Customer Reviews

I Wanna Play For You

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Epic Records scrambled the song order and deleted three tracks from the original 15 on the double LP vinyl release. The missing tracks are - "Off The Planet" (3:10), "Christopher Ivanhoe" (3:22), and the sizzling hard rocker "All About" (5:15).

I mean, how do you leave the best track of the album off this cd. It's like lets leave Billy Jean off Thriller or something. "All About" is one of his best songs ever. One of my favorites ,this is sad. I mean who decided to do that, did they actually listen to it. It's on the record so thats the only way to own the original. One day maybe they will listen to it.

...when the CD generation came about, this is one of the first CDs--of an album I useta jam in my college years--I purchased. It predated Zapp's vocoder style by about a year, plus, that other Stanley was nowheres in sight. You can hear the Duke/Clarke project coming into fruition, Dee Dee Bridgewater was getting more into her jazzy vocal stylings, and it has some of the best session players out at the time--Harvey Mason, Freddie Hubbard, Tom Scott, Lee Ritenour, Steve Gadd and a cast of greats. And just to show you how versatile he really can get is the jam "Blues for Mingus", where our hero goes acoustic. A great jazz album, one I think, have/will stand the test of time...

Stanley Clarke has proved himself worthy of the respect of all music lovers abroad with this album. 'I WANNA PLAY FOR YOU' is a mixture of funk, rock, middle of the road, ect. It also catches him in some of his best live performances. The title track alone is worth a good listen to. It sounds like something from the future. Well, the future from 1979. With It's thumping bass, phat beat, and of course the funk it sounds like something Ice Cube would sample. Also, the live perfomances of ROCK 'N' ROLL JELLY, JAMAICAN BOY, (w/Jeff Beck), & HOT FUN are worth being played over & over again. If you purchase the CD, Tape, or for you vinyl lovers, the double album, it is worth the money! You may be suprised at the other artist that are also featured on this album.

The only problem with this cd is that they left out the best song, "All About" from the same vinyl double album! What a disappointment.

Thank god I own the album (vinyl); had it since it was released in 79. The CD version of this album horrid is as a whole. It's OK if you just want bits and pieces of the Album but to appreciate the whole thing, you need to hear the original album release.

Beefs... I Wanna Play for You

The Songs on the CD are completely rearranged from the original album recording.
The CD is missing 3 songs (All About, Christopher Ivanhoe, Off The Planet)
The track "School Days" is shortened by over 2:30 minutes (8:12 CD, 10:43 Album)
The CD sounds a little too "digital" (first generation AAD); the album sounds a lot warmer and livelier, especially the live tracks.

The double album track list flows like this...

Side 1...
Rock `n Roll Jelly - 2:35
All About (Missing) - 5:15
Jamaican Boy - 3:27
Christopher Ivanhoe (Missing) - 3:22
My Greatest Hits - 6:28

Side 2...
Strange Weather - 1:45
I wanna Play For You - 6:20
Just A Feeling - 6:02
The Streets Of Philadelphia - 5:55

Side 3...
School Days - 10:43
Quiet Afternoon - 9:00

Side 4...
Together Again - 5:40
Blues For Mingus - 2:18
Off The Planet (Missing) - 3:10
Hot Fun-Closing - 7:50

About the missing songs (all studio work)...

The best way to describe "All about" is to say it has a lot of references to School Days with Stanley doing some vocal work. Christopher Ivanhoe is a mid/slow temple song that sounds like an ode to someone. Here Stanley plays all instruments except Alto Sax (Tom Scott) and drums (Darryl Brown). Off The Planet is a mid temple standard with Stanley on piccolo bass, Michael Garson on electric grand piano, and Darryl Brown on drums.

When I really want to listen to this album, I play the vinyl, School Days and Quiet Storm sound remarkably live on the album, less so on the CD.

I think it's time someone (Sony???) re-released this classic on a double CD and gave it the sonic treatment it deserved. It's not impossible as we need look no further than Weather Report's 8:30, which suffered the same fate when originally released but has since been re-released by Sony Japan on a double CD with all tracks present, and a boost in sonic quality.

The original release - 5 stars
The CD version - 3 stars

My two cents.

The fact that you could be listening to Stanley Clarke while you are watching a movie or TV sitcom and not even know it says more than a mouthful. I can't name all the movies and TV shows that use Stanley for their music track. One of the greatest bass guitar players of all time, Stanley Clarke makes smiles with his up front style of bass playing with rhythms that make you move and groove. I personally think that this album is one of the best jazz albums ever recorded, trully a classic! You will not get bored with Stanley's in your face style and hot licks on the bass. I could not call my jazz collection complete without owning this album. I personally have 3 copies of this album on CD and 1 on LP. If you purchase this get it on CD and if you love jazz that is clean, smooth and exciting all at once, you will not be dissapointed. Marvelous!!! What are you waiting for? Buy it now!!!

Fond freshman year memories @ VSU connected with this CD. It all came back when I listened to it. Love it!

For an CD that's half live 'I Wanna Play For You' is actually one of Stanley Clarke's better all-around albums.That's speaking strictly from a quality control standpoint.This reissue edits out two live cuts from the original double vinyl album (YOUR NOT MISSING MUCH!).Onto the studio cuts the title song is superb,bright fusion-very well produced and moody.The same can be said for the more composed
"The Streets Of Philledelphia",even if Clarke sings it works this time!Now the REAL meat of it starts with "Just A Feeling"-the song is a GROOVE!George Duke works the electric piano like his life depends on it and the tune itself is one of Clarke AND Duke's most infectious!It might even be the best song here!
"Together Again" is a difficult close contender.Stanley Clarke plays almost all the instruments (except a short horn solo in the bridge) and the bouncy tune
is a testement to Clarke's talent and musicianship.It actually would be a great song for a soundtrack!On the jazzy side "Blues For Mingus' showcases Stanley on his upright bass-it's one of his best in the acoustic medium.The live cuts showcase Stanley's
mid 70's funk fusion and great versions of "School Days","Hot Fun" and "Rock N' Roll Jelly" and actually they jam alot harder then the studio versions.So despite it being half and half I would not only recommend 'I Wanna Play For You' to even a casual Stanley Clarke fan but to anyone with a passing interest in bass oriented jazz-funk-fusion in general.Highly recommended!

Not a bad album, but way too much cheesey '70's disco, weak vocals, and dated synth sounds. Some great bass diluted by mediocre material. About 4 great tunes in all.