Monthly Archives: December 2020

Neil Diamond: The Best Years of Our Lives

Leave a comment

On December 13, 1988, “Columbia” label released “The Best Years of Our Lives”, the eighteenth Neil Diamond studio album. It was recorded in 1988, at “Chartmaker Studios”, “Lion Share Recording Studios”, “Village Recorders”, “Ocean Way Recording” in Los Angeles, “A&M Studios” in Hollywood, “Omnisound Recording Studios” in Nashville, “Seacost Sound” in Victoria, British Columbia, and was produced by David Foster.

Personnel:

  • Neil Diamond – lead vocals
  • Bill Champlin, Tamara Champlin, Renée Geyer, Richard Page – backing vocals
  • Richard Bennett – acoustic guitar
  • Dean Parks – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Michael Landau, Steve Lukather – electric guitar
  • Michael Boddicker, Robbie Buchanan, David Foster, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren, Michael Omartian, David Paich – keyboards
  • Mike Brignardello, Reinie Press – bass guitar
  • Tris Imboden, Paul Leim, Carlos Vega – drums
  • Rick Bowen, Rhett Lawrence, Kevin Maloney – synthesizer programming
  • Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Dan Higgins, Bill Reichenbach Jr., Larry Williams – horns
  • David Foster, Jerry Hey – horn arrangements
  • Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements
  • David Foster – arranger
  • Jeffrey Woodruff – engineer
  • Jesse Kanner, Ray Pyle, Dave Reitzas – engineer assistant
  • Humberto Gatica – mixing
  • Mauricio Guerrero, Laura Livingston – mixing assistant
  • George Marino – mastering
  • David Kirschner – art direction, design
  • Beverley Lazor-Bahr – additional design
  • Matthew Rolston – photography
  • Sam Cole, Chris Earthy – production coordination
  • Ned Brown, Barry Cardinale, Larry E. Williams, Alison Zanetos – production assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Diamond, except where noted.

  1. The Best Years of Our Lives
  2. Hard Times for Lovers
  3. This Time – Neil Diamond, David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock
  4. Everything’s Gonna Be Fine – Neil Diamond, Weldon Dean Parks
  5. Hooked on the Memory of You
  6. Take Care of Me – Neil Diamond, David Foster
  7. Baby Can I Hold You – Tracy Chapman
  8. Carmelita’s Eyes – Neil Diamond, David Foster
  9. Courtin’ Disaster – Neil Diamond, David Foster
  10. If I Couldn’t See You Again
  11. Long Hard Climb – Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren

Ohio Players: Pleaseure

Leave a comment

On December 13, 1972, “Westbound” label released “Pleasure”, the third Ohio Players studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Artie Fields Studios” in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by Gregory Webster, Walter “Junie” Morrison, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner, Marshall “Rock” Jones, Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks, Bruce Napier, Marvin Pierce, and Clarence Satchell.

Personnel:

  • Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner – lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Walter “Junie” Morrison – keyboards
  • Marshall “Rock” Jones -bass
  • Gregory Webster – drums
  • Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks – trumpet, trombone, backing vocals
  • Bruce Napier – trumpet
  • Marvin Pierce – trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone, backing vocals
  • Clarence Satchell – lead and backing vocals, soprane, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute, percussion
  • Arlen Smith – engineer
  • David Krieger – art direction
  • Joel Brodsky – photography
  • Mia Krinsky – album co-ordination
  • Bob Scerbo – art production supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by Gregory Webster, Walter Morrison, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Bruce Napier, Marvin Pierce, and Clarence Satchell.

  1. Pleasure
  2. Laid It
  3. Pride and Vanity
  4. Walt’s First Trip
  5. Varee Is Love
  6. Walked Away From You
  7. Paint Me
  8. Funky Worm
  9. Our Love Has Died

The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band: L’Amour Des Chiens

Leave a comment

On December 12, 2007, “Storming” label released “L’Amour Des Chiens”, the sixth Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (The) album, and the first one in 35 years. It was recorded in 2007, and was produced by Mickey Simmonds and Neil Innes.

Personnel:

  • Neil Innes – vocals, piano, guitar, banjo’
  • Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell – vocals, bass, banjo
  • Legs’ Larry Smith – drums
  • Martin ‘Sam Spoons’ Ash – percussion
  • Roger Ruskin Spear – brass
  • Rodney Slater – saxophone, clarinet
  • Bob Kerr – trumpet, cornet

New Millennium Bonzos 

  • Adrian Edmondson
  • Stephen Fry
  • Phill Jupitus
  • David Catlin-Birch – vocals, guitar
  • Steve Barnacle – bass, jazz guitar
  • Johnny Marter – drums, percussion
  • Mickey Simmonds – musical director 

Track listing:

  1. Pour l’Amour Des Chiens – Neil Innes
  2. Let’s All Go to Mary’s House – arranged by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
  3. Hawkeye the Gnu – arranged by Rodney Slater, Neil Innes
  4. Making Faces at the Man in the Moon – Rich, Smith, Hoffman
  5. Fiasco – Neil Innes
  6. Purple Sprouting Broccoli – Martin Ash
  7. Old Tige – Burke, Burke, Reeves
  8. Wire People – Martin Ash, Neil Innes
  9. Salmon Proust – Neil Innes
  10. Democracy – Neil Innes
  11. I Predict a Riot – Hodgson, Wilson, Rix, Baines, White
  12. Paws – Phill Jupitus
  13. And We’re Back – Neil Innes
  14. We Are Normal
  15. L’Essence d’Hooligan – Neil Innes
  16. Early Morning Train – Neil Innes
  17. My Friends Outside – Roger Ruskin Spear
  18. For the Benefit Of Mankind – Neil Innes
  19. Beautiful People – Adrian Edmondson
  20. Ego Warriors – Neil Innes
  21. Cockadoodle Tato – Neil Innes
  22. Tiptoe Through the Tulips – Burke, Dubin
  23. Sudoku Forecast – Phill Jupitus
  24. Now You’re Asleep – Stanshall, Catlin-Birch
  25. Jean Baudrillard – Neil Innes

Sambomaster: Atarashiki Nihongo Rokku No Michi To Hikar

Leave a comment

On December 12, 2003, “Sony Music” label released “Atarashiki Nihongo Rokku No Michi To Hikar”, the debut Sambomaster album.

Personnel:

  • Takashi Yamaguchi – lead vocal, guitar
  • Yoichi Kondo – bass, backing vocals
  • Yasufumi Kiuchi – drums, backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Itoshiki H
  2. Ibi
  3. Sono Nukumori ni Yō ga Aru
  4. Hito wa Sore o Jōnetsu to Yobu
  5. Yogisha de Yatte Kita Aitsu
  6. Zanzō
  7. Kono Yo no Hate
  8. Sayonara Baby
  9. Oh Baby
  10. Soredemo Kamawanai
  11. Asa

Yusef Lateef: Autophysiopsychic

Leave a comment

In December 1977, “CTI” label released “Autophysiopsychic”, th 34th Yusef Lateef album. It was recorded in October 1977, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York Studios, and Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Yusef Lateef – vocals, flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, shahnai
  • Art Farmer – flugelhorn
  • Clifford Carter – keyboards
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Gary King – electric bass
  • Jim Madison – drums
  • Sue Evans – percussion
  • Frank Floyd, Babi Floyd, Milt Grayson, Norberto Jones – backing vocals
  • David Matthews – arranger

Track listing:

All tracks by Yusef Lateef except where noted.

  1. Robot Man
  2. Look on the Right Side
  3. Yl – David Matthews
  4. Communication
  5. Sister Mamie

Bill Hardman Quintet: Saying Something

Leave a comment

In December 1961, “Savoy” label released “Saying Something”, the debut Bill Hardman’s Quintet album. It was recorded in October 1961, at “Medallion Studio” in Newark, NJ, and was produced by Tom Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Bill Hardman − trumpet
  • Sonny Red − alto saxophone 
  • Ronnie Mathews − piano
  • Bob Cunningham, Doug Watkins − bass
  • Jimmy Cobb − drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Bill Hardman except where noted

  1. Capers – Tom McIntosh
  2. Angel Eyes – Matt Dennis, Earl Brent) − 5:56
  3. Jo B
  4. Buckeye Blues
  5. Assunta – Cal Massey
  6. It Ain’t Happened Yet

Sonny Red: Breezing

Leave a comment

In December 1960, “Jazzland” label released “Breezing”, the third Sonny Red album. It was recorded in November 1960, at “Plaza Sound Studios” in New York City.

Personnel:

  • Sonny Red – alto saxophone
  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet 
  • Yusef Lateef – tenor saxophone
  • Barry Harris – piano
  • Bob Cranshaw – bass
  • Albert Heath – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Sonny Red except where noted.

  1. Brother B
  2. All I Do Is Dream of You – Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown
  3. The New Blues
  4. Ditty
  5. Teef
  6. Breezing
  7. A Handful of Stars – Ted Shapiro, Jack Lawrence
  8. If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz

Gershon Kingsley

Leave a comment

On December 10, 2019, Götz Gustav Ksinski aka Gershon Kingsley died aged 97. He was composer, a pioneer of the Moog synthesizer, and electronic music. He composed music for film and TV shows, classical chamber works, conducted and arranged the music for Broadway musicals (“The Entertainer”, “La Plume de Ma Tante”, “Vintage ’60”, “Josephine Baker”, “Cafe Crown”, “I’m Solomon”). He was part of the electronic duo Perrey and Kingsley, founded the “First Moog Quartet”, but got world recognition and fame with his 1969 track “Popcorn”. This track was covered by Hot Butter, Aphex Twin, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Jean Michelle Jarre, Marsheaux, Muse, Crazy Frog and The Muppets. Kingsley received “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the “Bob Moog Foundation”.

Ghost: Lama Rabi Rabi

Leave a comment

On December 10, 1996, “Drag City” label released “Lama Rabi Rabi”, the fourth Ghost album. It was recorded in 1996, and was produced by Taishi Takizawa.

Personnel:

  • Masaki Batoh – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Michio Kurihara – guitars
  • Kazuo Ogino – piano, electronics
  • Taishi Takizawa – teremin, flute, saxophone
  • Junichi Yamamoto – drums, percussion
  • Iwao Yamazaki – vocal, drums

Track listing:

  1. Masttillah
  2. RabiRabi
  3. Into the Alley
  4. Marrakech
  5. Who Found a Lost Rose in the Warship?
  6. Mex Square Blue
  7. My Hump is a Shell
  8. Bad Bone
  9. Abyssinia
  10. Agate Scape
  11. Summer’s Ashen Fable

Apoptygma Berzerk: Soli Deo Gloria

Leave a comment

On December 10, 1993, “Metropolis” label released “Soli Deo Gloria”, the debut Apoptygma Berzerk studio album. It was recorded in 1993, at “Wintergarden Studio” in Fredrikstad, Norway, “Apoptygma Sound Lab”, and was produced by Erik Wøllo, and Stephan Grotheks. 

  • Stephan Grotheks – vocals, guitar, synthesizer, samples,  programming, engineer
  • Per Aksel Lundgreen – keyboards
  • Anders Olden – guitar
  • Jimmy Bergsten – vocals
  • Erik Wøllo – arranger
  • Christian Bloom – Apoptygma logo
  • Albrecht Dürer – artwork
  • Subtopia – design, photography
  • Malin Syversen – Bellybutton photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Stephan Grotheks, except where noted.

  1. Like Blood from the Beloved, Part 1
  2. Bitch
  3. Burnin’ Heretic
  4. Stitch
  5. Walk With Me
  6. Backdraft
  7. Arp (808 Edit)
  8. Spiritual Reality
  9. Skyscraping (Schizophreniac)
  10. All Tomorrow’s Parties – Lou Reed
  11. Ashes to Ashes 93
  12. Like Blood from the Beloved, Part 2