| Summertime | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1971 | |||
| Genre | Pop, easy listening | |||
| Length | 26:20 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Producer | Herb Alpert, Jerry Moss | |||
| Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass chronology | ||||
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Summertime is a 1971 album by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. It consists of tracks assembled by Alpert's A&M Records label and was released during Alpert's hiatus from performing that occurred between the albums The Brass Are Comin' (1969) and You Smile – The Song Begins (1974).
The title track is a version of the George Gershwin aria from the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess, though influenced by the Miles Davis jazz interpretation of the song. [1] It was released as a single in June 1971 with "Hurt So Bad" on the flip side, but it failed to chart. [2]
"Jerusalem", written by Alpert, and " Strike Up the Band", another Gershwin tune, are tracks from a single that reached No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1970. [3] [4] "The Nicest Things Happen" was written by Tijuana Brass member Julius Wechter and his wife Cissy. [1]
Cover versions of contemporary and recent hits found on the album include the Beatles' " Martha My Dear", Gordon Lightfoot's " If You Could Read My Mind", the Beach Boys' " Darlin'" and Little Anthony & the Imperials' " Hurt So Bad". [1]
Reception
Summertime received mixed contemporaneous reviews. An August 1971 review distributed by the Gannett News Service concluded: "Nothing exceptional in this album except some easy to take, summertime listening. Publishers release books that don't tax the mind at this time of year too." [5] Writing in the Detroit Free Press in the same month, reviewer Bob Talbert had a more positive impression: "Alpert has adjusted, one hopes, to the fact that even the Tom Joneses and Johnny Cashes cool off and find a steady sales and popularity groove. This new Alpert Brass album will bring joy to his fans' hearts and gain him a legion of new ones." [6]
In a modern-day review of the album for AllMusic, Richard S. Ginell lamented: "Clearly, Alpert wasn't quite ready to re-emerge full-blown into the performing world." [7]
Track listing
- " Hurt So Bad" ( Teddy Randazzo / Bobby Wilding / Bobby Hart) – 2:20 [8]
- "Jerusalem" (Herb Alpert) – 2:33 [8]
- " Martha My Dear" ( John Lennon / Paul McCartney) – 2:07 [8]
- " If You Could Read My Mind" (Gordon Lightfoot) – 2:39 [8]
- " Darlin'" ( Brian Wilson / Mike Love) – 2:50 [8]
- " Summertime" (George Gershwin / DuBose Heyward, "adapted from ideas by" Ahmad Jamal, Gil Evans, Miles Davis, Lani Hall and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross) – 2:10 [8]
- "The Nicest Things Happen" (Julius Wechter / Cissy Wechter) – 3:12 [8]
- "Montezuma's Revenge" (Sol Lake) – 2:41 [8]
- " Catch a Falling Star" ( Paul Vance / Lee Pockriss) – 3:00 [8]
- " Strike Up The Band" (George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin) – 2:33 [8]
References
- ^ a b c "Song Of The Day – "The Nicest Things Happen" by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass". InternetFM.com. 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
- ^ "Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Summertime / Hurt So Bad". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
- ^ "Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Jerusalem / Strike Up The Band". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
- ^ "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
- ^ "DISCussion". Star-Gazette. Elmira, New York. Gannett News Service. 1971-08-21. sec. Star Gazer, p. 9.
- ^ Talbert, Bob (1971-08-01). "New Shanana Oldies But Goodies". Detroit Free Press. p. 14.
- ^ Summertime - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2020-04-29
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Summertime". Discogs. 1971. Retrieved 2020-04-29.