Thoughts on: Michel Colombier - Wings

[amidar]

I won this in an auction last night it was one of those up in 15 minute spur of the moment bids and no one placed another bid so picked it up cheaply enough if its in the condition they state.

I just wondered what peoples thoughts are on this album, what drew me to it were a couple of videos on Youtube (I didn't want to listen all the way through kind of ruins the experience when the record arrives.) but they sounded like Blood Sweat and Tears on one and sort of Avant Library music in another. I also read a little quick history of the album and the huge expense, huge number of people involved etc and the fact it's a guy who composed music for films given lots of money to make an album basically something which would never happen now.

Herb Alpert being involved nearly put me off but it sounded silly enough that something was telling me to buy it in the back of my head. I've never come across it before and even with the funny cover design I may well have flicked past it.

Anyway I know its not the holy grail but it sounded mad so is it good or have I bought a turkey?

[LDJB]

It's alright. Very 'French' sounding if that makes sense. It's filed away but not been played for a while.

[Boi Bach o Bethel]

Stick with it. There are some great bits there? Loops and samples for sure. Bill Medley's voice grates on me, but there are enough axelrod esque moments there to put it on par with the Pete Jolly Seasons Lp..(Check the track Earth and the sleeze funk of pourqui pass )
Lani Hall's track We could be Flying has a heavenly ending... using some of Sergio Mendes moves in the harmonies department.

[amidar]

Cheers guys, yep french makes sense with what little I listened to also its one of those covers that I would have flipped open the gatefold and thought Chanson at first glance. What I heard sounded groovy in that French way and BS&T which I'm guessing is 'Bill Medley'. I like overblown 'concept' records so It'll get a few spins to sink in. Looking forward to it now.

[francois parker]

I've not played it in years but remember liking a few tracks on it, one real nice Library style track on there if I remember right.
Next time I come across it (its in a box somewhere in out spare room) Im going to dig it out and give it a spin for sure, my tastes have changed a lot since I last played it so might dig some of the other tracks now.

[amidar]

I agree with Boi Bach's assessments on first listen. Its certainly an interesting piece has some crazy moments on it, quite a few breaks for the Hip Hop heads or loopseekers and a literal who's who of European musicians on it. Two names that stuck out for me were 'Eddy Louiss' and 'Jean Luc Ponty'.

It must have been a huge undertaking and there is a picture on the gatefold of the composers head in his hands looking just a little stressed but it will certainly get more listens to let it sink in as I've no idea what its all about, stunning copy though which was certainly needed with all the vocal and orchestral layering going on. Even Bill Medley's affected David Clayton Thomas impersonation didn't grate too much but he does dominate a good portion of the album.

I was looking for other things he did during his post 'Righteous Brothers' phase specifically early 70's but couldn't find any sound samples to see if he was singing that way all the time. I think someone like 'Murray Head' would have been a great choice to do this at the time or Mr Thomas himself. I did find this though, sentimental Rambo whats all that about?

[sammybee]

I agree with Boi Bach's assessments on first listen. Its certainly an interesting piece has some crazy moments on it, quite a few breaks for the Hip Hop heads or loopseekers and a literal who's who of European musicians on it. Two names that stuck out for me were 'Eddy Louiss' and 'Jean Luc Ponty'.

It must have been a huge undertaking and there is a picture on the gatefold of the composers head in his hands looking just a little stressed but it will certainly get more listens to let it sink in as I've no idea what its all about, stunning copy though which was certainly needed with all the vocal and orchestral layering going on. Even Bill Medley's affected David Clayton Thomas impersonation didn't grate too much but he does dominate a good portion of the album.

I was looking for other things he did during his post 'Righteous Brothers' phase specifically early 70's but couldn't find any sound samples to see if he was singing that way all the time. I think someone like 'Murray Head' would have been a great choice to do this at the time or Mr Thomas himself. I did find this though, sentimental Rambo whats all that about?

I'm glad this came up , it allways seems odd just how like David Clayton Thomas he sounds; uncanny. I find the album a bit hard goin , other than the odd flash of brilliance.

[sammybee]

i'm glad this came up , I concur its uncanny how like David Clayton Thomas he sounds. I allways find the full album a bit hard goin other than the odd flash of brilliance.

[amidar]

Yeah it's odd, you'd swear it was him for a minute or so but then you start to notice there is a certain grit and range to David's tone that he doesn't quite get. That's maybe because I know its not him and I know BS&T pretty well because it's not to say he's not a good singer he was in the bloody 'Righteous Brothers' so has his own range but it just seems he's doing an impersonation here. I'd be surprised if he didn't take inspiration from them in fact I'd be pretty bamboozled to be honest.

I did find it hard going but its staying near the turntable for a few more plays.

i'm glad this came up , I concur its uncanny how like David Clayton Thomas he sounds. I allways find the full album a bit hard goin other than the odd flash of brilliance.

[spacefin]

One of my favourite albums, although I have always been partial to slightly overblown baroque pop.

It's a bit let down by Herb Alpert singing on the last track; for something that's trying to be a mini-musical, I was never sure why they'd let him in the vocal booth. I usually end it around halfway through side 2 as a consequence.

[eclectiktronik]

Picked up a copy in the states for a couple of dollars about 5 years ago, gave it a cursory spin on returning home but don't recall being overimpressed. Will have to give it another listen.

Now, capot pointu - there's an album I absolutely love.

[Campag Record]

Like it due to the way Black Sheep flipped it yo.