Born on the gorgeous isle of Kauai and raised in Honolulu, Arthur Lyman is the most "authentic" of the Big Three in Exotica Music, along with fellow Polynesian Pop pioneers Martin Denny and Les Baxter. In fact, the seminal exotica tune "Quiet Village", composed by Baxter, made famous by Denny's recording, featured Lyman's innovative use of vibes and "bird call" sound effects.

After a stint with Denny's band, Lyman went on to make his own mark in mood music, as beautifully evidenced here in this brand new collection, which features informative liner notes and a gallery of album covers. Lyman covers much of the same tropical terrain as his cohorts, but his versions of "Taboo" and "Yellow Bird" are definitive.

This comprehensive compilation includes all of his rarer 45 releases as well as the album standards. His style is quieter and even more soothing and sensuous than his percussion-driven peers. Lyman left us at age 70 in 2002, after a long career performing in his native Hawaii, but this CD will keep his magical, melodic Mai Tai music vivid and vibrant in the tiki oasis of your mind forever.

Will "The Thrill" Viharo is a freelance writer, host of the film series “Forbidden Thrills” at Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, and creator of the long running cult movie cabaret “Thrillville.” He lives in Alameda, CA with his wife Monica “Tiki Goddess” Cortes and their two cats. His pulp novels “A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge,” "Chumpy Walnut," and "Down a Dark Alley" are now available at http://stores.lulu.com/willviharo For more please surf over to www.thrillville.net