Welcome to The Tuna Melt Music Sharity Blog!

It is here that I post old records that I've ripped
to Mp3 format (and grouped in .ZIP files) via File Sharing Sites,
album cover scans and, sometimes,
somewhat coherent ramblings related to said shares.

Most of the items shared are rips of Out-of-Print
(or, at least, very difficult to acquire)
Vinyl Records from my own collection,
or Compilations ("Seasonal" or "Genre-Specific") made up of Mp3 files
either digitally collected or ripped from Compact Disk.

Come on in. Look around.
Scroll downward to find available links.
I hope you find something you like.

If you don't,
you can always come back later, as the variety
of what is made available should be pretty wide-ranging.


Showing posts with label Hawaii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaii. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Sammy Laului Orchestra: Hawaiian Wedding Song


Like a Budget Hawaiian Vacation


As we complete our tour around the mighty Pacific Ocean, we approach the shore of Waikiki only to discover a record on Diplomat Records! Diplomat, one of several labels of Synthetic Plastics (of Newark, NJ), was the Budget Record Label to End All Budget Record Labels. My record doesn't even list an artist name on the sleeve or the label. Luckily, the record was released with several different variations on the sleeve over the years and some of them identified the music as being performed by the Sammy Laului Orchestra: a group with such a wide range of different sounds that it's almost difficult to believe the entire record is by the same combo.

It's a nice record, though, and should help you to relax at the end of a long, hard day. If you find yourself thinking that the song "Island's Goodbye" sounds an awful lot like "Now Is the Hour", you're correct. You are also correct if you find yourself thinking that much of this album sounds remarkably (EXACTLY!) like the album "Hawaiian Enchantment", by Luke Leilani, on Spin-O-Rama Records or, perhaps "Hawaiian Enchantment", by The Hawaiian Islanders, on Wyncote.

  1. Hawaiian Wedding Song
  2. Dreams of Hawaii
  3. Waikiki Moods
  4. White Sands
  5. Girl of the Island
  6. Hawaiian Skies
  7. Island's Goodbye
  8. Chanting Waves
  9. Isle of Dreams
  10. Hula Moola

Friday, September 11, 2009

Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau / Hui Ohana


The Real Music of Hawai'i


As summer winds down and the temperature begins to drop the moments spent in the backyard with a Mai Tai or a Tonga Punch become fewer and farther between. That's why the right music is so important during this time of year. Don't let the end of summer be ruined by limiting yourself to continued listenings of that same old "Reparata & The Delrons" album you've been listening to repeatedly since 1964.

Allow The Tuna Melt to, once again, whisk you away to a magical place where the sun shines bright, the palm trees sway in a warm breeze and you live in constant fear of being struck in the noggin' by falling coconuts; Hawai'i!

This is the REAL music of Hawai'i. Of course, I realize that Reggae is Huge in Hawai'i these days, and I remain a large fan of good ol' Hapa Haole hits with which we're all so familiar as well as Exotica (perhaps my favorite of all these genres). But Slack-Key Guitar is a truly original Hawai'ian art form. This is really beautiful music.

The first group represented here is "Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau". The group was founded in 1976 and led by Skippy Kamakawiwoʻole. It's best known member, however, was probably Skippy's brother Israel , who later became enormously famous (as well as, due to a genetic disorder, simply enormous) as a ukulele player of great creativity and virtuosity. "No Kristo" is their premier album, from 1976 on Poki Records, and is guaranteed to send your thoughts to ports of pleasure.



Makaha Sons of Ni'iahau: No Kristo
  1. Hanakeoki
  2. Pua Tubarose
  3. Waikiki Hula
  4. Morning Dew
  5. Manu Kolohe
  6. Hele Mai
  7. E Nonoi I Ka Haaku / Kanaka Waiwa
  8. Po'e Koa
  9. Freedom of Makaha
  10. Nane
  11. Papalina Lahilahi
  12. No Kristo
Next are two albums by one of my favorite Slack-key groups of all time: Hui Ohana. Led (no pun intended) by Ledward Kaʻapana and featuring his brother Nedward and cousin Dennis Pavao, Hui Ohana were at the forefront of the Hawai'ian Music Renaissance of the 70s.

Hui Ohana: Young Hawaii Plays Old Hawaii
  1. Nani Waimea
  2. Salomila
  3. E Liliu E
  4. E Mama E
  5. 'Ulupalakua
  6. Sweet Lei Mokihana
  7. U'i Lani
  8. Kaloaloa
  9. Pua Lililehua
  10. Nanakuli
  11. Pua Maeole
  12. Hula O Makee
  13. Pui Lilia


Hui Ohana: Ono
  1. Hele On to Kauai
  2. Magic Island
  3. Punahoa Special (Slack Key Instrumental)
  4. Kaulana Kawihae
  5. Hanalei Moon
  6. Ke Kali Nei Au (The Hawaiian Wedding Song)
  7. Ka'a Ahi Kahului
  8. Pili Aloha
  9. Kaulana Na Pua
  10. Wai Ulu
  11. Granada (Ukulele Solo Instrumental)
  12. Blue Darlin'
Onipa'a E Na Lei O Hawai'i

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Webley Edwards Presents Hawaii Calls: A Merry Hawaiian Christmas


Merry Christmas!!!


I'm sorry. You thought you were getting WHAT for Christmas!?!
Well... At least the ol' Tuna Melt is here to help you out! What we got here is "A Merry Hawaiian Christmas"!!! It's a record by Webley Edwards and features a guy named Boyce Kihaiihikapuokalani!!! How Cool Is That!?!

  1. Kani Kani Pele (Jingle Bells)
  2. Ke Keiki Alii (The Child King)
  3. White Christmas
  4. Winter Wonderland
  5. Ka Hikina Mai (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)
  6. Hele Mai Oukou (O Come All Ye Faithful)
  7. 12 Days of Christmas — In Hawaii
  8. Hamau! Na Anelá (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing)
  9. Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)
  10. Po La'i E (Silent Night)
I sincerely hope that all is well, and peaceful, for you and your's, and that This Christmas is the Best Ever!!!

Oh! And MERRY CHRISTMAS from The Bakkers, too!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Have a Cocktail and Pal Around at Tuna Melt!

I present here two spectacular posts from other blogs that are directly related to items that can be found here on the Tuna Melt.

First up is another of the series of records put out by RCA Victor, back in the very early 60s, to promote their new mastering technique called Dynagroove. "Supercussion," by Dick Schory's Percussion Pops Orchestra, is presented by our buddy Lounge Tracks, operator of the magnificent Zip Your Rip.

Be sure to go get it, leave a nice "Thank You" and look all around at his other generous and wonderful offerings.

Dick Shory's Percussion Pops Orchestra: Supercussion


Next is a post from last month on one of the newer blogs to enter into Vinyl Sharity Lounge, 's Marvelous Distro, which is run by a lady named Annie D. who has already, in the short time since the blog popped up in February, exibited very fine taste in Out-of-Print Vinyl Music.

Here you'll find a 4 disc set from Reader's Digest called "South Sea Island Magic." It's similar to the 5 disc set that I posted back in February, "Hawaiian Paradise," and is filled with extremely nice music of the Islands. The link I include here is simply for the month of March (as each disc was posted separately), so I hope you'll use this as an introduction to the quality work that Annie D. puts out every Friday. Note, too, the logo in the lower right hand corner of the album jacket. This Too is a Dynagroove Recording!

Various Artists: South Sea Island Magic

I'll be the first to admit that The Tuna Melt is hardly a Strictly Lounge Music Blog and it ain't gonna become one any time soon. At the same time, though, I'll also admit that the Lounge Music Blogs are the ones that I pay the most attention to. Statistics show, too, that The Tuna Melt's regular readers pay a tiny bit more attention to the Lounge Music posted here than to any other type (only a teeny tiny bit, though).

That being the case, I can't help but take this opportunity to turn you guys on to some really incredibly cool stuff out there on the web. These are the places where I find the most interesting and inspirational music to listen to while sipping a cocktail or two (or three... or...). Yep! These are the places that Drive Me to Drink! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Hic!!!

There's been an Explosion of new Lounge Music Blogs lately and the new ones deserve to be pointed out. Also... I'm going to list the blogs that have been around for a few years for those of you who may be new to this scene.


I present them here in Alphabetical Order.

36 15 Moog: The Moog was Really Big in the Seventies, and was never embraced by most Rock Groups, so it was up to the former purveyors of Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, and those that followed them, to pick up the ball and run with it.

Basic Hip: One of the Grandest of Grandaddies of the Vinyl Sharity Scene (and one of the few remaining), this site is home to all sorts of amazing stuff. Be sure to check out the Basic Hip Digital Gold section.

Bongolong Land: This one does not necessarily concentrate on "Lounge Music," but it has offered up some really great Lounge posts in the past.

Bryan's Lounge: Another new one (I'm adding this to the list in January, 2009). This fellow has a really interesting collection of records and compilations of music of both the Lounge/Easy and Library Music varieties. Nice Stuff!

The Crime Lounge: This one IS ALL LOUNGE MUSIC. But it is ALSO, ONLY LOUNGE MUSIC of the SPY, PRIVATE EYE and CRIME varieties. And really... Who in his right mind wouldn't like to have martinis with James Bond?

Dr. Forrest's Cheeze Factory: Obsessed with Funny (and Just Plain Weird), this Comedy-centric Sharity Blog has been known post some of the stranger records of the Cocktail and Lounge genre.

Easy Listening World: Lots of Beautiful Music and Television Tunes from England.

Easy Music: Georgy shares Lots of Light and Easy Music for your Listening Pleasure. He's in Russia, so a lot of this is stuff you ain't never gonna get at Best Buy.

Fear and Loathing with... ElCrowley: Not only Lounge and Exotica, but lots of it.

Grooves of Delight: Absolutely Fantastic! Go NOW!

Hall of Records: INACTIVE since APRIL, 2007. Still some good stuff (Arthur Lyman anybody?) there, though.

Higher Than Fi: The New Kid on the Blog-Block! If you've ever heard Jet Set Planet you're sure to look forward to what the future holds in store. If you haven't, go here now and get into the groove.

The Hot Sauce Lounge: I tend to put Hot Sauce (of one type or another) on just about everything I eat, so this one holds a special place in my heart. Or maybe it's because he digs The Rat Pack so much. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...?

J. David Williams' Sharity: Not a Blog so much as a Sharity Page on his Personal Site. Posts (from Vinyl and Reel-to-Reel Tapes) rotate out after a while, so check back every so often.

Junkyard Sparkle: NO POSTS since JUNE of 2007, but there's still some good stuff there.

Kelly's Lounge Sounds: Another New Lounge Blog! I say "The More the Merrier!," especially if they're all as good as this one. Kelly has some really nice stuff posted already (Peggy Lee & George Shearing, Sarah Vaughan, Les Baxter, Matt Monro, etc...) and promises much more from his years as a radio DJ. Get over there now and check it out.

Kono Tiki Island: INACTIVE since JANUARY, 2007. If there are holes in your Exotica collection, though, you might be able to fill them here.

Licorice Pizza: Without a Doubt one of my all time faves. An amazing collection of some of the best stuff I've ever sipped to.

Loronix: The Smooth Sounds of Lounge from Brazil. Lossa Bossa Nova!

Lounge Legends - Instrumentals Forever: I got two words for ya - Hugo Montenegro. Here... Two More - Horst Jankowsi. Got it? Go get it!

LP's Vinyl Lounge Hut: The Name Pretty Much Say's It All! An astounding collection of Thrift Store Gems.

Mexicovers: A great supplier of Easy Pop with a South of the Border slant.

morghini.net: Five mixes of great NOW Sound Pop.

Music and Memories: Ultra-Lounge, Henry Mancini & Lots of Soundtracks

Música do Bem: Classic Lounge Sounds.

Phil Musical's Lounge Corner: Bossa Nova, Mambos, Cha Cha Chas, Easy Listening, Lounge, Space Age Pop, etc... Really Great Stuff!

Psychotic Leisure Music: Okay. He post's a lot of other stuff, but Kevin's got a great deal of Esquivel and The Three Suns and that makes him okay with me!

Rangeraver's Departure Lounge: Great Shares and Tremendous Custom Compilations.

Rato Records Blog: Lots of Loungey Stuff in the mix. Shares are posted for one week only, so visit regularly.

RockOverGraceland: NO POSTS since January, but it's gotta be back sometime. It Just Has To!

Shoddity: NO POSTS since Four Months Before The Wedding, but still some great shares.

Singin' and Swingin': A remarkable collection of some of the smoothest sounds you'll ever let caress your eardrums.

Snow Day: Thrift Store Vinyl Sharity. One Month at a Time.

Sounds of Champaign (Side 2): Great Stuff! Much from Europe.

Stax o' Wax: Esther (with help from Starbuck and Snickerdoodle) pulls great stuff from the Thrift Bins!

TAM TAM & Mélodie: INACTIVE since FEBRUARY, 2007. This blog posted great Easy Shares from Exotic Locales. Many are Still Available.

Third Island: Mr. Snookles shares remarkable finds from Australia.

Thrift Store DJ: Some of my current favorites were found here!

Ultra Swank: Great Shares, Architectural Nostalgia and Custom Compilations from The Netherlands.

Vinyl Room: The Easiest of Easy Listening. Lots of great stuff here!

Whoops: Lounge, Easy and Library shares as well as Custom Compilations from France.

The Wild Palms: Extremely nice and easy shares from a fellow in The Netherlands.

Xtabay's World: He's calmed down a bit as of late (and begun posting items that aren't as Exotic[a] as the ones he used to specialize in), but Xtabay is still the King of Exotica Sharity!

Your Pal Doug: He Really IS Your Pal! And he's got a Record of the Moment Page Dealy.

Note: There are plenty of other blogs that share Lounge Music, but these are the ones that do it most consistently to my knowledge. If I've missed any that you know of, please let me know of them so that I can add them to my list of current obsessions.

So there! Ya'll get out there and get some good stuff! And, while you're there, show them your love and your appreciation.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Andy Williams: To You Sweetheart, Aloha


Let's Go Back to Hawai‘i!!!


Of course, we here at The Tuna Melt prefer to refer to them as The Sandwich Islands, but we love going there whatever you call 'em.

And this time we're going with Andy Williams, so it should be a perfectly smooth trip. Andy released this one in 1960, while he was signed to Cadence records, and it's filled with Hapa Haole gems.

Classic, baby!

Andy Williams: To You Sweetheart, Aloha

  1. To You Sweetheart, Aloha
  2. Blue Hawaii
  3. I'll Weave a Lei of Stars for You
  4. Sweet Leilani
  5. The Moon of Mankoora
  6. The Hawaiian Wedding Song
  7. Song of the Islands
  8. A Song of Old Hawaii
  9. Love Song of Kalua
  10. Beyond the Reef
  11. Ka-Lu-A
  12. Aloha Oe

Friday, February 01, 2008

Various Artists: Hawaiian Paradise


A Cure for the Common Coldness


Okay...
Reader's Digest Box Sets have a bad reputation these days. There are several sites (all of which I respect greatly) that go to great lengths to convince potential buyers to Beware the Reader's Digest Label.

In a related entry, the Space Age Pop Music site has this to say about them: "Usually, however distinguished the performers may be, the stylistic effect of the Reader's Digest cachet is deadening. These renditions are almost always performed in a humorously straight-forward manner, avoiding any unusual orchestrations, dramatic attacks, jarring shifts in volume, rhythm, or tone, and individual interpretations. When the box promises a bunch of organ music for people who like organ music, that's what it delivers. A bunch of organ music played essentially anonymously by performers who might as be anonymous for what little personality they are allowed to sneak through."

You can read the entire post here: http://www.spaceagepop.com/rc003.htm

That being said... For the most part the Reader's Digest Sets are deserving of just such trivialization. This particular collection, however, stands out from most of the others in my opinion.

For one thing (and it's an Important one) It's HAWAIIAN MUSIC, for Pete's sake. The music on these records spans the Hapa Haole Spectrum, from passable Exotica to Orchestral Easy Listening. As it was released in 1970 it contains a fair amount of NOW Sound content as well as the more traditional Strings and Percussion. While there is not one single note of Hawaiian Folk or Slack Key Guitar on these five discs, there is an impressive range of musical styles (from Exotica to Easy Listening and NOW Sound Instrumental and Choral arrangements) which possess a tremendous dynamic range and a decent amount of fairly risky originality (check out the included recording of "Bali Ha'i", by Don Kalana & The Tahitians w/ Chorus, which is probably the most upbeat and bouncy rendition of the song that I've ever heard).

In other words... This is one Great Set of Discs!

And, now that it's February, we're probably all suffering from a bit of Cabin Fever (unless, of course, we're in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case we're all runnin' around 'bout butt naked and eatin' ice cream and settling down in the evenings with the Air Conditioners hummin'... You're Time Will Come!!!) and the best cure I've ever found for Dismal Winter Weather is a Tall Cool Rum Drink and Tropical Tunes!

So put on your Aloha Shirts and Muu Muus, mix up a tall cool Zombie or Missionary's Downfall, flip open your copy of "The Book of Tiki" or "Leis, Luaus and Alohas" and give these discs a spin!

Welcome to Hawaiian Paradise!!!

  1. Hawaiian Paradise - Louie King & His South Sea Islanders
  2. Forevermore - Kalua Beach Boys w/ Chorus
  3. The Far Lands - Kalua Beach Boys
  4. Sing Me a Song of the Islands - Kalua Beach Boys
  5. Sail Along, Silv'ry Moon - Louis Nunley & Kalua Beach Boys
  6. Flamingo - Kalua Beach Boys
  7. Hawaii Calls - Kalua Beach Boys
  8. Hawaiian War Chant - Louis King & His South Sea Islanders
  9. The Hawaiian Love Call - Kalua Beach Boys w/ Chorus
  10. I'll See You in Hawaii - Kalua Beach Boys
  11. I Want to Learn to Speak Hawaiian - Don Kalana & The Tahitians
  12. Underneath the Blue Hawaiian Skies - Kalua Beach Boys
  1. Maori Brown Eyes - Kalua Beach Boys
  2. Love Letters in the Sand - Louie King & His South Sea Islanders
  3. Love Song of Kalua - Kalua Beach Boys w/ Chorus
  4. Sea and Surf - Kalua Beach Boys
  5. Hawaiian Surf - Kalua Beach Boys
  6. Sand and Sea - Jack Kai & His Hawaiian Paradise Orchestra
  7. Good Night, Aloha - Kalua Beach Boys
  8. Always in My Heart - Don Kalana & The Tahitians
  9. Our Love and Aloha - Kalua Beach Boys
  10. You Are Beautiful - Louis Nunley & Kalua Beach Boys
  11. Hello, Aloha! — How Are You? - Kalua Beach Boys
  12. King's Serenade - Don Kalana & The Tahitians
  1. Lani (Heaven in Hawaii) - Kalua Beach Boys
  2. Paradise Island - Jack Kai & His Hawaiian Paradise Orchestra
  3. Bali Ha'i - Don Kalana & The Tahitians w/ Chorus
  4. Hawaiian Sunset - Hanuani Lei & The Serenaders
  5. An Island Calls to You - Kalua Beach Boys
  6. My Isle of Golden Dreams - Louie King & His South Sea Islanders
  7. Trade Winds - Jack Kai & His Hawaiian Paradise Orchestra
  8. Tropic Trade Winds - Jack Kai & His Hawaiian Paradise Orchestra
  9. Waikiki - Kalua Beach Boys
  10. Here (In This Enchanted Place) - Don Kalana & The Tahitians w/ Chorus
  11. Indian Summer - Kalua Beach Boys
  12. White Silver Sands - Louie King & His South Sea Islanders
  1. Hawaii - Kalua Beach Boys
  2. Hawaiian Christmas Song - Kalua Beach Boys
  3. Hukilau Song - Don Kalana & The Tahitians w/ Chorus
  4. There's No Place Like Hawaii - Kalua Beach Boys
  5. My Hawaiian Souvenirs - Hanuani Lei & The Serenaders
  6. My Hawaiian Song of Love - Kalua Beach Boys
  7. Farewell (For Just a While) - Don Kalana & The Tahitians w/ Chorus
  8. I Will Remember You - Kalua Beach Boys
  9. Across the Sea - Louie King & His South Sea Islanders
  10. For You a Lei - Kalua Beach Boys
  11. Silver Moon - Hanuani Lei & The Serenaders
  12. I'll Weave a Lei of Stars for You - Hanuani Lei & The Serenaders
  1. Hawaiian Dreams - Kalua Beach Boys
  2. Sweet Someone - Hanuani Lei & The Serenaders
  3. Ka-Lu-A - Hanuani Lei & The Serenaders
  4. One Paddle, Two Paddle - Don Kalana & The Tahitians w/ Chorus
  5. Let Me Hear You Whisper - Kalua Beach Boys
  6. Honolulu Eyes - Don Kalana & The Tahitians
  7. Hawaiian Memories - Kalua Beach Boys
  8. Magic Is the Moonlight - Kalua Beach Boys
  9. You'll Never Go Home - Don Kalana & The Tahitians
  10. On Treasure Island - Kalua Beach Boys w/ Chorus
  11. I've Found a Little Grass Skirt - Don Kalana & The Tahitians
  12. Beyond the Rainbow - Kalua Beach Boys

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

The Polynesians: Aloha Hawaii


Travel Halfway to Hawaii with The Tuna Melt


This record was recorded by actual Hawaiians. The songs on it, though, were for the most part composed by Caucasian men from The Mainland. Some of them had probably never even been to Hawaii.

Music such as this is commonly refered to as "Hapa Haole" music. Hapa means Half in Hawaiian. Haole is the Hawaiian word for White Guys, or those of European bloodlineage.

There are a lot of folks that don't like this type of music. They are welcome to ignore this post. There are others who enjoy it immensely, but who feel guilty for doing so because of some weird political reasons. They are welcome to download this record, listen to it often, and not tell anyone how much fun they're having.

I could not save the final track of this record (Track 5, Side 2: Loch Lomond), so I left it out of the post. It was simply scratched to pieces. I would say that I'm sorry, but I'm not.

  1. To You Sweetheart, Aloha
  2. Pulupe
  3. Kalua
  4. Beauty Hula
  5. Aloha Oe
  6. Song of the Islands
  7. Tomi Tomi
  8. Beyond the Reef
  9. Lovely Hula Hands