49th State Records
 

As a collector of vinyl LPs, I have to say that this past weekend marked one of my best scores in a long time. I went into one of the thrift stores on my used record circuit and ran into a vein of really cool vinyl. The highlight was several UNOPENED records on the 49th State Label.

http://www.hipwax.com/music/hawai_49.html

Basically, these records are of Polynesian music, songs, and drumming, produced, recorded, and performed by actual Polynesians. This last fact is important because so much of what was produced and marketed as "authentic" Polynesian music, later to be called "exotica," is not really authentic at all. Think of Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman. I like the latter artists too, but this stuff on 49th State is amazing.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

This particular album arranges the tracks

Song
Drums
Song
Drums
Song
Drums
Song
Drums

And by "Drums" they really mean DRUMS! Wild, amazing, spine-tingling native Tahitian drums pounding away for about 2 minutes on each track. In my imagination I could see the men paddling madly on their outrigger canoes.

I later found out that some of the 49th State stuff has been re-released on CD, so that took away some of the magic, but having the vinyl is still pretty cool.

I can smell the frangipani from here!

And you will be sampling and converting these to mp3 when? :)

Conversion
 

That's a good idea. I use a first-generation MiniDisc recorder which digitizes the albums straight from my turntable and stereo, but Sony makes it really hard to convert their format to MP3. When I want to convert my vinyl to more useable digital formats, I call on my friend Mike who started his own company doing just that.

http://www.osirisstudio.com/

You should check out his "past projects" and "equipment list" links at the top of his homepage.

In the meantime, I will see if I can create a few MP3s of some of the drumming tracks.:3eye:

Put me down for clips of the drums. I can't get enough of good drums.

Anybody know of any good African drum solos or just good jungle drumming? I know its out there but I wouldn't know where to start. I'm looking for the kind of drum beats that make your heart pound.

Jim Keltner has a nice drum solo thing on his site, but its not african or anything. And there's an absolutely mind-blowing drum solo on the R30 CD/DVD. Peart > Everyone else. Though Palmer and Bonzo come close.

Polynesia is the 49th state? :eek:

State The Facts
 

Actually, Alaska was the 49th State, and Hawaii was the 50th. They named that Hawaiian label 49th in anticipation of statehood, kinda like a marketing thing. In the end, Alaska beat them to statehood.:neutral:

Sure, beestie, I'll keep you posted on my Tahitian drums digitization. What I heard sure made my heart pound; felt like I was on a South Pacific island hearing something that was not meant for me. It's got power and is even a little scary.:worried:

Put me on the ftp list, too?

Really? You mean Polynesia isn't a state? Now you've dashed my dreams, you horrid man. :lol:
But I'll let you make it up to me.....as soon as your done digitizing the drums, if you catch my drift.

Me too please. I like good native drumming.

And me! Thanks.

You might try King Sunny Ade if you're willing to listen to electric guitar up front. I like him much.:)