I finally put together the instrumental compilation I’ve been working on for a few months. I think I’ve nailed a decent mix of tracks on it. I have a few choices I might rethink in the near future, or I might save the extras for a second volume. My goal was to use either the original or the most popular version of a song in the compilation. I’m happy to say that many of these songs charted on the Billboard charts. The most successful on the chart is Perez Prado’s hit “Cherry Pink”, which spent about 10 weeks at the top. Interesting, too, is that four of these were TV themes: Peter Gunn and M Squad were two detective shows, and both were taken from their respective soundtrack albums. The “Route 66″ theme is from the TV series of the same name, and Bacharach’s “Nikki” was used a few years after its initial release as the Mystery Movie Theme on ABC in the 70s.

Here’s the track listing:

1 Yakety Sax: Boots Randolph
2 Java: Al Hirt
3 A Taste of Honey: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
4 Cast Your Fate To The Wind: Vince Guaraldi Trio
5 Grazing In The Grass: Hugh Masekela
6 Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White: Perez Prado
7 Peter Gunn: Henry Mancini & His Orchestra
8 One Mint Julep: Ray Charles
9 Summer Samba: Walter Wanderley Trio
10 Soul Sauce: Cal Tjader
11 The “In” Crowd: Ramsey Lewis Trio
12 The Madison Time: Ray Bryant
13 M Squad: Stanley Wilson Orchestra
14 The Happy Organ: Dave “Baby” Cortez
15 Maria Elena: Los Indios Tabajares
16 Topsy Part II: Cozy Cole:
17 Watermelon Man: Mongo Santamaria
18 April In Paris: Count Basie Orchestra
19 Route 66 Theme: Nelson Riddle Orchestra
20 Take Five: Dave Brubeck Quartet
21 Viva Tirado – Part 1: El Muchaco
22 Nikki: Burt Bacharach
23 Soul Bossa Nova: Quincy Jones
24 El Watusi: Ray Barretto
25 Quiet Village: Martin Denny
26 Last Tango in Paris: Gato Barbieri