Herb Alpert - Definitive Hits
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Free Music Notes for Definitive Hits
Free Music Review: Of course, it's 5 star music, but the disc is not perfect.
Hit: 5 Stars
I couldn't possibly give a compilation of these 20 classic recordings anything less than 5 stars because the quality of music contained here is so great. However, this disc has its' flaws which should be considered. First, while all of the selections are really good, not all of them would really be considered to be among Alpert's "definitive hits". I don't really think "Lollipops and Roses" or "So What's New" are quite as definitive as songs that are absent from this collection. ("A Banda", "Wade in the Water", "Jerusalem", "Beyond" and "North on South Street" come to mind immediately.) Second, it's hard to tell exactly what this compilation is supposed to be. If it's a hit singles collection, then why are some non-hits represented? If it's supposed to be a "definitive" overview then why are so many years of Alpert's recording career not represented? If it's supposed to be a chronological sampling, then why does "Casino Royale" follow "This Guy's in Love with You" and why do the songs from RISE follow the songs from FANDANGO? Third, this is the first Alpert collection to be remastered from the original masters and there's good news and bad news. Among the good news is that we finally get "The Lonely Bull" in mono and "Casino Royale" has never sounded better. The bad news is that the master for "Tijuana Taxi" is in very poor condition! It has tons of drop outs, particularly during the drum fills toward the end of the song. It would've been smart to have included that track in mono as well, especially since the mono mix is a little different and has never been available on CD before. ("Zorba the Greek", "Spanish Flea" and "A Taste of Honey" also had different mixes for their single/radio mono versions. It would be great to see some of these become available on a future release.) Most of the other tracks don't really sound much different, sound quality-wise. My fourth point is that this is the first new Alpert reissue in the U.S. in 14 years but didn't really offer anything for the Alpert fanatic. Some hit singles that would've been welcome on a compilation like this, include "Carmen", "Fox Hunt", "Save the Sunlight" and "Catfish". It should be mentioned, however, that the liner notes are fantastic and it really is a beautiful package. And, once more, it is music that deserves no less than 5 stars.Free Music Review: You Should Give A Damn About This Trumpet-Playin' Band
Hit: 5 Stars
Or, er, man...Long overdue, this one-disc/20-song compilation covers Herb Alpert's entire career, finally including his three hit singles from 1987. The biggest of those, "Diamonds", featured Janet Jackson on vocals and was a top five hit (#1 R&B). The older songs, which date back to 1962's "The Lonely Bull", sound clear and clean to me and will probably please most fans who were unhappy with the sound on earlier CDs (which I did not spring for as I held out for this).If you missed the early '60's like me, you'll be pleasantly surprised when "Spanish Flea" (a/k/a theme from "The Dating Game"), "Casino Royale", and especially "A Taste Of Honey" come out of the speakers at you like old friends. I don't mean this negatively, really, but these tunes have been jammed into my subconsicous through tapes played in elevators, malls, and restaurants since I was a tot. Almost all of the first 13 cuts here had me going, "so THAT'S what that's called!"
The first time Mr. Alpert invaded "my" Top 40 countdowns was with "Rise", here in its looong version (7:35) and still cool and funky. Only Luke and Laura could live without it. The several other hits CDs by the man and the Brass cover different eras more thoroughly--among the missing are "Mame", "Cabaret", "A Banda", "Jerusalem", "Bullish", and "Beyond." Unless you want to clamor for a boxed set, though, this is the CD to get for the best sound and the best overview of a truly amazing career.
Free Music Review: The Must Have CD for any Herb Alpert fan of any age
Hit: 5 Stars
A&M records, created by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, have produced a wonderful tribute to the musical work of Herb Alpert. Having been a fan since the mid 1960's in my pre-teens, I can tell you that this music has stuck with me all through my life and is as good today as it was 30 plus years ago. The producers, however, went one step better by including every top tune Herb has ever produced. From the Lonely Bull to Making Love in the Rain, this CD has it all. The first 13 tracks are solid Tijuana Brass with the best from every album created in that era. Tracks 14-17 chronicle Herb's triumphant comback in the 1980's. Tracks 18-20 show Herb's versatility as he worked with Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. As great as the CD are the liner notes with comments from Herb. He explains briefly how some of his famous music was created. There is a musical history to the liner notes that is not to be missed. If you had just one Herb Alpert CD to place into a time capsule--this one would be it. While others listen to early Beatles, Stones, and beginnings of hard rock in the turbulent decade of the 60's, I was enjoying the tremendous beat of Herb and the TJB. After all, this is the guy that took the Beatles, Elvis, and the Stones OFF the top spots on the charts in the mid 1960's. This is a Must Have CD if you are an Alpert fan and it is a CD that will hook you if you have never heard of the guy.Free Music Review: It's really a 4.5
Hit: 5 Stars
I first heard Herb Alpert's 'Rise' in 1997 but didn't know it because, sigh, Puff Daddy jacked it for Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Hypnotize'. I didn't know the actual music was by Herb Alpert until last year so I bought this cd. It chronicles his early days as leader of the Tijuana Brass in the 1960's which earned him numerous Grammmy nominations and wins. This part of his career is pleasent listening, my favs being 'Spanish Flea', 'This Guy's In Love With You', and 'A Taste of Honey'. Next is his 1979 comeback, the disco-funk of 'Rise'. The song gave Herb a top 5 R&B and pop hit and the album of the same name went platinum. 'Rotation' is another standout track from the album. The final 3 tracks are from the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis produced album 'Keep Your Eye On Me'. The funky 'Diamonds' gave Herb a #1 R&B hit and a pop top 10, helped no doubt by Janet's vocals but Herb's trumpet and the wah wah guitar don't hurt. The single 'Keep Your Eye On Me' is a nice song but the closer 'Making Love In The Rain' is a beautiful song. It features !LISA KEITH! not Janet Jackson. It's a perfect Quiet Storm song but doesn't get enough play on that format. Herb Alpert no doubt has more music that is on par with this collection and there should be a second volume of his greatest hits.Free Music Review: Ole! Herb Alpert and TJB!
Hit: 5 Stars
Hearing the recordings by Herb and the TJB after many years brought me back to why I enjoyed them during high school. When I heard "Lonely Bull", it was immediately back in my heart along with memories.
Not every hit or recording is on the CD, but it does give enough to introduce new listeners to the artistry of Herb Alpert as it does represent his range from the latin based sounds of TJB into his later recordings.
Being that he recorded all trumpet parts in these recordings, it shows his musical intuition in pulling all those harmonies to lay well together. I always thought it was another trumpet (or trumpets), but I read in the liner notes, it was all Herb!
Of his solo recordings (meaning the later ones sans TJB) I especially like Fandango. (Will admit I heard it first on this CD.)
The title calls this "definitive" hits, and it makes sense. Considering there is more to his catalogue, one can hope that more will be released over time. I still have the "Rise" 45 and the B side was Herb's "Aranjuez" based on Joaquin Rodrigo's guitar adagio of the same name. There are many "B" sides of those original 45s that should be re-released, not just the "hits".