Powerful People
Encyclopedia
Powerful People is the title of both the second studio album of Italian-Canadian
singer Gino Vannelli
, and the sixth track on this album. The album was released in 1974, and was produced by Gino and his brother Joe Vannelli
.
The funk
y "People Gotta Move" was Vannelli's first hit in the United States, when disco
music was gaining popularity. The song reached #22 on Billboard Top 100. The album is characterized by Joe Vannelli's first experiments with synthesizer
s. The last track, "Poor Happy Jimmy", is a tribute to American singer Jim Croce
, who died in an airplane accident a year earlier.
Vannelli was awarded a Grammy
for Powerful People.
Side 1:
Side 2:
Italian-Canadian
An Italian Canadian is a Canadian of Italian descent or heritage. According to the 2006 census of Canada, 1,445,335 Canadians consider themselves to be of Italian origin. The Italian-Canadian population climbed by more than 12% and half have combined Italian origins along with another ethnic...
singer Gino Vannelli
Gino Vannelli
Gino Vannelli is an Italian-Canadian singer, songwriter, musician and composer.-Early years:Born in Montreal, Quebec, Vannelli is one of three sons born to Russ and Delia Vannelli. Russ, his father, was a big band musician. As a child, Gino's greatest passion was music, and he began playing...
, and the sixth track on this album. The album was released in 1974, and was produced by Gino and his brother Joe Vannelli
Joe Vannelli
Joe Vannelli , is an Italian-Canadian musician, composer and record producer. He was credited on most records of his brother, Gino Vannelli, and in collaboration with youngest brother Ross Vannelli, the three have won many awards.Vannelli studied music theory in Montreal, and learned to play piano...
.
The funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
y "People Gotta Move" was Vannelli's first hit in the United States, when disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music was gaining popularity. The song reached #22 on Billboard Top 100. The album is characterized by Joe Vannelli's first experiments with synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s. The last track, "Poor Happy Jimmy", is a tribute to American singer Jim Croce
Jim Croce
James Joseph "Jim" Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973 was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles...
, who died in an airplane accident a year earlier.
Vannelli was awarded a Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Powerful People.
Tracks
All lyrics and music by Gino Vannelli, all arrangements by Joe VannelliSide 1:
- People Gotta Move (3:21)
- Lady (3:43)
- Son of a New York Gun (3:23)
- Jack Miraculous (2:42)
- Jo Jo (3:40)
Side 2:
- Powerful People (6:12)
- Felicia (3:04)
- The Work Verse (2:54)
- Poor Happy Jimmy (3:49)