Living In Hi-fi

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