by Anonymous

Lani Hall "Sundown Lady" 1972

Lani Hall was the main vocalist for Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 on the record of theirs that I like the most - Stillness. It's their folk-rock record and it has the standard covers that you would expect ("For What It's Worth" e.g), but as a fan of summery folk and the bossa sound - it's good stuff and the song "Righteous Life" is a stunner. But nobody really liked this direction for them at the time and they went back and returned with País Tropical, without Hall. By then Hall had hooked up with Sergio Mendes tourmates Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass and began seeing (and eventually marrying) Herb Alpert. I have often wondered if Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass and Sergio Mendes and his Brasil '66 ever got together to play soccer or basketball or if they were more like vicious rivals, often engaging in chain fights. I prefer the latter scenario.

Lani's strong, intimate way of singing made her a prime candidate for a solo career, which she began with Alpert at the console. Out comes Sundown Lady in '72. The lead-off track is "Love Song", a slinky, funky reworking of the Lesley Duncan song that Elton John also thought to cover on Tumbleweed Connection. Hall's version is soft, braced by a light funk rhythm and brightened up by some gentle work on the keys and some slick bass style. It really has a great, breezy funk-folk feel that you don't find often enough. Ease back a bit. Take a look out towards the horizon. Imagine kicking a beach ball across the sand . .. then tripping and falling on your face and cutting your chin on a rock, and then just standing up and laughing and pretending like it's all good, but really you're very dizzy and should probably go to a doctor. Actually, just imagine the beach part. Forget the rest. Hope you don't mind the crackles - this one's hot off the hi-fi. Have a listen.