Way ahead of it's time. Classical, Calypso, Jazz, Funk, Fusion all wrapped into one. And this was about 1977 I think. Wow. This is awesome. One of the most versatile bands EVER!!!!
avey00071 - absolutely. I loved it when building a sound system kinda showed how much that person was into the finer aspects of music. Equalizer and DBX a must for starters. Reverb and quad was nice when not over used. How about those speakers. Loved bass, love JBL.
Mandrill was the most talented bands out of the 70s era. (IMO) ALL of them could play multiple instruments and on top of that is the fact that some of them have doctorates! I loved this Lp. This was my favorite song on it. I still wonder why this was never available in cd.
Mellovisions interesting. I heard there were cds but the reviews regarding sound quality were not great. I had hoped they would have a cd version here in the states.
This one of the only groups where band members play numerous instruments, Thats why I think they had the best switch ups ever ! They're like the United Nations of music
I love it! It’s like the Phantom of the Opera goes down the rabbit hole🕳 …in Alice in Wonderland! I’m telling you man, this is one of the most diverse groups ever! They can play so many different styles... and can do it all at the same song!👌🏽
they were overlooked because of the time they came on the scene, It certainly was'nt the music. While in college 70-74 Mandrill was a mainstay to our music., It is still moving as said below this is a MASTERPIECE
Like I posted on another Mandrill tune, they were untouchable when it comes to instrumentals. Why is it that groups this good don't get mentioned much if at all. They were head and shoulder better than most by a long shot.
This is bloody epic. I counted 10 parts (just from the rests).The bass line alone in the, um, 8th part is quite a boggler! But is this their magnum opus? The back catalogue is just so incredible most fans might beat me senseless with a brick for daring to offer an opinion. So I won't. Instead I'll simply add that they are the funkiest, jazziest, most soulful, latino-esque, neo-classical-metal-disco-rockers that I personally have heard of . Seven bands in one? Extraordinary.
@@toneyisaiah3556 original members I believe 2 Fudge Kay bass he join on 2nd album and sweet Lou oldest brother trumpet not sure of the other members on their first album I love those guys
I'm not sure why this is the only Polydor release that didn't get reissued on CD back in the late-90s, but I sincerely hope it's not because the original master tapes were "misplaced". That would be a damn shame. Music on this album was brilliant at times, with plenty of instrumentals to savor. Still keeping my fingers crossed for a proper CD reissue (along with their U.A. label release 'Beast From The East'; another overlooked gem from their heyday).
For Duke Ellington. There are some aspects which reflect DukeL 1) the title 'Mini-Suite - the suite was Duke's favorite classical form; 2) the variety of styles - Duke loved to write in different styles, and considered categories like jazz just a (racist) insult: he said over and over 'there are only two types of music - good and bad"; 3) the funkier and jazzier parts reflect the bass lines that Duke pioneered in his 1960s albums and suites (Afro-Bossa, Far East Sutel New Orleans Suite, etc.) Duke like Bach was a whole world of music. Just to see how far the styles of tributes to him could stretch, check out Miles Davis's tribute on Get Up/With It, his most avant-garde funk album,.
I wasnt on this album but was with the band on mainly the first 3 albums and i believe this was for Duke as we played a show with him in NYC at the Avery Fisher Hall
This album is in dire need of a proper reissiue on cd. There is a CD out from a obscure label but let me tell u its bad soundwise. I guess a vinly copy taken with a real cheap cart.
Zockopa I totally agree with you. For many years I wondered why this classic Mandrill recording was never released in CD format. I could never locate a bootleg copy. If you ever come across a decent sounding copy let me know.
Zockopa - Mandrill was so ahead of their time. Only a few bands were out back then that could match the knowledge they, and bands like War was producing. If they had the studio technology of today's recordings, fit to their capabilities, some of us probably would have lost our minds back in the seventies. Truly beautiful music.
Please corroborate the passing of Claude "Coffee" Cave. If true, what happened to him. After leaving Mandrill, he disappeared from the music scene, being sooooo talented. To me, the best Hammond Player ever.
