OK, I have to admit it: I have actually dreamed about going to record stores, looking for an elusive “lost” Tijuana Brass album.  No, I’m not making this up!  I would go into a store, see other favorites, and start looking frantically for a TJB album that I apparently knew by its cover.  Only thing is, I’d never buy it…so I’d never even hear it.  In my mind, though, the album would sound something like a Going Places Vol. 2, sort of an upbeat party album with a dozen great songs on it.  I guess in some weird way, karma played its part, and I sort of got my wish fulfilled.

Fast forward to 2004.  A&M Corner had gotten wind of a wave of Tijuana Brass reissues that were going to be coming, finally, after many years of waiting.  The all-to-brief reissues in 1988 just didn’t cut it, and some out-of-print TJB CDs were commanding a huge sum on eBay.  Speculation flew.  Rumors came and went.  One rumor was that Herb Alpert was re-recording some of the trumpet parts–how could that be??  Then, we finally find out that there is indeed going to be a “rarities” CD, in addition to the first two reissued titles:  The Lonely Bull and South of the Border.

At first, there was some minor disappointment–where were all of those elusive B-sides we were all looking for?  And, what’s with the handful of tracks from You Smile – The Song Begins?  (Were we more disappointed that these really weren’t rarities, or that it meant the You Smile album might never be reissued?)

Once the dust had settled, though, we all appreciated what we had.  Herb Alpert and engineer Larry Levine had gone through literally hundreds of hours of recording tape to find not only the best sources to remaster for CD, they also found unreleased and unfinished tracks that could make a noteworthy release.  So, this is where the newly recorded trumpet parts would come into play!  For some of the You Smile tracks, there are new trumpet parts overdubbed.  Given the 30+ years that have elapsed since that album’s release, it’s only logical that the newer parts have a more polished sound to them, Herb’s technique having changed and continually improved over the years.

While it’s nice to hear the You Smile tracks given a makeover, the real gems lie in the remaining tracks.  Some of the songs are not so familiar–”Lazy Day” and “Tradewinds”, and the Julius Wechter feature “Julius and Me”, are not well  known.  But you’ll find some others you’ve heard before, such as “Wailing of the Willow”, “(They Long To Be) Close To You”, “Popcorn”, “Killing Me Softly” and “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head”.   In fact, it’s somewhat interesting to hear this failed version of “Close To You”, as Herb would pass on it and hand it over to Carpenters, who would finally make a hit rendition of it.  One highlight for me is “Rush Hour”, which would easily fit on the S.R.O. or Sounds Like album.  The disc closes on the only B-side on this set, which may also be one of his finest recordings: “Whistlestar”, which has a melody that you’ll be whistling for days afterward.

Given the older vintage of some of these recordings, the sound on this set is very consistent, and clean.  Overall, it’s a fantastic job,  and while it’s not the “Lost TJB album” I’d been looking for in my dreams, it’s the closest equivalent I’ll ever see during my waking hours…unless, of course, Herb wants to dig a bit more and fine use more unreleased gems.