EXOTICA!

Exotica is the kind of space age pop that sounds like music from distant places, but really adapts traditional Western melodies to selective instrumentations and rhythms which are associated with those places. Mainly it is restricted to adaptations of music from South Pacific islands, Polynesia, Africa, the Mideast, some Carribean islands, Peru. It would not include Cuban, Mexican or a great deal of South American musical elements, which are included under another Space Age Pop genre: Latin Big Band.

Sometimes a few novel touches are included which are original and do not come from native music. These additions are an attempt to turn into music what is essentially a visual or atmospheric element from the particular distant locale. Martin Denny, for instance, is popularly known for his adaptations of already exotic Les Baxter compositions. By adding birdcalls, something not from traditional Polynesian music, he added even more exotic content. Something about birdcalls makes a listener think of lush tropical islands.

Here are some artistes which are best known for producing exotica:

Les Baxter	Martin Denny	Ted Auletta	Robert Drasnin	Arthur Lyman
George Cates	Leo Addeo	Edmundo Ros	Stanley Black	Eden Ahbez
Diamond Head Beachcombers	The Outriggers	Billy Mure	Werner Muller	Buddy Merrill
Les Paul	Joe Maize	Mauna Loa Islanders	Henry Mancini	Milt Raskin