1996 was quite a year for Ultra Lounge. 12 Ultra volumes in 12 months. Add in the Fall '96 release of three double CD collections, a limited edition sampler and a Christmas CD for a final tally of 17 titles in one year. Problem is...the series started to suffer. Where as the first nine releases offered a brilliant and somewhat concise introduction into the world of forgotten music, by the second half of '96 Ultra Lounge appeared to be simply slinging out anything "cheesy" because if you slap "lounge" on it the kids will love it! Wrong, friends, and the backlash against this promising series began with these three completely forgettable volumes...
Volume 10: A Bachelor In Paris (Capitol 36130)
Romantic...atmospheric...the city of lights...espresso wafting through the air...filterless cigarettes hanging cavalierly from every lip. French men are always more handsome. French women are...well...French women! The tracks on A Bachelor In Paris play on your sense of the romantic. Get rid of that bulky dining room table and pick up some little metal cafe tables. Some uncomfortable metal chairs will help turn your living room into a Franch bistro. Light up an imported cig, flip on your beret, and talk to your lover like Maurice Chevalier (if male) or Leslie Caron (if female). With A Bachelor In Paris as a soundtrack...the night will be oooh-la-la!
- I Love Paris (Sam Butera & The Witnesses)
- Song From Moulin Rouge (The Jonah Jones Quartet)
- Milord (Les Baxter)
- Under Paris Skies/La La Colette (Joe "Fingers" Carr)
- Valentina (Elmer Bernstein & The Swinging Bon Vivants)
- Parisian Women (Cy Coleman)
- Mon Amour, O Mon Amour/La Panse (Les Baxter)
- C'est Magnifique (Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra)
- Vive L'Amour (Dicky Doo & The Dont's)
- April In Paris (The Mighty Accordian Band)
- The Poor People Of Paris (Billy May/Les Baxter)
- French Rat Race (The Double Six Of Paris)
- Petite Fleur (Henri Rene)
- The Clown On The Eiffel Tower (Les Baxter)
- La Vie En Rose (Sam Butera & The Witnesses)
- C'est Si Bon (Terry Snyder/Jack Cooper)
- I Love Paris (Jack Costanzo)
- Can, Can, Can (Jerry Shard)
Imagine, if you will, the smooth sound of Hammond organs racing through some of the most memorable tunes of all time: "Girl From Ipanema", "The Third Man Theme", "Patricia" and more. Imagine these mighty Hammonds helmed by the likes of Martin Denny, , Walter Wanderley, Denny McLain, Billy May and many others. Imagine all this and soon you'll be taking off to spend a little time with Organs In Orbit.
- Rockhouse (The Ernie Freeman Combo)
- Ill Wind (The John Buzon Trio)
- The Girl From Ipanema/Meditation (Denny McLain)
- Love Is Just Around The Corner (Jackie Davis)
- Movini At Midnight (Sir Julian)
- Voc I E Eu (Walter Wanderley)
- Liil Darlini (The Joe Bucci Trio)
- Patricia (Billy May & His Orchestra)
- The Third Man Theme (The Don Baker Trio)
- A Man And A Woman (Sir Julian)
- Mr. Ghost Goes To Town (The John Buzon Trio)
- Laura/More (Denny McLain)
- Perfidia (Jackie Davis)
- The Late, Late Show (Milt Buckner)
- Fever/Comini Home Baby (The Ernie Freeman Combo)
- Flying Fiddles (Shay Torrent)
- Song Of The Bayou (Martin Denny)
- Enchanted Farm (The Forbidden Five)
Volume 12: Saxophobia (Capitol 37598)
The saxophone. It can be sinister. It can be romantic. It can rock the house or turn the blues on its ear. Ultimately danceable and ever so cool, these sax-fuelled tracks open a backroom in the Ultra Lounge for hipsters only! If you can't snap, take a nap! Featuring the finest honkers and squonkers in the world with Sam Butera, Plas Johnson, King Curtis, Count Basie and a cast of others!
- I Dig (Les Baxter)
- Street Scene (Sam Butera)
- All Or Nothing At All (George Auld)
- Bernieis Tune (Curley Hamner/Milt Buckner)
- Watermelon Man (King Curtis)
- Volare (Nelson Riddle)
- Tanya (Plas Johnson)
- Samba De Orfeu (Bill Perkins)
- Peter Gunn Twist/Tequila With A Twist (Ray Anthony & His Bookends)
- Goldfinger (Count Basie & His Orchestra)
- Caravan (Gordon Jenkins)
- Speakeasy Blues (Nelson Riddle)
- One Mint Julep (Earl Palmer/King Curtis)
- Ebb Tide (Out-Islanders)
- The Big Twist (Plas Johnson)
- Harlem Nocturne (Louis Prima & Sam Butera)
- The Misfits (Don Costa)
- Bongo Bash/Sax Con Rilmo (Pepe Dominguin/Jack Costanzo)
