In the late 50's, in England, I was lent a LP Record of some of the
most beautiful arrangements of songs that I have ever heard.
Unfortunately I had to give it back and now I want to try to track
down the Record label & Orchestra in the hope it has been reissued as
a CD, perhaps under a different title.
The Album was titled "Adventures in Hi Fi" and I believe the Record
Label was "Transworld". It featured a Buddist Temple on the front
cover and some of the songs included "Kashmiri Song", "On a Little
Street in Singapore", "In a Persian Market Place" and "Drifting
Sampans"  I believe the Orchestra may have been German or French.
Incidently, while most of the songs are well known I have never been
able to find any information on the song "Drifting Sampans".
I have tried searching the web for the "Transworld" label without
success so it may be a defunct company. Also, none of the music sites
have a listing for "Drifting Sampans". You will have earned your money
if you can locate a recording of that piece of music alone.
Somewhere, in a dusty record vault there is a master copy of the most
beautiful music you will ever hear. Please go find it!!
Regards, Alex Hosking.

Hey Alex,

Nice name :).  This might be a different song - but I thought I'd let
you know it's out there. This is "Drifting Sampan" (no s) by Arthur
Lyman:
http://www.wwwax.com/song/11/1127-5.htm - they're selling the LP
album, which contains the song "Drifting Sampan," for $20.

If it's not the same song - sorry ;0)
- Alex

Hi alex-365

The record you are looking for, I think is: "A High Fidelity Adventure
in Exotic Lands"

The songs on this record are:

Exotic Lands Song Of India, Theme From Prince Igor, Arab Dance,
Drifting Sampams, OnThe Road To Mandalay, On A Little Street In
Singapore, Scheherazade, In A Persian Market, and Kashmiri Song.

Here's a pic of the cover:

http://www.hakushouse.com/images/Lounge/PC240006.JPG

You can buy it here for fifteen dollars (scroll about half-way down
the page, to the E's: it's under Exotic Lands):

http://www.hakushouse.com/Lounge_DtoK.html

Happy listening!

(There are a lot of fantastic records on this site, Martin Denny,
Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter, etc.)