Customer Reviews

Spanish Stroll

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this album! Spanish Stroll is a virtual treasure trove of fantastic R&B music that's done with a Latino twist, and a whole lotta soul. Deville is another one of those hard luck story coulda, shoulda, woulda artists that, after you here this great Best Of comp, wonder what the heck happened? Mink Deville's story began in San Francisco, where they managed to go nowhere fast with their style of music. So he moved his band from San Fran to New York, and found minor success playing the leather bar and lounge circuit with the punk and new wave acts that were so popular in N.Y. at the time. Deville may have looked the part with the pink zoot suit and pencil thin mustache, but this guy was no new waver, and definitly not a punk. He's an accomplished songwriter and an excellent singer who, in my opinion, had an influence on the east coast heavyweights like Southside Johnny and even Springsteen. Just listen to the Boss on his later albums starting with the River, and you'll see what I mean. I can't help but think that if he had had a big time backing band like the Ashbury Dukes or the E Street Band, that Deville would have become a superstar. He might have anyway if it hadn't been for all the numerous record label changes and a music industry blackball due to previous drug problems. But despite all that mess, Deville still remained hungry enough to keep making great music through this fertile period of 77-87. His early stuff which makes up the first half of this CD I think is his best work. Among my faves is "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl". The wonderful "Spanish Stroll", which was the only song that even came close to being a hit. It made the top 20 in the U.K. My alltime Deville favorite is "Just Your Friends", where he sings Ben E King style with a Stand By Me sounding full orchestration backing, and a very infectious sounding harp and strumming acoustic guitar. This song shoulda been a hit. A big hit. Deville wrote, or had a hand in writing almost everything here, with the exception of Moon Martin's "Cadillac Walk". Also a great Arthur Alexander song "You Better Move On". And Van Morrison's "Could You Would You", where he displays some of his best singing. Every R&B/soul lover should have this generous 21 track 75 minute cd in their collection. It's simply delicious!

A very decent cross-section of Willie's work, representing both Mink DeVille and his solo career. I was blown away upon hearing "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl" on FM-radio when Mink DeVille first broke in NYC in the late 70s. The band could do it all -- hard-hitting rock and roll, love ballads, reggae, R&B. Listen to the sensational understated guitar playing of Louis X. Erlanger who left Willie after the first 3 LPs. His playing shows up on a bunch of tunes here and it's a shame that Willie didn't have him around longer. He was missed on later recordings. If you're looking for the definitive album, try to find "Le Chat Bleu." It's breathtaking.

This brilliant compilation showcases Deville's amazing talent to the full. The sound of these wonderful melodic songs is a gripping blend of Springsteenesque rock, Phil Spector type pop and Hispanic infusions.My favorites include This Must Be The Night, Spanish Stroll, the edgy Cadillac Walk, Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl, Just To Walk That Little Girl Home, A Train Lady and Guardian Angel, but every song has something special. Mink has a soulful voice and the arrangements are perfect. This classic album at times reminds one of the best work of artists like Tom Petty, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. Catchy hooks, divine vocal harmonies, soulful vocals and poetic lyrics make every song a masterpiece. Mink Deville is one of the obscure geniuses of rock and this collection is a timeless classic.

I urge everyone reading this to buy evey Mink DeVille Cd possible, listen to them all and then realize that Willy DeVille is one of Music's un-sung heroes. Blending R&B,with Latin,rock, punk and new wave elements, Willy delivered a sound that was all his own. He's got an unbelievable voice and a style that has influenced the likes of Bruce Springsteen.(listen to this CD and The River by Bruce and try to disagree!) This is good music, plain and simple.

Mink Deville was one of the least-known bands to emerge from the New York post-punk underground, and this collection illustrates why they were one of the best. Combining straight ahead rock & roll, doo-wop and r&b influences with a downtown street-wise swagger, this band told gritty stories not unlike, say, Bruce Springsteen's or Tom Wait's, but with a definite Spanish Harlem-cum-CBGB signature. The results are very well worth investigation.

Willy DeVille is an untapped treasure. He carries you on a style of music that is at once aggressive but yet still makes you dream of those you love. His style melds Ben E. King Harlem music with the urgency of the 80's. Every song on this CD is worth listening to over and over again. No one should miss this CD compilation. I think his lack of large commercial success was actually a help to his music, allowing it to remain unwatered down and pure to the listeners he attracted. Enjoy

I admit that I bought this CD originally for the want of 2 songs - Spanish Stroll and Each Word Is A Beat of My Heart - which remain my 2 favorites, but this collection is so much deeper. Would You, Could You; Maybe Tomorrow; Just Give Me One Good Reason; A Train Lady - are all excellent. This has moved into my Top 5 personal play list and it will be there for a long time to come. I was a casual fan of Mink/Willy Deville before I bought this CD, but I'm hooked now.

I would have never heard of this CD had it not been for an older friend playing it one night. Simply put, this music is amazing. Impossibly romantic and multi-talented Willy DeVille sings gem after gem on this CD. Not unlike Southside Johnny, perhaps what is most amazing is that this band has been almost entirely overlooked. This is some of the greatest music ever made.

I go way back with this CD to its' first release, and it is a real delight for me to discover that it did not go 'undiscovered',
a real pleasure to see all those 5 star reviews above. There's little I'd really add, except you need to go riding on that A train to know what it's all about, and somehow Mink (Willie) got us there, right on that train and wondering about.....
Or I could mention Patti and the Emblems original version of Mixed Up Shook Up Girl and note how seldom a great song, (and
Patti and her boys is first rate still) can get re-interperted, re-arranged a bit into something just as fine as the original.
That's something I usually only associate with first rate jazz musicians. It just never happened enough for my taste in the
world of R&B/Soul and Pop where to my ear, with rare, rare, rare exception the original (if you get to hear it) is the only
truly worthwhile take you'll want to hear. So, hats off to the first 8 people who took time to review this one, and all those buyers who spoke with their dollars and have kept this in circulation. I wasn't sure I'd be able to even find a cover to download (I've still got this disc, and it's in excellent condition no matter that it was played many, many times). And it seems somebody thought this woman was something other than she was until they saw her (us?) riding on that A Train, yet that they still want her is clear; as clear to me as people still wanting old Mink De Ville's music. I wouldn't have the heart to downgrade it, but noted that his later material simply wasn't quite as good as the earlier. That aspect of this 'pop' artist simply doesn't seem relevant. Perhaps that tells you just how strong his early releases were.