[Harry]

May 29th, 2007 is the day that RISE, Herb Alpert's chart-topping solo effort from 1979 is re-released through Shout! Factory. Use this thread to vote for your favorite track, leave comments about the album in general, and offer comparisons to prior issues.

Harry

[Harry]

It's really hard for me to pick a favorite track from RISE, an album that keeps getting better as the years go by. Surprisingly, I wasn't all that thrilled with RISE when it came out. It was a time in my life when Herb Alpert was a thing of the past and I wasn't too thrilled with even the hint of "disco"-ism that might have been conjured up in that era.

I bought the album, to be sure, probably played it once and filed it away, going back to my Tijuana Brass records and whatever else was floating my boat in 1979. I remember being impressed at the notation about most of the album was recorded digitally - a newfangled way of doing things for sure in 1979.

It was a few years later in the mid '80s that I updated my Herb Alpert collection to CD, realizing that it was that favored old '60s music that still pushed my buttons after all those years, impressed with the CD format, and wanting to improve as much of my collection as possible. So that included RISE, again somewhat grudgingly, since it had never been a favorite. Boy am I happy I did buy it back then, seeing as how it disappeared from the radar for the last number of years after Herb split from A&M.

As I've listened to that album in the current decade, it just grows better and better all the time, each track just shining in its melodies and rhythms. Herb was always way ahead of the curve, and this album proves it.

I picked up my copy of the new RISE today at the Virgin Megastore in Downtown Disney, where we're on vacation and while the wife was getting her spa treatment. I'm playing it through as I type this - though it's playing on the in-room DVD player through the television - not exactly hi fidelity! It sounded fine in the car on the way back to the Vacation Club and I'm sure it will sound fine when I get home. I'll probably give it a listen on the computer through headphones later in the week - and next week I'll offer any comparisons I have to the old CD.

I'm also unsure of how I'll like the new order of the tracks, but I'm sure that if Herb thought it was right to do, then so be it.

For now I'll say that my choice of favorite tracks will come from among the first five - all are killer tracks IMHO.

Harry
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...Preserving The Sound Online...

[Rudy]

I must say the only track that never really hit it with me was "Street Life"--it's good, but just seemed like an afterthought given that the Crusaders' original was a favorite of mine, and still is.

"Behind The Rain" is actually my favorite track these days. The arrangement just soars!

"Love Is" makes more sense if you know Bill Withers' original version, which is in the same key. (Herb is singing low hear, matching Withers' vocals.) It's interesting that Withers' own version features a Herb-like trumpet part in it. You will find that both arrangements are very similar as well.

As when I first heard the album, "Rise" and "Aranjuez" are two excellent tracks: I had both of these on the 45RPM single as well as the extended 12" single, before the album came out. I followed the buzz up the charts on this one, too. "Rotation" is a neat follow-up to "Rise".
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[->STEREO<-]

[Harry]

Earlier today, when I posted this thread, I checked Amazon. Their ranking for RISE at the time was #853. It's since RISEn to #460!

Harry
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...Preserving The Sound Online...

[audiofile]

I chose Street Life. I first heard Herb's version before the Crusader's version. It's such a funky catchy tune. I prefer Herb's take on it. Next up is Aranjuez, Rotation, Rise, and 1980. (I like them all the same.) The album as a whole is just terrific.

[Captain Bacardi]

I picked up Rise today at Best Buy, and was surprised that they had 6 copies readily available. I'm just now listening to it, so I'll give my thoughts a little later.

As far as a favorite song, it's a tough choice. But I chose "Rotation", mainly because I loved Herb's trumpet work on this song. My least favorites are "Street Life" (the Crusaders version is so much better) and "Angelina", which seems almost like a trumpet exercise.



Capt. Bacardi
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The Chicago Cubs - 102 years and counting....

[badazz]

[bob]

hi all
I bought my rise copy at my local best buy here in cleveland,ohio and like the captain they to had 7 copies only 6 now lol. and I was surprised tracks 5 thru 8 are in different order from the lp. but I like rotation the alternate version and aranjuez with the strings, it is a different mix from the 12'' single version that I have on clear vinyl. and last many thanks to you randy for producing a great cd and your uncle for being an excellent trumpet player he makes his trumpet talk in a matter of speaking, and randy if you read this post I have been trying to get an autographed picture of your uncle can you tell me where to send my mailing address.
bob

[phantomoftheparadise]

I'm very impressed with the alternate version of "Rotation." I was never a fan of the original recording, but this new one blew me away.

[Mike Blakesley]

I'm listening to the album now - I probably haven't played it in its entirety since 1979...never had it on CD until now.

I think the resequencing improves things. "Aranjuez" is a better side-2 kickoff than "Street Life" was, IMHO.

I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite song but am leaning toward "Rotation." I never get tired of hearing it...it pops up every couple days (as does "Rise") on the XM 70s channel.

The other one I like the best is "1980." I think the melody on it is great, and I will never forget hearing it for the first time and thinking, Wow, Herb Alpert is BACK!

The remastering sounds great. Nice job by everyone all around.

BTW, great to see you posting in here, Randy!
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Mike B.

[jazzdre]

WOW! To get an e-mail from Righteous Randy "Badazz" Alpert on the forum!! That's A&Mazing!! Randy, can you tell us all how the album REALLY came about(by that I mean the process of making the album, how you and Herb chose the musicians, what was done during the sessions, how long it took to make the album,etc)

Also, what inspired you to write "Rise" in the first place? I read the lyrics in one of your uncle's songbooks and I was surprised to learn that it was an inspirational song! Who came up with the lyrics and music? Did Andy Armer write the lyrics and you the music? Or did both of you write both the lyrics and the music together?

Also, besides Puffy and Biggie using 'Rise'(what do you and your uncle think of that, and how does your uncle feel about the whole issue of sampling) Russell Malone(Diane Krall's guitarist) did an absolutely about turn in arrangement when he recorded 'Rise'( it's done in an traditional jazz, acoustic arrangement) and a Brazilian saxaphonist named Leo Gandelman did a hip-hop jazz version of 'Rise' as well, which was absolutely brilliant!

Thanks for the tune, and I hope that my questions aren't too annoying, but i'm just curious!

[Rudy]

[CherryStreet]

Hey Rudy,

Any chance you are going to finish the BACK/INSERTS for the 3 iTunes CD's?

Thanks

[Mike Blakesley]

Having now listened to the whole RISE album I think I can safely say that I enjoyed it more now than I did then. It really holds up as an album. The only track that really sounds "disco" is "Aranjuez" but, hey, it's fun to listen to a cool disco track now and then. Having only heard the album on LP previously, it's very cool to hear all the subtle touches that are hidden in the mix, especially on "Rise" and "Rotation" which are so familiar, yet still sound fresh.

I can't say I was overly blown away by the bonus tracks. "Rotation" is a jazzier take, for sure, but (and remember, I'm a person who really doesn't "get" jazz all that much) I just don't understand why that's such a revered style of playing. I mean, the melody of the tune is only hinted at throughout the track, which I guess is sort of the point...I don't get it, and I admit it. But, that's just me...a jazz fan would probably think it's great. I enjoyed the retro production and efx on the track, but I think the original is much better.

The "2007 mix" of "Aranjuez" surprised me -- I thought it would sound more 2007-ish, and I thought it would be longer than the original, but it's actually shorter and not all that different from the original.
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Mike B.

[Ed Bishop]

Sheesh, a very tough call...I always dug "Rotation," and the alternate included here is very solid, too. But, because "Rise" was Herb's first HUGE hit in many a year, and his trumpet lines have always stuck in the memory, chose that, even if it is obvious.

To many, RISE must have sounded more like MOR than most vintage TJB stuff; still, despite the slickness of the arrangements and the recording itself, at the time I found it refreshing, considering what was on the charts back then.


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Yes, I want some TJB mono on CD...and TJB Vol. 2 as well....greedy, isn't I?

[Dave]

Well, what better song to make my #1-favorite, than the one which started it all--Herb's COMEBACK, that is--"Rise"...

Took a few years to appreciate and even find out "Who did it?"--some Rap artist, I could innocently presume with my youthful impression, 'til Herb recorded "Route 101", then I finally equated this song with all those Herb Alpert/TjB LP's I would see at the Salvation Army & St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Stores, along with Sergio Mendes' "Never Gonna Let You Go", being the same guy leading rasil '66 and his albums also being in those places...

"1980" comes at a close second and it was nice to have what seemed to be a "rarity" to have on a '45', which I tended to kick-off playing my Definitive Hits CD with, though haven't been too quick starting the latter like I used to be, after this "prelude" on Alpert's original LP...

"Love Is" is another Herb Alpert vocal-workout, this time done with a Bill Withers song... Another single waiting to happen and somehow it doesn't seem to have enough trumpet to it, other than a solo here and there; good choice for a "third"...

"Aranjuez (Mon Amor)" is an over-the-top eclectic dance number, incorporating a lot of traditional and modern rhythms and styles... I have another version, by Gabor Szabo, which runs a lil' bit slower, though it is the same song... And "Aranjuez" is also very well-suited for the remixed version included here as a bonus, as is the disco-esque "Rotation", also featured in a "bonus-remix track", as well... "Streetlife" kicked-off Side 2 on the original LP fairly well, so putting it else where on the LP does make it unusual to hear in the new sequence--Way at the End--, though still not outt'a place, in its "new location"...

"Angelina" seems like a pretty crafty piece, with the J.D. Mayness pedal steel guitar--The First Use Of on a Herb Alpert track!!--and it reminds me a bit of Rita Coolidge & Kris Kristofferson's "A Song I'd Like To Sing"...


Dave

[badazz]

[Captain Bacardi]

[Mike Blakesley]

Well, technically, that was a Tijuana Brass track, not a Herb Alpert track!

Mike B.
Ducking for cover

[CherryStreet]

[Captaindave]

[jazzdre]

To Randy "Badazz" Alpert:

THANK YOU,THANK YOU, THANK YOU for answering my questions!!! It really means a lot to me after the hard day that I had today! I hope that my questions weren't too prying, but I am always interested in the creative process of my favorite artists be they Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Orson Welles, Jack Kirby, John Coltrane, or your uncle! I just want to know how things get done, because in turn, it inspires me as well.

I'm glad you and Andy had fun creating 'Rise'(you all sound like you were having fun making the song in the studio; it comes across on the record!). As you know, MILLIONS of people also have had fun dancing to the tune, listening to the tune,romanced to the tune, and also generations were brought together by the tune! This happened to me!

When I was a teenager in the early 80s, I was just getting into Herb's music, and beforehand, I used to play a lot of music in my home, some tunes I would play over and over again, and it would drive my father crazy! He would say 'can't you play something else? Same song over and over again!' Yet when I played 'Rise', he'd be quiet and calm down. He even came into my room one time and said(while I was listening to 'Rise') 'you know, of all the songs that you've played, this is the one that I really like the most!'See? You all brought two generations(father and son) together!

On the issue of sampling: I agree with you; if it's done creatively! Like so many music lovers out there, I just wish the rappers would just get a band or a group of musicians and make music the old fashioned way like your uncle did, as well as many hundreds of musicians have done: create original music right there on the spot instead of taking music off other people's records! The Roots are a hip-hop band that has a turntable and REAL instruments with REAL musicians playing original music, so why can't the rest of the rappers do the same? However, like you said, if it's done creatively like Puffy and Biggie, and some others, but they don't come to mind right now.

And no, Dre and I are not related!(smile)However, I love the stuff that he's done recently with Burt Bacharach and Chris Botti(another magnificent trumpet player)I also respect his pioneering staus in the world of hip-hop.

Oh yeah, one more thing: a few years ago, there was I believe a husband and wife team that were on I believe Motown Records, and they were called Koffee Brown. They only released one cd, and they had a hit with a tune called 'The AfterParty'. Anyway, one of the songs that was on the album had a sample of 'Rotation'. Did you hear it? I can't remember the title of the tune, but I do remember hearing it, but I wasn't impressed.

And one more other thing before I go: years ago, I bought the 12" single to yours and Andy's collaboration, "People Living In The USA". I really liked it; it had that early 80s synth/pop-rock sound. Why weren't more albums put out by you and Andy? The message in that song is as timely today as it was back then.You guys were called (of course)RandyAndy.

Again, thank you very much for taking the time to answer my questions and being very nice to respond back!

[DAN BOLTON]

Wow! This is hard...I don't think I can pick a fave...RISE is so "driven", for lack of a better word; LOVE IS is like an anthem, almost; BEHIND THE RAIN is a vivid piece...but the real standout track for me is ARANJUEZ...it
's by far the most complex arrangement on the album. It echoes CARMEN for me, in a way. Guess I'll go with that.

I never was in a position to buy the CD when it was available; all I had was the LP, which was rather flimsy and had a tendancy to jump a groove after just a few plays, and it got more than a few, believe me...so, I'm not able to comment on the remastering quality, but it's just nice to have a copy of this album that doesn't skip.

This album kind of puts me in mind of GOING PLACES, too...it has the same feel...not so much musically, but in overall scope...there's a little for everybody here...some latin[ANGELINA], some popular stuff with Herb's unique touch[RISE, ROTATION], jazz[BEHIND THE RAIN], contemporary[STREET LIFE], the obligatory vocal{LOVE IS] and a standard{ARANJUEZ]...a smorgasbord, just like the TJB albums were...and, it was a defining moment in Herb's career, just as GP was with TIJUANA TAXI and SPANISH FLEA...

Dan
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DAN BOLTON

"As much as I love music, I never thought it was my life. I thought it was the vehicle I used to express my life." HERBIE MANN

[badazz]

[badazz]