Mandrilland is the fifth album by the Brooklyn-based soul/funk band Mandrill. Released in August 1974 as a double album, Mandrilland was the band's last album on Polydor.
Background and recording Mandrilland was recorded at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana, where Mandrill spent a month recording the album.
Guitarist Doug Rodrigues, who had previously played with Santana, joined Mandrill as the replacement for Omar Mesa.
Critical reception William V. Francis of The Kansas City Star called Mandrilland "first-class black rock" and compared Mandrill's mixture of rock, soul and jazz to War. Rodrigues played lead guitar on "Positive Thing" and "The Road to Love"; Francis called his playing on "The Road to Love" "torrid."
Paul Lentz of The Times-Picayune praised the musicianship and the sound of the album, including the work done at Studio in the Country.
Track listing All songs written and arranged by Mandrill
"Positive Thing" 3:25 "Positive Thing +" 5:15 "Skying Upward" 3:45 "The Road to Love" 5:15 "Armadillo" 1:48 "The Reason I Sing" 3:22 "Bro' Weevil & the Swallow" 4:48 "Khidja" 4:55 "House of Wood" 7:59 "'Drill in the Bush" 3:55 "El Funko" 2:54 "Love Is Sunshine" 4:22 "Folks on a Hill" 6:22 "Mini-Suite for Duke" 6:26 "Cal-Ipso" 5:00 "After the Race" 7:02 "Lady Jane" 4:00
Personnel Carlos Wilson – saxophone, vocals Lou Wilson – percussion, trumpet, vocals Ric Wilson – saxophone Claude Cave – keyboards, vocals Fudgie Kae – bass, percussion, vocals Douglas Rodrigues – guitar, percussion, vocals Neftali Santiago – drums, percussion, vocals
Charts Chart (1974) Peakposition Billboard Top Soul Albums28
Singles Year Single Chart positions USSoul1974 "Positive Thing" 29 "The Road to Love " 82
References
External links Mandrill-Mandrilland at Discogs