Customer Reviews

Whipped Cream & Other Delights (Picture Disc) [Vinyl]

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Way back in the '60s, you couldn't go through ANYONE's record collection without finding at least one copy of this album. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass had taken the country by storm, and this was the album that helped them do it. A&M's co-founder, Jerry Moss, is credited with the idea of making the album about food, and the choice of Dolores Erickson to grace the cover of the album, was no small part in helping this album toward success.

Back in the 1980's, when CDs were becoming a viable format, WHIPPED CREAM AND OTHER DELIGHTS became a natural album to reissue, and it was - both in Japan and in the US. As the '90s rolled on, the album remained in print on CD right up to the year 2000. That's when a settlement occured between Herb Alpert and Universal Music, who through an earlier deal, had acquired Herb's former record company, A&M Records. As a result of that settlement, all of Herb's albums went out of print, including this gem, and have remained out of print until now.

With the rights to the recordings reverting back to Herb himself, Shout! Factory, a small-label division of Sony has now been licensed to remaster and reissue the old albums, with Herb's help and approval. Along with the classic album here are two previously unissued recordings, finished off by Herb for release here.

Included in this 40th anniverary reissue, are the two extra songs, new liner notes by Herb Alpert himself as well as Josh Kun, new remastering by the legendary Bernie Grundman, and a mini-poster of the famous cover.

How does it sound? Bernie Grundman's remastering is amazing, making the sounds of this album more detailed than ever before. All in all, this is one album that'll have you tapping your toes and humming the melodies for a long time.

This is the 40th anniversary reissue of the Herb Alpert album that is probably better known for its cover art than the music it contains. [WARNING: Bad pun alert!] Its titillating cover launched countless adolescent fantasies among teenage boys everywhere--myself included. [Note: The model was three months pregnant and the photographer used shaving cream.]

When WHIPPED CREAM & OTHER DELIGHTS was released in the spring of 1965, it provided Alpert his first Top 10 single in three years, with "A Taste of Honey" peaking at No. 7. [The title track only reached No. 68 and is best remembered as the theme for TV's The Dating Game.] The album, however, was a huge success. It spent eight weeks at No. 1 and more than a year in the Top 10. Eventually, it would spend almost three years in the Top 40!

Alpert played all the trumpet parts, dubbing and overdubbing as many as four or five times. In addition, he used only the best session players of the day, including Hal Blaine on drums and Leon Russell on piano. The music is the familiar mix of pop and jazz selections that are given the Tijuana Brass treatment. This reissue also features two Alpert originals as bonus tracks. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I was born in March 1965, a month later this album was released. Word has it that this was the only thing that could quiet me down. I remember my dad playing this as we cleaned the house, did the yardwork, had barbecues...it was just a part of our daily life. I think at one point in time, I actually took it for granted and then one day I went to go look for it in my dad's record collection and it was gone... horror of horrors! I asked him where it was and he said he gave it away along with a bunch of other junk. I have stalked used record stores in search for a flawless record, but I have had to resort to CD. CDs are great...but they haven't the personality that the old vinyl records used to just exude. One day my dad paid me a visit. I put the CD on and played it at a low but audible volume. He entered my home, sat down, and his ears caught a "whiff" of Bittersweet Samba. Tears formed in his eyes. "This was your mom's favorite song. We used to dance in the kitchen to this song." He told me more about how each track of this very special recording was almost kind of the soundtrack of his life in the 60's. I cherish my dad's stories and I think of them everytime I play this wonderful recording.

Herb Alpert's "food" CD is a timeless classic. This is one of the best loved instrumental albums of the 60's. If you decide to add Herb Alpert to your collection, this, and 'South Of The Border', would be excellent choices.

However, as in many [most?] CDs, this release suffers from major bass-shyness. OK, that's probably being too kind. There really isn't anything here below about 200 hertz! I know from the original releases of this recording, that the bottom end was excellent. What happened here: I can't say. Just know that a portion of the music is missing.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before the eternally hip music of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass was subjected to the remix treatment. But thankfully, Re-Whipped is not just your average remix album...

First of all, Herb Alpert himself actually lays down some new trumpet solos on some of the remixed tracks. Also, the entire Whipped Cream & Other Delights album has been "re-whipped" by a variety of remixers (although the songs are in a different track order for some reason...) This gave me the unique opportunity to dig out my old vinyl LP of Whipped Cream and listen to all 12 tracks side-by-side with the corresponding Re-Whipped CD remixes...

The album cover: The cover photo on the original Whipped Cream & Other Delights is really the only reason most people own or even know about this album, isn't it? It's a classic, an icon, a masterpiece. And -- it's a real girl, covered with real cream (shaving cream instead of whipped cream, but still...) Re-Whipped attempts to update and perhaps even outdo the original -- BAD IDEA. There's more skin, less cream, and -- worst of all -- the whole thing looks computer generated. Winner: Whipped (by a knockout)

A Taste of Honey: Ahh yes... nothing says "swingin' sixties" better than "A Taste of Honey." Herb's rendition is pretty straightforward except for that nice part where he takes the tempo way down and just wades in a sea of marimba for a few seconds... John King's remix wisely retains and repeats this moment a few times, but otherwise doesn't do much other than add some synths and a backbeat. Winner: Whipped (by default)

Green Peppers: Smooth, baby... and short -- the original is only one and a half minutes long. Anthony Marinelli's remix adds the obligatory big beat, some reggae rhythms, and lots of echo. It's nice to hear Herb laying down a fresh solo, but the track goes on for nearly five minutes... and then just fades out. Too bad... Marinelli should have followed Herb's lead and kept it short and sweet. Winner: Whipped (by several laps)

Tangerine: A real laid back, melodic affair on the original. DJ Foosh keeps it mellow, throws in quite a few processing effects and so forth. Quite nice, really. Winner: Re-Whipped (in a tie-breaker)

Bittersweet Samba: Um... not really -- Herb's original is more like the soundtrack to every unbearably unfunny madcap slapstick routine you could ever imagine... however, it is mercifully short. Mocean Worker doesn't have much to work with here, but he does manage to superimpose an actual samba rhythm on it and, as an added bonus, he keeps it short too. Winner: Re-Whipped (T.K.O.)

Lemon Tree: Ah, yes... the background music at every Chi-Chi's restaurant in Purgatory... Thievery Corporation actually improves upon the original, though, transforming it into a gorgeous, dreamy Mexican flavored meditation... Winner: Re-Whipped (opponent threw in the towel)

Whipped Cream: Middle of the road, soundtracky stuff -- but that funky little drum and bass fill is sure cool. Marinelli delivers a phat beat, a new Alpert solo, and some background vocals, but somehow manages to leave out the best part -- that killer drum and bass riff. Oops. Winner: Whipped (judge's decision)

Love Potion No. 9: A fun little cheesy pseudo-stripper music number in Herb's hands... and then it fades out. Marinelli and Ozomatli (there's a tongue twister for you) manage to turn this tune into some kind of hip-hop/indie-pop hybrid, complete with radio-ready vocals by some guy named Asdru Sierra. Kind of a mess, but you gotta admire the effort... still... Winner: Whipped (barely...)

El Garbanzo: A corny little fiesta ditty that goes on a little too long on the original album... The remix by Medeski, Martin & Wood seems to be trying a little too hard, but in the end it's a bit more fun to listen to, I guess. Winner: Re-Whipped (by a nose...)

Ladyfingers: A rather lovely, loungey little no-frills ballad on the original, Camara Kambon's remix throws in a lot of extra bells and whistles while still sounding sort of pretty -- too bad the beat is just a little too intrusive... Winner: Whipped (by a field goal...)

Butterball: A boring and/or irritating little tune with a monotonous beat and pseudo-New Orleans Jazz interludes made worse only by Marinelli's relentlessly dull, unimaginative and seemingly endless remix. Winner: Whipped (since it's shorter...)

Peanuts: Direct from the Mexican Polka party of your worst nightmares comes "Peanuts"... Marinelli manages to turn this into a pleasant if ignorable techno confection with a nice new Alpert solo as an added bonus. Winner: Re-Whipped ("I give it a 10 for a good beat")

Lollipops and Roses: The ultimate "driving through Southern California with the top down" music to be sure... Marinelli unfortunately tries to turn it into a retro Stevie Wonder-ish synth-fest and drains all the fun out of it in the process. Winner: Whipped (no contest)

OVERALL: You simply must own the original Whipped, for the cover art if nothing else (and preferably on LP -- don't worry, you can find several copies of it in every used record store in the world.) Re-Whipped, while not essential, is certainly a cut above most remix albums -- despite the terrible cover art. Might as well just give in and get 'em both...

Folks, this album started a craze that for many was more powerful than the Beatles and Elvis put together. Before this great album Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass enjoyed moderate success, with Herb trying different approaches to each album and single he recorded (even recording vocals as Dore Alpert just a couple of years before). But fortunately, as fate would have it, Al Hirt turned down a playful Allan Touissant tune called "Whipped Cream". Larry Levine, who was Herb's recording engineer, brought the tune to Herb's attention and he recorded it and had a mild success with it. However, it was Jerry Moss who suggested that Herb do an album with an all food theme. Larry also suggested that Herb record "A Taste Of Honey". Herb did and put it on the B-side of "Third Man Theme", which was thre new TJB single. A DJ in Phillidelphia mistakenly played "A Taste Of Honey" instead one night and the rest was history. "Honey" quickly became tha A-side and shot to #7 on the Billboard charts and this album spent 8 weeks at #1 and over 3 years in the Billboard Top 40. Because of this album and the 2 that followed, Herb placed an unprecedented 5 albums in the years top 20 for 1966. As for the music on this album, it is first rate, fun and an unforgettable part of 60s pop culture. Aside from the title track and "A Taste Of Honey", some of my favorites are "Butterball", "El Garbanzo", "Green Peppers" and "Bittersweet Samba", all TJB originals. They also do a magniicent bump and grind version of "Love Potion #9" as well as beautiful versions of "Lemon Tree", "Tangerine" and "Lollipops And Roses", which along with the title track were used on "The Dating Game". As for the 2 bonus tracks, "Rosemary" is haunting and very beautifully done. And "Blueberry Park" is more of a light-hearted romp. Both very enjoyble and always nice to hear "new" TJB. It should also be noted that session musicians such as Hal Blaine, Leon Russell and Carol Kaye played on this record since Herb didn't have a formal TJB set up yet. In all, this is a truly time-honored classic that is as fresh today as it was 40 years ago. Model Delores Erickson was provocative and alluring on the jacket of this album probably not having a clue back then that she was creating one of the most memorable and beloved album jackets in record history and would have buyers drooling over her 40 years later! Noone should be without this CD, especially if they were around in the 60s. The musical fun even in 2005 is truly "delightful".

"Whipped Cream & Other Delights" is another great Tijuana Brass reissue from Shout Factory, and thanks to superior remastering it's even more aurally sumptuous as it was back in 1965.

Way back then when I first heard this food concept album (a programmatic idea attributed to Jerry Moss, Herb Alpert's partner in A & M Records), it seemed unusually interesting to me because of the two inherent moods presented: a serious and brooding one, with tunes played often in minor keys; and a happy, upbeat, and celebratory one. But the track order always bothered me a bit. The first five songs make for a very strong opener to what was originally side 1 of the LP, but then the seriousness is completely dismissed by the very catchy yet completely frivilous title track. `Side 2' opens with the sexy strip number "Love Potion #9" (the only non-food track, again in minor key), and then the focus shifts completely back to fun with two ethnic tracks, a simple ballad, and two shuffles, one with an improvised Dixieland bridge. Shout Factory's bonus of two additional unused tracks further complicates things. Don't misunderstand me- it is so nice to have these new TJB tracks- but as they are obviously remakes and more contemporarily produced with richer sonics (including non-1960's instrumentation like synthesized strings and Fender Rhodes electric piano), the new tracks soften that classic `65 TJB sound and make for a quieter disc ending than the original powerful close of "Lollipops And Roses".

If you have the ability to shuffle the tracks, I would encourage you to listen to the disc with the following adjustments: switch "Love Potion" with "Whipped Cream", then insert the extra tracks ("Rosemary" and "Blueberry Park") in between "Whipped Cream" and "El Garbanzo"). The first six songs will become the 'serious' half, and the last eight songs will become the 'fun' half, with the two new tunes in a spot where they won't kiill the ending of the program.

This album and its follow up, "Going Places!!", would flip-flop on the top of the charts for many weeks. "GP" has a slight edge as far as perfection goes- yet "Whipped Cream" is completely engaging on its own merits, and one can hear the progressive, stylistic strides Alpert has made from the earlier TJB albums. Of all the memorable moments, my favorite is "Tangerine" with its unusually melodic bass line, Spanish classical guitar riffs, deep congas and Phil Spector-like reverb, while Alpert plays smokily in the background and hums unobtrusively along with the piano solo. It surely qualifies as one of the best ever recorded versions of this Johnny Mercer song. Alpert's trumpet is front and center throughout the disc, clear and spectacular as always. The newly added tracks are enjoyable and also help extend the length of the disc to 35 minutes, which is a tad longer than a typical TJB offering. There are great liner notes from both Herb and scholar Josh Kun, although Kun's remarks seem repetitive throughout the first issues of Shout Factory's Signature Series. Here's hoping he's got new things to say in future booklets. Lastly, there's an eye-appealing bonus: a small 40th anniversary collectible poster of the original cover featuring model Dolores Erickson draped in cotton and shaving (rather than whipping) cream.

This album reminds me of my childhood. My dad didn't buy very many albums but he did own this one and 'Going Places'. He loved this music. I think it's interesting that alot of the reviews for 'Whipped Cream' mention that it was their 'Dad' that liked the album. Excellent music!!

I used to play this record over and over as a small child.
I love all the songs to this day, and i'm glad to see that Herb Alpert remastered it and added 2 new songs!

It's a very short LP to begin with, so any extra material is welcomed! I was always 'hot' for the girl on the cover. It's still one of the sexiest LP covers ever!

I feel old-- i'll be 42 this year (2006). This LP was one of the big records of 1965. Good lord that's a long time ago!

Thanks Herb and A&M Records for shining a new light on an old favorite!

The remastered version of this album makes the music sound so new and so fresh. I've been listening to it for days. This band is so on point that it's SICK!