Woody Herman - Heavy Exposure (1969) [re-rip]

Ever since listening to a few Sal Nistico albums I was intrigued to find some examples of his work with other bands. Invariably this led to his time with Woody Herman and this particular LP. Nistico on this album puts in a few unique solos, but overall, this album is a Big Band Soul-Jazz rendition. As a result, it is quite a distinctive LP in Woody Herman’s discography. Produced and arranged by Richard Evans who also composed “Lancaster Gate” and “The Hut”. Taken as a whole it is a greatly entertaining album with a big sounding groove. Ripped from a well-loved LP, Enjoy!

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Cadet Records, LPS 835, 1969
Recorded 2nd-3rd September, 1969 at Ter Mar Studios, Chicago, Illinois 

Personnel:
Woody Herman - Saxophone, Clarinet
Alan Gauvin, Frank Vicari, Sal Nistico, Steve Lederer - Reeds
Bobby Burgess, Pete Dalbis, Tom Malone - Trombone
Bill Chase, Harry Hall, Jeff Brillinger, Richard Murphy, Rigby Powell,
William Byrne - Trumpet
Donny Hathaway - Organ
John Hicks - Piano
Phil Upchurch - Guitar
Gene Perla - Bass
Edward Soph - Drums (#A1,A5,B1,B2,B4,B5)
Morris Jennings - Drums (#A2-A4, A6,B3)
Marshall Thompson, Richard Powell - Percussion 

Track Listing:

A1. Flying Easy {Donny Hathaway} (3:09)
Soloists: Bobby Burgess, Frank Vicari, Woody Herman
A2. I Can't Get Next To You {Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield} (2:52)
Soloist: Sal Nistico
A3. Aquarius {Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado} (4:26)
Soloist: Woody Herman
A4. Memphis Underground {Herbie Mann} (3:30)
Soloists: Bill Chase, Frank Vicari, Woody Herman
A5. High School Hero {Jake Holmes} (2:59)
Soloist: Alan Gauvin
A6. Lancaster Gate {Richard Evans} (3:17)
Soloists: Bobby Burgess, Harry Hall, Woody Herman
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B1. The Hut {Richard Evans} (3:42)
Soloists: Bill Chase, Bobby Burgess, Harry Hall, Sal Nistico
B2. My Cherie Amour {Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy} (2:43)
Soloists: Bobby Burgess, Woody Herman
B3. It's Your Thing {O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley} (2:58)
Soloists: Bill Chase, Sal Nistico
B4. Catch That Bird {Loonis McGlohon} (2:49)
Soloists: Bill Chase, Bobby Burgess, Frank Vicari
B5. Sex Machine {Sylvester Stewart} (5:48)
Soloists: Alan Gauvin, Bill Chase, Bobby Burgess, Phil Upchurch, Woody Herman

Total Time: 38:13

Credits:
Producer, Arranger - Richard Evans
Engineer - Ron Malo, Stu Black
Album Supervisor - Dick LoPalm
Cover Photo - Vincent P. Lucarelli
Album Design - Dick Fowler

"Excellent stuff!; We used to pass this one by all the time, thinking that it was some sort of fake jazz album -- but these days, we love it to death, and listen to it all the time! Woody Herman's band meets the soulful arrangements of Richard Evans, and the whole thing cooks nicely in the Chess studios in Chicago. The result is a tasty blend of soulful big band tracks, with a strident groove that Woody never duplicated, and with the kind of baroque arrangements that Evans was bringing to some of the best soul work on Cadet at the time. Donny Hathaway plays organ, and the group does a killer version of his own "Flying Easy". Other titles include "The Hut", "Sex Machine", and "It's Your Thing" -- but it's all great!" ~ Dusty Groove.