Customer Reviews

Chuck Mangione - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are actually two "Greatest Hits" CDs out by A&M: this one, and one simply entitled "Greatest Hits". The latter offers cut-down versions (for example, "Feels So Good" lasts only 3 minutes on that CD!). Having been away from Chuck's recordings since I started listening to CD's (all of his albums that I have are on vinyl), it was a real pleasure to finally hear the full version of each of these songs. What a difference! For those of us who were Mangione fans through the '70's and '80's, this is the album to buy! Don't waste your time with the other one.

Chuck Mangione is a skilled flugelhorn player. But his real strengths are his songwriting and arrainging abilities. He has the talent to take basic themes and turn them into wonderful musical experiences. He also has attracted some of the best soloists out there to participate in his vision. That is what makes this CD such a disappointment. This package just highlights the main melodies and not any of the solos. "Feel so Good" was the break thru hit for him and of course the studio version is included here. We're then treated to a watered down version of "Hill Where the Lord Hides". Probably, though, what really sets me off here is how can any Chuck Mangione Greatest Hits CD not include the vocal arraingement of "Land of Make Believe"??? Instead we get a live version of it from the Live at the Hollywood Bowl CD, which was also a great rendition, EXCEPT they cut ALL the solos out. What was a approximately 10 minute song ended up just over 4 minutes. What were they thinking????

I would not recommend this to anyone interested in finding out what Mangione is all about. I would instead suggest buying the Live at the Hollywood Bowl CD. Many of these songs are included there, and are so much better represented.

[Please look at the comment appended below by Mr. Pinkard. I appreciate the correction and defer to his knowledge about the recording, though the characterization of my comments as "WAY wrong" seems a bit overstated. As my title should imply, along with the observation that this disc is a compilation of various performances, "Greatest Hits" is neither a collection of the original studio mixings (limited to 3-4 minutes each due to the 45 rpm format) nor is it a single complete concert. For the latter, listeners should check out the "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" album referenced by Mr. Pinkard; for a collection of the original, shorter studio tracks, listeners might look for the early A&M title, "The Best of Chuck Mangione." The scarce documentation included with the tracks and the liberal use and interchanging of labels and album titles, especially for collections aimed at a broad popular market, make it difficult to be absolutely sure about the precise contents (dates, times, personnel) on any of these recordings, so it may take some careful research and trial and error to be assured of obtaining versions that are not duplicates.]

These are not the original "hit" recordings but concert versions from the mid-eighties. The good part is that things are a bit looser, the solos more extended, the proceedings just a trifle more jazz-oriented. The bad part is that the playing is not as tight and polished as on the original studio versions.

I prefer these versions, if only because of my familiarity with a couple of the musicians in Chuck's group at this time. What annoys me most is the attempt, even in the liner notes, to disguise the actual circumstances of recording, including names of musicians on the sessions (in the interest of full disclosure, the drummer is Joe Bonadio).

First, let me say I'm a Mangione fan and a flugelhorn player. I love all the songs on this disc. What I don't love is the VERSIONS of some of the songs. The biggest problem is the version of "Children of Sanchez" they chose for this disc. I find it hard to believe this version was ever released. It's terrible. I've never heard another recording that makes Chuck sound so bad. He blows clinkers all over the place, his tone warbles, and he seems off the beat in several places. I haven't heard the version on the "Children of Sanchez" album in a while, but I'm pretty sure this isn't the same one. The version on "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" (which I just bought to supplement my old LP version...and HIGHLY recommend) blows this one away. Oddly, the very next track, "Land of Make Believe" is the version from "Live..." Why they didn't use that version of "...Sanchez" is a real mystery.

The rest of the songs on the disc are fine performances, though the recordings vary in quality. The disc claims to be digitally remastered from the original tapes. If so, they did a pretty poor job on some of the songs. Not that they're terrible; just not as clear as a remaster should be. Not a worthy tribute to a great artist. To a true collector, it might be worth having just to hear Chuck at his worst.

I agree with some of the other reviewers, these are not the best renditions of his songs, and I think you should pass on this and get the other greatest hits album - another hits album of his is the "Compact Jazz" marketed by PolyGram, which has his early 70's full orchestra hits from the Mercury albums, including "THE" version of "The Hill Where the Lord Hides" - Chuck's and Gerry Niewood's solos from this concert were the best. If you only got turned on to Chuck from "Feels So Good", you should try to hear some of these early recordings - the other musicians that played with the quartet and the orchestra form a "who's who" of studio musicians to include Steve Gadd(Drums) and Don Potter(Guitar, Vocals)- a lot of them went on to play for everyone from Willie Nelson, the Judds, to Carly Simon and Linda Ronstadt. I wish someone would make a CD of the full Friends and Love concert, along with Together - "Legacy" is one of my favorite songs- the problem is someone ripped off my vinyl copy years ago, so I only have a 26 year old tape of the song. Not that I don't like his later music - I would like to see the full "Main Squeeze" album on CD as well - I love the transition from Doin Everything with You to "Main Squeeze". Main Squeeze is under-appreciated - it's a great jam session by some of the best musicians in the business.

I bought this CD with the love of "Chase the Clouds Away" in mind and hoping that I would find other songs I liked as well. I do really like "Bellavia," but I was SO disappointed in the version of "Chase the Clouds Away." I listened over and over, trying to figure out what was wrong with this version. FINALLY, I put in my old tape of "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" and listened to "..Clouds.." on the tape. I THEN discovered what was missing on the CD's version - Grant Gysman (sp?) playing guitar. If you are like me, order "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" if you love "Chase the Clouds Away," or you'll also be disappointed in the Greatest Hit's version.

I have most of Chuck's albums on CD and some on vinyl too! I even have a signed copy of the vinyl of Save Tonight for Me with the cover that was not to be released! I am a huge fan of Chuck Mangione and I have seen him live many times performing most of the songs on this album. Bellavia has got to be one of the most beautiful songs written, and it was written for Chuck's mother. Chase the Clouds away is another beautiful song written with the help of his daughter Nancy naming the tune. You can't go wrong with this CD!

This record has a high quality definition. If you are a musican or a music lover you will enjoy all themes.

This is a pretty good record overall. My favorite tracks are the Jazz classic "Feels So Good" which won a Grammy for Jazz Record of The Year in 1977. I love "Give It All You Got", I think this one is one of his best as "The Children Of Sanchez". Nice Jazz and good instrumentation. Good record I recommended.

Chuck Mangione does play a pleasant trumpet.And the songs on this collectiona re reasonably soothing as background music. However, in Chuck's form of Jazz, there is very little pizazz. Like lets say Herb Alpert per se. Occasionally Chuck adds an inflection in his trumpet playing style but for the most part he toots along quite softly.

The songs are kind of bland with a few interesting melodies but nothing that grabs and shakes you. The band of musicians on this compilation rarely distinguish themselves. A good guitar solo on Feels So Good and a few slick arrangements on Fun And Games and Belavia. Otherwise, the band just does not break out into anything special.

All in all, I'll pass on this compilation.