Tony Mottola, lounge or jazz?

I'm in the process of uploading the first side of the Tony Mottola Project 3 LP entitled "Warm, Wild, and Wonderful", produced by Enoch Light, recorded in 1968. I can't really put a shot of the cover here, because it is almost softcore porn (as if other lounge LPs of the late 50s weren't??)... but I'll describe it: a young vixen with a blonde afro and yellow eyes with a sarong not-quite-covering her.... hmmmm... breastal appendages? Something that Star Trek could not have gotten away with in 1967? The cover art is signed by a Hilary Knight, the lady is holding an acoustic guitar, and is kneeling next to a leopard. Fun, huh. But not as funa s the actual cover! Lounge-o-philes, you may know this one, and if you do, I see those smiles!



Anyway, here are the cuts, it is a nifty LP, very jazz-like, and this may be what evolved into early Smooth Jazz.

Side 1:
This Guy's In Love With You
"Hey, after this martini, would you like to come up to my pad and see my etchings?"
Do You Know The Way To San Jose
A very lounge-y treatment of the Dionne Warwick hit, even with the vocal background adding 'effect'... the finger cymbals are a nice little touch... mellow horns too. Boom chick a boom chick chick CHAAAA...
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
I absolutely LOVE the treament that Tony gave this, from the Twinkle Twinkle opening to the lazy swing rendition of a Gus Kahn tune, revitalized by Cass Elloitt.
With A Little Help
The vocals are interesting adds to this rather standard standard... sure isn't Joe Cocker-ish at all!
Scarborough Fair
Patchouuuuuuliiiiiiii... a lounge madrigal!
Watch What Happens
A nice mellow guitar intro leads into an almost-samba, worthy of a cool drink on a tropical beach somewhere... mellow-ness...

Side 2:
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Your typical easy-listening, MoR format stuff... but it'll work at 3 in the morning on US 93 between Wickenburg and Wikieup (two forgettable towns in Arizona between Phoenix and Las Vegas)...
Kites Are Fun
Why nobody has picked this up for a music bed for a summertime car commercial, I dunno... visions of young, carefree people in their cute little compact convertible, picnics on the green, la la lalala la...
Cry Me A River
This cut is one of the best, most soulful versions of Julie London's hit (besides Julie's own version) that I have EVER heard. Nothing gets in the way (too much) of TOny stretching this one out. THIS is DEFINATELY good cocktail jazz.
Goin' Out Of My Head
Okay, we're back to the Lounge cheese here now... have some fondue.
Love In Every Room
Muzak! Muzak! Muzak! A sitar (played by Bucky Pizzarelli!) and a lounge groove that BEGS an acid jazz remix!
I Found Love
It's just so darn HAPPY!!! But it manages to swing just enough to leave the insulin on the shelf.

So far, my favorites are "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" and "Cry Me A River"... definately somewhere between lounge and smooth jazz (and something you would have heard on the 'Beautiful Music' FM radio station in 1968...). And, yes, you DO hear Dick Hyman doing keyboard chores in a few of the cuts.

Pass the olives, gorgeous!

Enjoy!