Customer Reviews

Feels So Good

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Grammy winning title cut "Feels so Good" is what turned me on to Chuck Mangione's music. But this CD goes much further than that. ALL of the recordings here are excellent. And they are arranged alternating the fast and slow pieces in a pleasing way. "Maui Waui" and "Last Dance" are nice and relaxing. "Theme from Side Street" is short but meaningful. "Hide and Seek" is a catchy piece that will have you tapping to it. And "The XIth Commandment" is a brilliant end to this great CD.

This is by far Chuck's best recording. If you're in a qundary about which Chuck Mangione CD to buy, THIS IS THE ONE!

This album is the most famous Chuck Mangione album, and one of his best. His beautiful flugelhorn playing, his magnificent leadership, and his brilliant song writing skills all make this album a true masterpiece. Everything in this album flows! Mangione clearly knew how to write music with feeling, and boy could he play! His band, sure had something to do with the magic of this album.
Chris Vadala:
On tenor and soprano saxophones, alto, and c flutes, and piccolo. He is without a doubt, one of the best reedists Mangione ever had in his band lineup. Gerry Neiwood was the other master! Chris Vadala's playing is so unique and his sound is extraudinary, and soulful. His magic adds so much more to the music of this album. His solo on Feels So Good is magnificent. I still find myself humming it over and over, hours after I've played it.
Grant Geissman:
On acoustic, electric, classical, and 12 string guitars, Grant Geissman, just might of played one of the greatest guitar solos in jazz history. Yes, you guessed it; the solo on Feels So Good. It's a wonder, he didn't spend hours and hours working it out, since it's so melodic.
Charles Meeks:
Funky, "Meet Man" Meeks. One of the grooviest bass players ever! He adds some hippness to the album.
James Bradley Jr:
Every drummer should learn from this master. Although some might not call him a master at this time, because he was only 18 years old. Well accomplished, who had a role in Cool Hand Luke when he was 7, was a child prodigy on the drums. He cools it down a little bit, on this album, but makes up for it, in color. Some nice conga playing on 11th Commandment.
The first song, Feels So Good, is Mangione's classic! Still, after 25 years, it's still loved by pop and jazz fans alike.
Here, the way it originally was issued, the full 9 minute version. With the edited version, so much magic was lost, and until this day, gone forever. Next up, Maui Waui. One of the most melodic songs ever; Chris Vadala's flute playing adds to the warmth and beauty of the piece. Theme From Side Street, is one of the greatest songs by Mangione, ever! The melody, the hook, the groove, it's all there. Number 4 is, Hide And Seek. Another classic. Great solos by all! I particularly love Vadala's soprano solo, and Geissman's guitar solo. Last Dance, is another pretty piece. It has a beautiful acoutsic guitar solo, by Grant Geissman. The last piece, 11th Commandment; another classic. Charles Meeks, and James Bradley Jr. are featured soloists here. Meeks's bass solo is really blusey and down to earth. After some splap bass by Meeks, the piece picks up. James Bradley Jr's solo is perfect for this particular piece. Not too over powering, not at all, boring, just right! This is a classic album, and is still enjoyed by many. This album put Mangione on the map, and if you enjoy any fusion, or early contemporary jazz, you'll love Mangione's music!

This album made Chuck Mangione a celebrity. Although Chuck made albums just as good as this one since about 1972, the hit single, Feel So Good introduced him to the public. Chuck did have hits before this like Bellevia, but Feel So Good was a winner! This cd starts off with the the long version of Feel So Good. On the edited version and radio version, the trumpet intro was cut, Chris Vadala's tenor sax solo was cut, and guitarist Grant Geissman's first solo was used half way through, followed by the other half of his second solo. Also, one of the melody phrases was taken and doubled in length while they faded the song out. The second song here is the underrated, Maui Waui which was never preformed by Mangione at concerts and on records ever again. Don't know why, it's a great song! It sounds like some love story commercial or something. Mangione always had a way of writing his music and making you feel like you were somewhere or something. The third tune, Theme From Side Street, was also never preformed by the Mangione band ever again. It's a cute little tune with a great hook and spots for Grant and Chris to solo. Hide And Seek, is a funny little tune. My dad was always humming this song, after I would blast it downstairs where my stereo was. It's got wild solos by Grant and Chris. During the solos, you'd think you were listening to Led Zeplin! That's how outrageous it is! Last Dance is a ten minute song, you kind of want to end, but do enjoy hearing. It has nothing to do with that disco song of the same name. The last tune is the song that made drummer James Bradley Jr. a legend around drumming circles. Although his drum solo in this particular version was kind of tame, he would take it at a more lightning speed on live preformances. Bassist Charles Meeks also gets a little jazz bass solo here. This is one of the best tracks on the album. If you never heard Chuck Mangione's records, this is a good place to start! I love this album and so would anyone else, who knows good jazz!

My Uncle Dave played "Feels So Good" for me when it was released in 1977 (I was 11). Ever since then, it has reminded me of good times and has inspired me to look for comfort in good music. If your spirits need lifting, this album is sure to lift you from the doldrums.

I know a single piece doesn't make worth a whole album, but trust me- Feels So Good is *incredible*. Not only the melody and chord progression are simply amazing, and a real pleasure for the ears, but this song's solos are without a doubt among the best I've ever heard, each in their category. I've been hearing time after time the electric guitar solo for years, and now I know the man's name: Grant Grassman. Same with the sax: Chris Vadala. These two solos should be sold separately, as they're two of the most inspired funk-jazz solos you'll be able to listen to ever.
What I mean with all this text is that not only you're buying a great work from Mangione, but also a chance to listen to the wonderful musicians he's surrounded by.
Sweet, melodic, completely inspiring, funky, jazzy, groovy collection. Buy this one, and if you don't like it, sell your copy to me.

Mangione finally achieved large-scale popular and commercial success with this album. However, his previous fans all knew that "Feels So Good" was just a continuing development in his already impressive music career. This album would still get a 5 star rating even without the title track. Unfortunately, the title track was so overplayed by pop radio in 1978, that casual Mangione fans got sick and tired of hearing it. But 25 years later, this music is still as wonderful as it was back then. Alas for us true Mangione fans, this album was as good as it was to get from Mangione for the next 20 years. But we have never grown tired of his mid-1970s cool jazz. This album and "Chase The Clouds Away" are absolute must haves. Now only if they would reissue "Bellavia" and "Main Squeeze" on cd.

Whenever I'm feeling blue, old Chuck takes me through. I am whisked away on a magic ride above the clouds, carried by the sound of Chuck's beautiful music...

There's not much else I can say about this album that the previous reviewers haven't already said. I've been a fan since 1975 (Mr. Mangione's music got me thru some difficult times). I totally agree with the reviewer who said that this music came along at the right time - to remedy the disco obsession of that era. There have been some critics who have questioned the merit of this music to be called jazz - to them I say POO! Who cares, it's great music. I only wish they would reissue "Main Squeeze".

if you like herb alpert with a twist of cheer. if you like good mood music. if you like competent musicians showing their stuff. if you shy away from best hits compilations and want to buy a great CD buy this one.

I love this album! Makes me feel happy and free-spirited. Definately chases the blues away