Customer Reviews

GABBY

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the early 70's, Hawaiian records were powerful. Not only was the impact felt in Hawai'i, but among many transplanted Hawaiians who would come home and bring this back to California, Oregon, or Washington. Gabby had already had years of recordings behind him when this album was released in 1971 (in fact the album begins with a brief snippet of his rendition of "Hi'ilawe" taken off of a 78 rpm recording he did in the 40's). While musicians in other genres would have been comfortable in his legacy, Gabby was far from over. Like many of his albums from the 70's, he unites sons and friends for an hour of great music. The playing on this is top notch, and while Pahinui wasn't the perfect singer, he sang like a bluesman and you can feel it in "Hame Pila". It was this version of "Hi'ilawe" that made it a mandatory part of every hula halau, beer party, and baby shower in the 70's. Even as I think of how "Hi'ilawe" segues into "Aloha 'Oe", where Pahinui plays one of the most mournful slide guitar solos ever heard, it makes me want to cry. This is as beautiful as it gets, and there are only two words you can say once he reaches those final notes at the end: hana hou! Known by many simply as "The Brown Album".

In one word, a masterpiece. Along with the first albums of Olomana and Kalapana, Peter Moon's "Tropical Storm," "The Extraordinary Kui Lee," and the Makaha Sons' "Hoola," This album has to be one of the top 10 collections ever produced by a Hawaiian artist. Very little music produced by today's so-called Hawaiian artists reaches the depth of the "Brown Album." It is a benchmark and a landmark that transcends the fact that only three words on the entire album "Royal Hawaiian Hotel" are sung in English, besides the understatement "That was good" after one track.

I was introduced to music by Gabby Pahinui on a trip to Hawaii. I needed a cassette for the rental car and bought one of Gabby's recordings at a convenience store. I was hooked immediately and have since bought most of Gabby's recordings (CDs these days). This succinctly titled disc is one of his two best, in my opinion (the other is "Gabby Pahinui with the Sons of Hawaii") because it contains a nice mix of moods and styles. It is obvious every time I listen to this beautiful music, and the inspired performances by Gabby, that he was a gentleman as well as an innovator and entertainer. It makes me kind of sad to think that, like a lot of ground-breaking talents, he died before his fame really took off. He was loved and respected at the time, no doubt, but by far fewer people than today. Anyone who has discovered the great collection of Slack Key Guitar recordings on Dancing Cat Records (including discs with music by his sons) needs to buy this disc as a glimpse of how it all began. Besides, he is still the best. If you're listening from up there, Gabby, thanks for what you did.

Pop's "Brown Album" is the perfect introduction for the non-Hawaiian music fan or Hawaiian music fan alike. In addition to this, the album is THE preeminent introduction to kika kiho'alu. He died too soon, but left we Hawaiians with many things, chief among them an identity.

I have been listening to Hawaiian music since my stay there in 1978. At that time I had been an afficionado of jazz, blues, classical and owned an extensive collection of "old time country" music and bluegrass. In the old time country category I own an extensive collection of old western swing music, such as Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. When I heard Gabby Pahinui and the Sons of Hawaii in Maui in '78 I instantly recognized a similar feeling to that of Bob Wills - an easy pedestrian beat with lots of character and commentary. Gabby Pahinui's music remains a constant source of pleasure and enjoyment 22 years later. That's a solid sogn of excellent music - it stands the test of time.

I first heard Gabby on a trip to Hawaii 25 years ago. Truly, he is one of THE masters of his genre. His music is very soulful. If you are looking to experiment with traditional Hawaiian music (NOT lounge music), pick one of Gabby's CDs...its the real thing.

Great old style Hawaiian music. brought back memories of sitting around with my parents and grandparents and aunt and uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins and neighbors, playing music, singing, and dancing hula. I was born and raised in the Nuuanu valley, Oahu. This really brought back those wonderfull memories.

So much of the Slack Key Guitar history and technique is credited to Gabby Pahinui, that I felt this was a must have album. I do not relate to some of the selections, but the arrangments were made decads ago. The transition from these selections to the work of his son make the music more enjoyable for me. I am still happy to have the album in my collection.

Wonderful work, we've had this in our family on some type of media since its release. Appeals to all generations for the amazing guitar work and on spot capturing of the joy of the Hawaiian spirit.

I've always loved this recording. Friend sent it to me when it first came out in the early seventies. I think, however, it has gained in importance since then.

But I'd also like to see the two older Hula Records' Gabby Pahinui with the Sons of Hawaii reissued in their entirety. Also the Dave Guard recording, some of which have come out on one or another collection as well. They came out in the early 60's, possibly the late 50's.