Love Music [Import]

Sergio Mendes, Sergio Mendes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 2, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Bmg Japan
• ASIN: B00008Z6YV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,245 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Where Is This Love

2. Put a Little Love Away

3. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

4. Killing Me Softly With His Song

5. Love Music

6. You Can't Dress Up a Broken Heart

7. Hey Look at the Sun

8. Walk the Way You Talk

9. I Won't Last a Day Without You

10. I Can See Clearly Now

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered 2006 reissue of this classic album, originally released on Bell Records in 1973 (his debut for the label since leaving A&M the year before). Features musical assistance from Bob Alcivar, Tom Scott and others. 10 tracks including 'Where Is The Love', 'You Can't Dress Up A Broken Heart', 'I Can See Clearly Now' and more. Arista. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sergio Starts to Forge the Second Phase of His Career, December 28, 2005

By 

JMK (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Music (Audio CD)

It's interesting to read the reviews of this album here, as they seem mostly to be from people who either discovered Sergio with this album or were not that familiar with Sergio's breakthrough group, Brasil '66. Among diehard Brasil '66 fans, the two Bell albums (this and "Vintage '74") represent a transitional sound, and for many fans of this ilk, not a completely satisfactory one.

I for one "followed" Sergio throughout the many stylistic changes of his career and while "Love Music" was obviously an attempt to re-establish Sergio on the Top 40 charts (sadly, it failed miserably--"Love Music" the single only "bubbled under") after his increasingly poor selling last Brasil '66 and Brasil '77 albums for A&M, it's still a worthwhile melding of Sergio's propulsive rhythm section blended with a now younger and more soul-inflected vocal sound due to the introduction of sunny-voiced Bonnie Bowden. As long as you don't expect "another" Brasil '66 record.

While Brasil '66 is noted for its sophistication and multi-cultural genre busting efforts, "Love Music" is basically good, old fashioned MOR adult contemporary clothed in some exotic percussion. The arrangements are uniformly lush (Alcivar's especially, as he attempts to introduce some unusual harmonic touches in otherwise straightforward tunes like "Where is the Love?"), the vocals smooth, but the overall impression is (at least for a lot of Brasil '66 fans) a little bland. Part of this is due to the fact that there are no Brasilian tunes on this album, virtually the only time in Mendes' career that this happened. It seems Mendes himself recognized he had lost something of his calling card, because by the time he released "Vintage '74" a year later, it included two "new" Jobim compositions, as well as "Voce Abusou," which had recently been a big hit in his native Brasil.

All in all, if you're expecting the dynamic vocals of Lani Hall, Janis Hansen and/or Karen Philipp, with that incredible Brasil'66 rhythm section, you may be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you're fond of expertly produced and arranged "easy listening" music, albeit with some great percussion, you'll probably love this album.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars *THE* Best Of All Their Classic Albums, January 22, 2005

By 

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Love Music (Audio CD)

In my opinion, this is the best album of the awesome group of Sergio Mendes (and Brasil '65, '66, '77, '88, '99 and 2000) whose music was greatly influenced by Bossa Nova legend, the late Antonio Carlos Jobim. I had it in an album format when it first came out and have been wishing to have it on CD but it was so rare and not available until 2003. At long last, the wait was over...thanks to BMG-Japan!

The material selected in this recording is so impressive from James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," Burt Bacharach/Hal David's "Walk The Way You Talk" to Paul Williams' "I Won't Last A Day Without You." Most of these songs were listed on Top 40 Pop Chart. What made these songs more special are their unique interpretations, the perfect blend of the ladies' lush vocals and the invigorating and vibrant rhythms that are so typical of Sergio Mendes' innovative arrangements. Adding to the beauty of the songs are the flawless arrangements on strings, horns and woodwinds by a fine jazz/composer/arranger and one of my favorites, Tom Scott; and another great talent, Bob Alcivar, who did the fabulous rhythm section arrangements.

The tracks (in order of my favorites) are the following:

"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" - a love song composed and sung originally by my all-time favorite singer/songwriter/guitarist James Taylor. Gracinha Leporace's rendition is so wonderful and with her enthralling voice, she made this song as the best interpretation by a female vocalist. Of course for male vocalist, James Taylor's original is still the greatest. I heard another version from Kevin Mahogany and it's also awesome. And most recently a very nice version from David Sanborn's latest CD "Closer" with vocals by Lizz Wright.

"Hey Look At The Sun" - Words and Music by Angelo, vocals by Bonnie Bowden. A beautiful love song that is so full of enthusiasm and bright hopes!

"Walk The Way You Talk" - Well, what can I say? It's a Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition! You can't go wrong with this song, or any song that is written by this great songwriting team. You'll love it.

"I Won't Last A Day Without You" - I'd say this is an overly heartwarming song! Words and music by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams. Vocals by Gracinha Leporace. Some of the artists who recorded this lovely song are Paul Williams and the Carpenters.

"Put A Little Love Away" - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, vocals by Bonnie Bowden. The words and music are awesome and the arrangement is flawless.

"You Can't Dress Up A Broken Heart" - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. This song speaks clearly of a shattered heart that can't be fixed or dressed-up no matter how much you try.... Ouch! :(

"Killing Me Softly With His Song" - Written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox and was made popular by Roberta Flack who also sung "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love," a duet with Peabo Bryson.

"Where Is The Love?" - Written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, this song was originally recorded by Roberta Flack who also sung the hit song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" from Clint Eastwood's movie "Play Misty For Me."

"Love Music" - Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter. Has a very lively rhythm and great arrangement.

"I Can See Clearly Now" - A song written by Johnny Nash that has vibrant and bubbly beat.

There are a lot more Sergio Mendes classics you might want to check out such as "Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 Greatest Hits" which has a nice repertoire of standards, and "Equinox" which includes the hit songs "Wave" and "Watch What Happens." Very highly recommended! I would give more than five stars to all these CDs. Timeless music to listen and enjoy for a lifetime.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed with sound, February 9, 2004

By 

Alexander S. Meyer (Laredo Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Love Music (Audio CD)

Musically speaking this a cohesive and delightful selection of songs played by the master Sergio Mendes and his great line-up. Absolute ear candy!! What takes away from this music is the horrible mastering job. I paid over $30.00 for this cd, and it sounds like it was dubbed from overmodulated tapes....it's hard to listen to ...it sounds like the worn vinyl counterpart sitting in my sisters album case. This is not fair representation for Sergio Mendes who would have a fit if he knew his music was being heard like this. Very poor for a (remastered) ha! ha! Japanese import..shame on BMG!! I intend to get a refund on this one!