"Lujon" (also known as "Slow Hot Wind") is a musical piece by

Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flutist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Awards, ...

Background

Its name comes from the lujon percussion instrument heard on the recording.

Henry Mancini recording

It appeared on his 1961 album ''Mr. Lucky Goes Latin'', but was an original piece of music that had nothing to do with the '' Mr. Lucky'' television program. It was included in the soundtracks for the films ''

The Big Lebowski ''The Big Lebowski'' () is a 1998 crime comedy film written, directed, produced and co-edited by Joel and Ethan Coen. It follows the life of Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), a Los Angeles slacker and avid bowler. He is assaulted ...

'', '' Sexy Beast'', '' W.E.'', and '' Two Lovers''. Mancini would later record a jazz/swing version of "Slow Hot Wind" and include it on his 1975 album ''Symphonic Soul''. The song reached No. 38 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1976.

Other versions

* With lyrics by

Norman Gimbel Norman Gimbel (November 16, 1927 – December 19, 2018) was an American lyricist and songwriter of popular songs and themes to television shows and films. He wrote the lyrics for songs including " Ready to Take a Chance Again" (with composer Cha ...

, titled as "Slow Hot Wind" (or "A Slow Hot Wind"), the song was recorded by

Johnny Hartman John Maurice Hartman (July 3, 1923 – September 15, 1983) was an American jazz singer, known for his rich baritone voice and recordings of ballads. He sang and recorded with Earl Hines' and Dizzy Gillespie's big bands and with Erroll Garner. ...

(1964 album '' The Voice That Is!''),

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (, March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer and pianist. Nicknamed "Sassy" and "List of nicknames of jazz musicians, The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, ...

(1965 album '' Sarah Vaughan Sings the Mancini Songbook''),

Sérgio Mendes Sérgio Santos Mendes (; 11 February 1941 – 5 September 2024) was a Brazilian musician. His career took off with worldwide hits by his band Brasil '66. He released 35 albums and was known for playing bossa nova, often mixed with funk. He ...

& Brazil '66 (1966 album '' Herb Alpert Presents''),

Roseanna Vitro Roseanna Elizabeth Vitro (born February 28, 1951) is a jazz singer and teacher from Arkansas. Biography Born Roseanna Elizabeth VitroScott Fredrickson and Gary W. Kennedy.Vitro (Wickliffe), Roseanna" In ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2 ...

(1991 album '' Reaching for the Moon''),

Julee Cruise Julee Ann Cruise (December 1, 1956 – June 9, 2022) was an American singer and actress, known for her collaborations with composer Angelo Badalamenti and film director David Lynch in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She released four albums beg ...

(2002 album '' The Art of Being a Girl''), and others. * The song was remixed as "Ocean Beach" by Black Mighty Orchestra on the compilation album '' Chilled 1991–2008''. * "Lujon" is featured in the 1996 album '' Sacrebleu'' by Dimitri from Paris, Track 19, renamed "Epilogue". * Belgian

trip hop Trip hop is a musical genre that has been described as a psychedelic music, psychedelic fusion of hip hop music, hip hop and electronica with slow tempos and an atmospheric sound. The style emerged as a more experimental music, experimental var ...

band

Hooverphonic Hooverphonic is a Belgian electronic band that was formed in October 1995. Though originally categorized as a trip hop group, they quickly expanded their sound to the point where it could no longer be described as a belonging to a single genre, ...

recorded a version of the song overlaid with vocals, "No More Sweet Music". from the 2005 eponymous album. * "Lujon" was recorded by Les Deux Love Orchestra and appears on the album ''King Kong'' (2008), featuring members of Mancini's original orchestra.

In popular culture

* "Lujon" appeared in the 1998 movie ''

'' where lead character Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski was enticed by porn producer Jackie Treehorn to go after Bunny Lebowski for the money Treehorn loaned her. The song is played in Treehorn's bachelor pad while he drugs The Dude. * It also appeared in the 2000 film '' Sexy Beast'' in a dream-like sequence involving Gal and his wife. * "Lujon" appeared in the 2008 movie '' Two Lovers'' during a restaurant sequence. * It is used in the 2004 film '' Never Die Alone'', in a scene by the pool. * The track appears on DJ Cam's 2001 downtempo album ''Honeymoon'' and in the 2011 film '' W.E.'' by

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...

. * It is used in

Ron Howard Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. Howard started his career as a child actor before transitioning to directing films. Over his six-decade career, Howard has received List of awards and nominations r ...

's 2016 documentary '' The Beatles: Eight Days a Week'' to introduce manager

Brian Epstein Brian Samuel Epstein ( ; 19 September 1934 – 27 August 1967) was an English music entrepreneur who managed the Beatles from 1961 until his death in 1967. Epstein was born into a family of successful retailers in Liverpool, who put hi ...

. * DJ and producer

Nightmares on Wax George Herbert Evelyn (born 15 January 1970), better known by his stage name Nightmares on Wax or DJ E.A.S.E., is an English DJ and record producer from Leeds. His music has been released by Warp Records. He is based in Ibiza. Nightmares on Wax ...

sampled the song during his 2013 London Boiler Room set. * R&B singer Amber Mark sampled "Lujon" on her 2020 single "Generous." * American rapper

Tyler, the Creator Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has been cited as an influential figure in alternative hip-hop during the 2010s. Tyler beca ...

sampled "Slow Hot Wind" performed by Penny Goodwin on "Hot Wind Blows" from his 2021 album ''

Call Me If You Get Lost ''Call Me If You Get Lost'' is the seventh studio album by the American rapper and producer Tyler, the Creator. The album was released on June 25, 2021, through Columbia Records. The album is narrated by DJ Drama and features guest appearances f ...

''.

References

{{1960s-pop-song-stub Songs with music by Henry Mancini Songs with lyrics by Norman Gimbel