Les Baxter‘s music always takes me to a different era and a different geographical location.

We’ll talk about the music in a second, but wouldn’t you agree that he has the best album covers ever? His series of jungle, tropical, exotic albums is incredible, each and every album. But it’s that one record that stands out above the other, and it might be the schmaltziest album of them all and far away from the South America forests – Jewels Of The Sea.

This album, delivers exactly what the title promises. Gems that were picked from the bottom of the ocean, full of echoing, lush and silky strings section. Jazzy piano parts, some bossa-nova and that relaxing calmness-in-a-vacuum feeling that divers probably feel when they go 50 meters below sea level.

It’s way too beautifully produced to just title it as ‘elevator music’ and it’s totally full with schmaltzy moments, but it’s schmaltz made by a hero and a musical genius. There were several of digital reissues, the latest comes from Trunk Records, but really it’s a record that will sound dynamite on vinyl. If anyone wants to sell me for a reasonable price, let me know.