Joe Farrell - 1973 [2018] "Penny Arcade" - 1974 [2018] "Upon This Rock" - 1975 [2018] "Canned Funk"

Joe Farrell - 1973 [2018] Penny Arcade

Joe Farrell gained his greatest fame with his popular string of CTI recordings. For this set, he performs three of his originals (none of which caught on), guitarist Joe Beck's "Penny Arcade," and a 13-minute version of Stevie Wonder's "Too High." Farrell (heard on tenor, soprano, flute and piccolo) is in excellent form, as are keyboardist Herbie Hancock, Beck, bassist Herb Bushler, drummer Steve Gadd and Don Alias on conga. As is true of his other CTI sets, this Joe Farrell effort expertly mixes together some slightly commercial elements and superior recording quality with strong solos.

Penny Arcade is a jazz album by Joe Farrell on the CTI Records label. It was recorded at the Van Gelder Studio in October 1973

Track listing:
Side one

    "Penny Arcade" (Joe Beck) – 4:45
    "Too High" (Stevie Wonder) – 13:15

Side two

    "Hurricane Jane" (Joe Farrell) – 4:25
    "Cloud Cream" (Joe Farrell) – 6:15
    "Geo Blue" (Joe Farrell) – 7:30

Personnel

    Joe Farrell – tenor and soprano sax, flute, piccolo
    Herbie Hancock – piano
    Joe Beck – guitar
    Steve Gadd- drums
    Herb Bushler – bass
    Don Alias – conga


Joe Farrell - 1974 [2018] Upon This Rock

Upon This Rock is an album by Joe Farrell released in 1974.

In 2008 it returned to media attention when Farrell's daughter sued Kanye West, Method Man, Redman, Common and their respective record companies over alleged sampling of the title track.

As one might guess from the album's title, this Joe Farrell date is a bit rock-oriented in places. Guitarist Joe Beck is the co-star, and Farrell (who switches between tenor, soprano and flute) is also joined by bassist Herb Bushler and drummer Jim Madison; "I Won't Be Back" has Farrell, Beck and Bushler joined by keyboardist Herbie Hancock, drummer Steve Gadd and the conga of Don Alias.

Track listing:

Side one

    "Weathervane" (Joe Farrell) – 8:00
    "I Won't Be Back" (Joe Beck) – 10:05

Side two

    "Upon This Rock " (Joe Farrell) – 11:54
    "Seven Seas" (Joe Beck) – 6:50

Personnel

    Joe Farrell – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
    Herb Bushler – bass
    Joe Beck – guitar
    Jimmy Madison – drums
    Steve Gadd – drums (on "I Won't Be Back")
    Herbie Hancock – piano (on "I Won't Be Back")
    Don Alias – conga (on "I Won't Be Back")


Joe Farrell - 1974 [2011] Canned Funk:

Joe Farrell's final of six CTI dates has fairly lengthy versions of four of his originals. Farrell, who adds baritone to his usual trio of instruments (tenor, soprano and flute), once again welcomes guitarist Joe Beck as his co-star, along with bassist Herb Bushler, drummer Jim Madison and percussionist Ray Mantilla. The music is melodic, sometimes funky, and enjoyable if not essential, but all of Joe Farrell's CTI sets are worth acquiring.  

 Canned Funk is a jazz album by Joe Farrell for CTI Records. It was recorded at Van Gelder Studios November and December 1974. The album was released in 1975.

Track listing
Side one

    "Canned Funk" (Joe Farrell) – 7:20
    "Animal" (Farrell) – 9:55

Side two

    "Suite Martinique" (Farrell) – 9:03
    "Spoken Silence" (Farrell) – 7:43

Personnel

    Joe Farrell – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute
    Herb Bushler – bass
    Joe Beck – guitar
    Jim Madison – drums
    Ray Mantilla – conga, percussion