Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. Abandoning a concert career as a pianist, he turned to popular music as a singer. At the age of 23 he joined Mel Tormé's Mel-Tones, singing on Artie Shaw records such as "What Is This Thing Called Love?".
Baxter then turned to arranging and conducting for Capitol Records in 1950, and was credited with the early Nat King Cole hits, "Mona Lisa" and "Too Young", but both were actually orchestrated by Nelson Riddle.[1] (In later releases of the recordings the credit was corrected to Riddle.[citation needed]) Not a uncommon practice these days: Baxter himself had arranged Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" in 1947 for a recording conducted by Frank De Vol. In 1953 he scored his first film, the sailing travelogue Tanga Tika. With his own orchestra, he released a number of hits including "Ruby" (1953), "Unchained Melody" (1955) and "The Poor People Of Paris" (1956). The latter recording sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[2]He also achieved success with concept albums of his own orchestral suites: Le Sacre Du Sauvage, Festival Of The Gnomes, Ports Of Pleasure, and Brazil Now, the first three for Capitol and the fourth on Gene Norman's Crescendo label. The list of musicians on these recordings includes Plas Johnson and Clare Fischer.
Baxter also wrote the "Whistle" theme from the TV show Lassie.
Baxter did not restrict his activities to recording. As he once told Soundtrack! magazine, "I never turn anything down".
In the 1960s, he formed the Balladeers, a besuited and conservative folk group that at one time featured a young David Crosby.[citation needed] He operated in radio as musical director of The Halls of Ivy and the Bob Hope and Abbott and Costello shows.
Like his counterparts Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin and James Horner, Baxter later worked for the film industries from 1960s to 70s. He worked on movie soundtracks for American International Pictures where he composed and conducted scores for Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe films and other horror stories and teenage musicals, including The Pit and the Pendulum, Panic in Year Zero!, Beach Party, The Comedy of Terrors,The Dunwich Horror, and Frogs. Howard W. Koch recalled that Baxter composed, orchestrated, and recorded the entire score of The Yellow Tomahawk (1954) in a total of three hours for $5,000.[3]
With less soundtrack work in the 1980s, he scored music for theme parks and SeaWorlds. In the 1990s, Baxter was widely celebrated, alongside Martin Denny and the Arthur Lyman Group, as one of the progenitors of what had become known as the "exotica" movement. In his 1996 appreciation for Wired magazine, writer David Toop remembered Baxter thus:
"Baxter offered package tours in sound, selling tickets to sedentary tourists who wanted to stroll around some taboo emotions before lunch, view a pagan ceremony, go wild in the sun or conjure a demon, all without leaving home hi-fi comforts in the white suburbs".
Baxter has a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6314 Hollywood Blvd.
Don't Forbid Me
Les Baxter and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Darling, Don't Forbid Me to hold you tight
Let-a me hold you in my lovin' arms
'Cause it's cold and I can keep you warm
Don't a forbid me to kiss your lips
Darling, Don't Forbid Me to kiss your lips
Let-a me kiss you please baby, please
There's a strong Westwind a-blowing
and there's a big, blue moon above
And, pretty baby, I'll be knowing
you need some heartwarming love
So don't-a forbid me to talk sweet talk
Darling, Don't Forbid Me to talk sweet talk
Let-a me fill your little heart with fire
The lyrics of "Don't Forbid Me" by Les Baxter and His Orchestra convey a sense of desperation and longing for intimacy and warmth. The repetition of phrases like "Don't forbid me" and "Let me" highlights a pleading tone from the singer, who is expressing a desire to hold their lover close and share moments of affection. The opening lines, "Don't-a forbid me to hold you tight, Darling, Don't Forbid Me to hold you tight," set the stage for the singer's plea to be allowed physical closeness in the face of cold weather, symbolizing both a literal and metaphorical need for warmth and comfort.
The lyrics further emphasize the singer's desire for physical connection through references to kissing and their partner's lips freezing in the cold. The line "Let-a me kiss you please baby, please, 'Cause it's cold and your lips might freeze" suggests a sense of urgency and the need to act quickly to provide warmth and affection. The mention of the strong Westwind blowing and the big, blue moon above sets a romantic scene, implying that the singer is attuned to the natural elements and how they affect their relationship.
The lyrics also reveal the singer's understanding of their partner's emotional needs, as they mention knowing that their lover requires "heartwarming love." This insight into their partner's feelings suggests a deeper emotional connection and a desire to provide comfort and reassurance. The lines "So don't-a forbid me to talk sweet talk, Darling, Don't Forbid Me to talk sweet talk, Let-a me fill your little heart with fire" convey the singer's intention to express their feelings and ignite passion in their partner through sweet words and gestures.
Overall, the lyrics of "Don't Forbid Me" encapsulate a plea for intimacy, warmth, and emotional connection in the face of coldness and distance. The singer's words express a yearning to hold their lover close, share moments of affection, and fill their heart with love and fire. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt pleas, the song conveys a sense of vulnerability and a deep desire for closeness and connection in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't-a forbid me to hold you tight
Please don't stop me from holding you close, my love
Let-a me hold you in my lovin' arms
Allow me to embrace you in my arms filled with love
Don't a forbid me to kiss your lips
Please don't prevent me from kissing your lips, darling
Let-a me kiss you please baby, please
Let me shower you with kisses, my love
There's a strong Westwind a-blowing and there's a big, blue moon above
The wind is strong and the moon is shining bright in the night sky
And, pretty baby, I'll be knowing you need some heartwarming love
I understand that you seek affection and warmth, my dear
So don't-a forbid me to talk sweet talk
Please don't stop me from whispering sweet words to you
Let-a me fill your little heart with fire
Allow me to ignite the passion in your heart, my love
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Charles Singleton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind