Dial M-A-C-E-O

Amazon.com
The artist universally known as Maceo meets the Artist Formerly Known as Prince on this new star-studded venture also featuring Ani DiFranco and Sheryl Crow. Mostly, it's the stuff Maceo does best: mid- to uptempo funk grooves that test the alto saxophonist's sharp, rhythmic approach and lift him miles above his imitators. Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering his own very ascetically produced sound, Prince's "Greatest Romance Ever Sold" isn't the most successful moment on the album. His postmodern pop doesn't suit Maceo's gutsy, natural sound the way James Brown or Bootsy Collins could. Nor does the three-way partnership with Crow on the rock-style "Baby Knows" offer the saxophonist much of an opportunity to dig dirt. But "Simply Tooley"--a horn-heavy return to something like the P-Funk sound--and "Rabbits in the Pea Patch" are two of Maceo's best tracks in years. --Linton Chiswick

Dial M-A-C-E-O,Maceo Parker,What Are Records,Funk,Pop,R&B,R&B/Pop,Soul-Jazz,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues

Average customer rating:

My Baby Loves You!
Maceo moves toward the mainstream and away from himself....
An excellent album!
Maceo went for the money
Check out Southern Comfort Instead

Dial M-A-C-E-O
Maceo Parker
Manufacturer: What Are Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Funk | R&B | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Funk Overload
Life on Planet Groove
School's In!
Made by Maceo
Mo' Roots

ASIN: B00004SBYM
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Tracks:

Dial M-A-C-E-O
Rabbits In The Pea Patch
Coin Toss
My Baby Loves You
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold
Black Widow
I've Got Work To Do
Simply Tooley
Latin Like
Closer I Get To You
My Love
Homeboy
Silent

Amazon.com

The artist universally known as Maceo meets the Artist Formerly Known as Prince on this new star-studded venture also featuring Ani DiFranco and Sheryl Crow. Mostly, it's the stuff Maceo does best: mid- to uptempo funk grooves that test the alto saxophonist's sharp, rhythmic approach and lift him miles above his imitators. Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering his own very ascetically produced sound, Prince's "Greatest Romance Ever Sold" isn't the most successful moment on the album. His postmodern pop doesn't suit Maceo's gutsy, natural sound the way James Brown or Bootsy Collins could. Nor does the three-way partnership with Crow on the rock-style "Baby Knows" offer the saxophonist much of an opportunity to dig dirt. But "Simply Tooley"--a horn-heavy return to something like the P-Funk sound--and "Rabbits in the Pea Patch" are two of Maceo's best tracks in years. --Linton Chiswick

Customer Reviews:

My Baby Loves You!.......2005-01-13

Certainly Maceo Parker doesn't need any assistance as smoking versions of the Isley Brothers' "Work to Do," the album's opening stuttering funk salvo of the self-composed "Rabbits in the Pea Patch," and "Coin Toss" (DiFranco's track) makes clear. The talented Maceo Parker, who is only slightly less adept at the flute and piano, rips into scorching solos equally as energetic as anything he did with James Brown or George Clinton.
Find more on the website http://www.maceo-parker.com

Maceo moves toward the mainstream and away from himself...........2003-09-26

First of all, Maceo Parker is a relatively unsung hero of funk. A lot of people can remember, "Hit me Maceo!", but few completely grasp how pervasive his sound as a multidecade dealer of the Funk. Maceo's work with Parliament as a member of the Horny Horns is a key contribution, and his work with the JBS, a spinoff of James Brown's stuff is essential as well. As a solo artist, Maceo's music is more relevant to what's happening in funk then James Brown now that he's lost his core collaborators and can't dance as well.

Maceo's solo work starts with seeing a live show! If you have a chance to spend $19 on this album or spend $60 bucks to see him live, see the man live!!! Maceo live is one of the greatest funk acts around. After you've seen a live show, you probably want to dig one of his solo albums, and "Life On Planet Groove" is definitely the place to start.

And now we're left with Dial M A C E O. "Dial" is Maceo trying to move to the mainstream and broaden his appeal from overseas adulation and hard core funkateers in the states. The result is cleaner more produced horn sound, some smoother funk work and a laundry list of collaborations that don't really work for me. This album to me is like a lesser version of "Funk Overload", which I believe was the album immediately preceding it. You get some funk covers like the Isley's "Work to Do", one of my favorite tracks on the album. You get a novelty funk tune in "Rabbits in a Pea Patch." And you get some smooth Maceo on flute, [not too much flute on Funk Overload, though]. The big change is the Prince covers and I agree with other reviewers; covering Prince stuff is not really Maceo's bag or why I'm into Maceo. Likewise, it's nice that he's trying to bring his son along for the ride as a rapper, but Corey is not a viable solo artist as a rapper and the rhymes don't really add much to the sound.

Personally, I'd give this one two and a half stars and recommend it only to Maceo completists. If you dig Maceo, "Life On Planet Groove" first, than the Roots series of albums if you want his jazzier side, "Funk Overload" if you want the more produced.

Last thing for Maceo fans; check out my other review of Fred Wesley's memoirs "Hit Me Fred" for some perspective on post James Brown/post Parliament JB horns alums. I agree with Fred Wesley that the dissolving of the JB Horns and the resulting Maceo as pure solo artist has not been the best thing for the Funk.

Maceo's still a badass, but he's done a lot better work than this.

--SD

An excellent album!.......2000-10-29

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this album - jazz or funk, instrumental or vocals.

When I popped it in, I was surprised that almost all the songs are incredible! Being a Prince fan, I expected The Greatest Romance Ever Sold and Baby Knows (the hidden track), to be the best of the bunch. But, I was surprised that I enjoyed some of the other songs even more!

If you enjoy funk music, this is a must-have! Maceo even makes James Taylor sound funky!

Maceo went for the money.......2000-09-28