Lani Hall

Lani Hall - Sun Down Lady - 1974 - A&M Records (UK)

Nearly a forgotten singer, Lani Hall made some great albums in the seventies, covering songs by hugely popular songwriters, including Todd Rundgren, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Elton John. She sang with the huge Latin flavoured Bossa Nova pop band, Brasil '66, and married Herb Alpert in 1973. Many of her recordings during the eighties remain very popular in the Latin pop scene. Sun Down Lady is a beautiful album, with lovely renditions of songs written by some of the world's greatest songwriters. Try and find her 1975 "Hello It’s Me" album, taken from the Todd Rundgren song. It's a beautiful album with somgs by Carole King, Colin Blunstone, and Joni Mitchell.

TRACKS

A1.Love Song (Lesley Duncan) 2:55
A2.Tiny Dancer (Elton John-Bernie Taupin) 4:06
A3.How Can I Tell You (Cat Stevens) 2:56
A4.You (Lani Hall) 3:58
A5.Ocean Song (Liz Thorsen) 3:40

B1.We Could Be Flying (Michel Colombier-Paul Williams) 3:53
B2.Come Down In Time (Elton John-Bernie Taupin) 3:39
B3.Sun Down Lady (Willis Ramsey) 3:30
B4.Vincent (Don McLean) 5:55
B5.Wherever I May (Paul Simon) 1:53

MUSICIANS

Jim Gordon (drums)
Chuck Domanico (bass)
Louis Shelton (guitar)
Larry Carlton (guitar)
Milt Holland (percussion)
Pete Jolly (accordion on “How Can I Tell You”)
Tim Weisberg (electric flute on “Ocean Song”)
ClarenceMcDonald (keyboards)

BIO

The original voice of Sergio Mendes' Brasil '66, singer Lani Hall was also the wife of trumpeter and A&M Records co-founder Herb Alpert. Upon exiting Brasil '66, she made her solo debut in 1974 with the LP Sundown Lady; a series of releases including 1975's Hello It's Me, 1977's Sweetbird and 1979's Double or Nothing followed, but after appearing on the soundtrack to the 1983 James Bond film Never Say Never Again Hall largely disappeared from the recording scene, resurfacing only to make the occasional cameo appearance on her husband's recordings. However, the rise of Latin pop during the 1990s inspired Hall to return to the studio, and in 1998 she issued Brasil Nativo. Lani Hall first came to be known to the public at large when she joined the second Brasil project of Bossa Nova master Sergio Mendes, Brasil '66. Unlike the previous incarnation, Brasil '66 was an instant success - making a significant impact on the charts with its first single, a version of the Brazilian song "Mas Que Nada". Much of the song's appeal was due to the distinctive, multi-tracked vocals of Hall. Although born in Chicago, Lani had the look of a beautiful Latin woman, which contributed to the attractive appearance of the band. A series of popular interpretations followed, including their take on The Beatles' "Fool on the Hill". Though many associate her with Brasil '66's hit rendition of Burt Bacharach's "The Look of Love" on the album Look Around (which reached #4 on the pop charts in 1968), the lead on that single was actually handled by Mendes' other singer of that period, Janis Hansen.The band frequently toured alongside A&M labelmates (and label founder) Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, no doubt providing plenty of opportunity for Hall and Alpert to get acquainted. She would leave Brasil '66 in 1971, but marry Alpert in 1973. With her husband assuming production and arranging duties, Hall subsequently embarked on a solo career, beginning with 1972's Sun Down Lady and following up with Hello It's Me in 1975. A new album would appear nearly every year until 1985's Es Facil Amar, for which Hall would be awarded a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance. Her albums maintained their popularity, primarily in the Latin market, but some mainstream presence was kept, particularly with her contribution of the title song to the James Bond film Never Say Never Again in 1983. After raising a family with Alpert and writing fiction, she returned in 1998 with the album Brasil Nativo on the Windham Hill label. © Jason Ankeny, All Music Group