Tracklist:

1. Song Of India-Beggars’ Procession
2. Yokahama Ferryboat
3. Rain In Rangoon
4. Madam Sloe Gin’s
5. The Girl Friend Of A Whirling Dervish
6. Mountain High, Valley Low
7. Scheherazade
8. Limehouse Blues
9. Night Of The Tiger
10. Nagasaki
11. Train To Ranchipur
12. Runaway Rickshaw

Notes:

“Orienta” is a captivating studio album released in 1959 by The Markko Polo Adventurers, a project led by composer and arranger Gerald Fried. Produced by **Simon Rady** and recorded in stereo at RCA Victor’s Hollywood studio, the album blends Asian-inspired music with sound effects to create humorous and exotic vignettes. The album’s suggestive cover art, featuring a photograph by Murray Laden, adds to its allure.

The album consists of twelve tracks, including adaptations of classical compositions and original pieces by Fried, Vernon Duke, and Leon Pober. Notable tracks include “Song of India – Beggars’ Procession”, “Yokahama Ferryboat”, and “Scheherazade”, each offering a unique auditory journey through imagined Eastern landscapes. The use of a wide array of woodwind and percussion instruments, including contributions from five top percussionists, adds to the album’s rich and diverse sound.

“Orienta” was designed to showcase the capabilities of stereo recording technology and appeal to hi-fi enthusiasts. The liner notes humorously describe the music as resembling the dreams of someone who has fallen asleep during a “Dr. Fu Manchu” movie, combining Eastern sounds with Western wit. Despite its playful nature, the album was also recognized as a serious artistic effort.

The Markko Polo Adventurers’ “Orienta” remains a fascinating example of exotica music from the late 1950s. Its innovative blend of sound effects, exotic instrumentation, and humorous storytelling continues to captivate listeners, making it a unique and enduring piece of musical history.