Ah, where would THE TIGHTWAD MUSIC COLLECTOR be without some reference made to the label of Creed Taylor? Taylor used to produce for Verve Records back in the 1960's.. In the 1970's, on his own label, he cashed big on the jazz fusion market with innumerable albums featuring top players of the day. Even when the music was genuinely good (although predominantly, it was syrup), the CTI label treated it with production values as thin as tissue. Even when a number featured 12 musicians, it still sounded like a 7th generation recording made in a phone booth. At this time in the 1970's, jazz was dividing into small camps- all influenced by the notion of fusion. It could be tinny elevator music, hard-ass rock, discofied renditions of pop tunes, or cop show funk. The opening title tune provides plenty of the latter. With Laws' long notes on the flute, accompanied by the inimitable 70's "weh-eh-eh" funk guitar, this is an infectiously catchy number. I keep envisioning guys in tan leather jackets running down the street when this gets played. Life is full of paradoxes- among the most perplexing is the demographics behind rinky-dink instrumentations of pop tunes. Oh sure, Bob and Verna still wanted to look "with it", even though they were pushing forty. The purple turtlenecks and groovy mood rings only did so much. But rather than buy the latest pop record to keep up with their kids, they just waited for some jazz guy to do a version of it. Case in point, "You Make Me Feel Brand New". This rendition of the Stylistics hit is not flyweight enough to disppear into the realm of "fuzak" mind you, but Taylor nearly succeeded in such with a customarily flat recording. At least the bass is just thick enough for it not to be piffle, but the arrangement is breezy enough for Bob to play on the 8-track while driving to work and still feel hip.
Tightwad rating: **** /5
Happy record hunting!
Love,
The Doctor
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