Photo: Carsten Weide
Gino Vannelli
Photo: Carsten Weide
One of the greatest songwriter....
A modern master of intimacy and romance, Gino Vannelli is an artist for whom passion and honesty are guiding rules. Vannelli's incredible string of hit recordings, and his renowned gifts as a vocalist, composer, and lyricist place him in a league with the great interpreters of popular song. Throughout his career, Vannelli has explored new modes of expression, from his ground breaking 1970s work with synthesizers to his current recording, Slow Love, which marks a new peak in the singer's evolution. Following his adventurous Verve Forecast debut, the jazz song cycle Yonder Tree, Vannelli's Slow Love is an album of memorable love songs that showcases his extraordinary vocal talent as well as his brilliant gift for melody and lyrics. Filled with great hooks and melodies, tender ballads and groove-driven tracks, Slow Love establishes Vannelli as a major songwriter/performer for the 1990s.
Vannelli's musical passions and lyrical poetry are on full display throughout, beginning with the title track and continuing on "Lost and Found", "Words Can Kill", "Cry Baby", and "Tierras de Amores y Sombras", which is sung entirely in Spanish. These songs often reflect Vannelli's personal vision of intimacy and love. He stated: "It was inspired by the woman I married. I wanted to broach the subject of feeling worthy or unworthy of someone's love. The songs bare my convictions." A master of romance, drama, and lyrical imagery, Vannelli infuses these themes with the powerful and sensuous vocal performances for which he is renowned.
Slow Love also shows Vannelli's wry sense of humor and lyrical wit in such songs as the anti-life-support message of "Alive by Science", and the funky, down-at-the-heels sass of Down With Love.
To help him realize his artistic vision, Gino was joined by Tom Grant (acoustic piano), Philip Ingram (vocals), David Garibaldi and Graham Lear (drums), Randy Cannon and Randy Porter (piano), among others. In addition, Vannelli also teamed up with symphonic composer and orchestrator Jorge Calandrelli, and acclaimed producers/instrumentalists Louis Biancaniello, Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets), George Whitty (Brecker Brothers), and Rachel Z.
Befitting the drama of his music, Vannelli's early career ascended just when he thought all hope of a career in music was lost. Having toured the Canadian provinces with his brother Joe Vannelli and their band, Gino Vannelli and Good Friends, the pair headed to Los Angeles with demo tape in hand, to seek fame and fortune. After being rejected by a string of labels, Vannelli was finally discovered by A&M co-founder, Herb Alpert. "In desperation" recalled Vannelli, "after stopping in a church and wondering if that was the end of the line, I had an idea. I waited at the gates of A&M Records early the next morning with my guitar. After four hours, Herb Alpert came walking across the lot from his office, and I almost ran over him. Obviously, he was shocked. The guard came running after me - it was chaotic. I think Herb saw that glint in my eye and knew what I was really about, and he let me play a few of my songs (including "Crazy Life", "Mama Coco", and "Powerful People"). As I sang, he just smiled. When I finished, he said 'Okay, let's do it, on one condition - that I produce your first album.' The next day I went home to Montreal with a record deal."
Thus began a fertile relationship with A&M, resulting in a series of top-selling recordings that fused jazz, pop, soul, and funk in a musical vision that featured Vannelli's gorgeous voice and impeccable styling. These early recordings include Crazy Life, and then Powerful People with the hit song, "People Gotta Move". In addition to earning him his first of several Grammy® nominations, Vannelli also used Powerful People to introduce audiences to the innovative textures of the newly invented synthesized keyboard.
"We wanted what we could not afford," laughed Vannelli. "Joe and I were great fans of Ravel, Debussy, and all the great orchestrators. We were also great fans of jazz. While putting our group together, we had bought a Mini Korg synthesizer. We fooled around with its sounds and realized that if we piled their notes on top of each other, we could use them like single horns, as an orchestrator would. That was totally unknown at the time."
Continuing to break boundaries with his band's supercharged, mini-orchestral approach, as well as with his remarkable voice and songwriting ability, Vannelli's next three albums [Storm At Sunup (1975), Gist Of The Gemini
(1976), and A Pauper in Paradise (1978)] were met with critical acclaim. Vannelli stated: "I was twenty-one when I recorded Powerful People. It could've used a little paprika on it. I started to get a little more lucid and in control on Storm at Sunup. And I did some of my best lyric writing on Gist of the Gemini, with "Ugly Man" and "Omens of Love", and "Summers of My Life"."
With his long dark hair, dramatic stage presence, and heartfelt lyrics about love and the mysteries of life, Vannelli's stardom in the '70s was accompanied by status as a sex symbol - a role which never distracted Vannelli from achieving his artistic visions and never diminished the power and authenticity of his music.
Vannelli's pursuit of his musical vision eventually led to his 1978 breakthrough commercial triumph, the platinum-selling Brother to Brother, featuring the #1 pop success, "I Just Wanna Stop". Vannelli, along with his brothers Joe and Ross, had by now earned five consecutive Juno awards as Canada's Top Male Vocalist, Producer, and Engineer of the Year, respectively. Gino also received another Grammy® nomination for Best Pop Performance. 1981 heralded Vannelli's most adventurous album to date, Nightwalker, with its incredibly popular single "Living Inside Myself" (and a fourth Grammy® nomination). He followed with the platinum-selling Black Cars in the mid-80s, and then Big Dreamers Never Sleep (recorded at his Blue Moon Studios).
With the pressures success can bring, Vannelli increasingly found that the needs of the heart and spirit outweighed his desire to perform and record. As he toured the world, Vannelli seized any possible opportunity to go off by himself and explore the cultures, philosophies, and theologies of the places he visited. His travels took him into the Peruvian Andes, and to Japan where he spent time in a Zen monastery and "argued with, battled, and questioned the holymen", trying to answer questions regarding the deeper meaning of life. The experience eventually led Vannelli to record Inconsolable Man.
Vannelli's albums and incredible live performances are hallmarks of the last two decades, resulting in his status as one of adult contemporary radio's most enduring and recognizable artists. His legacy of innovative compositions and dynamic performances foreshadowed contemporary adult jazz radio by some twenty years.
As always, Vannelli believes in living and expressing life to its fullest. "I enjoy making music and writing words this way. To be secretive and mysterious is not really my nature. I don't pretend to stand on a mountain top and view the world from where the air is rare. But I do so much have a better perspective of the business, myself and the world after so many years of being in it."
"If you listen to my older records and then Slow Love, you'll see how my approach and techniques have changed. While my nature is inescapable in many ways, what I've tried to do is perfect and polish that and create something even more beautiful." The result is one of Vannelli's finest albums in an already legendary career.
Copyright © 1998 PolyGram Records, Inc.
Gino Vannelli -
Crazy Life
"The beginning"
The Tracks are: Crazy Life, Hollywood Holiday, Theres No Time, Fling Of Mine, Granny Goodbye, Great Lake Canoe, Cherizar, One Woman Lover & Piano Song.
Musicians on the Crazy Life album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Russ Vannelli and others.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1973
Gino Vannelli -
Powerful People
"2nd album"
The Tracks are: People Gotta Move, Lady, Son Of A New York Gun, Jack Miraculous, Jo Jo, Powerful People, Felicia, The Work Verse & Poor Happy Jimmy (Tribute To Jim Croce).
Musicians on the Powerful People album: Gino Vanneli, Joe Vannelli, Richard Baker, Graham Lear, John J. Mandel, Tony Golia & Lani Hall.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1974
Gino Vannelli -
Storm At Sunup
"3rd album"
The Tracks are: Storm At Sunup, Love Me Now, Mama Coco, Father And Son, Where Am I Going, Keep On Walking, Love Is A Night & Gettin' High.
Musicians on the Storm At Sunup album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Donald Bailey, Richard Baker, Jay Graydon, Graham Lear, Johnny Mandel, Sergio Pastora, Jerome Richardson, Sally Stevens & Ross Vannelli.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1975
Gino Vannelli -
Gist Of The Gemini
"4th album"
The Tracks are: Love Of My Life, Ugly Man, A New Fix For '76, Omens Of Love, Fly Into This Night / War Suite, Prelude To The War (Instrumental), The Battle Cry (Instrumental), To The War, Carnal Question, After The Last Battle (Instrumental), To The War (Reflection) & Summers Of My Life.
Musicians on the Gist Of The Gemini album: Gino Vanneli, Joe Vannelli, Richard Baker, Jay Graydon, Norm Kinney, Graham Lear, John J. Mandell, John McCarthy & Ross Vannelli.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1976
Gino Vannelli -
A Pauper In Paradise
"5th album"
The Tracks are: Mardi Gras, Valleys Of Valhalla, The Surest Things Can Change, One Night With You, A Song and Dance, Black And Blue, A Pauper In Paradise 1st Movement (Instrumental), 2nd Movement (Instrumental), 3rd Movement (Instrumental), 4th Movement (Instrumental) & A Pauper In Paradise.
Musicians on the A Pauper In Paradise album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vanneli, Nyboma Mwan Dido, Jay Graydon, Bernie Grundman, John J. Mandel, Bill Meyers & Chris Rhyne.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1977
Gino Vannelli -
Brother To Brother
"A classic Gino album"
The Tracks are: Appaloosa, The River Must Flow, I Just Wanna Stop, Love & Emotion, Feel Like Flying, Brother To Brother, Wheels Of Life, The Evil Eye & People I Belong To.
Musicians on the Brother To Brother album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Mark Craney, Carlos Rios, Leon Gaer, Jimmy Haslip, Ernie Watts, Manuel Badrena, Victor Feldman, Stephanie Spruill, Julis Tillman Waters, Maxine Willard Waters & Ross Vannelli.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1978
Gino Vannelli -
Nightwalker
"Gino is walking in the night"
The Tracks are: Nightwalker, Seek and You Will Find, Put The Weight On My Shoulders, I Believe, Santa Rosa, Living Inside Myself, Stay With Me & Sally (She Says The Sweetest Things).
Musicians on the Nightwalker album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Brad Cole, Vinnie Colaiuta, Mike Miller, Neil Stubenhaus, Mike Fisher & Dave Boruff.
Available from Arista Records/Original release year: 1981
Gino Vannelli -
Best Of
"Best Of Gino"
The Tracks are: People Gotta Move, Mama Coco, I Just Wanna Stop, Powerful People, Crazy Life, Fly into This Night, Wheels of Life, One Night with You, Appaloosa & Love Me Now.
Musicians on the Best Of album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1981
Gino Vannelli -
Best Of (Digital Remastered)
"Best Of Gino, Japan release"
The Tracks are: I Just Wanna Stop, A Song And Dance, Where Am I Going, Crazy Life, People Gotta Move, Fly Into This Night, Love Me Now, Brother To Brother, There's No Time, Love Of My Life, Mama Coco, Felicia, Appaloosa, Powerful People, One Night With You, Wheels Of Life & Black And Blue.
Musicians on the Best Of album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from A&M Records, Japan/Original release year: 1982
Gino Vannelli -
The Longer You Wait
"Single release from Gino Vannelli"
The Tracks are: The Longer You Wait & Bandito (instrumental). This single was the first release from the album Twisted Heart. But the album were not released at all.
Musicians on the The Longer You Wait single: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1982
Gino Vannelli -
Black Cars
"Gino is driving the black car"
The Tracks are: Black Cars, The Other Man, It's Over, Here She Comes, Hurts To Be In Love, Total Stranger, Just A Motion Away, Imagination & How Much.
Musicians on the Black Cars album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Mark Craney, Dave Garibaldi, Jimmy Haslip, Mike Miller, Ross Vanneli, John Messerschmidt & Lori Leiberman.
Available from Dreyfus/Original release year: 1984
Gino Vannelli -
Big Dreamers Never Sleep
"Gino never sleep"
The Tracks are: In The Name Of Money, Time Out, Wild Horses, Young Lover, Down With Love, Persona Non Grata, Something Tells Me, Shape Me Like A Man & King For A Day.
Musicians on the Big Dreamers Never Sleep album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, David Garibaldi, Mike Miller, Jimmy Haslip, Marc Russo, Ross Vannelli, Maxyne Lewis, Alfie Silas, Marilyn Scott & Lisa Fisher.
Available from Dreyfus/Original release year: 1987
Gino Vannelli -
Classics Volume 7
"Best Of Gino, A&M release"
The Tracks are: People Gotta Move, Mama Coco, I Just Wanna Stop, Powerful People, Crazy Life, Love Of My Life, Fly Into This Night, Wheels Of Life, One Night With You, Appaloosa & Love Me Now..
Musicians on the Classics Volume 7 album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 1987
Gino Vannelli -
Inconsolable Man
"Great album from Vannelli"
The Tracks are: Rhythm Of Romance, If I Should Lose This Love, Shame, Sunset On L.A., Moment To Moment, Cry Of Love, The Time Of Day, Bound To Cry, The Joker's Wild & Inconsolable Man.
Musicians on the Inconsolable Man album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, David Garibaldi, Mike Miller, Mark Craney, Kirk Whalum, Ron Rochette, Brian Tankersley, Maxayane Lewis, Alfie Silas, Lynda Law, Carla Day, Kevin Dorsey, Philip Ingram, Ricky Nelson, Michael Ruff & Suzanne Benson.
Available from Dreyfus Records/Original release year: 1990
Gino Vannelli -
Live In Montreal
"Live album from Gino Vannelli"
The Tracks are: Brother To Brother, Living Inside Myself, Wild Horses, Crazy Life, In The Name Of Money, Hurts To Be In Love, Something Tells Me, People Gotta Move, If I Should Lose This Love, Black Cars, I Just Wanna Stop, Where Am I Going & Black & Blue.
Musicians on the Live In Montreal album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Enzo Todesco, Mike Miller, Maxayne Lewis & Richard Beaudet.
Available from Vie Records/Original release year: 1991
Gino Vannelli -
Live
"European release of the Montreal live album"
The Tracks are: Brother To Brother, Living Inside Myself, Wild Horses, Crazy Life, In The Name Of Money, Hurts To Be In Love, Something Tells Me, People Gotta Move, If I Should Lose This Love, Black Cars, I Just Wanna Stop, Where Am I Going & Black & Blue.
Musicians on the Live In Montreal album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Enzo Todesco, Mike Miller, Maxayne Lewis & Richard Beaudet.
Available from Dreyfus Records/Original release year: 1991
Gino Vannelli -
Gino Vannelli
"French release of the Live album from Montreal"
The Tracks are: Brother To Brother, Living Inside Myself, Wild Horses, Crazy Life, In The Name Of Money, Hurts To Be In Love, Something Tells Me, People Gotta Move, If I Should Lose This Love, Black Cars, I Just Wanna Stop, Where Am I Going & Black & Blue.
Musicians on the Gino Vannelli album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Enzo Todesco, Mike Miller, Maxayne Lewis & Richard Beaudet.
Available from Dreyfus Records/Original release year: 1992
Gino Vannelli -
Younder Tree
"A jazzy Gino"
The Tracks are: Walter Whitman Where Are You, Fallen In Love, You Owe It To Yourself, A Little Bit Of Judas, Unbearably Blue, Jehovah And All That Jazz, None So Beautiful, I Die A Little More Each Day, Come To The Well & Moon Over Madness.
Musicians on the Younder Tree album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Randy Porter, Phil Baker, Graham Lear, Chuck Findley, Tom Scott, Israel Annoh, Bruce Smith, Patrick Lamb, Cal Scott, Patti Henley, Robert Henley III, Ronald Henlay, Brenda l. Eager, Enzo Todesco, Tollack Ollestad, Tony Selvage & Brian Detar.
Available from Verve Records/Original release year: 1995
Gino Vannelli -
Greatest Hits And More....
"Best of Gino, European release"
The Tracks are: CD 1: People Gotta move, Hurts To Be In Love, Crazy Life, Lady, Great Lake Canoe, Hollywood Holiday, Poor Happy Jimmy (Tribute to Jim Croce), One Woman, Felicia, Fling Of Mine, Son Of A New York Gun, Jack Miraculous, Love Me Now, Jo Jo, Where Am I Going, Love Is A Night, Gettin' High, Black And Blue, Powerful People & Brother To Brother. CD 2: Wild Horses, Mama Coco, Love Of My Life, Cherizar, Appaloosa, I Just Wanna Stop, Fly Into This Night, Lover Wheels Of Life, A song And Dance, Keep On Walking, One Night With You, Stay With Me, Living Inside Myself, Seek And You Will Find, If I Should Lose This Love, Sunset On L.A., Persona Non Grata, Young Lover & Black Cars.
Musicians on the Younder Tree album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli and others.
Available from Polygram Records, Netherland/Original release year: 1997
Gino Vannelli -
Slow Love
"Still a jazzy Gino"
The Tracks are: Slow Love, Lost And Found, Words Can Kill, Down With Love, Cry Baby, Tierra De Amores Y Sombras, My Oh My It's A Miracle, Alive By Science, A Woman Crossed By Love & Constantly Constantine.
Musicians on the Slow Lowe album: Gino Vannelli, Tom Grant, Ramon Stagnaro, Randy Cannon, Tracey Harris, George Whitty, Philip Ingram, Maxayne Lewis, David Garibaldi, Rachel Z, Louis Biancaniello, John Linn, Lori Perry, Jimmy Haslip, Graham Lear, Jorge Oatrono & Philip Dwyer.
Available from Verve Records/Original release year: 1998
Gino Vannelli -
Ultimate Collection
"2000 collection"
The Tracks are: Appaloosa, I Just Wanna Stop, Living Inside Myself, Hurts To Be In Love, The River Must Flow, Fly Into This Night, Crazy Life, Nightwalker, Brother To Brother, One Night With You Vannelli, Wheels Of Love, Love Of My Life, People Gotta Move, Powerful People, Mama Coco, Love Me Now, Black Cars & Wild Horses.
Musicians on the Ultimate Collection album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli and others.
Available from Hip-O Records/Original release year: 2000
Gino Vannelli -
The Millennium Collection
"Millennium collection"
The Tracks are: Fly Into This Night, I Just Wanna Stop, Living Inside Myself, Appaloosa, The River Must Flow, Crazy Life, One Night With You, Wheels Of Life, Love Of My Life, Mama Coco, People Gotta Move Powerful People.
Musicians on the The Millennium Collection album: Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli and others.
Available from A&M Records/Original release year: 2002
Gino Vannelli -
Canto
"Vocally dricen orchestral album from Gino Vannelli"
The Tracks are: Canto, Una Sola Voce, Wayward Lover, Parole Per Mio Padre, Dea Speranza, The Last Dance, Mala Luna, Joli Coeur, Il Viaggio, Una Rosa A Dicembre & The Last Days Of Summer (note: bonus track on the Japanese release "I Just Wanna Stop", Live from Copenhagen).
Musicians on the Canto album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from VIK Recordings/Original release year: 2003
Gino Vannelli -
The Ultimate Collection
"Dutch best of release featuring "The Longer You Wait"
The Tracks are: Disc 01: Crazy Life, Felicia, Lady, People Gotta Move, Powerful People, Love A Night, Love Me Now, Mama Coco, Where Am I Going, Fly Into The Night, Love Of My Life, One Night With You, Appaloosa, Brother To Brother & I Just Wanna Stop. Disc 02: Wheels Of Life, Nightwalker, Stay With Me, Seek And You Will Find, Living Inside Myself, Black Cars, Hurts To Be In Love, The Other Man, In The Name Of Money, Persona Non Grata, Wild Horses, Young Lover, If You Should Lose This Love, Sunset On L.A. & The Time Of Day. Disc 03: The Longer You Wait, Black Cars (Dance Mix), Hurts To Be In Love (Live), Where Am I Going (Live), People Gotta Move (Live), Walter Whitman Where Are You, Slow Love & Lost And Found.
Musicians on the The Ultimate Collection album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from Universal Music, Netherland/Original release year: 2003
Gino Vannelli -
These Are The Days
"New songs and a couple of old"
The Tracks are: It´s Only Love, Venus Envy, These Are The Days, Rock Me To Heaven, Eastwest World, Great Divide, Right Were I Am, Wild Horses, Hurts To Be In Love, Black Cars, Just A Motion Away, Living Inside Myself, I Just Wanna Stop & People Gotta Move.
Musicians on the These Are The Days album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from Verve Music/Original release year: 2006
Gino Vannelli -
The Very Best Of Gino Vannelli
"A collection of Gino hits"
The Tracks are: CD1: Crazy Life, Felicia, Lady, People Gotta Move, Powerful People, Love Is A Night, Love Me Now, Mama Coco, Where Am I Going, Fly Into This Night, Love Of My Life, One Night With You, Appaloosa, Brother To Brother & I Just Wanna Stop. CD2: Wheels Of Life, Nightwalker, Stay With Me, Seek And You Will Find, Living Inside Myself, Black Cars, Hurts To Be In Love, The Other Man, In The Name Of Money, Persona Non Grata, Wild Horses, Young Lover, If I Should Lose This Love, Sunset On. L.A. & The Time Of Day.
Musicians on the Very Best Of Gino Vannello album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from Universal Music/Original release year: 2006
Gino Vannelli -
A Good Thing
"Jazzy Gino"
The Tracks are: A Good Thing, This Day On, Night Drive, The DutchBeat, Gypsy Days, Knight Of The Road, Evermore, The Measure of a Man & Don't Give Up on Me.
Musicians on A Good Thing album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from CMM Records/Original release year: 2009
Gino Vannelli -
The Best And Beyond
"Re-recordings of the hit songs"
The Tracks are: People Gotta Move, Wild Horses, Hurts To Be In Love, Brother To Brother, I Just Wanna Stop, Crazy Life, Black Cars, Living Inside Myself, Venus Envy, Wheels Of Life, Just A Motion Away, The Surest Things Can Change & Put The Weight On My Shoulders.
Musicians on The Best And Beyond album: Gino Vannelli and others.
Available from Azzurra Music/Original release year: 2009
Gino Vannelli -
The North Sea Jazz Festival 2002
"With The Metropole Orchestra"
The Tracks are: Alive By Science, Jehovah And All That Jazz, Walter Whitman (Where Are You), Black Cars, Living Inside Myself, Wild Horses, King For A Day, Hurts To Be In Love, Persona Non Grata, People Gotta Move, I Just Wanna Stop & Brother To Brother.
Musicians on The North Sea Jazz Festival 2002 album: Gino Vannelli and The Metropole Orchestra.
Available from North Sea Jazz/Original release year: 2011
Gino Vannelli -
A Night To Remember
"Live at North Sea Jazz Festival"
The Tracks are: Alive By Science, Jehovah And All That Jazz, Walter Whitman (Where Are You), Black Cars, Living Inside Myself, Wild Horses, King For A Day, Hurts To Be In Love, Persona Non Grata, People Gotta Move, I Just Wanna Stop & Brother To Brother.
Musicians on The North Sea Jazz Festival 2002 album: Gino Vannelli and The Metropole Orchestra.
Available from Fuel 2000 Records/Original release year: 2011
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