Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - The Beat of the Brass

In May 1968, Alpert released The Beat Of The Brass, which reached the #1 spot on the Pop Albums chart, and spent a total of 18 weeks in the Top 40. "This Guy’s In Love With You," with Herb on vocals, was a huge smash, topping both the Pop and AC singles charts.

Each album in the Herb Alpert Signature Series features meticulously remastered sound, deluxe packaging, detailed liner notes, and an intro by Herb Alpert containing personal recollections and anecdotes. Album Description

PASS THE TEQUILA! AND LISTEN TO THE BRASS! ONE OF MY FAVORITES

I am repeating this story you are about to read as it gives an explanation of why I love this music so much! "The Beat of the Brass" has many of the songs on it used on the ride you are about to read about. It is one of my favorite Herb albums for that reason. That being said....Please read on.....I have fond memories of the music of Herb Alpert! I was introduced to him at an early age as my parents were fans of his records. I didn't hear much of him again until I was coming of age in Wildwood N.J. at the age of 15 when I used to party under the boardwalk with my friends and our girlfriends underneath Hunt's Pier's "El Scrambler" ride. The ride played Herb Alpert tunes non stop! I guess you could say I became a "Man" underneath that pier with my first love listening to the Tijuana Brass. Later in life in my 30's I was taking a break from playing in a band in the local bars,I became a DJ and I would mix Herb Alpert in my mixes and buy shots of Tequila for my fans! To this day when I play these songs at parties we all look for the Tequila bottle! This is a one of a kind sound and if I were stranded on a desert island with only a few albums, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass would be included in that collection! This is one of his best albums and the last great album in my opinion. I no longer own the original records so, I can not say if the new cd's are true to the originals. They sound fantastic to my ear! July 12, 2007

The Beat of the Brass - Herb Alpert

I've enjoyed the sound of Herb Alpert music since he started in the 1960's. This CD reissue brings back great music enjoyment memories and I throughly enjoyed the enclosed booklet. May 15, 2007

Herb Alpert and TJB in their prime

I was raised listening to the TJB so I am prejudiced toward their playing. That said, this is an excellent example of the "old" TJB type of playing--simple, bouncy, uplifting. The TJB have a style that is unique and I never tire of hearing them. I have been listening to this album since it was an LP, back in 1968, and I still pull it out every spring to listen to it again. Long live Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass! April 12, 2007

The Beat of the Brass=Bossa Nova

The Beat Of the Brass is the soundtrack for The Tijuana Brass' second television special. It features Alpert's first number one hit, as a vocalist. This Guy's In Love With You, written by Burt Bacharach, is the last track on the album.
The Beat of the Brass' opener is Monday Monday. A swinging rendition of The Mamas & The Papas hit. After this track, the album goes into a string of tunes with a bossa nova beat. Cabaret, and Panama are the high lights of the first set of brazilian influenced tunes. Talk To The Animals, a rather corny number isn't the best song on the album.
Track seven, Slick is another swinging piece, and the second string of bossa novas starts off again, until the album comes to a close with the vocal.
The original album had a gatefold cover displaying scenes from the special they did for NBC, and very nice pictures. This is a very tight album, with excellent instrumentation. A wonderful album! March 4, 2007

TJB '68

Originally released in 1968, The Beat of the Brass (stereo only) might be one of the best albums from Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass. Most of this album is very entertaining. It contains such gems as Monday, Monday, A Beautiful Friend, Panama, Slick, The Robin and of course, This Guys In Love With You. This album just flows from start to finish.

01. Monday, Monday - 10/10 I love the Bob Edmondson trombone work here; in fact he is at his peak all the way through this album.

02. A Beautiful Friend - 9/10 All I can say is, really pretty. Herb's is superb on his horn, the flute work is gorgeous, and there's just the right amount of drums.

03. Cabaret - 9/10 Edmondson's trombone work and Nick Ceroli's drums make this work.

04. Panama - 10/10 Great work by Edmondson again and by the amazing Julius Wechter on the chimes.

05. Belz Mein Shtetele Belz (My Home Town) - 5/10 A punching the clock type number. It's alright.

06. Talk To The Animals - 2/10 This song worked for the TV special but, is a bit awkward on the album.

07. Slick- 10/10 I just love those chord changes in the chorus. A very cool tune.

08. She Touched Me - 9/10 This is a much underestimated little gem.

09. Thanks For The Memory - 8/10 Another good toe-taper.

10. The Robin - 9/10 - A fabulous instrumental that's tucked towards the back of the album.

11. This Guys In Love With You - 10/10 It was great in '68 and still sounds fresh to this day. This was the perfect blending of song and performance which produced the first number one single for Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

This is a classic album with great sound quality and so it gets 5 stars for the music and packaging! October 19, 2005

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