Review
Music Reviews
Review
Music Reviews
Electronic Exotica: Alpert and Mendes, Remixed
Sergio Mendes on the cover of The Swinger from Rio, left, and his new Timeless. hide caption
Sergio Mendes on the cover of The Swinger from Rio, left, and his new Timeless.
Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, left, and Sergio Mendes at the NPR West studios in Culver City, Calif. David Banks, NPR hide caption
Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, left, and Sergio Mendes at the NPR West studios in Culver City, Calif.
David Banks, NPRHerb Alpert and Sergio Mendes, long associated with the carefree pop music of the 1960s, are back in the public eye.
The renowned cover of Herb Alpert's Whipped Cream and Other Delights, right, and its updated version. hide caption
The renowned cover of Herb Alpert's Whipped Cream and Other Delights, right, and its updated version.
Alpert broke into pop consciousness with his band the Tijuana Brass, with hits such as "Spanish Flea" and "A Taste of Honey." Among others, his 1965 album Whipped Cream and Other Delights, found its way into millions of American homes.
Forty years after helping add exotica to the American music scene, Alpert has collaborated with heavyweights of electronic music for a disc of remixed versions of his songs. The new album is called Rewhipped.
Sergio Mendes, Alpert's Brazilian colleague, is following a similar path with will.i.am, of the pop-rap group the Black Eyed Peas. The pair have updated hits by Mendes' group Brazil 66 for the CD Timeless.
Do the remixes work? Let's just say there are mixed results.
In addition to will.i.am, Mendes worked with Stevie Wonder, India.Arie and Jill Scott, among others. The songs range from old classics like "Mas Que Nada" to the new "Please Baby Don't," written and sung by John Legend.