Spellbinder [Original recording remastered]

1. Spellbinder

2. Witchcraft

3. It Was A Very Good Year

4. Gypsy Queen

5. Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

6. Cheetah

7. My Foolish Heart

8. Yearning

9. Autumn Leaves-Speak To Me Of Love

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Japanese edition of the late jazz guitarist's second album.Musicians include Ron Carter on bass, Chico Hamilton on drums, with Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja on percussion. Tracks include 'Gypsy Queen' the song Santana turned into a hit in 1970, plus cove

Spellbinder,Gabor Szabo,Impul,Jazz

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Tracks:

Spellbinder
Witchcraft
It Was a Very Good Year
Gypsy Queen
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
Cheetah
My Foolish Heart
Yearning
Autumn Leaves/Speak to Me of Love

Customer Reviews:

Spellbinder.......2007-04-03

This CD does not in any way convey the excitement and dynamics of the original vinyl recording. This made the listening experience somewhat frustrating, like trying to catch the rainbow. But Gabor is, after all, Gabor. For those who dont know, he is a lyrical guitarist, with a unique style. Four stars for the content.

Spellbinding.......2007-01-09

Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo had a unique style that some forty years later still helps him retain a place in the lexicon of jazz. The title track "Spellbinder" features heavyweight musicians, Ron Carter on bass, Willie Bobo on percussion and the man with whom he cut his jazz teeth, Chico Hamilton on drums. The hypnotic rhythms are sustained throughout the driving song while Szabo's gypsyesque jazz guitar weaves a pulsating spell on the listener.There are a few standards here that Szabo gives the gypsy treatment to including "Autum Leaves" but "It Was A Very Good Year" is just sublime."Gypsy Queen" is a free flowing song that remindes Szabo of his days watching the gypsies dance by the firelight. The result is a mystical song that was caught on tape by the genius of engineer Bob Thiele who while the band was warming up in order to get in tune and a rhythm decided to roll tape. The result is a spontaneous jam that was named later and now part of the lore surrounding Bob Thiele. In this song you can hear the influence this song and style had on Santana, especially on his classic earl works. Some songs are time warps that should have been left in the time machine."Bang Bang"(Sonny & Cher)is a pop song given the jazz makeover but falls short with the accented lyrics sounding like they belong in a smuggled low budget Eastern-bloc movie. Dionne Warwicks "Yearning" features more singing that is really not Szabo's best musical quality."Cheetah", inspired by the N.Y disco of that era is a free flowing song that recalls mods and mini-skirts. This disc gives testament to the lyrical expression and distinctive style that was Gabor Szabo. Recommended for jazz enthuisiasts and purists alike who like music from a different era on occassion.

Quirky, but I like it.......2006-10-10

I don't know what possessed me, but I bought this album without knowing a thing about Gabor Szabo. I'm glad I did, because I have it on all the time. I find it incredibly moving. I especially like "Witchcraft" which I had never heard without the vocal before, and it's charming. Szabo's vocal on "Bang Bang" is quirky and engaging. All in all, I find the album both adventurous and mellow, and I recommend it.

Formidable........2006-07-16

Gabor Szabo had a unique and distinctive sound, love it or hate it , he influenced many successive jazz guitarists among them George Benson and Lee Ritenour. George adopted the 'clangy' metallic sound on many of his very early records and in 1976 covered a tune originally done by Gabor. (i.e."Breezin" which was incidentally written by Bobby Womack. Thanks for the reminder "theta"!)
Gabors Eastern mystical side caused him to try and emulate the sitar and to combine that sound with gypsy angular scales.I think he succeeded very well and although today he may sound dated to me he sounds unique.
It's true that his choice of tunes was a little bubblegumish but then back in 1968 even Leonard Nimoy was making records and even Joe Pass did a tribute to The Rolling Stones!
"Gypsy Queen" sums up Gabors style. Carlos Santana regards 'Spellbinder' as one of the greatest guitar albums ever and almost worships Szabo.
Back in 1970 i purchased some Gabor Szabo albums but didn't understand this mans direction until many years afterwards.
It's a cause for stumbling among many listeners today. Unless we can be transported back to 1968 we will find it difficult to appreciate the music contained here.
If you find the tunes here on this CD a little too light and wish to really hear Gabor Szabo cut loose and blow your mind try purchasing Chico Hamiltons "Man From Both Worlds" CD ...OR Gabors "In Contrast" CD where he teams up with the legendary Bobby Womack himself.

Wonderfully eclectic sensibility; unique and deeply moving playing.......2006-04-10

Take a Latin rhythm section and add a Hungarian immigrant with formal musical training and a love of Jazz and Gypsies. Then place in a recording studio in 1966 with a producer with the courage and deep pockets to let the music happen largely unplanned. Now add a touch of genius and a sprinkling of bad taste and you have Spellbinder. I have to say that I can easily forgive the vocal because it is so charming. It really is disarmingly silly. And the overdubs are out of place. BUT Spellbinder and Gypsies Queen are well worth the price of admission, and most of the other tunes are very moving as well. This is one of the most enjoyable, spontaneous and heartfelt guitar albums of the 60s. No, Gabor Szabo is not Jimi Hendrix or Johnny Smith. Let's say he is to Hendrix or Smith as Scriabin is to Brahms. It is a wild and magical trip complete with an occasional Hungarian guttural. Relax. Close your eyes. Let it happen. Take the trip.

Average customer rating:

Spellbinder
Gabor Szabo
Manufacturer: Universal Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000062UUO
Release Date: 2006-12-18

Tracks:

Spellbinder
Witchcraft
It Was a Very Good Year
Gypsy Queen
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
Cheetah
My Foolish Heart
Yearning
Autumn Leaves/Speak to Me of Love

Average customer rating:

this band is good!

Sea of Light/Spellbinder
Uriah Heep
Manufacturer: Spv Germany
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00004U55U
Release Date: 2000-07-31

Tracks:

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Album Description

Import two-fer includes their albums from 1995 and 1999 housed together in a slipcase.

Customer Reviews:

this band is good!.......2002-04-29

URIAH HEEP is a good one, they are the same contemporaries like Zeppelin, purple and sabbath in the early seventies HEAVY ROCK hey day.
Long ago the fool rolling stones music journalist had condemmed them as inane and boaring band. But in fact that HEEP sold out their albums until 30 mio. albums worldwide!
These two cd set featured the sea of light /studio album and spellbinder /live album in Cologne Germany.
The SPELLBINDER gig was recorded in 1997, and the result is absolutely amazing and incredible show what HEEP did for the german audience. The studio set sea of light is also good. Please listen to the songs such as time of revelation, world of distances, against the odds. they are incredible! I love HEEP.

Average customer rating:

A Great Live CD
Fine concert

Spellbinder
Uriah Heep
Manufacturer: Spitfire
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000J7P2
Release Date: 1999-07-20

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Devil's Daughter
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Bad Bad Man
Rainbow Demon
Words In A Distance
Wizard
Circle Of Hands
Gypsy
Look At Yourself
Lady In Love
Easy Livin'
Bonus Track

Customer Reviews:

A Great Live CD.......2000-03-27

Spellbinder is a great live cd,The cd starts out with Devil`s Daughter,a high energy tune with some fantastic sounds from Phil Lanzon(keyboards).I really love the way they do July Morning on this cd,different from the original verson but sounds great.The song Words in the Distance is from the Sea of Light cd well played here. the entire cd as some of the bands greatest hits. this is a very good cd ..Highly recomended..

Fine concert.......1999-12-10

This cd, recorded in '94, is a great live show. Heep sticks mainly to material from their '70's commercial heyday with some more contemporary tunes thrown in. There is nothing really unusual here, just a Uriah Heep gig, except for the GREAT bonus track, a studio cut left off of "Sea Of Light". If you want only one live Heep cd then this is the one.

Average customer rating:

Spellbinder
Ray Santisi
Manufacturer: Rasan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000CA8DUC
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

Spellbinder
Pendulums
Old Rockin' Chair
Blues
Sea Breeze
Deep Talkin' Bass
Paraphrases on Themes by Duke Ellington, Charlie Mariano
Little Rock Get Away

Average customer rating:

Live at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Manufacturer: Z-K Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007W0CJA

Average customer rating:

Spellbinder
Uriah Heep
Manufacturer: Steamhammer Europe
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000024MDE
Release Date: 2003-01-01

Tracks:

Devil's Daughter
Stealin'
Bad Bad Man
Rainbow Demon
Words in the Distance
Wizard
Circle of Hands
Gypsy
Look at Yourself
Lady in Love
Easy Livin'
Sail The Rivers

Average customer rating:

End of Time

Manufacturer: PPND Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B0002UHYDE

Product Description

TRACK LISTING: ------ 1. Back of My Brain --- 2. End of Time --- 3. I Wanna Be There --- 4. Witch Doctor --- 5. Invisible Woman --- 6. Sorry --- 7. Fields of War --- 8. Captivity --- 9. End of Time [Club Mix] Featuring Spellbinder ---

Average customer rating:

Spellbinder
Kyoto Jazz Massive
Manufacturer: Universal/Impulse
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AU1MKM
Release Date: 2005-10-24

Average customer rating:

Spellbinder
Gypsyesque jazz guitar
One Of A Kind
Gabor Szabo........It's Time He Was Reconized
This album is amazing!!!

Spellbinder
Gabor Szabo
Manufacturer: Impulse!
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000JA5J
Release Date: 2000-05-30

Tracks:

Spellbinder
Witchcraft
It Was A Very Good Year
Gypsy Queen
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
Cheetah
My Foolish Heart
Yearning
Autumn Leaves-Speak To Me Of Love

Album Description

Japanese edition of the late jazz guitarist's second album.Musicians include Ron Carter on bass, Chico Hamilton on drums, with Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja on percussion. Tracks include 'Gypsy Queen' the song Santana turned into a hit in 1970, plus cove

Album Details

Japanese 20Bit Remaster.

Customer Reviews:

Spellbinder.......2007-06-08

I first heard this album in 1968. I have a few more of Gabor's album but this is my favorite and one of my top 5 all time favorite albums.

Gypsyesque jazz guitar.......2004-03-04

A true artist, that is his art work from the original Lp cover, in every sense of the word, the late Gabor Zsabo was probably never recognized for the musical talents he possessed and contributed to the field of jazz. The Hungarian born Zsabo plays a Gibson guitar on this disc that resonates magic from his skillful fingers. His style of guitar playing is so different from any of his then(or even now) contemporaries that it is almost hard to explain the unique qualities. Possibly because he was European, playing an American art form, that at first he tried to emulate until he realized his own voice was valid, that you can hear the Gypsy influences, even soft echoes of Spanish guitar, but make no doubt about it there is a distinctive "spellbinding" effect to Gabor Zsabo's lyrical music. He was quoted as saying that he loved to listen to Gypsies play and dance around the campfires in the cornfields as a child. It must have made a big impression on him because it comes out in his music. It is a soft style that has a certain rhapsody, at times sensuous, always elgant and definitely hipnotic.The title track , "Spellbinder" sets the stage with an upbeat percussion introduction by none other than Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja for a Latin jam kickoff to some of the most incredible guitar licks ever heard. The Zsabo number and playing sounds a bit like Carlos Santana or vice versa since Santana broke through a bit later, but it is just a fine piece of music. The whole disc has a bit of a Latin feel to it because of Gzabo's style of playing and the heavy pecussion throughout.There really are no weak songs on this disc although some are a little different in style. "Witchcraft" has a soft Brazilian feel to it that is soothing. There are a few standards like "It was a Very Good Year" and "Autumn Leaves" but they both get theZsabo treatment for some original sounding renovations. Of particular interest are the vocals offered up on "Bang Bang. " At the time of this recording in 1966 many jazz artists felt compelled, often pushed by the production people , to record some of the pop music of the day."Bang Bang" was a very forgetable hit by Sony and Cher that sounds so cool by Gzago that it blows the original out of the water. He has a rather spooky voice, or maybe it is just the song, that is melancholy but the guitar playing livens it up as his fingers dance merrily up and down the frets. There are several original Gzabo compositions including the title track, "Cheetah, "inspired by a New York discotheque, "Yearning" a beautiful lyrical song and "Gypsy Queen" later made famous by Carlos Santana on his spectacular and groundbreaking Lp "Abraxsas." On "Gypsy Queen " the similarities in styles between Santana and Gzabo are most evident and easily compared but throughout the disc you can hear the twangy, lingering notes that sound so similar. The other band members are whooping it up in the background as they encourage each other to increase the intensity. If you have never heard the late great Gabor Gzabo and are interested in guitar than pick this disc up. The personnel featured on this recording are all top notch having led their own groups. The Amazon editorial lists the contributors. The disc was originally produced by super Impulse engineer Rudy Van Gelder and Bob Theile in production. Incidently, Theile had the tape running while Gzabo and band were "warming" up as Gzabo led them through his rhytmic structure. The music sounded so good he gave it a name, "Gypsy Queen"(for his childhood memories of Gypsies) and included the results. The rest is history as the song was later made popular by Santana and one of his most popular an recognizable songs. Anyway, both of these individuals have been part of some of the best jazz recording ever made and anything with their name on it is usually outstanding. A great addition to any jazz collection and highly recommended.

One Of A Kind.......2002-01-14

I still have an 8-track tape of this wonderful recording and it was one of the few I bothered to burn onto a CD, track changes and all. It's so unique and addictive. I only wish Gabor had more albums left behind for those of us who are fortunate enough to pick up on his simplistic, rythmic creativity. Many folks might not take this seriously because Gabor played to his own mind with little regard for anything but that sound he heard. If you can appreciate it you won't forget it. Spellbinder is probably his best but if you ever find Jazz Raga, get it too! If you are a real fan of guitar, this will really be a significant, enjoyable piece of your music collection. Unfortunately, Gabor's work got a little wishy-washy in later years. But even much of that work is not without beauty once you come to embrace the work from these earlier recordings that are unmistakably great Gabor!

Gabor Szabo........It's Time He Was Reconized.......1999-12-08

If you buy albums and Jazz Guitar is one of your preferences, this CD is an absolute must for your collection. Gabor Szabo was born a Hungary. Chico Hamilton heard him while on tour and offered him the guitar spot in his orchestra. He came to the United States and played with Hamilton for over six years. While Chico led an inspired percussion group, it was Gabor Szabo's spellbinding guitar which was the driving force to a new and mesmerizing sound. This album, Spellbinder, is his first effort on his own. To wish him well, Chico Hamilton came over and played percussion. I have over 700 jazz albums, 300 of which are guitarists. This album would be in my top five. Gabor Szabo was a gifted and indeed a great guitar player. Carlos Santana would have been just another player if he hadn't been influenced by Szabo's unique style. So my advice to you is buy this album, put on your head phones, and kick back. It shouldn't take you long to see why they called it "SPELLBINDER'.

This album is amazing!!!.......1999-09-23

I found an LP of this in my dad's record collection, it is awesome! This album is in the period before Szabo got into pop and psycadelia. Carlos Santana was greatly influenced by this record, and he covered "Gypsy Queen" (It's the second part of Black Magic Woman).

His guitar ideas and the rythms are great and very original. Chico Hamilton was part of album. This may be a but pricey because it's an import, but it represents some of his finer work, before he became a pop musician.

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