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Main Squeeze is the fifth, all instrumental studio album by jazz flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione. The album was only briefly released on Compact Disc in the late 80’s but discontinued not long after, making it for many years a rare find. However, it was finally reissued in 2018 as part of a budget five original albums set. It features one of Chuck Mangione’s most popular songs, “Main Squeeze” and a supporting cast of several of NYC’s finest sessions musicians of the day.

Reception.

The AllMusic review by Richard S. Ginell gave the album 3 stars and stated:”More and more a creature of the studio, Mangione employs a coterie of ’70s New York session players on an album that wears its make-out-music intentions right on its velvet sleeve. All of the titles reflect some aspect of a love affair; the playing is intricate but highly controlled and not terribly exciting. Oddly enough, Chuck effectively attaches a wah-wah pedal to his flugelhorn on a few tracks – shades of Miles Davis’ “jungle band” period — and he gets off his best non-electronically modulated solo on “If You Know Me Any Longer Than Tomorrow.” There are orchestrations, but the arrangements are just decorations, not an integral part of the material. But then, after all of the warm, fuzzy stuff has run its course for five tracks, the last cut “Main Squeeze” acts as an ecstatic release, a fine, funky jam session where all seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.”

Track listing:
All songs written by Chuck Mangione except where noted:

1. “(The Day After) Our First Night Together” 8:01
2. “If You Know Me Any Longer Than Tomorrow” 7:55
3. “Love the Feelin'” 4:44
4. “I Get Crazy (When Your Eyes Touch Mine)” 4:24
5. “Doin’ Everything With You” 7:05
6. “Main Squeeze”

Personnel:
Chuck Mangione – Flugelhorn, Fender Rhodes
Tony Levin – Bass
Rubens Bassini – Percussion
Steve Gadd – Drums, Percussion
Ralph MacDonald – Percussion
Don Grolnick – Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes
Richard Tee – Organ
John Tropea – Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Bob Mann – Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Gene Orloff – Concertmaster
Bob Carlisle, Fred Griffen, Jimmy Buffington, John Clarke – French Horns
Bill Watrous, David Taylor, Tom Malone, Wayne Andre – Trombones
Alan Rubin, Jeff Tkazyik, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff – Trumpets

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Released: 1976
Recorded:
Electric Lady, New York City
Mediasound, New York City
Rosebud, New York City
Length: 37:34
Label: A&M
Producer: Chuck Mangione