Herb Alpert Triple Play from Shout! Factory

The Lonely Bull made music history when it was originally released in 1962. It marked the beginning of the very successful A&M Records (Alpert & Moss) and both the title track and the album hit the top ten Billboard charts. Inspired by a trip to Mexico prior to this recording, Alpert successfully marries the rhythmic and fanfare like qualities of Mexico with the improve and groove of American jazz much like Dizzy Gillespie's marriage of jazz and the music of Cube and the Caribbean. This recording is bound to put a smile on your face and as with the rest of the releases, the liners will inform and enlighten.

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
South of the Border
Shout! Factory
1964-2005

South of the Border enjoyed similar chart success as it's predecessor The Lonely Bull and explored mainstream repertoire such as "The Girl from Ipanema" and "All My Loving" along the same lines as many of the aptly named "Lounge" or "Bachelor Pad" style bands of the day. The only reach for the next button moment occurs with the awkwardly sung "Hello Dolly," which features a fake Spanish accent. Otherwise, this is just as fun and musical as Lonely Bull.

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
Lost Treasures
Shout! Factory
2005

Finally, Shout Factory compiles twenty-two previously unreleased and rare recordings from Alpert from this era. Some may feel betrayed by the fact that these recordings weren't added onto the several reissued recordings of this series, but in this case, perfection is to leave the album in it's original form and to treat the unreleased recordings as a separate piece. What makes this collection special are the interpretations of pop repertoire. You almost wonder why the Tijuana Brass's versions of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," Cat Steven's "Whistling Song" or The Carpenter's "(They Long to Be) Close to You" never saw the light of day. This album possesses both aural pleasure and pure entertainment.

In addition to these three excellent salvos, Shout! Factory has eight more Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass reissues on the docket with a "remix" album coming out this summer—that should be interesting! Great job Shout Factory, keep it up!

Visit Shout! Factory on the web.

Track listings

The Lonely Bull

1. The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro), 2. El Lobo (The Wolf), 3. Tijuana Sauerkraut, 4. Desafinado, 5. Mexico, 6. Never On Sunday, 7. Struttin' With Maria, 8. Let It Be Me, 9. Acapulco 1922, 10. Limbo Rock, 11. Crawfish, 12. A Quiet Tear (Lagrima Quieta)

South of the Border

1. South Of The Border, 2. The Girl From Ipanema, 3. Hello, Dolly!, 4. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face, 5. Up Cherry Street, 6. Mexican Shuffle, 7. El Presidente, 8. All My Loving, 9. Angelito, 10. Salúd, Amor y Dinero, 11. Numero Cinco, 12. Adiós, Mi Corazón

Lost Treasures

1. Up Cherry Street, 2. Lazy Day, 3. Wailing Of The Willow, 4. Fire And Rain, 5. And I Love Her, 6. I Canâ????t Go On Living, Baby, Without You, 7. (They Long To Be) Close To You, 8. Promises Promises, 9. Happy Hour, 10. Julius And Me, 11. I Might Frighten Her Away, 12. Alone Again (Naturally), 13. Tennessee Waltz, 14. Tradewinds, 15. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head, 16. Flowers On The Wall, 17. Popcorn, 18. Chris, 19. Killing Me Softly, 20. I'll Never Fall In Love Again

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