Soft Samba

Soft Samba is a 1965 album by jazz arranger and vibraphonist Gary McFarland. A follow-up album, Soft Samba Strings, was released in 1966.^[2]

The initial Billboard magazine review from February 20, 1965, wrote that even though "A pair of stretch socks, two ounces of sherry, and a "Soft Samba" cocktail recipe" were being used to promote the album, it would "curry favor with the public without the promotion incentives" and "The artist's humming helps too".^[3]Boys' Life magazine wrote that "You'd think that the artists in this album couldn't talk because all you hear is "Ba-ba, baya-baya, byu-byu" and so on with little relief. The results are unique (as you'd expect) but pleasing...We found the wedding of the soft samba to rock 'n' roll a joyous union thanks to the musical ministry of Mr. McFarland".^[4]

1. "Ringo, Won't You Marry Me" (Linda Laurie, Jerry Mack) – 1:46
2. "From Russia with Love" (Lionel Bart) – 2:34
3. "She Loves You" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:16
4. "A Hard Day's Night" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:04
5. "The Good Life" (Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon) – 2:05
6. "More (Theme from Mondo Cane)" (Riz Ortolani, Nino Oliviero, Marcello Ciorciolini, Norman Newell) – 2:18
7. "And I Love Her" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:55
8. "The Love Goddess" (Percy Faith, Mack David) – 1:57
9. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:13
10. "Emily" (Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer) – 1:51
11. "California, Here I Come" (Buddy DeSylva, Al Jolson, Joseph Meyer) – 1:52
12. "La Vie en Rose" (Louiguy, Édith Piaf, David) – 2:06

• Gary McFarland - arranger, vibraphone
• Jimmy Cleveland - trombone
• Seldon Powell , Spencer Sinatra - flauta
• Patty Bowen - piano
• Antônio Carlos Jobim , Kenny Burrell - guitarra
• Richard Davis - contrabajo
• Arnie Wise, Sol Gubin, Willie Bobo - percusión

Producción

• Creed Taylor - productor
• Michael J. Malatak - diseño de portada
• Lester Bookbinder - foto de portada
• Wally King - notas del álbum
• Rudy Van Gelder - ingeniero
• Val Valentin - director de ingeniería