There's Something in the (Fresh) Air

The Baja Marimba Band - "Fresh Air" (1969) - A & M Records

Hello Friends,

These zany cats are back for their Ninth record!  Can you believe it?  Originally a side project (and novelty act) of Herb Alpert's percussionist, Julius Wechter, The Baja Marimba Band survived the 60's and were still going (somewhat) strong 9 albums in!

Slightly more relaxed and less manic than some of their previous records, the highlights being their take on the Mexican Ranchera song, "Cielito Lindo" (aka the Frito Bandito's theme song); Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Wave"; the haunting takes on "Eleanor Rigby" and "The Windmills of Your Mind" (aka the theme song from the movie, The Thomas Crown Affair); the dueling marimbas in "I'll Marimba You"; and what is arguably the album's best track, "Madagascar".

As an added bonus, the album also feature Julius Wechter's singing debut on the Loesser & Styne song, "I Don't Wanna Walk Without You."  Stick to your day job Jules!

Besides the clever title and funny mustaches another running joke on these records is how there always seems to be someone pissing in the background on the album cover!  Keepin' it classy!  

Maybe that's where The Who got the idea for the Who's Next cover art?!?

RATING: 3.5 windmills of your cabezas out of 5 

7 Days of Xmas: "Something Festive" (1968)

Various Artists - "Something Festive" (1968) - A & M Records

Hello Friends,

Thinking about inviting the cute neighbor girl over for a little pre-Holiday cocktail?  Sounds good to us!  Its the Holidays, after all!  

"Lucky snowman"
(Bettie Page)

Get those lights on the tree working, open up that bottle of Red you've been saving and to "seal the deal" drop the needle on this 1968 compilation album put out by Herb Alpert & A&M Records.

Ten tracks from A&M artists, including some sublime easy listening Latin Jazz with Herb Alpert and TJB ("Winter Wonderland", "Jingle Bell Rock"), Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 ("The Christmas Song") and the Baja Marimba band ("Partridge in a Pear Tree", "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen").  

There's also Burt Bacharach ("The Bell That Couldn't Jingle"), We Five ("My Favorite Things"), Pete Jolly ("Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"), a manic-sounding Liza Minnelli ("Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy") and the hot French gun-enthusiast/husband killer, Claudine Longet ("Snow").



Something Festive, indeed!

RATING: 4 Bells That Couldn't Jingle out of 5

Comin' in the Back Door

¡ Ay Caramba !

The Baja Marimba Band - "Baja Marimba Band" (1964) - A&M Records

Hola Friends,

We're going down tonight-- South of the Border-style-- with the debut album by the legendary Baja Marimba Band!

Led by marimba player extraordinaire, Julius Wechter, and produced/arranged by one Mr. Herb Alpert, The Baja Marimba Band was formed in part to cash in on the fiesta-style music started by the likes of the Tijuana Brass and Sergio Mendes in the early 1960's.  Their whimsical, laid-back lounge style has its roots in latin jazz and Exotica.  (In fact, Wechter, a talented percussionist, cut his teeth playing with Martin Denny in the 50's.)  

The songs are percussion-heavy (lots of bongos, vibes and marimbas, obviously), with flamenco guitar, the occasional brassy burst and spaghetti western-type wordless choruses thrown in for good measure!  The song selections range from melodic and atmospheric ("Maria Elena", "Charade", "Samba de Orpheu" "December's Child") to downright zany ("Up Cherry Street" & "Acapulco 1922")!  

"Comin' in the Back Door" would be the group's first and highest-charting single.

And don't let the fake mustaches and sombreros fool you, this band was about as Mexican as a Burrito Bowl from Taco Bell!

RATING: 4 Frito Banditos out of 5