Get Lei'd!

Martin Denny - Hawaii Goes A Go-Go

Lounge music was largely on its way out by the late 1960's.  This 1966 LP was an attempt to cross-over to a more youthful audience and keep the party going!

In an effort to stay contemporary, Martin Denny does away with his fuller, more orchestral sound in favor of a lighter, discotech atmosphere.  In lieu of wild bird calls and exotic-sounding instruments, there's saccharine piano, hand claps, upbeat tempos and some real tinny-sounding electric guitar. 

Even the LP's cover art--  featuring a smart-looking blond with a confident gaze (and her finest go-go slacks!)-- pales in comparison to the surreal and forbidden women and landscapes from the exotica albums of a decade earlier. Like this one.

Overall, its not terrible... just seems like its trying a little too hard to stay relevant. 

RATING: 3 pairs of checkered hipster slacks out of a possible 5.