I received my new copy of Captain Jarvis today… the record was not released on CD, Noel died in 1994 ya know… the only copy I had was my original vinyl disc from 1979. I used it to make an mp3 a couple of months ago, but there was still an annoying skip that’s been there forever, that I wasn’t able to get rid of, so I had a copy of the album digitally re-mastered by a professional service.
I’ve ripped it to mp3, and WOW, let me tell you… I think that is one nice sounding piece of music… in fact I am so pleased to hear it so well, I have embedded it in an mp3 player on this page [editor's note -- updated 6/10/2011 -- now a YouTube player 
], and you should be hearing it now, if your computer is configured for sound playback.
In case you don’t remember, I composed Captain Jarvis in the 1970s and it was picked up by a bigtime Motown producer named Paul Riser, who thought it was the perfect concept for jazz great Noel Pointer’s R&B Funk Fusion breakout album called Feel It.
I’m not crazy about the album cover, I guess he was trying to appeal to the urban R&B audience, whereas he had previously catered mainly to the New York creative jazz audience. Before going with Paul Reiser, he’d been produced by Dave Grusin (also one of my favorites!)
Playing on the song are the following:
Noel Pointer – 5-string electric violin, string arrangements and conducting
Will Lee – bass
Quentin Dennard – drums
Onaje Gumbs – fender rhodes
Hiram Bullock – guitar
Richard Tee – clavinet
Michael Boddicker – Moog, ARP 2600 synthesizers
Eddie Bongo Brown – percussion
Neil A. Clarke – percussion
Producer: Paul Reiser
I’m honored to have had my tune arranged, produced & recorded by the top cats in the business. Paul Reiser is a big name in Motown, having produced such greats as Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Ashford & Simpson… Will Lee is one of the top studio bass players in the business, currently the bass player on the David Letterman show, has been for many years…Quentin Dennard is a super funky Detroit drummer who’s worked with Aretha… Neil A. Clarke worked with Phyllis Hyman and Harry Belafonte… Richard Tee was one of the original musicians on Saturday Night Live, worked with Paul Simon, Billy Joel… Hiram Bullock did David Sanborn’s stuff… Onaje Gumbs toured with Kenny Burrell, Norman Connors and Woody Shaw… Eddie Bongo Brown played on Marvin Gaye’s material… Michael Boddicker played synthesizer on Michael Jackson’s albums Thriller, Bad and Dangerous… so dude I am definitely in good company !!!
Chuck Slay
April 19, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Wow – I really like this song!
Could you please email me an mp3 of the song?
I met Paul about 20 years ago – nice cat.
I never heard of Noel until now. I will try to buy some of his work.
Thanks!!! Chuck Slay
Beth Daniels
September 18, 2009 at 11:14 am
Someone emailed me about Captain Jarvis performed by Noel Pointer as I am a big Noel Pointer Fan and former jazz violinist however not anywhere to his level. Please let me know how I may obtain this on mp3 format.
Thanks,
Beth
Barry B
December 23, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I have searched high and low for this song. My mother was a friend of Noel’s mother. Though I never got to meet him personally, I did get to hear him perform live back in the late 70′s. Captain Jarvis has always been my favorite song of his. My hat’s off to you Captain Jarvis. Noel did your song great justice.
Barry B
December 23, 2009 at 2:43 pm
P.S. Please, whatever you do, keep writing these outstanding grooves
CJ
March 13, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Could you please e-mail mp3 of this song do you also have niteroi? If do I would really appreciate copy of that also.Its great to find some who appreciates Noel Pointer as much as I do. Then again you wrote it. Thank you so much
Aubrey Gregory
August 3, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I was in the Army when I heard this song and was blown away…What power !! I played it so much , I burned the grooves off the vinyl….twice. I hope to get a copy of CD or mp3 one day. Thanks for making it available to listen on this site.