http://www.ultraswank.net Retro Living and Design from the 50s, 60s and 70s Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:56:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-206/ http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-206/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:59:39 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3657 On the show this week, Koop Kooper broadcasts from the Viceroy hotel in Bali on a weeks vacation. In swank advice Koop talk about being a traveler rather than a tourist and he’ll introduce you to a new player in the Sydney lounge scene and details on a fantastic LA fashion show that you should [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-206/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-205/ http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-205/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:17:00 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3649 On the show this week, Koop Kooper replay a 1994 interview with Etta James, swank advice on Bow Ties, news on a lost Ed Wood film that has been rediscovered and new music from Sydney vocalist Angie Hubbard from her brand new album Some Kind Of Daydream. Listen to the podcast Played songs Angie Hubbard [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-205/feed/ 1 http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-204/ http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-204/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:22:07 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3638 On the show this week, Koop Kooper checks out the Ohana Luau at the lake, reviews OSS 117 and play some music from the film. Takes a look at the world of swank with some great gigs and parties to attend plus the usual swank advice. Back on the radio for another week as we [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-204/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-203/ http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-203/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:31:16 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3628 On the show this week, Koop Kooper introduce you to a man who is going to join us once a month by the name of Kramer to talk about lounging movies. News from author Bill Raetz, swank advice on what to bring to a dinner party, a look at the world of swank with some [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/cocktail-nation/episode-203/feed/ 1 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/an-audible-smorgasbord-of-luxuria-music/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/an-audible-smorgasbord-of-luxuria-music/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:33:44 +0000 Katharine Miller http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3544 Tired of spinning the same old Esquivel and Les Baxter on the hi-fi? First, make sure you’ve given a listen to the fabulous Ultra Swank compilations curated by our own Chris. Then feast your ears on Luxuriamusic.com. And what a feast it is! Luxuria is an audible smorgasbord of tiki, exotica, and lounge music of [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/an-audible-smorgasbord-of-luxuria-music/feed/ 4 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/exotica-for-modern-living/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/exotica-for-modern-living/#comments Sat, 02 Jul 2011 13:20:27 +0000 Amy Thyr http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3332 Exotica music began to take its roots as early as the 1930′s, but after WWII this romanticized version of Polynesia, far-away places, and tropical islands was clearly permeating its way into the American culture, transporting the listener with distinctive sounds like jungle drums, idiophones, Indonesian and Burmese gongs, Tahitian logs and the exotic sounds of [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/exotica-for-modern-living/feed/ 3 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/jazz-for-the-jet-set/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/jazz-for-the-jet-set/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:42:01 +0000 Steven Padal http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3175 Dave Pike has created this swell recording for all those swingin’ bachelors. Herbie Hancock plays the keyboard along side Dave Pike’s vibraphone. Bobby Hebb had wrote “Sunny” and introduced it in this album, which was later released for hundreds of additional recordings. This album reminds me a little of Cal Tjader, who was the creator [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/jazz-for-the-jet-set/feed/ 4 http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/compilations-updated/ http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/compilations-updated/#comments Sat, 12 Feb 2011 06:04:33 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3106 For those who have been asking when the compilations are coming back, today is your lucky day. As of now, all of the Ultra Swank compilations are available to download again – except Retro Shopping Volume 2, which has been temporarily lost somewhere between aisles four and eight. Get what you are looking for on [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/ultra-swank/compilations-updated/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/remembering-john-barry/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/remembering-john-barry/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:23:14 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=3053 One of my absolutely favorite composers of all time has passed away. John Barry, winner of five academy awards and numerous other awards. Many will remember him for his tremendous work of scoring 11 of the James Bond movies and co-authoring the famous 007 gun barrel theme, but that’s only part of his career. He [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/remembering-john-barry/feed/ 5 http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/christmas-gets-endorsed-by-celebrities/ http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/christmas-gets-endorsed-by-celebrities/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 06:50:26 +0000 Katharine Miller http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2947 When snow covers the ground and the days get shorter, you know it’s time to celebrate the winter holidays and spread cheer and good will. Even celebrities can’t resist the action, lending their talent and likeness to all manners of Christmas merriment. Popular personalities of stage, screen and song deliver messages of joy in the [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/advertising/christmas-gets-endorsed-by-celebrities/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/electrified-christmas/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/electrified-christmas/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:50:01 +0000 Steven Padal http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2894 Electrify your Christmas music mix with some Hammond organ sounds! Jimmy Smith originally was a pianist and later became an organist in the early 50’s. Smith signed on with Verve Records in the 60’s and had the opportunity to collaborate with the great Lalo Schifrin and Wes Montgomery. Don’t be mistaken; Jimmy Smith’s style is [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/electrified-christmas/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/ultra-swank-featured-on-the-cocktail-nation-show/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/ultra-swank-featured-on-the-cocktail-nation-show/#comments Sun, 28 Nov 2010 06:20:58 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2858 Pour yourself a drink and make yourself comfortable for your introduction to the silken-voiced Mr. Koop Kooper. This swank gentleman is the host of the Cocktail Nation – a lounge and exotica podcast out of the Sydney penthouse. Each week Kooper talks to the movers and shakers of the lounge and Tiki scene and plays [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/ultra-swank-featured-on-the-cocktail-nation-show/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/film/tickle-me/ http://www.ultraswank.net/film/tickle-me/#comments Fri, 26 Nov 2010 06:36:24 +0000 Jesse Kowalski http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2850 What do a dude ranch, a hidden treasure, and an Elvis-battling ninja have in common? Tickle Me! Elvis Presley’s 18th studio film takes us to a dude ranch in the American Southwest where Elvis is helping out. Like many men his age, he wants to earn enough dough so that he can join the rodeo [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/film/tickle-me/feed/ 1 http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/ http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 06:51:23 +0000 Amy Thyr http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2839 The origins of “Googie” design can be traced back to the actual coffee shop designed by architect John Lautner and by the works of his contemporaries. Appearing first in commercial buildings and used primarily in designing restaurants, coffee shops, motels, gas stations and bowling alleys, as well as schools, churches, shopping centers and airline terminals, [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/architecture/cruisin%e2%80%99-to-the-wich-stand/feed/ 2 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/charade-%e2%80%93-romance-comedy-and-suspense/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/charade-%e2%80%93-romance-comedy-and-suspense/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:15:41 +0000 Steven Padal http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2830 Romance, comedy and suspense are what you experience when watching the movie Charade (1963). Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn take you through a cat and mouse chase, running through the streets of Paris, as they try to find out where stolen money is located. The soundtrack to Charade was created by Henri Mancini and complements [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/charade-%e2%80%93-romance-comedy-and-suspense/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/karminsky-experience-goes-retro-lounge/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/karminsky-experience-goes-retro-lounge/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:42:13 +0000 Steven Padal http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2749 Karminsky Experience Inc. is best known for creating middle eastern influenced Electronica music. But his more recent album, Snapshot (2007), has a radical retro lounge theme. While listening to Snapshot, a mixture of library, beach, and jazz music transforms into wonderful melodies. The album begins with Summer Song, which is happy and inviting – it [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/karminsky-experience-goes-retro-lounge/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/film/a-tribute-to-dudley-moore/ http://www.ultraswank.net/film/a-tribute-to-dudley-moore/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:05:16 +0000 Jesse Kowalski http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2712 My introduction to Dudley Moore was with the 1978 film “Foul Play”. The film starred Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn in a well-written homage to Hitchcock and featured a dwarf, an albino, a kung-fu fighting Burgess Meredith (The Penguin in Batman), and a papal assassination. But the hero of the film, at least to this [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/film/a-tribute-to-dudley-moore/feed/ 1 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/lambert-hendricks-ross-three-jazz-vocalists/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/lambert-hendricks-ross-three-jazz-vocalists/#comments Wed, 22 Sep 2010 05:09:38 +0000 Steven Padal http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2704 Lady’s and gentlemen, grab your partner, cause it’s time for some be-boppin’! Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross are three jazz vocalists that formed in 1957. The trio unfortunately were not active for many years and ended their trio in 1962. Though, Ross was replaced Yolande Bavan in 1962 and continued through 1964. The [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/lambert-hendricks-ross-three-jazz-vocalists/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/music/isabel-rose-salutes-the-1960s/ http://www.ultraswank.net/music/isabel-rose-salutes-the-1960s/#comments Thu, 16 Sep 2010 05:41:39 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2683 Isabel Rose, comedienne and performer salutes 1960s aviation among many things in her first ever music video. If you are a fan of Ann-Margret, Doris Day or movies such as Catch Me If You Can you will surely be entertained and impressed with both Isabel and her music. Her album “Swingin’ From the Hip” blends [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/music/isabel-rose-salutes-the-1960s/feed/ 0 http://www.ultraswank.net/film/an-homage-to-louis-armstrong/ http://www.ultraswank.net/film/an-homage-to-louis-armstrong/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:19:42 +0000 Chris http://www.ultraswank.net/?p=2652 Shot by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond as a modern re-imagining of early silent film, LOUIS is an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and the birth of American music. The grand Storyville bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of 1907 New Orleans provide a backdrop of lust, blood and magic for 6 year old [...]]]> http://www.ultraswank.net/film/an-homage-to-louis-armstrong/feed/ 0