Herb Alpert is cool
- Rob Joyce
- Dec 20, 2023
- 1 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2023
When I was 4 years old, I remember sitting alone in front of our cheap record player playing one particular album over and over. I loved the sounds of the trumpet & brass. The rhythms were unique, as was the instrumentation. The music was compelling, interesting, and purely instrumental. No singing, no voices, no words.
Even at that young age, I became a critical listener. I’d play the same song 4-5 times, dissecting the structure, the bass, the piano, the trombone, the marimba, guitar, and of course the drums. “How do they all fit together and make such beautiful music?”
It was 1965 and the album was Whipped Cream and Other Delights. The music that I fell in love with that afternoon was Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Miles Davis once said, “It takes only three notes” and you know its Herb Alpert. I spent hours listening to his music during my formative years. I thought Herb was cool.
I made a short video on the amazing man behind the music and his long career as a musician, label owner, philanthropist and so much more. I hope you enjoy!
Rob
P.S. The album Whipped Cream and Other Delights was voted the best album cover of my dorm freshman year. Did you have a favorite 60s song that you just couldn't get enough of? Share in the comments!
From a lousy trumpet player, always dug