/r/Exotica

Photograph via snooOG

See The World Through The Telescope of 50's Lounge Music!


Exotica - A style of 50's and 60's lounge music dedicated to the mystic and adventure of foreign cultures spurred by the fascination with Polynesian culture following WWII. Exotica was a commercial movement which sold the sounds of far away lands and world music within the safety of Western lounge and easy listening. Island culture is the most popular however "Oriental" and African motifs were also used. Space Age Pop was a later invention that just focused on the optimism of space travel and Stereo Action. All of it is hilarious and amazing.

A Musical Summary of Exotica

Proto-Exotica/Space Age Pop


Exotica and Space Age Pop Defined


Exotica is also connected with Tiki culture -- a decorating motif centered around the mystic of Polynesian cultures. Tiki culture, like its parent music, lies on the border between kitsch, escapism, naive fantasy, and genuine excitement for a style long forgotten by history.


More Old Music? Visit r/VintageObscura! --

/r/Exotica

3,090 Subscribers

15

Les Baxter - Caribbean Moonlight

0 Comments
2024/05/12
00:32 UTC

7

Exotic Sounds of Tiki Gardens

Frank and Jo Byers

Anyone have a link on where I could listen to this. Been looking everywhere and can not find anything.

3 Comments
2024/04/30
13:08 UTC

9

Elisabeth Waldo - Realm of the Incas (1961)

2 Comments
2024/04/28
19:47 UTC

29

How did y'all's get into Exotica?

For me (I'm a relatively new fan), the Spongebob soundtrack has a lot of Exotic style songs (Undertow and Squidward's Tiki Land come to mind immediately). Some of the Beach Boys Material also helped me get into Exotica (Little Pad, Pet Sounds, Diamond Head and Let's Go Away For A While).

41 Comments
2024/04/26
01:16 UTC

11

Kava kon and killimanjaro darkjazz

I posted this in the r/tiki subreddit but I figured it's worth sharing with you guys. Seems like everyone is familiar with kava kon, but notany knew about the songs they released in collaboration with Kilimanjaro darkjazz. Probably the best music from both groups in my opinion

https://youtu.be/ZgEP9_KytpE?si=ojnWZXZflOVR_DZk

2 Comments
2024/04/19
19:32 UTC

9

Is this official pressing, or some kind of unofficial bootleg ? Need an advice

Hey fellas ! Stumbled upon this pressing of Les Baxter Ritual of the Savage. The cover is so wrong, and there is also one bonus track.

UV104

https://www.discogs.com/release/1255056-Les-Baxter-And-His-Orchestra-Ritual-Of-The-Savage

2 Comments
2024/04/16
11:22 UTC

9

Adventure Air, new from Vibexotica

2 Comments
2024/04/14
22:18 UTC

14

Kitty Chow and the Fisherman

5 Comments
2024/04/08
15:28 UTC

18

Free Tiki music streaming service!

Somafm.com now has a tiki channel!

Exotica classics from artists like Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter and even Don Ho as well as modern Tiki artists like Waitiki 7. Best enjoyed with a drink with a little umbrella in it!

SomaFM: Tiki Time (Special): Classic Tiki music and Vintage island rhythms to sip cocktails by. Commercial-free, Listener-supported Radio

4 Comments
2024/04/06
15:33 UTC

9

Thoughts on Enoch Light

Been really immersed in collecting exotica albums the past 6 months. I’ve heard some Enoch light material, and I can’t really tell if they can be considered exotica or not. What are everyone’s thoughts on them? And could they recommend any specific LPs of theirs that could be considered good exotica or lounge music?

5 Comments
2024/04/05
05:29 UTC

19

Woot!

A bit premature but, I’m happy.

1 Comment
2024/04/03
16:08 UTC

8

Which exotica album would you recommend to someone who loves the Lost tv series?

Maybe a weird question, but I'm just curious what the answers will be.

Thank you in advance!

I also want to say that this sub-reddit is probably the friendliest sub-reddit I have ever been a part of. I enjoy every time I'm on here.

Have a good day

8 Comments
2024/03/30
18:51 UTC

24

Stolen Idols - Moonlight Offerings

It's about 10 years old now, but a Tiki-Lounge must-have, IMO. Great music, impeccably done, in the Exotica style.

10 Comments
2024/03/29
16:09 UTC

15

Darker, ominous sounding Exotica recommendations

Greetings!
I'm looking for recommendations for albums that have a darker, more ominous tone, similar to some of the music in The Twilight Zone and Star Trek The Original Series.
Tipsy's Space Golf kind of fits the idea (even though it's more upbeat) and Kava Kon's The Atomic Clock too. Martin Denny's Jungle Madness is also a great example.
Thanks so much in advance!

https://preview.redd.it/sl6ncgls29rc1.png?width=600&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff739b4d1d8eb6ab13adb64de77de754f89e27e8

15 Comments
2024/03/29
10:28 UTC

13

Lahaina Sunset by Mark Riddle

https://preview.redd.it/znkte51z9cpc1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6cb94153beadf38e1c065735b58e5f0a575679cc

Hi everyone!

I just did a search of the sub and didn't see this album mentioned, so I thought I'd put a plug in for one of the best exotica releases I've heard in a while. Mark says he was heavily influenced by Arthur Lyman and Gene Rains, and it definitely shows in the music. Very vibe focused, with some of the bird calls and jungle sounds we're familiar with, but they never overtake the music itself or become distracting.

The album is on Bandcamp, with 180 g vinyl still available, as well as a bamboo USB drive version with extra goodies like phone wallpapers and a version of the album sans sound effects.

I highly recommend the album, and if you buy it on Bandcamp Friday like I did, 100% of the purchase goes towards the artist. Great way to support the people creating the exotica we love!

3 Comments
2024/03/19
19:55 UTC

37

Kava Kon - Tiki For The Atomic Age (New Vinyl)

4 Comments
2024/03/19
05:26 UTC

13

Tiki For the Atomic Age on new vinyl!

A new Exotica record label, re-releasing Kava Kon's contemporary Exotica classic!

I'm so happy to see this masterpiece re-released on vinyl in its entirety. =D

Mello Exotica – mello-exotica

5 Comments
2024/03/18
16:54 UTC

21

Drasnin, Voodoo 3, Anna May Wong

3 Comments
2024/02/24
03:50 UTC

13

30 Forgotten Night Club Acts from the Glory Days of the Cocktail Lounge

Has anyone seen this article and know of some other great vinyl that's been uploaded to YouTube that features these (or other) past acts? Intrigued by the 'lounge' aspect, the banter, the restaurant sounds, etc...has elements of exotica at times... https://flashbak.com/30-forgotten-night-club-acts-from-the-glory-days-of-the-cocktail-lounge-404096/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=reddit&utm_source=news

0 Comments
2024/02/15
14:49 UTC

8

Leon & Harry Live at Rae & Jerry's

5 Comments
2024/02/15
01:06 UTC

18

"Jumpin' At The Jungle Room! (24 Exotic Dance​-​Floor Scorchers)"

5 Comments
2024/02/14
03:20 UTC

43

Some new exotica ish for the collection.

6 Comments
2024/02/11
03:35 UTC

47

Estate sale find, 1960 pressing of Drasnin’s Voodoo

Percussion Exotique, 1960 AKA Voodoo: Exotic Music from Polynesia and the Far East.

6 Comments
2024/02/03
00:05 UTC

28

Happy Bandcamp Friday - Here’s a FREE Download of “Don Telling’s Island Mysteries”

15 Comments
2024/02/02
14:18 UTC

49

Finally got set up for vinyl!

Found out over Christmas that my dad was an Exotica fan in college. Don't know why he never mentioned it, but I got a great stack of Holy Grail albums! Finally got a turntable hooked up into my studio system to listen to them!

7 Comments
2024/01/28
20:40 UTC

36

Not exactly exotica but got all 12 of these for 10$ some I know some I don’t. Listening to velvet carpet now and I’m pretty stoked of the purchase already.

9 Comments
2024/01/28
18:00 UTC

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