Herb Alpert

For those who dug Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass before Herb went and got all vocal and dreamy, this three-disc set from Madacy just might be for you. There are 38 cuts, assembled from the band's first five years from 1962-1966, at the absolute height of the easy listening craze. Madacy has basically compiled some -- if not all -- of the best tracks from the first six albums. And while the selection can be willy-nilly at times, most of what's here is pure Alpert gold: "A Taste of Honey," "Third Man Theme," "Walk, Don't Run," "Zorba the Greek," "If I Were a Rich Man," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "Whipped Cream," and "What Now My Love" are just a few of the hit singles contained on the set. If only Madacy would have gone as far as 1966's The Beat of the Brass, when Alpert laid down his mega-smash "This Guy's in Love with You," it would have been perfect. As it is, it's just terrific and a perfect addition to any easy listening, instrumental pop, or even exotica collection (let's face it, can you think of any other hit artists who were using three marimbas in a band at the time -- or ever for that matter?). For the price, this set cannot be beat. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide