Giants is an album produced by Greg Errico, with musicians including Michael Carabello, Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, Herbie Hancock, Gregg Rolie, Doug Rauch and Doug Rodrigues. The album developed from recordings made in 1971–72 that were released as Giants in 1978. The album was released in the United States on MCA Records in 1979.
Background and recording The recordings originated with Attitude, a group formed around former Santana percussionist Michael Carabello and former Sly and the Family Stone drummer Greg Errico. Carabello's Attitude sessions were recorded in 1971–72. In 1978, Errico arranged for the recordings to be released under the title Giants through L.A. International, the label associated with War, and completed the album's vocal tracks.
The sessions brought together musicians including Errico, Carabello, Doug Rauch, Doug Rodrigues, Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, José "Chepito" Areas, Victor Pantoja, Rico Reyes, Herbie Hancock, Lee Oskar, Wendy Haas, Coke Escovedo and Linda Tillery.
McCarthy called "Attitude" a "raw, burning funk-out", highlighting Rauch's bass and Errico's drums. He described the exchange between Santana and Schon on "In Your Heart" as "a great example of their telepathic interplay". McCarthy also praised the percussion-driven "Kilimanjaro", featuring Carabello, Pantoja, Reyes, Areas and Errico, with Oskar on harmonica.
Release Giants was released in 1978 through L.A. International. The album was subsequently released by MCA Records in the United States in 1979.
Reception Wayne Robins of Newsday described Giants as a reunion of musicians associated with Santana. He praised "They Change It" for the musicians' rhythmic playing and called the African percussion and synthesizer flutes on "Kilimanjaro" "fascinating".
Cash Box called the album a "summit meeting" of jazz and rock musicians and described its sound as Latin funk with a strong jazz influence.
Dan Herbeck of The Buffalo News gave the album a mixed review. He praised Hancock's piano playing and Santana's guitar work and described the album as having "a definite Latin flavor", with African influences on "Kilimanjaro" and "Pancho Villa" and a jazz influence on "They Change It".
Track listing Side one "Attitude" – 3:25 "They Change It" – 3:29 "Kilimanjaro: The Village" – 4:30 "Kilimanjaro: The Summit" – 4:38
Side two "Pancho Villa" – 5:11 "Fried Neckbones and Home Fries" – 6:32 "In Your Heart" – 5:40
Personnel Personnel adapted from the album credits.
Greg Errico – drums, synthesizer; producer Michael Carabello – organ, congas Doug Rauch – bass Doug Rodrigues – guitar Wendy Haas – piano, vocals Carlos Santana – guitar Neal Schon – guitar Gregg Rolie – organ Herbie Hancock – piano Lee Oskar – harmonica José "Chepito" Areas – percussion Rico Reyes – percussion Victor Pantoja – congas Robert Vega – bass Mike Garcia – vibraphone Coke Escovedo – vocals Linda Tillery – vocals Bianca Thornton-Oden – vocals Freddie Pool – vocals Gene Washington – vocals Jody Moreing – vocals
References
External links Giants at Discogs