Customer Reviews

Oh Yeah

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

 

 

I ordered this to replace my vinyl, have been waiting years for this to be released on CD and highly recommend this CD for many reasons. First, this is one of those "important" records of the Fusion era. "Magical Dog," the opening track, is written and brilliantly improvised in 11/8 time at a very fast tempo. This was ground-breaking in the 1970's and other tracks are written in odd time signatures. Second, Jan Hammer's use of lead synthesizer and unusual instrument line-up. This is fresh to listen to even now. All the musicians are on this recording are top-notch, extremely technical and talented--and went on to work with many other important musicians. It's very difficult to classify this as anything but "Fusion" and even then that's a stretch with pop-type songs inserted.

I have followed Jan Hammer's career ever since I heard "Led Boots" by Jeff Beck and found out about it was he who played on Jeff Beck's "Wired" album. Always a fun album to listen to!

Listening to this album is pure joy! Jan Hammer is one of the most brilliant and inventive keyboard soloists in modern music. His enthusiasm and personality transcend his chosen instrument (the moog synthesizer)to inspire the listener and accompanying musicians. Equally brilliant are guitarist/violinist Steve Kindler, and bassist Fernando Saunders. Included are a few of Hammer's ingenious compositions Magical Dog, Bambu Forest, and Red and Orange. My personal favorite is Rick Laird's lyrical tune Evolove. The beautiful melody and infectious rhythms keep me coming back for more of this tune after 25 years. It's impossible to sit still while listening to this piece and the funky title track. This album obtains a perfect balance of progressive compositional sensibilities and r&b earthiness. Recommended!

Yes, I still have my original vinyl copy. "Oh, Yeah?" got constant play when first released back in 1976. Tight, with amazing time changes & incredible hooks, this one wins over everyone who hears it.

Jan Hammer is backed by Jerry Goodman on violin (with whom he did the album "Like Children" earlier), and had worked with during his stint with The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Also on board are Fernando Saunders on bass, and Tony Smith on drums, who are currently working with Lou Reed (!).

A precurser to Hammer's work on "Miami Vice", this proves that he was no one-hit (or one soundtrack) wonder.

If you are a fan of electronic keyboards, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, or in-your-face beats, this is a must-have.

I've had this recording on vinyl since about 1978. It's the only Jan Hammer I own, so I can't fairly compare it to anything else of his. But I love it. You would be hard-pressed to call it "jazz" per se--actually it's much closer to being a rock recording. What a combination, though! Synthesizers galore, violin (Steven Kindler), bass (Fernando Saunders), and a drummer (Tony Smith) who sings lead vocals on a couple of cuts! He has a light soul voice that adds yet another dimension to this very diverse recording. I can't understand why it took so long for someone to release "Oh, Yeah" on CD, but I guess the popularity and recognition of the Miami Vice soundtrack, which Jan Hammer wrote and performed kind of precludes everything else. Whatever. Now it's available, and at a very reasonable price. No fancy liner notes or bonus tracks, but the remastered recording (by Jan Hammer himself) sounds fabulous. Chant along and enjoy-"Oh, yeah?...Oh, yeah!"

Ahhh! Hearing this album again is pure bliss. I bought it when it was first release,in 1976, after reading a review in Billboard Mag. It quickly became one of my favorite lps. That was 34 years ago. I was the only one I knew that had it. Now, after 30 years of not hearing it, I remember why I loved it so much. Being a heavy George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Chick and Joe Z. fan, Jan is right up there in the mix. I was sad when he went pop with the Miami Vice thing, but this album comes from the golden age of "Fusion". If you have a fondness for that type of music, then you'll love this cd. In my opinion, his best work with his best band. Nuff said.

The other reviewers have explained very well why this is an important recording by an amazing group of musicians, especially Jan Hammer. I bought it on vinyl not long after it came out in the '70's, not knowing what I was in for. To this day, I'm still amazed by the level of creativity and technical prowess here, which combine to make this a true gem. The only songs that I skip are "Let the Children Grow" and "Oh, Yeah?". Just set those two aside. The rest of it is substantial and simply excellent.

Jan Hammer is one of the most creative and diverse synthesizer/keyboardist of the 70's-up there with the Joe Samples and the Joe Zawinul's. And we're lucky all three had totally seperate styles because there's a wealth of great jazz/fusion/funk from that era to enjoy.This 1976 treat is among them. It has been long sought after on CD by Jan Hammer fans such as myself. I have been familiar with the vinyl record for a few years before I got the CD it only took it's presense here to be able to write a review. This album is one of two absolutely essential albums by the Jan Hammer Group;the other being the in-and-out-of-print-again jewel Melodies. This album is finds Jan in a progressive mood,in the sense that he's able to combine rock AND funk fusion together into a distinctive style that will find you listening to this album again and again-both on instrumental and vocal pieces. Those two pieces are not always a favorite among fans but I love them;"One To One" has the catchy,rubbery keyboard funk/R&B ala Stevie Wonder-all rhythm and moog bass breaks. The other is a synthesized variation on 60's psychedelic pop "Let The Children Grow",basically a poetic lyric on a parent's plea to a runaway child that they can learn to make things better for them;not bad at all. The best example of this albums sound in the wonderful title song;it was actually a 45RPM single in much the same league as The Headhunter's classic "Chemeleon";those being two jazz-funk pieces to become successful pop chart singles. The albums contains handfuls of classic funk-fusion instrumental goodies such as "Magical Dog","Twenty One","Bamboo Forrest" and the wonderful "Evolove" which feature in addition to synthesizers some great Fender Rhodes piano soloing from Hammer and some terrific electric violin playing from Steve Kindler.The music found here is both sprightly and creative and there's a lot of treasures to be found here.So we can truly be thankful this album is at last available on CD for all.

I was waiting for this to come out on CD for years. I do not know how I missed it recently. This was my first introduction to Jan Hammer before I heard Mahavishnu Orchestra. Really cool stuff done by very talented musicians. Great pre-cursor to the Live with Jeff Beck Album. The drumming on Twenty One is kicking through the whole song. Different sounding bass by Fernando Saunders complimented by bass keys by Jan Hammer on several tracks. Although it doesn't quite hold up after all the years, Jan Hammer's sythesizer is very impressive and unique. Great CD and a good deal!

Having owned the vinyl version of Oh Yeah since it was first released, I am delighted that it is now available on CD. Though it's often hard to tell the difference, Jan Hammer makes a point of saying on the liner notes that there are no guitars on this album. Jan Hammer is a true virtuoso on keyboards, which is evident if you've ever had the opportunity to see him live. Oh Yeah is a real gem, especially if you enjoy Jan Hammer's work with The Mahavishnu Orchestra.

I got this cd in late '06 & was wicked psyched it finally came out on cd.I didn't get around to writing a review till now though.It's great the way the album it combines top-notch musicianship with lots of emotion.I haven't heard too many artists that combine the two so well except for maybe Steve Hackett. I got it on vinyl like 20 years ago after I heard it on a local radio station & was blown away. The percussion jams are awesome too & for the price, it's a steal!