1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,760 Speaker 1: This is Alec Baldwin and you're listening to Here's the thing. 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: If you were listening to the radio in n it 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: was a true hodgepodge of what was then considered popular music. 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: And right up there with the Supremes and Simon and 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: Garf Uncle and Frank Sinatra and even the Beatles, was 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: this guy, Yes, that signature Tiajuana Brass sound. Herb Albert 7 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: had no Latin roots, but wanted to recreate the sound 8 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: he'd heard at the bullfights in Tijuana. When he decided 9 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: to overdub his trumpet on two different tape machines, he 10 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:04,119 Speaker 1: captured it, and he captured more than that. Whipped Cream 11 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: and Other Delights was the number one album in the 12 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: country in nineteen sixty remaining on the charts for three years. 13 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 1: In nineteen sixty six, the Tijuana Brass sold over thirteen 14 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: million records, out selling the Beatles. I started playing when 15 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: I was eight, and I was earning a living on 16 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: weekends playing. I love playing. What happened when you were eight? Well, 17 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: what had you seen or heard that made you say 18 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: I want to pick up a trumpet? Some fine? Well, yeah, 19 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: I was really fortunate in my elementary school they had 20 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:38,279 Speaker 1: a band appreciation class and they had this table filled 21 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 1: with various instruments and I was able to just pick 22 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: one up. And where were you going to school? Melrose 23 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: Elementary School in Los Angeles. What did your dad do? 24 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: Ladies coats and suits? Yeah, that was he was in 25 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: the clothing business. He was a Schneider. You know. My 26 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: brother was a professional drummer. My sister played the piano, 27 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: mother violin, and my dad played the mandolin by ear. 28 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: So your parents were musical, very musical, but it wasn't 29 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: their professional No, not at all. What did your parents 30 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: think about when you were so devoted to music? Were 31 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: they discouraging you? We doing there? Then? Dad wasn't so 32 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: crazy about it. He thought, what do you want to play? 33 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: And sawdust pits the rest of your life? That was 34 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: his image of it. The Brass as they were called, 35 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: toured often as a kind of review in the sixties. 36 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,679 Speaker 1: We played some college affairs in uh, Upper California. What 37 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: do you Allen opened the show for us as a 38 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: stand up comic. Yeah, it wasn't a concert style music. 39 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: You had comics open for you in different kinds of Yeah, 40 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 1: what are you open for us? George Carlin opened for us, 41 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: Jim Carey opened for us. I go back aways, Man, 42 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: I'm older than dirt, you know. At the time he 43 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: didn't know it, but Albert was on just beginning an 44 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: extraordinary career as a musician, eventually earning five number one hits, 45 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: eight Grammys, fourteen platinum albums, and fifteen gold However, those 46 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: achievements might be seen as a kind of act one 47 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: to his later, unimaginably successful career as a music producer. 48 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:31,359 Speaker 1: We've only just speak use. In nineteen sixty two, with 49 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: his friend Jerry Moss, Albert founded what would become the 50 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: world's largest independent record label, A and M Records. They 51 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: signed such artists as The Carpenters, Cheryl Crow, Janet Jackson, 52 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: and the Police Rocks You Don't Have to the Red 53 00:03:51,120 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: Night those days to the nine. Albert and Moss started 54 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: the whole thing with two hundred bucks and a handshake, 55 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: ultimately selling A and M to PolyGram Records for half 56 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: a billion dollars. Today, Albert's a prolific sculptor and painter 57 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: and continues to make music, touring occasionally. He's seventy six 58 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: and still as handsome as ever. Herb Albert has always 59 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: had matinee idle looks, but he never took up acting. 60 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: Let me tell you something. When I was in high school, 61 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: I was working at a gym. This agent came up 62 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: to me says, man, you look like you should be 63 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: in the movies. So I said, well, what can you 64 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: do for me? He set me up with the people 65 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: at Paramount. I auditioned. They said I was a little green, 66 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: so I started taking lessons. I studied with Jeff Corey 67 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: and also Leonard Nimoy, and I realized I didn't have it. 68 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: I'm passionate about playing the horn. What's the music scene 69 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: like in Los Angeles? Then? For a young guy who 70 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: wants to play, well, it was quite different. It was 71 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: shah Boom, shah boom, sixty minute man in those type 72 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: of songs that were kind of popular at the time. 73 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: I had a great experience, though. I was partners with 74 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: Lou Adler at the time. How did you become partners 75 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: with him? Well, he was dating my ex wife. Oh Hollywood, yeah, 76 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: I forgot. We're talking about l a. Lou was writing 77 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: poetry and I started writing some some you know, music 78 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: to his poetry. And he's kind of a knock on 79 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: every door type of guy, and I'm on the shy one. 80 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: So we got this job at Keen Records in Los 81 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: Angeles and started working for Bumps Blackwell, who was the 82 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: producer for Sam Cook and Lou and I became really 83 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: close friends with Sam Cooke. We wrote Wonderful World together 84 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: with him. He was really special. He had something very unusual. 85 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: He's very unpretentious guy, but very elegant. What did he 86 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: teach you? Sam had this number one records you sent 87 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: me and his follow up was I love you for 88 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: sentimental reasons. And so the owner of this company that 89 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: I was working for was like an amateur piano player. 90 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: So Sam was recording, goes into the control room and 91 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: starts listening to a playback. I was there with this owner, 92 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: and the owner walks up to Sam and says, Sam, 93 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: you know in bar twelve you can put in a 94 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: whoa whoa, and in bar thirty five you can put 95 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: it in another wow. You know. He had the sheet music, 96 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: and Sam looked at the guy and says, it's jack, Yeah, 97 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: just put in a whoa whoa whenever you want. Man, 98 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: you gotta feel it, he says, Man, you're listening to 99 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 1: a cold piece. Of wax, and it either makes it 100 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: or it don't you know? He broke it right down 101 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: to the nub. For me, what's interesting about your career 102 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: is not just virtuosic musicianship, but you go on to 103 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: become a very serious and like incredibly successful producer. Did 104 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: you feel when you met those people did you have 105 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: that skill as well? Oh? No, I didn't have any 106 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: skills wise. No, in producing wise. I didn't even think 107 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 1: about it. I had an experience at a place, uh 108 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: called the Annex in Los Angeles, a recording studio, and 109 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: I was watching a reasonably famous producer producer record. So 110 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: the musicians rehearsing. Plas Johnson was a saxophone player. He 111 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: was a saxophone player that played on the Pink Panther. Yeah, 112 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: they rehearse Plas played this incredible solo. Producer gets on 113 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: the horn and said, okay, Plass, beautiful, just play the 114 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: same thing again. Plas, what do you mean? He said, 115 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: just play that solo again? I love that. He says, 116 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: did you record it? He says, no, but you know what, 117 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: you know what you did? Just play it again? I said, 118 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: well I can do this. This is always be rolling. 119 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: Oh well, I always do that. Oh yeah, No, great 120 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: success for you with t Juana Brass and great success 121 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: for you recording albums. And when does producing become something, 122 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: if ever, that was as important to you? I mean 123 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: A and M is not some mom and pop shop. 124 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: You and Moss set up a huge company that you 125 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: sold to PolyGram for an enormous amount of money. Could 126 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: you strike me as a guy that's there is a 127 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: real artist. You're painting and your sculpting, and you're playing music. 128 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: When does it start to really take over the business side? 129 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: And A and M? Well, you know, I surround you 130 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: let Jerry do that well exactly, and I surround myself 131 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: with really quality people that people that can do things 132 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: that I can't. And I'm a right brain guy, you know, 133 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: I'm percent on the right side of my brain. So 134 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: business is uh was always a little funny for me, 135 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: you know. Jerry and I always discussed the big broad 136 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: stroke of n M, but you know, the little incidental 137 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: things that happened on daily basis. I wasn't interested in 138 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: front of the house, back of the house. Yeah, exactly. 139 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: What was it about Jerry that you think it lasted 140 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: so long and it was so successful? He's just a 141 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: really good guy. He's an honest he has a lot 142 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: of integrity. He doesn't lie. It sounds strange, but we 143 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: never had a contract. Jerry and I had a and 144 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 1: M on a handshake and the only time we ever 145 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: signed a contract was when we sold to PolyGram. Now, 146 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: during that period when you're producing, I know nothing about 147 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: how records are made, which must be just completely unrecognizable 148 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: now from what it was back in technically completely I 149 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: did an album called Whip. We ripped, we whipped, you know, 150 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: re whipped. Yeah, thank you very much. I'm your pr 151 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: man than the guy who got the concept for this album. 152 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: You know, got a bunch of young producers together to 153 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: redo the Whip prim and Other Delights album. So they 154 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: sent me music files on a c D or on 155 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: a DVD or through the net. I would put my 156 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 1: trumpet on, put the trumpet on a CD because it's 157 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: all time coded, send the CD back to them. They 158 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: would slip it right into their master recordings. And I 159 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: never met these guys. I spoke to one, but ultimate 160 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,199 Speaker 1: Internet dating. These guys could have been in Afghanistan. It 161 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: will work the same way. What was it like before 162 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: when you recorded Whip Creaming of the Delights, which is 163 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,959 Speaker 1: obviously one of the most famous records you ever made. 164 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:24,320 Speaker 1: Where did you record that album? Well, it was recorded 165 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: at gold Star Studios in Los Angeles. But you know, 166 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: prior to that, my first recorder recorder was a wire recorder. 167 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: I had a webcord wire recorders. If you wanted to, 168 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:40,559 Speaker 1: you know, inter cut some things, you need a soldering iron. Yeah. 169 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: Do you feel that all this technology and all of 170 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 1: the power that comes with that, has it made people lazy? 171 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: Like people can't get in a room and they just 172 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: can't play a song all the way through anymore. I 173 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: don't think it makes them lazy. I think it gives 174 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: them too many options. You know, now with the digital 175 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: you know set up, you have empty album tracks and 176 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: you can just keep going and keep going, and then 177 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: you can tune them up and you can shift it around, 178 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: take something that was happening at the end of the 179 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: song and move it up to the front. Too many options. 180 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: I think it takes some of the hardaway. Yeah. I 181 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: mean I also wonder people say, what's the difference between 182 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: you know, theater and film and more and more the 183 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 1: technical cost of these highly technical fields, whether it's filmmaking, television, 184 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 1: recorded music. It's expensive, and so they want everybody. It's 185 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:30,839 Speaker 1: almost to the point now where they don't care how 186 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,319 Speaker 1: you feel about the experience, because I'll stand there and 187 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:35,839 Speaker 1: I'll say, well, I want to do another take, man, 188 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 1: and I want to feel it. You know, I want 189 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: to do this whole speech on page two all the 190 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: way to the bottom of page four. It's like a 191 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: ski run. I want to ski that hill all the 192 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: way to the bottom without falling. And everybody looks, goes, 193 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: we don't have time for that, man, we gotta get 194 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: out of here. Yeah, that's the way the music businesses now. No, 195 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 1: I don't think so. I mean it depends on you 196 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: know what artists you're talking about. Who's someone that you 197 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 1: recorded that you sat there and you were like, wow, man, 198 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: this is really a thrill for me as an artist 199 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 1: to watch this man or woman. Well, there are a 200 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: lot of men. We had a must incredible artists with 201 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: the name A couple that you dug cast Stevens was wow, 202 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: unusually special. Now I've been happy lately thinking about the 203 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: good things to come and believe it could be something 204 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: good at it begun, get us something magical. You guys 205 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: signed him. Oh yeah, but I mean he was so 206 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: passionate and so you know, the lyrics and so unusual. 207 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: He had his own interpretation of all these songs that 208 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 1: it was. He was beautiful. I remember those records, and 209 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: of course, you know the police. Sting just writes a 210 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: great song. And when we saw them, you know, Sting 211 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: was bouncing around the stage like he was on a 212 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,199 Speaker 1: pogo stick. They were great to watch. And of course 213 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: I had an unusual experience with the carpenters. I signed 214 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: the carpenters, and on my iPod I have the Carpenters, 215 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: I have Sting, and then I have Home. On a second, 216 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: I have Cat Stevens on my iPhone. Oh yeah, you 217 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: got a lot of my money. Man. Well, you know, 218 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty this is an interesting story if you 219 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: want to hear this joke. In nineteen sixty uh six seven, 220 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: were I was doing a special for NBC. Jack Hayley Jr. 221 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: Was directing. He said, why don't you sing a song? 222 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 1: I said, well, if if I can find the right song, 223 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: I'll give it a go. So, you know, I go 224 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,319 Speaker 1: through my brolla decks and I called Bert back rack. 225 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: I said, Bert is there a song that you have 226 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: that do you think I could handle? That you have 227 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 1: tucked away in your drawer someplace where you find yourself 228 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: whistling in the morning, or you know a tune that 229 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: haunts you well. Three days later he sent me this 230 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: Girl's in love with You? You see this guy? This 231 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: guy love with you? Yes? Uh? Who looks at you 232 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: the way? When I watched the video this morning of 233 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: what have you singing the song? When he saw my 234 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: ex wife, then that's your wife. Cute? I record the song, 235 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: I go, I fly to New York. So how David 236 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: Hell David would change you know, the lyrics to suit me. 237 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: As I'm marking out of Hell's door, I said, how 238 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: is there a song that do you think I might 239 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: be able to handle? Or song that you have talked 240 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: away in the door in the same yard I gave Bert. 241 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: Two days later he sent me close to You, which 242 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: was going to be the follow up to This Guy's 243 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: in Love with You. I recorded it in the studio. 244 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: I'm listening to the playback and my engineer friend Larry 245 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: Levine rested. So look to me, says, man, you sound 246 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: terrible singing this. I don't forget it. I lost my confidence. 247 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: I put that thing in the drawer. When I signed 248 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: the Carpenters in nineteen seventy, they had an album that 249 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: didn't sell. I mean, the first album was zero and 250 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: people have described the first album to rely on Richard Carpenter. No, no, 251 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: it has had Karen. But it was very soft. It 252 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: was very delicate and very it wasn't really radio friendly. 253 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: Uh So a year later I gave him Close to You. 254 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: They recorded it and it was really light. Again. I 255 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: said this, we need we need a little bit more 256 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: energy on this one, because because Karen thought she was 257 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: a drummer, I mean she and she played drums and 258 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: she was good, but she wanted to record and I 259 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: when I listened to the recording, I said, no, it's 260 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: a little too too light. You know, we need some more. 261 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: They recorded again and it still wasn't quite there, and 262 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: so finally we got the Wrecking Crew. I don't know 263 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: if you know that name. Those these guys that did 264 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: most of the sessions in l A. They held Held 265 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: Blame on drums and Tommy Tedesco on guitar and Carol Kaye. 266 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: The third recording was The Charm Why from every Time 267 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: You Want just like me. What's the difference? How do 268 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: they get there? For you? As a person who has 269 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: this ear, this gift, something happens for you like an 270 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: alchemy where you just go that's it. They got it? Well, yeah, 271 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: how do they get there? How do you help them 272 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: get there? Or do you you try to flag them 273 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: down to the runway. You know, That's what we did 274 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: with most of our artists. You know, we didn't try 275 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: to sign the beat of the week. We tried to 276 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: get you know, like I'm saying that Cat Stevens and 277 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: the artists we chose, we're artists that just had their 278 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: own little identity which we loved, and the carpenters had that. 279 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: I mean, I signed them because it wasn't the type 280 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: of music that I normally listened to. But they were 281 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: so sincere about it, and we were so passionate about 282 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: the music. Apologetic, Oh beautiful, one of the most clarion voices. Well, 283 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: when I heard the original tape, you know they are. 284 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,120 Speaker 1: And the original tape was presented to me like studied 285 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 1: one era tape, you know, And when he handed me 286 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: a tape through the gates at A and M and 287 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: I sat down in my couch at in my office 288 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,239 Speaker 1: at a m and I did what I usually do, 289 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: put on the tape. The speakers were on the floor 290 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: about ten feet in front of me. Closed my eyes 291 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: and it felt like Karen's voice was sitting right next 292 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 1: to me on the on the couch. So I was 293 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: just really intrigued to meet them. And when I did, 294 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: I just realized, this is the real deal. So you 295 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: build this big company, you know, you gotta, you gotta, 296 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 1: You've got a great record company, you and Jerry, and 297 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 1: then the time comes and aside from deal making and 298 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: aside from you know, PolyGram making it well worth your while, 299 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 1: what was it like in terms of the decision to 300 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: let it go and to sell the company. Well, I 301 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 1: felt something coming. I felt the music file sharing, and 302 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: something just just felt like the time is right. It 303 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: was well in most of these companies were run by 304 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: these big corporations, and you know, they were throwing millions 305 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: and millions and dollars around for new artists, and we 306 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: felt that, you know, you make one mistake at our 307 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: size and then you your your ship is sinking. So 308 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: we just thought it was it was time. And originally 309 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: we were just going to sell, which we held on 310 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: too for a long time, and then they said, look, 311 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: we'd like to gobble the whole thing. And I thought, 312 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 1: what can I do to throw in a little something. 313 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: I'd like my catalog back, her Bopera, Tijuana Brass and 314 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: her boper single catalog plus Lonnie Hall's catalog. And I 315 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:53,959 Speaker 1: got it. I mean, that's what all artists crave, right, 316 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: is to control their own music. I wanted it back, 317 00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 1: and they agreed to it. We signed the contract and 318 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: you may the deal and sold the company. Yea, to them, 319 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: was painting and sculpting becoming more important in your life 320 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:07,959 Speaker 1: right at the same time you decided to get rid 321 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,000 Speaker 1: of A and m to polygraph. Not really those two 322 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: things intersecting. No, no, no, I've been painting for forty 323 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 1: two years. I started painting in nineteen seventy. I'm not 324 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,239 Speaker 1: a Sunday painter. I'm not a Sunday artist. I do 325 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: it every day, you know, traveling in the sixties with 326 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: the two Wanter Brass around the world, I used to 327 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: go to museums and I go to the modern arts section. 328 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: For whatever reason, that just appealed to me. And you know, 329 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: I see these paintings like a black painting with a 330 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: purple dot or something hanging on the wall, and I think, 331 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: let me try something like that. I wasn't doing it 332 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: to think something would come of it. I'll tell you 333 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,719 Speaker 1: what's great. And I know, Alec you know about this. 334 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: It's just there's something about being an artist, being a musician, 335 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: being a painter, being a sculpture. When you're doing it, 336 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: you're in the exact moment of your life, and that's rare. 337 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: You know, when you're not in that mode, you're you're 338 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: thinking about yesterday or tomorrow or some other house a 339 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: rye that really doesn't make any sense. But when you're 340 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: doing it, man, it just feels so right on the moment. 341 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: I feel that we would have'm on my boat. Well 342 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: I don't paint, and I don't I wish I could paint. 343 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 1: Well I should try it. I mean when I started painting, 344 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 1: I painted like a monkey, you know. I would just 345 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: I squeezed some paint on a canvas and moved it 346 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: around with Yeah, you had no training, no training. I 347 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: didn't know what I was doing. But I think there's 348 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 1: an advantage to that. I think when you're an amateur 349 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 1: and you're just fooling around, you have infinite possibilities. You know, 350 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: if you go to a professional, they'll tell you what 351 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: not to do and what to do and how to 352 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,479 Speaker 1: do it and blah blah blah. And I didn't know 353 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: about that. I just did whatever. I'm always going for 354 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: a feel, you know. It's it's I do that in 355 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: music and sculpting and painting. It's like, I'm not looking 356 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: for something that's going to, you know, excite my eyes. 357 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: I wanted to something that's excites my soul, you know, 358 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: it's something that really resonates. I'm assuming there's no preference 359 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: between paint and canvas and sculpture for you. You enjoy 360 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: them both equally. I got a copy from your office 361 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,119 Speaker 1: of the Black Totem's exhibit in the work you've done. Now, 362 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: these are obviously immense pieces there in bronze, and these 363 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: exclusively for people who have cliff side homes in Malibu 364 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: with Really, I'm not interested in really selling, you know. 365 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: I know, I'm to say they're big, they're big. Yeah, 366 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: they're huge. I think of my homes in New York 367 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 1: and on Long Island. I would be interested in buying 368 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,680 Speaker 1: the lower four feet of this way. If we could 369 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: cut this into sections. Actually, that would be kind of 370 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: that would work quite well for me. I don't have 371 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: eighteen feet in Manhattan, but they're absolutely stunning. This is 372 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: Alec Baldwin and I'm talking with Herb Albert. More in 373 00:21:52,040 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: a minute. This is Alec Baldwin and you're listening to 374 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: Here's the Thing today. Talking with Herb Albert. What is 375 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: music for you? Now? I know that's the the ultimate 376 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 1: cliche question, but how do you how do you view 377 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 1: the music world now beyond zeros and ones in the 378 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: digital and everything. You must be sitting home and sometimes 379 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: you sit there and go, wow, that sounds great. I 380 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: really did that. Well, you know, I have really varied taste. 381 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: So I love classical music. I love you know, listening 382 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: to your favorite composer. Well, yeah, I love revel. I 383 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: mean actually Ravel taught me a lesson. Actually, I was 384 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: going to sc for a few moments. I was in 385 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 1: the orchestra there and they were playing um Pictures at 386 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 1: an exhibition, you know. I was in the Yorkshire playing that. Yeah, 387 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: Missoursky wrote it, Ravel arranged arranged it good for you, 388 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: and they were playing the last Monte rate Gate of Kiev, 389 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 1: you know, And I was like, so intrigued with the 390 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,199 Speaker 1: sound of the orchestra. I was leaning forward listening to 391 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: everybody and sounded like, wow, it's like natural stereo, and 392 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: I forgot to come in. I've had to come in 393 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: on my part. Right at that moment, I thought, hey, 394 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: you know, this isn't for me. What I really want 395 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,159 Speaker 1: to do is just close my eyes and play. I 396 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 1: love Miles Davis, I love Louis Armstrong. I love those 397 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,360 Speaker 1: guys that just, you know, create I want to try 398 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,479 Speaker 1: doing that. And so I started, you know, working on jazz, 399 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,439 Speaker 1: which is a very specific language. I mean, just because 400 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: you want to play jazz doesn't mean you can play jazz. 401 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 1: Had you been asked to score a lot of film, 402 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: did you pass up? And you must have been asked 403 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: to score? Well, I did. I did the title song 404 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:43,399 Speaker 1: of or I out with Bert backrack, but that was 405 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 1: about it. Now, I don't think that's my thing. I don't. 406 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: I don't think I didn feel it. I didn't feel it. 407 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: Maybe my wife thinks I should still, you know, pursue that. 408 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: But you know, I had an experience this is like 409 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: a little different aside by it. I was in the 410 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: studio recording the Going Places album and the brass was 411 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:10,359 Speaker 1: already going crazy. I mean, we were selling you know, 412 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:12,679 Speaker 1: it was going well. Yeah, it was going well. And 413 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:14,439 Speaker 1: I get a call from my partner. I said we 414 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 1: and the album wasn't finished yet. I get a call 415 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: from chair and he says, we just have advanced orders 416 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: of a million, four hundred thousand, and I got depressed. 417 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: I felt like tea. You know, if people love the 418 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: album by it, if you don't, you know this. I 419 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 1: just it was a strange feeling. I I know it 420 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: sounds a little I just didn't want to be prejudged. 421 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:43,719 Speaker 1: I mean, I wanted people to listen to the album 422 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 1: here and if they liked it, by it, purity what 423 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: a yeah. I don't don't mean to be but I mean, yeah, 424 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: I was looking for that real ride. Until we find 425 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 1: a better word, will say purity. Okay, you know I 426 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 1: was looking for that ride. Do you like it? By it? 427 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: I love him? Where did you meet your second wife? Okay, 428 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 1: you're obviously madly in love? Yeah so you don't know 429 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 1: that story, right, let's hear it. This is good. So 430 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 1: you know musicians as the nineteen sixty six I auditioned 431 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 1: Brazil sixty six. Brazil sixty six, Lonnie was the lead singer. 432 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: Jerry and I signed them to a long term contract. 433 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: This was when the Brass was really cooking and we 434 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,119 Speaker 1: hired them to open the show for us, so they 435 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: were playing for eighteen thousand people at a time. Lonnie 436 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 1: and I became friends. We were just really good friends. 437 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: She's very unusual. She's from Chicago. She can sing in 438 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 1: Portuguese like a like a native, beautiful voice. And she 439 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,959 Speaker 1: loves music. Oh she have You have a similar kind 440 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 1: of I don't want to say passion for music, but 441 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: you have a similar ethic for music, is she? Oh? Completely. 442 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: She loves jazz, she loves you know, all kinds of music. 443 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: But we are really the opposite. You know, she's out well, 444 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 1: I'm really quiet. I'm really kind of like a low 445 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: key type of guy. She's more, you know, has more 446 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:11,880 Speaker 1: energy and more zip zapp. Yeah, more outgoing. Who makes 447 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 1: the dinner reservations out there in California for you? Who's 448 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: who's picking the restaurants? Your wife? No, she does not 449 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: do that? Or do you really? Yeah? I just want 450 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: to look at my wife and I want to go. 451 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 1: Whatever you say, baby, what do you want to you 452 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: want Indian food? You got it there. I don't want 453 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: to have to make those decisions. I got this stuff 454 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,159 Speaker 1: I gotta think about. You know, it's it's kind of 455 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: mutual with us. I mean, she's um. You know. I 456 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 1: met her at a time and we became friendly and 457 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:41,640 Speaker 1: she was able to identify my neurosis, which is what well, 458 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 1: you know, at the time, I was going through a 459 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 1: divorce and I couldn't play the horn. How did that 460 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: manifest itself? Well, I took a trip to Europe. We 461 00:26:49,119 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 1: had a little time off. When I got back, we 462 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: had some obligations to go back to Europe and do 463 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 1: some concerts, and I had like two or three weeks 464 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 1: to get back in shape. And I just couldn't do it. 465 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: HUNG wouldn't go in the right place. I was all 466 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 1: bottled up. I was stiff, my neck was tight. I 467 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 1: couldn't make a sound out of the horn. It was 468 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 1: really painful, you know. I was really upset about the 469 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: divorce and I had, you know, a bottle of Melanta 470 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: at my side there because you were unhappy. There was 471 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: a hole in the stomach. You know. I just wasn't 472 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,919 Speaker 1: happening and I just couldn't execute. I couldn't play the 473 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: home I lasted for years. Really, yeah, it did it? 474 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 1: I mean it finally wanted would play down well nineteen 475 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:36,919 Speaker 1: sixty seventy. So right after you have this huge crest 476 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:40,720 Speaker 1: of the greatest score as a as a performer of 477 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 1: your life, you kind of crashing and you know, did 478 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: you literally didn't play well? I played, but it was painful. 479 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 1: I had an experience in Germany. I did you know 480 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: I had this obligation to play these concerts in Europe. 481 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: I was in Germany in Frankfort, and I was on 482 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 1: the stage, painfully playing, and all of a sudden, I 483 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 1: had this out of body experience. Of a sudden, I 484 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 1: was in the third row looking at me. You know, 485 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 1: I was thinking to myself, well, gee, this guy is 486 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: usually pretty comfortable on the stage, but when he's you know, 487 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 1: off the stage, and he's in a in a room 488 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 1: of you know, at a party or whatever, he's totally 489 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,119 Speaker 1: out of control, which I felt I was at the time. 490 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 1: I said, when I get back to Los Angeles after 491 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:24,159 Speaker 1: this series of concerts, I'm gonna either throw this horn away, 492 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 1: sell a and m do whatever. I just want to 493 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 1: find out who I am and why I'm here. I mean, 494 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 1: everybody's looking for the same thing. I think, a life 495 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,680 Speaker 1: of purpose and meaning. Without that, what else is there? 496 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 1: Luckily I met a teacher in New York here. His 497 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: name was Carmine Caruso. He played violin, he played saxophone. 498 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 1: He didn't play trumpet, but he taught a lot of 499 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: trumpet players. He likened the musician to an athlete. And 500 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: you had to sink your body muscles to rhythm. And 501 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: over a period of time, I just kind of unwoldness, 502 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:02,840 Speaker 1: terrible problem. And how long did it take? It took 503 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 1: before I was really comfortable? Probably eight years? Really? Yeah, 504 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: did you when you started painting? Well, that's interesting question, 505 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: you know you said you started painting? Its Yeah, and 506 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: you and you started to lose your mojo horn wise 507 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: and sixty nine you did, painting and sculpting come into 508 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: your life as you found you didn't want to play 509 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: the horn. Well, sculpting came in later. Painting was a 510 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 1: big relief. You had't have somewhere to put that energy exactly. Um. 511 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: It was a rough period for me, but I've been there, man, 512 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: And mine was a result of a divorce too, you know, 513 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: and not like I thought I needed to be to 514 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: stay in that marriage. But it was the way that 515 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: those things ends. Oh yeah, need to sit there and 516 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 1: go You're like, this is not not when you planned it, 517 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 1: not what I bargained for. Let's hit rewind here trying 518 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: to figure this out man, and he had the lete, yeah, 519 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: we gotta, we gotta, you gotta do this again. When 520 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: did you marry your current wife? So during this time 521 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 1: as years have you not feeling great when you meet 522 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: her and you meet this woman who's obviously the love 523 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 1: of your life, right, But at the same time I 524 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: was still playing. I was like I was playing forcing yourself, well, 525 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: forcing myself. And seventy four we had a command performance 526 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: for the Queen of England. We played, we played there 527 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:29,880 Speaker 1: and the bands, yeah, the band sounded great. And then 528 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 1: meet Prince Charles who said, oh heavo you record in 529 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 1: the in the den? You know I couldn't picture the den. 530 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: Met the Queen, very lovely, nice smile. Uh. This was 531 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy four. I was feeling pretty puffed up. 532 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: I felt good about that. So go out the back 533 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: door and there were hundreds and hundreds of people that 534 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: are just waiting for the various artists that were on 535 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 1: this show and this as I'm walking through the crowd 536 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 1: that I hear these two ladies Tarry, I don't know 537 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:00,080 Speaker 1: that Chap. Who was that Chap? And for friends it 538 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 1: I think that Sergio Mendez after feeling so good, I 539 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 1: gotta get over here more often, man, I gotta get 540 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: these people straightened up. You don't know me from Sergio. Yeah, 541 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 1: so that's why I think that's a great thing that 542 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,719 Speaker 1: you're someone who you weren't feeling all that great at 543 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: that time in your life, but you fooled the King 544 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 1: and the Queen of England. Man with the band sounded 545 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:23,200 Speaker 1: no what I'm saying that you you got you got 546 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: it done. Yeah, but you know there's something about you know, 547 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 1: when you're you're good at something, you can you can 548 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 1: fake it and and nobody really knows you know. No 549 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 1: Now for you, who's a horn player that you take 550 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: your head up? Whose one just giving one? Years? Just 551 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 1: really dug? Listening to Miles David, I love Myles. You know, 552 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: Myles was the real thing. Miles y well because he 553 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:58,680 Speaker 1: was completely authentic. He was just playing the music that 554 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:05,320 Speaker 1: was coming out of him. Uh, no compromise. He understood space, 555 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 1: you know, the the silence that happens between the notes. 556 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: You know. He understood that, and I think he was 557 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: the key you know, you know, jazz musician of the 558 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:31,960 Speaker 1: twentieth century. I've met some really incredible jazz musicians in 559 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 1: my day, and each one has their own little take 560 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: on how to do it. Stan Guests was like a 561 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:42,680 Speaker 1: brother to me. I produced two albums with Stan and 562 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 1: he played this one song. It was just men. Goose 563 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 1: bumps were flying up my back. I said, man, what 564 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:59,959 Speaker 1: are you thinking when you're playing? And he says, oh, 565 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,200 Speaker 1: I think it like I'm in front of the whaling 566 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 1: wall in Jerusalem and I'm dobvining stand. Oh. He was great, man. 567 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 1: I love the sky. He wore his stuff right close 568 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,240 Speaker 1: to the surface. I had an experience with Guests where, 569 00:33:15,320 --> 00:33:17,640 Speaker 1: you know, I did these amms and he said, can 570 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 1: I do anything for you? I said, yeah, Man, give me, 571 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,720 Speaker 1: how about giving me some bebop lessons? He says sure, 572 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 1: He says, how how honest you want me to be? 573 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 1: I said, just because I'm just trying to get up 574 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 1: to my own water level. I didn't play with Charlie 575 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 1: Parker like he did. I just wanted to see how 576 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 1: far I can take this thing. This is fine in 577 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 1: my studio at home, and he's sitting down. I said, 578 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: do you think, for one, I should work on the 579 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: two five one chords in every key, which is page 580 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:47,760 Speaker 1: one if they teach at Berkeley. I mean that's how 581 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 1: they you know, they start this thing. To five one 582 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:52,560 Speaker 1: is an all pop songs. It's just one of those things. 583 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:54,800 Speaker 1: I said, do you think I should work on this 584 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 1: in every key five one chords? You know what? He said? 585 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 1: What's that? He didn't think like that though. I mean, 586 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 1: those old timers didn't play off of that ship that 587 00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 1: they're teaching at school. You know, who do you think 588 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 1: made Sinatra? Sinatra? Oh Man very musical? He really was smart. 589 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:19,279 Speaker 1: He was grateful to the songwriters and the musicians whom 590 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:21,879 Speaker 1: he knew they made him. He brought what he brought. 591 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 1: But he was a kind of man. The guy was. 592 00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:26,720 Speaker 1: He was magic and plus the sound in his voice 593 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:29,960 Speaker 1: was beautiful, his timing. But I learned a great lesson. 594 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 1: You know, when things started happening for me. My ex 595 00:34:32,160 --> 00:34:35,560 Speaker 1: wife was friends with Nancy Sinatra, and I met Frank 596 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:38,399 Speaker 1: and I stayed at his house and then we flew 597 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:43,640 Speaker 1: to Las Vegas and the way After the show, Frank 598 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 1: comes up to me and says, you want to play? 599 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:46,919 Speaker 1: It's in bakra. I said, I don't know how to play, 600 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:49,280 Speaker 1: but I'll go with you. He says, down on the Barbara. 601 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:53,799 Speaker 1: I'm standing behind him, and in twenty minutes he must 602 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: have went around twenty seven thirty thou dollars, I know, 603 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:01,120 Speaker 1: and Nancy was standing right next me. So every time 604 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:06,720 Speaker 1: you want a party, throw off like ten bills to Nancy. 605 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:09,000 Speaker 1: So she had this pile looked like a bowling ball 606 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 1: in her hands of a hundred dollar bills. And so 607 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:15,640 Speaker 1: Frank gets up abruptly and he he just leaves, you know, 608 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:18,759 Speaker 1: and Nancy looks at me, says, I hear her. We 609 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 1: go take some of this and go gamble. And I 610 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 1: looked at this pilot said, what do you mean takes? 611 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:24,799 Speaker 1: You want me to take a half a pound you want? 612 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:27,839 Speaker 1: What are you talking about? And I realized at that point, man, 613 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:30,760 Speaker 1: I'm never going to treat money like that. I'm gonna, 614 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:34,719 Speaker 1: you know, honor in a whole different ways. It could 615 00:35:34,719 --> 00:35:40,960 Speaker 1: be that frivolous Herbalbert established the her Balbert Foundation in 616 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 1: the nineteen eighties, giving away money his way ever since. 617 00:35:45,480 --> 00:35:48,319 Speaker 1: In two thousand seven, he gave thirty million dollars to 618 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 1: form the Herb Alpert's School of Music. How do you see, 619 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:55,120 Speaker 1: l A. I love music. I think music needs to survive. 620 00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 1: I think jazz needs to survive. It's a great American legacy. 621 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:01,880 Speaker 1: It's such an portant ingredient for a kid's health, you know. 622 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:04,160 Speaker 1: And I think through that they learned discipline and what's 623 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:07,240 Speaker 1: gonna help him in the academics. So it's just a natural. 624 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:09,320 Speaker 1: It should be a core subject. Do you teach to 625 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 1: you over there and guest teach and so no, I don't, 626 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:14,880 Speaker 1: but I you know, I'm not. That's really not my 627 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:16,640 Speaker 1: strongest I think it would be very happy for you 628 00:36:16,680 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 1: to show up, that wouldn't Isn't that your great gift 629 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:21,800 Speaker 1: that you just have to play? I think my great 630 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 1: gift is that I have my own personality on the horn. 631 00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:27,480 Speaker 1: A lot of musicians are trying to track Miles Davis 632 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 1: or trying to check Charlie Parker, try to play like 633 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:33,000 Speaker 1: you know, I'm just trying to play like myself, and 634 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:36,719 Speaker 1: that's I think what everybody should be going for their 635 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:40,719 Speaker 1: only unique voice. It's just been it's been a nice ride. 636 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:45,319 Speaker 1: I feel thankful. Herb recently finished a sold out two 637 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: week run at the Carlisle Hotel with his wife, singer 638 00:36:48,719 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 1: Lonnie Hall, and I mean sold out. He couldn't get 639 00:36:52,640 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 1: me any tickets. This is Albert and Hall performing I 640 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:11,880 Speaker 1: Feel You. Just another afternoon on the sidewalks of London, 641 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:22,840 Speaker 1: all the green and rainy days run together, hidden in 642 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:31,759 Speaker 1: the streets of stone. Suddenly I'm not alone. I feel you. 643 00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:44,400 Speaker 1: I feel every time I think I have lost you, 644 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:50,799 Speaker 1: it seems like you find me, blowing through me, like 645 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:59,280 Speaker 1: the winds of decad where though you've gone away so far, 646 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:06,560 Speaker 1: still I turn and there you are. I feel you. 647 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:20,040 Speaker 1: I feel you. I feel you beside me, my head 648 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:27,759 Speaker 1: on your shoulder, your fragrance, your laughter, your ti I 649 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:42,000 Speaker 1: must in remembering reasons I miss you. So how could 650 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:48,960 Speaker 1: I ever think about a lifetime that happens without you, 651 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:57,800 Speaker 1: even if my only hope is a mad Please start, 652 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:05,799 Speaker 1: let us be apart, rub yourself around, mind, let me 653 00:39:06,600 --> 00:40:01,319 Speaker 1: feed you. This is al Baldwin and you're listening to 654 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:02,120 Speaker 1: here's the thing