Feliciano!

[Late]

Spun this one yesterday ...

While certainly an easy listening album, this one nevertheless has its musical (and improvisatory) elements — one of which is Ray Brown on bass!

What do you think of this album in particular, and Feliciano's work in general?

While I'm not such a big fan of his Doors or Beatles covers, I really do enjoy the cover of "California Dreamin'," especially when Feliciano breaks out into Spanish. And ... the guy, when he wants to, can play.

Interested to hear what you all think.

[JSngry]

I think I think what you think.

[Brad]

I haven't listened to or heard much of his work in years but he always had a distinctive sound and I loved Light My Fire. It was very heart felt, completely different, obviously, from the Doors.

Another favorite and you can't miss at Christmas is Feliz Navidad.

[JSngry]

You remember that DeBarge hit "All This Love"? With the really cool, soulful accoustic guitar solo? That solo was played by Mr. Feliciano his ownself!

[DrJ]

He's cool, great musician and entertainer. "Chico and the Man" theme always made me smile and has aged well (while the SHOW has NOT!).

[David Williams]

Bizarre! I bought a mono 1968 copy of this LP 2nd hand in the late 70's - he has no profile over here, didn't realise he had one over there, but his version of California Dreamin' is one of the tracks constantly played on my mental-jukebox.

[catesta]

He's cool, great musician and entertainer. "Chico and the Man" theme always made me smile and has aged well (while the SHOW has NOT!).

Chico, don't be discouraged,

The Man he ain't so hard to understand.

Chico, if you try now,

I know that you can lend a helping hand.

Because there's good in everyone

And a new day has begun

You can see the morning sun if you try.

And I know, things will be better

Oh yes they will for Chico and the Man

Yes they will for Chico and the Man.

[Ed S]

I have not played any Feliciano for a l-o-n-g time. But I have the album you pictured and remember it fondly. I've got a greatest hits from the 70s as well which is very good. He does a nice - or atleast I remember it as nice - renditions of Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin and of course High Heel Sneakers on one of those records. I'll have to dig 'em out and give 'em a spin.

[Christiern]

In the early to mid Sixties, when I was managing WBAI, I put together a benefit (for the station) at the Village Gate. It was a madhouse, because it never occurred to any of us that so many people would buy tickets. Expecting good but not turn-away sales, we did not number the tickets. When I reached the Gate, about an hour before the scheduled start time, the Gate was full to capacity and the street was packed with angry people wanting to be admitted. Fortunately, there was nothing goi9ng on at the Top of the Gate that night, so Art d'Lugoff (the proprietor) suggested having each artist perform twice, once in each room. That worked, but let me get to the point here--as I stood by the door, calming the crowd, a young blind man, carrying a guitar, approached me. He loved WBAI and wanted to perform. Like most people at that time, I had never heard of Jose Feliciano, but that's not the reason I turned him away, we simply had too many performers already.

BTW, those included Clark Terry, Jimmy Rushing, Bobby Brookmeyer, Kenny Dorham, Betty Carter, Al Cohn, Jimmy Rushing, Jim Hall, Charles Davis, Zoot Sims, Joe Williams, Sonny Rollins, and Thelonious Monk.

At my suggestion, Jose later came to the station and, as it turned out, lit our fire.

[EKE BBB]

Really bizarre!

Edited June 1, 2003 by EKE BBB

[Christiern]

Here's a close-up of the flyer...

[patricia]

Those of you who love "Fargo", as I do, may remember the scene in the Radisson Hotel, where Steve Buschemi's character has hired a lady of the evening. He's making small talk, asks if she enjoys her work, then opines that any hotel lounge which has a class act like Feliciano, [who could be seen, playing in the background] was a first rate place. It was hilarious at the time, but hey, he wasn't wrong.

Edited June 2, 2003 by patricia

[michel devos]

Simply Great...

[Werf]

I was at jazz concert at The Bob in Grand Rapids, Mi, in the spring of 02, for a performance of violinist Christian Howes and guitarist Rez Abbazze. The music was an electrified hybrid of various fusions and bluesy modern jazz, loud, rockin' and filled with the serpentine improv logic one would expect to hear at the Knitting Factory or The Empty Bottle.

In the dining area adjoining the stage was Jose Feliciano, who had performed a benefit concert for the blind that night. He heard the music and wanted to sit in! Man, the sounds were out! but he wanted to join the cats.

After some negotions by Feliciano's people, he came out and strummed a duet with Howes on Monk's "Well You Needn't." Then he called up the rest of the band, minus guitarist Abbazze (cause he was using his ax), and launched into a blistering version of "The Thrill Is Gone."

I have to admit I was chuckling as Jose was led out, thinking about my exposure to him on schmoozy late night talkshows and Ed Sullivan and Bob Hope specials. But then he started playing and the place went wild!

As an aside, after the gig a sweet, naive young woman was sent by Feliciano's people over to the jazz musicians and organizers to score some weed for old Jose. Gotta love it! He's one smokin', tokin' cat...

[chris olivarez]

Man this brings back memories! I remember when I first heard Jose's version of "Light My Fire" I was totally pissed off I mean how dare he!! Over a period of time I came to understand that he did an extremely difficult thing in remaking that song to fit his own personna. That was one of those songs that was not easy to remake but I came to the conclusion that Jose did it brilliantly! Oh hell! he didn't just "remake it " he reinvented it!

Jose is a soulful singer and a superb guitarist.Damn you guys now I'm going to have to get some of his music for my collection!!!