Customer Reviews

Pauper in Paradise

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" A Pauper In Paradise " is another one of Gino Vannelli's adventures in music. Gino is a vocal virtuoso !!!! A naturally gifted singer. He is everything you would expect from a vocalist. Powerful,smooth,distinctive,articulate with awesome range and clarity.

This Cd also gives us an opportunity to hear Gino perform with the World Famous "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" on tracks 6 and 7. Recorded in the summer of 1977 and still as fresh sounding today as it was then. Excellent musicianship abounds !!!!
Three keyboard players are featured along with Drums, percussions, background vocals and saxophone to name a few.
The use of three keyboardist in the same group is extreme to say the least. But, this also accounts for why the music sounds so full and orchestrated. All the Bass guitar parts are done with keyboards. Except for tracks 6 and 7 even the horn and string parts are played with keyboards.
Very creative percussion and drums. Tastefully played and blended without being over bearing.

Tracks:
Mardi Gra---- a funky Rock feel with some bluesy rock vocals. Impressive keyboard solo and fine drumming.

Valleys Of Valhalla---- features a refreshing sax solo, dynamic percussion and some nice background vocals.

The Surest Things Can Change---- Gino's beautiful ballad vocals are the highlight of this piece. Clear and Bright !! Solid keyboard and percussion. Background vocals add even more depth.

One Night With You---- a spiritually mystifying melody can be heard along with some spectacular drum fills. This song is very heavily keyboard influenced.

A Song And Dance---- a jumpy "happy" feel to this one. A little Bossa Nova rythym sets the mood and you can really feel the Fun that Gino's having while he's singing.

Black And Blue and A Pauper In Paradise---- "WOW" !!!! Gino singing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. A real treat !!!!
Ease back in that recliner chair and be prepared to float in the cosmic void of Orchestrated bliss. Sensuous,vibrant,melodic and moving. " A Wonderful Piece Of Music "

This is a must have for all vocal enthusiast no matter what your age or gender. Enjoy !!

Gino Vannelli's musical creativity reached a high point in 1977 with the release of his fifth album "A Pauper In Paradise". Like his previous album, "Gist of The Gemini", "Pauper.." is high on dynamic musical arrangements and showcases Vannelli's vocals at their very best.
The opening track "Mardi Gras", is a jolly slow shuffle with some excellent jazzy arrangements. This is a fun piece which will have you smiling in no time.
Tracks such as "Valleys of Valhalla" and "A Song and Dance" are in the light-pop genre while the album's hit "One Night With You" has a faint touch of disco.
"The Surest Things Can Change" is a gentle ballad perfect for late-night slow dancing with that special someone.
The main highlights of this album are represented in its second half. Both "Black and Blue" and the four-movement title track were recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The end results are beyond belief. "Black and Blue" displays Vannelli's dynamic vocals in full range as the orchestra provides a beautiful lush backup behind him.
The album's epic title track is very much in the same vein as The Moody Blues' "Days of Future Passed" in that it features extended orchestral passages with embelishments from Gino's backup band (consisting of three keyboarists including brother Joe Vannelli plus a drummer and two percussionists). This piece is not rock nor is it commercial pop. The majority of this piece is definitely programmatic classical music (ie: classical music with an overall story and concept). It is only during the third movement that the orchestra is not center of attention. Here, Gino's band lets loose with a progressive rock/jazz fusion hybrid loaded with busy percussion patterns and skittering keyboard passages. This piece as whole demonstrates Gino Vannelli's great strength as a composer and not just a vocalist as the majority of it is instrumental with only a few vocal lines at the very end of the last movement.
"A Pauper In Paradise" is definitely one of Gino Vannelli's finest albums and makes for a perfect match alongside "The Gist Of The Gemini". Although I did not hear this album when it was first released in 1977, I must say that in 2003, "A Pauper In Paradise" sounds like a brand new album. It offers something fresh and exciting from this brilliant vocalist and composer.

I was thrilled to find this on CD. I have worn out my vinyl LP. Quentessential Gino Vanelli. More mature than his earlier recordings. Not the wanna-be new wave pop of his later work. This album is solid on every track. Similarities exist to Brother To Brother and Nightwalker, but Pauper in Paradise is so complete and self-assured that I would I would recommend it as the single best Gino Vanelli album. Brother Joe Vanelli's string arrangements on Black and Blue and the title track(s) gave my rock-n-roll leanings a whole new appreciation for orchestration. The first time I heard this recording at a local studio, I ran out an upgraded my stereo system, just so I could listen this album in all it's intended glory. Many people dismiss Gino Vanelli as a lightweight crooner. This album clearly demonstrates that he (with the invaluable assistance of his brother Joe) is capable of much, much more.

Being a huge lover of Gino's music since Crazy Life, I bought this album the day it was released.

I remember stopping by a lounge for a little refreshment before going home and ran into a couple of friends. We ended up heading over to their place and we played the album. It was our first listen. All three of us were stunned. I think that I had a better idea of what to expect. Neither of my friends had ever heard of Gino.

I remember the total silence, except of course, coming from the stereo. After side two played, we all said WOW! That was all we could say. We played it again all the way through.

"Oh lady black, please don't be blueeeeeeeee...." that song...and A Pauper in Paradise are two of the most meaningful songs in my whole life...and I have been a lover of music for 53 years now! Until Canto, this was for me, the essence of Gino's finest work. It still is but I love Canto as well. Gino obviously loved this piece more than any other. His composing talent is superb and I have always been stunned by that...each time that I listen to it.

If you have never heard this piece, you should. Even if you don't think that you care for Gino. You will like this. There's no denying the sheer talent, grace, beauty that comes from every note. What a gift! Thank you Gino!

Gino attained new heights with this FANTASTIC 1977 album. Both this & the prior year's "Gist of the Gemini", allowed Gino to express himself in a totally new way with a full orchestra. I heard him say it himself: it was one of the most rewarding efforts of his career.

And though I really appreciate the orchestral work on side 2, I'm still taken to "Paradise" by the ballads "The Surest Things Can Change", "Black & Blue". And there's RAW sensuality to be found in "Valleys of Valhalla" -- he let's it all hang out at the end.

"Thinking man's pop" -- but nuanced with jazz+R&B+rock & so much else.

Dinner by candlelight or a late night sitting on the hood of the car looking down at the city lights from atop a mountain -- you gotta EXPERIENCE this album (without interruption) & not merely listen to it!

How do you? Gino's music defies simple categorization. As I write this review, I have the 1st Movement of Pauper playing. It is beautiful beyond compare. Thirty years ago I ordered this album (at that time) from one of those buy one, get twelve free deals with Columbia House. I had no idea what I was ordering. I had heard a Gino song on the radio and was just looking to fill the order. What a stroke of luck that was! That began my life-long love of this man's music.
I have always prefered those musicians who write both their own lyrics and music. Gino fits that criteria. Sadly not many of my contemporaries are familiar with his music, nor do they understand or appreciate it. It is hard to classify. It doesn't fit easily into any one genre. As others here have said it is a blend of classical/jazz/latin and pop, but then it is so much more. It is wonderous. It is avant garde. It is not ahead, nor behind of its time. It's timeless. The score for the four movements will leave you speechless. It sounds as incredible to me this moment, no, even more incredible this moment, than thirty years ago. My appreciation has grown. Over the years I have listened to it thousands of times to pick out every note, every nuance. It's good stuff.
I will go out on a limb and suggest that you may not enjoy this CD if you are not a fan of classical music. However, if you are, or you are willing to experiment, give this CD a chance. Who knows, it may change your life.

Pauper In Paradise came out in 1978. It was one of Gino's Greatest Albums to date especially with the London Symphony. He is like a late - Moody Blues. His instrumentals shows his greatnest which he was way ahead of his time in writing and composition, arranging it along with his brother Joe. If you like this you will love his earlier albums, Storm at Sunup, Gist of the Gemini, and Powerful People. are truly his best work! Every song on every album is perfect. Brother to Brother is good, but more "top hit" sounding. I saw this performed livein the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and prior -= front row center at the Holywood Paladium - after "Gist" was rreleased in 1976 - and again after Brother to Brother was released, at the Great Wetern Form the first two were great! Hope to see him again.

I've heard them all, from "Crazy Life" to "Yonder Tree". And I must admit "Pauper" is by far the best of the Gino collection. The first time I heard Gino, I knew that there will never be another like him....Simple Fantastic

A long time ago when I was about eleven and crazy about Deep Purple-I still am-somebody in my family(sorry can't remember who)thought it was a good idea to get me a partner to my Deep Purple 's 69 concerto album.Not a bad idea, but I think I was a little too young to face classical with jazz rock and latino music without the Hard Rock side of Deep purple.Still I remember liking it, so not long ago I gave it another try and got myself the CD.
I fully enjoy the rich mix of pop/jazz/rock, the tons of percussion and of course the grandeur of the -what was-the side II of the album with the orchestra.
A great album that aged quite well and even if some songs on the side I are a little too mellow for me it doesn't ruin the feel and the intensity of the album.Not many classical/rock albums reach their goals, they're often too pompeous or simply sound like two records playing at the same time, I believe it is quite a hard task to achieve, but Vannelli's Pauper In Paradise is one of the few(with the Deep Purple 69 or 99 concerto)that perfectly combines the two genres.
If you don't mind jazz rock mixed with an orchestra and splendid melodies,this album should be a good purchase.

AHHHH, I love this album so much! I first heard Gino Vannelli's "Wheels of Life" on a random mix cd by Questlove and I couldn't get his perfect mix of singing and lush instrumentals out of my head. This was in probably 2005 and it wouldn't be till 2 years later that I was able to pursue much more of his work....

I'm really a large fan of arranged pieces that are really soothing and smooth sounding and this album had it IN DROVES. I mean wow, I can still put this album on (I'm listening to it now actually!) and feel like it's my very first time listening to it. There's definitely not a lot of albums that can do this especially in this day and age of watered down pop and souless rap! I mean geez, it consistently saddens me to no end to see that the vision of an artist that doesn't dumb themselves down or change their styles for others is slowly fading into the abyss, but that's a complaint for another day. Back to the album!

I'll have to keep it short. The people that did the arrangements of this album worked hard and it shines as bright as the morning sky on every track. From the upbeat intro of "Mardi Gras", the unbelievably touching strings on "Black and Blue", and finally to the very last "4th Movement" the sounds are all just PERFECT.

I didn't say much here about this album and to be honest, no words can do it justice. NONE. Just know that you are on the Amazon page of one of the greatest albums EVER!