Rate-O-Rama #33: Jazz Instrumentals

Greetings, Vocalites!

I’m thrilled to continue Rate-O-Rama! It’s been 13 months since the last installment, and I kept receiving more and more requests to bring it back—so here we are!

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The format remains mostly the same (why fix what isn’t broken?), but I’ve added a few new features, including a trivia Q&A and a snappy, disco-inspired theme song. Along with featuring three cover versions of the same song, I’ll occasionally showcase three different songs from the same genre and time period to mix things up. My Thoughts section will be much shorter this time around.

So, if you’re ready to have fun, let’s play Rate-O-Rama!

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➡ If you’d like to receive a notification when the next Rate-O-Rama post is published, let me know in the comments.

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About Rate-O-Rama

Rate-O-Rama is a reader participation game.

Every other Wednesday, I publish an article featuring three songs. Your task is to listen to the provided music videos, then rate each song in the comments section.

*** Rate-O-Rama #34 will be published on Wednesday May 28, 2025 ***

(Note: You must be a Vocal Media member to comment. If you’re not a member, you can join for free! You’ll never have to pay unless you choose to upgrade your membership.)

How to Rate

The rating method is simple:

• Rate each song from 1 to 100 (the more you like it, the higher the rating).
• If possible, leave a brief comment sharing your thoughts on each song.
• After two weeks (on Monday evening), I will tally the ratings. In the next Rate-O-Rama post, I’ll announce the average rating each song received.

Voting for this edition of Rate-O-Rama closes on Monday May 26, 2025

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*** The Thirty-Third Edition: Classic Jazz Instrumentals from the Late 1970s ***

🎺 “Feels So Good” – Chuck Mangione (1978)

(Your ratings should be based off of the first video which is the studio version. The second video is a live treat as an extra added bonus)

Music mogul and trumpeter Herb Alpert was taking a break from recording in the early 1970s to focus on developing his independent record label, A&M Records, home to acts like Carpenters, Billy Preston, Joe Cocker, Carole King, and Cat Stevens.

In 1973, Alpert heard Mangione’s Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor (Alive version), which inspired him to pick up the trumpet again and record. He even included his own version of Sailor on his 1974 comeback album, You Smile – The Song Begins.

After Mangione’s contract with Mercury ended, Alpert signed him to A&M Records in 1975. By that point, Mangione had been recording since 1960 and had already earned four Grammy nominations (later accumulating another ten nominations and two wins).

Mangione’s success peaked in 1978 with his smooth jazz-pop album Feels So Good, his 13th studio album overall and fourth on A&M Records. It was also his first to chart, reaching #2 in the U.S. and performing well in Australia and New Zealand. The album cover famously depicts Mangione hugging his flugelhorn.

The single “Feels So Good” became a smooth jazz classic, reaching #4 in the U.S., #1 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart, and #68 on the U.S. Hot Soul Singles. It also charted well in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year, but it lost to Billy Joel’s "Just the Way You Are."

🎺 Trivia:

Which product did Chuck Mangione promote in a 1979 television commercial with Ella Fitzgerald?

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🎷 “Morning Dance” – Spyro Gyra (1979)

Spyro Gyra formed in 1974 and found success quickly. Signed to Infinity Records in 1975, they released their debut album in 1976, which reached #99 in both the U.S. and Canada by 1977.

Their major breakthrough came in 1979 with their hit album and single, Morning Dance. The album was certified platinum and charted #47 in the U.S., #27 in Canada, and #86 in Australia. The single “Morning Dance” reached #24 in the U.S. and topped the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart. It also charted well in Australia and the UK.

🎷 Trivia:

Where does the name Spyro Gyra come from?

A: A type of green algae

B: A child’s toy

C: A type of sandwich

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🎺 “Rise” – Herb Alpert (1979)

Herb Alpert, a highly successful music mogul and musician, co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss in 1962. By the 1970s, A&M Records was a powerhouse, signing international acts like Carpenters, Supertramp, Styx, Cat Stevens, Bryan Adams, The Police, and Janet Jackson.

As a musician, Alpert formed Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, a Latin-tinged band that scored 13 Top 40 singles and nine Top 10 albums (including five #1 albums).

As a solo artist, he continued producing hits, including two #1 singles: “This Guy’s In Love With You” (1968) and “Rise” (1979). Over his career, Alpert has sold over 75 million albums.

For Rise (the album), Alpert enlisted both seasoned session musicians and younger up-and-coming artists.

Among them the younger were:

• Michael Boddicker (26 years old) – Synthesizer programming
• Chris Pinnick (25) – Guitar, later joined Chicago
• James Jamerson Jr. (21) – Bass, worked with Tavares and Sylvester
• Louis Johnson (23) – Bass, known for the popular funk duo The Brothers Johnson also played bass on Michael Jackson's Thriller album.
• Abe Laboriel (31) – Bass, recorded with Al Jarreau and Lee Ritenour

“Rise” became Alpert’s 15th Top 40 hit, reaching #1 and spending two weeks at the top. The song was a dance hit in the UK and was co-written by Alpert’s nephew, Randy ‘Badazz’ Alpert.

The success of “Rise” led Alpert to explore a jazz-pop-funk style across his next five albums.

🎺 Trivia:

What type of album was Herb Alpert originally planning to record before Rise changed direction?

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My Thoughts

🎺 “Feels So Good” – Chuck Mangione: Mangione handles his flugelhorn with care and expertise, creating a smooth and uplifting feel-good mood. My Rating: 95

🎷 “Morning Dance” – Spyro Gyra: I love the island vibe of this song. The bright electric piano and sunny saxophone capture a joyful morning dance. My Rating: 100

🎺 “Rise” – Herb Alpert: A timeless classic. The funk elements excite me, and Alpert’s trumpet performance is as expert as ever. My Rating: 99.5

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Trivia Answers

• Mangione appeared in a commercial for Memorex in 1979, performing “Feels So Good." Ella Fitzgerald listened to it live and then through a Memorex recording. When asked "Is it live or is it Memorex?" she shrugged and said, "Beats me!"
• Spyro Gyra’s name comes from Spirogyra, a genus of green algae that founder Jay Beckenstein learned about in college.
• Alpert originally planned to record funk versions of Tijuana Brass songs, but his nephew Randy ‘Badazz’ Alpert wrote "Rise", during those sessions, which shifted the direction of the project.

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Now it’s your turn to rate the songs and share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Musically yours, RHC 🎷🎺📯