Dial M-A-C-E-O

Maceo Parker

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: What Are Records
• ASIN: B00004SBYM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #125,607 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The artist universally known as Maceo meets the Artist Formerly Known as Prince on this new star-studded venture also featuring Ani DiFranco and Sheryl Crow. Mostly, it's the stuff Maceo does best: mid- to uptempo funk grooves that test the alto saxophonist's sharp, rhythmic approach and lift him miles above his imitators. Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering his own very ascetically produced sound, Prince's "Greatest Romance Ever Sold" isn't the most successful moment on the album. His postmodern pop doesn't suit Maceo's gutsy, natural sound the way James Brown or Bootsy Collins could. Nor does the three-way partnership with Crow on the rock-style "Baby Knows" offer the saxophonist much of an opportunity to dig dirt. But "Simply Tooley"--a horn-heavy return to something like the P-Funk sound--and "Rabbits in the Pea Patch" are two of Maceo's best tracks in years. --Linton Chiswick

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Maceo moves toward the mainstream and away from himself...., September 25, 2003

By	souldrummer (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

First of all, Maceo Parker is a relatively unsung hero of funk. A lot of people can remember, "Hit me Maceo!", but few completely grasp how pervasive his sound as a multidecade dealer of the Funk. Maceo's work with Parliament as a member of the Horny Horns is a key contribution, and his work with the JBS, a spinoff of James Brown's stuff is essential as well. As a solo artist, Maceo's music is more relevant to what's happening in funk then James Brown now that he's lost his core collaborators and can't dance as well.

Maceo's solo work starts with seeing a live show! If you have a chance to spend $19 on this album or spend $60 bucks to see him live, see the man live!!! Maceo live is one of the greatest funk acts around. After you've seen a live show, you probably want to dig one of his solo albums, and "Life On Planet Groove" is definitely the place to start.

And now we're left with Dial M A C E O. "Dial" is Maceo trying to move to the mainstream and broaden his appeal from overseas adulation and hard core funkateers in the states. The result is cleaner more produced horn sound, some smoother funk work and a laundry list of collaborations that don't really work for me. This album to me is like a lesser version of "Funk Overload", which I believe was the album immediately preceding it. You get some funk covers like the Isley's "Work to Do", one of my favorite tracks on the album. You get a novelty funk tune in "Rabbits in a Pea Patch." And you get some smooth Maceo on flute, [not too much flute on Funk Overload, though]. The big change is the Prince covers and I agree with other reviewers; covering Prince stuff is not really Maceo's bag or why I'm into Maceo. Likewise, it's nice that he's trying to bring his son along for the ride as a rapper, but Corey is not a viable solo artist as a rapper and the rhymes don't really add much to the sound.

Personally, I'd give this one two and a half stars and recommend it only to Maceo completists. If you dig Maceo, "Life On Planet Groove" first, than the Roots series of albums if you want his jazzier side, "Funk Overload" if you want the more produced.

Last thing for Maceo fans; check out my other review of Fred Wesley's memoirs "Hit Me Fred" for some perspective on post James Brown/post Parliament JB horns alums. I agree with Fred Wesley that the dissolving of the JB Horns and the resulting Maceo as pure solo artist has not been the best thing for the Funk.

Maceo's still a badass, but he's done a lot better work than this.

--SD

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Maceo fan from Kansas, May 31, 2000

By	Aaron Orsborn (Manhattan, Kansas) - See all my reviews

I really enjoyed Dial MACEO. I think it is better than Funk Overload, but not at the level of Roots. This record is funkier than some of Maceo's previous studio recordings and shows off his skills on the alto and the flute. Rabbits in the Pea Patch is a funk classic already in my mind. It has a very funky bassline and some great guitar work to go along with Maceo's horn. The Prince songs are good, in particular Baby Knows. I really like Coin Toss with Ani Difranco. The only problem is that the song is too short. The rest of the tracks are solid with my least favorite being My Baby Loves You with James Taylor. Its not a bad song it just doesn't do much for me. In my opinin, most Maceo fans will enjoy this record very much.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent album!, October 29, 2000

By	ericben "ericben" (London, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this album - jazz or funk, instrumental or vocals.

When I popped it in, I was surprised that almost all the songs are incredible! Being a Prince fan, I expected The Greatest Romance Ever Sold and Baby Knows (the hidden track), to be the best of the bunch. But, I was surprised that I enjoyed some of the other songs even more!

If you enjoy funk music, this is a must-have! Maceo even makes James Taylor sound funky!