GIANTS — Giants (aka San Francisco Giants) (review)

GIANTS — Giants (aka San Francisco Giants) album cover

Album · 1978 · Latin Rock/Soul

4/5 · 2024-10-11
FunkFreak75

An all-star band of veritable who's who in the early Latin/jazz-ified R&B/funk scene that was, apparently, the brain child of Santana percussionist Mike Carabello and Sly & The Family Stone founder and drummer Greg Errico--a "band" that was originally meant to be called "Attitude." Most of the material was recorded in 1971 but not released until 1977/78.

Lineup / Musicians: - Greg Errico (SLY & THE FAMILY STONE) / Drums, Synthesizer, Producer - Mike Carabello (SANTANA) / Organ (B2), Congas - Doug Rauch (THE VOICES OF EAST HARLEM, THE LOADING ZONE, GÁBOR SZABÓ, SANTANA, LENNY WHITE) / Bass - Doug Rodrigues (THE VOICES OF EAST HARLEM, SANTANA, BETTY DAVIS, MANDRILL, LENNY WHITE, MAND / Guitar - Wendy Haas (SANTANA, AZTECA) / Piano, Vocals (B3) With: - Carlos Santana (SANTANA) / Guitar (B2, B3) - Neal Schon (SANTANA, JOURNEY) / Guitar - Lee Oskar (WAR) / Harmonica (A3, A4) - Greg Rollie (SANTANA) / Organ - Robert "Bobby" Vega (LEE OSKAR) / Bass [Fuzz] (A3, A4) - Chepito Areas (SANTANA) / Percussion (A3, A4, B1) - Rico Reyes (SANTANA, AZTECA) / Percussion (A3, A4, B1) - Herbie Hancock (MILES DAVIS, solo) / Piano (B1) - Mike Garcia / Vibraphone (B2) - Victor Pantoia (CHICO HAMILTON, WILLIE BOBO, GÁBOR SZABÓ, HERBIE MANN, HERBIE HANCOCK, AZTECA, BETTY DAVIS) / Congas - Bianca Thornton-Oden (LEE OSKAR, VAN MORRISON) / Vocals - Coke Escovedo (AZTECA) / Vocals - Gene Washington / Vocals - Jody Moreing (SINCERELY, SAN JOSE) / Vocals - Linda Tillery (THE CULTURAL HERITAGE CHOIR, THE LOADING ZONE, solo) / Vocals

A1. "Attitude" (3:25) pure R&B funk from the very first note, the song uses a female-dominated choir to present the "attitude" chorus between which various voices (male and female) take turns belting out their lyric. Great vocal arrangement as well as improvisations. This is not quite Disco, more like EW&F/UNDISPUTED TRUTH proto-Disco. (9/10)

A2. "They Change It" (3:29) opens with an excellent funk groove not unlike some of SLY & THE FAMILY STONE's earlier songs. It's no surprise, then, that a full choir joins in to "recite" or chant the lyrics in a "Thank You For Lettin' Me Be Myself" fashion. The bass is so funky! And the drumming, percussion, and support guitars are right on board! An amazing funk song that is diminished a bit by its kind-of-corny lyrics and vocal arrangement. (9.25/10)

Kilimanjaro suite : A3. "The Village" (4:30) a WAR-like palette that is dominated by the free-wheelin' percussion play beneath treated harmonica/whistling and organ. Very cool! Would be so fun to see performed live. There are, however, a few glitch-like issues with timing/synchrony. (8.875/10) A4. "The Summit" (4:38) the percussionists lay back from soloing and settle into a nice groove that allows Lee Oskar to take the lead on his saxophone-sounding harmonica. I love this kind of African drum-centric music. (9/10)

B1. "Pancho Villa" (5:11) organ and timbales open this one before congas and other percussionists, bass. electric piano, and trumpet join in. It is my understanding that it's pretty much the SANTANA lineup performing percussives and organ (Greg Rollie) I'm going to assume that it's Herbie Hancock on the keys (though it doesn't sound like his style of play so it could be Wendy Haas), but I'm wondering who the (uncredited) trumpet player is (Eddie Henderson?) as well as the violinist. My understanding is that this might be conga player Mike Carabello's composition. Too much simplicity as if a bare bones track established expressly to support soloists. Problem is, it's not recorded very well from the soloists' point of view and the solos aren't that noteworthy. (8.5/10)

B2. "Fried Neckbones and Home Fries" (6:32) a cover of a song written and performed by percussionist Victor Pantoja's long-time collaborator and friend, Willie Bobo, here rendered as an instrumental. It has a completely SANTANA-esque Latin/Caribbean sound and feel--especially with Carlos, the man himself's guitar solo (later taken over by Neal Schon) as well as some rather wild organ soloing from conga player Mike Carabello in the opening minute. Mike Garcia's vibraphone solo in the fourth minute is a bit simple yet harmonically interesting. Apparently this song was recorded in 1971 for Mike Carabello's solo project called "Attitude" but never found its release until Greg Errico could put things together for a full album six years later. Rated up for its excellent sound and solos; down for its simplistic, repetitive four-chord foundation. (8.875/10)

B3. "In Your Heart" (5:40) opening with a "Long Train Runnin'" sound and feel the driving, funky groove is soon joined by a choir of female-dominated voices singing in some quite lovely melodies and vocal arrangements. I can so easily get lost in wonderful weaves of rhythm instruments and percussion work like this. Apparently, a Doug Rauch and Wendy Haas jam that features Neal Schon on a spectacular display of lead guitar and, of course, Greg Errico on drums and Mike Carabello on congas. Very cool, kind of cinematic song! (9.3333/10)

Total time: 33:25

According to interviews with Errico and Carabello, the album took so long to find a label willing to release the material (most of which had been recorded in 1971) due to the predominant "party first, business later" attitude of the musicians at the time of the recording sessions. This would also explain the jam-like foundational structure of many of the songs as well as the "early" Santana sound prevalent throughout the album. All I know is that I'll take any chance I can get to hear anything the Santana crew were doing up to and during the Caravanserai era. I also love the song creators' unique visions for use of choir vocals throughout the album. Very cool!

B+/4.5 stars rated down for brevity; an awesome display of Caravanserai-like jazz-funk jamming from a veritable Latin funk-rock all-star band. Highly recommended!