Living in Hi-Fi

This week we feature the source material of some of the most influential tracks in hip-hop.

Do you sometimes expect whistles and instead it’s flutes? Yeah, same. 

What is a dogie, anyway? Cowboy Favorites LP on Real Gone Music Cowboy Favorites on AppleMusic Music of Clint Eastwood on Wikipedia Dogie on Free Dictionary The King of Tears on Malcom Gladwell’s Revisionist History Podcast Clint Eastwood Sings on Rawhide on YouTube

This week we bring you magic (psychedelic) guitar from Lebanon Belly Dance from Lebanon on Amazon Omar Khorshid on Wikipedia Omar Khorshid Fan Website Omar Khorshid Solo Guitar on YouTube

This album has nothing to do with Middle Eastern music ... or does it?

We straighten out once and for all these eleventeen million of George Clinton projects, or at least we try.

Happy 4th of July! Nothing says patriotism like racism and suppressing civil rights. Wait, what?

A solid compilation of one of our favorite latin style big band artists.

Some good old hi-fi shenanigans featuring sound zooming across channels, and lots of cha-cha-cha!

We’re considering renaming this podcast "The Dinner Music Podcast." What do you think?

Happy birthday, Geminis! Here's your psychedelic horoscope.

We’re going to Hollywood! This week we feature serious harp playing by a legendary comedian.

Exotica gets meta in this episode! You won’t want to miss the biography of this artist! Korla Pandit on Wikipedia Korla Pandit Bio on Fan Webpage Korla Documentary Teaser for Korla Documentary Korla Pandit Cameo on Ed Wood

Slightly psychedelic prog rock allegedly recorded by The Beatles. Spoiler alert: nope, but still, recommended listening!

Welcome to the 80s and songs about houses! It's the Living in Hi-Fi version of VH1 "Where are They Now?"

A staple of our easy listening collection! Upbeat, loungey, bossa nova and pop on a Hammond organ.

This week we feature post-apocalyptic satire from an era we more often recognize for its optimism. Folk Songs for the 21st Century on AppleMusic Folk Songs for the 21st Century on Amazon Folk Songs for the 21st Century on Radioactive Green LP Sheldon Allman on Wikipedia

You’re probably not on vacation in the Caribbean right now, but you can imagine that you are listening to this album! Listen: Sail Out on Discogs More information: Baby's on Fire Record Cafe in Baltimore, MD Video: Lord Cody and the Coralites

In honor of April Fools’ Day we discuss puns, satire, and fart noises. Listen: Best of Spike Jones on AppleMusic Best of Spike Jones on Amazon More information: Spike Jones on Wikipedia Video: Der Fuehrer's Face Sabre Dance

The best in American-Brazilian bossa nova collaboration. We only bust on Stan Getz a little bit.

Wherein we profess our undying love of 1960s A&M (despite it being problematic). Maybe Herb Alpert is over the top for you, you need something more chill? Baja Marimba Band is the answer! More information: Baja Marimba Band on Wikipedia Julius Wechter on Wikipedia LIHF Episode 35: Winchester Cathedral by The New Vaudeville Singers LIHF Episode 25: Going Places by Herb Alpert Video: Baja Marimba Band on Hollywood Palace with Herb Alpert

Science-fiction themes, atom punk, listener request, oh yeah and DISCO... this episode has it all. Listen: Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk on AppleMusic Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk on Amazon More information: Meco on Wikipedia Meco Interview on Disco Disco

This album is outside of our normal easy listening because it is both a new release and EPIC. It’s got a comic book that accompanies it and musicians veiled in anonymity. We’re so into it and hope you are too. Listen: Magic Sword Store Volume 1 on AppleMusic More information: Official Website Shay Plummer Interview on The Seventh Hex Tender Loving Empire Video: Sword of Truth Live at Treeport 2016

We discovered Wilmoth Houdini way back in episode seven! This album is a compilation of Calypso music recorded in the 1930s. Listen: Wilmoth Houdini on AppleMusic Wilmoth Houdini on WFMU More information: Wilmoth Houdini on Wikipedia Episode 7 Living in Hi-Fi Video: “Bobby Sox Idol" sampled by The Avalanches “Frankie Sinatra” by the Avalanches

A new to us crooner found via digital and acquired on vinyl. You’ll love his wide range and clear tones covering some lovely vocal standards. Listen: Encore on AppleMusic Encore on Amazon More information: John Gary on Wikipedia Tribute Website Video: Poor Butterfly with Arthur Godfrey and Dorothy Collins from Hollywood Palace TV show

This album looks like it might be a romantic pick for Valentine’s Day. Is it? And what exactly is a nib anyway? Listen: “Her Nibs” on Amazon More information: Georgia Gibbs on Wikipedia Video: Medley of Million Sellers

Some cheerful hot jazz violin will cure what ails ya. Listen: Afternoon in Paris on AppleMusic Afternoon in Paris on Amazon More information: Stephane Grappelli on Wikipedia 1989 Interview on NPR Video: Quintette du Hot Club du France Stephane Grappellie playing “Nuage” by Django Reinhardt with Julian Bream

A certain podcast host loves some affected man-singing voices, but does she love fake megaphone songs? Tune in this week for a novelty hit plus random songs from the 60s with vaudevillian affect. Listen: Winchester Cathedral on AppleMusic Winchester Cathedral on Amazon More information: New Vaudeville Band on Wikipedia See us at the Baltimore Record Bazaar! Video: New Vaudeville Band at the Hollywood Palace Mr. Show Monsters of Megaphone

You are in for the most precious husband and wife duo, ever, and perhaps the best Brazilian bossa nova album recorded in the US. Listen: Samba 68 on AppleMusic Samba 68 on Amazon More information: Marcos Valle on Wikipedia Marcos Valle on VinylFactory Video: Marcos Valle and Quarteto Em Cy on Andy Williams Show

We thought this would be an exotica album but it’s some lo-fi punk surf rock revival. Fire up your tiki torches anyway and have a listen! Listen: Savage Island on AppleMusic  Savage Island on Amazon More information: The Bomboras on Wikipedia Video: The Bomboras Live 1997

We got this album in a super roundabout way, but we finally got it! Some swinging intrepretations of jazz standards by a prolific, but under-recognized pianist. Listen: Cheerful Little Earful on AppleMusic More information: Johhny Guarnieri on Wikipedia Johnny Guarnieri on JazzProfiles Blog Video: Maple Leaf Rag in 5/4

Kawaii! Harajuku! J-Pop! We shake things up a little with a newer release. Apparently this business went viral in 2011 but we’re nerds so we’re just finding out about it now via listener contribution.  Listen: Pamyu Pamyu Revolution on Amazon Pamyu Pamyu Revolution on AppleMusic More information: Official Site Kyary Pamyu Pamyu on Wikipedia Video: Ponponpon Candy Candy

Teaser: Truly, this album has all the warning signs of being terrible. Christmas in the distant future of 2001, missionaries to outer space (?), low budget children’s music… But it’s actually pretty good! More information: Christmas 2001 on Discogs 2001 Songbook (put on the show for yourself!) Ralph Carmichael Video: “Robots” Flight of the Conchords

Part two of our holiday series, we bring you a low-key, yet festive Christmas album from movie composer extraordinaire, Henry Mancini. Listen: A Merry Mancini Christmas on AppleMusic A Merry Mancini Christmas on Amazon More information: Henry Mancini on Wikipedia Henry Mancini on Space Age Pop A Carol for Another Christmas (on TCM)

Perhaps the quintessential Christmas album? We encourage you to start your own Ray Conniff style caroling flash mob and take advantage of these extraordinarily festive arrangements of classic holiday songs. Listen: We Wish You a Merry Christmas on AppleMusic We Wish You a Merry Christmas on Amazon More information: Ray Conniff on Wikipedia Ray Conniff International Fan Page Ray Conniff on Space-Age Pop Video: Christmas TV Special

It's a special birthday episode! To celebrate co-host Steve's birthday, we count down the top four songs from the 3rd Festival Da Music Popular Brasiliera from 1967, via the 3-LP collection. Stay tuned for a most epic geek-out about Brazilian music and history. Listen: Uma Noite Em 67 Documentary DVD on Amazon More information: Caetano Veloso on Wikipedia Chico Buarque on Wikipedia Gilberto Gil on Wikipedia Edu Lobo on Wikipedia Órfãos do Loronix  Video: Caetano Veloso - Alegria Alegria Caetano Veloso - Alegria Alegria (another version)  Chico Buarque & MPB4 - Roda Viva Fernanda Porto Roda Viva Gilberto Gil and Os Mutantes - Domingo no Parque Edu Lobo - Ponteio Complete Documentary on YouTube (Portuguese, no subtitles) Interview with Chico Buarque (Portuguese, no subtitles)

A listener request brings us folk songs from all over the world and we trace the path of a one-man recording operation to booming multimedia empire. More information: Elektra Records on Wikipedia The Elektra Story by David Edwards, Mike Callahan and Patrice Eyries Follow the Music by Jac Holzman, et. al.  Video: Los Gitanillos de Cadiz

A staple of your local thrift store-dollar bin, and a long-time favorite artist of Living in Hi-Fi, Herb Alpert! All the upbeat, easy-listening brass you can handle, and some trivia about Herb Alpert’s diverse artistic interests. Listen: Going Places on AppleMusic Going Places on Amazon Going Places LP on Music Direct More information: Herb Alpert on Wikipedia Video: Silly Animated Short featuring “Spanish Flea” and “Tijuana Taxi” 1967 BBC Special

On this week’s episode, we feature a listener contribution! Pour yourself a margarita and settle in for some lively Tex-Mex accordion. Listen: Return of El Parche on AppleMusic Return of El Parche on Amazon More information: Steve Jordan on Wikipedia Steve Jordan on NPR Video: Steve Jordan in Born in East LA

This album could totally have been made today by some earnest hipsters. It could be you and your neighbor who home-brews playing jugs and washboards on the porch. But no! It’s from 1964. A playful and timeless album of early jazz, blues, and folk tunes. Listen: Ragtime Jug Stompers on AppleMusic Ragtime Jug Stompers on Amazon More information: Dave van Ronk on Wikipedia Video: Dave Van Ronk “St James Infirmary” for Folkways

We love Halloween! A rather silly impression of Bela Lugosi as Dracula introduces a solid hard bop jazz album from 1958. Listen: Blues for Dracula on AppleMusic Blues for Dracula on Amazon More information: Philly Joe Jones on Wikipedia Video: Drum Solo (maybe with Thelonius Monk?)

George Chakiris is a highly underrated vocalist. Best known for his role as Bernardo in West Side Story, in this self-titled album, George Chakiris sings effortless renditions of some pop standards. Listen: George Chakiris on AppleMusic More information: George Chakiris on Wikipedia George Chakiris Sterling Silver Jewelry Video: Opening Scene of Young Girls of Rochefort “America” from West Side Story

Wanda Sá (AKA Wanda de Sah) has the quintessential bossa nova singing voice: so sweet and gentle! It’s showcased beautifully in this American production on Capital from 1965. Listen: Softly! on AppleMusic Brasil ’65/Softly! on Amazon More information: Wanda Sá on Wikipedia Wanda Sá on NPR Video: Agua De Beber Wanda Sa with Roberto Menescal “Telefone”

Let’s head to the 1970s, the golden era for… belly dance? Indeed! This classic belly dance album that could be considered early “world fusion” with its traditional songs from the Middle East repackaged for American night clubs. Listen: Joy of Belly Dancing on AppleMusic Joy of Belly Dancing on Amazon Joy of Belly Dancing LP on Smithsonian Folkways More information: About Juliana on the Occidental Dancer Liner notes from Smithsonian Folkways release Video: My friend, Shems, choreography to Misirlou A lovely performance to Ya Mustapha by Naima

Listening to records isn't just a hobby, it's a lifestyle. A selection from RCA victor's Hi-Fi Living series sets the mood for lounging and romance. More information: For Hi-Fi Living (blog post series)

You'd think that by this album cover, you're in for some surf rock, but in fact, you'll find a collection of exotica themed pop songs with traditional Hawaiian vocal stylizations and sweet harmony. Easy listening for your next luau! Listen: The Surfers at High Tide on AppleMusic The Surfers at High Tide on Amazon More information: The Surfers on Oldies Connection The Surfers on Heros 5-0 Video: Not The Surfers you are looking for, but amazing nonetheless.

Shredding on the banjo? Yeah, that’s a thing. Let’s take a trip to Appalachia with some instrumental bluegrass from 1961 by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.   Listen: Foggy Mountain Banjo on Amazon Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show on DVD More information: Earl Scruggs on Wikipedia Lester Flatt on Wikipedia Video: Flatt & Scruggs on Grand Ole Opry

One of our all-time favorite albums! A staple of our collection from A&M records, Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66 perfectly fuse bossa nova and american pop. Stellar arrangement and crystal clear lady vocals make this album shine.   Listen: Look Around on AppleMusic Look Around on Amazon   More information:  Look Around on Wikipedia  Sérgio Mendes on Wikipedia   Video:  Sergio Mendes on "Hollywood Palace” with host Herb Alpert

This week we deliver a charming collection of foxtrots and such for dancing or for a simply sophisticated evening at home via London's long-time dance band leader, Sydney Lipton. Listen: Sweet Harmony & Dancing at the Grosvenor House on AppleMusic Sydney Lipton on Wikipedia Sydney Lipton on AllMusic   More Information: Stay at the Grosvenor House The Grosvenor House on Wikipedia   Video: NPF ball at the Grosvenor House

There’s more to Barry White than just his sexy baritone voice. This episode, we check out his masterful and funky proto-disco instrumental arrangements.   Listen: Rhapsody in White on AppleMusic   More Information: Love Unlimited Orchestra Barry White Monster Mini Golf   Video: Live on Soul Train

Have we mentioned that we love cha-cha? And Hammond organs? This rare release from 1959 on Liberty is the height of Latin-flavored easy listening with its nonchalant solos and minimalist instrumentation. Listen: John Buzon Trio on AppleMusic Ultra-Lounge on Wikipedia The Tonga Room