Customer Reviews

A Pauper In Paradise

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4 star:		(2)
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Being a huge lover of Gino's music since Crazy Life, I bought this album the day it was released.

I remember stopping by a lounge for a little refreshment before going home and ran into a couple of friends. We ended up heading over to their place and we played the album. It was our first listen. All three of us were stunned. I think that I had a better idea of what to expect. Neither of my friends had ever heard of Gino.

I remember the total silence, except of course, coming from the stereo. After side two played, we all said WOW! That was all we could say. We played it again all the way through.

"Oh lady black, please don't be blueeeeeeeee...." that song...and A Pauper in Paradise are two of the most meaningful songs in my whole life...and I have been a lover of music for 53 years now! Until Canto, this was for me, the essence of Gino's finest work. It still is but I love Canto as well. Gino obviously loved this piece more than any other. His composing talent is superb and I have always been stunned by that...each time that I listen to it.

If you have never heard this piece, you should. Even if you don't think that you care for Gino. You will like this. There's no denying the sheer talent, grace, beauty that comes from every note. What a gift! Thank you Gino!

This is the album that led me to interview Gino Vannelli in Pittsburgh, PA in 1977.
I interviewed Mr. Vannelli after a concert for West Virginia Public Radio. I still have the (3) reel to reel tapes--an awe-inspiring 4-hour event. The out takes are priceless.
The music that evening, from Pauper in Paradise, was electrifying and the experience was unforgettable.
Little did I know then that I was in the presence of a "master" of sound and experience. This album is the"essence" of Gino Vannelli.

Gino Vannelli's musical creativity reached a high point in 1977 with the release of his fifth album "A Pauper In Paradise". Like his previous album, "Gist of The Gemini", "Pauper.." is high on dynamic musical arrangements and showcases Vannelli's vocals at their very best.
The opening track "Mardi Gras", is a jolly slow shuffle with some excellent jazzy arrangements. This is a fun piece which will have you smiling in no time.
Tracks such as "Valleys of Valhalla" and "A Song and Dance" are in the light-pop genre while the album's hit "One Night With You" has a faint touch of disco.
"The Surest Things Can Change" is a gentle ballad perfect for late-night slow dancing with that special someone.
The main highlights of this album are represented in its second half. Both "Black and Blue" and the four-movement title track were recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The end results are beyond belief. "Black and Blue" displays Vannelli's dynamic vocals in full range as the orchestra provides a beautiful lush backup behind him.
The album's epic title track is very much in the same vein as The Moody Blues' "Days of Future Passed" in that it features extended orchestral passages with embelishments from Gino's backup band (consisting of three keyboarists including brother Joe Vannelli plus a drummer and two percussionists). This piece is not rock nor is it commercial pop. The majority of this piece is definitely programmatic classical music (ie: classical music with an overall story and concept). It is only during the third movement that the orchestra is not center of attention. Here, Gino's band lets loose with a progressive rock/jazz fusion hybrid loaded with busy percussion patterns and skittering keyboard passages. This piece as whole demonstrates Gino Vannelli's great strength as a composer and not just a vocalist as the majority of it is instrumental with only a few vocal lines at the very end of the last movement.
"A Pauper In Paradise" is definitely one of Gino Vannelli's finest albums and makes for a perfect match alongside "The Gist Of The Gemini". Although I did not hear this album when it was first released in 1977, I must say that in 2003, "A Pauper In Paradise" sounds like a brand new album. It offers something fresh and exciting from this brilliant vocalist and composer.

A long time ago when I was about eleven and crazy about Deep Purple-I still am-somebody in my family(sorry can't remember who)thought it was a good idea to get me a partner to my Deep Purple 's 69 concerto album.Not a bad idea, but I think I was a little too young to face classical with jazz rock and latino music without the Hard Rock side of Deep purple.Still I remember liking it, so not long ago I gave it another try and got myself the CD.
I fully enjoy the rich mix of pop/jazz/rock, the tons of percussion and of course the grandeur of the -what was-the side II of the album with the orchestra.
A great album that aged quite well and even if some songs on the side I are a little too mellow for me it doesn't ruin the feel and the intensity of the album.Not many classical/rock albums reach their goals, they're often too pompeous or simply sound like two records playing at the same time, I believe it is quite a hard task to achieve, but Vannelli's Pauper In Paradise is one of the few(with the Deep Purple 69 or 99 concerto)that perfectly combines the two genres.
If you don't mind jazz rock mixed with an orchestra and splendid melodies,this album should be a good purchase.

Despite his pop-status, Gino made a daring departure from the top 20 with this mixture of smooth ballads, up-beat rythmns and down-right gorgeous, classical-influenced sounds. Some people say this release doomed his career- others say thank God ! It actually helped him to break away from teeny-bopper music and establish himself as a respected musician. And the bottom line is that voice- always rich, touching, special.

Gino attained new heights with this FANTASTIC 1977 album. Both this & the prior year's "Gist of the Gemini", allowed Gino to express himself in a totally new way with a full orchestra. I heard him say it himself: it was one of the most rewarding efforts of his career.

And though I really appreciate the orchestral work on side 2, I'm still taken to "Paradise" by the ballads "The Surest Things Can Change", "Black & Blue". And there's RAW sensuality to be found in "Valleys of Valhalla" -- he let's it all hang out at the end.

"Thinking man's pop" -- but nuanced with jazz+R&B+rock & so much else.

Dinner by candlelight or a late night sitting on the hood of the car looking down at the city lights from atop a mountain -- you gotta EXPERIENCE this album (without interruption) & not merely listen to it!

Pauper In Paradise came out in 1978. It was one of Gino's Greatest Albums to date especially with the London Symphony. He is like a late - Moody Blues, mixing rock with classical. His instrumentals shows his greatness which he was way ahead of his time in writing and composition, arranging it along with his brother Joe. Also he writes in great instrumentals showing that he does not need to be the center of attention on the stage all time, and that he shares the emense playing ability of his band menbers with the audience and listening publc. Most artist are afraid to do this from what I've seen. I am from LA and seen tons of concerts and this is above and beyond most performers. If you like this you will also love his earlier albums, Storm at Sunup, Gist of the Gemini, and Powerful People. This album and these three are truly his best work! Every song on every album is perfect. Brother to Brother is good, but more "top hit" sounding. I saw this performed live at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in like 1979 and 1976 -front row center at the Holywood Paladium - after "Gist" was released in 1976 - and again after Brother to Brother was released, at the Great Wetern Form the first two were great! Hope to see him again.

Pauper In Paradise came out in 1978. It was one of Gino's Greatest Albums to date especially with the London Symphony. He is like a late - Moody Blues. His instrumentals shows his greatnest which he was way ahead of his time in writing and composition, arranging it along with his brother Joe. If you like this you will love his earlier albums, Storm at Sunup, Gist of the Gemini, and Powerful People. are truly his best work! Every song on every album is perfect. Brother to Brother is good, but more "top hit" sounding. I saw this performed livein the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and prior -= front row center at the Holywood Paladium - after "Gist" was rreleased in 1976 - and again after Brother to Brother was released, at the Great Wetern Form the first two were great! Hope to see him again.

I've heard them all, from "Crazy Life" to "Yonder Tree". And I must admit "Pauper" is by far the best of the Gino collection. The first time I heard Gino, I knew that there will never be another like him....Simple Fantastic

Great strings with the London Symphony. Great pop side too. Way ahead of his time.