Polynesian Fantasy

Overview

Billy May got his start as an arranger and trumpter for Charlie Barnet's big band in the late 1930s. Later, May won a reputation as one of the music industry's top arrangers, working with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney and George Shearing on some of the most successful albums of the 1950s.

In 1961, May teamed up with his former band leader for an album of Hawaiian music. May later wrote, "Charlie and I planned it on a vacation in Hawaii. We called ourselves the 'The Kon-Tikis.'" When the album was released in 1961, the group was referred to as "The Out-Islanders." For the project, May served as arranger and conductor with Barnet playing saxophone. May and Barnet recruited many of the era's top session players to work with them, including pianist Jimmy Rowles, saxophonist Ted Nash, guitarist Al Hendrickson and drummer Irv Cottler. Marni Nixon and Loulie Jean Norman added wordless vocals on several tracks.

The album's liner notes described the concept for the album:

""When the Out-Islanders interpret the alluring music of the islands, it is sometimes lush, sometimes rhythmically swinging. And at all times the sounds of the Out-Islanders have a discretely seasoned exotic flavor. This discretion comes in part from the presence of Billy May and Charlie Barnet. These two, perhaps better known for their success with other types of music, have great feeling for the music of the South Seas. Because of this, and their love for the splendor of the out-islands, they formed the Out-Islanders for this recording. The all-around brilliance of Billy's arranging, the saxophone artistry of Charlie, the delightful island sounds and songs all add up to a real listening experience in this Polynesian fantasy."

Critical reception

When the album was released in 1961, Billboard gave it a four-star rating. The review noted the album's "lush, Hawaiian stylings with much use of the steel guitar and various percussion instruments of the Islands, set against a substantial woodwind section." The review concluded, "Delightful mood wax with a most displayable cover."

With the revival of interest in ultra lounge and exotica music in the 1990s and 2000s, the music of The Out-Islanders reached a new audience. A digitally remastered version of The Out Islanders' "Moon Mist" was included on Capitol Records' 1996 compilation, "Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica." "Honorable Hong Kong Rock" was included in Capitol's follow-up disc, "Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8: Cocktail Capers." And The Out Islanders' rendition of "Ebb Tide" was included on the 2002 compilation, "66 Easy Listening Favorites."

Track listing

The album contained 12 tracks.

1. "My Tane"
2. "Little Island"
3. "The Moon of Manakoora"
4. "China Sea"
5. "Beyond the Reef"
6. "Sand in My Shoes"
7. "Poinciana"
8. "Return to Paradise"
9. "Sea Breeze"
10. "Moon Mist"
11. "Ebb Tide" (Robert Maxwell)
12. "Honorable Hong Kong Rock"

Personnel