Ultra Louge | Rhapsodesia

The sixth volume of Capitol's Ultra Lounge series, this focuses on the most sedate face of space age bachelor pad music: the sounds designed for dimming the lights, unwinding with martinis, and (stated implicitly; this was the '50s, remember) seduction. It might not have worked for those purposes then, and it certainly won't now, since prospective partners will be giggling too much at the cheesiness of it all to get it on. As far as sheer listening value, this, even more than other reissues of this sort, needs to be taken lightly or not at all. Julie London, Les Baxter, April Stevens, and a host of nonentities from the Capitol vaults may produce relaxing sounds, but not very involving ones. Those creepy organ lines that form the undercurrent of some of the selections provide the most fascination. At its worst, though, it's barely any better than the music you'll hear after you're put on hold by the airlines or the phone company.

AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger

1	–Howard Roberts	Girl Talk	2:52
2	–The Jonah Jones Quartet	Serenata	2:47
3	–Henry René & His Orchestra*	Sleep Walk	2:36
4	–The Mallet Men	Smoke Gets In Your Eyes	2:25
5	–Julie London	Go Slow	2:15
6	–Al Anthony - Wizard Of The Organ	Ebb Tide	3:39
7	–George Shearing	If I Should Lose You	2:40
8	–The Whistling Artistry Of Muzzy Marcellino	Willow Weep For Me	2:03
9	–The Don Baker Trio	Dansero	2:51
10	–Les Baxter	Lunar Rhapsody Theremin – Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman	3:11
11	–Dolores Gray	You're My Thrill	2:40
12	–Richard Marino & His Orchestra	Fever	2:43
13	–The John Buzon Trio	Blues In My Heart	2:35
14	–Jackie Gleason	Tenderly Trumpet – Bobby Hackett	2:36
15	–Terry Snyder	Theme From Picnic	2:16
16	–Milt Buckner	Turquoise Saxophone [Alto Sax] – Earl Warren*	2:09
17	–April Stevens	Do It Again	2:40
18	–Les Baxter & His Orchestra	Ruby Harmonica – Danny Welton	2:53