Old-School Banana Republic Playlist

Subject: Old-School Banana Republic Playlist
From: BigDaddy
Date: 12 May 07 - 10:02 PM

Okay, it's not folk, but where else can I find such a great collection of music trivia-minded people? Back in the day when Banana Republic was a really interesting store (Travel & Safari Clothing) circa 1983-1989, they played some really great music in the stores. It consisted mostly of 1940s jazz, big band and swing, interspersed with world music, jungle sounds and vocals by the likes of Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, etc. I tried to track down playlists through a Seattle-area company that compiled them, but they said they no longer had any record of these and if they did, they couldn't give them out. I was interested in putting together such a compilation for my own enjoyment and thought some of you might remember some of the things I'm talking about. My initial list is: I Can't Get Started (Bunny Berigan), Solitude (Billie Holiday), Those Things Money Can't Buy (Nat King Cole), Manhattan Serenade (Tommy Dorsey & Jo Stafford), Nature Boy (Nat King Cole), Lover Man (Billie Holiday), You Belong To Me (Jo Stafford), As Time Goes By (Dooley Wilson), Rum and Coca-Cola (Andrews Sisters). Any other ideas?

Subject: RE: Old-School Banana Republic Playlist
From: BigDaddy
Date: 14 May 07 - 10:00 PM

Okay. Maybe Babatunde Olatunji's "Drums Of Passion."   Martin Denny's "Quiet Village?" Nah, probably too obvious.

Subject: RE: Old-School Banana Republic Playlist
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 14 May 07 - 10:10 PM

Excited (memories ignited) ....and quickly disappointed.

I expected Bogart, Conga, Carribian Jazz with a Salsa sliding, slithering, sensuous within the languous legs and lips...

Instead, you slip me a stale slab of bolonna, like a maccaroni Mickey, between to potentialy great threads.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Old-School Banana Republic Playlist
From: Azizi
Date: 15 May 07 - 01:35 AM

Gargoyle,

given how often I make typos in my Mudcat posts, it takes nerve for me to say this but, you wrote "to" instead of "two". Plus you spelled "Caribbean"and macaroni wrong.

That said, I admire the alliteration you used in that post- though I'm not sure about the images evoked, especially the " Salsa sliding, slithering, sensuous within the languous legs and lips." That sounds kinda kinky to me.

-snip-

BigDaddy,

I think the problem with this thread may be its title. I'm not sure that a lot of folks know what you mean by old school. Plus, "Banana Rpublic" may evoke something that isn't top rate, yaknowwhatImean?

It could also be that Mudcat members and guests aren't suggesting artists and songs because there's so much music that could be suggested so it's difficult to know where to begin.

[FWIW, one of the google ads that is on the bottom of this page as I type is a link to "Collector's Choice Music. Big Band, Jazz, Folk and Classics 250,000 music titles. Affilate." [what ever 'affiliate' means]".

But anyway, since you mentioned it, I'd want my Old School CD to be an eclectic mix from kinda way back when to just yesterday. Some artists I would include on that CD {Ipod?} would be Louis Jordan, Little Richard, relatively early Aretha Franklin, The Shirelles, some of the Temptations and early Marvin Gaye, and some of his later compositions from "What's Goin On". I'd also want to include songs from , Odetta, Etta James, War, Boozoo Chavis, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Tito Puente. Of course, I'd have to have me alot of Bob Marley roots rock reggae, and I put some King Yelloman songs on that CD, too. Then if I could find it I'd have to have some real old school Kaiso from Roaring Lion and then some Mighty Sparrow.

Then I'd have to boogie on over to the Motherland and add some Miriam Makeba, and some Hugh Masekela and some Fela jams. And yes I'd pay my respects also to Olatunji, though I liked "More Drums of Passion" rather than "Drums of Passion".

And that's just a beginning.

Subject: RE: Old-School Banana Republic Playlist
From: Azizi
Date: 15 May 07 - 01:42 AM

So yeah I spelled Republic wrong, and Yellowman and probably some more words.

And my post didn't have half the alliteration that Gargoyle had in his post.

But I'm not trying to compete with Gargoyle.

He'd win if I did try-at least in the evoking evocative images category.

Subject: RE: Old-School Banana Republic Playlist
From: BigDaddy
Date: 15 May 07 - 01:59 AM

Okay. I was hoping someone out there besides myself would have fond memories of a short-lived retail phenomenon that had a really unique musical component. I was also hoping that with all the music buffs here, someone might remember some of the music used in these stores, or know someone with a copy of the tapes they used, or a playlist. I'm probably fishing in the wrong pond with this one so let's just let it die. Maybe I'll just go watch "Mogambo." Or "The Macomber Affair." Or "Lost Horizon." Read some Richard Halliburton. Sigh.