Customer Reviews

The Best And Beyond

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Gino's new album is a tribute to his work that is beyond the best. The new arrangements of some of my favorite songs are the best ever, and the ones of songs that I never really liked much are beyond my wildest dreams, so much so that I really, really, like listening to them on this album. Props to his talented musicians and back-up artists, but as always Gino and his vocal passion are the star of the show.

I never really connected to the song "black cars" and in it's past life thought the song and its album arrangement were not worthy of him singing it. Well...not any more. I just love, love, love, this arrangement. The music is just terrific and Gino's vocal talents are front and center. The same for "wild horses".

I did not think "brother to brother" or "I just wanna stop" could be done any better....but I was wrong. They are beyond wonderful. "Crazy Life" is better than the re-recorded version on "Live in Montreal" and not nearly long enough. I just wanted him to sing it on and on and on. It is a spectacular lead-in to "black cars".

"The surest things can change", "living inside myself", and "put the weight on my shoulders" have grown up. You can just feel the shades of life experience when he sings them now...vintage Gino....like sipping fine wine!

For me the only songs on the album that are the best are "people gotta move" and "venus envy". Everything else is way beyond that. Listening gives me the feeling that Gino is in a good place in his life.

I have written a good many words about some of my favorite Gino music for Amazon. I think I am running out of superlatives to describe it, so I will simply say...buy it...listen...experience, and enjoy.

To have a full appreciation for Gino Vannelli's album entitled The Best & Beyond" one has to have a sense of the history of the artist behind the music. I have followed Gino Vannelli's singing and recording career since my graduate study days at Kent State University back in the 1970's. At that time I happened to be walking past a room of someone who lived down the hall from me in what was then the now demolished Terrace Hall graduate dorm.

The music I heard through the door was really fantastic as I never heard anything or anyone like it before. What immediately struck me when I was first walking by the dorm room where the music was coming from was the voice of the recording artist. It was pure, strong, on exact note at every point and had such an innate moxie and sexiness quality about it that you couldn't do anything but love hearing it. The style of music I was hearing was not main stream pop but leaned heavily toward a mix of jazz with the then up and coming fusion style. I thought to myself, "this is rediculous - how can anyone sing let alone put lyrics to a fusion style of music?" Up to that point I thought the best singing voice in history had been Frank Sinatra but when I heard Vannelli's pipes I immediate thought "Move over Frank, this new unknown is in town and is better than you!!".

So out of musical curiosity I knocked on this person's door, introduced myself and asked the person occupying the room what recording artist it was she was listening too. She invited me into her room and immediately pulled out three Gino Vannelli record albums and asked me if I would like to stay and listen to all her albums such as Storm at Sunup, The Gist of The Gemini, A Pauper in Paradise. The rest is history as we sat there for about three hours and listened to and discussed the life and times of Gino Vannelli.

In any case I began to then purchase everything I could find on Gino Vannelli. His albums at that time were easy to find at local shops as he was on the mainstream A&M label as he had been "discovered" by label owner and Tijuana Brass band leader, Herb Albert. Over the years Vannell's style of singing moved toward pop (Brother to Brother, Nightwalker/Black Cars, Powerful People) which caused his singing career to go mainstream with top-pop singles along the way. As he continued he eventually moved his production to European music labels and later to his own production with his brother. Also during this time his singing and musical style evolved from jazz-fusion to pop and then onto a semi-opera style Canto and most recently to classic nightclub style lyrical jazz as in the album A Good Thing.

And this little bit of artist history brings me to his most recent album release (The Best And Beyond). Over the years Gino Vannelli has rereleased many of his previous songs over and over again usually as a "best hits" or an anthology album (Ultimate Collection) as many artists do, and in keeping with his the original recorded styles. But this import production "Best & Beyond" album is different. Rather than just his continuing the re-release cycle going Gino Vannelli has actually taken the step to reinterpret many of his pop-hits and in a couple of different ways.

Several songs that were originally fast tempo are now performed in slow tempo. His phrasing and metering of the originals puts a more seductive quality to the sound of the music. Also most of the fusion-style instrumentation of the original recordings is now with this "Best & Beyond" album been made "warmer" as he now utilizes plenty of brass into the orchestraic mix. The sound is reminiscent of the analog production days and almost total non-existence of any cold and sterile digital sound quality that were a trademark of his previous recordings.

In effect Gino Vannelli has "modernized" his previously released music by taking a step backwards toward a much more intimate and warmer singing style and sound quality. It sounds now much more intimate with its touch of nightime smooth blues style. I beleive that he is on to something whereby he can re-introduce much of his past fabulous music to the public without risking it being labeled yet another "best hits" anthology.

Though the content of the album is comprised of past songs they really are different and new souding. The album is certainly worth buying as it seems this musical talent is beginning to embark on a journey to re-invent himself. This would be an intersting journey to follow as this artist's voice and style is truly a cut way above any singer in history and is truly needed to remind people of what good singing and music really is.

I have been steadfast fan of Gino Vanelli since the 80's. Possessing a massive vocal talent with his unique voice, coupled with the musical instrument talents of his brother Joe, Gino's music has become timeless. This is a 21st Century treasure!

This is an excellent rearrangement of his songs; Gino doing what he does best. I truly enjoy many of Mr. V's later work; but, there is something about the songs of his youth; the passion of his youth. He's returned to these compositions with a new respect; and the wisdom of a man who has honed the instrument of his voice.

His voice has never been better; only enhanced by digital recording!

I am wondering WHY I ever let his voice drop out of my life. He is also a gifted composer; and I am sure I will be downloading more of his classics; they sound so much better than the vinyl records!! I hope he will extend his "Best and Beyond" tour; and keep writing more music for us! For anyone who hasn't seen GiVa today; check out his video "The Measure of A Man"; any of us should age as well as he has!

I happened to find this cd by accident. I must say I'm overjoyed
this isn't another straight compilation. These are new recordings
with some hot new arrangements. I love what he did with "People Gotta
Move." It's still is a funky song that gets my heart going every time
I hear it. I am particularly happy he revisited "The Surest Things
Can Change" as it is such a beautiful song worthy of some fresh new paint.
I have not liked much work Gino has put out past 1981, but this project
is just what I needed to hear.

If you are new to Gino, make this your first CD. If you are already a fan and you think you already have these songs, think again. These are new arrangements and the performances are incredible. If you are looking for a CD that captures some of Gino's recent concert excitement then you have found it. These recordings capture that same enthusiasm that has made his USA tours so special. A huge part of that is his band. Buy this CD- simply put, it is amazing.

I strongly recommend everyone to get Gino's autobiography book, Stardust In The Sand. Why? That book has pictures and memoirs from Gino himself, and.... this CD as a complimentary bonus CD. Here's my review of the book, which can also be found in Amazon.com

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I found this book/cd by accident in a local CD shop in Jakarta, without knowing it existed! Uncertain at first, especially for its CD. I asked the operator to play the CD. The first song, People Gotta Move, sounded similar. So I checked Brother To Brother. Wow! It was definitely different than the original version. Later on I discovered it had different drum playing in the legendary bridge. In fact, the whole set in this CD were played by new line-up. What I liked most in this CD, all new-arrangement songs were played as if they were on stage. You can feel the energy and intensity, especially on the drums and sax. The only part missing was the sound of the crowd. So my best guess, Gino and the band played all songs in one take. No overdubs.

There are two songs unknown to me: The Surest Things Can Change, and Put The Weight On My Shoulders. I think they are new songs.

Now the book. It has many pictures, and lot of essays/ memoirs. In English, and Dutch translation. Gino wrote some stories of his early career, story behind songs, funny moments, and impression when he met fellow artists (Karen Carpenter, Bryan Adams, Sting, Quincy Jones, Elton John, etc).

I hoped Gino could've wrote more in this book. A more comprehensive autobiography. For now, this book is the best we got.

This CD has re-worked and newly recorded GV classics. Most songs are very good. "Crazy Life" is quite different and very short. One of my favorite GV songs is "Wheels of Life". The new version here is very nice, but I still prefer the original. "You Gotta Move" is awesome, as well as "Brother To Brother". Very faithful to the originals, but 'ramped up' as if on steroids. Great energy. But the absolute masterpiece of the CD is the new recording of "I Just Wanna Stop"! It is a more fully realized version compared to the original. Slightly slower in tempo, and played in the key of D (the version on Brother to Brother is in the key of E), the song features a 'D tuned' bass guitar that adds a lot of depth and warmth to the arrangement. Gino's vocals are strong and mature, more than 30 years later! If you love Gino Vannelli, this CD makes a great addition to your collection.

I have been a fan since 1973. I saw Gino live in Portland OR last year in a little club when he mentioned he was going to release this album.

This rearranged and re-recorded compilation is absolutely a knock-out. The arrangements are a lot more jazzy than pop, done it seems for the love of the art rather than to make money. The songs are authentic and pure.

All the tracks are just marvelous, but the last one (Put The Weight On My Shoulders) is breathtaking. It is a vocal masterpiece, dripping with emotion without any pretense or fabrication. Pure genius!

Whether you're a fan of Gino Vannelli's or not, this Album is an absolute delight. Gino has a long history of being true to himself and his muse and this effort is no exception. He has reworked some of his best material with some of the best musicians around. I heartily recommend this CD for those who like jazz with a pop flair and of course, for all those that have enjoyed any of Gino's works over the years. The man is a pure genius.