Search - Herb Alpert :: Four Sider

A&M Corner looks at FOURSIDER

Neil Rudish of A&M Corner | Canton, MI, USA | 11/27/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While FOURSIDER is a good collection of TJB tracks, some not available on CD, the sound quality is lacking like all other A&M FOURSIDERs. Given that the original 2-LP set was made from copies of copies of master tapes, there is a lot of tape hiss and lack of detail. The two GREATEST HITS CDs have an edge in sound quality, while the CLASSICS VOL. 1 makes a good companion to this set. And it's about all we can expect to get from the now-defunct A&M."

Classic Tijuana Brass!

W. J. Bernardi | Austin, Tx USA | 02/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a collection of some of the finest from the TJB. While a lot of this is already available on other compilations, there are a couple of songs that can only be found here (Warm, If I Were A Rich Man, More, Hello Dolly). This was a 2 record set originally, hence the title name. Terrific stuff!"

The last two tracks are among the best!

Mark Welsh | Mayberry, NC USA | 08/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Any real Herb Alpert/TJB fan should know most of the songs on this collection and realize that nearly all are great songs. I personally never cared much for "Mame" or "Hello Dolly" as I'm not a fan of Dixieland or songs of that genre, by Herb or Louie or anyone else. But I beg to differ with the reviewer who hated the last two tracks on this collection. I only wish they were on the new "Lost Treasures" CD of remastered rarities. I have to agree with the other reviewer that one must be prepared for slight tape hiss due to the tracks on the FOURSIDER collection not coming from the master tapes themselves.



"Without Her" is a wintry, atmospheric Harry Nilsson composition that was one of the few songs to garner notice off of Blood, Sweat & Tears first album, 1968's CHILD IS FATHER TO THE MAN. I believe it was sung on that album by high-strung and temperamental BS&T founder and keyboardist Al Kooper, who left the band before they found their biggest fame with soulful lead singer David Clayton-Thomas on their 2nd album, the blockbuster from 1969 simply entitled BLOOD, SWEAT, & TEARS. Herb sings it here and it is perfectly suited for his limited range. One of the few good things about the movie "The Last Tango In Paris" is its memorable theme song. Many of the other songs on FOURSIDER are available on the new reissues coming out this year, but if you are simply seeking a greatest hits collection, I would recommend this one, not the least reason being the last two tracks.



But simply give the Amazon samples a listen and make up your own mind. It's all opinion, after all."