Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Spyro Gyra - A Foreign Affair (2011)


Today is my 27th wedding anniversary so I'm celebrating this morning by listening to Spyro Gyra's 27th studio album while waiting for the real anniversary festivities to begin later on.

Over the past 40 years, SG has been fairly consistent in what they bring: Latin-flavored instrumental pop/smooth jazz with songs written by band members. And while there's a lot of that here, the band goes off track on a few tunes and while I respect an artist's need to grow, it doesn't mean I have to like it. I'm guessing from the title the band wanted this disc to be a sort of international travelogue, and for the most part, they succeed. Warning: there are three vocal tracks on this thing.

Album chart Peaks
  • US Billboard 200: Did not chart
  • Billboard Jazz: #2

Tracks: My favorite track is Shinjuku (because it sounds most like early '80s SG, sue me). Other top tracks are Sweet Ole Thang, Falling Walls, and Samba for Two. The oddest track is bluesman Keb' Mo' singing Last Call, a song written by country artists Fred Knoblack and Danny O'Keefe, with an accompaniment straight out of a late-night jazz club - it probably shouldn't work, but the deft touch of the band makes it happen. There are very few Spyro Gyra tracks that I'll skip, but Kuhda is one of them.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Down The Wire (2009) Point Of View (1989)
Good To Go-Go (2007) Stories Without Words (1987)
Wrapped In A Dream (2006) Breakout (1986)
Original Cinema (2003) Alternating Currents (1985)
In Modern Times (2001) Access All Areas (1984)
Got The Magic (1999)City Kids (1983)
Road Scholars (1998)Incognito (1982)
20/20 (1997)Freetime (1981)
Love & Other Obsessions (1995)Carnaval (1980)
Dreams Beyond Control (1993)Catching The Sun (1980)
Fast Forward (1990)Morning Dance (1979)
Three Wishes (1992)Spyro Gyra (1978)

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