Liner Note Author: Denny Christianson.

Illustrator: Michael Uhlenkott.

Released almost exactly one year after Martin Denny's death, this 2006 compilation offers up a fine sampling of the easy-listening icon's "exotica" style. While the 19-track set doesn't provide dates for individual songs, the selections are clearly from Denny's late-1950s/early-'60s heyday, a time when the Hawaiian "tiki" trend reached mainland America with the force of a tropical storm. Marked by a global arsenal of light percussion and animal calls, Denny's chiming tunes are almost immediately identifiable, with a spare melody always providing the springboard for a stunningly eclectic array of literal bells and whistles. Among the many charming and breezy songs on the collection are Denny's dreamy hit single "Quiet Village," the sparkling (and aptly titled) "Hypnotique," and "Miserlou," a slow, slinky counterpart to Dick Dale's revved-up surf rendition. In addition to the disc's 18 mesmerizing songs, EXOTICA also includes a brief interview with the composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist, making it an excellent showcase of Denny's swanky, thoroughly entertaining sound.

Since the mid-'90s resurgence of easy listening or space age bachelor pad music, the majority of both original LPs and compilations by the pioneers of the genre -- Esquivel, Les Baxter, Arthur Lyman, and Martin Denny -- saw a glut of reissues, both good and bad. Unfortunately, the best of those discs aren't as easy to find some ten years later as they once were, making this 2006 compilation a welcome arrival. The 19 tracks on The Best of Martin Denny's Exotica are original recordings from his late-'50s/early-'60s Liberty albums and include the hits "Exotica," the Les Baxter-penned "Quiet Village," "Hypnotique," "Jungle Drums," and "The Enchanted Isle." Also of special interest is a previously unreleased five-minute interview with Denny and heartfelt liner notes penned by his daughter Christina. This is an enjoyable sampler courtesy of Capitol's recurring Ultra Lounge series. ~ Al Campbell