You Smile – The Song Begins

You Smile – The Song Begins is a 1974 studio album by Herb Alpert. It was Alpert's first album for several years, and was arranged by Quincy Jones.^[2]

The album peaked at 66 on the Billboard 200.^[3] Two singles from the album, the "Fox Hunt" and "Last Tango in Paris" reached 84 and 77 on the Billboard 100.^[2]

Reception

In his review of the album for Allmusic, Richard S. Ginell wrote that after his four-year break from music Alpert "...returned to the studio creatively refreshed, his trumpet sounding more soulful and thoughtful, his ears attuned more than ever to jazz...But Alpert was definitely still in a pensive mood, and his evocative self-penned title track and choice of tunes like "Alone Again (Naturally)" and "Save the Sunlight" reinforce the LP's mellow, '70s contemporary pop atmosphere. Even the upbeat remake of the TJB's "Up Cherry Street" is filtered through a phase-shifted gauze, a wistful rose-colored vision of the past."^[2] You Smile, the Song Begins was chosen as one of Billboard magazine's "Top Album Picks" upon its release in May 1974. Billboard commented that "Herb Alpert is finally back with an LP and for his many fans this set will prove the wait has been worthwhile...Nothing is overstated here, as Alpert gets his point across without wasting a single note".^[4]

Track listing

1. "Fox Hunt" - 2:38
2. "Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor" (Chuck Mangione) - 4:52
3. "I Can't Go on Living, Baby, Without You" (Jerry Riopelle, Nino Tempo) - 2:48
4. "I Might Frighten Her Away" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 4:11
5. "You Smile - The Song Begins" - 3:21
6. "Up Cherry Street" (Julius Wechter) - 2:32
7. "Promises, Promises" (Bacharach, David) - 2:31
8. "Save the Sunlight" - 3:50
9. "Di Da" (César Michilles, Naná Vasconcelos) - 3:17
10. "Alone Again (Naturally)" (Gilbert O'Sullivan) - 2:29
11. "Last Tango in Paris" (Gato Barbieri) - 2:50
12. "Song for Herb" - 4:20

Personnel

• Herb Alpert - trumpet, leader
• Lani Hall - vocals
• Bob Edmondson - trombone
• Bob Findley - trumpet
• Dave Frishberg - piano
• Julius Wechter - marimba
• Vince Charles - steel drum, percussion
• Nick Ceroli - drums
• John Pisano - guitar
• Ernie McDaniels - double bass
• Quincy Jones - arranger

References