At the Port of Los Angeles (Digitally Remastered)

They Say...

Review by Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

Arthur Lyman's At the Port of Los Angeles (1967) was a clever repackaging of 11 previously available selections from eight different long players -- all of which are thematically centered on the topic of tropical travel. On board are members of the incipient Arthur Lyman Group featuring Lyman (vibraphone/marimba/guitar) supported by Harold Chang (percussion), John Kramer (bass/bamboo flute), and Alan Soares (piano/celeste). The Bahia (1959) album extracts are likewise among the best Les Baxter compositions that Lyman covered. Two distinct sides of the author and performers are explored within the native ambience of "Quiet Village" as well as the sensitively syncopated "Busy Port." Included from Lyman's Top 40 album I Wish You Love (1963) -- which had also been released as -- Love for Sale (1963) is the dark "Follow Me" a song prominently featured in the film Mutiny on the Bounty. Other prime cinematic offerings are the ultra hip bossa-nova groove flowing through "Theme from the Sandpiper" and an extended Rodgers & Hammerstein salute from the silver screen to Broadway on the "Medley from South Pacific." Among the melodies that Lyman and crew reference are "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" and the truly inspired take of "Some Enchanted Evening." The remainder of the set focuses primarily on pre-rock & roll era Hit Parade pop standards that continue the project's nautical motif with "Red Sails in the Sunset," "Sea Breeze," and "Harbor Lights" -- which are from the Hawaiian Sunset double volumes, while "Ebb Tide" can be found on the second installment of Taboo. In 2008,Collectors' Choice Music reissued At the Port of Los Angeles (1967) and Llikai (1967) onto a double-play CD that restore both after decades out-of-print.