Deodato - Prelude (1973 Japanese CTI Gatefold LP with Obi)

Vinyl: EX
Sleeve: EX
Obi: VG+

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Deodato - Prelude Vinyl LP - 1973 Japanese CTI Gatefold with Obi and Japanese Liner Notes

Brazilian keyboardist and arranger Eumir Deodato's fusion landmark Prelude achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success through its audacious reinterpretation of classical themes within jazz-funk frameworks. The album's centrepiece, "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)", transforms Richard Strauss' orchestral tone poem into a funky, electric groove featuring Deodato's electric piano, Billy Cobham's explosive drumming, and a full orchestra arranged with CTI's signature lush sophistication. Recorded at Van Gelder Studios in September 1972 with producer Creed Taylor assembling an all-star cast including Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, Airto, Ray Barretto, and Hubert Laws, Prelude exemplifies early 1970s fusion at its most ambitious and accessible. This 1973 Japanese pressing by King Record Co. Ltd. includes gatefold sleeve, obi strip, and Japanese liner notes.

Beyond the hit single "Also Sprach Zarathustra", the album demonstrates Deodato's arranging gifts across diverse material. "Spirit Of Summer" and "Carly & Carole" showcase his original compositions, while "Baubles, Bangles And Beads" and Debussy's "Prelude To Afternoon Of A Faun" receive jazz-funk transformations that balance respect for the source material with contemporary reimagining. The personnel represents fusion's finest: Cobham's drumming provides both power and precision, Carter and Clarke's bass work (acoustic and electric) anchors the grooves, while the horn and string arrangements add CTI's characteristic orchestral richness without overwhelming the jazz core.

Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder and produced by Creed Taylor, Prelude captures the precise sonic balance that made CTI releases audiophile favourites. King Record's Japanese manufacturing includes complete gatefold packaging, obi strip, and Japanese liner notes that add context for the local market. The album's commercial success (the single reached #2 on Billboard) proved that sophisticated fusion could find mainstream audiences without compromising artistic ambition.