Exotica Rock

tagStarted 1957Peak 1957-1962Last big hit 1961

Located in 1 route

Lush, mostly instrumental mood music conjuring imaginary tropical paradises: vibraphone shimmer, marimba, bird calls, jungle percussion, and Polynesian/Latin rhythms under lounge orchestration. Less rock than tiki-lounge atmosphere, it shares surf's exotic, escapist instrumental sensibility and fed the surf and space-age sounds.

History

Named after Martin Denny's 1957 album 'Exotica' (the term coined by Liberty Records' Si Waronker). Les Baxter began it with 1947's 'Music Out of the Moon' and his 'Quiet Village,' which Denny stripped down to a chart-topping 1957 hit. Denny's vibist Arthur Lyman went solo with Hawaiian flavor. Tiki-culture's late-50s craze fueled its peak.

Defining artists

Martin DennySpotify YouTube
Les BaxterSpotify YouTube
Arthur LymanSpotify YouTube
Yma SumacSpotify YouTube
The SurfmenSpotify YouTube
Robert DrasninSpotify YouTube

Essential listening

Quiet Village — Martin DennySpotify YouTube
Quiet Village — Les BaxterSpotify YouTube
Taboo — Arthur LymanSpotify YouTube
Misirlou — Martin DennySpotify YouTube
Yellow Bird — Arthur LymanSpotify YouTube
Jungle Drums — Les BaxterSpotify YouTube

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Sources

Wikipedia: Exotica
Wikipedia: Exotica (Martin Denny album)
Spaceagepop.com: Martin Denny