Children of Sanchez

Chuck Mangione composed this music for a film soundtrack in 1978, but it quickly took on a life of its own when it was released as a two LP set, garnering a loyalty the film never enjoyed. Its film origins certainly show both in the purely atmospheric quality of some of the music and in the earnest vocals and awkward lyrics that introduce the suite and later reappear. However, the simple themes and the powerful, minimal orchestrations--brass and drums for funereal military music; cello, flute, guitar, and eerie voice for the very pretty "Consuelo's Love Theme"--retain a strong appeal. Mangione's own performance on flügelhorn--sometimes hinting at Miles Davis's Sketches of Spain transported to harsher terrain--is frequently riveting, a darkly expressive, soulful element that conveys undiluted passion, sorrow, and joy. --Adam Rains Amazon.com

emotion personified

I wouldn't have written this, but I read the review by Bruce A. Hoskins "Derry" and just had to respond. He's right in a way - if you just want to hear the best of Chuck Mangione, go somewhere else. But if you want to hear the BEST that Chuck Mangione can do, including his ability to draw emotion from other musicians, and you want to cry and laugh and philosophize and be challenged, listen to this masterpiece. There are a few fillers - but the other pieces will rip you apart - and that's what music is all about. Don't prejudge - just get ready to hear angst and joy woven together into excellence. You can't lose when you have an artist paint a masterpiece.
November 29, 2008

Ahhh

This is the haunting and exhilerating soundtrack to the movie. It is pretty music and not too predictable. August 22, 2008

A Long Lost Friend

I had forgotten how much I loved the music from this soundtrack! To be honest, I never owned the album. My parents had one night a week that they went midnight bowling, the same Thurs night that the 'Midnight Special' concert-tv show aired. I duct taped the microphone of my small cassette recorder to the black and white t.v. in my room (sorry, ASCAP!), knowing that I wouldn't make it all the way through the show. I gave up the ghost as I flipped the cassette over to the second side. What I found the next morning changed my thoughts on music forever. I wore that tape out years ago and made a futile attempt to find a legitimate replacement. I can't wait to hear it once again! May 9, 2008

great in 78 still great in 2007

I remember getting a rush when listening the Overture really loud on the hand me down stereo I had in my room when I was a kid. Today for some reason the overture got stuck in my mind. I decided to check it out today in Amazon and everything came back, whoa. I'm buying this CD today with the same excitement I had when I got the LP in 1978. Can't wait to have it in my hands again. November 11, 2007

Children of Sanchez

I've always found this a very moving soundtrack. I've not seen the movie. The highs and lows and excitement in the music paint the story for me. September 19, 2007

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