
Various Artists - Love In The Jungle- Destination Love Vol 3 [Bear Family Records - 2024]Love In The Jungle is the third in the series of Destination Love compilations from Germany's Bear Family Records. It’s a twenty-six-track affair- featuring songs from between the 1950s and 1960s- moving rock ‘n’ roll, sassy easy listening, jiving ‘n’ griding grooves, novelty pop fair, strip tease music, and related genres. The CD comes presented in a clear jewel case that features some subtly lustful/provocative retro art. It comes with a fifteen-page colourful inlay booklet- which takes in a short write-up for each of the tracks featured, as well as artists' pictures, vinyl labels, and more groove love ‘n’ lust based retro art.
In the first half of the disc, we move from steady grooving percussion, sassy sax lines, light jazzy piano, and group sing-song vocals of “Strip Tease Swing” by Big Jay McNeely. Onto the jiving organ, tight hiss beat, and male and female chatting up/ get inmate dialogue of “Punchline” by Doreen Davis & Bobby Lyon. Or the comic getting slowly drunk female dialogue meets grooving keys, horns, and twanging guitar of “Cocktails Darling” by Gordo.
In its second half, we move from the gunning rock ‘n’ roll guitars, tip-tapping piano, and gang vocals of The Genteels “Take It Off”. Though to the straight, sassy orchestra, and percussive bump ‘n’ grind of “Black And Tan Fantasy” by David Rose & His Orchestra. Onto jaunting keys, male chorus lined and reacting female dialogue of “Crazy Girl” by The Counterpoints feat Laura Leslie. Through to twanging guitar, tip-taping beats, lightly jiggling and crooning male vocals of Sheb Wooley’s “38-24-35”.
Love In The Jungle is another consistent compilation from the great folks at Bear Family Records- and if you enjoy retro 50’s/ 60’s collections, you really need to check, and the label's many other great compilations.      Roger Batty
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