Fandango (Herb Alpert album)

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Fandango
Herb Alpert Fandango.JPG
Studio album by
Herb Alpert
ReleasedMay 1982
StudioCBS Recording Studios, Mexico City; A&M Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
GenreInstrumental pop, easy listening, pop jazz
Length43:20
LabelA&M
ProducerHerb Alpert
Herb Alpert chronology
Magic Man
(1981) 		Fandango
(1982) 		Blow Your Own Horn
(1983)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic3.5/5 stars[1]
Colin Larkin2/5 stars[2]

Fandango is a studio album by American musician Herb Alpert released on A&M Records in April 1982[3] with catalog number SP-3731.

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 on Alpert's official website, herbalpertpresents.com as well as the major online music vendors such as iTunes.

Background and recording[]

Released 20 years after the Latin-inspired "The Lonely Bull", this album marks a return to a Hispanic sound.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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[]

Upon release, the album was favorably reviewed by Billboard as a "Top Album Pick".[4] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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 .[5]

A single from this album, "Route 101", hit the top 40.[1] As of 2018, it is Alpert's last instrumental single to surpass that level.

Track listing[]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Fandango"Juan Carlos Calderón3:41
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 Verdaguer2:54
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[]

  • Trumpet, Vocals, Vocoder, Arrangement – Herb Alpert
  • Arranger – Juan Carlos Calderón (track 1,6,9,11); (tracks 2,7); Michel Colombier (track 3,5); (track 4,8); Rafael Perez–Botija (track 5); Jose Quintana (track 10)
  • Art Direction – Ayeroff & Beeson
  • Artwork Design – Elizabeth Paul
  • Backing Vocals – Marie Cain (track 6,11); Darlene Holden–Hoven (track 6,11); Mary Hylan (track 6,11); (track 2);
  • Bass – Abraham Laboriel (track 1,9–11); (tracks 2,4,7,8); Freddie Washington (tracks 3,5,6)
  • Drums – Ralph Humphrey (track 10); Carlos Vega (tracks 1–9,11)
  • Engineer – Howard Lee Wolen
  • Guitar – (track 8); Abraham Laboriel (tracks 1,3,5,6,10,11); (tracks 3,5,6,11); (tracks 2,4,7,8); (track 3,6,9,11);
  • Harp – (track 3,5,8)
  • Horns – Guillermo Espinosa (track 8); Carlos Macias (track 8)
  • Keyboards/Synthesizer – Juan Carlos Calderón (track 11); Michel Colombier (tracks 1,3,5,6,8,10,11); Bill Cuomo (tracks 1,2,4,7–9,11); Eduardo Magallanes (track 8); (tracks 6,10)
  • Marimba – Julius Wechter (tracks 3,11)
  • Mastering – Bernie Grundman
  • Percussion – Paulinho DaCosta (tracks 1–3,5–7,9,11); Laudir de Oliveira (track 10)
  • Photography – Richard Avedon
  • Strings – Gary Gertzweig's String Section

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Fandango at AllMusic
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 2002. ISBN 9780857125958.
  3. ^ "Labels Readying 'Name' Product for Second Quarter". Billboard. March 27, 1982. p. 20. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Top Album Picks". Billboard. May 8, 1982. p. 65. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Sutherland, Sam (August 7, 1982). "A&M Launches Latin Label for U.S. Mart". Billboard. pp. 4, 57. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  6. ^ 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.
  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. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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