The Leopard-Skin Sampler
(Capitol 38378)

Way back at the beginning of 1996, Capitol Records launched the now mighty Ultra-Lounge series. Swinging collections of hipster madness, each set of six have been preceeded by promotional samplers. Perhaps you are among those lucky enough to have received the swinging coaster material cover. Maybe you got a simple cardboard sleeve. Those truly swank and especially blessed found a way to acquire the swankest and swingingest of all...the legendary leopard-skin sampler. Very few and even farther between than a martini at a Southern Baptist convention, when this treasure was first released (as a promotional only item), it contained 4 tracks from each of the first six in the Ultra-Lounge series.

Then Capitol started receiving cards and letters and emails from all those swingers who either saw the original or heard of it in reverent whispers over Camparis in the south of France. Capitol tried to resist...tried to ignore to flood of demands...until finally, they could take it no longer!!! So on September 20, 1996, Capitol will cave to the masses and release a retail version of the near mythical Leopard-skin sampler. In the finest tradition of limited editons, this has the same packaging as the promotional only release, but now encompasses the first 12 volumes of the series. Two tracks from each of the volumes...fuzzy, furry leopard skin digi-pak...12 page booklet...and only 15,000 to be made! Anyway you look at this, you simply have to have this one. Truly a suave addition to any swinging collection!

Tracks: Swampfire (Martin Denny)...Voodoo Dreams/Voodoo (Les Baxter)...Taki Rari (Yma Sumac)...Glow Worm Cha-Cha-Cha (Jackie Davis)...Holiday For Strings (The Voices Of Walter Schumann)...Lonesome Road (Dean Elliott)...Theme From Route 66 (Nelson Riddle)...Melancholy Serenade (King Curtis)... Jump, Jive An' Wail (Louis Prima)...More (Bobby Darin)...Girl Talk (Howard Roberts)...Go Slow (Julie London)...Peter Gunn Theme (Ray Anthony)...Search For Vulcan (Leroy Holmes)...Pink Panther Theme (Hollywood Studio Orchestra)...Touch Me Tiger (April Stevens)...Cha-Cha-Cha d'Amour (Dean Martin)...So Nice (Billy May)...French Rat Race (The Double Six of Paris)....I Love Paris (Jack Constanzo)...Rockhouse (Ernie Freeman Combo)...Mr. Ghost Goes To Town (John Buzon Trio)...Bernie's Tune (Curley Hamner/Milt Buckner)...Tango (Plas Johnson)

Christmas Cocktails
(Capitol 52559)

Did you realize the winter holidays are rushing at us like Dean Martin to an open bar? Those shopping days are fltying past and soon the path to your favorite cocktail lounge will be paved with snow. Planning a hipster holiday party but wondering what to play? The Ultra-Lounge provides your solution with the September 3, 1996 release of Christmas Cocktails. slip this on and mambo with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Jingle some bells with the Hollyridge Strings. Take a ski trip with Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani. Or simply swing with the holiday cheer of Julie London, Dean Martin, Jackie Gleason Peggy Lee and more!!! The weather outside might get frightful, but Christmas Cocktail will insure a cozy hipsters paradise wherever it goes...

Tracks: Rudolph The Red Noed Reindeer Mambo (Billy May)...Winter Wonderland (Peggy Lee)...Christmas Trumpets/We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Ray Anthony)...Christmas Is (Lou Rawls)...Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town/White Christmas (Jimmy McGriff)...I'd Like You For Christmas (Julie London)...Holiday On Skis (Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani)...(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag (Kay Starr)...Jingle Bells/Jingle Bell Rock (Hollyridge Strings)...I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Dean Martin)...I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus/Jingle Bells Bossa Nova (Eddie Dunstedter)...Christmas Kisses (Ray Anthony)...I'll Be Home For Christmas/Baby It's Cold Outside (Jackie Gleason/Jack Marshall)...What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (Nancy Wilson)...Cha-Cha All The Way (Capitol Studio Orchestra)...The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) (Nat King Cole)...The Nutcracker Suite (Les Brown & His Band Of Renown)...Ring Those Christmas Bells (Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians)