Do you know who Tom Collins is? Ever tried a Old Fashioned? Here are a couple of ideas for drinks that will make sure that your next retro themed Mad Men cocktail party is one for the books. Which is your favorite retro cocktail? Bottoms up from Ultra Swank.
Mr. Lucky was a relatively short-lived (34 episodes) 1959-1960 television series. It starred actors John Vivyan as the suave professional gambler, "Mr. Lucky", and Ross Martin as his sidekick, Andamo. Most of the action in this crime drama took place on or around Mr. Lucky’s floating casino/pad called "The Fortuna". Possibly the most memorable thing about the show was the cool, jazzy theme and background music which was composed and conducted by Henry Mancini. The original LP cover looks great framed and hanging in any swank bachelor’s (or bachelorette’s) pad.
Exotica music was made popular in the early 1950s and took its name from the Martin Denny album with the same title. The inspiration for the genre came from exotic locations and instruments from places such as Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii. The genre was mostly popular in suburban USA with legends such as Les Baxter, Artur Lyman and Martin Denny leading the scene. But apparently, not all Exotica music was American. Exotica fans Bert and Arjo from Holland have put together a brand new compilation of their favorite Dutch Exotica songs that not only showcases musical history but also the birth of lounge music. Head over to their website for track previews and information how you can obtain this gem.
American jazz vocalist Shaynee Rainbolt contacted me a while back having seen one of my compilations which features songs by legendary musician and composer Russell Garcia. It turns out that she is not only a fellow fan of his but also worked with him on her latest album entitled Charmed Life: Shaynee Rainbolt Sings Russell Garcia. Russell, now 92 years old have been living on New Zealand with his wife since 1971 where Shaynee traced him and not only convinced him to arrange and conduct her album but also add his Four Trombone Band to the recording session. The result is a elegant, sexy and dreamy 16-track album with laid back jazz rhythms, swingin' melodies and fast paced scat-singing which will with no doubt add the perfect mix to any cocktail gathering and let you be a part of a more elegant era.
Whether you are redecorating your living room, planing on buying a mid-century modern flavored house or want to make your kitchen look more groovy, Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpaper has what you need. Their series of Atomic Age and Mod Generation wallpaper range from 1950s styled Googie patterns to exotic tropical Tiki to the revolutionary and psychedelic flower power look - perfect for any bachelor den, Tiki bar or weekend getaway house.
This photo by famed photographer Julius Shulman looks absolutely lovely. I wish I had a cocktail lounge like that in my penthouse apartment. The Mid-Century Modernist has a bunch of more photos and information.
Image via Shorpy.com
It is still summer, and still warm so why not cool off with some refreshing Martinis with your loved one? This compilation is the perfect mood setter for anyone enjoying a Martini late at night, gazing out on the quiet streets from your penthouse apartment while a soft breeze blows through the open window. The theme of it is soft dreamy strings, echoing trumpets, haunting choirs and kisses in the dark. Been working on this compilation for quite a while, but couldn't find the right mood for it so it took a while longer than expected to get it done, hope it's been worth the wait. Comments are as always more than welcome. All that is left now is to download it, fix your self a Martini and dream away...
Here it is, the compilation that started everything. This compilation was actually compiled a few months before I started this place back in september 2005 and I decided to keep the name Ultra Swank for this site. This compilation was the first compilation I had done in many years, so it is not as solid as my later compilations, i.e. Space Age Lounge Volume 3 and Volume 2. The theme for it is, as the title suggests, Ultra Swank living set in the 1950s and 1960s. The general mood of the compilation is happy, bright and swank with a slight soundtrack feeling (some of the tracks were obviously taken from movie scores). There are 24 tracks in total and it clocks in at about one hour. Grab it while supplies last.
Ultra Swank takes you back in time into the kitsch, chic and swank living of the 50s to the 70s. We mainly focus on the design, architecture and the lifestyle of the happy-go-lucky and space-age-living mentality from that era - but also on the mood music that takes you back to happier times. Ultra Swank is run by Chris who resides in Sweden. More | Contact
Claudia from The Paris Apartment have compiled a list of great Christmas movies from the past that will no doubt get in anyone the perfect holiday jingle-jangle mood! Classics such as Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas and Holiday Inn are just a few of these retro gems from times gone by. Head over [...]
Anyone who has ever enjoyed a movie at a drive-in theater in the US back in its heydays, knows that seeing the movie was just one part of the enjoyment. Families made the drive-in a weekend adventure, filled with food, laughter and goodies that dad picked up from the concession stand during the intermission. These [...]
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Ultra Swank is your blast from the past that takes you back to a more civilized and elegant era with lush cocktail parties, retro design, tasteful architecture and dreamy mood music.
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