Cabretta / Return to Magenta

Willy Deville | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Raven [Australia]
• ASIN: B000003IXB
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,852 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Venus of Avenue D

2. Little Girl

3. One Way Street

4. Mixed up, Shook up Girl

5. Gunslinger

6. Can't Do Without It

7. Cadillac Walk

8. Spanish Stroll

9. She's So Tough

10. Party Girls

11. Guardian Angel

12. Soul Twist

13. "A" Train Lady

14. Rolene

15. Desperate Days

16. Just Your Friends

17. Steady Drivin' Man

18. Easy Slider

19. I Broke That Promise

20. Confidence to Kill

Editorial Reviews

Bin 12924. Australian two-on-one reissue on Raven for the Eclectic group's first two Jack Nitzsche produced albums, 1977's 'Cabretta' & 1978's 'Return To Magenta'. 2O tracks inall. Featured tracks between the two include 'Guardian Angel'Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl', 'Cadillac Walk', 'Venus Of AvenueD', 'Little Girl', ''A' Train Lady', 'I Broke That Promise','Soul Twist', 'Just Your Friends', as well as a guest appearance by Dr. John.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant 60s-flavored late-70s New York soul, June 16, 2000

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Cabretta / Return to Magenta (Audio CD)

Though Mink DeVille toured with the likes of Elvis Costello in the late 70s, their music derived much more from the latin-flavored pop soul of 1960s New York than the angry sounds of London circa 1978.

With Phil Spector's arranger Jack Nitzche on board as producer, Willy DeVille and his band turned out two superb LPs before DeVille split up the band and relocated (temporarily) to France. This two-fer CD contains both original LPs.

The debut mixes DeVille's letter-perfect Brill Building song constructions with a cover (Barry & Greenwich's "Little Girl") and titles from the pen of Moon Martin ("Gunslinger" and "Cadillac Walk"). Throughout, Nitzche recreates some of the highlights of the Spector sound (lots of castanets!), but without the modulating mass of instruments. DeVille's singing stretches an amazing range of tough to tender, and the band kicks in with some great instrumental backing.

The followup LP isn't as strong as the debut, though it reaches some of the same heights. The ballads, "Guardian Angel," "Just Your Friend," and "I Broke That Promise" are, in particular, quite moving.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unrecognized Musical Brilliance, June 21, 2001

By 

Randy J. White (Anaheim, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cabretta / Return to Magenta (Audio CD)

These two discs are worth a thousand praises. They are two of my all time favorites. Why America did not embrace Willy Deville and his wonderful blend of rock, rhythm and blues and Latino influences is beyond me. His ballads are probably among the best ever recorded, they truly touch the heart and the soul. And on " Just Your Friends " Deville nails the subject of being a guy whose been dumped by his woman because he did not meet the approval of her friends. I don't believe no other artist has even come close to the honesty and emotion in that song. And if you need more proof that Mink Deville were poorly marketed to the masses, everytime I play these CDs people coming by my cube ask who is that singer. Then they note how terrific the music is. And Willy Deville earns another belated fan.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong and sweetly romatic songs with street tough touches, May 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cabretta / Return to Magenta (Audio CD)

When I first heard Cadillac Walk on the radio I knew that Blues/Rock powerful force had to be in my collection. Other surprises include She's so Tough and Spanish Stroll. You will listen again and again and not get tired of Willeys magic and mastery of music !