Customer Reviews

Whipped Cream & Other Delights Rewhipped

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

When I first heard of this project, I was really skeptical. I kept thinking it would be just another tired effort of some rappers or hip/hoppers ruining yet another classic album. Man, was I ever wrong! This is actually pretty good! This album is really an Alpert solo album as opposed to another TJB effort. Herb lays down some new trumpet parts and seems to be having a great time doing it, and this turns into a very jazzy effort. The rhythms are more modern sounding, with some heavy backbeats, but most of this album still swings as did the original. In particular, "Lollipops & Roses" has an urban big band feel to it, with Herb playing some hot horn on top. "Whipped Cream" has a very funky feel to it, yet never loses the original appeal. In some cases - "Ladyfingers" especially - this sounds better than the original. Herb even gets into a bit of an electric Miles Davis mode on tunes as "Butterball" and "Green Peppers". The one clunker is "Love Potion #9", which features Ozomatli doing a vocal, which just doesn't add much. But overall, this is far better than I expected. People who are still stuck in the 60's probably won't enjoy this, but if you like your whipped cream jazzed up a bit, you should dig this! It's nice to know that a 70-year old music legend is still making better music than most other artists of today.

Herb Alpert has certainly always found a way to keep himself busy. He's a businessman, musician, producer, arranger, composer, painter, sculpter, philanthropist...I guess the list goes on and on.
While fans of his Tijuana Brass work have been rejoicing over reissues of some of the 60s back catalog, Alpert wasn't satisfied with just re-releasing old product. Along with the first batch of reissues came "Lost Treasures" containing previously unreleased TJB recordings. Now we get "Re-Whipped". Not exactly a remixed version of "Whipped Cream & Other Delights" and not exactly a mash-up but more of a re-recording with plenty of samples of the original tracks from that classic LP.
Lots of well known mixers and DJs are featured here, each bringing his own style to the table. Some of these tracks work better than others and you'll have a definite opinion about which ones work best for your personal taste.
When you think about it, this project is not really too surprising. Alpert has never been one to coast on his legend. The 1974 LP "You Smile - The Song Begins" showed that he was always willing to update his sound and stay current in the ever-changing musical landscape. He reinvented his sound again and again ("Rise", "Keep Your Eye On Me", "Colors") and keeps adding to his musical horizon.
This is an adventurous undertaking and kudos to Alpert for doing it.

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...

Have you spent your sleepless nights wishing someone would remix Herb Alpert's "Whipped Cream" LP? Neither have I. Somebody must have thought it was a good idea to apply all the production tricks and cliches of down-tempo and trip-hop to Alpert's easy-listening opus. Amazingly, about a third of the tracks work, especially the title track and "A Taste of Honey." The rest left me itching to click skip through the tracks, and I actually like downtempo music! "Love Potion 9," however, is an absolute travesty.

I'm not a huge fan of Herb Alpert's but I can clearly understand why so many of his devotees were disappointed with this CD. This could have been a great opportunity to re-introduce the Tijuana Brass into the consciousness of younger lounge fans. Instead, it doesn't really end up pleasing anyone for much of the time. If you're an Alpert collector, I can understand buying this one. Otherwise, despite the great-looking CD jacket, I'm going to have to recommend borrowing a friend's copy.

I actually bought this for my wife, and did not have high hopes for her liking it. I grew up with my parents listening to Herb Alpert and I always enjoyed his music. If you are a "loyalist" to his music, then it;s not for you. However, this CD has fast become a favorite in our house. We have not yet stopped recommending it to friends and family. It is just plain good, but it is not Herb Alpert...obviously. I am tired of reading reviews from people who expected it to be....it wasn;t intended to be and what it became was something wonderful. If you enjoy music, you'll enjoy this CD. Buy it. I can only hope they do more. If it helps, our musical taste ranges from Nelly to jazz and from Pink Floyd to Ottmar Liebert and from Matchbox 20 to Stan Getz. We appreciate good music and nothing less. This CD is a valuable addition to any CD library. Enjoy.

You really have to feel sad for anybody who compares this excellent remix work with rap. Never in a million years will you here this sophisticated take on a lounge classic blaring from a hip hop fans car. If you do hear this music blaring, know that within that car is likely to be a very hip and discerning music fan that understands the eclectic history of disparate genres while being erudite enough to be forward thinking. This is modern lounge music for ELECTRONIC music fans. In fact this album is already a hit with ambient and college rock radio stations around the nation. Isnt it sad when people get so old that they dont even understand what they're complaining about? True the beats share a similar pallet with old-school hip hop in particular but anyone with an idea about genuinly great music should understand the difference. Bob your head, chill out and move into the 21st century, free your ass and maybe your ass will follow. It dosent detract from the classic original and in fact introduces it to an audience who may not be familiar with it. And trust that this is precisely the audience you want hearing this music.

All the old farts that wrote what a shame this re-whipped CD is are truly sticks in the mud. Sure, it's annoying when classics are re-done such as Psycho, etc. But THIS NOT one of those situations. This is simply a new fruit on the Herb Alpert tree to pick and enjoy. As a 29 year old Alpert fan I in NO way think this is a disservice to Herb. On the contrary, I think it'll introduce a whole new audience to him.
Sadly, Thievery Corporation's song leaves something to be desired. Apart from that my favorite track is #4 and of course Love Potion #9. I wish there were more like these. Jazzy, downtempo and a delicious treat to share with friends.

This remix treatment is scary bad. Hopefully you'll read warnings such as this review and avoid purchase. The "Remix Producer" is listed as Anthony Marinelli and he was responsible for the majority of these assaults on what had originally been music. Many tracks seem to be crafted by dropping the chords on the floor, picking them up at random, and superimposing the result over snippets of the original music.

The best use of this CD would be in a repair shop where it could be used to convince unsuspecting customers that their players are malfunctioning. That would be less criminal than the act of creating the CD itself.

Works great as background or foreground. This totally fun & funky interpretation of the 60's classic that does nothing other than pay sincere respect and homage to the original. You'll be hearing this at all the ultra-hip bars and restaurants. It sure brings back memories as a kid dancing with Dad in the den to the original, but yeah, I don't think he or his gen would "get" this.

If you like remix projects, you'll love this. If you're looking for the same old Tijuana Brass, then go back and listen to the same old TJB. Great big beat and downtempo remixes that are really satisfying. The first four tracks on this recording in particular are brilliant . . . I can't stop listening.