Customer Reviews

Best of Chuck Mangione

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

 

 

I will just focus on my favorite ones. "Feel So Good," is melodious & smooth, while "Fun & Games," has CM 's flugelhorn giving the tune a rhythmic bounce, & the Sax solo in the second part sustains the louder notes. "Children Of Sanchez," may be CM's best known tune? Here background instruments add a soft background while the brass section starts everything off. Both compliment CM's flugelhorn to perfection. "The Land Of Make Believe," goes at a slow pace with the rhythm section pulling everything together with the background orchestra. The loud to soft subtlties gave this one added zing. All in all a very enjoyable compilation.

If you really like Mangione then get the full length CD. Eleven bucks is too much, if you should pay any at all, to listen to only part of the tracks. Skip the preview and go buy Feels So Good or Children of Sanchez, at least you'll get the whole song and get your money's worth.

I agree with the fan from Virginia. This album is a disappointment for the Mangione fan who thinks he/she is getting the full tracks of the songs listed. Obviously, the second reviewer has never listened to the full tracks before offering the comments that this album is "perfect". Although the collection is a good synopsis of some of Mangione's better works, save your money for the real cuts, not the abbreviated versions here.

When I bought this CD, I did not look at the times on the tracks. In a few cases -- most noticeable "Feels So Good" -- the producers have excerpted the themes, cutting what was once a nine-minute track down to 3:30. Since I have the original Feels So Good LP, the cuts are jarring. I have since learned that A&M has come out with another CD, with the complete versions of the same playlist, from their "Backlot Artists" CD. My recommendation? Spend your money on the complete versions.

This was my first Mangione collection. And it is good, to start out somebody to Mangione. Most of the people's complaints about this CD was that the songs were edited too short. For a new comer, I strongly doubt they'd have the same feeling. I actually think Children Of Sanchez is better the shorter version. I was never too keen on Don Potter's vocals. And since most of the original version is the same melody line played over and over with just different instruments, you don't feel like you're missing anything here. Also, Doin' Everything With You is also better the shortened way. The original is too long. The only song that doesn't sound good edited, is Land Of Make Believe. You feel like there are parts you're getting "jipped" out of, and the parts that are there aren't neccessarily, essential. Some gold parts of the song were taken out. The others, I don't mind being short. They work good, and are the appropriate length for the radio. The same song collection on the other compilation, is also good. But this CD is not as bad as other people think!

His Jazz is intelligent Jazz and we think of this album as a true classic.

Love the full length versions on the other greatest hits cd, but it's nice to have the abridged versions. I'm not always in the mood to hear the "Fun 'N Games" bass line over and over for what seems to be an eternity.

The first song, "Feels So Good", is one of my favorites (that is the main reason why I bought this CD). The rest of the compilation is easy listening and smooth.

Chuck Mangione is a mastermind. This CD is wonderful and must be bought. The soothing sounds of FEELS SO GOOD from the pounding drums of CHILDREN OF SANCHEZ shows the range Mangione holds. My personal favorite on this CD is LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE. This song shows a performance of a lifetime with its incredible energy and feel. Mangione also shows he can funk it up with his slap-bass line on FUN AND GAMES. This CD is a MUST for any collection. Perfect.