Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampire of the City

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Hot Tuna: America’s Choice

In May 1975, “Grunt” label released “America’s Choice”, the fifth Hot Tuna album. It was recorded September-October 1974, at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Mallory Earl, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady and Bob Steeler.

Personnel:

  • Jorma Kaukonen – vocals, guitars
  • Jack Casady– bass
  • Bob Steeler – drums, percussion
  • Mallory Earl – engineer
  • Steve Mantoani – recording
  • Jeffrey Husband – recording
  • Rick Collins – mastering
  • Bill Thompson – overseer
  • Frank Mulvey – cover concept
  • Michael Casady – equipment
  • Pat Ieraci (Maurice) – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks written by Jorma Kaukonen, except where noted.

  1. Sleep Song
  2. Funky #7 – Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen
  3. Walkin’ Blues – Robert Johnson
  4. Invitation
  5. Hit Single #1
  6. Serpent of Dreams
  7. I Don’t Wanna Go
  8. Great Divide: Revisited

Tallest Man On The Earth: Dark Bird Is Home

On May 12, 2015, “Dead Oceans” label released “Dark Bird Is Home”, the fourth  Tallest Man on Earth album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by Kristian Matsson and BJ Burton

Personnel:

  • Kristian Matsson – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, pedal steel guitar,  banjo, bass guitar, clarinet,  harmonica, alto horn, omnichord, percussion,  piano,  synthesizer, drums, tape machine, tom-tom drum
  • Mike Noyce– electric guitar, viola, violin, vocals, backup vocals
  • Oskar Bond – piano
  • Bird Coulter – piano
  • Dan Huiting – bass guitar
  • Mats Winkvist – bass guitar
  • Mike Lewis – bass guitar, piano, soprano saxophone, saxophones, synthesizers
  • Niclas Nordin – drums, percussion
  • J. Camerieri – French horn, trumpet
  • BJ Burton – engineer, mixing
  • Huntley Miller – mastering
  • Cameron Wittig – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Kristian Matsson.

  1. Fields of Our Home
  2. Darkness of the Dream
  3. Singers
  4. Slow Dance
  5. Little Nowhere Towns
  6. Sagres
  7. Timothy
  8. Beginners
  9. Seventeen
  10. Dark Bird Is Home

Early November: Imbue

On May 12, 2015, “Rise” label released “Imbue”, the fourth Early November studio album. It was recorded in 2015, and was produced by Ace Enders.

Personnel:

  • Arthur “Ace” Enders– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Joseph Marro – guitar, keyboard, piano
  • Bill Lugg – lead guitar
  • Sergio Anello – bass
  • Jeff Kummer – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Ace Enders.

  1. Narrow Mouth
  2. Better This Way
  3. Magnolia
  4. The Negatives
  5. Boxing Timelines
  6. Circulation
  7. Harmony
  8. Cyanide
  9. I Don’t Care
  10. Nothing Lasts Forever

Sparks: Kimono My House

In May 1974, “Island” label released “Kimono My House”, the third Sparks studio album. It was recorded December 1973-February 1974, and was produced by Mulf Winwood.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael– vocals
  • Adrian Fisher– guitar
  • Ron Mael– keyboards, cover concept
  • Martin Gordon– bass
  • Norman “Dinky” Diamond– drums, percussion, castanets
  • Richard Digby-Smith – recording
  • Tony Platt – recording
  • Bill Price– mixing
  • Nicholas de Ville – art direction, cover concept
  • Bob Bowkett, CCS – artwork
  • Karl Stoeker – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael, except where noted.

  1. This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us
  2. Amateur Hour
  3. Falling in Love with Myself Again
  4. Here in Heaven
  5. Thank God It’s Not Christmas
  6. Hasta Mañana, Monsieur – Russell Mael, Ron Mael
  7. Talent Is an Asset
  8. Complaints
  9. In My Family – Russell Mael, Ron Mael
  10. Equator