Gino Vannelli Midi Files Cracked The Top

Gino Vannelli Midi Files Cracked The Top

Though it had a definite pop flavour with the singles Living Inside Myself, reaching 7 and the title track which also cracked the top 30, but others like Seek and You Shall Find, penned by all 3, and Stay With Me showed a growing maturity.

An accomplished big band musician, his father Russ had played with practically every major star of the era, exposing Gino to a wide variety of styles a trademark of his over 3 decades of songwriting.

He was admitted into McGill University in the late 60s to study music theory, having already pretty much mastered every instrument available to him.

He dropped out in 1969 to form Vann Elli with older brother Joe, adding youngest brother Ross to the mix a few months later.

A loosely constructed rb outift, they landed a short term deal with RCA and cut the single Gina Bold the next year.

After peddling the demos to practically every label in town, they finally landed a contract with AM in 73.

Produced by Herb Alpert, co-founder of AM, Ginos first album was that summers CRAZY LIFE.

Despite the title track and the somewhat autobiographical tale of a man seeking his fame and fortune called Hollywood Holiday, the record was a failure considering no single was released, Alperts expectations and the fact he oversaw production, a mandatory stipulation on his part in the deal.

The title track was then released, also cracking the top 30 and garnered him a Grammy nomination for best new artist.

He also took home that categorys award at the following springs Juno Awards.

Despite three singles charting on Billboard, neither Love Me Now or the ballad Keep On Walking made it over with the US critics.

As leaders of the disco deterioration, they were expecting something to boogie to, not appreciate.

AM execs werent happy with the unprofitable work, so they pressured Gino into selling his soul and returning to the disco-ish formula that raked in so many dollars before.

A happy blend of soul-selling and something he could be proud of, the record spawned the dance single Love Of My Life and New Fix For 76 but also tracks like Prelude To The War and the soulful Omens Of Love.

For PAUPER IN PARADISE, released the summer of 77, Gino travelled to England, marking the first co-production with brother Joe.

The record pretty much stayed true to Vannellis fashion of not staying true to ANYTHING.

With assistance from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, tracks like Valleys of Valhalla and the title song helped mold an orchestrated rock opera with a jazz flair atmosphere, much to the shagrin of the record label.

A true collaberation, ironically it was Ross song I Just Wanna Stop, a sort of power ballad with an infectious groove that charted the highest.

AM still wanted dancepop oriented run of the mill sellers and the new single gave them just that.

Quick to follow up, Appaloosa was releasedearly in 79, followed by Wheels Of Life and then The River Must Flow.

They parted ways that fall and AM released THE BEST OF GINO VANNELLI as a standard cow-milking procedure in time for the Christmas rush.

With his brothers again with him, the record was pivotal in the development of Gino Vannelli the artist.