Ultra-Lounge is a series of compilation CDs released by Capitol Records, featuring music predominantly from the 1950s and 1960s in genres such as exotica, space age pop, mambo, television theme songs, and lounge. Many of the volumes have since been made available for purchase via digital download.
Each CD featured detailed liner notes along with two related drink recipes, tips on how to serve drinks to guests, and often photographs of sculptures made out of bartender items and other objects.
The series started in 1996 during the swing revival, but as of 2009 the newer releases have been made available only for purchase in downloadable format from Amazon.com and iTunes.
Some volumes from the series managed to make the Billboard jazz top 10.[2] Initial sales after the first few years reportedly reached over 600,000.[3] In 1997, art directors Andy Engel and Tommy Steele won the Grammy Award for Best Recording Package for the packaging design of the Ultra Lounge Leopard Skin Sampler.[4]
^ abcdefAdinolfi, Francesco (April 25, 2008). "Destination: Space Age Pop". In Pinkus, Karen (ed.). Mondo Exotica - Sounds, Visions, Obsessions of the Cocktail Generation. Durham: Duke University Press. p. 122.