Sergio Mendes still has a cult following!

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - "Crystal Illusions" (1969) - A&M Records

Hello Friends,

Crystal Illusions is not as good as Sergio Mendes' landmark LP, Look Around, but its still a good listen especially on a warm, late spring evening with the sun going down, a cocktail in hand and a pretty girl sitting next to you on the patio! 

Bossa Nova at its swinging best!

An exotic and lush cover of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" kicks things off, but the real star of the record are the sultry vocal stylings of Ms. Lani Hall (who sings in both English & Portuguese.)  When you hear her on songs like "Salt Sea" or "Empty Faces" it almost makes you want to drink more, scheme more and get into some good kinds of trouble.

Another standout is the album's closer and title track.  A bit of a psychedelic soundscape clocking in at almost 8 minutes featuring lots of shuffling rhythms and Mendes's electric piano.

Of course, the album was produced by Mr. Lani Hall (aka Herb Alpert) and many of the arrangements/orchestrations were composed by legendary jazz composer, Dave Grusin.

RATING: 3.5 watching the wind blow tasting the salt seas out of 5

7 Days of Xmas: "Something Festive" (1968)

Various Artists - "Something Festive" (1968) - A & M Records

Hello Friends,

Thinking about inviting the cute neighbor girl over for a little pre-Holiday cocktail?  Sounds good to us!  Its the Holidays, after all!  

"Lucky snowman"
(Bettie Page)

Get those lights on the tree working, open up that bottle of Red you've been saving and to "seal the deal" drop the needle on this 1968 compilation album put out by Herb Alpert & A&M Records.

Ten tracks from A&M artists, including some sublime easy listening Latin Jazz with Herb Alpert and TJB ("Winter Wonderland", "Jingle Bell Rock"), Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 ("The Christmas Song") and the Baja Marimba band ("Partridge in a Pear Tree", "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen").  

There's also Burt Bacharach ("The Bell That Couldn't Jingle"), We Five ("My Favorite Things"), Pete Jolly ("Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"), a manic-sounding Liza Minnelli ("Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy") and the hot French gun-enthusiast/husband killer, Claudine Longet ("Snow").



Something Festive, indeed!

RATING: 4 Bells That Couldn't Jingle out of 5