Spyro Gyra – Spyro Gyra
Tracklist
| A1 | Shaker Song | 4:54 | |
| A2 | Opus D'Opus | 5:07 | |
| A3 | Mallet Ballet | 5:10 | |
| A4 | Pygmy Funk | 5:41 | |
| B1 | Leticia | 6:06 | |
| B2 | Cascade | 3:13 | |
| B3 | Mead | 3:57 | |
| B4 | Paula / Paw Prints | 3:56 | |
| B5 | Galadriel | 4:53 |
Companies, etc.
- Published By – Crosseyed Bear Music
- Recorded At – Mark Studios
- Recorded At – Blue Rock Studio
- Produced For – Crosseyed Bear Productions
- Manufactured By – Crosseyed Bear Productions
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Crosseyed Bear Productions
- Copyright © – Crosseyed Bear Productions
Credits
- Arranged By – Jay Beckenstein, Jeremy Wall
- Bass – Jim Kurzdorfer
- Congas – Rubens Bassini (tracks: A1, B1, B2)
- Congas, Percussion – Umbopha Emile Latimer
- Design [Cover Design] – Michael Cobb*
- Drums, Percussion – Tom Walsh
- Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Lawrence Swist*
- Engineer [Recording Engineer] – Chuck Madden
- Guitar – "Fast" Freddy Rapillo* (tracks: A3, A4, B2, B4, B5), Greg Millar (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B3)
- Marimba, Tabla – David Samuels* (tracks: A1, A4)
- Piano, Keyboards [Fender Rhodes] – Tom Schuman (tracks: B4)
- Piano, Keyboards [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Mini Moog, Arp Odyssey, Arp String Ensemble], Organ [Hammond], Percussion – Jeremy Wall
- Producer – Richard Calandra
- Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Percussion – Jay Beckenstein
- Synthesizer [Mini Moog] – Tom Schuman (tracks: B3)
- Trombone – Fred Marshall (tracks: B2), Rick Bell (3) (tracks: A2)
- Trumpet – Tony Garusso (tracks: B2)
- Written-By – Jay Beckenstein (tracks: A1, A2, B3, B4), Jeremy Wall (tracks: A3, A4, B1, B2, B5)
Notes
Initial self-release by the band, before the album was picked up by a label.
℗&© Crosseyed Bear Productions Inc. 1977.
℗&© Crosseyed Bear Productions Inc. 1977.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Rights Society: BMI
- Matrix / Runout (Runout side A etched): MC-5524-CEB-2001-A RE JP2 689
- Matrix / Runout (Runout side B etched): MC-5524-CEB-2001-B RE JP2 690
Other Versions (5 of 53)
View All| Title (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Submission | Spyro Gyra (LP, Album) | Infinity Records (2) | VIJ-6316 | Japan | 1977 | ||
New Submission | Spyro Gyra (LP, Album) | Infinity Records (2) | INS 2008 | UK | 1977 | ||
New Submission | Spyro Gyra (LP, Album) | MCA Records | INF 9011 | Australia | 1977 | ||
New Submission | Spyro Gyra (LP, Album, Promo, Stereo) | Amherst Records | AMH 1014 | US | 1977 | ||
New Submission | Spyro Gyra (LP, Album, Promo, Stereo) | Amherst Records | AMH 1014 | US | 1977 |
Recommendations
Reviews
I don't really think this is as bad or bland as some would make you believe. It's definitely got some slow and dull moments. But I see myself returning for "Pygmy Funk" if nothing else. When played loudly, much of this album isn't "background" music, the grooves are too solid to write it off as such. But even with that defense, I don't see myself giving this anything above 4.5 or 5/10. Yes, that makes it sound bad, but it just doesn't suit my tastes. I prefer a more intense and progressive fusion, that's all.
Great debut album. Melodic hook drenched funk and I band I believe creatively made their own niche sound. Never a wanna be Weather Report or straight out balls to the wall fusion band in the academic listeners ear. I dont understand why listeners want to compare all jazz from this era to Mahavishnu, Return to Forever or Weather Report!
SG's early years had some great moments the debut with Shaker Song and Galadriel later Morning Dance up until Alternating Currents they fused some great talent together such as Dave Samuel's vibes along with Tom Schumans Moog synths and Beckenstein's emotive sax playing.
Check out Incognito a later album from 1982 a very cinematic like track called Old San Juan a mix of latin rhythms and memorable melodies.
Irregardless of the naysayers these guy knew how to make a soft or dynamic statement in their music you just have to dig deeper into the recordings and its worth the effort!