Sro (Spkg) [Original recording remastered]

Herb Alpert | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Shout Factory
• ASIN: B0009I7O70
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,980 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

In November 1966, Alpert released S.R.O., his fourth album to place in the Top 10 in 1966, ultimately reaching the #2 spot. Includes the hit singles "Work Song" and "Mame."

Each album in the Herb Alpert Signature Series features meticulously remastered sound, deluxe packaging, detailed liner notes, and an intro by Herb Alpert containing personal recollections and anecdotes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazzy TJB!, June 22, 2005

By 

W. J. Bernardi (Austin, Tx USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sro (Spkg) (Audio CD)

This has always been my favorite Tijuana Brass album, mainly because it was the jazziest of the group's repetoire. Herb Alpert even takes a nice trumpet solo on the opener "Our Day Will Come", which unfortunately suffers from a bit of tape distortion in the first minute. But you quickly forget about that little flaw. "I Will Wait For You" is a groovin' little ballad, with a bit of a smokey jazz club feel to it. "Mexican Road Race" has always been a fan favorite written by Sol Lake, who wrote many of the songs for the Brass. "Bean Bag" is a bit of a Brazilian romp, and "Wall Street Rag" is a very clever Dixie swinger. Both "Work Song" and "Mame" were staples in the TJB concerts, and both were big hits for Alpert. "Blue Sunday" is a very underrated song, almost a rocker. Burt Bacharach's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" follows, with drummer Nick Ceroli setting the groove. A very passionate "For Carlos" follows, and Alpert works in the vocal backgrounds well with the signature horn lines. Guitarist John Pisano contributes his "Freight Train Joe", and the band finishes with another Top 40 hit with the rockin' "Flamingo", again with some nice trumpet lines by Alpert. This album also illustrates Herb Alpert's incredible arranging skills, something many people have forgotten about. To me, this is the first time the TJB sounded like an actual "band" instead of a recording group. Well worth picking up!

And no, mono is NOT the way an artist intended to hear his music. Herb Alpert was a master of updating recording techniques, as this set will attest to.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ¡Olé!, March 27, 2007

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sro (Spkg) (Audio CD)

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass remain one the best musical groups to come out of the 1960s; their "hey-day" from the 1960s still goes strong! This CD entitled S.R.O. (Standing Room Only) offers you an excellent assortment of eleven instrumental tracks as well as one song to which they sing the lyrics, "Mame." They may not be the greatest singers I ever heard; but their awesome, infectiously catchy melodies and relentless happiness and optimism more than compensate for this disappointment.

The CD starts off strong with the catchy "Our Day Will Come." And their day HAS come, believe me--and it's a day lasting several decades strong now! The horns, percussion and drums carry the melody well and infuse it with a type of Latin beat despite the fact that these gentlemen were not from Mexico. Great!

"I Will Wait For You" has a slower tempo that gives it a romantic effect; once again the horns and percussion carry the number very well.

Other great songs on this CD include "The Work Song" which they perform complete with a few grunts and groans to highlight that this number is about hard work done by inmates on a chain gang; "The Work Song" also brings to mind the horrors of slavery with its brutality and cruel work loads. "The Wall Street Rag" offers a relentlessly upbeat melody that you will enjoy; and "Mame" also displays such warmth and optimism that you just won't be able to resist jumping up and dancing right there in your living room!

The CD ends with "Flamingo" which employs tambourines in addition to the horns and percussion that are so fundamental to The Tijuana Brass style. Catchy and romantic both at the same time, "Flamingo" gives this album a strong ending.

The CD comes with a twenty page booklet replete with photos of The Tijuana Brass both in the studio and in concert. You also get the original liner notes for the record album release written by Chuck Champlin; a commentary by Herb Alpert himself and an extensive essay about the band by Josh Kun. Bernie Grundman did a terrific job of remastering the numbers on this album, too.

Overall, fans of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass will consider this a "must-have" for their collections; and people who enjoy classic instrumentals and easy listening will enjoy this album, too. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass will remain a strong force in the world of entertainment for quite some while to come because of their numerous superb releases during the 1960s.

¡Olé!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about time!, July 10, 2005

By 

Angelfish "L" (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sro (Spkg) (Audio CD)

After hearing with great excitment the re-mastered CD's, I was hoping they would released SRO. This is a really great CD and sounds fantastic. It is a very good collection of songs and a very strong finish with 'Flamingo'. Very amazing to hear this and I hope they release ALL the TJB library!! Can't wait for "Sounds Like..."