wear An Approved Safety Helmet (Motorcycho)
This cool 7" comes from the fine folks at Motorcycho fanzine. You'll find tracks from Thee Shablins and The Mach 3 on the 'openface side', with Thee Pirates and The Tony Mentzer Experience on the 'full coverage side'. Of the bunch The Mach 3 are my faves, crankin' through two tasty instrumental surf tunes. (Continental #5)

(*)The Boss Instrumentals EP (Romulan)
I really dig finding obscure surf instrumentals and this is a fine collection of four B-sides from the mid and late 60's. You'll find lotsa organ, echoey guitar, and stompin' drums here, along with one really weird biker tune. It's even on cool Comet-colored vinyl! If the sleeve has the Romulan name on it, don't pass it up! (Hmmm... #7)

V/A - The Boss Martians Vs. The Surf Trio 7" (Blood Red) In this tag team match you've got The Boss Martians in one corner doing the Martian Stomp and Ape Hangers in the other corner weighing in at over 600 pounds is The Surf Trio with Foglifter and the ever popular Wine Wine Wine. The two 'Martians cuts are originals, the former a vocal tune influenced by The Trashmen, the latter a Davie Allen influenced fuzz fest. The flip has a 'Trio original led by the organ of Peter Weinberger and yet another cover of the Bobby Fuller classic (The Volcanos have covered it on their latest 7", reviewed in this issue). (Continental #5)

Burnin' Love Soundtrack (Garage Rock Records)
"Twangy guitar, vocals drenched in echo, slap bass, and snare drum. Throw in a black leather jacket, greasy pompadour, long sideburns...and you got it."
The soundtrack CD for the film Burnin' Love was released prior to the film's release as a way to raise funds for the low-budget production. The film will be a "retro-styled love story about an Elvis-lookalike vampire searching for a cure to his blood lust in New York's funky lower east side". If the film is half as good as the soundtrack I think they'll have a winner on their hands. The 15-track disc features some of the best modern rockabilly bands making the scene today. None of these bands seem satisfied with merely emulating the classic rockabilly sound of the fifties, they all seem to be doing whatever it takes to blow the old sound clear outta the water. (Garage Rock Records, 123 W. 93rd St. #2-C, New York, NY 10025. CD is $18.95, checks payable to Lee Sobel.) (Hmmm...#7)

The Coyote Men Vs. The Superfly T.N.T.'s - No Talent? No Shit!! (Vendetta/Real Records)
"The Coyote Men are without a doubt the greatest 4 man tag wrestlin' rock n' roll combo in the entire cosmos! The Superfly T.N.T.'s blur 4 rounds of this "no holds barred punk rock free for all" into one Geordie Saturday night street brawl."
I have never seen a 45 RPM 7" contain seven songs until now. That should give you some indication of what to expect here. Both bands deliver some of the best trash yer ever going to here and have crammed it onto a tiny 7" slab of vinyl. In this tag-team match, it's up to you to decide who makes it out of the ring alive! (The Continental #1)

Dancing At The Nick At NiteClub (Sony)
"Includes songs that either inspired or were inspired by actual dance crazes that took the country by storm."
On this compilation you'll find all of the tunes from the late 50's through the early 60's that inspired or cashed in on various dance fads. So you'll find tunes like The Watusi, The Jerk, The Stroll, Do The Monkey, Limbo Rock, The Madison Time, Shotgun, The Shag, and others. Surprisingly, Chubby Checker has two songs on here, yet neither is The Twist! It's because a lot of the tunes are lesser-known that this compilation works. (The Continental #4)

The Estrus Cocktail Companion (Estrus)
"Twelve melliflous musical molotovs from twelve of the coolest combos around."
The 7" box set of this collection has been out for about a year, but sold out months after it's release. Now Estrus comes back with the CD version of the box, featuring twelve of the best bands recording for the label. What'cha get here is a mix of instro and vocal tunes espousing the finer points of boozin' and boppin' from bands like Man Or Astroman?, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Apemen, Satan's Pilgrims, Teengenerate, The Makers, and more. No matter where your interests lie, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. There ain't a clunker in the bunch. (Estrus Records, P.O. Box 2125, Bellingham, WA 98227-2125.) (Hmmm...#7)

(*)Frolic Diner - Part 2 (Romulan)
This is part two of Romulan's series of raunch n' roll tunes from the 50's and 60's. While it is good, it doesn't come close to the sheer brilliance of the first CD. The disc starts off with "Delicious!" featuring Mr. Howell of Gilligan's Island. I heard this song years ago and it has annoyed me ever since. Luckily, things get better as you get further into the disc. Pick up the first CD, then if you like what you hear give this one a shot. (Hmmm... #7)

Hang Ten Volume 1 (Shredder)
"Our 'Hang 10' series of 10 band 10 inch 'surf' comps kicks off with a stellar roster of ultra-cool bands from all over Planet Earth."
The artwork on this 10" is a little deceptive. You would think this is a surf reissue kinda like some of the Del-Fi surf comps. Most of the bands here stick to the surf theme, but vary stylistically quite a bit. Mark Brodie & The Beaver Patrol do a straightforward version of "Slaughter..." that really cooks. The Woodies also do the straight surf thing with an original tune called "Little Dume". Cub play a short and sweet cover of The Beach Boys' "Surfer Girl". Most of the other tunes here are more punkish by bands like the McRackins, Fun Fun Attitude, and Boyz Nex' Door. All-in-all a pretty cool set of music and a nice sampler if you are unfamiliar with Shredder's roster of bands. (Shredder Records, 75 Plum Lane #3, San Rafael, CA 94901.) (The Continental #1)

V/A - Have Reverb, Will Travel North 7" (Fireball)
On this 7" you get four of Canada's finest instro bands: The Surfdusters, The Lunar Marmots, Baron Von Brodie & His Lost Beavers, and Quonset. The Surfdusters load tons of reverb and tasty picking to their cut, a spooky number called Danger Beat. The Lunar Marmots are next, with a driving punk/surf tune called K.W.A.F.F. Spy Chase leads off the flip side, complete with the sounds of police cars and screeching tires. Quonset end the hootenanny with Bird Circles, a tune that features drums and reverb bass. (Continental #5)

Hot Rods To Hell (Blood Red Vinyl)
"It may be the greatest creation since the invention of internal combustion itself."
This is a nine band (ten on the vinyl version) compilation of hot rod music by some of the best bands makin' music today. Many of these are from the West Coast (Satan's Pilgrims, Surf Trio, Boss Martians, The Bomboras, and Mark Brodie & The Beaver Patrol), while the rest of them are from as far away as Germany (The Astronauts). If you dig the instro sound, you will want to pick this one up. For fans of the vocal drag-strip sound, there are three tunes here for you. I got the CD version for review, but I would recommend getting this on vinyl, since you will get a bonus track by The Astronauts, one of the best instro bands I have ever heard. (Blood Red Vinyl, 2134 NE 25th, Portland, OR 97212.) (Hmmm...#7)

The Loungecore Experience (Sequel Records)
No press kit was included.
I got this one in the mail on the day that I stopped accepting musical submissions for this issue. I'm glad I got it when I did, because this is simply one of the most amazing lounge reissues I have ever listened to. The Loungecore Experience is a promo sampler with some of the best cuts from Sequel's reissue series. I am simply blown away by this. You won't find any big name stars on here, unlike Capitol's series which is choc-full of them. Instead, you get some of the coolest musical gems that you will ever hear. While you won't find this compilation in stores or as a special TV offer, you can find the cuts here on these Sequel releases: Twenty Loungecore Favorites (cool lounge tunes), The Sound Spectrum (more cool lounge tunes), Highly Strung (twangy instro tunes), Meet James Bond (spy tunes), and You Can't Be Wrong About Boys, Volume One (60's female vocal compilation). Pick up any of these; I guarantee you won't be disappointed! (Sequel Records, 110 E. 59th St., 18th Floor, New York, NY 10022.) (Hmmm...#7)

Lounging At The Nick At NiteClub (Sony)
"Slip into a dry martini and enjoy the comforts of a swinging lounge without the unpleasantness of cigar smoke."
Despite being yet another attempt to cash in on the lounge music craze I really enjoy this CD. It doesn't seem to have been put together by true fans of the genre (for example, I don't think Tom Jones "thrusts his hips" while singing I Who Have Nothing, which is a mid-tempo power ballad. Perhaps for It's Not Unusual, but not this tune). Still, you can't complain about any of the artists represented here: Eartha Kitt, Mel Torme, Pearl Baily, Ella Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Billie Holiday, and others. If you don't have these tracks on other compilations in your collection this is definitely a worthwhile purchase. (The Continental #4)

V/A - Meet The Werewolf EP (Spinout) Released just in time for Halloween, this 4 track EP has cuts by The Neanderthals (2000 Lb. Werewolf & Werewolf From Outer Space), The Panasonics (The Panasonics Meet The Wolfman), and Eddie Angel (Werewolf). All cuts feature a snarling werewolf in the background while the bands just keep rockin' and rollin' along. (Continental #5)

V/A - The Penetrators Meet The Space Cossacks 7" (Solamente) It's hard for me to review this without being biased - I love everything The Penetrators have ever done. There was a reason I picked them for the debut release of Continental Records - these guys are simply one of the best instrumental/surf combos around. On this EP they're teamed up with The Space Cossacks, who are every bit as good. The Penetrators have Redlined and The Truant on the A-side, while The Space Cossacks contribute Neutron Sabre and The Atlantics' Shark Attack on the flip. (Continental #5)

Pink Flamingos Original Soundtrack (Hip-O)
"John Waters hope that 'this music inspires you to commit your own creatively 'filthy' acts'."
I have yet to see the movie, but I want to after hearing the tunes in it. Any soundtrack with Link Wray, The Centurions, The Trashmen, Little Richard, and the Night Hawks will get high marks in my book - this collection really delivers. Leading off with Link Wray's Swag, one of his many great instro rockers, these trashy tunes are perfect for a party crowd that likes to do lots of drinkin' and livin'. There are plenty of liner notes and photos for fans of the film, as well as a special intro from John Waters about 'filth music'. (The Continental #4)

Poptopia: Power Pop Classics Of The '70s (Rhino)
"They took the music they cherished (Beatlesque pop), distilled it down to its basic elements, and started churning out three-minute pop songs like the future of humanity depended on it."
The first installment of Rhino's power pop series is probably my favorite, featuring bands like Big Star, The Flamin' Groovies, Cheap Trick, The Knack, and others. I've been a fan of Big Star since picking up a 7" by The Posies with two Big Star cover tunes on it (Feel & I Am The Cosmos). Some of the tunes here are just a bit over the top, sounding like Queen, but not quite as good. My favorite part of this series is the CD tray, which has a 3-D motion effect which makes it look like a spinning record. (The Continental #4)

Poptopia: Power Pop Classics Of The '80s (Rhino)
"By mid-decade, power pop was back in full swing, equal parts '60's songwriting and '80's attitude."
This one is definitely my least favorite of the series. It starts off with What I Like About You by The Romantics, probably one of the most overplayed tunes of the 80's. It still makes me cringe to this day. The rest of this CD, with exceptions like The Bangles, The Hoodoo Gurus, and The dB's, consists of mediocre tunes from no-name bands (who's heard of Great Buildings or Bill Lloyd). The only tune that I ever liked out of this bunch was There She Goes by The La's, but even it bores me now. (The Continental #4)

Poptopia: Power Pop Classics Of The '90s (Rhino)
"This is pop with power, music to excite your soul, break your heart and cause you to drive way too fast."
Here's release #3 in Rhino's tribute to power pop, a genre which I generally don't care too much about. However, there are a few great tunes here, especially Twisterella by Ride, Solar Sister by The Posies, I Can't Stop Smiling by Velocity Girl, and The Party Rages On by Zumpano. Many of the other tracks are just a bit too lightweight for my liking. To me this is fun to listen to once or twice, but it just blends together after a while. (The Continental #4)

Psychlone Rangers/Chrome Cranks - Split 7" (World Domination)
No press kit was included.
This split 7" contains a Psychlone Rangers track lifted from their ‘Beatin’ On The Bat Pole’ 10", along with the Chrome Cranks doing a raging cover of an old Yardbirds tune. If you haven’t heard either of these bands yet, get this 7" and prepare to lose a good portion of your high-range hearing. (The Continental #2)

Reef Madness! (Deep Eddy)
"To live and grow, instrumental music must move forward."
Mr. Ted James of Squid Vicious has assembled a fine compilation featuring many of today’s finest surf/instro bands. Many of these bands are brand new to the scene, so there’s a sense of discovering the unknown while listening to these tracks. Some of the songs sound a little 'thin' to these ears, probably cuz half of the bands here only have 3 members. In my opinion, to get the 'dialed in' sound you’ve gotta have at least four people in a band (five’s cool too!). That's just my opinion though. As with any compilation, there is some good and some bad here, but overall this is a great addition to anyone's collection. (The Continental #4)

Shots In The Dark (Del-Fi)
"After more than thirty years, the best of Henry Mancini's film & television scores still provide us with the perfect soundtrack to the galaxy's swingin'est cocktail party."
Shots In The Dark is a great 20-track compilation of some of Mancini's best songs performed by some of today's coolest cats. You'll recognize many of the tunes, like "Peter Gunn Theme", "Baby Elephant Walk", "Moon River", "A Shot In The Dark", "The Pink Panther Theme", and 15 other swingin' themes. Some of today's best surf and lounge bands can be found here: Man Or Astroman?, Poison Ivy (of The Cramps), Friends Of Dean Martinez, The Tiki Tones, and many, many others. Without a dud on it, this is essential listening for your next spy n' surf party. (Del-Fi Records, P.O. Box 69188, Los Angeles, CA 90069.) (Hmmm...#7)

V/A - Southern Culture On The Skids/The Untamed Youth 7" (Gearhead) This southern-fried 7 comes with the latest issue of Gearhead magazine. The A-side has a SCOTS instro number called Tidewater Jack, a cool Link Wray inspired boogie hoedown. The B-side has The Untamed Youth doing My General Lee. It is basically the song F.U.J.I.M.O. from their Planet Mace LP with the Dixie melody and vocals added. In this song Derek Dickerson announces to the world his obsession with The Dukes of Hazzard. This song is catchy as hell. If you're like me you'll have the words, "It's a can of whup-ass called My General Lee" going through your head for days. (Continental #5)

V/A - The Space Cossacks & The Fathoms 7" (MuSick) What a great combination, The Space Cossacks and The Fathoms doing one original and one cover each. The 'Cossacks tackle Red Sunrise and The Chantays' Space Probe, while The Fathoms contribute Fathomized and the ever-popular Comanche on the flip. If you're reading this magazine you've undoubtedly heard tracks from each of these bands and you know how great they are. When you factor in the amazing artwork by Shag and that it's pressed on red vinyl you know this is an essential purchase. This serves as a taster for the upcoming full-length releases (also on MuSick) that you'll find reviewed in our CD section. (Continental #5)

(*) Spaghetti "Duck You Suckers! (Million $ Records)
An amazing 15 track compilation of some of the best instro bands in the world doin' spaghetti-western influenced tunes. Every track on here is a killer, full of twangy guitars and dark atmosphere. There is no way I can pick one track over another here. Unlike many compilations the songs here really work well next to each other. Among the combos you'll find here are Death Valley, The Daytonas, The Penetrators, Pollo Del Mar, Brazil 2001, Mark Brodie & The Beaver Patrol, The Satelliters, and many more. (The Continental #4)

(*) Surfin' Around The World (Pin Up Records)
This is a great compilation of instro groups scattered all over the planet. Groups like The Apemen, Trashwomen, Astronauts (Germany), Surf Trio, Car Thieves, and Sir Bald Diddley & His Most Honorable Big Wigs. I am a huge fan of The Astronauts and The Apemen, so this was a must have for me. A couple of previously issued tracks are on here from previous singles, but that's no big deal. They sound just as good here. There really isn't a bad track on the whole LP. 18 big tracks in all, full of thick reverb and cool surf beats. If you are looking for a good sampler of the current instro/surf craze, go no furthur than this compilation. (Hmmm...#5)

(*) Surf Legends (And Rumors) (Garland)
This is a smokin' set of instrumentals recorded between 1961-64 by bands like The Revels, The Surftones, The Hustlers, The Rumblers, The Blazers, The Nevegans, The Pastel Six, and The Chevells. I just can't get enough of these obscure surf singles! What made this one so great was the price - only $8.95. Lots of the surf essentials are on here: "Church Key", "Intoxica", "Comanche", "Cecilia Ann", "Boss", plus eight tracks that are previously unissued. All told, there are 26 tracks that will sizzle your speakers into oblivion. (Reviewed 9/29/96)

V/A - Tales From Estrus Volume 3 (Estrus) Whatta package! This 7 has cuts from The Drags - Baby You're So Repulsive, Impala - Squad Car, Lord High Fixers - Mystery Train, and The Makers - Out Of My Mind, PLUS an eight page comic book/sleeve designed by Merinuk. For you surf fans out there you gotta get this solely cuz of Impala's incredible rendition of the Eddie & The Showmen classic. If yer like me though you'll dig every cut on this. (Continental #5)

(*) 32 Hot Rod Hits (Del-Fi)
My girlfriend made fun of me when I bought this. I described it to her as sounding a bit like surf music with hot rod sounds in the background. I guess I conjured up a strange mental image for her. Even the woman at the cash register made fun of me, asking "Do you have a hot rod?". They just don't get it! This is a collection of tunes from the Deuce Coupes, Darts, and De-Fenders. The final track is car noises. If you dig hot rod music, you can't do much better than this! (Hmmm... #7)

This Is Dojo (Dojo)
"Dojo Records of England has been putting out great albums for years, primarily UK Punk, Ska & Oi! reissues."
I think most of the bands on this collection are pretty obvious to anyone with even a passing interest in the genres mentioned above. Sham 69, The Exploited, The Selecter, Stiff Little Fingers, Johnny Thunders, The Damned, and Motorhead are among the seventeen bands featured here. It's too bad that this is a promo sampler, since this would do pretty well if sold to the public. This is a great label worth checking out! (Dojo Records, FDR Station, P.O. Box 684, New York, NY 10150.) (Hmmm...#7)

Ultra-Lounge - Volumes 1 - 6 (Capitol)
"The Ultra-Lounge series dazzles listeners with a cool cast of characters."
A flood of lounge compilations have hit the market this year. I haven't really found one that is bad, aside from the artwork used in the RCA series of disks. From what I've seen, this Capitol series has gone beyond the rest of the field. This series combines some of the best tunes found in this genre with period artwork, cocktail recipes, and extensive liner notes. All of the well-known artists from the 50's and 60's can be found here: Martin Denny, Les Baxter, Yma Sumac, Spike Jones, Julie London, Jack Fascinato, Dean Elliott, Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Jackie Gleason, and tons more. Each disk has 18 tracks and follows a different theme: Mondo Exotica, Bachelor Pad Royale, Space Capades, Mambo Fever, Wild, Cool & Swingin', and Rhapsodesia. If you can't decide where to start, give Mondo Exotica a try. It serves as a nice introduction to the series. I must warn you, this music is addictive and you won't want to get just one of these. With another 6 volumes due to come out soon you better start savin' your cash now. (Capitol Records, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028) (Hmmm...#7)

Ultra Lounge Volume 11: The Crime Scene (Capitol)
"The Crime Scene is the ultimate in spies, cops and private dicks. Bang! Bang!"
All of themes from the 50's and 60's cop and spy shows and films can be found on this volume of Capitol's Ultra Lounge series: The James Bond Theme, Dragnet, I Spy, From Russia With Love, Mission Impossible, The Untouchables, etc. These great tunes are performed by the likes of Count Basie, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and even Alfred Hitchcock makes an appearance. Many of the tunes here are remakes of the theme songs you've heard thousands of times, which makes this even better in my opinion. Volumes 7-12 of the series all feature bonus tracks that are pretty amusing. (Continental #1)

Ultra Lounge Volume 8: Cocktail Capers (Capitol)
"Cocktail Capers has the recipe for spying and sipping groovy music and cocktails."
If you're looking for one disc that covers the gamut of cocktail music, this is it. Everyone from Les Baxter to Nelson Riddle can be found here. There are standard tunes for this genre, such as "The Pink Panther Theme", "Call Me", and "This Could Be The Start Of Something", as well as some really odd ones, like "I Wanna Be A James Bond Girl", "Binga Banga Bongo/Percolator", "Hey! Bellboy!", and "Honorable Hong Kong Rock". This one's a ton-o-fun! (Continental #1)

Ultra Lounge Volume 9: Cha-Cha De Amor (Capitol)
"From out of the Copacabana is born Cha-Cha De Amor, a fiery fiesta of rhythm and sway."
Hey there Toots, put on yer dancin' boots and sway to the 18 lively tunes found on this platter. You'll find all the swingers here, including Dean Martin, Martin Denny, Les Baxter, Yma Sumac, Perez Prado, Julie London, and more. Mambos and bossa novas are performed with lots and lots of bongos. Yet another winner from Capitol. (Continental #1)

Ultra Lounge Volume 10: A Bachelor In Paris (Capitol)
"A Bachelor In Paris features eighteen vintage hi-fi fashion ensembles from our designer vaults styled with a continental flair."
If your kind of town is Paris, you'll want to pick up this soundtrack for the city. Two versions of "I Love Paris" can be found here, along with "The Poor People Of Paris" and "C'est Magnifique". Performers include Sam Butera, Les Baxter, Nelson Riddle, and The Mighty Accordion Band. So grab a croissant and a beret, cuz this ones gonna send you on your way to the City of Lights, if only just in your imagination. (Continental #1)

Ultra Lounge Volume 11: Organs In Orbit: (Capitol)
"Organs vibrate and lovers unite."
Boy, if you want cheesy organs and crazy rhythms, this compilation is for you. Organs are the focas on tunes like "The Girl From Impanema", "Perfidia", "The Late, Late Show", and "Rockhouse". This one really creates a wild atmosphere for your next shindig. (Continental #1)

Ultra Lounge Volume 12: Saxophobia (Capitol)
"If these horns don't swizzle your stick, then you're dead, Jack."
Everyone from Les Baxter to Nelson Riddle can be found here, with unique interpretations of tunes like "I Dig", "Goldfinger", "Harlem Nocturne", "Volare", "All Or Nothing At All", and everyone's lounge favorite - "Caravan". The use of saxophone adds some raunchiness to the readings of these tunes. Not as much as you'll find with the Las Vegas Grind series, but just enough to bring a smile to your face and not offend your significant other. (Continental #1)

Ultra-Lounge Volume 13: TV Town (Capitol)
"Heat up the TV dinners, bring out the clam dip and get comfortable in the den. Now, turn it on!"
Capital has released a whole new batch of lounge compilations, each featuring a new and exciting theme. This one is a collection of TV theme songs covered by various famous combos and individuals. So you won't find the famous rendition of each tune, just a cool n' swingin' version perfect for your next cocktail party. Among the themes you'll find here are The Odd Couple, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Munsters, The Fugitive, Batman, My Three Sons, Bewitched, The Mod Squad, and more. As with all of the Ultra-Lounge releases this one features great graphics, liner notes, and cocktail recipes. (Continental #4)

Ultra-Lounge Volume 14: Bossa Novaville (Capitol)
"These eighteen velvet Brazilian Bossa-beaters are smoother than scratch-free Formica and cooler than a Frigidaire."
Of all of the Ultra-Lounge CDs I think this one is the best at sticking to it's theme. Bossa nova was the sound of the mid-to-early 60's lounge scene, mixing the exotic with the subdued. The Girl From Impanema started it all; soon everybody was trying to get in on the new sound. Antonio Carlos Jobim, who introduced the new sound to stereophiles all over the US, composed many of the tunes on this compilation. Among the tunes included here are Meditation, Miserlou, Witchcraft, Corcovado, and Fly Me To The Moon. Perhaps my favorite track on here is the medley of Exotique & Quiet Village, done bossa nova style by Martin Denny. I have been listening to lots of Jobim lately, so this Ultra-Lounge CD is getting a lot of time in my CD player. (Continental #4)

Ultra-Lounge Volume 15: Wild, Cool & Swingin' Too! (Capitol)
"From the coconut Grove to the Copa, the Las Vegas strip to Miami Beach, we hit all the hot night spots."
All of the greats are found on this platter: Bobby Darin, Peggy Lee, Wayne Newton, Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Julie London, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, and others. This is a loose, swingin' affair, with tunes like Strangers in the Night, Perdido, Angel Eyes, Just A Gigolo, Destination Moon, Just In Time, and Daddy. I think this compilation works even better than Ultra-Lounge #5-Wild, Cool & Swingin'; all of the tunes just seem to gel better here. There's just something great about tracks like The Boy From Ipanema by Peggy Lee or Strangers in the Night done by Wayne Newton. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a swing in your step. (Continental #4)

Ultra-Lounge Volume 16: Mondo Hollywood (Capitol)
"Lights! Camera! Action! Popcorn! 3-D Glasses! Movie tickets! Forget the tickets, just add a stereo and you'll be set to hear eighteen of the coolest cult classics in Screenland."
You'll find all of your favorite movie themes here, done Ultra-Lounge style. Mondo Hollywood compiles soundtrack tunes like Experiment in Terror, Barbarella, Hot Rod Rumble, Pink Panther Theme, Beat Girl, Moon River, You Only Live Twice, Thunderball, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, and others, all done by the Capital all-stars: Martin Denny, John Barry, Denny McLain, Billy May, Leroy Holmes, and Nelson Riddle. For the most part these aren't the arrangements you are familiar with, which makes this so cool.

Ultra-Lounge Volume 17: Bongoland (Capitol)
"The natives are getting restless and you're invited to a wild percussion party."
As far as crazy mood music goes, this Ultra-Lounge release is one of my favorites. The bongo sound adds a frantic, rhythmic feel to the music. There's also lots of sax and vibes which keep the melodies swingin' long into the night. Featured artists on this comp include Les Baxter, Dick Hyman, Jack Costanzo, Martin Denny, Billy May, and others. Another excellent collection in the Ultra-Lounge series. (Continental #4)

Ultra-Lounge Volume 18: Bottoms Up! (Capitol)
"Straight-up or on the rocks, these eighteen hi-fi highballs will surely intoxicate you and your drinking partner."
Despite the title, only one of the songs on here (Hot Toddy) is about drinking. Rather, these are tunes that are full of gimmicks and odd sounds that were new at the time. It is a great collection, featuring the likes of Martin Denny, Julie London, Denny McLain, Leroy Holmes, Jack Costanzo, and Dr. Samuel Hoffman. I don't know how they're going to come up with more themes for future Ultra-Lounge releases or if this is gonna be the end of the line. I would love to see them re-release the original albums, adding bonus tracks when appropriate. (Continental #4)

V/A - The Woggles & Hillbilly Frankenstein 7" (Solamente) One of my favorite labels has come out with a brand new release by two of my favorite bands. The Woggles side has two full-tilt boogie stompers - Saved and Buzz The Jerk. The Woggles are definitely the ultimate garage party band. Hillbilly Frankenstein are a cool Southern fried party band that I have loved ever since hearing them on the Sleazefest 95 soundtrack.They perform two originals - Raw Bone and Satan's Circus. (Continental #5)

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