Chuck Mangione vs. Spyro Gyra

[Rick Henry]

Time for the instrumentals...

Both were hugely popular jazz influenced instrumentals. Which do you like best?

"Feels So Good" by Chuck Mangione reached #4 April 1978. This was by far Mangione's biggest hit and is from the album of the same title which to date has sold over two million copies.

"Morning Dance" by Spyro Gyra reached #24 in July 1979 and was a #1 adult contemporary hit. "Morning Dance" is Spyro Gyra's biggest hit - despite a treasure trove of quality releases up to the current day along with millions of album sales. The album "Morning Dance" has been certified Platinum for sales of more than one million copies.

[smoothie2]

I surely have heard of both groups and certain that if I heard these particular songs, that I'd know them, but off-hand don't know them.

[beaner]

I went with Chuck Mangione's hit "Feels So Good". I must confess, however, I'm not familiar or do not recall how the other tune goes so I guess I'm not really giving it a fair weigh-in, however, I am still going with Feels So Good.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Spyro Gyra's Morning Dance got my vote. I have several SG vinyls, and always gravitated toward their jazz influenced sound. For a bunch of studio musicians, they were excellent....I believe I recall that Alan Parsons had a connection with Spyro Gyra, but I'm not positive what it is....I'll research it and get back to you on it. At any rate, Morning Dance always made me feel great when I heard it, and it still sounds excellent today.

Tim

[wisejester7]

Spyro Gyra and their Morning Dance gets my vote, too. Very upbeat!

[GoodOldDreams]

For those who don't know offhand how these tunes sound like (or know the name associated with these instrumental pieces), here are a couple of links for you to check out:

Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good
youtube.com/watch?v=0XAInEG-uJs

Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance (Cover by Counterpoint)
youtube.com/watch?v=GNu4TUsT36A

These "live" clips do not sound as good as the original studio recordings, but they will most likely jog your memory of these tunes.

[Rick Henry]

I really enjoy both songs quite a bit. Back when these songs were a hit I bought each on 7" single - although I loved Spyro Gyra's "Morning Dance" so much that I ended up buying the entire album also.

Therefore my vote goes to Spyro Gyra and "Morning Dance". I really love the great rhythm of this song and the outstanding musicianship.

[Rick Henry]

Spyro Gyra's fabulous rhthmic "Morning Dance" will go to the Semi-Finals Round Four up against Bread's "Everything I Own" and Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff".

Looks like the Semi-finals Round four so far is covering a good range of different musical genres.

This round is officially closed.