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Al Caiola was a well-known, much-recorded professional guitarist of the '60s. He was a session musician, which led to his featured role as the musical conductor for RCA's album series Living Guitars, and he also had a recording career for United Artists, recording numerous instrumental albums for them between 1960 and 1969, the period covered on Raven's 33-track 2002 collection Bonanza!. The title, of course, comes from Caiola's biggest hit -- his sweeping, widescreen version of the smallscreen Western epic's theme song which, along with his similar version of Elmer Bernstein's "The Magnificent Seven," hit the charts in 1961. These were the only times he charted, but he continued recording prolifically, since he was contractually obligated to deliver 60 tracks to RCA per year. That led to a whole lotta music, and since it was unabashedly commercial -- his rumbly, echoey guitar cut its way through sweet strings and blaring brass, occasionally vocal choruses -- and often arranged around a loose theme (Cleopatra and All That Jazz, Solid Gold Guitar, Tuff Guitar English Style, Tuff Guitar Tijuana Style, etc.), it was often corny and silly and consisted of threadbare material. Even if the songs were slight, the productions are appealingly lush and dated easy instrumental pop that evokes the square but swinging '60s rather effortlessly. And it is the overall sound that counts here -- Caiola is an accomplished guitarist, but this is not music for guitar players, it's mood music for middle of the road listeners. This is music that's tied to its time, which is its appeal, but a little of it does go a long way -- which is also why this 33-track collection, complete with great liner notes by Chuck Miller, is as comprehensive as a collection of Caiola's recordings needs to be. There may be much, much more in the vaults or left only on vinyl, but all that's necessary is a sampling, and this is a well-chosen, expertly assembled sampling, a definitive overview of Caiola's career as a headline recording artist. But do keep in mind that while this is fine mood music, only those listeners who truly have a high tolerance for '60s kitsch will listen to this more than once or twice. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Including 33 tracks (over 77 minutes of music), "Bonanza! 1960-1969" is the only CD available in the world of Al Caiola's classic 1960's recordings. Features a deluxe booklet with detailed liner notes.
Al Caiola - Bonanza! 1960-1969 Songs
| 1 | Magnificent Seven See All 2 | | | |
| 2 | Bonanza See All 2 | | | |
| 3 | Lonely Rebel | | | |
| 4 | Bounty Hunter | | | |
| 5 | Sergeants Three March | | | |
| 6 | Experiment In Terror * See All 2 | 2:57 | $1.29 | (From different album) |
| 7 | Guitar Boogie See All 2 | | | |
| 8 | Kalinka | | | |
| 9 | Gunsmoke | | | |
| 10 | Burke's Law Theme | | | |
| 11 | Smoke Signals (Redwing) | | | |
| 12 | From Russia With Love  | | | |
| 13 | Guns of Navarone See All 2 | | | |
| 14 | Tuff Guitar | | | |
| 15 | Ram-Bunk-Shush | | | |
| 16 | Honky Tonk | | | |
| 17 | Hunky Funky | | | |
| 18 | Hearts Of Stone | | | |
| 19 | I'll Walk the Line See All 2 | | | |
| 20 | Big Guitar See All 2 | | | |
| 21 | Two Guitars See All 2 | | | |
| 22 | Foot Stompin' See All 2 | | | |
| 23 | Wheels See All 2 | | | |
| 24 | Jezebel See All 2 | | | |
| 25 | Mexico Brasil | | | |
| 26 | World Is Waiting for the Sunrise See All 2 | | | |
| 27 | Return of the Magnificent Seven | | | |
| 28 | Stag or Drag | | | |
| 29 | Scalphunters Theme | | | |
| 30 | High Chapparal | | | |
| 31 | Stiletto | | | |
| 32 | Guitar Woman | | | |
| (*) MP3 for this song is from a different CD. Listen to the sound sample to be sure this is the version you're looking for. |
Bonanza! 1960-1969 Music Review
Average Rating: (2.7 out of 5 stars)    Classic Al
Great Themes. Classic Al Caiola preformances. Good Selection to have and enjoy.
Submitted by rligor (Washington DC) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Al Caiola BONANZA ! 1960-1969
I am glad that a CD with some of Al's more popular music was finally made. However I have to tend to agree somewhat
with the other persons review that the label could have tried to master the sound quality much better. Especially in
the most popular of tunes "Magnificant Seven". Al's guitar is certainly quite "tinny" sounding which is a bit of a dissapointment.
But who knows, maybe the label had trouble with this and did the best they could?
Anyway, I still am glad that I bought this CD as it does have a lot of good tunes on it dipicting those golden years of Al's recordings.
Until another label company should come out with another compliation of his hits from this era and if that should happen, then hopefully they may have much better sound quality? But until that happens, then for now I would say this is the one to buy.
Submitted by a reviewer (Kitchener, Ont. Canada)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Release a Disappointment for Al Caiola Fans
Al Caiola fans have long been without a good compilation of his United Artist recordings from the 1960s, including such hits as "Bonanza" and "The Magnificent Seven." Unfortunately, this isn't it -- not because of the selection of tunes (which is excellent) but because of the abysmal sound quality. The overall thin sound and off-kilter mixes, plus the fuzzy-looking cover graphics, make one wonder if this is a bootleg. If this is a legal release, those responsible for it should be sentenced to listen to it forever on a desert island until they realize the error of their ways. The trouble starts with the leadoff track, "The Magnificent Seven," where Caiola's magnificent guitar sound ends up buried in the orchestra. There is distortion evident on several cuts, including "Sergeants Three March," which has a brass section so thin it sounds like a kazoo. "Experiment in Terror" has a sax solo that's so faint, it might as well have been recorded from the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The tin ears responsible for this mess outdo themselves on "Tuff Guitar," where even Caiola's big, twangy guitar sounds thin.
If you have Caiola's United Artists recordings on vinyl, keep them -- and avoid this release.
Rating of musical content: 4 stars.
Rating of technical quality: 0 stars.
Note: If you want a taste of Caiola's United Artist recordings, pick up "The Manhattan Guitars Salute the Big Band Era" (available through CD Universe). This is a re-release of Caiola's UA album "Guitars, Guitars, Guitars," although there's no indication of this in the CD notes. The music is great and the sound quality above average.
Submitted by twangyk (Newmarket, Ontario, Canada)
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