Customer Reviews

Storm at Sunup

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Years ago I bought the LP--wore that out--bought another; bought several cassettes and finally the Compact Disc rendition. And until CD rot takes hold I hope to have this in my collection until the end days. This was my favorite Gino Vannelli release during my gallant gallivanting youthful days.

"Yonder Tree", "Powerful People" "Brother to Brother", "Black Cars", "The Gist of the Gemini" "Nightwalker" and all others. These albums are as the seasons of a man's life. That is, they describe musically the man's spiritual and musical development and journeys. I think many men can relate to the treks in our lives in the sense that this album is a bit frivolous in the [our] display of youthful indiscretion and subsequent maturation.

All of Gino Vannelli's albums are fantastic: the contained music and as later albums depict prime manifestation of 'life'.

I invite you to listen to the musicality. However dated it might sound, listen to the talent this man has and all of the musicians in his entourage. Joe Vannelli, Graham Lear: Wow! Powerful People!

After listening to this CD a couple of times then buy "Yonder Tree" and you will still find the talent but will find the forceful finesse: process of growth.

This is a must-have. Passion is teeming. Favorite cuts are "Where Am I Going", "Keep on Walking " and "Storm At Sunup"--they do something to me every time (music is like that). Enjoy Gino Vannelli, live responsibly and Peace.

I was a pure rock fan in late 1975, when I was exposed to Gino one evening at a party at a freinds older brothers apartment.
I was searching for new music at that time in my life, growing tired of 3 chord bands and stacks of Marshall amps.
I was listening to mostly Yes, Jethro Tull, and Beatles at the time.
That night I heard Storm at Sunup and Gino Vannelli for the first time. I was blown away.
I was instantly transformed in to a life time fan and over the years have purchased every piece of music produced by Vannelli.
I cannot express in words the impact this artist has had on my life.
Gino is a composer, songwriter, and vocalist who ranks with the best of all time. I was lucky enough to see him in 79, 91, and 05. His live gigs are phenominal.

Storm at Sunup is pure genius from top to bottom. Where am I going ranks as my all time favorite songs, an incredible timeless cut amazingly written 30 years ago! Every time I play this track it feels like it was released yesterday.
Keep on Walking is an over the top love ballad, everytime I hear it I shake my head in awe.

All of the tracks on this masterpiece are solid.

If you do not own this CD, do your self a musical favor- add it to your collection.

I have listened to this album since I was 4 years old. I remember my mom popped it on the record player once she brought it home and I asked her to play it again and again until I learned how to do it myself. I still have the original vinyl, have it on tape and CD, and now that I am 32, I am listening right now. What I love about this album is that it creates the highs and lows of your emotions within the listener as the writer, like the reprise in "Where am I going" and the crazy interlude in "Storm at Sunup", I feel like he actually takes me on his journey. Buy it, buy it.....buy it.

Lush and emotionally powerful, this album is highly seductive. Jazz purists may quibble with Gino's heavy reliance on synthesizers for the arrangements in "Storm at Sunup" and his successor album, "Gist of the Gemini". But there's little doubt that the quality of the arrangements in "Storm at Sunup" stands as a testament to the best that jazz can offer. This is particularly true of "Where Am I Going", easily the album's most compelling track. From its opening orchestral swells, the song is propelled by a 5/8 ostinato (which rivals Dave Brubeck's popular "Take Five" for its "accessibility") before settling in to the first verse. And what a verse it is! I don't know of a single pop tune that addresses the topic of aging with such succinct and powerful insights into the complexity of the human condition. The title track is another vintage blending of lyrical content and superb instrumentation. It cleverly resolves into "Love Me Now", which could best be described as the brooding confessions of a "sensitive" gigolo. Other tracks on the album provide similar aural sensations, but a few of them don't deliver the same seamless melding of lyrical clarity, emotional complexity and technical sophistication. The album's love and sex themes tread familiar R&B territory. Lyrically speaking, "Mama Coco" is a throwaway tune that unsuccessfully tries to broach the topic of inter-racial relations. Leave out the words, though, and you have a true jazz treat. Another less than stellar tune is "Getting High", which - for its time - took an unpopular stance in its comparison of the joys of romance to the escapism of drugs and alcohol. Nevertheless, this is a seminal recording with several outstanding works. Buy it! You'll be happy you did.

I wouldn't know how wide is the exposure of Gino to most people. Pop culture is too shallow, and too simple to comprehend his work, I'm sure. I know that many people who hear him understand and appreciate his music. Intelligent lyrics and music. He has a soulful appeal. Engaging, powerful, complex, layered music. Lyrics that come from the truths of life. If you identify with mixing intellect + emotion into a congruous thing then you too would "get" Gino. Storm At Sunup is as fine a work from an artist as it gets. The title cut is a delicious blend of smokey bar sax jazz and kickin' fusion. Fusion, BTW, wouldn't become a thing for another several years. And it slides right into Love Me Now in a slick transition that still sends bumps through me and out to my finger tips. The Storm is the result of a man insensible and free who's made a woman suddenly sad she's been his. Breaking up, because the quest for self is strong. Freedom from where love doesn't live. The things that make a storm. Love Me Now, the unseparable companion, begs a woman to realize this man would cause her just pain. He is capricious and free and lives life alone and confused. But despite how he patronizes with this affair he needs her love while he's there. Father And Son. Is there a man with greater potential to influence your sense of self, your future, how you see the world? And yet, as a male that thing between father and son must be cut to let the son come on the scene as his own man. The pain of that, but the later process of rebonding man to man. Where Am I Going is as powerful a piece as ever recorded. It's about grounding, ambition, viewing your existance from the perspective of youth and looking into the future wondering what it'll be like to grow old and all that brings to bear in one's life. Is that happening too fast? How do you know when you've gone too far? With every step and every breath it's farther from youth and closer to death. And no matter how fast or how slow youth will go. Undeniable truths of life. This CD belongs in every collection of anyone who is part thinker, part philosopher, part lover... Of anyone engaged in their lives and in making the world go round. Enjoy and relish it for the treasure it represents. Timeless sound. Classics for the ages.

Gino Vanelli was arguably the best male Jazz Balladeer of the mid-to-late 1970's. This particular album is my favorite of that era. He and brother Joe (a very under-rated keyboardist back then...before Yanni blew up, there was Joe Vanelli) had an incredible mix of Rock & Jazz. Also, check the engineering mix on this one when you buy it. Excellent vocal & instrumental clarity.

"Storm at Sunup" is my favorite album of all time. Incredible texture in sounds along with Vannelli's strong voice delivers an extremely cativating sound. This music changed my life.

I personally like the Gino of the 70's. With his rocking sound and incredible use of technology for it's time, Vannelli creates music that makes my heart pound when I hear it.

Gino Vannelli- Storm At Sunup- music for the mind,body and soul. I own several Vannelli albums and in my opinion Storm At Sunup tops them all. Gino is a true vocal virtuoso! And the players on this album are sensational! I am going to skip an in depth report on this record since it has no weakness and has no equal. My discription is as follows- Musically speaking- Storm At Sunup is= Vibrant,Lyrical,Dynamic,Harmonious,Symphonic,Melodious,Tuneful and Chromatic. The quality of the recording,sound and music can also be described as= Fantastic,Excellent,Wonderful,Unique,Creative,Beautiful,Sensuous,Impressive,Magical and Earthy. A remarkable jazz,rock,pop album. A masterpiece! BUY IT!! You will be glad you did. Fast Fact: There is no bass player on this album. All bass parts are played with keyboards. {sorry all you bass guitarist}! BUY IT!! ENJOY IT!!

I first bought this on vinyl years and years ago (don't want to show my age), and it still maintains its power. The follow-up to the great "Powerful People," Storm is a remarkable set of great pop/jazz fusion, with incredible arrangements, engineering, and vocals. From the dramatic and dynamic "Storm at Sunup" which segues beautifully into "Love Me Now" to other fine tunes like "Where Am I Going" and "Keep on Walking", this is one of Gino's showcase collections. The man has an incredible voice, an emotional delivery, and a very talented brother, Joe. South Park may complain about what Canada has wrought us, but this import is certainly vintage stuff!

I bought this album the day after I saw Gino Vanelli in 1975 at the Berkeley Community Theater. I was awe struck by the musicianship of all the players! Joe Vanelli with those beautiful arrangements, great sax work by Jerome Richardson and everyone else. Gino's voice was magnificent! He was so nice. Me and a few of my friends went backstage after the show and talked with him. He invited us to a party ( I had a curfew, so I couldn't go). My favorite song on this album is, "Where Am I Going". It's in 5/4 time and it sounds just as vibrant and new as it did over 30 years ago. One can't say that about all the 'Pop' and R & B music that is out today. His music infused all the elements i,e jazz, rock, symphonic....everything. It was way ahead of its time, and like my title states...............It Stands The Test Of Time!

pepper