Track Listing

1. Taboo
2. Love Song of Kalua
3. Ringo Oiwake
4. Sea Breeze
5. Misirlou
6. China Clipper
7. Sim Sim
8. Katsumi Love Theme
9. Caravan
10. Akaka Falls
11. Dahil Sayo
12. Hilo March
13. Bwana A [*]
14. Colonel Bogey March [*]
15. Waikiki Serenade [*]
16. Moon Over a Ruined Castle [*]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #88882 in Music
• Released on: 1996-09-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

From the Label
Originally issued on hifi Recordings in the late '50s and now available on CD for the first time, TABOO has been digitally remastered from the original three-track master tapes and features four bonus tracks culled from Lyman's extensive catalog.

TABOO showcases Lyman's distinctive vibe playing while conjuring images of the islands through his use of bird calls and Harold Chang's percussion on congas, boobams, ass's jaw and conch shell, among other instruments. Aided by Allen Soares on piano and John Kramer on string bass, Lyman's sound was immensely popular. On the Billboard charts for 62-weeks, TABOO peaked at number four and sold millions of copies.

Caveat emptor: In 1991, the DCC label released a CD compilation including tracks from several Arthur Lyman albums. As it featured the same cover image as TABOO, it is often mistaken for the CD reissue of Lyman's debut album. In fact, the hifi/Rykodisc album represents the first authentic rerelease of this lounge music classic as it presents its original track listing on CD for the first time. Also included are four bonus tracks culled from BWANA A, Lyman's second album of 1959. Liner notes by Tiki News co-editor Sven "Tiki" Kirsten complete the package.

Customer Reviews

FABULOUS BLAST FM THE TACKY TIKI (AND HIGH-END AUDIO) PAST!
How ignorant and provincial I have been! Until Arthur Lyman's music was highlighted in a spot on NPR's Morning Edition (10/4/03), I had not the slightest clue that anyone on earth other than my family had ever heard of him and his audio-licious TABOO. We received it in the late 50s from a family friend when he unloaded his entire record collection on my parents before shipping overseas. I was smitten with it from the ripe old age of 5!!! The acoustics of the Kaiser Dome and all those exotic animal noises and percussion instruments absolutely transported me. By the time I was 12 or 13, I had worn the grooves down to dust. It was only in the 90s that I dug it out of an ancient cabinet and queued it up again. It brought back miles of memories, but I also came to realize that, while all of the cuts had marvelous mood and execution as well as terrific production values (TUBE GEAR/ANALOG/VINYL RULE!!!), I kept waiting for Lyman to DO SOMETHING with the music, TAKE IT SOMEWHERE. So many themes, not nearly enough development. Still, I am absolutely thrilled to have discovered, albeit late, that this man had a long career, and that millions of other people know who he is. And despite arrangement limitations, TABOO is still an acoustic and instrumental tour de force. BUY THIS ALBUM!

Exotic Vibes
I just recently started enjoying exotica music. I primarily have been focusing on Martin Denny and Les Baxter, but recently i have been branching out with some new artists. One of them being Arthur Lyman. His music is different then Denny and Baxter. It has a smoother more melodic approach and yet it has good rhythms. Although most of the music has a Polynesian feel to it he does mix in a good amount of jazz stylings. I personally have recommended this CD to a couple of friends who are Vibe players because they can learn from Arthur's technique. He is a fantastic musician and even if the style of music is not in your taste, the performance by the gifted musician is well worth the listen.

Former Martin Denny sideman finds exotica sound of his own
In the dawn of 90s cocktail culture, Arthur Lyman often stands in the shadow of his former bandleader, Martin Denny. Denny is celebrated for his seminal late-50s version of "Quiet Village" and his string of influential exotica LPs. Lyman, a charter member of Denny's combo, is often lost, despite having pioneered a unique blend of jazz and exotica on dozens of his own releases.

While Scamp Records was busy reissuing Denny's original catalog, Rykodisc took their own plunge into the warm Pacific waters with reissues of several pivotal Lyman LPsand compilations.

As a vibe player and arranger, Lyman has a relaxed West Coast sound, his band playing in a tranquil tropical style. The arrangements feature the essential exotica elements: mainland and island standards, smoothly flowing melodies, human-voiced bird calls, and a globe-trotting collection of percussion instruments.

Lyman's solo debut, "Taboo," has been remastered from the original 3-track recordings. It's perhaps the clearest statement of his musical mood: cool jazz infused with the rhythms and sounds of his native Hawaii. The differences from Denny's work of the same period are subtle, often hinging on the arrangement, or the slight swing to Lyman's beats. Chances are if you like Denny's seminal early LP's (Exotica, et al.), you'll like Lyman's, as well.