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"Playing 'Bop' is like Scrabble with all the vowels missing."— Duke Ellington
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LES BAXTER
Les Baxter is the leading figure in the history of exotica. Wherever exotica went, Les Baxter was there, often leading the way. His work for Capitol Records in the 1950s introduced most of the major movements in exotica. His 1950 album, "Music Out of the Moon," featured the theremin and was probably the best-selling theremin album of all time--and also founded the "space" school of exotica. In 1951, he did the same for the "jungle" school of exotica with his landmark "Ritual of the Savage" LP, for which he wrote the theme song of exotica: "Quiet Village." He crested the European cover wave with his only number one hit, "Poor People of Paris," in 1956. He produced and wrote most of the first album by the four-octave Peruvian songstress, Yma Sumac, "Voice of the Xtabay" And he can be credited with anticipating the percussion school with his all-drums album, "Skins! Bongo Party with Les Baxter."
At Capitol Records, where he primarily worked writing arrangements and conducting the orchestra on recording sessions for such singers as Frank Sinatra and Bob Eberle. He provided the arrangement for Nat King Cole's best-selling recording of Eden Ahbez's utopian tune, "Nature Boy," performed by Frank DeVol and a studio orchestra, and arranged and performed with Cole on other hits such as "Mona Lisa." He also arranged and conducted on a series of LPs released under the name of dance studio entrepeneur Arthur Murray.
Like a number of Capitol's house arrangers, Baxter was able to record his own arrangements and, often, composition. Some arrangers didn't put much energy into such recordings, but Baxter clearly found them vital creative outlets and experimented with a variety of themes, musical devices, and genres.

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
"Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name. It was recorded in the same year by Billie Holiday and afterwards performed by Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Dinah Washington, Clark Terry, Frances Langford, Arthur Tracy, Big Joe Turner, Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz, Dean Martin, Gene Ammons, The Skyliners (a major hit in 1960), Louis Prima, Legion of Mary, Guy Mitchell, Rose Murphy and many other jazz and popular singers.
The 1936 recording by Bing Crosby on Decca Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.

MHO
Many music lovers, especially those charmed by close harmony singing and the combination of vocals and orchestra, will no doubt think of Ray Conniff when hearing this song in this version. And of course, it's a comparison that kinda "pushes itself forward" because the sound indeed is similar. Some may even think (and maybe they are right :) Mr Baxter copied the Conniff style here, which is a possibility because the album from which this selection was taken ("Voices in Rhythm") was released in 1962, i.e. only a few years after Conniff set the "sound standard" with his "S'Wonderful".
Was it the record company (Reprise Records) that came up with the idea.... noticing how successful the Conniff albums were ? Well, we may never know but the essence of the matter is : is this great music ? Then the answer, imho, should definitely be "yes". Baxter was a master arranger, and though he remains best known for his exotica recordings, his other work is worthwhile listening to as well.
This rhythmic version of the classic "Pennies from Heaven" is a perfect example of Baxter's ability to turn a standard well known song into a "more modern" sounding piece of music. (Modern for the early 1960s that is)
The start of the song here is just sublime. It immediately brings the listener in the happy mood that defines this version, and "promisses" that more fun is to come ....
Enjoy !