Monthly Archives: March 2016

Prince: Sign o’ the Times

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Prince_sign-o-the-times

On March 31, 1987, “Paisley Park Records” label released “Sign o’ the Times” (Sign “☮” the Times}, the ninth Prince studio album. It was recorded in 1986 – 1987, at “Lake Minnetonka Home Studio” in Minnetonka, “Galpin Boulevard Home Studio” in Chanhassen, “Washington Avenue Warehouse” in Eden Prairie, “Sunset Sound Recorders” and “Ocean Way Recording” in Hollywood, “Monterey Sound Studios” in Glendale, and “Dierks Studio Mobile Trucks” in Paris, and was produced by Prince. In 1989, magazine “Time Out” named it as the greatest album of all time. Magazine “New Musical Express” ranked “Sign o’ the Times” at number 16 in its list of the “All Time Top 100 Albums”. Magazine “The Times”  ranked  “Sign o’ the Times” as the 29th greatest album of all time, and in 2003, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked the album at number 93 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Prince- all vocals and instruments except as noted below
  • Wendy Melvoin- guitar, tambourine, congas, backing vocals
  • Lisa Coleman- Fairlight sitar, wooden flute, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Fink- keyboards
  • Miko Weaver- guitar
  • Brown Mark- bass
  • Bobby Z.- drums
  • Sheila E.- rap, drums, percussion
  • Eric Leeds- saxophone
  • Atlanta Bliss- trumpet
  • Jill Jones- vocals
  • Susannah Melvoin- backing vocals, vocals
  • Sheena Easton- co-lead vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Prince, except where noted

  1. Sign o’ the Times
  2. Play in the Sunshine
  3. Housequake
  4. The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
  5. It
  6. Starfish and Coffee – Prince, Susannah Melvoin
  7. Slow Love – Prince, Carole Davis
  8. Hot Thing
  9. Forever in My Life
  10. U Got the Look
  11. If I Was Your Girlfriend
  12. Strange Relationship
  13. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
  14. The Cross
  15. It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night – Prince, Doctor Fink, Eric Leeds
  16. Adore

Thompson Twins: Close to the Bone

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Close+to+the+Bone

On March 31, 1987, “Arista” label released “Close to the Bone”, the sixth Thompson Twins studio album. It was recorded in 1986 – 1987, and was produced by Rupert Hine and Tom Bailey.

Personnel:

  • Tom Bailey – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass, programming
  • Jamie West-Oram – guitar
  • Alannah Currie – drums, percussion, marimba, xylophone, backing vocals, art direction
  • Geoff Dugmore- drums
  • Griff Fender – backing vocals
  • Pikey Butler – backing vocals
  • The Mint Juleps – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Follow Your Heart
  2. Bush Baby
  3. Get That Love
  4. Twentieth Century
  5. Long Goodbye
  6. Still Waters
  7. Savage Moon
  8. Gold Fever
  9. Dancing In Your Shoes
  10. Perfect Day

Prince And The Revolution: Parade

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Parade

On March 31, 1986, “Paisley Park Records” released “Parade”, the eighth Prince studio album. It was recorded 1985 – 1986, and was produced by Prince.

Personnel:

  • Prince – lead vocals, various instruments
  • Lisa Coleman – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
  • Wendy Melvoin- lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Miko Weaver- rhythm guitar
  • Craig Powell – guitar
  • Tony Christian – keyboards
  • Fink- keyboards
  • Brown Mark- bass
  • Bobby Z.- drums, percussion
  • Jonathan Melvoin– drums
  • Marr Star – drums
  • Aaron Keith – drums
  • Sheila E.- backing vocals, cowbells, drums
  • Eric Leeds- saxophone
  • Atlanta Bliss- trumpet
  • Marie France – vocals
  • Sandra Francisco – vocals
  • Mazarati- backing vocals
  • Susannah Melvoin- backing vocals
  • Kevin Patrick – backing vocals
  • Clare Fischer- orchestra arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Prince, except where noted.

  1. Christopher Tracy’s Parade – Prince, John L. Nelson
  2. New Position
  3. I Wonder U
  4. Under the Cherry Moon – Prince, John L. Nelson
  5. Gifts & Boys
  6. Life Can Be So Nice
  7. Venus De Milo
  8. Mountains – Prince, Wendy & Lisa
  9. Do U Lie?
  10. Kiss – Prince
  11. Anotherloverholenyohead
  12. Sometimes It Snows in April – Prince, Wendy & Lisa

 

Wings: London Town

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London_Town

On March 31, 1978, “Parlaphone” label released “London Town”, the sixth Wings studio album. It was recorded February 1977 – January 1978, at “Abbey Road Studios”, “AIR Studios”, London; Virgin Islands, and was produced by Paul McCartney.

Personnel:

  • Paul McCartney– vocal, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, violin, flageolet, recorder, deign, photography
  • Denny Laine– vocal, guitar, bass, flageolet, recorder, percussion, design, photography
  • Linda McCartney– vocal, keyboards, percussion, design, photography
  • Jimmy McCulloch– guitar, percussion
  • Joe English– vocal, drums, percussion, harmonica

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul McCartney, except where noted.

  1. London Town – Paul McCartney, Denny Laine
  2. Cafe on the Left Bank
  3. I’m Carrying
  4. Backwards Traveller
  5. Cuff Link
  6. Children Children – Paul McCartney, Denny Laine
  7. Girlfriend
  8. I’ve Had Enough
  9. With a Little Luck
  10. Famous Groupies
  11. Deliver Your Children – Paul McCartney, Denny Laine
  12. Deliver Your Children
  13. Don’t Let It Bring You Down – Paul McCartney, Denny Laine
  14. Morse Moose and the Grey Goose – Paul McCartney, Denny Laine

Aerosmith: Honkin’ On Bobo

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Aerosmith_-_Honkin'_On_Bobo

On March, 30, 2004, “Columbia” label released “Honkin’ on Bobo”, the fourteen Aerosmith studio album.It was recorded in 2003, at at the “Boneyard”, “The Bryer Patch”, and“Pandora’s Box”, and was produced by Steven Tyler,Joe Perry, Jack Douglas and Marti Frederiksen.

Personnel:

  • Steven Tyler– lead vocals, harmonica
  • Joe Perry– lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Brad Whitford– guitar
  • Tom Hamilton– bass
  • Joey Kramer– drums
  • Tracy Bonham– vocals
  • Johnnie Johnson– piano
  • The Memphis Horns– brass
  • Paul Santo – piano, electric piano, organ, engineering
  • Paul Caruso– engineer
  • Jay Messina – engineer
  • Marti Frederiksen – mixing, engineer
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering

Track listing:

  1. Road Runner – Ellas McDaniel
  2. Shame, Shame, Shame – Ruby Fisher, Kenyon Hopkins
  3. Eyesight to the Blind – Sonny Boy Williamson
  4. Baby, Please Don’t Go – Joe Williams
  5. Never Loved a Girl – Ronny Shannon
  6. Back Back Train – Fred McDowell
  7. You Gotta Move – rev. Gary Davis, Fred McDowell
  8. The Grind – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Marti Frederiksen
  9. I’m Ready – Willie Dixon
  10. Temperature – Joel Michael Cohen, Walter Jacobs
  11. Stop Messin’ Around – Joel Michael Cohen, Walter Jacobs
  12. Stop Messin’ Around – Clifford Adams, Peter Green
  13. Jesus Is on the Main Line – traditional; arranged by F. McDowell

Pulp: This Is Hardcore

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Pulp-This_Is_Hardcore

On March 30, 1998, “Island” label released “This Is Hardcore”,the sixth Pulp album. It was recorded in 1997, at “CTS Studios”, and “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Chris Thomas.  In 2013, magazine “NME” ranked “This Is Hardcore” at number 166 in its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Jarvis Cocker – vocals, guitar, keyboards, arranger
  • Russell Senior – guitar, violin, arranger
  • Mark Webber – guitar, keyboards, arranger
  • Steve Mackey – bass, arranger
  • Nick Banks – drums, percussion
  • Anne Dudley – piano, string arrangements
  • Chris Thomas – piano
  • Neneh Cherry – vocals
  • Mandy Bell, Carol Kenyon, Jackie Rawe – backing vocals
  • Nicholas Dodd– orchestration
  • Magnus Fiennes, Mark Hayley, Matthew Vaughan, Olle Romo – programming
  • Pete Lewis – engineer
  • John Currin- artwork
  • Peter Saville – art direction, artwork
  • Howard Wakefield, Paul Hetherington – artwork, design, Smart blur ‘painterly effect
  • Horst Diekgerdes – photography

Track listing:

All lyrics by Jarvis Cocker, all music by Nick Banks, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackey and Mark Webber, except where noted.

  1. The Fear
  2. Dishes
  3. Party Hard
  4. Help the Aged
  5. This Is Hardcore – Nick Banks, Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Mark Webber, Peter Thomas, Steve Mackey
  6. TV Movie
  7. A Little Soul
  8. I’m a Man
  9. Seductive Barry
  10. Sylvia

Magazine: Secondhand Daylight

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220px-Magazine_-_Secondhand_Daylight

On March 30, 1979, “Virgin” label released “Secondhand Daylight”, the second Magazine studio album. It was recorded in January 1979, at “Good Earth Studios” in London and “Virgin Records” mobile studio, which was used at “Farmyard Studios”, and was produced by Colin Thurston and Tony Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Howard Devoto– vocals
  • John McGeoch– guitar, saxophone, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Dave Formula– keyboards
  • Barry Adamson– bass, backing vocals
  • John Doyle– drums, percussion
  • Colin Thurston–  engineer
  • JJ Allom – engineer
  • Bill Aitken – engineer
  • Ian Pollock – illustration
  • Malcolm Garrett– typography, images
  • Richard Rayner-Canham – photography

Track listing:

  1. Feed the Enemy – Dave Formula
  2. Rhythm of Cruelty – John McGeoch, Barry Adamson
  3. Cut-Out Shapes – Howard Devoto
  4. Talk to the Body – John McGeoch
  5. I Wanted Your Heart – Dave Formula, Barry Adamson
  6. The Thin Air – Howard Devoto, John McGeoch
  7. Back to Nature – Dave Formula
  8. Believe That I Understood – Howard Devoto, Barry Adamson
  9. Permafrost – Howard Devoto

Commodores: Same

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Commodores

On March 30, 1977, “Motown” label released the self – titled, fifth Commodores album. It was recorded 1976-1977, and was produced by James Anthony Carmichael, Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, Milan Williams, Ronald Lapread and William King.

Personnel:

  • Lionel Richie- vocals, saxophone, keyboards
  • Thomas McClary – vocals, guitar
  • Milan Williams- keyboards
  • Ronald LaPread – bass guitar
  • Walter Orange – vocals, drums, percussion
  • William King – trumpet

Track listing:

  1. Squeeze the Fruit – Walter Orange
  2. Funny Feelings – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  3. Heaven Knows – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  4. Zoom – Lionel Richie, Ronald LaPread
  5. Won’t You Come Dance with Me – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  6. Brick House – Shirley Hanna-King, Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, Walter Orange, Ronald LaPread, Thomas McClary, William King
  7. Funky Situation – William King
  8. Patch It Up – Milan Williams
  9. Easy – Lionel Richie

Herbie Hancock: Sextant

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Herbie_Hancock_Sextant

On March 30, 1973, “Columbia” label released “Sextant”, the eleventh Herbie Hancock album. This is his last album with Mwandishi Band and the first one for “Columbia” label. It was recorded in 1972, at “Wally Heider Studios” and “Different Fur Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by David Rubinson.

Personnel:

  • MWANDISHI (Herbie Hancock) – piano, Fender Rhodes, Hohner D6 Clavinet, mellotron, ARP 2600, ARP Pro Soloist, Moog
  • MWILE (Bennie Maupin) – soprano Sax, bass clarinet, piccolo, afuche, Hum-A-Zoo
  • Patrick Gleeson- ARP 2600, ARP Pro Soloist
  • MGANGA ( Eddie Henderson) – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • PEPO (Julian Priester) – bass trombone, tenor trombone, alto trombone, cowbell
  • MCHEZAJI (Buster Williams) – acoustic and electric bass
  • JABALI (Billy Hart) – drums
  • Buck Clarke – percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Herbie Hancock

  1. Rain Dance
  2. Hidden Shadows
  3. Hornets

Miles Davis: Bitches Brew

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Bitches_brew

On March 30, 1970, “Columbia” label released “Bitches Brew”,  the 38th Miles Davis album. It was recorded August 19–21, 1969, at “30th Street Studio” in New York, and was produced by Teo Macero. In 1971, the album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album”.

Personnel:

  • Miles Davis – trumpet
  • Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone
  • Bennie Maupin – bass clarinet
  • Joe Zawinul – electric piano
  • Chick Corea – electric piano
  • John McLaughlin – electric guitar
  • Dave Holland – bass
  • Harvey Brooks – electric bass
  • Lenny White – drum set
  • Jack DeJohnette – drum set
  • Don Alias – congas
  • Juma Santos (credited as Jim Riley) – shaker, congas

Track listing

  1. Pharoah’s Dance – Joe Zawinul
  2. Bitches Brew – Miles Davis
  3. Spanish Key – Miles Davis
  4. John McLaughlin – Miles Davis
  5. Miles Runs the Voodoo Down – Miles Davis
  6. Sanctuary – Wayne Shorter