Captain Bacardi
Well-Known Member
I received a couple of e-mails from Randy Badazz in the past couple of days. I'm sure everyone by now knows he's Herb's nephew (actually Randy Alpert). He had just checked out my site (see the www button below) and suggested a slight revision on how the song "Rise" came about.
I had interviews by Herb that said that Randy wanted Herb doing disco versions of the TJB tunes, before someone else does it. So I had put that in at my site. However, Randy has a different version of how it all happened:
Hi Bill:
Firstly, you certainly have a great site and a lot of time and love
went into creating it. I have one revision that should be made to your
"Rise" page; My partner Andy Armer and I were producing funk records
for many people during 1977-79 and one day in late December 1978 Herb
called me personally and asked if I would work up some dance versions of the "Lonely Bull", "South of the Border", and one other song which I have forgotten. I did not want to do them initially and thought it to be in
poor taste. Andy and I decided to write some new songs "Rise" and
"Rotation" and we submitted them along with a version of both "The Lonely Bull" and "South of the Border" to Herb.
Herb liked the "Rise" song and the "Lonely Bull" version (which was
actually pretty good). We booked a recording session for the first week
of February '79 and Herb wanted to try the "Lonely Bull" first. We only spent
about 45 minutes with live musicians and it just wasn't happening so
Herb suggested we move on to the "Rise" song which seemed to click
immediately.
Bottom line is that Herb wanted to do a disco album which was not
what we had wanted to do. We were funkers not disco people which is why "Rise" is essentially a funk record with a nice melody. We did have the tempo originally a bit faster and Herb suggested we slow it down a bit.
"Rotation" was cut by just Andy and myself playing and programming all of the instruments. Herb came in 2 days later and played some lovely
trumpets. If you notice, "Rotation" is also not a disco song. We never
wrote or produced any disco records because neither of us danced nor
particularly liked disco records and besides, the Bee Gee's were the
disco kings and we could never come close to competing with their genius
and their great records.
Thanks for listening,
Randy Badazz
I wrote him back thanking him for the info, and suggested that he stop by the Corner here, and maybe try to get Herb to pop in, and he said:
I am very aware of the A&M Corner and think that it is fabulous what you all have done. Herb too often visits and is very touched. I've e/mailed Neil Hoodoo many times over the years and think he's done a superb job.
Looks like we're getting to be rather popular now.
Capt. Bacardi
NP: Letta Mbulu - Letta
I had interviews by Herb that said that Randy wanted Herb doing disco versions of the TJB tunes, before someone else does it. So I had put that in at my site. However, Randy has a different version of how it all happened:
Hi Bill:
Firstly, you certainly have a great site and a lot of time and love
went into creating it. I have one revision that should be made to your
"Rise" page; My partner Andy Armer and I were producing funk records
for many people during 1977-79 and one day in late December 1978 Herb
called me personally and asked if I would work up some dance versions of the "Lonely Bull", "South of the Border", and one other song which I have forgotten. I did not want to do them initially and thought it to be in
poor taste. Andy and I decided to write some new songs "Rise" and
"Rotation" and we submitted them along with a version of both "The Lonely Bull" and "South of the Border" to Herb.
Herb liked the "Rise" song and the "Lonely Bull" version (which was
actually pretty good). We booked a recording session for the first week
of February '79 and Herb wanted to try the "Lonely Bull" first. We only spent
about 45 minutes with live musicians and it just wasn't happening so
Herb suggested we move on to the "Rise" song which seemed to click
immediately.
Bottom line is that Herb wanted to do a disco album which was not
what we had wanted to do. We were funkers not disco people which is why "Rise" is essentially a funk record with a nice melody. We did have the tempo originally a bit faster and Herb suggested we slow it down a bit.
"Rotation" was cut by just Andy and myself playing and programming all of the instruments. Herb came in 2 days later and played some lovely
trumpets. If you notice, "Rotation" is also not a disco song. We never
wrote or produced any disco records because neither of us danced nor
particularly liked disco records and besides, the Bee Gee's were the
disco kings and we could never come close to competing with their genius
and their great records.
Thanks for listening,
Randy Badazz
I wrote him back thanking him for the info, and suggested that he stop by the Corner here, and maybe try to get Herb to pop in, and he said:
I am very aware of the A&M Corner and think that it is fabulous what you all have done. Herb too often visits and is very touched. I've e/mailed Neil Hoodoo many times over the years and think he's done a superb job.
Looks like we're getting to be rather popular now.
Capt. Bacardi
NP: Letta Mbulu - Letta
) on a toy plastic trumpet (Wow! FOUR Valves!) I recently bought! 
...Maybe 'cos of ANNA in FAO...? 
...going to my bedroom to...er...practice... 
