James Brown: The Payback

In December 1973, “Polydor” label released “The Payback”, the 40th James Brown studio album. It was recorded February – October 1973, and was produced by James Brown.

Personnel:

  • James Brown – lead vocals, electric piano
  • Clair Pinckney- tenor saxophone, flute
  • Maceo Parker- alto saxophone, flute
  • Darryl “Hasaan” Jamison, Jerone “Jasaan” Sanford, Isiah “Ike” Oakley – trumpet
  • Fred Wesley- trombone
  • Hearlon “Cheese” Martin – guitar
  • Jimmy Nolen- guitar
  • Fred Thomas – bass
  • John Starks – drums
  • John Morgan – percussion

Track listing.

All tracks by James Brown, Fred Wesley and Charles Bobbit; except where noted.

  1. The Payback – James Brown, Fred Wesley, John “Jabo” Starks
  2. Doing the Best I Can
  3. Take Some…Leave Some
  4. Shoot Your Shot – James Brown
  5. Forever Suffering
  6. Time Is Running out Fast
  7. Stone to the Bone – James Brown
  8. Mind Power

Donovan: Essence to Essence

In December 1973, “Epic” label released “Essence to Essence”, the eleventh Donovan studio album. It was recorded September – October 1973, at “Morgan Studios”, and was produced by Donovan Leitch and Andrew Loog Oldham.

Personnel:

  • Donovan – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Henry McCullough, Danny Kortchmar, Doug Schlink, Neil Hubbard, Peter Frampton- electric guitar
  • Alan Spenner, Carl Radle, Leland Sklar, Paul Ossola – bass
  • Danny Thompson- double bass
  • Carole King, Craig Doerge, Jean Roussel, Nicky Hopkins- piano
  • Nicky Hopkins – electric piano
  • Bobby Whitlock- organ
  • Bruce Rowland, Denny Seiwell, Jim Gordon, Russell Kunkel- drums
  • Ray Cooper- percussion
  • Tom Scott- woodwind
  • Jack Emblow – accordion
  • Chris Nicholls – bass flute
  • Simon Jeffes- koto
  • The Scratch Band – backing vocals
  • Andrew Powell, Del Newman, Nicky Harrison – strings

Track listing:

All tracks by Donovan Leitch.

  1. Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth
  2. Lazy Daze
  3. Life Goes On
  4. There is an Ocean
  5. Dignity of Man
  6. Yellow Star
  7. Divine Daze of Deathless Delight
  8. Boy for Every Girl
  9. Saint Valentine’s Angel
  10. Life is a Merry-Go-Round
  11. Sailing Homeward

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils: Same

In December 1973, “A&M” label released the self-titled, debut Ozark Mountain Daredevils (The) album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Glyn Johns and David Anderle.

Personnel:

  • Steve Cash- vocals, harmonica, harpsichord, percussion
  • John Dillon – vocals, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, autoharp, keyboards, percussion
  • Larry Lee – vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, saw
  • Randle Chowning – vocals, guitar, harmonica
  • Michael Granda – vocals, bass, percussion
  • Buddy Brayfield – piano, keyboards
  • Jack Black, Elizabeth Anderson, Sidney Cash, Janet Lee, Donald Bromage – backing vocals
  • Glyn Johns – recording
  • Mike Doud – art direction
  • Bill Higgins, Jeremy Parkin – photography
  • Mike Dempsey – linear notes

Track listing:

  1. Country Girl – Randle Chowning
  2. Spaceship Orion – Larry Lee
  3. If You Wanna Get to Heaven – Steve Cash, John Dillon
  4. Chicken Train – Steve Cash
  5. Colorado Song – Steve Cash, John Dillon
  6. Standin’ on the Rock – John Dillon
  7. Road to Glory – Randle Chowning
  8. Black Sky – Steve Cash
  9. Within Without – Larry Lee
  10. Beauty in the River – John Dillon

Badfinger: Straight Up

On December 13, 1971, “Apple” label released “Straight Up”, the third Badfinger album. It was recorded May – October 1971, at “Abbey Road Studios”, “AIR Studios” and “Command Studios” in London, and was produced by Todd Rundgren and George Harrison.

Personnel:

  • Pete Ham– lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, piano, organ, harmonica
  • Tom Evans– lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, twelve string guitar
  • Joey Molland– lead and backing vocals, rhythm and lead guitar
  • Mike Gibbins– drums, percussion
  • George Harrison– slide guitar, guitar
  • Leon Russell– piano, guitar
  • Bobby Diebold – bass guitar
  • Klaus Voormann– electric piano
  • Bill Collins – accordion
  • Peter Mew, Mike Jarratt – engineer
  • Gene Mahon – design
  • Richard DiLello– design, photography
  • Marcia McGovern – pre-production director
  • Roberta Ballard – production manager

Track listing:

  1. Take It All – Pete Ham
  2. Baby Blue – Pete Ham
  3. Money – Tom Evans
  4. Flying – Tom Evans, Joey Molland
  5. I’d Die Babe – Joey Molland
  6. Name of the Game – Pete Ham
  7. Suitcase – Joey Molland
  8. Sweet Tuesday Morning – Jeoy Molland
  9. Day After Day – Pete Ham
  10. Sometimes – Joey Molland
  11. Perfection – Pete Ham
  12. It’s Over – Tom Evans

Magma: Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh

In December 1973, “Vertigo” label released “Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh”, the third Magma studio album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky. The French edition of “Rolling Stone” magazine named the album the 33rd greatest French rock album.  In 2015, the same magazine ranked the album at number 24 on its list of the “50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time.

Personnel:

  • Klaus Blasquiz– vocals, percussion
  • Stella Vander– vocals
  • Muriel Streisfield– vocals
  • Evelyne Razymovski– vocals
  • Michele Saulnier– vocals
  • Doris Reinhardt– vocals
  • Claude Olmos– guitar
  • Jean-Luc Manderlier– piano, organ
  • Benoit Widemann– keyboards
  • Jannick Top– bass
  • Christian Vander– drums, vocals, organ, percussion
  • René Garber– bass clarinet, vocals
  • Teddy Lasry– brass, flute
  • Eddie Sprigg, Gilbert, Gilles Sallé, Simon Heyworth, Steve Michell, Tom Rabstener– engineer
  • Loulou Sarkissian– stage manager

Track listing:

All tracks by Christian Vander.

  1. Hortz Fur Dëhn Štekëhn Ẁešt
  2. mah Sürï Dondaï
  3. Kobaïa Ïss Dëh Hündïn
  4. Da Zeuhl Ẁortz Mëkanïk
  5. Nëbëhr Gudahtt
  6. Mëkanïk Kömmandöh
  7. Kreühn Köhrmahn Ïss Dëh Hündin

Bachman -Turner Overdrive: Bachman-Turner Overdrive II

In December 1973, “Mercury” label released “Bachman–Turner Overdrive II”, the second Bachman–Turner Overdrive studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Kaye-Smith Studios” in Seattle, Washington, and was produced by Randy Bachman.

Personnel:

  • Randy Bachman – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar
  • Tim Bachman – lead and backing vocals, second lead guitar
  • Fred Turner- lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Robbie Bachman- drums, percussion
  • Norman Durkee- piano
  • Buzz Richmond – engineer
  • Mark Sterling – engineer assistant
  • Tom “Curly” Ruff – mastering
  • John Youssi – design
  • Jim Ladwig – art direction
  • Dave Roels – photography

Track listing:

  1. Blown – Randy Bachman, Tim Bachman
  2. Welcome Home – Randy Bachman
  3. Stonegates – Fred Turner
  4. Let It Ride – Randy Bachman, Fred Turner
  5. Give It Time – Fred Turner
  6. Tramp – Randy Bachman, Robbie Bachman
  7. I Don’t Have to Hide – Tim Bachman
  8. Takin’ Care of Business – Randy Bachman

Joe Pass: Virtuoso

In December 1973, “Pablo” label released “Virtuoso”, the twenty-eight Joe Pass album. It was recorded on August 28, 1973, at “MGM Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Joe Pass – guitar

Track listing:

  1. Night and Day – Cole Porter
  2. Stella by Starlight – Ned Washington, Victor Young
  3. Here’s That Rainy Day – Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen
  4. My Old Flame – Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston
  5. How High the Moon – Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis
  6. Cherokee – Ray Noble
  7. Sweet Lorraine – Cliff Burwell, Mitchell Parish
  8. Have You Met Miss Jones? – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  9. Round Midnight – Bernie Hanighen, Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams
  10. All the Things You Are – Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern
  11. Blues for Alican – Joe Pass
  12. The Song Is You – Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern

New Riders of the Purple Sage: Gypsy Cowboy

In December 1972, “Columbia” label released “Gypsy Cowboy”, the third New Riders of the Purple Sage album. It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Stephen Barncard.

Personnel:

  • John Dawson – lead and co-lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • David Nelson – lead and co-lead vocals, lead guitar, dobro, mandolin, bagpipes
  • Dave Torbert – lead and co-lead vocals, bass, acoustic guitar
  • Buddy Cage- pedal steel guitar
  • Spencer Dryden- drums
  • Mark Naftalin- piano
  • Jack Schroer- saxophone
  • Richard Greene – violin
  • Darlene DiDomenico – backing vocals
  • Donna Jean Godchaux- backing vocals
  • Stephen Barncard, Dave Brown, Ellen Burke – recording
  • Lore Orion – cover art
  • John Tobler – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Gypsy Cowboy – Dave Torbert
  2. Whiskey – John Dawson
  3. Groupie – Dave Torbert
  4. Sutter’s Mill – John Dawson
  5. Death and Destruction – John Dawson
  6. Linda – John Dawson
  7. On My Way Back Home – Dave Torbert
  8. Superman – John Dawson
  9. She’s No Angel – Wanda Ballman
  10. Long Black Veil – Danny Dill, Marijohn Wilkin
  11. Sailin’ – John Dawson

REO Speedwagon: R.E.O./Two

On December 1972, “Epic” label released “R.E.O./T.W.O.”, the second REO Speedwagon studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Columbia Studios” in Nashville, and was produced by Paul Leka and Billy Rose II.

Personnel:

  • Kevin Cronin- lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Gary Richrath- lead guitar
  • Neal Doughty- keyboards
  • Gregg Philbin – bass, backing vocals
  • Alan Gratzer – drums, backing vocals
  • Boots Randolph – saxophone
  • Kelly Bowen, Tomi Lee Bradly – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Let Me Ride – Kevin Cronin
  2. How the Story Goes – Gary Richrath
  3. Little Queenie – Chuck Berry
  4. Being Kind (Can Hurt Someone Sometimes) – Kevin Cronin
  5. Music Man – Kevin Cronin
  6. Like You Do – Gary Richrath
  7. Flash Tan Queen – Gary Richrath
  8. Golden Country – Gary Richrath

Lifehouse: Almeria

On December 11, 2012, “Geffen” label released “Almería”, the sixth Lifehouse studio album. It was recorded in 2012, in Box Canyon, in California, and was produced by Jude Cole.

Personnel:

  • Jason Wade– lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Ben Carey– lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Bryce Soderberg– bass, backing vocals
  • Rick Woolstenhulme– drums, percussion
  • Natasha Bedingfield, Peter Frampton, Charles Jones – vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Jude Cole, Jason Wade, Rick Woolstenhulme, Bryce Soderberg and Ben Carey.

  1. Gotta Be Tonight – Jason Wade
  2. Between the Raindrops – Jason Wade, Jude Cole, Jacob Kasher
  3. Nobody Listen – Jason Wade, Jude Cole
  4. Moveonday – Jason Wade, Jude Cole
  5. Slow Motion – Jason Wade, Jude Cole
  6. Only You’re the One – Jason Wade, Jude Cole
  7. Where I Come From – Jason Wade
  8. Right Back Home – Jason Wade, Bryce Soderberg, Rick Woolstenhulme Jr, Jude Cole
  9. Barricade – Jason Wade, Jude Cole
  10. Aftermath – Jason Wade