That Happy Feeling – BERT KAEMPFERT****

That Happy Feeling/A Swingin’ Safari/Market Day/Take Me/Similau/Zambesi/Happy Trumpeter/Tootie Flutie/ Wimoweh/Sunday In Madrid/Black Beauty/Skokiaan

That Happy Feeling was an early attempt at world music from German bandleader Bert Kaempfert, with many of the tunes having an African connection. (US:14)

“You have probably heard these songs all over middle of the road radio throughout the US and the rest of the world. The bass drum and upright bass are superb on Swingin' Safari.”

“This is my favourite Kaempfert album. Every song makes me dance. For those unfamiliar it is instrumental, with some vocals (but no lyrics). It is very upbeat and distinctive. I highly recommend it.”

“It probably established Kaempfert in the States as much as anything. The album's lively tone is far sprightlier than subsequent Kaempferts, which got weighted down with 'big' arrangements and the dreaded 'padoom-padoom' of the rhythm section. Despite the album's liberal and often palpable African influence that German engineering is never far from the surface, especially in Wimoweh.”

“These are all early and excellent examples of what would soon be called 'world music', and this is by far Kaempfert's best and most entertaining recording.”

“Never before this album had Kaempfert so fully integrated his love of American swing with his training as a pop orchestrator. His arrangements are sophisticated, but the bouncy bass lines and sparkling brass keeps things breezy and swinging. Most memorable of all are the flutes and piccolos emulation of South African penny whistles, and the terrific performances from the trumpet and trombone.”

“Kaempfert dwells playfully upon the classic, simple harmonic cycles of kwela, the popular music of South Africa at the time, itself derived in part from the big band swing that influenced this artist. All of which is an involved way of describing these irresistible, merrily swinging, cunningly constructed tracks where string, brass, flute, and choral layers are not allowed to get in the way of the dancing Fender bass, rhythm guitar and brushed drums.”