🎵 AotW AOTW: Gap Mangione - SUITE LADY (SP-4694)

[Captain Bacardi]

Gap Mangione
SUITE LADY
A&M SP-4694

Released 1978
Peaked at #38 on the Jazz Albums chart (1978)

Format: Vinyl/8-Track/Cassette

Produced by Larry Carlton

Songs:

• 1. Mellow Out! (Larry Carlton) - 5:39
  2. I Don't Know (Greg Mathieson) - 4:02
  3. Shh (Greg Mathieson) - 5:55
  4. You Can't Cry For Help (Paul Bogush, Jr.) - 3:34
  5. Sister Jo/Time Of The Season (Medley) (Gap Mangione/Rod Argent) - 5:27
  6. King Snake (Larry Carlton) - 6:34
  7. Suite Lady (Gap Mangione) - 7:13
  8. We Three (Scherzando) (Gap Mangione) - 1:29
  
  Brass & String Arrangements by Larry Carlton except (7, 8 ) - Brass Arrangement by Gap Mangione and (5) - Brass Arrangement by Gap Mangione and Larry Carlton

Musicians:
Gap Mangione - Acoustic and Fender Rhodes Piano, ARP Soloist Synthesizer, Yamaha CS80 Synthesizer
Larry Carlton - Guitars
Robert "Pops" Popwell - Bass
Jeff Porcaro - Drums and Percussion
Joe Porcaro - Congas and Percussion
Greg Mathieson - Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes Piano
Chuck Findley - Trumpets
Bill Reichenbach, Jr. - Trombones
Abraham Laboriel - Bass (3, 7)
Peter Donald - Drums (3, 7)
Dan Sawyer - Tenor Sax & Harmonica (4)
Ralph Humphrey - Drums (Opening statement only) (5)
Vincent DeRosa - French Horns (7, 8 )
Gerald Vinci - Concert Master


Recorded and Mixed at "Room 335", Hollywood, California
Engineered and Mixed by Larry Carlton
Second Engineer: Steve Carlton
Strings recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California
Engineered by John Guess
String Personnel Coordinator: Gerald Vinci
Mastered at A&M Recording Studios, Hollywood, California by Bernie Grundman

Art Direction: Roland Young
Design: Phil Shima
Photography: Raúl Vega and Mark Hanauer
Management: Richard Burkhart

"We Three (Playfully)" is for Jason and Ardis Mangione, from their dad.
This album is dedicated to my folks Frank (Miles) and Nancy, my brother Chuck and my sister Jo.




Capt. Bacardi

 

[Dave]

Yow, it's Larry Carlton's turn at the helm to unfortunately steer Gap Mangione (brother of "another Mangione") towards a majestic, quasi-fonk, booty-shakin', dance floor-enthrallin', Disco groove...

No more advantageous than the last time this sort of thing was attempted, though here the material and arrangements are slightly better as if "avoiding making a same mistake again", as here after, Gap clearly parted company from all of this...



Dave

 

[Captain Bacardi]

At first glance, this looks like it's a pretty decent album. I've always enjoyed Larry Carlton when he was with the Crusaders, playing with Steely Dan and his own solo albums in the late 70's were really good. Unfortunately, none of these things appear on Gap Mangione's album. For the most part this is a collection of cheesy instrumentals, dwelling on most of the cliches of the music world. With the exception of the ballad "Shh" and the somber, yet driven "King Snake" this album would have trouble making the elevator scene. 1 & 1/2 stars.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[LPJim]

Since this was featured earlier, we will move on to '4695' next week,
JB