Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass


5-26-10 Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass


Like many other kids growing up in the U.S., my parents had multiple albums by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. Without question, we also had LP’s by the Baja Marimba Band. For a few years there, they were both VERY popular.


  1. The Lonely Bull (A&M SP-101S)
  2. Vol. 2 (A&M SP-103)
  3. South of the Border (A&M SP-108)
  4. Whipped Cream & Other Delights (A&M SP-4110)
  5. Going Places (A&M SP-4112)
  6. What Now My Love (A&M SP-4114)
  7. S.R.O. (A&M SP-4119)
  8. Sounds Like (A&M SP-4124)
  9. Herb Alpert’s Ninth (A&M SP-4134)
  10. The Beat of the Brass (A&M SP-4146)
  11. Christmas Album (A&M SP-4166)
  12. Warm (A&M SP-4190)
  13. The Brass Are Comin’ (A&M SP-4228)
  14. Summertime (A&M SP-4314)


In 2005, some of these original albums became available on Shout Factory (via Columbia Records) – really decent packaging, liner notes, excellent sound. But where’s “Vol. 2”, “Warm”, “The Brass Are Comin”” and “Summertime”?


Herb’s run was from about 1962 to 1969. It is purported that the original TJB was ‘broken up’ in 1969 (hence the last three albums not being made available in the 2005?). I think we would all agree the most famous / popular titles are #1 - #7. Which doesn’t explain why “Vol. 2” was over-looked (surely it should’ve / could’ve been “bonus tracks” on “The Lonely Bull”?). It’s true: some of these discs are not very lengthy.


Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss also formed A&M Records, specifically to release “The Lonely Bull” 45 & LP – but, of course, it became a real record company. How many records on A&M do you own? I own quite a few.


I always pick up the 7” 45rpm singles by Herb & Co. whenever I can find them. As far as I know, not one single non-LP B-side as yet – but I only have a dozen or so of them.


Apparently there was recently (Feb. 2010) a BBC documentary made about Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. I’d sure like to see that. Perhaps one of my ‘torrent’ friends will find that (in NTSC) and burn me a DVD-R of it. I remember an old acquaintance of mine had a Japanese laser disc of HA&TJB!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

A&M Records was my favorite US label. By the early 80s, they consistently used virgin vinyl, licensed all of my favorite UK bands and promoted them enough to actually give them hits in the US market - shocking me in the process. They also distributed IRS Records when they didn't suck! When MCA took over, IRS was dead for me. It was a sad day when A&M sold out to Polygram in '89.

Ron Kane said...

Yeah, Herb & Co. really seemed to have a vision for A&M. But I can see where by the end of the 80's, that vision may have changed. I hope Herb is comfortable now, I suspect so.

So, Jim-san, how many A&M titles do you have? I certainly have hundreds.

Anonymous said...

Ron:

I have no idea how many A&M titles I have, but my Discogs.com page says I have 46/1872 titles on A&M. But I only have a fraction of my collection enabled. I just finished the Ds of my 7" collection. I have random LPs/CDs enabled, as I remember what I have. I'd need to take a week off with my collection at hand to do it up right.

Herb is comfortable enough to drop the likes of $50M on endowments to USC and Cal Arts for their music programs.