In an era still dominated by singles, the LP, with such covers as “Love Potion No. 9” and “A Taste of Honey,” scaled the U.S. chart climbing to #1, ultimately selling six million copies.
Throughout the ’60s, Top 40 radio stations’ playlists were filled with instrumentals like Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing in the Grass” and “Green Onions” by Booker T. & the M.G.’s. One guy in particular took the bull by the horns, so to speak, with no less than 13 studio albums in that decade. That would be Herb Alpert, the co-founder with Jerry Moss of their own boutique label, A&M Records, named for themselves.
Their most famous and successful artist was Alpert himself, the photogenic, Hollywood-handsome, debonair trumpet-playing recording star who cut a series of instrumental singles with the Los Angeles studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew. “The Lonely Bull,” “A Taste of Honey” and “The Work Song,” credited to Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, were all less than three minutes of pure ear candy.
While none were enormous hits, the albums sure were. When the fourth arrived, 1965’s Whipped Cream & Other Delights, its provocative cover of model Dolores Erickson—covered with what was later revealed to be shaving cream—screamed “buy me.” And that’s what happened. In an era still dominated by singles, the LP, with such covers as “Love Potion No. 9” and “A Taste of Honey,” scaled the U.S. chart, climbing to #1, ultimately selling six million copies. If your household didn’t own a copy, your neighbor surely did. At one point in 1966, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass had three albums in the U.S. top 5 and five in the top 20.
Besides Top 40 radio, Alpert’s music was everywhere: in commercials for Teaberry gum and as theme music for the popular TV program The Dating Game. He was a frequent guest on the popular variety shows of the era hosted by Andy Williams and Ed Sullivan. At just 31, Alpert was on top of the music world.
Six decades later, and touring in 2025 with the Tijuana Brass Band, Alpert turned 90 years old on March 31. On the second of two sold-out nights at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater in New York on April 1, the star gave a master class of performance, bandleading and storytelling as he celebrates the 60th anniversary of the historic Whipped Cream album.
Herb Alpert at Jazz at Lincoln Center, April 1, 2025 (Photo © Greg Brodsky)
The concerts feature plenty of archival footage of its star on the large screen behind the live band, and the set opens with two favorites.
Alpert reminisced about the first time he performed in New York. It was in October 1965—”before your time,” he joked—at Basin Street East, with George Carlin as the opening act. “He was in a suit and tie; he looked like a bank clerk!”
Another highlight midway through is “Love Potion No. 9,” which offers fine solos from much of the band.
Watch a clip of the song from a week earlier
In 1966, Alpert auditioned Sergio Mendes for an A&M deal. Once signed, the musician and his Brasil ’66 band open for a Tijuana Brass arena tour. Alpert explained to the Rose Theater audience that he told his band members not to get too comfortable with Mendes’ two female vocalists while on the road. “That left the door open for me,” Alpert joked. He became smitten with singer Lani Hall; they’ve now been married for over 50 years.
Herb Alpert greeting his wife, Lani Hall, at Jazz at Lincoln Center, April 1, 2025 (Photo © Greg Brodsky)
Watch her perform a medley of Mendes hits at the Jazz at Lincoln Center concert
Whipped Cream‘s “A Taste of Honey” is what sent Alpert’s career into another orbit. He explained that it was originally the B-side of another single but when he heard the reaction it received each night on tour at the time, he called his partner, Jerry Moss. “Jerry didn’t think it would work as a single. He said, ‘It stops and starts and stops.'” Alpert was adamant. A&M flipped to the A-side and the recording not only became his first hit, it ended up winning four Grammy Awards, including the coveted Record of the Year.
Tickets to see Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Band are available here and here, with even more dates to come.
A 60th anniversary vinyl picture disc edition of Whipped Cream… is being released on April 25. The remastered edition on 180-gram vinyl is available for pre-order here.
Related: Our 2021 interview with Herb Alpert
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationI played trumpet as a kid and he was a big influence on me. Great review, as usual!