Cat No 3935032

Reissue of this acclaimed curio.  In 1971, Herb Alpert commissioned what was immediately touted as a landmark project from French musical chameleon Michel Colombier - an almost Mahlerian pop concept symphony:  produced by Alpert, lyrics by Paul Williams, with Colombier composing the music and recording it mostly in Paris, with additions in LA.

In a nutshell, Wings is a journey from darkness to light, with a hellfire opening song, powered by the voice of Righteous Brother, Bill Medley The ensemble is huge - a French symphony orchestra, a smaller "pop" orchestra, an American big band, and voices, as well as electric violinist Jean-Luc Ponty.

Rampant eclecticism without much coherence, until about two-thirds of the way through, when the piece comes together - and takes off, inspired to the finish. A grand flourish ushers in "We Could Be Flying," a beautiful song in the Sergio Mendes idiom of that time, sung delicately by Mendes' most celebrated vocalist, Lani Hall. A classical intermezzo follows - leading to Alpert's own plaintive 'hymn to love' finale.

Upon first release, Wings was lauded to the skies by the press and received three Grammy nominations and a Grand Prix du Disque but was relegated to cult status in sales.  In hindsight, Wings is a faulted artefact of its time, but one with passages of genuine beauty that ought not be relegated to oblivion.