Chuck Mangione - Eyes Of The Veiled Temptress (1988)

I'm not sure how Chuck got together with the legendary Thom Bell, one of the architects of Philly soul, but I guess the 'how' doesn't matter. The result of their collaboration is this album, Mangione's final release for Columbia and his last on any major label. Bell is listed as co-producer and co-arranger of the album along with Mangione. Of the seven tracks, Mangione wrote 3, while Bell wrote or co-wrote the remaining 4, including two tracks featuring vocals from Rob Mathes. It's not a very consistent album, but I enjoy most of the tracks anyway and I've got to say that saxophonist Chris Vadala has never sounded better. As one might guess, the Bell tracks are more soulful and the Mangione tracks are his usual Spanish-influenced jazz/pop. As the CashBox review states, there's "nothing new under this sun" but the thing is an easy listen and much better than Mangione's previous albums Disguise and Save Tonight For Me.

Reviews/ratings:

• Billboard: "vet R&B boardmeister Bell frames Mangione's easy-going compositions well"
• CashBox: "If Mangione's for you, this easy-on-the-ears album's for you"
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #22
• CashBox Jazz: #23

Tracks: The opener, That's Nice, is a catchy earworm that is almost completely ruined by the loud, gated drums (hey, it was the '80s). With a track title like that, they're really asking for it, so please appreciate my restraint. I usually despise vocal tracks on otherwise instrumental jazz albums, but I kinda dig the two here: Do You Ever Think About Me and Freedom Song. Of those two, I give the edge to Do You Ever Think About Me. The Mangione tracks sound like Mangione tracks - there's just no other way to put it. One of the album's blander tracks, Long Hair Soulful, was edited and released as a single plus the album version was released as a 12" single. I can't find that either vocal track was released as a single. Sadly, Chuck and the singles charts haven't seen each other since 1980.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Thanks to long-time reader and friend o' the blog Dirk Digglinator for hipping me to this one via social media. After reading the post, I almost immediately ordered a used copy on eBay and when the CD was delivered, it felt so good to discover the autographs of Mangione and guitarist Mark Manetta inside the CD booklet. I don't know who Paddy is, but I'm glad he went to the trouble of getting the autographs, I'm guessing at a concert supporting the album.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Everything For Love (2000)
Classics, Volume 6 (1987)
Love Notes (1982)/Disguise (1984)/Save Tonight For Me (1986)
An Evening of Magic: Live at The Hollywood Bowl (1979)
Feels So Good (1977)
Land Of Make Believe (1973)