Herb Alpert's tenth album with the Tijuana Brass, THE BEAT OF THE BRASS, was reissued on CD August 16, 2005.
Place your comments about the album here, and be sure to vote for your favorite song!
THE BEAT OF THE BRASS: Comments and poll
- Thread starter Mike Blakesley
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Herb Alpert's tenth album with the Tijuana Brass, THE BEAT OF THE BRASS, was reissued on CD August 16, 2005.
Place your comments about the album here, and be sure to vote for your favorite song!
Unquestionable "This Guy's In Love With You". It was great in '68 and still sounds fresh to this very day. This was the perfect blending of song, performance, and timing which ultimately produced the first number one single for A&M, Herb Alpert, and Burt Bacharach.
Secondary favorites would be "Slick" and "The Robin".
Harry
NP: radio at work
Secondary favorites would be "Slick" and "The Robin".
Harry
NP: radio at work
As great as "This Guy's In Love With You" is, my favorite has always been "The Robin". Don't know why...just love it.
---Michael Hagerty
---Michael Hagerty
I'll pick these up on the way home from work (hopefully) and give them a listen on the way up to LA to deal with my dad's arrangements...
My favorites are "Monday, Monday," "Slick," "Panama" and "Talk To The Animals." Since I knew all of these would get votes except one, I went for the underdog. Yes... twas I that picked "Talk..."
--Mr Bill
who can't resist a song with a terrific xylophone or marimba part...
My favorites are "Monday, Monday," "Slick," "Panama" and "Talk To The Animals." Since I knew all of these would get votes except one, I went for the underdog. Yes... twas I that picked "Talk..."
--Mr Bill
who can't resist a song with a terrific xylophone or marimba part...
I have to break with the pack here. My favorite tune is the opener, "Monday Monday." I love the Bob Edmondson trombone work here; (in fact he is at peak form throughout the album). The chimes in the choruses, the stop/start arrangement, the modulation from one verse to the next...it just all clicks for me.
"Panama" would be my second choice. Great work by Edmondson AND by the ever-amazing Julius Wechter on this one. I don't know if the TJB ever played this in concert but it would have been great.
I like the rest of the album almost equally. Even the much-reviled "Talk to the Animals" is a fun, but maybe not too frequent, listen. This album just flows from start to finish. "This Guy's" is the perfect closer. I think it's nothing less than one of the best matches of voice to song in music history.
I would have to place BEAT around 2nd place out of all the TJB albums in my favorites list (#1 being a perpetual tie between WARM and GOING PLACES).
Some reviewers have said that Herb's playing started to sound tired on this album. I prefer the more "laid back" description. He was easing into his jazz mode. ("Slick" is sure proof of that.) The earlier records like GOING PLACES sound like the band is charging full speed ahead; this album sounds like the band has reached its destination and is relaxing with a cocktail.
"Panama" would be my second choice. Great work by Edmondson AND by the ever-amazing Julius Wechter on this one. I don't know if the TJB ever played this in concert but it would have been great.
I like the rest of the album almost equally. Even the much-reviled "Talk to the Animals" is a fun, but maybe not too frequent, listen. This album just flows from start to finish. "This Guy's" is the perfect closer. I think it's nothing less than one of the best matches of voice to song in music history.
I would have to place BEAT around 2nd place out of all the TJB albums in my favorites list (#1 being a perpetual tie between WARM and GOING PLACES).
Some reviewers have said that Herb's playing started to sound tired on this album. I prefer the more "laid back" description. He was easing into his jazz mode. ("Slick" is sure proof of that.) The earlier records like GOING PLACES sound like the band is charging full speed ahead; this album sounds like the band has reached its destination and is relaxing with a cocktail.
I really like this album, though it's not my favorite. I love the LP front cover and the booklike packaging with the photos inside. My favorite 3 cuts are the opening track Monday, Monday, Cabaret, and the really pretty A Beautiful Friend. On Monday, Monday, I love Herb's style on this one, along with Bob Edmondson's great trombone work, and I presume Julius on chimes. This one really sounds full and has me whistling and tapping my toe, unless I have my horn out and then I play along. On Cabaret it's Bob Edmondson's trombone work and Nick Ceroli's drums which make this work. As for A Beautiful Friend? All I can say is this one is really pretty. Herb's is superb on the horn, the flute is gorgeous, and just the right amount of drums. It works.
This album is probably ranked number #4 on my list of TJB albums. I don' think it sounds tired at all. Just different.
Tom
This album is probably ranked number #4 on my list of TJB albums. I don' think it sounds tired at all. Just different.
Tom
Ed Bishop
Member
Tough call, but in the end, hadda go with "This Guy's In Love With You." Herb gave hope to bad singers like me that you could get to #1 in spite of not really being a singer...
...that, and he sounds very vulnerable and humble, and the arrangement works for him. "Monday, Monday" would be my runner-up....
that you could get to #1 in spite of not really being a singer......that, and he sounds very vulnerable and humble, and the arrangement works for him. "Monday, Monday" would be my runner-up....
Captain Bacardi
Well-Known Member
I need to listen to this CD again, because the first time around the sound seemed a tad muddy to me. Since I played this right after Ninth - which sounded crisper - it could just be my ears not adjusting right away. But I chose "Slick" as my favorite tune, with "Panama", "She Touched Me" and "Monday Monday" following. And here's my Josh Kun complaint: In the notes he states that "Trumpets give way to flutes on 'Monday, Monday'..." Ummmm, I don't hear flutes on "Monday, Monday". I hear them on other tunes, but not on this one. Didn't this guy (play on words) listen to this album??? Oh well, I guess he got paid...
Capt. Bacardi
Capt. Bacardi
I had the same complaint but hadn't gotten around to posting it yet. Also, how can anything "give way" to anything on "Monday Monday" when that's the opening track?
Another question is, didn't Herb read these liner notes??
Numero Cinco
New Member
Mike Blakesley said:
I think Mr. Kun has had one tequilla too many.
One tequilla, two tequilla, three tequilla, floor.
Numero Cinco
New Member
I confess that this is not my favorite among the albums. (Sorry, but there's no accounting for taste.) I also confess that hearing it afresh on CD notched it up beyond my memory, thanks. "Panama," for instance, sounds to me like a polished gem. "Slick" has always been a sinister joy. "She Touched Me" is, I think, a much underestimated little beauty.
Finally, though, I come down on "Monday, Monday." Between Alpert's cool, Edmondson's Dixieland, and Wechter's chimes—who but Herb would hear chimes in that bridge?—this is a cover that blows the original out of the water. And that's saying a lot, because I love the Mamas and the Papas' original!
Finally, though, I come down on "Monday, Monday." Between Alpert's cool, Edmondson's Dixieland, and Wechter's chimes—who but Herb would hear chimes in that bridge?—this is a cover that blows the original out of the water. And that's saying a lot, because I love the Mamas and the Papas' original!
Ed Bishop
Member
Well...I've given all of these a spin....overall, nice sound, faithful to the source tapes, I would think, referencing the vinyl this evening.
For those wondering about "Monday, Monday"'s tape glitch/click that we all know and...well, don't love, but are used to it, it's been there from Day 1...and is still there! Yep, at 0:07, you can hear it very distinctly. Apparently it wasn't deemed enough of a bother to even attempt to hide. Wonder if anyone who doesn't like it will bitch to ICE?
My only peeve is the booklet. Suppose it had to be done, but the left gatefold photo is heavily cropped. And while a handful of the photos on the right gate of the Lp are included, many others are not(suppose the new photos we get instead are supposed to be enough, but there was room scattered about to include many of those missing).
When I burn this one for the van, however, "Talk To The Animals" is GONZO!
What wuz they thinking? 
Embarrassing is the only word to describe that one, even if one member here gave it an 'underdog' vote... :goofygrin: Hey, somebody's gotta do it, right?
For those wondering about "Monday, Monday"'s tape glitch/click that we all know and...well, don't love, but are used to it, it's been there from Day 1...and is still there!
Yep, at 0:07, you can hear it very distinctly. Apparently it wasn't deemed enough of a bother to even attempt to hide. Wonder if anyone who doesn't like it will bitch to ICE? My only peeve is the booklet. Suppose it had to be done, but the left gatefold photo is heavily cropped. And while a handful of the photos on the right gate of the Lp are included, many others are not(suppose the new photos we get instead are supposed to be enough, but there was room scattered about to include many of those missing).
When I burn this one for the van, however, "Talk To The Animals" is GONZO!
What wuz they thinking? Embarrassing is the only word to describe that one, even if one member here gave it an 'underdog' vote... :goofygrin: Hey, somebody's gotta do it, right?
Ed Bishop said:When I burn this one for the van, however, "Talk To The Animals" is GONZO!
This song worked during the TV special but, IMHO, is a bit awkward on the LP. Even as a kid, I skipped that one. Much like I did Carpenters' version of "Sing"--I thought the song should have stayed with Sesame Street.
Ed Bishop
Member
Rudy said:Ed Bishop said:When I burn this one for the van, however, "Talk To The Animals" is GONZO!
This song worked during the TV special but, IMHO, is a bit awkward on the LP. Even as a kid, I skipped that one. Much like I did Carpenters' version of "Sing"--I thought the song should have stayed with Sesame Street.
I can't hate either, but...this may be the only TJB track that really bugs the crap out of me...as for "Sing," easier to live with in Quad(sorta), but insufferable anywhere else, and left off my Carps van burn...a diabetic can only take so much sugar, and never much on a good day.... 
Ed Bishop
Member
Quite an accomplishment for a guy who sounds like he's not really a natural singer.... Which Herb wasn't, which makes it an even bigger accompishment...
And he had a few more vocal sides to come, but didn't have the crossover appeal of "This Guy"...maybe for the reasons I've stated above. There is something so fragile about his vocal that has always remained with me. I've kidded before about Herb's singing ability, but this one is moving, most of all if you've ever been 'the guy'.....
Which Herb wasn't, which makes it an even bigger accompishment... And he had a few more vocal sides to come, but didn't have the crossover appeal of "This Guy"...maybe for the reasons I've stated above. There is something so fragile about his vocal that has always remained with me. I've kidded before about Herb's singing ability, but this one is moving, most of all if you've ever been 'the guy'.....Mr Bill said:
Gosh...I thought I was the only one who loved this song. "This Guy's" is definitely my favorite for so many reasons but after "Slick", my third pick is "Animals" which barely beats out "Monday".
Regarding "Animals", I love the arrangement with the childrens chorus and the marimba and I love the big brass break with the clashing cymbals. I just wish they had preserved the "pelican/like hell I can" verse. In a year when this song won the Oscar, I think it would have made a great single.
Rudy said:
Actually, it was #1 on Billboard's pop chart for four weeks.
In Jimmy Guterman and Owen O'Donnell's book "The 50 Worst Rock n Roll Records of All Time" they mention how Herb kept Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park" from reaching #1 and state that these two songs being at the top of the charts was evidence that the chart had slipped into one of its periodic comas!
And if anyone is wondering how I can honestly like "Talk to the Animals" as much as I do and how I can like the Mariachi Brass so much, I should point out that Harris' recording of "MacArthur Park" is my favorite song of all time. So I'll just say it. I love music that sucks!!
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