Ernie Watts - Chariots Of Fire (1981)

Great album. Ernie's proficiency comes through on Chariots of Fire followed by other funk-jazz infused tracks, obviously with Quincy's production influence. A delightful listen overall! ~ Pa Colin, Amazon.com. 

On this album saxophonist Ernie Watts blows in all directions and can easily be considered one of the masterpieces of Qwest Records led by producer Quincy Jones. The theme was the title song composed by Vangelis for "Chariots of Fire" which won the Best Picture Award at the 54th Academy Awards, and arranged by Michael Omartian. Ernie is joined by some great musicians including: Keyboardists Richard Tee, Don Grusin, Greg Phillinganes; guitarists Steve Lukather, David E. Williams, bassist Neil Stubenhaus and drummer John Robinson to name a few. Overall, a disco-fusion flavoured sound that will entertain even the most discerning of listeners, Enjoy! 

Qwest Records, QW 56 982, 1982
Qwest Records, WPCR-28018, 2014
Recorded 19th-31st October, 1981 at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, California 

Musicians:
Ernie Watts - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Flute, Percussion, Vocals
Larry Hall - Trumpet
Jerry Hey - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Horn Arrangements
Bill Reichenbach Jr. - Trombone, Trumpet
Don Grusin - Keyboards, Piano [Electric], Synthesizer
James Ingram - Keyboards, Rhythm & Vocal Arranger, Vocal Effect, Vocals
Michael Omartian - Keyboards, Piano, Strings, Arranger
Greg Phillinganes - Synthesizer, Synthesizer Bass
Richard Tee - Keyboards, Piano [Electric]
Ian Underwood - Synthesizer
Steve Lukather - Guitar
Carlos Rios - Guitar
David E. Williams - Guitar [Rhythm]
Neil Stubenhaus - Bass
John "J.R." Robinson - Drums
Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
Quincy Jones - Percussion, Rhythm Arrangements
Howard Hewett, Phillip Ingram - Vocals 

Tracks:
A1. Chariots Of Fire [Theme] (Dance Version) {Vangelis} (5:55)
A2. Hold On {James Ingram, Quincy Jones} (4:25)
A3. Lady {Lionel B. Richie Jr.} (3:49)
A4. Gigolo {Quincy Jones, Merria Ross} (4:36)
B1. Valdez In The Country {Donny Hathaway} (5:14)
B2. Abraham's Theme {Vangelis} (3:46)
B3. Five Circles {Vangelis} (3:40)
B4. Chariots Of Fire [Theme] (Slow Version) {Vangelis} (4:27) 

Total Time: 35:56 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Quincy Jones
Recording & Mixing - Bruce Swedien [Acusonic]
Mastering - Bernie Grundman
Art Direction & Design - Art Sim [11:24 Design]
Photography - Bobby Holland 

UK 12" Special Dance Mix

Gap Mangione - Suite Lady (1978)

An Utter Classic
=============
Yet hardly known to those who weren't fortunate enough to have run across it back in the late seventies when the smooth jazz genre was in its ascendancy, though this isn't really smooth jazz as we've come to know it ~ it's rather fresher and funkier. Produced, recorded and even mixed by Larry Carlton at his own Room 335 studio in Hollywood, this is, for me, the pinnacle of Gap Mangione's musical career. And it's certainly not a Larry Carlton album with somebody else's name stuck on the cover, you may be pleased to learn. In addition to Mr. Mangione on a variety of keyboards (acoustic piano, ARP & Yamaha CS80 synthesizers & Fender Rhodes electric piano), we find Robert "Pops" Popwell (one of Larry Carlton's old pals from his days with the Crusaders), Mike Porcaro & Abe Laboriel (bass), (the now sadly late) Jeff Porcaro, Ralph Humphrey (later of Free Flight) & Peter Donald (drums & percussion), Joe Porcaro (congas & percussion), Greg Mathieson (acoustic and Fender Rhodes electric piano) and Dan Sawyer (sax & harmonica), plus strings and brass on selected tracks. Oh yes, Larry Carlton, as you might expect, played all the guitars. Mastering was undertaken by Bernie Grundman at A&M studios (and, coincidentally, A&M is the label on which this was issued). It's a touch on the bright side, but not disastrously so, and that touch of brightness is what's helped this album maintain its power and freshness after all these years. The opening track is unashamedly disco-ish (written, as it happens, by Larry Carlton) but, after that, the album settles down into a decidedly more sophisticated mood, not least the superbly bluesy Shh and King Snake, the latter followed by the superb title track which features a long-ish brass intro (trumpets, trombone and French horn) on which, with a good sound system, you can almost see each of the players standing side by side. You can certainly hear each of them breathing. This is a great album and I sincerely hope it won't be too much longer before it's reissued on CD. Though it's always difficult (I find) to get into an album several decades after its original release, Suite Lady might just be an exception to that general rule, whilst if you were there at the time, as they say, and like this particular genre of music, it might just be an indispensable memento of 1978 when the UK music scene was still pretty dire and people like me were looking across the pond for more inspiring fare. Still and always, one of my top ten albums. ~ Julian Stevens, Amazon.com. 

A&M Records, SP-4694, 1978
Recorded and mixed at Room 335, Hollywood, California

Musicians:
Gap Mangione - Synthesizer [ARP] (#A1,A4), Piano (#A2,A3,B1-B3), Fender Rhodes (#A2), Synthesizer [Yamaha C S 80] (#B1), Arranger [Brass] (#B1,B3,B4)
Chuck Findley - Trumpet (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
Bill Reichenbach, Jr. - Trombone (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
Vincent De Rosa - French Horn (#B3,B4)
Dan Sawyer - Tenor Saxophone, Harmonica (#A4)
Greg Mathieson - Piano [Acoustic] (#A1,A4), Fender Rhodes (#B2)
Larry Carlton - Guitar (#A1-A4), Arranger [Brass] (#A1,A2,B1,B2), [Strings] (#A3,B2)
Robert "Pops" Popwell - Bass (#A1,A2,B1)
Abraham Laboriel - Bass (#A3,B3)
Mike Porcaro - Bass (#B2)
Jeff Porcaro - Drums (#A1,A2,A4,B1,B2), Percussion (#A1,A2)
Peter Donald - Drums (#A3,B3)
Ralph Humphrey - Drums [Opening Statement Only] (#B1)
Joe Porcaro - Congas (#A1,A2,A4,B1), Percussion (#A1,A2,B1,B2)
Gerald Vinci - Concertmaster (#A2,A3,B2) 

Tracks:
A1. Mellow Out! {Greg Mathieson} (5:36)
A2. I Don't Know {Larry Carlton} (4:05)
A3. Shh {Greg Mathieson} (5:54)
A4. You Can't Cry For Help {Paul Bogush, Jr.} (3:32)
B1. Sister Jo {Gap Mangione} / Time Of The Season [Medley] {Rod Argent} (5:24)
B2. King Snake {Larry Carlton} (6:32)
B3. Suite Lady {Gap Mangione} (6:18)
B4. We Three [Scherzando] {Gap Mangione} (2:28) 

Total Time: 39:49 

Credits:
Producer, Recording, Mixing - Larry Carlton
Engineer [Second] - Steve Carlton
Engineer [Strings] - John Guess
Mastering - Bernie Grundman [A&M Studios]
Coordinator [Strings] - Gerald Vinci
Photography - Mark Hanauer, Raul Vega
Art Direction - Roland Young
Design - Phil Shima
Management - Richard Burkhart 

Suite Lady