Chuck Mangione - Feels so good (1977)

Classic Album Review (13)

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I was 14 years old when this album came out. The title track, "Feels so good" was all over the radio. It was the radio edited-shorter version. The album version goes on for nearly six and a half minutes. This was 1970's pop-jazz. As far as I know, the song "Feels so good", was the only hit Mangione ever had.

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Okay, so who listens to a flugelhorn in pop music?

Apparently, everyone who liked this song. Most people just thought that they were listening to a weird sounding trumpet. I know, that's what I thought. I had never even heard of a flugelhorn before. It was weird and yet very easy to listen to.

For me, I was much more interested in the tasty jazz guitar solos being played by the legendary Grant Geissman. I remember loving the sound of jazz guitar, even as a young kid when I heard "Midnight at the Oasis" way back in 1974.

Geissman's solo on "Feels so good" was far beyond my limited comprehension as a beginner guitarist, but I liked the fact that there were jazz guitarists out there who could play faster, cleaner and smoother than some of the rock gawds of the time.

Some might consider this album as "cheesy listening" or elevator music, and that's okay. As a musician, I appreciate the musicianship. Yes, it is very retro-70's, but a song like “Theme from Side street", introduces a complicated jazz time signatures and chord progressions common in fusion music of that time. This album probably could have been a milder version of a fusion pop record.

"Hide and seek" to me, sounds like Miles Davis doing a disco song, but it's really cool! Mangione plays an actual trumpet solo on this song, and he is all over it. "Last Dance" is a nice, slow ballad that sounds very 70's. It reminds me the soundtracks to old documentary films from that decade. "The Eleventh Commandment" is a funky groove with some funky slapping bass. I remember learning that bass part when I was in high school.

Overall, this is one of my favorite albums from the 1970's because it reminds me of a time when music was becoming more and more paramount in my life as a practicing instrumentalist and audiophile. I highly recommend you take a listen to these great songs again.

Okay, so who was in the band?

On Flugelhorn, trumpets and keys - Chuck Mangione. A highly under-rated musician who probably should have been much bigger then he was in his success.

On electric, acoustic, 12-string and classical guitars - Grant Geissman. Insane, highly under-rated guitarist! As a session player, he played with everyone. His work on this album is incredible.

On drums, congas and timbales  - James Bradley Jr. Another great session player. His work on this album is fantastic.

On bass guitars - Charles Meeks. Let's just say that Mangione gathered up some incredible talent for this album.

On saxophones and flutes - Chris Vadala. His work on "Maui Waui" is so 70's, but like I said - it's really cool.

Rating 7/10