S.R.O. (album)


S.R.O., issued in 1966, was the seventh album by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. It includes work by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, as well as the band's cover of "Mame", one of the first of the group's recordings to include vocals by Alpert; he and the group sing the chorus in the middle of the otherwise-instrumental rendition. Released as a single, "Mame" reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1966. "The Work Song", which features the "ping" sound effect of a hammer or pickaxe hitting rocks or other solid objects, reached No. 18 in July, and "Flamingo" peaked at No. 28 in September. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
S.R.O., an acronym for standing-room only, is a reference to the group's frequently sold-out concerts.
"Bean Bag" became famous in the UK as the theme song of the popular long-running game show It's a Knockout, and as a prize cue for the game show The Guinness Game.
The Dixieland-inspired song "Wall Street Rag" was not based on the Scott Joplin song of the same name.
"For Carlos" was covered by jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery as "Wind Song".

Track listing

Side 1

  1. "Our Day Will Come" – 2:21
  2. "Mexican Road Race" – 2:30
  3. "I Will Wait for You" – 3:15
  4. "Bean Bag" – 1:58
  5. "The Wall Street Rag" – 2:25
  6. "The Work Song" – 2:10

    Side 2

  7. "Mame" – 2:08
  8. "Blue Sunday" – 2:49
  9. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" – 2:38
  10. "For Carlos" – 2:46
  11. "Freight Train Joe" – 2:37
  12. "Flamingo" – 2:25

    Personnel

Along with Alpert, the musicians pictured on the album cover are: