Customer Reviews

Love Island

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Love Island captures a moment in 1978 when Eumir Deodato was on top of the world. This was his maiden release under Warner Bros. since his departure with MCA, and top notch session players are at the fore once again with warm melodies riding on phat basslines, sumptuous synthesiser waves and the presence of the legendary George Benson soloing in the centre section in the title track. Deodato also does a wonderful adaptation of Billy Strayhorn's classic Take The A Train. Also featured is very much half of Earth, Wind & Fire (Philip Bailey, Al McKay, Freddie White & Verdine White) on Tahiti Hut. Deodato had pulled together a sound that would define an era. Out of all Deodato releases, this album contains 80% original material compared to his other releases which are half original and half adaptations. Love Island also bears a tropical theme throughout the entire CD from cover to content. Co-produced with the awesome Tommy Lipuma, Love Island is smooth jazz before that term suggested toothless, emotionally banal noodling, when it meant long hot nights danced to sultry, funk-drenched tunes and chilling out to tinkling synth grooves in the back of your white Cortina. This 2002 Warner UK remaster is the best re-issue to date. Recommeded tracks: Area Code 808, Tahiti Hut, San Juan Sunset, Love Island, Take The A Train.

There are probably alot of people who think of Eumir Deodato as the Brazilian equivilant of Ramsey Lewis and Bob James.That probably stems from his work as an orchestral arranger,and I must say 'Love Island' isn't exactly free of that quality.But Deodato is a clever,inventive arranger and KNOWS where and where not to put strings and horns on a song so they sound artistic and not contrived.With the help of members of Earth,Wind & Fire,The Crusaders and George Benson 'Love Island' showcases a sincere interest in R&B and funk."Area Code 808" is a GROOVE-full of hot guitar riffs and driving synth licks."Whistle Bump","Chariot Of The Gods" and "Pina Colada" are in the same kind of vein."San Juan Sunset" and the title cut have a very mid 70's Earth,Wind & Fire ballad quality to them,only without vocals.The best way to describe much of this music would be lite funk,especially on a version of "Take The A Train" (yes,it's Ellington's composition).But on each of these eight cuts I have nothing negative to say and I'm very glad that Wounded Bird has started to reissue Deodato's records.They've done a great job at putting fusion back out on CD and in that genre (notably on the R&B and funk side of it) this is high quality music.

It probably depends on where you came aboard as a fan of Eumir Deodato as to how you view his post mid-70s work. I came aboard with Deodato 2 to which I was introduced by a friend heavily into jazz. I had ignored his music previously because I found the 2001 Space Odyssey theme played to death on the radio to be too commercial for my taste. But after hearing Deodato 2 in the mid-70s, I sought out other Deodato recordings new and old.
I bought Love Island back when it was first issued and although there were some very nice pieces on it, I felt even then as I do now that it marks the point where Deodato is starting to slip into the pit of shamelessly pandering musical twaddle that Night Cruiser and Knights of Fantasy exemplify. Exhibit A is the execrable Whistle Bump which is brutally reminiscent of that awful disco song, The Hustle.
So what do I like about Love Island? Well, to start there is the opening cut Area Code 808 which, while redolent of disco/funk, contains some excellent guitar work by Larry Carlton and George Parrish Jr. Then there is the title cut that while oh so smooth and dreamy, contains some memorable passages that feature George Benson and Larry Carlton. Chariot of the Gods is also an excellent piece which features John Tropea, a frequent Deodato sideman, on guitar. Then I just can't help but love the arrangement and the excellent cover of the classic Take The "A" Train.
If you are a long-time Deodato buff, you will notice that while Whistle Bump points to Deodato's future as a David Hasselhoff wannabe (look at the album cover of Night Rider), that Pina Colada nods to some of the funk/fusion that he sometimes indulged in earlier years.
So I view Love Island as a watershed album. The disco outings begin to chase off old fans yet they bring a new set of fans on board. So if you are new to Deodato and your tastes lean toward jazz, get this yes but stay away from his later work. In fact, I recommend you go all the way back to his work that was issued in Brazil before anyone here in the States knew who he was! But, if you prefer the fusion/funk style, then get this and maybe a couple of his earlier US issues but definitely go for more of his post-Love Island work.
By my comments, the reader knows which way I lean. I would give Love Island 3 and 1/2 stars if possible, but since its not and doesn't deserve 4 stars, I will have to tag it with three. Its good, but certainly not essential.

I can remember as a kid going through my father's old records and finding this album. This CD brings back so many memories of my first introduction to Jazz as a child. My Father and I played this album to death. I still have the album, but it is so scratched up it is unplayable. I thought that this music was the most beautiful music in the world. I loved the calming effect it gave you. It made you feel as if you were really on an island in the carribean or Tahiti as one of the songs is so aptly named. Get this CD if you love jazz with a carribean feel, and want a want mood setting music.

LOVE ISLAND, TAHITI HUT, ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA were among the hits that are included in this album. I used to have the LP (vynil record) in the late 70's when I was in the Philippines. Eumir Deodato is the total entertainer, the arranger, conductor, composer and the performer. His music reminisced my good old days, he is considered as a classical and modern artist. You will not be completing your collection without this greatest album by him.

Excelent recording, Eumir Deodato made one of his best albums here with participation of musicians like George Benson in Love Island, Harvey Mason on drums, and a sort of great artists, very good arrangements in Tahity Hut, San Juan Sunset, Love Island, and engineered by Al Schmitt one great master, this album evocates peace, romance, and good atmosphere, if you are a Deodato fan you must take this CD, congratulations to WEA for re mastering this production in CD.

This album originally issued in 1978 (31 years ago) doesn't sound too dated and it has very interesting points here and there.
Somebody reviewed that Eumir started to slip after this release (what?) after this one he recorded 4 more albums back to back that hit both markets: Jazz and Disco-Funk with a hammer: (Knights of Fantasy - Night Cruiser - Happy Hour and Motion) besides this particular album had hits on both categories; for Jazz you have (Tahiti Hut - San Juan Sunset & Take the A Train) and for Disco-Funk (Area Code 808 & Whistle Bump).
Anyway, as customery, check Eumir's distinguished list of guests for this
jewel:
- Eumir Deodato / Keyboards, Synthesisers, Vocals, Percussions, Compositions, Arrangements
- Larry Carlton / Acoustic & Electric Guitars
- John Tropea / Guitars
- George Benson / Guitars
- Victor Feldman / Percussions
- Erica Norimar / Vocals
- Phillip Bailey / Percussions, Flute, Horns
- Al McKay / Guitars
- Verdine White / Bass
- Harvey Mason / Drums
and many more.................

Very recommedable if you collect Deodato's music, all that Jazz-Funk with his right dash of Brazilian spices.

Forgive me for stealing a line from another song, but this album takes me to summer breezes, tropical drinks, ocean air, swaying palm trees (you get the idea). Why, why why, is this so hard to find on cd? It's the kind of music that takes you away to a relaxed place. Definitely recommended!!

All tracks on this album are fantastic! This album is truly one of the innovators of the jazz fusion genre. First time I listened to this was back in the 70s in vinyl. My uncle introduced me to it and from then on, jazz has been my favorite type of music. The CD format is very hard to come by. I had to wait more than a month before I finally received it. Well worth the higher than average price of a CD. Truly a must for any collector!!

I had this album on vinyl over twenty years ago and I still remember how good the music made me feel. I Spoke with the guy who turned me on to this album and explained how I had been looking for years with no success in finding this album. The music from this album describes me and where I want to be to the point that I have come up with words and or scats for some of the songs. I thank amazon.com for being astute to such extraordinary music from a phenomenal artist,I can't wait for my recently ordered CD of Love Island to arrive and would have paid double the price. Once you take the journey into the sunrise of "Love Island" and visit the "Tahiti Hut" and "Whistle Bump" you will relaxingly flow into the San Juan Sunset.