Fandango (Herb Alpert album)

Last updated
Fandango
Herb Alpert Fandango.JPG
Studio album by
Herb Alpert
ReleasedMay 1982
StudioCBS Recording Studios, (Mexico City, Mexico); A&M Studios (Hollywood, California); Studio Sound Recorders (North Hollywood, California).
Genre Instrumental pop, easy listening, pop jazz
Length43:20
Label A&M
Producer Herb Alpert, José Quintana
Herb Alpert chronology
Magic Man
(1981)		Fandango
(1982)		Blow Your Own Horn
(1983)

Fandango is a studio album by American musician Herb Alpert released on A&M Records in April 1982 [1] with catalog number SP-3731.

Contents

One of Alpert's most popular albums, the title tune was composed by Juan Carlos Calderón. It was briefly available on CD in the early '90s, but went out of print. In 2012, a remastered version was released on CD by Shout Factory, and is also available as a download.

Background and recording

Released 20 years after the Latin-inspired "The Lonely Bull", this album marks a return to a Hispanic sound. [2] Alpert had wanted to do something to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his first hit, so he traveled to Mexico and made a recording intended solely for the Latin-American market. However, his interest was kindled by the diversity and quality of the local musicians, and he decided to record an entire album there. [3] Additionally, research revealed that his hit "Rise" had not made an impact on his Tijuana Brass fanbase, and he wanted an album that bridged the gap between his more contemporary sound and his previous mariachi-influenced style. [4]

Stan Freberg directed a promo for the album, satirizing TV commercials in general, but especially Ella Fitzgerald's famous spots for Memorex recording tape. In the original Memorex commercials, Fitzgerald's recorded voice shatters a drinking glass; in the Fandango spot, the sound of Alpert's trumpet smashes a giant taco hanging from the ceiling.

Reception and impact

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Upon release, the album was favorably reviewed by Billboard as a "Top Album Pick". [2] It entered the Billboard 200 on May 29, 1982, to begin a chart stay of 26 weeks, peaking at number 100. [7] In addition, the album peaked at #20 on Jazz Albums, and #52 on R&B Albums. [5] Richard S. Ginell at AllMusic gave the album a highly positive review, calling it "a masterpiece" and some tracks "spine-chilling". He further stated the material in Fandango surpassed that of the earlier Tijuana Brass output. [5] Stereo Review was much less enthusiastic, stating that there was "nothing new or different" in the album. [8] Alpert found his Mexican recording experience so positive that he decided to form a sub-label for the Latin market, both in the U.S. and abroad, under the direction of José Quintana. [3]

The album's only single to hit the top 40 was "Route 101" which peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 the weeks of August 14 and 21, 1982. [5] [9] [10] As of 2022, it is Alpert's last instrumental single to surpass that level.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fandango" Juan Carlos Calderón 3:41
2."Margarita"Juan Carlos Calderón3:41
3."Push and Pull"Juan Carlos Calderón4:40
4."California Blues"Juan Carlos Calderón3:49
5."Quiereme Tal Como Soy"Rafael Perez-Botija3:49
6."Route 101"Juan Carlos Calderón3:21
7."Coco Loco" Diego Verdaguer 2:54
8."Aria"Eduardo Magallanes3:44
9."Angel"Juan Carlos Calderón2:51
10."Sugarloaf"Erasmo Carlos, Roberto Carlos5:07
11."Latin Medley (Frenesi / Bahia / Moliendo Cafe / Porompompero)"Dominguez, Barroso, Manzu, Ochiata5:43
Total length:43:20

Personnel

Production

Related Research Articles

<i>Straight Ahead</i> (Amy Grant album) 1984 studio album by Amy Grant

Straight Ahead is the sixth studio album by Christian music artist Amy Grant, released in 1984.

<i>Oh Yes I Can</i> 1989 studio album by David Crosby

Oh Yes I Can is the second solo studio album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young member David Crosby. It was released on January 23, 1989, 18 years on from his previous solo release, If I Could Only Remember My Name.

<i>Tonin</i> 1995 studio album by The Manhattan Transfer

Tonin' is the sixteenth studio album by The Manhattan Transfer. It was released in 1995 on Atlantic Records. The expression "tonin'" is associated with the vocal groups of the 1950s and 1960s. The songs on this album are favorites of the band's from that era. Singer-songwriter Laura Nyro makes one of her last performances on this recording.

<i>Oasis</i> (Roberta Flack album) 1988 studio album by Roberta Flack

Oasis is Roberta Flack's first solo album of newly recorded songs since 1982's I'm the One. Released 1 November 1988, Oasis features the number-one U.S. singles, "Oasis" (R&B), and "Uh-uh Ooh-ooh Look Out ".

<i>Headed for the Future</i> 1986 studio album by Neil Diamond

Headed for the Future is the seventeenth studio album released by Neil Diamond in March 1986 on Columbia Records. The album went to number 20 on the US Billboard 200. Headed for the Future has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Flame</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1997 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Flame is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on June 24, 1997, in the United States.

Keep Your Eye on Me is a pop/R&B/dance album by Herb Alpert, released in 1987. It contains two hit singles, "Diamonds" and "Making Love in the Rain". These Billboard Top 40 hits, along with the title track and "Pillow" were written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The remainder of the album consists of tracks produced by Herb Alpert and various producers. The record was constructed with Side 1 featuring uptempo songs, while Side 2 featured down tempo songs and ballads.

<i>Reservations for Two</i> 1987 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Reservations for Two is a studio album by the American singer Dionne Warwick. It was recorded during the spring of 1987 and released on July 30 of that year. Her eighth album for Arista Records, it was again executive produced by label head Clive Davis. Warwick reteamed with Barry Manilow and the duo Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager to work on the album, while Kashif, Jerry Knight, Howard Hewett and Smokey Robinson also contributed to the tracks.

<i>20/20</i> (George Benson album) 1985 studio album by George Benson

20/20 is the 22nd studio album by George Benson, released on the Warner Bros. record label in 1985. The lead single by the same name reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA. "You Are the Love of My Life" is a duet with Roberta Flack; it was one of numerous songs used for Eden Capwell and Cruz Castillo on the American soap opera Santa Barbara. Also included on 20/20 is the original version of the song "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" which would later become a smash hit for Hawaiian singer Glenn Medeiros.

<i>Everlasting</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1987 studio album by Natalie Cole

Everlasting is the eleventh studio album by American singer Natalie Cole, released on June 14, 1987 by Manhattan Records. The album peak to number 8 on Billboards Top R&B Albums chart, and number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>If I Were Your Woman</i> (Stephanie Mills album) 1987 studio album by Stephanie Mills

If I Were Your Woman is the eleventh studio album by American recording artist Stephanie Mills, released on June 1, 1987 on MCA Records. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. If I Were Your Woman was also certified Gold and Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Dangerous</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1985 studio album by Natalie Cole

Dangerous is a 1985 album by American singer Natalie Cole released on May 15, 1985, through the Atco Records-distributed Modern Records label. The album reached peak positions of number 140 on the Billboard 200 and number 48 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

<i>Hello Tomorrow</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Dave Koz

Hello Tomorrow is the ninth studio album by saxophone player Dave Koz. It was his first album released by Concord Records on October 19, 2010. Koz himself provided vocals on "This Guy's in Love with You". The album peaked at number 1 on Billboard Jazz Albums chart. On November 30, 2011, the album received a Nomination in the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

<i>In Your Eyes</i> (George Benson album) 1983 studio album by George Benson

In Your Eyes is a 1983 album by George Benson. It is his only album produced by producer Arif Mardin. It includes the hit "Lady Love Me ".

Steppin' Out is an album by Herb Alpert, released by the record label Shout! Factory on November 19, 2013. In the United States, the album reached a peak position of number fifteen on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart, and earned Alpert a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2014.

<i>Chicago XXXVI: Now</i> 2014 studio album by Chicago

Chicago XXXVI: Now, sometimes stylized as "NOW" Chicago XXXVI or Now: Chicago XXXVI, is the twenty-fourth studio album, and thirty-sixth overall by Chicago. It was written and recorded in 2013–2014, and was released on July 4, 2014. Aside from the occasional few new tracks found in the band's many compilation and cover albums, Now is the band's first full album of new compositions since 2006's Chicago XXX,. This album has the first original Chicago credits for veteran musicians Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and Lou Pardini, since joining the band.

<i>Smoke Signals</i> (Smokey Robinson album) 1986 studio album by Smokey Robinson

Smoke Signals is a studio album by the American singer Smokey Robinson, released in 1986 by Motown. "Be Kind to the Growing Mind", featuring the Temptations, encourages songwriters to avoid distasteful lyrics. "Hold On to Your Love" was written with Stevie Wonder. Robinson supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Bullish</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Bullish is a 1984 album released by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, though the Tijuana Brass was not involved in its making. The album was reissued in 2017. The music of the album is mostly electro-funk, with Alpert's characteristic trumpet in accompaniment. The album is mostly instrumental, though Lani Hall provides vocals on the track "Maniac". Describing the album in 1984, Alpert said, "I don't think of this as a backward-looking record ... It's very contemporary."

<i>Can You Stop the Rain</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Peabo Bryson

Can You Stop the Rain is the fifteenth studio album by American singer Peabo Bryson. It was released by Columbia Records on June 4, 1991 in the United States. Following the release of All My Love (1989), his sole return release with his longtime label, Capitol Records, the singer signed with label Columbia to complete work on his next project along with Walter Afanasieff, Peter Bunetta, Rick Chudacoff, and Barry Mann. Bryson himself became instrumental in composing and producing several songs on his own for the album along with Sir Gant and Dwight W. Watkins.

<i>Through the Fire</i> (Peabo Bryson album) 1994 studio album by Peabo Bryson

Through the Fire is the sixteenth studio album by American singer Peabo Bryson. It was released by Columbia Records on June 14, 1994, in the United States and marked Bryson's first full-length album after the release of his number-one hit duets "Beauty and the Beast" (1991) and "A Whole New World" (1992). The singer reteamed with David Foster, Walter Afanasieff, and Dwight Watkins and consulted upcoming producers Keith Rawls, Keith Thomas and Marc Freeman to work with him on the majority of Through the Fire which was titled after Bryson's cover of the Foster-penned Chaka Khan song (1984).

References

  1. ↑ "Labels Readying 'Name' Product for Second Quarter". Billboard. March 27, 1982. p. 20. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Top Album Picks". Billboard. May 8, 1982. p. 65. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Sutherland, Sam (August 7, 1982). "A&M Launches Latin Label for U.S. Mart". Billboard. pp. 4, 57. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ Kart, Larry (June 27, 1982). "Herb Alpert's back, trying to blend new gold and old brass". Chicago Tribune. p. section 6, page 5. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Fandango at AllMusic
  6. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 2002. ISBN   9780857125958.
  7. ↑ The Billboard Albums, 6th edn. Joel Whitburn. 2006. Record Research Inc. p. 34. ISBN   0-89820-166-7.
  8. ↑ Stereo Review. 47: 89. 1982.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ Billboard Hot 100, Week of August 14, 1982 – Billboard.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  10. ↑ Billboard Hot 100, Week of August 21, 1982 – Billboard.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.