Romantic progressive pop with layered piano and synthesizer atop outrageously pretentious lyrics about love and war.
Those who can get past lines like "A post-war eunuch/A lover that is lame" will find some relaxed, smoky melodies here, especially the closer "Summers of My Life." "Fly into This Night" was a minor FM hit that lands a hefty keyboard punch courtesy of his brother, Joe Vannelli. Instrumentally, this is perhaps Vannelli's best effort.
The lyrics are quite amusing, though that might not have been his intention.
Gino Vanelli may well be a crooner singer these days, entertaining middle aged housewives and filling dancing halls; it’s a style usually associated with cheesy orchestral backdrops or ear-catching arrangements of dubious taste; there’s none of that in here, and although I do not consider “The Gist of the Gemini” as groundbreaking and eye-opening as when I first heard it back in 1977, it lost none of its appeal and still occupies a special place in my heart and preferences.
Front mixed so that his astonishing vocal capacities may be objectively judged, Gino’s unique voice is not the only ingredient marking this work, since plenty of space is left for instrumental parts; in fact, this may be a feast for keyboard lovers as it is dominated by expertly performed ( by Joe Vanelli and Richard Baker who also happen to be the arrangers) synthesisers , clavinets, and electric and acoustic pianos; another main ingredient is Graham Lear’s powerful and inventive drumming ( was it thanks to this that he got the job to fill in Michael Shrive’s shoes in the Santana band that same year?) ; further instrumental appetizers are guaranteed via a couple of scorching guitar solos by famous studio guitarist Jay Graydon, and the enriching percussive support of John Mandel and Dido by means of timpani and assorted percussions or congas, cuíca and timbales respectively.
In spite of a majority of strong cuts on Side 1 it’s the ambitious side-long tour-de-force and multi-parted Epic “War Suite” that makes the album special: a really symphonic prog track dealing with war related topics, like reflections on the ideology behind it, or its traumatic consequences for those who return physically crippled , underscored by instrumental prowess’s and a class on its own, many great pursuers of the genre would have been proud to have came up with, it’s both very pleasing and memorable indeed.
Unfortunately Vanelli was starting to enjoy the appeal of masses-adulation, and me being a tad prickly about certain details had a hard time digesting some irritating vocal “aah-aahs”, some disgusting high pitched falsettos (“Fly into the Night”) or a certain plaintiveness that surfaced once in a while; I haven’t investigated thoroughly but my guess is it only got worse in the future; however that could by no means tarnish the varnish the Vanelli Brothers were still able to coat “Gist of the Gemini” with.
Front mixed so that his astonishing vocal capacities may be objectively judged, Gino’s unique voice is not the only ingredient marking this work, since plenty of space is left for instrumental parts; in fact, this may be a feast for keyboard lovers as it is dominated by expertly performed ( by Joe Vanelli and Richard Baker who also happen to be the arrangers) synthesisers , clavinets, and electric and acoustic pianos; another main ingredient is Graham Lear’s powerful and inventive drumming ( was it thanks to this that he got the job to fill in Michael Shrive’s shoes in the Santana band that same year?) ; further instrumental appetizers are guaranteed via a couple of scorching guitar solos by famous studio guitarist Jay Graydon, and the enriching percussive support of John Mandel and Dido by means of timpani and assorted percussions or congas, cuíca and timbales respectively.
In spite of a majority of strong cuts on Side 1 it’s the ambitious side-long tour-de-force and multi-parted Epic “War Suite” that makes the album special: a really symphonic prog track dealing with war related topics, like reflections on the ideology behind it, or its traumatic consequences for those who return physically crippled , underscored by instrumental prowess’s and a class on its own, many great pursuers of the genre would have been proud to have came up with, it’s both very pleasing and memorable indeed.
Unfortunately Vanelli was starting to enjoy the appeal of masses-adulation, and me being a tad prickly about certain details had a hard time digesting some irritating vocal “aah-aahs”, some disgusting high pitched falsettos (“Fly into the Night”) or a certain plaintiveness that surfaced once in a while; I haven’t investigated thoroughly but my guess is it only got worse in the future; however that could by no means tarnish the varnish the Vanelli Brothers were still able to coat “Gist of the Gemini” with.
Side A
A1. Love Of My Life - 4:30
A2. Ugly Man - 3:54
A3. A New Fix For '76 - 3:32
A4. Omens Of Love - 4:31
A5. Fly Into This Night - 3:27
Side B
War Suite
B1. Prelude To The War - 4:32
B2. The Battle Cry - 1:52
B3. To The War - 4:34
B4. Carnal Question - 2:36
B5. After The Last Battle - 2:04
B6. To The War (Reflection) - 2:02
B7. Summers Of My Life - 4:28
Personnel
- Gino Vannelli – lead and backing vocals, arrangements, acoustic piano (6), clavinet (8, 11)
- Joe Vannelli – acoustic and electric pianos, clavinet, synthesizers, string and brass arrangements
- Richard Baker – organ, synthesizers, synth bass, string and brass arrangements
- Jay Graydon – electric guitar
- Ross Vannelli – guitar, backing vocals
- Graham Lear – drums
- John J. Mandell – timpani, percussion
- Dido Morris – congas, cuica, timbales
- Dianne Brooks – backing vocals
- Brenda Russell – backing vocals
- The John McCarthy Choir – backing vocals
Production
- Producers – Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli and Geoff Emerick.
- Engineer – Geoff Emerick
- Assistant Engineers – Jon Kelly and Steve Prestage
- Remixed by Norm Kinney at Sound Labs (Hollywood, CA).
- Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios (Hollywood, CA).
- Art Direction and Design – Fabio Nicola
- Photography – Clive Arrowsmith and Gered Mankowitz
Notes
Release: 1976
Format: LP (Gatefold)
Genre: Jazz Fusion
Label: A&M Records
Catalog# 27 760 XOT
Prijs: €10,00
Vinyl: VG
Cover: VG
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