Jim, you were discussing Gino Vanelli with Brian and I in Ann Arbor. Brian mentioned that we had attended a Gino Vanelli concert in 1978 or so, although we didn't know each other back then.
I particularly liked "Brother to Brother" and "Gist of the Gemini." Haven't heard these albums in years. Wouldn't mind listening to them again to see if they still kick.
Okay my secret weakness is....Michael Franks. Oh the shame!! I'm a sucker for quiet sambas and he's made a career out of them. I even don't mind his singing. I generally like the themes of his lyrics and identify with much of them given my much-travelled and wayward life.
Just found this thread. Yup, my bro's and I used to listen to Ol' Dad's 8 track of Storm At Sunup...have to admit I dug it, too. Gino didn't have the chops to write deep jazz compositions as he obviously wished he could, but man, he could come up with some stellar lyrics, like "now don't get paranoid, I ain't a horny lil' mongoloid"
Gist of the Gemini and Pauper In Paradise were overblown, pompous and painfully dated, but I didn't care, dammit! I could still get into them now, if only for nostalgia's sake.
Michael Franks I got into a little later on, saw him in concert about 15 years ago but on stage he's stiffer than a wedding dick. His seventies albums up through One Bad Habit, with all those cute double-entendre-filled tunes and top session players were nothing to be embarrased about, anyway. "Popsicle Toes" is guaranteed to make just about anyone smile.
SS