The Lonely Bull
Encyclopedia
The Lonely Bull, released in 1962, is the debut album from Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, and was also the first album ever released by A&M Records
- which was co-founded by Alpert and Jerry Moss
. The album was originally issued in both mono and stereo versions, though the stereo version essentially had the mono version on the right channel with a separate solo trumpet track on the left. Because of this, critics have noted that when listened to on headphones, the stereo album sounds excessively "heavy" on one side. This led many later fans to prefer the mono version.
The original stereo version of the album has since been reissued on the Shout! Factory
music label.
A more balanced stereo remix of the title track, "The Lonely Bull", can be found on the Herb Alpert compilation Definitive Hits.
Most of the tracks on the album were geared toward the TJB's Mariachi sound. There were also a few cover versions of popular songs, a trend which would grow in their next two albums, Volume 2 and South of the Border.
"Limbo Rock" covered a novelty dance song that had been a calypso
-style hit by Chubby Checker
. "Struttin' With Maria" was later used as the theme for a TV game show called Personality, hosted by Larry Blyden
. The tune "Acapulco 1922" uses the old song "Oh, You Beautiful Doll
" (by Seymour Brown and Nat D. Ayer
, 1911) as a starting point, with a mariachi spin.
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
- which was co-founded by Alpert and Jerry Moss
Jerry Moss
Jerome S. "Jerry" Moss is an American recording executive, best known for being the co-founder of A&M Records, along with trumpeter and bandleader Herb Alpert....
. The album was originally issued in both mono and stereo versions, though the stereo version essentially had the mono version on the right channel with a separate solo trumpet track on the left. Because of this, critics have noted that when listened to on headphones, the stereo album sounds excessively "heavy" on one side. This led many later fans to prefer the mono version.
The original stereo version of the album has since been reissued on the Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
music label.
A more balanced stereo remix of the title track, "The Lonely Bull", can be found on the Herb Alpert compilation Definitive Hits.
Most of the tracks on the album were geared toward the TJB's Mariachi sound. There were also a few cover versions of popular songs, a trend which would grow in their next two albums, Volume 2 and South of the Border.
"Limbo Rock" covered a novelty dance song that had been a calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
-style hit by Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...
. "Struttin' With Maria" was later used as the theme for a TV game show called Personality, hosted by Larry Blyden
Larry Blyden
Larry Blyden was an American actor and game show host, best known for his appearances on Broadway and as the host of the game show What's My Line?-Personal life:...
. The tune "Acapulco 1922" uses the old song "Oh, You Beautiful Doll
Oh, You Beautiful Doll
"Oh, You Beautiful Doll" is a ragtime love song published in 1911 with words by Seymour Brown and music by Nat D. Ayer. The song was one of the first with a twelve-bar opening. It is well-known by its chorus:*...
" (by Seymour Brown and Nat D. Ayer
Nat Ayer
Nathaniel Davis Ayer was a British-U.S. composer of popular music, including the hits Oh, You Beautiful Doll and If You Were the Only Girl . He was the father of actor Harold Ayer , who lived in California, and Nat Ayer Jr. Nathaniel Davis Ayer (August 5, 1887 in Boston, Massachusetts -...
, 1911) as a starting point, with a mariachi spin.
Side 1
- "The Lonely BullThe Lonely BullThe Lonely Bull, released in 1962, is the debut album from Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, and was also the first album ever released by A&M Records - which was co-founded by Alpert and Jerry Moss...
" (El Solo Toro) (Sol Lake) – 2:29 - "El Lobo" (The Wolf) (Harry GreenHarry GreenHenry Harold "Harry" Green was a British long-distance runner. He gained recognition by winning the London Poly in 1911 and setting a world's best in the marathon on 12 May 1913 with a time of 2:38:16.2 in London...
, Lake) – 3:00 - "Tijuana Sauerkraut" (Herb AlpertHerb AlpertHerbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
, Jerry MossJerry MossJerome S. "Jerry" Moss is an American recording executive, best known for being the co-founder of A&M Records, along with trumpeter and bandleader Herb Alpert....
) – 2:44 - "Desafinado" (Antonio Carlos JobimAntônio Carlos JobimAntônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim , also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist. He was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within...
, Newton MendoncaNewton MendonçaNewton Ferreira de Mendonça was a musician, composer, and lyricist. He began as a pianist in 1950. In 1953 he started working with Antonio Carlos Jobim, something for which he is best known. Mendonça went on to co-compose music and lyrics for Desafinado, Meditação, and Samba de uma nota só...
) – 3:42 - "Mexico" (Boudleaux Bryant) – 2:36
- "Never On SundayNever on Sunday (song)"Never on Sunday", also known as "Ta Paidia Tou Piraia" is a popular song by Manos Hadjidakis. A vocal version was also released and performed by Melina Mercouri in the film of same name directed by Jules Dassin and starring Mercouri...
" (Manos HadjidakisManos HadjidakisManos Hatzidakis was a Greek composer and theorist of the Greek music. He was also one of the main prime movers of the "Éntekhno" song ....
, Billy Towne) – 2:38
Side 2
- "Struttin' With Maria" (Herb Alpert) – 2:10
- "Let It Be Me" (Gilbert BecaudGilbert BécaudGilbert Bécaud was a French singer, composer and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et Maintenant", a 1961 release that became an English language hit as "What Now My Love"...
, Mann Curtis, Pierre DelanoePierre DelanoëPierre Delanoë , born Pierre Leroyer, was a French songwriter/lyricist who wrote for dozens of singers such as Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, and Johnny Hallyday....
) – 2:55 - "Acapulco 1922" (Herb Alpert) – 2:38
- "Limbo RockLimbo Rock"Limbo Rock" is a popular song about limbo dancing written by Kal Mann and Billy Strange. An instrumental version was first recorded by The Champs in 1961. The first vocal version was recorded in 1962 by Chubby Checker : it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number one on the...
" (Billy StrangeBilly StrangeWilliam E. "Billy" Strange is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor.-Recordings and songwriting:...
) – 2:05 - "Crawfish" (Lake Doran, Sol Lake, Ben Weisman, Fred Wise) – 2:20
- "A Quiet Tear" (Lágrima Quieta) (Herb Alpert) – 2:23