Quincy Jones - You've Got It Bad Girl (1973 German A&M Vinyl LP)

Vinyl: EX
Sleeve: EX

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Quincy Jones - You've Got It Bad Girl Vinyl LP - German A&M Pressing

A peak moment in Quincy Jones' remarkable 1970s run, You've Got It Bad Girl showcases the producer, arranger, and composer at his most sophisticated and groove-oriented. Recorded across multiple Los Angeles and New York studios in 1973 and released on A&M Records, this album captures Jones bridging jazz sophistication with contemporary soul, funk, and pop in arrangements that remain lush yet never lose their rhythmic drive. This German pressing, manufactured by Sonopress for Ariola's European distribution, offers excellent sound quality and distinctive packaging.

The album opens with "Summer In The City", immediately establishing Jones' gift for creating cinematic soundscapes that appeal to both jazz listeners and pop audiences. "Eyes Of Love" continues with romantic orchestration before the album moves into its ambitious "Tribute To A.F.-RO" section, a medley pairing Roberta Flack's "Daydreaming" with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". Jones' arrangements elevate these contemporary hits through sophisticated string and horn charts that honour the originals while adding his distinctive touch.

"Love Theme From 'The Getaway'", composed for the Steve McQueen film, demonstrates Jones' prowess as a film composer, creating mood and narrative through instrumental means. The title track "You've Got It Bad Girl", a Stevie Wonder composition, receives the full Jones treatment with lush arrangements that maintain Wonder's melodic genius while adding orchestral depth.

Side two opens with Jones' interpretation of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition", transforming the funk hit through sophisticated big band jazz arranging without losing its essential groove. This track exemplifies Jones' ability to bridge worlds that other arrangers kept separate. "Manteca", Dizzy Gillespie's Afro-Cuban jazz classic, receives a contemporary update that honours its bebop roots while incorporating modern production techniques.

The album's commercial peak arrived with "Sanford & Son Theme (The Streetbeater)", Jones' iconic composition for the NBC television series starring Redd Foxx. This track became one of the most recognizable TV themes of the 1970s, its funky bassline and horn stabs embedding themselves in popular culture. The album closes with "Chump Change", a final demonstration of Jones' ability to craft infectious grooves wrapped in sophisticated arrangements.

Throughout, Jones assembled stellar musicians across multiple recording locations: A&M Records and Sunwest Recording Studios in Hollywood, The Record Plant in Los Angeles, The Burbank Studios, and A&R Studios in New York. The variety of studios reflects Jones' perfectionist approach, recording elements where he could achieve the specific sounds and performances he envisioned.

This German pressing, distributed by Ariola Eurodisc and pressed by Sonopress (one of Europe's premier pressing plants), offers the sonic clarity Jones' detailed arrangements demand. The top-opening sleeve design is a European packaging characteristic, distinguishing this from US editions. The absence of a catalogue number printed under the A&M logo on the front cover identifies this as a specific pressing variant, nearly identical to the standard release but with this subtle difference.