No matter what you might think of the product put out by those mail order record companies like Reader's Digest and Longines Symphonette in the 1960s and '70s, there's no denying they usually took extreme care with the technical quality of their LPs.
Happily this five-record box set, probably from the early to mid-1970s, is no exception. Hawaii...Melodies from Paradise is, at least for me, an enjoyable experience from both technical and musical standpoints. Granted this isn't authentic Hawaiian music and probably was recorded in the mainland U.S. or perhaps in the United Kingdom, where much of the Longines product originated. (For some background on Longines Symphonette, read this post and this one as well.)
A melodic steel guitar lead is framed by muted brass on many of the selections -- to excellent effect. Here's a sample.
Blue Hawaii
Most people associate Blue Hawaii as the title tune for the 1961 Elvis Presley film, but it was actually written for a 1937 movie, Waikiki Wedding, starring Bing Crosby, who sang it backed by Lani McIntyre and His Hawaiians, a genuine Hawaiian musical group. Here's how it sounded.
And if you're interested in the Hawaii...Melodies from Paradise set watch your local thrift stores. It seems to turn up in playable condition fairly often.
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