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Herb Alpert is about to release his latest studio album, Human Nature, on September 30, and it looks to be an exciting set even by the high standards of the eternally youthful trumpeter. His fourth album in three years, Human Nature features five original songs plus reworkings of Steve Porcaro and John Bettis' "Human Nature" (the 1983 Michael Jackson hit), Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Alfie" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," and a world premiere composition from Bacharach and Elvis Costello, "Look Up Again." But before that, Alpert is taking his deepest-ever dive into his back catalogue with a reissue program featuring 25 titles, many of which are long out-of-print or have never previously been released on compact disc! All albums are due from the Herb Alpert Presents label on September 9.
This remarkable campaign spanning albums released between 1962 and 2011 features most of Alpert's classic Tijuana Brass and solo albums (including the seminal Whipped Cream and Other Delights, which kicked off the program last November), many of which weren't addressed in the last Alpert reissue series from Shout! Factory. All will be reissued in newly-remastered editions from the original analog master tapes. Each album is packaged in a replica of the original artwork (with no new liner notes or other elements), and five titles in the series (including the already-available Whipped Cream) will also be issued on 180-gram vinyl. Note that while Christmas Album is not included in the below list, it too was reissued last year.
Here's the full line-up with Amazon U.S. links:
- The Lonely Bull (1962)
- Volume 2 (1963)
- South Of The Border (1964) (Also on vinyl)
- Whipped Cream and Other Delights (1965) (Also on vinyl)
- Going Places (1965) (Also on vinyl)
- What Now My Love (1966) (Also on vinyl)
- SRO (1966)
- Sounds Like ... (1967)
- Ninth (1967)
- The Beat Of The Brass (1968)
- Warm (1969)
- The Brass Are Comin' (1969)
- Summertime (1971)
- You Smile - The Song Begins (1974)
- Coney Island (1975)
- Main Event: Live (1978) - with Hugh Masekela
- Rise (1979) (Also on vinyl)
- Beyond (1980)
- Magic Man (1981)
- Fandango (1982)
- Keep Your Eye On Me (1987)
- North On South St. (1991)
- Midnight Sun (1992)
- Anything Goes: Live (2009) - with Lani Hall
- I Feel You (2011) - with Lani Hall
A handful of releases from Alpert's A&M years have been left out of this wave of releases, but hopefully will appear on CD down the road, including Just You and Me (1976), Herb Alpert/Hugh Masekela (1978), Blow Your Own Horn (1983), Bullish (1984), Wild Romance (1985), Under a Spanish Moon (1988), My Abstract Heart (1989).
All of the above titles are due from Herb Alpert Presents on September 9, while Herb's newest, Human Nature, follows on September 30 from the label. Alpert and his wife, vocalist Lani Hall (equally deserving of a CD reissue campaign!), continue to tour; you can catch a list of their current dates right here!
Information for Human Nature can be found below!
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Herb Alpert, Human Nature (Herb Alpert Presents, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Human Nature
- Shake It
- Alfie
- Thalia
- Look Up Again
- Incognito
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart
- Mystery Man
- Doodles
Release Round-Up: Week of September 15
Release Round-Up: Week of September 30
Release Round-Up: Week of April 22
Release Round-Up: Week of September 17
Does anyone know if there's a costello vocal on the premiere b-c song?
There was no mention of any vocals on the track, Greg, but I sure would love to hear Elvis (and his lyrics)!
I'm hoping. It seems counter intuitive to announce a world premiere song by burt and elvis, and then have no vocals/lyrics. Right?
Didn't Bacharach generally write the music where Hal David wrote the lyrics? Costello has released music without lyrics, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear no vocals here.
Not really so deep if they don't include the mono versions as well. That is another missed opportunity.
I did notice that several Lani Hall albums are now available as downloads on Amazon. Would sure prefer them on CD.
You're right Ian. Lani Hall is badly provided for by A+M when it comes to CD releases of her albums. Don't think there are any available at present, not even a best of. It's only in the last few months that they've released three on download. She made some great albums in the 70's and early 80's.
I agree. Lani Hall is long over due for CD reissues. I would love to have Blush on CD. Her Classics Vol. 19 CD gets pretty outrageous asking prices on the secondary market but it features her Bond song "Never Say Never Again" so I want it, I just won't pay those prices.
It would be nice if Herb would restore and remaster all of the Herb Alpert and the TJB television specials and put them out on DVD with bonus features like the original commercials.
Good grief! The cover of that new Alpert album, Human Nature, teeters dangerously close to being mimicry of the famous Miles Davis logo that shows Miles playing trumpet in profile while bent at the knee. It's a direct lift, really! Add to it that Miles Davis also covered "Human Nature" and this is just way too close for comfort. I believe that Miles Davis logo is trademarked, too.
Here's the Davis logo: https://www.milesdavis.com/wp-content/themes/milesdavis/images/favicon.ico
close but no cigar - the image of the new album is a picture of a statue Alpert created.
will the alpert cds be released as a box set?
No plans for a box have been announced.