Customer Reviews

Feels So Good

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is easily one of the greatest jazz-funk albums ever, and possibly Grover's best album. His previous album "Mister Magic" gets more attention because of the classic title track that proved to be his breakthrough. However, this is THE Grover album to own. The key difference between the two albums is the bass playing from Louis Johnson (from the Brothers Johnson). His playing on "It Feels So Good" and "Hydra" is worth the price of the cd alone. This is also one of the most heavily sampled jazz albums as well. Rappers like DMX("Slippin"), Black Moon("How Many MC's"), EPMD("Underground"), K-Solo("Fugitive"), King T("Played Like a Piano"),and Guru("Slicker Than Most") have all benefited from sampling this album. You will not go wrong with this!

This is probably one of Grover Washington's most creative albums in his brilliant career! Overlooked and under-rated compared to his later (more commercialized) cds, this one was produced by the prolific Creed Taylor and arranged by the multi-talented Bob James. Every song is a full-bodied experience.

Recorded in 1975, this cd went to #1 on the Soul Charts and the Jazz Charts. Amazingly it also went to #10 on the Pop Charts. The title song was played quite often and the opening cut "The Sea Lion" made it to #1 on the Disco Charts. Grover had never been more free-spirited! A must have for Grover fans and/or those who love funky jazz.

Gregg Edwards played Mr Magic on Soul Spectrum in the UK back in 1975 and it changed my life. I went on to buy Grovers first 10ish albums. Do not doubt that this is by far his best. It demonstrates Grovers range and virtuosity to great effect.

Mr Washington is Mr Magic. MM is obviously a classic to the original jazz funkers but as an album feels so good is by far his best album and most consistent. My favourite Grover track ever is Knucklehead (closley followed by Saulsalito from the live at the Bijou album which is my second favoutrite album). Anyway, I'm glad I now have this classic album on CD and want all you original Jazz funkers in the US and UK to buy this album to salute he who once ruled the way. Raise you glasses to the king, dead but not forgotten! Peace and love to you all. G

I paid (what I hope was a respectful) tribute to GWJ when I reviewed his Aria album a few weeks ago. I simply cannot praise the man enough. I'd gladly review all of his albums if only I could find the time. I just had to review this classic barnstormer from 1975 though, after just getting the CD after owning it on vinyl for years.

The album opens with the funky "The Sea Lion" with GWJ on tenor. The moody "Moonstreams" follows with the man on soprano and with some great guitar licks from Eric Gale. The tune got a modern workout when DMX sampled it for his song Slippin' on his 1998 album Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood. Then it's back to funky for the tenor driven "Knucklehead" and then on to my favourite tune of all, the title tune, also tenor driven (with another cute solo from Gale and one of those songs, like "Masterpiece" and "Black Frost" where GWJ just seems to blow on forever), before the album closes with "Hydra", another funky tune the intro to which I'm pretty sure has been used on another popular hip-hop tune; I just can't recall which one.

The album is produced by Creed Taylor, and arranged by Bob James with his trademark horn sections which here, included Randy Brecker and Jon Faddis. James also plays piano, electric piano and synthesizer. Also featuring is Eric Gale on guitar, bass is played by Louis Johnson (on "It Feels So Good" and "Hydra") and Gary King (on "Knucklehead", "Moonstreams" and "The Sea Lion"), drums are by Steve Gadd ("The Sea Lion" and "Moonstreams"), Jimmy Madison ("Knucklehead") and Kenneth 'Spider Webb' Rice ("It Feels So Good" and "Hydra"). Ralph McDonald plays percussion.

Bob James provides one composition, "The Sea Lion". "It Feels So Good" is written by Ralph McDonald and William Salter and all the other tunes are written by GWJ himself. Shockingly, the CD provides no information regarding the personnel that played on the album. It doesn't even show who produced it. I'm only able to share this information here because I wrote this review before I passed my old LP (which is still as good as new, by the way) on to a friend who's currently into collecting classic vinyl.

Shame on you, Motown!

this is classic Grover! I rate this album as one of the best Grover's, vis -a-vis, Mr. Magic. It takes me back to the younger days!

A full on fantastic Grover Washington 70's album,not only one of his finest of the Kudu years but of his entire career. Grover was so hot musically in 1975 that his big breakthrough album Mister Magic couldn't contain the breadth of what he had in him musically during that year so later in the year this came along. Also this album represents a continual expansion of musical backup with multiple drummers,percussionists and horn players on these five extended cuts. Although presented in a similar way to the previous album this album doesn't have the same cinamatic quality and instead gets right down to the hardcore funk grooves right away. "The Sea Lion" opens up the album with a heavily arranged piece with horn arrangements very reminiscent of Quincy Jones' big band funk/jazz productions of the early/mid 70's but with some jumping interludes reflecting the influence of fellow Philly period success Gamble & Huff. It's as potent and well rounded an opener of any funk album. "Moonstreams" is the lone slow song,with a very spare backdrop again with Grover playing in his trademark higher registers to create both a relaxed and moody atmosphere.

As if the Quincy Jones influence wasn't prominant from the start the extended 8 and 9 minute pieces "Knucklehead","It Feels So Good" and "Hydra" feature Louis Johnson's bass playing on the latter two cuts keep the funk flowing from one rhythmic sax,guitar or bass solo to another. The smooth flow mixed with the tough groove become an aurally enjoyable but probably pretty rhythmically demanding. It shows you how musically challanging and compedent musicians have the ability to play so well and make it sound so easy going and emotional at the same time. This wasn't the end of Grover's funk oriented period but as the 80's wore on his funk oriented mid/late 70's sound would gradually give way to a mellower approach,not quite smooth jazz exactly but certainly not as compulsively funky as this music was. In the end the emmerges as the album that truely define Grover's 70's jazz-funk sound and is highly recommended for those who wish to hear the best example of his original musical colors.

As usual Grover Washington jr. makes the difference with the saxo, very amusement music for relax.

I loved playing "Feels So Good" on the sax back when I was younger. And just like "Mr. Magic" I transcribed this solo before I started adding my own ideas when I was with a jazz combo in the late 70's. So many great improvisational ideas came out of this guys head. Amazing.

This is one of Mr. WASHINGTONG'S Best Works...a Very Revealing look
into his spirit..the Soul of the man Speaks to you in "MOONSTREAMS"

A VERY GOOD MUSICAL EXPERIENCE.

It's tough to compare this to "Mister Magic." It just can't be done! On its' own merits - I can honestly say that it's an enjoyable effort by Mr. Washington! Get yourself a copy and enjoy! Four stars!!