Search - Chuck Mangione :: Land of Make Believe

Esther, Where are You?

Bruce Kendall | Southern Pines, NC | 06/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know what's become of Esther Saddlefield. Hopefully she is still making a good living and recording glorious music. All I know is that her rendition of "The Land of Make Believe" is on my top-ten list of all time greatest songs, period. Her voice is so perfectly syncopated to the orchestra and to Mangione's horn, that I can think of no greater synthesis between voice and instrument, including opera. She puts Dionne Warwick to shame. If you didn't listen to the radio during the 70's, buy this CD and find out what you missed."

A Good (but brief) Look at Mangione's Earlier Music

Archie Mercer | Yorba Linda, CA | 11/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Land of Make Believe is a live concert album, recorded before Chuck Mangione broke through with his hit "Feels So Good". It's a great view into some of his earlier (and argueably better) music. To me this album rests on two songs: "Land of Make Believe" and "Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor". Legend starts off this set with a driving percussion riff. It then breaks into a great, upbeat tempo'ed, instrumental piece that provides many solos to enjoy. Land takes the concert into another direction, bringing a great vocalist onto the stage to mesmorize you. The lyrics to the song are at once both hopeful and haunting, and the music just absolutely soars. All other songs on this album, although decent in their own right, pales in comparrison to these two.I would recommend this CD to any Mangione fan looking for a slightly different view of his music. However, be warned: If you already have his "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" CD, this may be a disappointment to you. The Hollywood Bowl set is probably one of the best live sets ever recorded. If you're just beginning to listen to Mangione then this isn't a bad place to start."

Where is Ester?

Raymond Rolison | Lufkin, TX USA | 09/30/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have this album on vinyl. However, I am in the process of replacing my vinyl Chuck collection. My favorite track on this album is undoubtedly "As Long As We're Together". Ester Satterfield's vocals on this song just melt me. This is one of the tracks I play when my wife and I get to spend an occasional romantic evening together. I didn't discover Chuck until the early 80s. This album was the first one I bought of his. ([$] at a second hand record store) I would recommend this album to any one wanting to discover Chuck and his music."