Bobby McFerrin - Spontaneous Inventions (1986)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by this CD.

For many folks, McFerrin is a polarizing artist: either you like McFerrin's (mostly) a capella vocal gymnastics or you don't. But I like them in small doses and will readily admit his skills are impressive. While I don't think this is a great album and I've grown tired of his schtick as I've aged, the album does have its share of enjoyable tunes; I was a big fan in the '80s, and I listened to it quite a bit back in '86.

Press of the time:

• CashBox: "another spectacular vocal tour de force"
• Billboard: "a treat"
• Stereo Review: "thoroughly delightful"
• Musician: "An unprecedented tour de force"
  

also on VHS

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #103
• Billboard Jazz: #6
• Billboard R&B: #62
• CashBox Jazz: #3
• Radio & Records Jazz Radio National Airplay: #1

Tracks:  The solo original compositions are all pretty good, particularly Thinkin' About Your Body and Cara Mia. Of the covers, McFerrin and Wayne Shorter do a fantastic job with Walkin' while The Beatles cover, From Me To You, and I Hear Music (from the 1940 movie Dancing On A Dime) are top-notch as well. Track 2, Turtle Shoes, is notable as a complete waste of Herbie Hancock's talents while McFerrin sings in an affected voice that I can only describe as baby talk.

The collaboration with The Manhattan Transfer & Jon Hendricks was previously released on the group's 1985 album Vocalese so that wasn't new to me and, quite frankly, sadly wastes their talents as well. Nevertheless, the track won two Grammy awards: Best Arrangement For Voices and Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Simple Pleasures (1988)
How The Rhinoceros Got His Skin & How The Camel Got His Hump (1987)
The Voice (1984)