AOTW: Herb Alpert - JUST YOU AND ME (SP-4591)

Herb Alpert
JUST YOU AND ME
A&M SP-4591

Released 1976

Format: Vinyl/8-Track/Cassette

"I dedicate this album to the man who gave me the love, opportunity and freedom to find my way ... "Grandpa Lou" ... My Dad, Louis Alpert (1894 - 1976).

SIDE ONE

Promenade 2:40/ Musique 3:37/ Just You and Me 2:22/ Grandpa Lou 4:45/ Aria 2:34.

SIDE TWO

Yankee Doodle 1:51/ Spanish Nights 2:15/ One Night Lover 3:03/ The Lady Needs Romance 3:19/ The Day Will Come 3:28.

All songs written by Herb Alpert and published by Almo Music Corp. (ASCAP) except "Yankee Doodle" (public domain). This arrangement by H. Alpert (Almo/ASCAP).

MUSICIANS:

Herb Alpert -trumpets and piano
Russ Kunkel - drums
Jim Hughart - bass
Geoffrey Hales - percussion
Emil Richards - vibes, marimba percussion and cymbalom
Ed Lustgarten - cello
Bob Edmondson - trombone
Ernie Watts, Bill Green, Terry Harrington - flute
Tom Tedesco - mandolin
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall - vocals

Produced and Arranged by Herb Alpert
Associate Producer - Lani Hall
Mastering Engineer - Bernie Grundman
Engineer - Steve Michell
First Aid - Bill Earl

Art Direction - Roland Young
Photography by Lani Alpert Hall
Album Design - Chuck Beeson
Letterforms - Johnny Lee
Strings and Voices on "Grandpa Lou" orchestrated by Jimmie Haskell

Recorded at A&M Studio "B," Hollywood, California.

Not available on CD.
Not charted in the Billboard Top 200.

JB

"Yankee Doodle" no doubt was included because 1976 was the bicentennial year, with the TV ad 'bicentennial minute' history lessons and such. I'm sure there were many other music tributes. My favorite was "Dance With the Dragon" from Jefferson Starship's SPITFIRE album:

'Yankee Doodle get it up
Stick a feather in your hat
Yankee Doodle keep it up
Call it macaroni ...'

Ah, memories!

JB

This is one of my favorites as well. I was disappointed when it came out to see it did not include the single tracks that preceded it, as I expected it was just the next LP and that Herb merely eliminated the "& the TJB" moniker. But alas it was its own animal containing neither "El Bimbo" nor "Whistlestar" (or any of the new songs the TJB started doing like "Neverland," "Desert Dance" or "Somewhere"). Even more disappointing was the lack of TJB members with the exception of stalwarts Wechter and Edmondson.

What was truly enjoyable was hearing Herb's composition skills so well displayed -- we'd only had occaisional glimpses of it prior to this LP. I cionsider the two opening tracks ("Promenade" and "Musique") to be two of his finest compositions.

I don't dislike "Yankee Doodle" as much as others. For me the title track is the weakest.

I also enjoy the two semi-vocal numbers -- "Spanish Night" and "The Day Will Come." Both could do with more lyrics IMHO.

I think I'll give my home-made mp3s a spin now...

--Mr. Bill

Wechter? I don't see any Wechters in the credits.



It seems like ages since we've had a Herb Alpert title in the Album Of The week!

This is one of the few Herb Alpert albums I never managed to buy. It was in the radio station throwaway pile - as a result my copy has the "PROMOTIONAL COPY NOT FOR SALE" sticker on the front of the jacket.

I'd gladly buy a CD of it if given the opportunity, but for now will settle for my homemade CDs and mp3s of the songs on this album.

Though I was initially disappointed that this wasn't a TJB album and found it rather dull, I later came around to finding this to be a true treasure in the Alpert canon.

"Yankee Doodle" doesn't bother me as a musical selection, but every time I see the title or hear the song, I think of our late friend Wendell, who had an annoying fondness for the New York Yankees, and whenever discussing baseball, he used a "NP: Yankee Doodle" in his sig.

Harry

Ooops! You're right! It was Emil Richards (of the Kellaway Quartet) handling the mallets on this one... That's what I get for working from memory as I approach 50 (well, 48 in a week and change).

But my point was the lack of TJB members on this effort that disappointed me more than any of the music.

Wendell... Say what we will and the differences we had back in the day I really do miss the guy.

--Mr Bill

Back in 1989 Herb was on the Bob Costas show called "Later", and they were talking about Carole King's Tapestry album. Herb said that Carole's demo tapes always seemed to sound better than albums that other artists covered her songs with, so producer Lou Adler decided to make Tapestry like a demo album. That's how I feel Just You And Me is like. Very low-key, sparse, a no-frills, very personal concept. The songs themselves are pretty strong, but the actual recording leaves something to be desired.

I really like "Promenade" and "Musique". I thought "Just You And Me" could've been an incredibly strong track, with its shifting time signatures and Herb's fiery trumpet solo. But that vocal he does is terrible! I just don't know how he could've kept that on the record, particularly when he jumps up an octave. Worst thing he's ever done. "Grandpa Lou" is kind of haunting. "Aria" is kind of neat with the cello there. Interesting juxtaposition between "Grandpa Lou" - the death of his father - and "Aria" - the birth of his daughter. "Yankee Doodle" didn't do much for me - I guess that was his tribute to the bicentennial that year. "Spanish Nights" has its moments, but seems to be lacking something. I liked the muted trumpet parts in both "One Night Lover" and "The Lady Needs Romance". "The Day Will Come" also had its moments, but was kind of shaky in places.

I would like to hear this album with a better recording - not a ReWhipped remix, mind you - just a better effort. Herb's piano playing isn't exactly inspiring, either. Oscar Peterson he ain't. I would imagine this album will be one of the last that gets reissued.



Capt. Bacardi

Actually, a new mix from the multitracks would improve the sound on this one a bit. Sometimes it is a bit muffled sounding.

Musically, I was sort of warm/cool on it back when it came out. It didn't seem to have "happy" songs like the TJB's tracks were. I know as I've listened to it in later years (having a much better copy of it now), it's grown on me quite a bit. Seems like a very personal, up-close album, which is what the album title implies. The only song I skip over, even today, is "Yankee Doodle"--I must have been expecting something a lot more upbeat. All the rest I like quite a bit...although I do agree on the vocal on the title track.

I was initially disappointed in this one too, just because I was expecting more of "that" Herb Alpert sound that I'd gotten used to.

I do think that Herb's piano and vocals are what brings this down somewhat - plus carrying a whole album (well, the vast majority of it) as songwriter shows Herb's limitations in that department too. Add in the state of mind he was in at the time, and it's easy to see why this wasn't quite up to his usual par. Still, the opening two tracks are very strong and would have fit nicely on a TJB album.

Since it looks as if Herb is holding off on re-releasing music from this "dark period" in his life, I will be surprised if this ever makes it to CD, but I would still buy one.

One other thought: I know Lani is the love of Herb's life, and he is the love of hers, but they had the finest photographers at their disposal...why did they insist on doing their own album cover photography? This cover isn't terrible, but it's not really a grabber either. The covers of her albums, SUN DOWN LADY and HELLO IT'S ME (shot by Herb) probably didn't help those albums sell at all.

Of course this is just my opinion as a music store guy and a consumer...I don't really understand Herb's artwork either, so maybe these covers are works of genius. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary, eh?

I like the cover photo myself. I think it's kind of suggestive - Herb laying back on a bed saying "just you and me" as an invitation for getting, um, motivated...

I was in the Air Force when this came out, and one of my female co-workers loved the cover because she thought Herb had the sexiest eyes - the "puppy dog" look, as she called it.



Capt. Bacardi

What I like about the photograph is the use of color, along with the accompanying dark magenta color on the sleeve and back cover.

The Captain does hint at what the album title may be about. Not a "come hither" look so much, but with it being a personal, intimate album (performed to "just you"), and the fact that it's his first solo album ("just me"), sort of struck a nerve.

What I like about the songwriting here is the use of the darker, minor chords, on keys that aren't commonly used. "Musique" and "Aria" are in E-flat minor, "Grandpa Lou" is B-flat minor, and "The Lady Needs Romance" is in F-sharp major. Notice, a lot of the black keys on the piano?

I'll have to spin this one tonight again....

I think it is a good picture of Herb but it's just not real attention-getting as an album cover. (Although I guess it's better than the SUMMERTIME photo with those disco pants!)

This is probably one of those albums that I would like more if I listened to it again. I haven't heard the whole thing in years. Not even sure where my copy is at the moment, in fact! One of these days...

I gave the album a spin yesterday in the car (CD-R), and the one thing that always hits me about the album is that it's a unified whole. I couldn't mistake any of the songs on it for being on any other album.

They all have that same "JUST YOU AND ME" sound to them. Whether it's the chord structure that Rudy mentioned, or the sound of the way the piano was miked, every song on the album has that "sound".

I also have never had a problem with Herb's vocal on the title track. I hear what everyone's referring to with the octave-skip to the high note, but it doesn't sound that bad to me. Perhaps it's just that I never expect great vocals from Herb, therefore he doesn't disappoint.

Harry