Fun & Games

Chuck Mangione, Chris Vadala | Format: Audio Cassette

Product Details

• Audio Cassette (April 16, 1995)
• Label: Rebound Records
• ASIN: B0000047TE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #970,186 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Give It All You Got

2. You're the Best There Is

3. Pina Colada

4. I Never Missed Someone Before

5. Give It All You Got, But Slowly

6. Fun and Games

Editorial Reviews

Asian reissue originally released in 1980 on A&M. Features the songs 'Give It All You Got, But Slowly' & 'Pina Colada'. Universal. 2005. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best album I ever bought, October 15, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Eastbourne, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fun & Games (Audio CD)

I bought this album on vinyl back in 1981. I was fifteen years old, living in South Africa, and listened mainly to the popular sounds of the day, as per the current charts.

In the school holidays I lied and said I was sixteen and got a part time job, earning more money in a fortnight than I had ever had before.

I rushed into the record shop intent on buying something by Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, or whatever other pap I thought I was into, and heard the most amazing sound - Mangione's flugel horn.

I bought the album amidst howls of derision from my friends, and have never looked back.

It has travelled with me back to England, the land of my birth, and supplied the track used by my wife and I for our first dance at our wedding.

I ended up wearing out the vinyl version, and had to buy it again, this time on CD.

If anyone thinks they just might be a jazz fan, buy this album.

If you are a jazz fan, you'll already have it.

Either way, it won't be the first Mangione album you'll buy.

Give it All You Got the first track will always conjure up vivid memories of my teenage years - this was after all the first Mangione track I ever heard. It combines the best of Chuck's flugel as well as superb sax from Chris Vadala, a favourite of Mangione's and present on other albums of his.

You're The Best There Is slows the tempo down and provides mellow sounds with which to chill out, ready for the initially frenetic Pina Colada.

I Never Missed Someone Before began side two of the vinyl version of the album, and with its bluesy harmonica and the superb guitarring of Grant Geissman, sets the tone again for Give it all You Got, But Slowly, which is basically a reprise of the original, but slower!

Fun and Games winds up the session with some great bass riffs which are carried on by Mangione's horn in superb style, giving a tune which will have you humming all day.

Buy it, wear it out, buy it again, buy more, just buy Mangione!

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Games: Chuck Mangione..., March 23, 2009

By 

D. S. HARDEN "a movie fan" (L.A.,CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fun & Games (Audio CD)

I heard "Give it all you got" for the first time (in late 2008) and was sold! A good, solid effort from Mr. Mangione. I rate it: Four stars!

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute Gem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, July 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Fun & Games (Audio CD)

I got this album at a thrift shop when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I remembered seeing it in my father's record collection. My mom, who was with me, at the time bought it for me. Well I think I was too young to have an opinion about it, over the years, I've grown to love it. The album opens with the rip rawin' Give It All You Got, which shows some killer rhythm guitar by Grant Geissman. A fine tenor sax solo by Chris Vadala is also in order! While the song comes to an end, just James Bradley Jr's pulsing drum beat and Charles Meeks bass lull you into heaven. Next is the underrated, Your The Best There Is. Great exotic guitar sounds! Next is a song that's been in my family for years as the funiest sounding track with Mangione's scat vocals. It turns in to be a well structured jazz piece. The mood changes near the end, with the tempo change. This is a real masterpiece!
The next song, I Never Missed Someone Before is great. I dont like the name, though. It should be called, "Suite For A Lover," or something. A wonderful harmonica intro, courtesy of Charles Meeks is here, before the group goes into 6/8 for a twist and a chance for these guys to do some improvisations! Th next track, Give It All You Got But Slowly is pretty boring. Maybee Chuck put it here, to "fill" out the album, so to speak. The classic, Fun And Games is next. I always thought it was cool, as a little kid hearing Chuck give the band advice on how to play the song before it starts with James Bradley Jr's bass drum thumping. Anyway, the song is great. Many times, on Best Of's, this song has been shortend to fit the "pop" audience not being able to sit through or appreciated real jazz, but here, they give the whole version, no cuts. It's great. This cd is a classic, and good just to get on cd because, for some reason, every copy I've got of this on viynal skips. Right out of the package, it just skips. It's not scratchy, just skips. I must of gotten like 6 copies and they all skipped, but now with the appearence of this album on cd, no more skippin'. I can really enjoy it's charms!