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Showing posts with label Goggie (Mattola). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goggie (Mattola). Show all posts

Sunday, 8 June 2014

"Air" by AIR - Featuring Herbie Mann, Googie, Tom Coppola, John Sieglar and Mark Rosengarden - May 1971 US Debut and Only LP on Embryo Records (April 2008 US DBK Works CD Remaster of their Rare May 1971 LP on Embryo Records) - A Review by Mark Barry


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70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"…Mister Man…"

Part of Herbie Mann's European touring band – Long Island's AIR made only one album – their self-titled debut LP on Embryo Records SD-733 issued just before Summer, May 1971. 

Produced by Herbie Mann - the lone LP's most famous track "Mr. Man" even turned up on one of the British-issued "Right On!" CD compilations issued by Warner Special Products - Volume 5 to be exact (see below).

This superb April 2008 US reissue of "Air" by AIR on DBK Works DBK543 (Barcode 646315054323) is a straightforward remaster of that rare and desirable American vinyl LP (42:48 minutes).

Not to be confused with the French Ambient/Electronica group of the same name – the American AIR was a four-piece Jazz-Rock-Fusion group that featured lead singer and principal songwriter GOOGIE. She was married at the time to the Group's Keyboardist TOM COPPOLA (she later went under the name of Carolyn Brooks Gotlieb). JOHN SIEGLER provided Bass with MARK ROSENGARDEN on Drums and their mentor HERBIE MANN produced the album.

1. Realize [Side 1]
2. Mr. Man
3. Baby, I Don't Know Where Love
4. Martin
5. In Our Time
6. Man Is Free [Side 2]
7. Sister Bessie
8. Lipstick
9. Man's Got Style
10. Jail Cell
11. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

Session brothers RANDY and MIKE BRECKER added Trombone and Saxophone to "Realize", "Mr. Man" and "Sister Bessie" while JAN HAMMER plays percussion of "Lipstick". Randy Brecker adds solo trumpet to "Man Is Free" and Mike Brecker plays Soprano Sax on "Lipstick". All 11 songs were written by Googie (she also played piano, organ and harpsichord) excepting two -"Sister Bessie" which was a Moogy Klingman original (later with Todd Rundgren's Utopia) and the Nina Simone standard, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" (written by Billy Taylor and Dick Dallas) which was recorded live at Googie's House in the Bronx.

The CD remaster by GARY HOBISH is superb – adding real clarity and muscle to the piano, congas and fusion type rhythms. The basic 8-page booklet provides some period photos and short liner notes by Googie and Bassist John Siegler as well as recording info.

Embryo Records was distributed by Atlantic in the States (hence the SD catalogue number) but for many - this obscure Vocal Fusion album passed them by. I picked up on it via Atlantic's 2004 UK CD compilation "Right On! Volume 5" (Warner Strategic Marketing 5046691472 - Barcode 5050466914729). Begun in 1999 - the "Right On!" series (along with the "Natural High" compilations) reintroduced a young Rock/Soul audience to Rare Grooves and Breaks across the huge WEA catalogue. 

The monster track on this debut (and only) album for them is "Mr. Man" – a fabulous Soulful Jazzy groove that's part Chicago, part Blood Sweat & Tears and part Brian Auger's Oblivion Express. It's a killer and always brought customers to the counter whenever I played it in Reckless (Soho, London). Their sound is even reminiscent of Soft Machine, Linda Hoyle's Affinity and the keyboard Prog of ELP meets Freeform Jazz.

Other highlights include "Man's Got Style" (very Mr. Man) and the lovely piano vocal of "Jail Cell" and the funky brass breaks in "Man Is Free". It's not all genius for sure and after a while the vocal wailing can grate - but there's enough on here to see why it's so revered amongst aficionados. 

A very cool reissue of an expensive and desirable piece - kudos to all involved…

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