Bob James – One

I only know of this album because of "Nautilus" make of that what you will...

Great first effort by the estimable Bob James. "Nautilus" is a stand out!

46 years and I've never grown tired of it. True greatness.

While I agree that the music on this disc is exceptionally fine and very ideal to listen to when making love, I must admit that I find the image on the front cover somewhat frightening. I think it is the eyes. I feel like they are watching me all of the time!! I wish that Bob James had put something else on the front cover, perhaps a vase of flowers, or his face, smiling in a nice friendly way.

it seems like some people believe "Feel like making love" is from Bob James. He did a (good) cover version. Original is from Gene-McDaniels who is as far as i know the same person as Eugene Booker McDaniels. Check out the great Jazz Standard: https://www.discogs.com/Gene-McDaniels-Natural-Juices/release/1077958.

Bloody hell, you wanna talk about samples...How many folk from House and Hip hop have sampled the opening of "feel like making love"??
I've got about three versions and have heard another three over the years.

"Valley of the Shadows" is decent- esp if you're into Herbie/Head hunters/Axlerod kinda jazz-spazz-out.

Well.. Okay It's all a matter of taste on the long run. The tracks on this record may not all be up to snuff, but this may be one of the most sampeled record ever (James Brown not included). Every single second of "Nautilus" has been recycled at one point, mostly by the hiphop community, Run DMC's "Beats to the Rhyme" takes the 2 second sound blip @ 3:34 and builds a defining track out of it. A Tribe Called Quest - Clap Your Hands @ second 1. Ultra magnetic MC's .... the list goes on. Just for kicks check out this site whosampled.com

Well, it's not as bad as Heads (the standard by which all bad Bob James and 70s instrumental pop records are measured). But most of it is still very, very bad.

"Valley of the Shadows" and "In the Garden" are horrible pop versions of old church music. "Soulero" does its best to ruin a classic. The situation doesn't improve on the beginning of side two with a bombastic version of "Night on Bald Mountain," a tune I've never liked.

Finally it becomes listenable with what might qualify as the first smooth jazz cover of an existing smooth jazz song. "Feel Like Making Love" was already a pleasant song when Roberta Flack recorded it. Bob James's version is essentially a sleepy instrumental, though it's quite good. It was used to somewhat hilarious effect on an episode of Breaking Bad when Walter White strolls naked thru a convenience store.

"Nautilus" is really the only James original here, and it's pretty awesome. It really does feel like an underwater ride in an ancient submarine. Good stuff.