Monthly Archives: May 2017

The Pointer Sisters: Steppin’

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In May 1975, “ABC/Blue Thumb” label released “Steppin’”, the third Pointer Sisters studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by David Rubinson & Friends, Inc..

Personnel:

  • Anita Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Bonnie Pointer, June Pointer– vocals
  • Chris Michie – guitar
  • Wah Wah Watson– guitar
  • Tom Salisbury – piano
  • Paul Jackson– bass
  • Eugene Santini – bass
  • Gaylord Birch– drums, percussion
  • Bill Summers– percussion
  • Herbie Hancock– clavinet
  • Jim Rothermel – clavinet
  • Stevie Wonder– electric piano
  • Tom Salisbury – arrangements
  • Allyn Ferguson – arrangements
  • Fred Catero – recording
  • Jeremy Zatkin – recording
  • George Horn, Phil Brown – mastering
  • Fred Catero, David Rubinson – re-mix
  • Ken Welch, Mitzie Welch – treatment

Track listing:

  1. How Long (Betcha’ Got a Chick on the Side) – Anita Pointer, Bonnie Pointer, David Rubinson
  2. Sleeping Alone – Stevie Wonder
  3. Easy Days – Isaac Hayes, Anita Pointer, Bonnie Pointer, June Pointer
  4. Chainey Do – Willie McTell, Taj Mahal
  5. I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But the Blues – A Medley in Tribute to Duke Ellington” (I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But the Blues / Rocks in My Bed / Creole Love Song / Satin Doll / I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) / Mood Indigo) – Duke Ellington, Don George/ Ellington / Ellington, Bruce Good / Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn / Ellington, Paul Francis Webster / Ellington, Irving Mills, Barney Bigard
  6. Save the Bones for Henry Jones – Danny Barker, Vernon Lee
  7. Wanting Things – Hal David, Burt Bacharach
  8. Going Down Slowly – Allen Toussaint

Spirit: Spirit of ’76

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In May 1975, “Mercury” label released “Spirit of ’76”, the sixth Spirit album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Randy California.

Personnel:

  • Randy California – vocals, bass, guitar, multi instruments
  • Benji – harpsichord, Moog synthesizer
  • Barry Keane – bass
  • Ed Cassidy- drums, percussion
  • Blair Mooney – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy California and Ed Cassidy except where noted.

  1. America the Beautiful/The Times They Are A-Changing – Bates, Ward, Bob Dylan
  2. Victim of Society
  3. Lady of the Lakes
  4. Tampa Jam Pt. 1
  5. Mauna Loa – Randy California
  6. What Do I Have – Randy California
  7. Sunrise
  8. Walking the Dog – R. Thomas
  9. Tampa Jam Pt. 2
  10. Joker On the Run – Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Barry Keene
  11. When – Randy California
  12. Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
  13. Once Again
  14. Feeling in Time
  15. Happy – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  16. Jack Bond – Burt Shonberg
  17. My Road – Randy California
  18. Tampa Jam Pt. 3
  19. Thank You Lord – Randy California
  20. Urantia
  21. Guide Me
  22. Veruska – Randy California, Ed Cassidy, Andes
  23. Hey Joe – Billy Roberts
  24. Jack Bond Pt. 2– Burt Shonberg
  25. The Star Spangled Banner – Francis Scott Key,John Stafford Smith

Henry Cow: In Praise of Learning

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In May 1975, “Virgin” label released “In Praise of Learning”, the second Henry Cow and Slapp Happy collaborative album. It was recorded February-March 1975, at “The Manor”, and was produced by Phil Becque, Henry Cow and Slapp Happy. The album cover art work was by Ray Smith and was the last of the three “paint socks” of Henry Cow’s albums.

Personnel:

  • Dagmar Krause – vocal
  • Peter Blegvad– vocal, guitar, clarinet
  • Fred Frith– guitar, violin, xylophone, piano
  • Tim Hodgkinson– organ, clarinet, piano
  • Lindsay Cooper– bassoon, oboe
  • John Greaves– bass guitar, piano
  • Chris Cutler– drums, radio
  • Anthony Moore– piano, electronics, tapework
  • Geoff Leigh– soprano saxophone
  • Mongezi Feza– trumpet
  • Phil Becque– oscillator
  • Ray Smith– cover art

Track listing:

  1. War – Anthony Moore
  2. Living in the Heart of the Beast – Tim Hodgkinson
  3. Beginning: The Long March – Henry Cow, Slapp Happy
  4. Beautiful as the Moon – Terrible as an Army with Banners – Fred Frith, Chris Cutler
  5. Morning Star – Henry Cow, Slap Happy

Bachman-Turner Overdrive: Four Wheel Drive

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In May 1975, “Mercury” label released “Four Wheel Drive”, the fourth Bachman–Turner Overdrive album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Randy Bachman.

Personnel:

  • Randy Bachman – vocals, acoustic and lead guitar
  • Blair Thornton– guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
  • F. Turner– vocals, bass
  • Robbie Bachman– percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • Mark Smith – engineer
  • Tom “Curly” Ruff – mastreing
  • Bruce Allen – director
  • Jim Ladwig – art direction
  • Joe Kotleba – design
  • Parvis Sadighian – cover construction
  • Ryan Walsh, Alex Does – art direction
  • John Brott, Tom Zamiar – photography

Track listing:

  1. Four Wheel Drive – Randy Bachman, Blair Thorton
  2. She’s a Devil – Blair Thorton, C.F. Turner
  3. Hey You – Randy Bachman
  4. Flat Broke Love – C.F. Turner
  5. She’s Keepin’ Time – Randy Bachman
  6. Quick Change Artist – Randy Bachman, C.F. Turner
  7. Lowland Fling – Randy Bachman, Blair Thorton
  8. Don’t Let the Blues Get You Down – C.F. Turner

Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampire of the City

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On May 14, 2013, “XL” label released “Modern Vampires of the City”, the third  Vampire Weekend album. It was recorded in 2013, at “Downtown Studios” in New York City; “Echo Park Back House”, “Vox Studios” in Los Angeles; “Slow Death Studios” in Burbank, and was produced by Rostam Batmanglij. “Modern Vampires of the City” was ranked at number 1 on “Rolling Stone’s” list of the “50 Best Albums of 2013”, and at number one of “Pop Matter’s” list of “The 75 Best Albums of 2013”.

Personnel:

  • Ezra Koenig– lead vocals, piano
  • Rostam Batmanglij – lead vocals, harmony and backing vocals, piano, guitars, banjo, drum and synth programming, keyboards, shaker
  • Chris Baio– bass
  • Chris Tomson– drums
  • Ariel Rechtshaid– additional drum and synth programming, additional bass, engineer
  • Jeff Curtin – additional drums, engineer
  • Brendan Ryan – accordion
  • Adam Schatz – saxophone
  • Johnny Cuomo – flistle
  • Danny T. Levin – trumpet
  • Elizabeth Lea – trombone
  • Seth Shafer – tuba
  • Angel Deradoorian– backing vocals, additional vocal arrangement
  • Fanny Franklin – backing vocals

Track listing:

All lyrics by Ezra Koenig, except where noted. All music by Rostam Batmanglij and Ezra Koenig, except where noted.

  1. Obvious Bicycle
  2. Unbelievers – music by Ezra Koenig
  3. Step
  4. Diane Young
  5. Don’t Lie – lyrics by Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij
  6. Hannah Hunt
  7. Everlasting Arms
  8. Finger Back
  9. Worship You
  10. Ya Hey – music Rostam Batmanglij, Ezra Koenig, Ariel Rechtshaid
  11. Hudson – music by Rostam Batmanglij, Ezra Koenig, and Chris Tomson
  12. Young Lion – music and lyrics by Rostam Batmanglij

Weezer: Maladroit

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On May 14, 2002, “Geffen” label released “Maladroit”, the fourth Weezer studio album. It was recorded December 2001-January 2002, at “Cello Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Rivers Cuomo, Pat Wilson, Brian Bell and Scott Shriner.

Personnel:

  • Rivers Cuomo- lead vocals, guitar
  • Brian Bell– guitar, backing vocals
  • Scott Shriner– bass, backing vocals
  • Pat Wilson– drums
  • Pat Wilson– drums
  • Chad Bamford – engineer, additional production
  • Femio Hernández – engineer assistant
  • Darren Mora – engineer assistant
  • Steven P. Robillard – engineer assistant
  • Tom Lord-Alge– mixing
  • Christopher Carroll – additional engineering
  • Carlos “Loco” Bedoya – additional engineering
  • Stephen Marcussen– mastering
  • Rod Cervera – additional production
  • Jordan Schur – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Rivers Cuomo.

  1. American Gigolo
  2. Dope Nose
  3. Keep Fishin’
  4. Take Control
  5. Death and Destruction
  6. Slob
  7. Burndt Jamb
  8. Space Rock
  9. Slave
  10. Fall Together
  11. Possibilities
  12. Love Explosion
  13. December

Voltaire: Boo Hoo

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On May 14, 2002, “Projekt Records” label released “Boo Hoo”, the third Voltaire studio album. It was recorded in 2002, and was produced by Voltaire.

Personnel:

  • Voltaire — vocals, acoustic guitar,  artwork, design
  • Gregor Kitzis —violin
  • Matthew Goeke —cello
  • George Grant —vocals, bass
  • Stephen Moses —drums, trombone

Track listing:

All tracks by Voltaire.

  1. Future Ex-Girlfriend
  2. I’m Sorry
  3. #1 Fan
  4. Where’s the Girl?
  5. See You in Hell
  6. Bachelorette – Björk
  7. Hello, Cruel World
  8. Irresponsible
  9. The Vampire Club
  10. BRAINS!
  11. Graveyard Picnic
  12. …About a Girl
  13. Let It Go
  14. Caught a Lite Sneeze – Tori Amos

 

Donald Duck Dunn

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On May 13, 2012, Donald “Duck” Dunn died aged 70. He was musician (bass guitar), session musician, record producer, and songwriter, best known  for his 1960’s recordings with Booker T. & the M.G.’s and as a session bassist for “Stax Records”.  He has performed and recorded with big number of famous musicians including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and The Blues Brothers Band. In 1992, Dunn was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s. “Bass Player” magazine ranked him at number  40 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time”.

Robert Wyatt: Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard

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In May 1975, “Virgin” label released “Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard”, the third Robert Wyatt solo album. It was recorded October 1974 – March 1975, at “The Manor Studios” and was produced by Robert Wyatt. The album art was by Wyatt’s wife Alfreda Benge.

Personnel:

  • Robert Wyatt– vocals, piano, imitation electric piano, organ, drums
  • Brian Eno– guitar, synthesizer, direct inject anti-jazz ray gun
  • Fred Frith– piano
  • Gary Windo– bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone
  • Nisar Ahmad “George” Khan– tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
  • Mongezi Feza– trumpet
  • Bill MacCormick– bass guitar
  • John Greaves– bass guitar
  • Laurie Allan– drums

Track listing:

Side Ruth

  1. Soup Song – Brian Hopper, Robert Wyatt
  2. Sonia – Mongezi Feza
  3. Team Spirit – Bill MacCormick, Phil Manzanera, Robert Wyatt
  4. Song For Che – Charlie Haden

Side Richard

  1. Muddy Mouse (a) – Fred Frith, Robert Wyatt
  2. Solar Flares – Robert Wyatt
  3. Muddy Mouse (b) – Fred Frith, Robert Wyatt
  4. 5 Black Notes And 1 White Note – Jacques Offenbach Robert Wyatt
  5. Muddy Mouse (c) Which in Turn Leads To Muddy Mouth – Fred Frith, Robert Wyatt

Armageddon: Same

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In May 1975, “A&M” label released  the self-titled and only  Armageddon album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Olympic Studios” in Barnes, and was produced by Keith Relf, Martin Pugh, Louis Cennamo and Bobby Caldwell.

Personnel:

  • Keith Relf – lead vocals, harp, harmonica
  • Martin Pugh – acoustic and electric guitars, arrangements
  • Louis Cennamo- bass, electric bowed bass
  • Bobby Caldwell- drums, percussion, piano, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Roland Youth – art direction
  • Joe Garnett – design

Track listing:

  1. Buzzard – Bobby Caldwell, Martin Pugh, Keith Relf
  2. Silver Tightrope – Bobby Caldwell, Martin Pugh, Keith Relf
  3. Paths And Planes And Future Gains – Bobby Caldwell, Martin Pugh, Keith Relf
  4. Last Stand Before – Bobby Caldwell, Martin Pugh, Keith Relf, Louis Cennamo
  5. Basking In The White Of The Midnight Sun – Bobby Caldwell, Martin Pugh, Keith Relf
  • a) Warning Coming On
  • b) Basking In The White Of The Midnight Sun
  • c) Brother Ego
  • d) Basking In The White Of The Midnight Sun (Reprise)