AOTW: Herb Alpert & TJB - YOU SMILE-THE SONG BEGINS-SP 3

[LPJim]

Herb Alpert & the T.J.B.
YOU SMILE- THE SONG BEGINS
A&M SP 3620

SIDE ONE
Fox Hunt 2:38/ Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor 4:52/ I Can't Go On Living, Baby, Without You 2:48/ I Might Frighten Her Away 4:11*/ You Smile- The Song Begins 3:21/ Up Cherry Street 2:32.

SIDE TWO
Promises, Promises 2:31/ Save the Sunlight 3:50***/ Dida 3:17/ Alone Again (Naturally) 2:29/ Last Tango in Paris 2:50**/ A Song For Herb 4:20.

All selections arranged by Herb Alpert/ *Strings by Burt Bacharach/ **Strings and things by Quincy Jones/ *** Lani Hall's voice appears/ Thanks to Bill Earl and Lani Hall for being there/

Engineer - Larry Levine/ Mastering Engineer - Bernie Grundman/ Recorded at A&M Studios, Hollywood/ Produced by Herb Alpert/ Art Direction - Roland Young/ Photography - Edward L. Simpson/ Design - Hagiwara McGowan

SP 3620 entered the Billboard Top 200 on June 1, 1974, charted for 11 weeks and peaked at #66, according to Whitburn's "Top Pop Albums."

The album included charted singles: "Foxhunt" # 84 & "Last Tango in Paris" # 77

JB

(Poll added by Capt. Bacardi)

 

[Mike Blakesley]

A very nice comeback album for Herb. This is probably my favorite of the post-Tijuana Brass albums. It has a "thoughtful" vibe to it.

"Fox Hunt" is right in the TJB mode. I was a little worried that this might not "sound like" the Tijuana Brass when I first opened it up, but as soon as the Julius Wechter marimba kicks in on the 2nd verse, the package is complete.

"Legend of the One Eyed Sailor" is another favorite. I love the shifting tempo and again, the Wechter touch.

My other three faves on the album are on side two. "Promises, Promises" is one I never get tired of listening to. The version on this album is far superior to the alternate version on LOST TREASURES. The percussion, the changing time signatures, the vocal scatting, it all adds up to a great track. This is my favorite version of this song.

Then comes "Save the Sunlight," my favorite of all Herb/Lani vocal duets. This song is perfectly suited to their vocal blend. And Herb's playing on it is really beautiful.

And then, "Last Tango in Paris" is one that I'd heard, of course, on the FOURSIDER compilation but it was good to know that Quincy Jones was behind the string arrangement. This is another one that I never get tired of hearing.

Ultimately the only real disappointment on this LP is the cover. You'd think after such a long layoff, making this a big comeback effort would have dictated a "classic" cover....but no, we get this bland boring image. I was hoping for some liner notes too, or maybe a band photo inside, but we didn't even get band credits! The album was great but the cover was a huge letdown.

FWIW, the album also got a favorable review in "Rolling Stone," hard to believe in the early 1970s.

 

[Captain Bacardi]

FWIW, the album also got a favorable review in "Rolling Stone," hard to believe in the early 1970s.

Here is that review from the August 29, 1974 edition of Rolling Stone:

Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass provided an appropriately lightweight accompaniment to a relatively carefree span of years. The TJB's frothy, antic sound was the whipped cream in our not-yet-bitter Sixties expresso. Alpert's several-year absence as a performer enforced a notion that if he were to play publicly again whatever music he made would sound frivolous and dated.

You Smile... then is a delight and a particular surprise. Aided by friendly associates like Burt Bacharach and Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert has arranged and produced a significant musical return. It represents an impressive maturity of an artist who not only has more to tell but has found a lovely new language in which to speak, soft and sinuous, exotic and sophisticated, tantalizing, open, elusive.

"Fox Hunt" is the perfect beginning, a serpentine self-composition with some of the feel of "Zorba" that skips along over a delicate marimba underpinning. It is followed by Chuck Mangione's "Legend Of The One-Eyed Sailor", which swells from introspective to urgent carnival revelry and back; in the subdued sections, Alperts conjures a mood much like one of Miles Davis's Sketches Of Spain.

A masterful use of dynamics is demonstrated throughout this album. One track will end precisely but informally, creating an anticipation for the next, a melody separate yet seeming an extension of the previous. Deft and subtle colorations distinguish every song, spare effects used only once: here a measure of trombone, there a splash of acoustic guitar, now a restrained trio of overdubbed horns. No one instrument is allowed to dominate the shifting rhythms, not even trumpet, which constantly varies its sound and setting even within each tune.

The Bacharach/David ballad "I Might Frighten Her Away" is romantic without being simple-minded, as haunting as it is dreamy. The title tune is an appropriate bridge between "Frighten" and Julius Wechter's "Up Cherry Street", the single cut - significantly brief - which comes close to the old TJB boisterousness.

"Promises, Promises" is witty, with off-mike scatting that lends a rehearsal atmosphere, an aspect of the prepared informality that gives this album a charming personal feel. Lani Hall does a duet with Herb on "Save The Sunlight", where Alpert's playing is most pure and bell-like.

Roger Nichol's "Song For Herb" is the floating fadeout, a four-minute descent from the empyrean on a soft mauve cloud.

(by Tom Nolan)

Interesting that the next album reviewed on this same page is one by Hugh Masekela who, of course, would collaborate with Herb four years later.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Mike Blakesley]

Also interesting - I didn't notice before but author Tom Nolan is the same guy who wrote about Carpenters in Rolling Stone around the same time.

 

[Dave]

I voted for "Save The Sunlight" as being my favorite... The zippy accordian (played by Pete Jolly...?) across the... Roger Nichols-written "Song For Herb" closes the album nicely, making it my second... "Last Tango In Paris", is of course, Definitive Hits-worthy... Wonder what the difference between "Alone Again (Naturally)" is here and why it got recorded again on Lost Treasures; I have a version of it also done by Doc Severinsen on a Single... (B/W his take on "Last Tango In Paris")

...Yes, 'Where's "The Group"?!'


Dave

 

[Bobbyvox]

My favorite cut is, without a doubt, "Save The Sunlight". Far and away the best duet Herb and Lani have ever recorded. The melody is achingly beautiful. Their voices blend well and the delivery is heartfelt and believable. I love the way they trade singing lead; each gets a verse and a chorus. Lani did a very nice job on the song as a solo from her "Hello It's Me" lp as well.

 

[Dave]

"I Might Frighten Her Away" is OK as an instrumental; makes you long for something the way "This Guy's In Love With You" or "To Wait For Love" was done, if Burt Bacharach was going to arrange this piece as he did "Casino Royale"... (Though didn't arrange his own, "Promises, Promises" here, though...)


Dave

 

[Harry]

I voted for "Fox Hunt", a great track with which to lead-off an album. It was close though as other favorites here are both "Promises, Promises" and "Save The Sunlight."

I liked the nod to the past with the updated "Up Cherry Street", and the album closer, the understated Roger Nichols tune "Song For Herb."

I, too, thought the cover was rather plain and uninformative after such a long break between albums.

Somewhat off-topic: As I transferred this album to CD-R back around 1999 or so, I ran into a couple of snags and glitches, rendering at least one copy playable, but with a little noise at the start of side two. As a result, I decided instead of throwing the disc away, I'd keep it in a jewel-case in my car as an experiment of just how fragile CD-R discs are. At that point in time, I was new to the CD-R technologies, and all of the manufacturers were telling people to treat the discs with care, handle them gently, don't leave them in a car, etc.

That disc resides in what is now my third car since then and has ridden out Philadelphia's brutal summer heat and fierce cold for about seven years now. I actually checked the disc the other day, and while the jewel-case looks like it's seen better days, the disc itself played flawlessly.

Not that I advise anyone to mistreat their discs - I just wanted to see how long it would take to "wreck" this disc. At this point, I think it will outlive me...

Harry

 

[phantomoftheparadise]

This is one of my favorite TJB albums, second only to "Warm". I particularly enjoy the Bacharach covers and I think "Last Tango in Paris" is as good if not better than Barbieri's original. "Legend of the One Eyed Sailor" is another winner.

 

[Mike]

I know that Herb is anti-two-fer, but I think that “You smile… the song begins” and “Coney Island” would work well in that format. For me, the two albums are somewhat similar and could complement each other nicely if packaged together.

P.S. I voted for “Last Tango”… it’s always been a favorite of mine.

Regards,
Mike

 

[Mike Blakesley]

I too think CONEY and YOU SMILE would make a nice two-fer (since they're the only released works by the "T.J.B." version of the band) but, they would not fit on one disk. A better way would be to release each disk with a plethora of bonus tracks!

 

[Rudy]

Interesting that the next album reviewed on this same page is one by Hugh Masekela who, of course, would collaborate with Herb four years later.

And actually, they both had their first #1 singles on the Billboard chart right next to each other ("This Guy's In Love With You" and "Grazin' In The Grass").

 

[Rudy]

I can't really pick an overall favorite: there are too many I like equally. The Quincy Jones arrangement of "Last Tango In Paris" is a winner--it leaves me wondering what an entire Q-produced and arranged album by Herb would have sounded like. "Promises Promises" is my favorite instrumental version of this tune. "Fox Hunt" is a great album opener, and both "I Might Frighten Her Away" and "Song For Herb" are both subtle, dreamy and haunting songs. "One-Eyed Sailor" sort of anticipates what the Coney Island album would give us: longer performances with expanded improvisation, something that hadn't appeared on earlier TJB albums.

 

[Mr Bill]

Likewise, I am unable to pick one favorite track. It's easier to pick the two tracks I tend to skip over: "I Might Frighten Her Away" and "Last Tango In Paris."

The first three songs on side one really stand out to me, as does "Save The Sunlight" (which as a 13 year-old kid I used as a soundtrack to an 8mm movie I did on pollution -- yes, I was envirowacko as a teen). But the most underrarted track IMO is "Dida." With headphones, this one is a real dynamo with a "way-too-short" marimba/steel drum/synth bridge that shows (oh ever so briefly) the Wechter/Charles/Frishberg interplay.

This is one that I really would like to see in the Signature series. Not only because it was the first TJB LP to be released since I "discovered" them but because it is such a great album in the first place. Coney Island would be my next choice as well....

--Mr Bill

 

[Stephen Vakil]

I voted for IMFHA. Simple but gorgeous.

YSTSB is one of my favourite albums and coincides with the time I started listening to the TJB. My other favourite tracks are Foxhunt, YSTSB, Promises Promises (yet this has got no votes at all so far), Save the Sunlight, Dida and Song for Herb. I'm probably in a minority in thinking that Up Cherry Street doesn't belong on this album.

Stephen

 

[Mr Bill]

I agree that "Up Cherry Street," as delightful as it is, sounds somewhat out of place here. I think that's why it was used to close out side one in a time when disc programming mattered. As far as starting and closing sides of an LP, I mean. I think it may have been better placed as the final cut on side 2. I suspect that fear of "ego-boost" may have been why "Song For Herb" was placed last instead of in a more prominent position, resulting in "Up Cherry Street" getting closing duties for side one.

But "Up Cherry Street" works surprisingly well as the lead of track on Lost Treasures. And, as much as I didn't like "I Might Frighten Her Away" back when this LP came out, I've developed a fondness for it since its inclusion on Lost Treasures. I'm also hearing something I did NOT hear in the origianl (vinyl) version back in '74... I'm hearing a faint voice or cello in unison with Herb's lead trumpet. It's more pronounced on my fancy car system than on what currently constitutes my home system. Can anyone else hear what I'm referring to???

--Mr Bill

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I'm a big fan of this LP. I loved how freely Alpert played the horn and how it was different from the old Tijuana Brass albums. I also thought it was neat that he was going by the T.J.B. instead of Tijuana Brass, as if he was trying to imply that this was a different group. Herb's two compositions are nifty as well. I liked how he would throw in an odd-meter bar on both tunes: a 3/4 measure in "Fox Hunt" and two 5/4 measures on "You Smile". My favorite tune was "Legend Of The One-Eyed Sailor". I loved how the drums began the tune, and thought the bass line was pretty hip. This was one tune where I learned how to improvise on my own horn. I also became a big Chuck Mangione fan because of this song (notice how it's spelled "Mangionne" on the label). I also enjoyed "Dida" - it's become my second favorite tune. The only song I didn't care for was "Alone Again", which is just a crappy song anyway.

And let's not forget that "Song For Herb" also goes by "Seasons", which was recorded by Pete Jolly.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Stephen Vakil]

And, as much as I didn't like "I Might Frighten Her Away" back when this LP came out, I've developed a fondness for it since its inclusion on Lost Treasures. I'm also hearing something I did NOT hear in the origianl (vinyl) version back in '74... I'm hearing a faint voice or cello in unison with Herb's lead trumpet. It's more pronounced on my fancy car system than on what currently constitutes my home system. Can anyone else hear what I'm referring to???

--Mr Bill

Yes!! I thought it was just me. I have no idea what it is, but I don't think it's a cello. I wondered whether it was a VERY faint Herb scatting (? right word ?) along with the trumpet.

Stephen

 

[Mike Blakesley]

Mr. Bill and Stephen: Do you hear that on the LOST TREASURES version too or just the original vinyl? I sure haven't heard it but I haven't listened to it all that close either.

 

[Stephen Vakil]

Just on Lost Treasures, but my vinyl recording of YSTSB isn't the best! I assumed that as HA re-recorded the trumpet solos (or at least used a different version) one or tow other chnages might have been made to the recording. But what we're talking about is so subtle and almost inaudible.....

Stephen

 

[Harry]

Is there a time indication mark where it might be the most audible? Or is it present throughout the whole song? I just listened to both versions and couldn't hear what you guys might be referring to. Perhaps a closer pointer would help.

Harry

 

[Stephen Vakil]

Harry

Present through most/all of the tune. Sounds a bit to me like Herb singing "dee dee dee" along with the the trumpet but with the volume turned almost right down. And then in other parts of the song sounds like something else.

Will have a closer listen next time I get LT out.........!

Stephen

 

[Rudy]

Time to put on the cans and turn it up a bit!

 

[Mr Bill]

Thanks Steve V! My wife thought I was nuts when I asked her if she could hear it (she couldn't}. You described it beautifully with that "dee dee dee." The one reason I suspect it could be a cello is that the of all string instruments the cello comes closest to approximating the human vocal timbre (along with the english horn for woodwinds). I think the reason we don't hear it in the 1974 version is the fact that it was vinyl and the 2005 version has been remixed and is now digital. However, I do NOT hear it on some systems. In my car it's clear as a bell. The wife's car -- nothing at all. With what constitutes my pathetic home system I can hear it only if I force myself to hear it...

--Mr Bill

 

[Stephen Vakil]

We'll get to the bottom of this one!