http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1083&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rssLes Baxter was an innovator of two forms of easy listening lounge music: exotica and space age pop. A fair jazz pianist, Baxter's real strengths were as an arranger. In the late 1940s, he started bringing exotic, percussion-heavy instrumentation together with lush, melodic strings and elements of big band swing. During this post-World War Two period, Baxter's island-mad exotic themes worked as aural vacations for newly transplanted suburbanites and his music also became a staple in Polynesian-themed Tiki bars. With song titles such as "Taboo," "City of Veils," and "Harem Silks from Bombay," it's easy to see how Baxter's music (like the Tiki lounges the music was played in) was built around hopeful eroticism as much as dreamy exoticism. In 1958, Baxter shot his steamy sounds up to the heavens with <I>Space Escapade</I>, which imaged islands in the sky full of booze and willing women who came in every color of the rainbow. After this, Baxter kept updating his signature sound for the changing times but by the late 1960s his music started to sound old fashioned. Ironically, this was an era when America's youth started acting like the very same wild, lascivious natives who were portrayed as fantasy objects in Baxter's songs. Thankfully, there's been a revived interest in Baxter's "movies for the ears" music. Long considered "cheesy," much of Baxter's work is highly imaginative and often exploratory in nature (for instance, an exotic theme in an unusual tempo will suddenly kick into a hot jazz number in 4/4 time before spinning off into an entirely new direction). But Les Baxter was never pretentious about being musically inventive and the sheer entertainment value found in his work is the main reason his old records are once again in print. - Nick DedinaVintage Loungeen720Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:22:07 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1083&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Les Baxter was an innovator of two forms of easy listening lounge music: exotica and space age pop. A fair jazz pianist, Baxter's real strengths were as an arranger. In the late 1940s, he started bringing exotic, percussion-heavy instrumentation together with lush, melodic strings and elements of big band swing. During this post-World War Two period, Baxter's island-mad exotic themes worked as aural vacations for newly transplanted suburbanites and his music also became a staple in Polynesian-themed Tiki bars. With song titles such as "Taboo," "City of Veils," and "Harem Silks from Bombay," it's easy to see how Baxter's music (like the Tiki lounges the music was played in) was built around hopeful eroticism as much as dreamy exoticism. In 1958, Baxter shot his steamy sounds up to the heavens with <I>Space Escapade</I>, which imaged islands in the sky full of booze and willing women who came in every color of the rainbow. After this, Baxter kept updating his signature sound for the changing times but by the late 1960s his music started to sound old fashioned. Ironically, this was an era when America's youth started acting like the very same wild, lascivious natives who were portrayed as fantasy objects in Baxter's songs. Thankfully, there's been a revived interest in Baxter's "movies for the ears" music. Long considered "cheesy," much of Baxter's work is highly imaginative and often exploratory in nature (for instance, an exotic theme in an unusual tempo will suddenly kick into a hot jazz number in 4/4 time before spinning off into an entirely new direction). But Les Baxter was never pretentious about being musically inventive and the sheer entertainment value found in his work is the main reason his old records are once again in print. - Nick Dedina http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.27100416&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Mon, 2 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.27100416 alb.27100416 Les Baxter art.1083 9.99 The Exotic Moods Of Les Baxter alb.27100416 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/8/8/1618890_170x170.jpg 2009-02-02 00:00:00.0 2009-02-02 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.27100416&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.27100416&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.19381636&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 4 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.19381636 alb.19381636 Les Baxter art.1083 6.99 Tamboo! alb.19381636 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/0/3/4/1204305_170x170.jpg 2008-03-04 00:00:00.0 null true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.19381636&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.19381636&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7357884&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Sun, 1 Sep 1974 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.7357884 alb.7357884 Les Baxter art.1083 7.99 Moog Rock alb.7357884 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/9/1/7/717195_170x170.jpg 1974-09-01 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7357884&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7357884&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29587556&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Mon, 7 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.29587556 alb.29587556 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 Tamboo! alb.29587556 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/7/2/9/1769277_170x170.jpg 2009-09-07 00:00:00.0 2005-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29587556&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29587556&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.269571&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 5 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0800 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.269571 alb.269571 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 The Academy Award Winners/The Soul of the Drums alb.269571 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/9/9/5/555991_170x170.jpg 2002-11-05 00:00:00.0 2002-11-05 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.269571&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.269571&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.173011&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 13 Aug 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.173011 alb.173011 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 Voices in Rhythm alb.173011 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/9/2/5/555296_170x170.jpg 2002-08-13 00:00:00.0 2002-08-13 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.173011&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.173011&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.230119&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 3 Oct 2000 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.230119 alb.230119 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 The Pop Side alb.230119 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/1/6/3/4/444361_170x170.jpg 2000-10-03 00:00:00.0 2000-10-03 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.230119&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.230119&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.253011&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 9 Feb 1999 00:00:00 -0800 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.253011 alb.253011 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 Les Baxter [Madacy] alb.253011 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/0/1/4/544108_170x170.jpg 1999-02-09 00:00:00.0 1999-02-09 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.253011&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.253011&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169435&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 20 Oct 1998 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.169435 alb.169435 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 The Best of Les Baxter [Cema] alb.169435 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/6/0/5/535062_170x170.jpg 1998-10-20 00:00:00.0 1998-10-20 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169435&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169435&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821916&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Fri, 6 Dec 1996 00:00:00 -0800 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.29821916 alb.29821916 Les Baxter art.1083 8.99 By Popular Request alb.29821916 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/1/6/5/1785614_170x170.jpg 1996-12-06 00:00:00.0 1996-12-06 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821916&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821916&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.218349&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 9 Jul 1996 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.218349 alb.218349 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 The Exotic Moods Of Les Baxter alb.218349 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/9/0/3/383094_170x170.jpg 1996-07-09 00:00:00.0 1996-07-09 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.218349&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.218349&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.313333&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.313333 alb.313333 Les Baxter art.1083 9.99 Baxter's Best alb.313333 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/7/0/1210744_170x170.jpg 2008-04-01 00:00:00.0 1996-06-25 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.313333&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.313333&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.237195&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Mon, 1 Jan 1996 00:00:00 -0800 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.237195 alb.237195 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 By Popular Request alb.237195 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/4/8/5/385848_170x170.jpg 1996-01-01 00:00:00.0 1996-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.237195&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.237195&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821915&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Fri, 8 Sep 1995 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.29821915 alb.29821915 Les Baxter art.1083 5.99 The Lost Episode alb.29821915 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/6/5/1785612_170x170.jpg 1995-09-08 00:00:00.0 1995-09-08 00:00:00.0 true false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821915&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.29821915&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.124355&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.124355 alb.124355 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 The Lost Episode alb.124355 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/2/3/5/115328_170x170.jpg null 1995-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false single http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.124355&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.124355&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7226211&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.7226211 alb.7226211 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 Colors of Brazil/African Blue alb.7226211 null 1993-12-09 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7226211&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.7226211&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.253225&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 22 Oct 1991 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.253225 alb.253225 Les Baxter art.1083 7.99 Colors Of Brazil / African Blue alb.253225 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/7/8/7/397877_170x170.jpg 1991-10-22 00:00:00.0 1991-10-22 00:00:00.0 true false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.253225&variant=play&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.253225&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169425&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.169425 alb.169425 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 Que Mango! alb.169425 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/2/3/5/115324_170x170.jpg null 1970-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169425&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.169425&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.208258&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss Vintage Lounge Tue, 17 Oct 2000 00:00:00 -0700 Les Baxter Discography on Rhapsody Online alb.208258 alb.208258 Les Baxter art.1083 0.0 Tamboo/Skins alb.208258 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/0/7/0/450700_170x170.jpg 2000-10-17 00:00:00.0 1954-01-01 00:00:00.0 false false main-release http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.208258&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.208258&variant=data&rws=%2Fles-baxter%2Fdiscography.rss