Powerful People

Powerful People gives listeners a hint that in addition to being a talented singer, musician, and lyricist, Gino is also a superb (dare I say "powerful") arranger and orchestrator. The songs on the album that most clearly demonstrate that are, "son of a new york gun", "jack miraculous", and "powerful people". They also demonstrate that the people in the music business who label this album "soft rodk" have no idea what they are talking about.

When I hear "Jack" and " NY gun" , they make me think of song & dance numbers in a broadway musical about a "Guys and Dolls" Nathan Detroit kind-of-character. I wondered if this was really someone he knew. "Powerful people" has the sound of an orchestra playing jazz. Listening to these three wonderful songs just make me feel good.

The ballads "lady" and "jojo" are two of my favoirte songs. They showcase Gino's honeyed, crystal clear, beautiful voice (the instrument that I think he plays the best). You feel as if the songs are really personal. I imangined he was singing "lady" just for me (as did, no doubt, a million other women), and I wondered who "jojo" was, if he was really the child of a family member or friend. I never even gave Jim Croce's work much thought until listening to Gino's tribute to him made me curious about it.

"People gotta move" is a great dance number, and you just know from the lyrics that while you are having a good time grooving to the music that Gino also wants you to think a little bit too.

Herb Alpert was "a force to reckon with" in the music business in the 70's, and he produced (or got credit for) Gino's first album "Crazy Life". I always read album production and musician credits, and peruse lyrics, sometimes before I even listen to the music. One of the first things I noticed about this one was "Produced and Arranged by Gino and Joe Vannelli". Herb gets credit as an associate producer, and I wondered if he deserved it. Gino's creative control credit was a foretelling that a powerful musical force was about to make his mark in the music industry.

Gino's music has the power to makes you happy, sad, want to dance, or just chill. The power to make you care about what he cares about and, make you care about him. It does all of these things and so much more, and is simply a joy to listen to even after more than 30 years.

Few music historians know this: the Vannelli brothers' very unique use of synthesizers on this album broke NEW GROUND for this instrument & influenced MANY musicians in the ensuing years across all genre's.

On another note, I'm waiting for the day that "smooth jazz" radio rediscovers Gino's first 5 albums -- the ones he (along with his brothers Ross & Joe) created BEFORE 1978's best-known "Brother to Brother".

These albums are a GOLDMINE for all tastes, just waiting to be re-discovered by a whole new generation of listeners.

And the particular tracks on this album, Lady, Felicia, Jo-Jo, Poor Happy Jimmy -- are ballads that will STAY with you LONG after the CD is put back (temporarily!) on the shelf.

Call this "pop" if you want, but this album works for the R&B, Jazz, & rock ears too -- either young in age or young at heart!