Spellbound

by Joe Sample

Overview

With the supremely funky rhythm section of Marcus Miller (bass), Lenny Castro (percussion) and Omar Hakim (drums) propelling his piano most of the way -- the other ringers on a few tracks aren't bad either -- you would think that Joe Sample couldn't miss on this solo outing, Spellbound. Indeed, his distinctive piano cannot be mistaken for anyone else's, free of the usual mainstream influences and always a pleasure to groove to. And yet there is something too comfortable, too settled, too automatic about the musicmaking here, as if the grooves are being smothered by a warm, snuggly electric blanket. Another problem is the material; not much leaps into your memory banks. Nor is it meant to, perhaps, since the gently sustained electronic textures suggest that this is, above all, high-class background music. Al Jarreau, Michael Franks and Take 6 -- all Warner Bros. signees, natch -- put in characteristic cameo vocal appearances on one track apiece, and a background choir sings "Luna en New York" in Spanish. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0075992578127
Rank:	1657

Tracks

1. Seven Years of Good Luck
2. Spellbound
3. Somehow Our Love Survives
4. All God's Children
5. Leading Me Back to You
6. U-Turn
7. Bone's Jive
8. Luna en New York
9. Sermonized
10. Looking Glass

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Joe Sample   Primary Artist,Synthesizer,Piano (Electric),MIDI,Piano
Michael Franks   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Marcus Miller   Guest Artist,Bass
Al Jarreau   Guest Artist,Vocals
Omar Hakim   Guest Artist,Drums
Take 6   Guest Artist,Vocals
John Pena   Bass
Lenny Castro   Percussion
Nathan East   Bass
Michael Landau   Guitar
Robbie Buchanan   Synthesizer
Erika Mellado   Vocals (Background)
Lizzie Giraldo   Vocals (Background)
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
Luis Chi-Sing   Vocals (Background)
Frank Giraldo   Vocals (Background)
Carlos Nunez   Vocals (Background)
Larry Williams   Synthesizer
Chuck Domanico   Bass (Acoustic),Bass

Technical Credits

Eric Hansen   MIDI Technician
Doug Sax   Mastering
Mark Kibble   Composer
Jerry Hey   Synthesizer Arrangements
Roy Hendrickson   Assistant Engineer
Ruben Blades   Composer
Michael Franks   Composer,Liner Notes
Mervyn Warren   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Joe Sample   Composer
Robbie Buchanan   Programming
Richard Markowitz   Engineer
Al Schmitt   Engineer
Bruce Miller   Engineer
Stacy Baird   Assistant Engineer
Laura LiPuma   Art Direction
David Thomas   Composer,Composer
Steve Hoboyd   Assistant Engineer
Pamela Hope Lobue   Production Coordination
Shirley Klein   Cover Design
Sonny Abelardo   Production Coordination
Barton Stevens   Assistant Engineer
Joey Wolpert   Engineer
Tommy LiPuma   Producer
Wade Jaynes   Assistant Engineer
Marcus Miller   Composer
Clark Germain   Assistant Engineer
D. Thomas   Composer
Larry Williams   Synthesizer Arrangements
Duke Ellington   Composer
Bill Schnee   Mixing
Larry Fast   MIDI Technician