# Combustible Edison

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American neo-lounge music group

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Combustible Edison Also known as Combustible Edison Heliotropic Oriental Mambo and Foxtrot Orchestra Origin Providence, Rhode Island Genres Lounge, exotica, jazz, swing Years active 1991–1999 Label Sub Pop Members Miss Lily Banquette (Liz Cox) Michael "The Millionaire" Cudahy Nick Cudahy Mr. Peter Dixon Aaron Oppenheimer Michael "Laughing Boy" Connors Robert "Brother Cleve" Toomey Website Official website

**Combustible Edison** were an American neo-[lounge music](/source/Lounge_music) group founded in the early 1990s in [Providence, Rhode Island](/source/Providence%2C_Rhode_Island). They were one of several lounge acts that led a brief resurgence of interest in the genre during the mid-1990s.[1]

Unlike other bands with a more [ironic](/source/Irony) take on the lounge scene, Combustible Edison took the music seriously and strove to add to what its members saw as a canon of works by [Esquivel](/source/Juan_Garc%C3%ADa_Esquivel), [Henry Mancini](/source/Henry_Mancini) and [Martin Denny](/source/Martin_Denny). Said *[Trouser Press](/source/Trouser_Press)*, "As the band that poured the first shot in the Cocktail Revolution, this Providence combo brought lounge music into the '90s—or, more accurately, transported tastemakers back to the suburbia of the '50s—with strikingly authentic interpretations of some of the most unauthentic sounds known to mankind."[2]

The band ended in 1999.[3]

## History

Connecticut natives Liz Cox (drums, vocals) and Michael Cudahy (guitar, vocals) formed [indie rock](/source/Indie_rock) band Christmas in Boston in 1983.[4] They issued three albums, *In Excelsior Dayglo* (1986), *Ultra Prophets of Thee Psykick Revolution* (1989) and *Vortex* (released after the dissolution of the band in 1993). Cudahy's brother Nick was a member of the Christmas lineup for the second album.

In 1991, Michael Cudahy — now re-dubbed "The Millionaire" by fellow Providence *bon vivant* Robert Jaz — wrote a stage show titled "The Tiki Wonder Hour", and formed the 14-piece *Combustible Edison 'Heliotropic Oriental Mambo and Foxtrot Orchestra'* to accompany the performance.[1] After three performances of "Tiki Wonder Hour," the orchestra shortened its name to Combustible Edison and slimmed down to five core members: Cox (renamed "Miss Lily Banquette", on vocals and various percussion instruments), The Millionaire (guitar), Nick Cudahy (bass), Mr. Peter Dixon (keyboards) and Aaron Oppenheimer (drums and percussion).

Combustible Edison signed to [Sub Pop Records](/source/Sub_Pop_Records) and released their debut album, *I, Swinger*, in 1994.[1] A live review by *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)* critic Chuck Crisafulli noted that the album "perfectly duplicates the '50s cool and hi-fi [exotica](/source/Exotica) of such lounge icons as Martin Denny",[5] while *Trouser Press* said, "*I, Swinger* is a faithful replication of bargain-bin exotica, right down to a sleeve festooned with cocktail recipes and calculatedly dated hep-cat liner notes".[2] The group performed on *[Late Night with Conan O'Brien](/source/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien)* on December 23, 1994.[6]

In 1995, the band recorded the [soundtrack](/source/Four_Rooms_(soundtrack)) to the film *[Four Rooms](/source/Four_Rooms)*, produced by [Mark Mothersbaugh](/source/Mark_Mothersbaugh). "[Vertigogo](/source/Vertigogo)", the film's main theme, was submitted for consideration for an [Academy Award](/source/Academy_Award), but was ultimately disqualified from consideration because of its incomprehensible lyrical content, despite the fact that the band submitted a lyric sheet with their best written approximation of the lyrics.[7]

The group's second studio album, *[Schizophonic!](/source/Schizophonic!)* was issued in 1996.[1] During this period, Dixon was replaced by keyboardist [Robert "Brother Cleve" Toomey](/source/Robert_%22Brother_Cleve%22_Toomey), a former [WMBR](/source/WMBR) DJ who was previously a member of the Swinging Erudites, [the Del Fuegos](/source/The_Del_Fuegos), the Fabulous Billygoons, and [Barrence Whitfield & the Savages](/source/Barrence_Whitfield).[8][9]

By the time of Combustible Edison's final album, *The Impossible World* (1998),[1] drummer Michael "Laughing Boy" Connors had replaced Oppenheimer, and they had incorporated more modern electronic elements.[10]

The group split during the 1999 tour for *The Impossible World*.[3]

After the band had split, former member Nicholas Cudahy recovered original [demo](/source/Demo_(music)) recordings from 1992. These recordings were released by [Sundazed Music](/source/Sundazed_Music) under the album *Forbidden Isle of Demos.*

## Other projects

After Combustible Edison, Michael Cudahy helped build the internet radio station and music community site LuxuriaMusic, which launched in 1999.[1][11][12] A cocktail enthusiast, Cudahy was credited with coining the term "Cocktail Nation"[13] as well as the Combustible Edison cocktail.[14] The recipe for the cocktail was featured on the back cover of Combustible Edison's debut album, and was later collected by Paul Harrington in his 1998 book *Cocktail: The Drinks Bible for the 21st Century*.[1] Continuing to use his Millionaire moniker, Cudahy contributed three solo tracks to the 2003 compilation album *Music to Lose Your Knickers By*, and in 2004, he paired with Eric Bonerz to form Super Casanova, issuing the album *Eternity Now*.

Cox sang the [Lesley Gore](/source/Lesley_Gore)-cowritten "My Secret Love" on the soundtrack for the 1996 film *[Grace of My Heart](/source/Grace_of_My_Heart)*,[15] and "Oahu" on [the 6ths](/source/The_6ths)' 2000 album *[Hyacinths and Thistles](/source/Hyacinths_and_Thistles)*. She is currently involved with Community MusicWorks, a community-based [music education](/source/Music_education) and performance organisation.[16]

Dixon released an instrumental solo album in 2007 titled *Shady Planet*.[17]

Toomey, an acclaimed DJ (including a current stint as DJ Sharaabi Kapoor[18]), cocktail creator and bartender,[19] later played and recorded with his group Brother Cleve and His Lush Orchestra, country band Wheelers & Dealers, and Miki Singh & Jetset (later renamed Dragonfly).[8][9][20][21]

Connors joined the Toomey-produced [tiki music](/source/Tiki_culture#Music) ensemble Waitiki in 2006, and also formed his own combo Funk House.[22]

## Members

- Miss Lily Banquette (Liz Cox) – vocals, bongos, vibraphone, drums, percussion, melodica (1991-1999)

- Michael "The Millionaire" Cudahy – guitar (1991-1999)

- Nick Cudahy – bass (1991-1999)

- Mr. Peter Dixon – keyboards, organ (1991-c. 1996)

- Aaron Oppenheimer – drums, vibraphone, percussion (1991- c. 1998)

- Robert "Brother Cleve" Toomey – keyboards, vibraphone (1996-1999, died September 2022)

- Michael "Laughing Boy" Connors – drums (c. 1998-1999)

## Discography

### Studio albums

- *I, Swinger* (1994, [Sub Pop](/source/Sub_Pop))

- *[Schizophonic!](/source/Schizophonic!)* (1996, Sub Pop)

- *The Impossible World* (1998, Sub Pop)

- *Forbidden Isle of Demos* (2023, [Sundazed Music](/source/Sundazed_Music))

### Singles

- "Cry Me a River" 7" (1993, Sub Pop)

- "Blue Light" CD (1993, [Domino](/source/Domino_Recording_Company))

- "Christmastime Is Here" CD (1994, Sub Pop)

- "[Vertigogo](/source/Vertigogo)" promo CD (1995, [Elektra](/source/Elektra_Records))

- "Short Double Latte" CD (1996, Bungalow/[Rough Trade](/source/Rough_Trade_Records))

- "Bluebeard" CD (1996, Bungalow)

### Soundtrack albums

- *[Four Rooms: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack](/source/Four_Rooms_(soundtrack))* (1995, Elektra)

### Compilation albums

- *The Combustible Edison Mixer* promo (1998, Sub Pop)

### Selected compilation appearances

- "A Shot in the Dark" ([Henry Mancini](/source/Henry_Mancini) cover) on *Secret Agent S.O.U.N.D.S.* (1995, Mai Tai)

- "Millionaire's Holiday" on *Martini Lounge* (1996, [EMI-Capitol Special Markets](/source/EMI-Capitol_Special_Markets))

- "Vertigo", "Theme from [Bewitched](/source/Bewitched)" and "The Millionaire's Holiday" on *Cracked Ice & Crushed Velvet* promo EP (1996, Elektra)

- "Miniskirt" ([Esquivel](/source/Esquivel) cover) on *[Lounge-A-Palooza](/source/Lounge-A-Palooza)* (1997, [Hollywood](/source/Hollywood_Records))

- "Christmas Time Is Here" and "Sleigh Ride" on *Combustible Edison's The Millionaire Presents Sub Pop's Holiday Sound Spectacular* promo (1997, Sub Pop)

- "Sleigh Ride" on *Hi-Fidelity Holiday...A Holiday Compilation in Stereo* (1998, EMI Music Special Markets/[Starbucks Coffee](/source/Starbucks))

### Guest appearances

- Monopoly Queen - "Let's Keep It Friendly" 7" single (with [Lisa Crystal Carver](/source/Lisa_Crystal_Carver) and [Boyd Rice](/source/Boyd_Rice))

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-subpop_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-subpop_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-subpop_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-subpop_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-subpop_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-subpop_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-subpop_1-6) ["Combustible Edison on Sub Pop Records"](https://www.subpop.com/artists/combustible_edison). *Subpop.com*. October 6, 1998. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-trouserpress_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-trouserpress_2-1) ["Combustible Edison"](http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=combustible_edison). *TrouserPress.com*. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tikiroom_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tikiroom_3-1) ["Combustible Edison"](http://www.tikiroom.com/music/combustible.htm). *Tikiroom.com*. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-christmas_4-0)** Biography by Stewart Mason. ["Christmas | Biography & History"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/christmas-mn0001856211). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Crisafulli, Chuck (June 13, 1994). ["Pop Music Reviews: Combustible Edison Captures '50s Cool"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-13-ca-3557-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Late Night with Conan O'Brien"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2732434/). *IMDb.com*. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [The Vertigogo Story](https://web.archive.org/web/20090110083747/http://ogami.subpop.com/bands/combustible/comed/vert.html)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-brothercleve1_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-brothercleve1_8-1) ["Brother Cleve"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160205040934/http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/music/98/02/19/CELLARS.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.bostonphoenix.com/archive/music/98/02/19/CELLARS.html) on February 5, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-brothercleve2_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-brothercleve2_9-1) ["Robert Toomey"](http://www.bandtoband.com/artist/robert-toomey). *BandToBand.com*. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["The Cocktail Hour: The lounge lizards of Combustible Edison bring"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160911125552/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/the-cocktail-hour-the-lounge-lizards-of-combustible-edison-bring-1.421974). *Newsday.com*. February 3, 1999. Archived from [the original](http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/the-cocktail-hour-the-lounge-lizards-of-combustible-edison-bring-1.421974) on September 11, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter"](http://archives.kurthanson.com/archive/news/031103/index.shtml). *Archives.kurthanson.com*. March 11, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["About Us"](https://luxuriamusic.com/about-us/). *LuxuriaMusic*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Kot, Greg (February 19, 1996). ["For Better Or Worse, Lounge Music (Yes, That Easy-Listening Dreck) Has Returned, So..."](https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/02/19/for-better-or-worse-lounge-music-yes-that-easy-listening-dreck-has-returned-so/) *Chicago Tribune*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Combustible Edison cocktail a fiery memory"](http://www.sfgate.com/wine/cocktailian/article/Combustible-Edison-cocktail-a-fiery-memory-4168454.php). *SFGate.com*. January 4, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Miss Lily Banquette – My Secret Love – Into the Popvoid"](https://intothepopvoid.com/2015/12/03/miss-lily-banquette-my-secret-love/). *Intothepopvoid.com*. December 3, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["20 Stories: Liz Cox | Community MusicWorks"](http://communitymusicworks.org/about/who-we-are/twenty-years-twenty-stories/twenty-stories-liz-cox/). Retrieved May 31, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Shady Planet - Peter Dixon | Credits"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/shady-planet-mw0001778442/credits). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. October 22, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Brother Cleve morphs into DJ Sharaabi Kapoor –"](http://jimsullivanink.com/?p=2391). *Jimsullivanink.com*. January 2, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Brother Cleve IN at Big Night Entertainment Group - Eater Boston"](http://boston.eater.com/2016/5/17/11691234/brother-cleve-red-lantern-empire). *Boston.eater.com*. May 17, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Sullivan, Jim (November 13, 2006). ["Worldly travelers: Dragonfly and the many sides of Brother Cleve"](http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/27383-worldly-travelers/). *The Boston Phoenix*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170510192226/http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/27383-worldly-travelers/) from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Jason MacNeil. ["Dragonfly | Biography & History"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dragonfly-mn0000805968). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["WAITIKI's "Laughing Boy": Mike Connors (Drum kit) – WAITIKI: Acclaimed Internationally for TIKI Music & Cocktails"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160911054217/http://waitiki.com/2008/02/29/mikey/). Archived from [the original](http://waitiki.com/2008/02/29/mikey/) on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.

## External links

- [Combustible Edison](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p142388) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

- [You Swinger - Miss Daphne Q. Appleby's Combustible fan page](https://web.archive.org/web/20091027000425/http://geocities.com/missdaphneq/)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National United States Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Combustible Edison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combustible_Edison) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combustible_Edison?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.