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There are compilations and there are compilations. Verve's Finest Hour series has, generally speaking, been consistent in producing collections with artists' best performances from the label -- with the possible exception of the Ramsey Lewis volume, which sucks. This set by Nuyorican percussion and arranging ace Willie Bobo is arguably the best collection of his work on the market. Virtually everything a fan would want on a single disc is here and, even more crucial, this is flawless as an introduction to Bobo's amazing contribution to Latin, popular, and jazz musics. Obvious cuts like "Grazing in the Grass" and "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries" are here in their steamy glory, as are his incomparable versions of "Knock on Wood" and "Walk Away Renee." Bobo's "It's Not Unusual" is a complete reinvention of the Mills/Reed classic commonly associated with Tom Jones. What comes across so forcefully on the Bobo collection is that his ideas about music were progressive to the point of being oversimplified by others; Bobo saw all music as pop music and treated it as such on his records. His wish to make corner-bending sides for his friends in Harlem actually translates to the entire American populace very well, so well in their directness and emotional honesty -- as well sweet-grooving simplicity -- that sophisticated statements on race and class are played out in his pop music. For those who don't give a damn about this kind of analysis, it's safe to say that this set -- all 18 tracks of it -- constitutes one hell of a driving, partying, dancing, or goofing record straight from the heart to the street corner. This is amazing stuff.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Sonny Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Philemon Hou, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Owens, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Victor Pantoja, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Rogers, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Freddie Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Osvaldo Martinez, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Felix Wilkins, Flute, AssociatedPerformer - John Rodriguez Jr., Bells, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sonny Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bert Keyes, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Melvin Lastie, Cornett, AssociatedPerformer - Les Reed, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Pantoja, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Gordon Mills, ComposerLyricist - Bobby Brown, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Clarence "Frogman" Henry, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Henry, Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Bobo, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Teddy Reig, Producer - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1967 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sonny Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Owens, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - EDDIE HARRIS, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Victor Pantoja, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Rogers, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Freddie Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Osvaldo Martinez, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Felix Wilkins, Flute, AssociatedPerformer - John Rodriguez Jr., Bells, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bobby Hebb, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Teddy Reig, Producer - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sonny Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Stan Webb, Alto Flute, AssociatedPerformer - Tosha Samaroff, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Bodner, Clarinet, Alto Flute, English Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Max Pollikoff, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Owens, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Seymour Barab, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Feliciano, ComposerLyricist - Charles Libove, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Victor Pantoja, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Rogers, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Jennings, Timpani, AssociatedPerformer - Harry Glickman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Osvaldo Martinez, Bells, AssociatedPerformer - Donald John Sebesky, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Jimenez, ComposerLyricist - Esmond Edwards, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Lewis Eley, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Shulman, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Raoul Poliakin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sylvan Shulman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Felix Wilkins, Flute, AssociatedPerformer - John Rodriguez Jr., Bells, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sonny Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Melvin Lastie, Cornet, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Victor Pantoja, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Mangual, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Hart, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Osvaldo Martinez, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - Carlos Valdes, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Brown, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bert Keyes, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - RITCHIE VALENS, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Teddy Reig, Producer - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sonny Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Melvin Lastie, Cornet, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Lamont Dozier, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Victor Pantoja, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Mangual, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Hart, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Osvaldo Martinez, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - Carlos Valdes, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Brown, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dave White Tricker, ComposerLyricist - Creed Taylor, Producer - Johnny Medora, ComposerLyricist - Leonard W. Borisoff, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Clarence "Frogman" Henry, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Henry, Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Owens, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Victor Pantoja, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Rogers, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Freddie Waits, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Osvaldo Martinez, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Felix Wilkins, Flute, AssociatedPerformer - John Rodriguez Jr., Bells, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Teddy Reig, Producer - Michael Brown, ComposerLyricist - Bert DeCoteaux, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Sansome, ComposerLyricist - Bob Calilli, ComposerLyricist - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Stoller, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Teddy Reig, Producer - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bert Keyes, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Neal Hefti, Composer - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Teddy Reig, Producer - Stanley Styne, Composer - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1967 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Teddy Reig, Producer - Nick Jimenez, ComposerLyricist - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sonny Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Melvin Lastie, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Holmes, Producer - Jose Mangual, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Brown, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bobby Hart, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tommy Boyce, ComposerLyricist - Melvin Lastie, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Willie Bobo, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Pantoja, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jose Mangual, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Hart, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Osvaldo Martinez, Bongos, AssociatedPerformer - Carlos Valdes, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Brown, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Farrell, ComposerLyricist - Creed Taylor, Producer
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Steve Cropper, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Floyd, ComposerLyricist - Willie Bobo, MainArtist - Teddy Reig, Producer - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Willie Bobo, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Teddy Reig, Producer - Pete Spargo, Producer
℗ 1967 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
There are compilations and there are compilations. Verve's Finest Hour series has, generally speaking, been consistent in producing collections with artists' best performances from the label -- with the possible exception of the Ramsey Lewis volume, which sucks. This set by Nuyorican percussion and arranging ace Willie Bobo is arguably the best collection of his work on the market. Virtually everything a fan would want on a single disc is here and, even more crucial, this is flawless as an introduction to Bobo's amazing contribution to Latin, popular, and jazz musics. Obvious cuts like "Grazing in the Grass" and "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries" are here in their steamy glory, as are his incomparable versions of "Knock on Wood" and "Walk Away Renee." Bobo's "It's Not Unusual" is a complete reinvention of the Mills/Reed classic commonly associated with Tom Jones. What comes across so forcefully on the Bobo collection is that his ideas about music were progressive to the point of being oversimplified by others; Bobo saw all music as pop music and treated it as such on his records. His wish to make corner-bending sides for his friends in Harlem actually translates to the entire American populace very well, so well in their directness and emotional honesty -- as well sweet-grooving simplicity -- that sophisticated statements on race and class are played out in his pop music. For those who don't give a damn about this kind of analysis, it's safe to say that this set -- all 18 tracks of it -- constitutes one hell of a driving, partying, dancing, or goofing record straight from the heart to the street corner. This is amazing stuff.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:00:45
- Main artists: Willie Bobo
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Verve
- Genre: Jazz
© 2003 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2003 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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