Deodato “Deodato 2”

Accidentally started it on 45 RPM—and I didn’t notice, as it starts out so leisurely. “Nights in White Satin”—and as the song speeds up, I noticed. So it becomes another in a long line of records I accidentally played at the wrong speed. Actually, not such a long line, but one I remember is Tom Waits “Foreign Affairs”—maybe my first time listening to Tom Waits, so what did I know. Anyway, once I get it on the right speed, it makes sense that I’d been fooled, because it starts very slowly—maybe the slowest version of that song ever recorded? Also, with a pretty weird sounding, I’m assuming, keyboard—synthesizer? Like it’s emulating a very low register woodwind—what would that be? Maybe a contrabassoon? Though I’m probably totally wrong about that! Anyway, it picks up speed, or maybe doubles tempo all at once. It’s a good version of that song, which is one of those songs that I really love cover versions of, for some reason. I always thought it was “Knights in White Satin” (I’m sure everybody says this), and it just occurred to me that “Knights in White Satin” would be a good name for a Moody Blues tribute band. Though—that’s so obvious—I’m fairly sure one must exist—maybe several! After that is a Ravel number, and then a Deodato number (“Skyscrapers”) with a killer intro—that the horns then mellow into sounding like a Seventies TV cop show. Is there some danger in having a killer intro, in that sometimes the rest of the song has a hard time standing up to that early peak? Well, that’s okay, the song picks up again, and the record as a whole is very nice—one I’d keep out for entertaining—if there was, that is, any space for keeping things out, and any entertaining going on. This record was also available as a Quad LP, 8-Track, and reel to reel!

This is Eumir Deodato’s ninth or tenth album (earlier ones, Brazilian, so 2nd CIT release, I suppose). It’s not, as many might think, the eponymous record by a Deodato clone (named Deodato2… bad joke, sorry). It’s got a great 1973 style glossy cover, a giant photo of (must be him) (his head about twice-life-size) holding up a magnifying glass so his right eye is even bigger. And that font! The photo extends partly onto the back (it’s not square) and inside there’s an offer to buy a “suitable for framing” quality reproduction of the photo—for only $1.50—which seems too good to be true even for 1973. The back cover photo of Deodato looks like a regular guy maybe shooting craps. A giant inside photo has him sitting next to a giant semi-muraled wall—maybe a seafood restaurant. Only two songs on side two, both long and really good—a Deodato number called “Super Strut,” and then a hot “Rhapsody in Blue.” I kind of thought maybe with technology and overdubbing, a whiz like D. could be playing the majority of the sounds… but no… full credits inside and it’s a whole city of musicians, an orchestra no less, strings and horns and woodwinds, percussion and congas, and some hot bass players and drummers (Stanley Clarke, John Giulino, Billy Cobham, Rick Marotta)—but sadly, no contrabassoon, listed. Though, I figured that was synth, thus Deodato, as he’s not sharing the keyboard credits with anybody! Arranger and conductor, as well. Interestingly, only one guitarist, but it’s John Tropea, so all you need, and there’s a lot of very hot guitar on this record—I’m wondering if he's got a copy of the LP in a sterling spot in his collection. Producer is Creed Taylor, who also handles the $1.50 cover reproduction sales.

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