We are pleased to announce the track “La Mer Azure” from the Robert Drasnin album Voodoo III on Dionysus Records appears in the new Tom Hanks film, A Man Called Otto! Check it out in theaters through early 2023. The movie will be added to Netflix later in the year. Congratulations to the Drasnin family and Skip Heller who was responsible for putting together and polishing up Voodoo III after Robert passed, and many thanks to Ocean Park Music!
This Sunday, Jan 21, 4-6pm
Forbidden Island, 1304 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, CA 94501
Doors open at 3p.m. • $10 cover • Albums available for sale
Live Exotica and Storytelling and live recording.
(image: Al Pabilona and Arthur Lyman)
Over fifty years ago Al Pabilona recorded the Exotica album titled “Mauna Kea Breeze” with his father and family band in their garage. Al and his family lived in Hawaii and then settled in San Jose where he is still playing music with his daughter Olivia in a band called UNDERTOW.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear live exotica music and catch an original exotica musician. Al Pabilona may be the last living legend playing essentially the same set he would have played in the late 1960s. Lounge and Exotica standards are presented with stories and introductions reminiscent of the heyday of old Waikiki hotel lounge shows.
This show will be recorded live to capture the current sound of Undertow with plans for a future live release.
Al Jr. was only 13 years old when he played drums on an Exotica recording by The Hawaiian Spotlighters. They were originally called Al’s Spotlighters and played at clubs, weddings and other events in Hilo, Hawaii. The family later moved to California. In 1964, Al Pabilona Sr. recorded his musical family inside their garage in Hayward, California. Each family member played an integral part of the band with Bill Pabilona composing the title track “Mauna Kea Breeze”.
He was gracious, kind and awestruck when Dionysus Records approached him to reissue the album – only 200 copies of the original album were made on the Century Custom label. Today, only a handful of these exist, making this one of the rarest exotica records ever recorded!
Towards the end of Robert Drasnin‘s life – he set out to work on the third, and final, volume of Voodoo which he left unfinished. Drasnin had requested Skip Heller to complete his works and turn them into a releasable album. Skip finished Robert Drasnin Voodoo III which was rushed out as a super limited release, sold only at Tiki Oasis 15 with a few leftovers sold through Dionysus Records Mail Order.
After numerous delays, including an entire pressing of records recalled to due to a manufacturing defect, the official release including remastered audio, extremely detailed liner notes by Skip, cover art by Claudette Barjoud, and package design by Bob Deck, is now officially released on LP, CD, and digital (available through iTunes, Amazon, and just about all streaming services). The first pressing of 500 LPs is on transparent blue vinyl.
You can order the LP and CD straight from Dionysus at these links. Search your digital provider for downloads and streams.
Robert Drasnin Voodoo III LP
Robert Drasnin Voodoo III CD
These works encompass all the elements that made Voodoo I and Voodoo II legendary entries in the world of exotica music.
Creepxotica, the exotica alter ego of San Diego’s The Creepy Creeps announce TWO new releases on Dionysus Records.
Swinging Sounds from Beyond the Nether Regions is the second full-length LP and Creepxotica featuring Rachel DeShon is a 10″ EP paying homage to Peruvian/Hollywood exotica queen Yma Sumac.
Both vinyl releases were cut at HRS in Culver City, CA on a vintage Scully lathe using a classic updated Westrex 3D stereo cutting head powered by a tube pre-amp. The vinyl releases include a code for free digital download. Distribution by ILD. If you don’t want a record get digital at iTunes, Amazon, etc. or stream from Spotify, Pandora, etc.
Check out this Creepxotica/Creepy Creeps interview in the San Diego Reader!
Get records from finer record shops & mailorders, direct from the band at their shows, or from Dionysus Mail Order – links below!
The Creepy Creeps are currently working on a new album!
Swinging Sounds from Beyond the Nether Regions
Dionysus Records ID1233170 LP/Digital
Swinging Sounds from Beyond the Nether Regions is Creepxotica’s second full-length LP. Inspired by the sultry and strange sounds of the Middle East, Asia and Europe as well as Spaghetti Westerns, surf, exotica and psychedelia, this, their second LP, features longer tracks dedicated to an expansive exotic, haunted musical terrain.
Find it the Dionysus Records online shop at this link
Creepxotica featuring Rachel DeShon
Dionysus Records ID1233171 10″ EP/Digital
What began as the “Yma Sumac, the Legend, the Woman the Music” symposium at Tiki Oasis 14 featuring “educator” El Vez (aka Robert Lopez of The Zeros) with Seattle opera singer Rachel DeShon and San Diego’s Creepxotica, has resulted in this extremely off-the-charts 10″ vinyl exotica “tribute” to the Peruvian/Hollywood exotica goddess.
Lopez saw an opportunity to pair the multi-octave DeShon with Creepxotica as part of his talk about the legendary Sumac. The rehearsals and symposium went so well, it was decided that the group would record tracks for DeShon to sing on. And here they are — five mind-bending exotica fueled psychedelic-tinged tracks with DeShon’s insanely beautiful and confident vocals.
Side A of this record are all Mambo! era Sumac covers the likes of which you’ve never imagined performed by anyone but Yma herself. Side B contains two absolute killer Creepxotica originals with DeShon’s vocals bringing them to new dimensions.
Find it in the Dionysus Records online shop at this link
Other recent Dionysus releases
The Hawaiian Spotlighters Manua Kea Breeze LP (Bacchus Archives) – Super rare private pressing ’60s exotica holy grail, lovingly restored and reissued. In 1964, Al Pabilona Sr. Recorded his musical family inside their garage in Hayward, California. Each family member played an integral part of the band. A reported 200 copies of the original album were made by the Century Custom label, a vinyl manufacturer that catered to private pressings. Today, only a handful of these exist, making this one of the rarest exotica records ever recorded!
Find it in the Dionysus Records online shop at this link
Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited Emerge with their first radio interview EVER on Koop Kooper’s Cocktail Nation! Follow this link to hear…
Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited Music from the Sixth Floor LP/CD – The Swiss/UK Electronic duo takes their retro spy-surf-soundtrack sound into further reaches. Stereophonic Space Sound Unlimited are back, bringing you their long awaited seventh album, Music from the 6th Floor. Written and recorded at their secret lair in a high-rise building somewhere in the foothills of the Jura Mountains, 14 original and unique tracks will whisk you away into a different dimension full of suspense, romance, and adventure
Find it in the Dionysus Records online shop: LP at this link CD at this link
Coming soon
Robert Drasnin Voodoo III – LP/CD/Digital: The final chapter in the Voodoo Trilogy by famed TV/Film composer and exotica legend Robert Drasnin.
Coming soon after
New LPs by Jason Lee and the R.I.P. Tides, Voodoo Organist, Tiger Balm, and Tucson’s ’60s garage legends The Grodes / Tongues of Truth
Back Catalog Spotlight – Special Price!
The Creatures of the Golden Dawn – Dark was the Night, Cold was the Ground
Edition of 500 on gold vinyl with digital download coupon $9.95 limited time price
Arriving after the ’80s garage/psych revival, Bethlehem’s Creatures of the Golden Dawn came on the scene with a lot more attitude than did earlier similar-minded combos. Lead by vocalist Mark Smith – their knife-sharp punky garage-meets-the-early-days-of-psychedelia tunes were filled with hooky riffs and always shadowed by varying degrees of darkness. The Creatures amassed a cult following in the States and Europe, and were played heavily on Little Steven’s Underground Garage syndicated radio show.
Dark Was The Night…Cold Was The Ground is a collection of what the late Mark Smith felt were the group’s best recorded efforts and includes tracks from their CD releases as well as their 7″ EPs. Find it in the Dionysus Records online shop at this link
Desert Soul Club Facebook Page at this link
Towards the end of Robert Drasnin‘s life – he set out to work on the third, and final, volume of Voodoo which he left unfinished. Drasnin had requeseted Skip Heller to complete his works and turn them into a releasable album. 11 songs, plus one bonus were completed by Heller and Voodoo III was finished and rushed out just in time for Tiki Oasis 15 featuring cover art by Claudette Barjoud, designed by Thomas Kimball. The works encompasses all the elements that made Voodoo I and Voodoo II legendary entries in the world of exotica music. We have less than 40 copies of this Drasnin family produced disc currently. Please limit yourself to one copy unless purchasing for family or friends.
Bali Hai – Bar of the Year Tiki Party featuring Creepxotica
Ladies and gentlemen please join Bali Hai on Tuesday, April 21st as they invite Creepxotica down to celebrate this month’s Bar Of The Year Competition! This evening will kick off in the lounge as they offer guests extended happy hour food specials, $5 Mai Tai’s and live music by Desi Realtor until 8pm.
Highlights of the Night
– 7:30pm doors will open to our Hawaiian Village Outdoor Pavilion
– 8:00pm Creepxotica hits the stage
– $5 Mai Tai’s all night
– Bali Hai Tiki T-Shirt Launch (25% t-shirt proceeds go to Wounded Warrior Homes)
– $12 Tickets (100% ticket proceeds go to Wounded Warrior Homes)
– DJ in between Creepxotica sets
Limited number of tickets will be sold for this all ages event. Click here to purchase – Password is creep
Thank you for your support and enjoy the show!
Inspired by Florida’s famed Mai-Kai restaurant, Bill Sapp and Lee Henry opened the Kahiki Supper Club in 1961. They set out simply to build a nice Polynesian restaurant and ended up establishing the most magnificent one of them all. For nearly forty years, the Kahiki was the undisputed center of tiki culture.
“Kahiki Supper Club – A Polynesian paradise in Columbus” is a 160 page book written and compiled by David Meyers, Elise Meyers Walker, Jeff Chenault and Doub Motz collects stories and images, telling the history of the legendary tiki temple!
Our copies of this book are signed by exotica music expert and Beachcomber Trio LP producer Jeff Chenault. Limited stock!
If you’ve picked up our Beachcomber Trio LP you need this book! Order here
ALL THREE AVAILABLE FROM DIONYSUS MAIL ORDER – Links to each LP at the end of each description.
The Beachcomber Trio “Live at Kahiki 1965” limited blue vinyl repress
Previously unreleased until 2010, this long-awaited LP is a live recording of the house band at the legendary Kahiki restaurant. It’s like you are sitting at the bar enjoying a Mai Tai while listening to Marsh Padilla and company play a set of Latin Jazz/Hawaiian/Lounge inspired exotica! First pressing of 500 on black vinyl sold out shortly after release. This is a limited re-pressing of 485 copies on blue vinyl! Purchase here
The Avengers VI “Real Cool Hits” limited white vinyl repress
The Avengers VI were a clean-cut surf band from Anaheim, Calif., whose one and only album, Real Cool Hits, was issued in 1966 as a promo for Good Humor ice cream. The group’s name wasn’t even mentioned on the original cover although it was pictured on the kick drum. The group’s repertoire, which encompassed covers of popular surf instrumentals, mood music, movie themes and some first rate originals, attracted both teens and adults to their appearances in southern California. The long-out of print Bacchus Archives vinyl reissue has itself become collectible, bringing prices of $30 and up, which is why we’ve decided to repress this gem, in an edition of 500 on white vinyl! Purchase here
The Surf Teens “Surf Mania” limited clear vinyl repress
A reissue of the fantastic, but hopelessly rare 1963 album by Central Californian teens under the guidance of The Revels’ Norman Knowles. Includes five previously unreleased tracks and takes from master tapes and one from a rare 45! The Bacchus Archives LP has been out of print for a number of years. This is a clear vinyl repress in an edition of 500! Purchase here
This Saturday, May 17, both Martini Kings starring Cardinal Cyn and Jason Lee & The RIP Tides will be performing at at Tiki Caliente Six in Palm Springs, which runs from May 15-May 18. Click the Tiki Caliente link for more details, ticket info, etc. Also on Friday May 16, DJ Lee Joseph will be at Tonga Hut Palm Springs just a short drive from Tiki Caliente!
On April 25, I’ll be returning to Tonga Hut, Palm Springs between 7 PM till Midnight spinning exotica, soul, lounge, Latin grooves, surf and more! If you are in the desert, please drop by!
Tonga Hut, Palm Springs
254 North Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Tonga Hut Website
Tonga Hut, Palm Springs Website
Check out our Ebay store