COURTESY OF SHOUT FACTORY The Herb Alpert Signature Series consists of wonderfully evocative reissues, including "Whipped Cream & Other Delights" (inset). Herb Alpert in his heyday in the 1960s.

‘Cream’ of Herb Alpert’s
crop finally on CD

Even though the Herb Alpert Signature Series started coming out in February, I've waited until now to publicize these wonderfully evocative reissues. That's because THE one album found in most American households circa 1965 -- displayed prominently next to the phonograph furniture piece -- finally came out in CD form, and that's "Whipped Cream & Other Delights."

"Whipped Cream & Other Delights" Herb Alpert (Shout! Factory)

It was the complete, delectable package of sound and -- yum! -- sight. It was truly an icon of its time. The effervescent, easy-listening sounds of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass were the hottest around in the early '60s, with sales second only to the Beatles.

And coming on the heels of earlier successes "The Lonely Bull" and "South of the Border" (also reissued) came this record, which took Alpert to the height of popularity, thanks to its provocative cover shot of model Dolores Erickson wearing a gown of shaving -- not whipped -- cream.

Two of the album's tracks are signature '60s pop songs: the spry title song, a classic bit of New Orleans sass written by Allen Toussaint (under the feminine nom de plume Naomi Neville), and my particular fave, "A Taste of Honey," with a boffo arrangement by Alpert.

"The upbeat quality of the music resonated with people," the 70-year-old trumpeter said in an interview with the Plain Dealer of Cleveland last month. "I came up with my own style. I had these genres in my head, from classical to jazz to pop, even a little rock 'n' roll. I just put 'em all together."

"A Taste of Honey," to these ears, represents the pinnacle of his mix-and-match style.

Other highlights of the album include "Bittersweet Samba" and Alpert's brash, bump 'n' grind take of the Leiber and Stoller classic "Love Potion #9."

Two bonus tracks previously unreleased from the "Whipped Cream" recording sessions, "Rosemary" and "Blueberry Park," are nice and quiet tone poems, utilizing the trumpet and marimba combo that gave Alpert's music that exotic Mexican flavor he originally based his popularity on.

You'd also do well to pick up his aforementioned previous albums. With titles like "The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)," the gusto of a beefed-up "South of the Border," the saucy "Struttin' with Maria" and the spry "Mexican Shuffle," you'll be transported to a happier time, when Americans had a sunnier, more optimistic disposition.

The Herb Alpert Signature Series also includes "Lost Treasures," featuring previously unreleased and rare recordings dating up to 1970. All albums have solid historical liner notes by Josh Kun.

And with younger generations attracted to the lounge, exotica and easy-listening music of this period, it's no surprise that a deejay remix album of "Whipped Cream & Other Delights" is in the works.

In the meantime, take a taste of some vintage cream.