DON CUNNINGHAM QUARTET Something for Everyone LP'65 playboy private HEAR exotica

DON CUNNINGHAM QUARTET 1965 Exclusive LP Something for Everyone Cover: N/A Album cover not included Record: Good+ very slight edge warp, plays through, actual sound samples from random needle drops belowDON CUNNINGHAM QUARTETSomething for EveryoneExtremely rare 1965 original (only 500 pressed) much sought-after, this offering is for the vinyl LP record only.Cover Condition: N/A, Album cover not includedVinyl Condition: Good+, very slight edge warp, plays through, actual sound samples from random needle drops belowSee Item Specifics section above for additional details(clickable images enlarge)Tracks:A1AngelinaA2I'm Your SlaveA3Quiet VillageA4TabuB1Manha De CarnivalB2SylvieB3Samba De OrpheuCredits?Bass – John MixonBird Calls – Don Cunningham, Manny QuinteroBongos – Don CunninghamCello – John MixonChimes – Marion MillerCongas – Don CunninghamDrums – Manny QuinteroMarimba – Don CunninghamOrchestra Bells – Marion MillerPiano – Marion MillerSaxophone – Don CunninghamSteel Drums – Don CunninghamTimbales – Don Cunningham, Manny QuinteroTree Bells – Don CunninghamVibraphone – Don CunninghamVocals – Don CunninghamWood Logs – Don CunninghamReviewby Scott YanowThis very obscure set by the Don Cunningham Quartet was originally sold only at the St. Louis Playboy Club at the time of its release in 1965 and only 500 copies of the original Lp were made. The four players are obscure but talented and the music, which includes a few ballad vocals by Cunningham, his catchy singing on "Angelina" and some infectious Latin jazz instrumentals, deserved to be more widely heard. The playing time is brief but most of the performances are memorable in their own way. Cunningham proves to be quite versatile, playing vibes like Cal Tjader, singing in a couple different styles and also being heard on tenor sax, marimbas, steel drum and a variety of percussion instruments.on Cunningham’s record arrives with the sort of history that sells itself. The multi-instrumentalist and avowed Les Baxter aficionado had a resume that included sessions with Esquivel and three and a half years touring the world with Johnny Mathis. Fresh from the Mathis gig, in 1965 he put together a quartet for a gig at the St. Louis Playboy Club. Instead of playing the sort of cocktail jazz that one would usually expect to hear at such an establishment, they spiked the music with exotica, calypso, and the then newly-emergent bossa nova sound. They gained just enough of a following for them to press 500 copies of an LP to sell from the bandstand. The group split up in 1968, and that was almost the end of the story. However, “Tabu,” a track from that LP, became a cult hit with jazz-dance DJs over 30 years later. Finally, after DJs and mere mortals alike prayed in vain to the goddesses of vinyl to send them a copy of the now impossibly-rare album, reissue specialists Luv N’Haight have bestowed mercy upon us all by issuing it on CD.Joined by a piano trio, Don Cunningham plays a truly impressive arsenal of percussion instruments, takes an occasional vocal, and also blows sax. Something For Everyone strives to live up to its title by dipping into many different styles of music, but is at its best on the two tracks of straight-up exotica: “Tabu” and “Quiet Village.” Both tracks are up-tempo numbers that also show the influence of the Ramsey Lewis Trio’s funky jazz, but with the crucial addition of vibes. “Quiet Village” is a Les Baxter composition that became the exotica standard after Martin Denny scored a national hit with his cover version. And while Cunningham’s “Quiet Village” retains the birdcalls and melodic trade-offs between piano and vibes that made Denny’s version so memorable, he also adds his own stamp through the increase of tempo and rhythmic variations, making the song closer to a cha-cha than the languid pace of the Denny version. “Tabu,” the track that earned the enthusiasm of those DJs, shifts from an atmospheric intro and outro for flute and boobams to a funky main theme for vibes to a solo for timbales while the pianist quotes Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out” underneath.The other tracks aren’t quite as impressive, but are still enjoyable. Something For Everyone actually opens with its weakest track-“Angelina”, an enthusiastic calypso number that gives Cunningham a chance to play the steel drums. “I’m Your Slave” is a dramatic film-noir ballad with an S&M theme (think I’m kidding? Check out these lyrics: “Keep me bound, keep me chained/’Till I’m almost insane/Don’t set me free/I long to be your slave”!). Cunningham’s vocal here recalls his old boss, Johnny Mathis. He also demonstrates the influence of Harry Belafonte during a smooth version of Leadbelly’s song “Sylvie.”The album also features two bossa nova numbers, both taken from Luis Bonfa’s score to the classic film Black Orpheus. “Manha De Carnival” gives Cunningham a chance to play some Stan Getz-style sax lines, but I prefer “Samba De Orpheu”. It begins with the bass stating the melody and features a shifting arrangement that allows everyone a chance to solo.Something For Everyone gives a fascinating glimpse of what a working exotica band actually sounded like. This isn’t the place to start if you’re just getting into exotica (check out Esquivel’s best-of Space Age Bachelor Pad Music or some of Capitol’s Ultra Lounge CDs instead), but it is a major find for confirmed exotica buffs.Reviewed by: Jim StorchReviewed on: 2003-09-01Ridiculously rare vinyl, superb musicianship, and a Playboy club are ingredients that make the Don Cunningham Quartet's "Something For Everyone" album so tasty. Luv N'Haight is proud to preserve and re-issue one of the most collectible and highly sought-after jazz-dance records."Bunnies plus food and drink equals good time."Brad Holiday's original liner notes (featured on the back of this album) tell it like it was. Don Cunningham, Marion Miller, John Mixon, and Manny Quintero formed the Don Cunningham quartet and played "The Living Room" at Hugh Hefner's St. Louis branch of the Playboy Club between 1965 and 1968. Their music was different from that of the jazz mainstays playing in "The Penthouse Room." It was also different from any act in St. Louis at the time."Before forming the Quartet I traveled to Fiji, Australia, the Caribbean and beyond as part of the Johnny Mathis group," explains Cunningham. "On these tours I discovered the "island sound," which was something I'd never been exposed to before. It was enchanting, mysterious and sexual."The Quartet's unique blend of exotica, Latin and Brazilian rhythms, jazz and easy listening was a perfect fit for the Playboy club."I was influenced by having seen Arthur Lyman, Cal Tjader, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, and Harry Belafonte play live. Not to mention that I was buying all the Les Baxter I could get!" adds Cunningham. The band's sound caught the attention of Bob Webb, a wealthy local businessman. As a friend of piano player Marion Miller he'd learned of the Quartets popularity."I don't want to work, you work, I'll put up the money," Miller recalls Webb 's words.Webb fronted the funds for Miller to create Exclusive records, releasing three albums and two 45rpm singles, including the "Something For Everyone" LP."The music was only sold locally. We never looked up a distributor and we really didn't have a regular record deal," says Miller.Don Cunningham only remembers selling and giving-away the album at Playboy appearances and to a few friends outside of club hours. Only 500 copies were ever printed, some mono, some stereo, it's not known how many of each format.Of all the tracks on the album "Tabu" has been the biggest hit with the jazz-dance crowd. That track is the reason many collectors have the album on their wants lists. It remains a tune worthy of heavy DJ play. "Something For Everyone" has been at the top of my wants list for about 10 years now. All my other wants I have managed to track down over the years, but to own an original copy of the Don Cunningham album is as illusionary as driving a Rolls Royce," says producer/DJ Rainer Truby of Compost Records."Not only is it a rare album it is also a good one. "Tabu" to me is the mother of all jazzdance records! A welcome release! I'm curious to check the rest of the LP, but "Tabu" is more than enough of a reason to stroll down to your local record dealer," he adds.Miller and Cunningham are surprised but obviously very happy with the current interest in the album. Both are still active musicians and hope that this re-issue may stimulate even more work for them. At time of writing Cunningham was on the road with his wife, appearing as The Cunninghams on tour with the Count Basie band."It's great that the album is being re-issued. There's truly a quality of music on it that has been missed for so long. In a way it's world music - Polynesian, samba, Brazil, jazz, West Indian. It has the energy of Latin and funk records. It's inspired by - but is not really - easy listening, you couldn't exactly sleep in our "Quiet Village!"" says Cunningham.Andrew Jervis.Ubiquity, February 2003.playboy private latin groupDON CUNNINGHAM QUARTET 1965 Exclusive LP Something for Everyone Cover: N/A Album cover not included Record: Good+ very slight edge warp, plays through, actual sound samples from random needle drops belowThis exquisite slice of retro music history is a vinyl sound recording (not a CD). Please reference Item Specifics above foradditional detail.Strict Goldmine grading -- Over 14 years on eCRATER! Combine Items to Save $$$!©A Sound DealPowered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution