Maynard Ferguson – Conquistador

The timings on the labels are reversed (The timings on Side 1 are for the tracks on side 2, and vice versa.) This appears to be the case in all initial 1977 US vinyl pressings.

This album is a real sneaker. I don't hear it talked about enough. Produced by Bob James, with some incredible players such as James, George Benson, Will Lee, and thrilling arrangements from Jay Chattaway, this album has something for all fans of funk, breaks, crate-digging, sampling, and/or jazz. Each song's got something going for it. Gonna Fly Now, thrilling and popular theme to Rocky with a frenetic and breathless arrangement; Mister Mellow is a super slinky, Quiet Stormy, chill out track featuring slabs of warm Rhodes and fine solos from Benson and Ferguson; Theme From Start Trek is familiar and nostalgic, but again the relentless arrangement makes this otherwise mercenary selection more than worthy of inclusion; the title track is cinematic and psychedelic...until it spills over into not only the nastiest groove on this record, but one of the nastiest grooves you'll ever hear, it takes two or so minutes to get to, but it's well worth it; Soar Like An Eagle is another James feature, written by him and featuring a nice solo, a must hear for fans of James' 70's smooth-funk electric piano period; and finally The Fly is an appropriate full throttle culmination for the album. Another one in my collection that I'm surprised I don't hear more about.

I will note that the times on this listing as of now are all wrong. The version I have, which I haven't timed but I believe is accurate, lists the following:

Gonna Fly Now 4:18
Mister Mellow 6:27
Theme From Start Trek 6:17
Conquistador 7:34
Soar Like An Eagle 6:33
The Fly 4:30

Maynard was a Canadian who passed in 2006 but he lead some very cool and hip sounding bands over the years...This 1977 LP really has TOP studio folks on all the tracks...George Benson, Will Lee, and Bob James...Ferguson loved making his trumpet scream...His style and it worked on the upbeat stuff like the title track, "Conquistador" and the Rocky theme "Gonna Fly Now"...Prolific, Maynard put out scads of VINYL and he is considered one of the top trumpet players in modern times...

My copy does not include the sticker touting "Gonna Fly Now."

The correct durations of this promo release are on back cover...
listening to the songs you clearly understand that the durations written on the label are all wrong!
sure at 100%

"The Fly" was sampled by Trusme on his track Nards from the Browns EP http://www.discogs.com/Trusme-Browns/release/895435