A Space Age Xmas soundtrack from Esquivel!
December 15, 2019 9:19 PM Subscribe
"Welcome to my Space Age Bachelor Pad. I'm so glad you could make it. My, you look ravishing tonight. I love the boots. And you? You look so dashing. The cut of that suit is impeccable. Now please, come in and make yourselves at home. You'll find the bar over there. There's a lovely view of Venus tonight. And I'm sure your ears will take you to where the band is playing. " (YouTube playlist) Thus opens Merry Xmas From The Space-Age Bachelor Pad (Discogs), a compilation of music by Juan García Esquivel, and featuring his final recording. New to Esquivel!? Saunter on in! Boing boing!
Hipwax has a good biography of the pianist/ composer/ arranger/ conductor, from his musical start playing piano on the radio at age 14 in 1939, to his status as a popular recording artist in Mexico 15 years later, to his experimentation in stereo. Latin-Esque (official audio playlist) is a notable album from that last category, recorded with two separate orchestras in two separate studios, one for each channel. And more for your listening pleasure: Infinity in Sound (vinyl recording) and Infinity in Sound Volume 2 (official audio playlist). While you're listening, check out Perfect Sound Forever's biography, which notes that Esquivel's U.S. renown grew as he shifted from studio conductor and performer to a live act.
"There's only one Esquivel, and Harvey's Resort Hotel, Lake Tahoe has him." At least, they did, as of the recording of that clip, circa 1968, at which point he had been performing there for about three years. But Esquivel really got big in Vegas, as heard here a live recording (audio only; tracklist -- the download link is dead) from the Stardust Hotel. As you can hear, his band is a smaller group, but he retains the mostly wordless vocals from female singers, one of whom recounted working with the demanding Esquivel in a TV clip.
His Latin-infused cocktail-lounge pop had its heyday, and then it ended. But in the 1990s, the exotica craze came back, and with it, Esquivel's renown. In 1996, he was even interviewed by Mtv (text only), with the release of his new Xmas compilation, which was mostly repackaging The Merriest Of Christmas Pops (official audio playlist), itself a compilation of tracks by Esquivel and Ray Martin (Discogs), each with their own orchestras and singers.
Hipwax has a good biography of the pianist/ composer/ arranger/ conductor, from his musical start playing piano on the radio at age 14 in 1939, to his status as a popular recording artist in Mexico 15 years later, to his experimentation in stereo. Latin-Esque (official audio playlist) is a notable album from that last category, recorded with two separate orchestras in two separate studios, one for each channel. And more for your listening pleasure: Infinity in Sound (vinyl recording) and Infinity in Sound Volume 2 (official audio playlist). While you're listening, check out Perfect Sound Forever's biography, which notes that Esquivel's U.S. renown grew as he shifted from studio conductor and performer to a live act.
"There's only one Esquivel, and Harvey's Resort Hotel, Lake Tahoe has him." At least, they did, as of the recording of that clip, circa 1968, at which point he had been performing there for about three years. But Esquivel really got big in Vegas, as heard here a live recording (audio only; tracklist -- the download link is dead) from the Stardust Hotel. As you can hear, his band is a smaller group, but he retains the mostly wordless vocals from female singers, one of whom recounted working with the demanding Esquivel in a TV clip.
His Latin-infused cocktail-lounge pop had its heyday, and then it ended. But in the 1990s, the exotica craze came back, and with it, Esquivel's renown. In 1996, he was even interviewed by Mtv (text only), with the release of his new Xmas compilation, which was mostly repackaging The Merriest Of Christmas Pops (official audio playlist), itself a compilation of tracks by Esquivel and Ray Martin (Discogs), each with their own orchestras and singers.
Ha! I have the Merry Christmas from the Space Age Bachelor Pad CD. I cannot remember where I got it (almost 20 years ago). It's a trippy little collection.
posted by sundrop at 11:49 PM on December 15, 2019
posted by sundrop at 11:49 PM on December 15, 2019
I love Esquivel! Thank you for this.
posted by mefireader at 6:18 AM on December 16, 2019
posted by mefireader at 6:18 AM on December 16, 2019
Mandatory see also: the Duncan Tonatiuh illustrated children's book about Esquivel, ESQUIVEL! SPACE AGE SOUND ARTIST
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 7:19 AM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 7:19 AM on December 16, 2019 [1 favorite]
This was a fixture in our house at the holidays growing up in the 90s! I had completely forgotten about this album.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 7:21 AM on December 16, 2019
posted by OverlappingElvis at 7:21 AM on December 16, 2019
I was never clear whether Esquivel was really a space age Latino lounge musician or if he was some 90s hipster creation to listen to after you'd had one too many Combustible Edisons. I'm not sure it really matters, I like the music either way, but I'm glad to learn he's a real person.
posted by Nelson at 9:41 AM on December 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Nelson at 9:41 AM on December 16, 2019 [2 favorites]
This is going to be the space age-iest, bachelor pad-iest Christmas ever!
Now I have to go through and find my Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails (Volume 1, YouTube, Volume 2, YouTube) compilations to really seal the deal.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 1:26 PM on December 16, 2019
Now I have to go through and find my Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails (Volume 1, YouTube, Volume 2, YouTube) compilations to really seal the deal.
posted by Bill Watches Movies Podcast at 1:26 PM on December 16, 2019
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