Monthly Archives: May 2025

Richard Thompson: Ship To Shore

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On May 31, 2024, “New West” label released “Ship to Shore”, the 27th Richard Thompson studio album. It was recorded in 2024, at “Applehead Studio” in Woodstock, New York, and was produced by Richard Thompson.

Personnel:

  • Richard Thompson – vocals, guitars, mandolin, accordion
  • Bobby Eichhorn – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Taras Prodaniuk – bass guitar
  • Michael Jerome – drums, percussion
  • David Mansfield – fiddle
  • Zara Phillips – harmony vocals
  • Chris Bittner – engineer
  • Chris Athens – mastering
  • Tom Bejgrowicz (Man Alive Creative) – design, layout
  • Michael Dicken – cover art illustration
  • David Kaptein – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Thompson.

  1. Freeze
  2. The Fear Never Leaves You
  3. Singapore Sadie
  4. Trust
  5. The Day That I Give In
  6. The Old Pack Mule
  7. Turnstile Casanova
  8. Lost in the Crowd
  9. Maybe
  10. Life’s a Bloody Show
  11. What’s Left to Lose
  12. We Roll

Michael Franks: Blue Pacific

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On May 31, 1990, “Reprise” label released “Blue Pacific”, the eleventh Michael Franks album. It was recorded 1989 – 1990, at “JHL Sound” in Pacific Palisades, California, “Studio Ultimo” and “Soundworks West” in Los Angeles, “Ground Control Studios” in Burbank, California, “Ocean Way” and “Cherokee Studios” in Hollywood, “Larrabee Sound Studios” and “Schnee Studios” in North Hollywood, and was produced by Walter Becker, Tommy LiPumma and Jeff Lorber.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Buzz Feiten – guitars, acoustic guitar
  • Dean Parks – electric guitar
  • Larry Carlton – guitars
  • Michael Thompson – guitars
  • Jeff Lorber – keyboards, programming, arrangements
  • John Beasley – keyboards
  • Joe Sample – acoustic piano
  • Larry Williams – synthesizer programming, synthesizer arrangements
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  • ‘Ready’ Freddie Washington – bass
  • John Patitucci – bass
  • Sean Franks – cymbals
  • Peter Erskine – drums
  • John Guerin – drums
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Alex Acuña – percussion
  • Michael Fisher – percussion
  • Marc Russo – alto saxophone
  • Bob Sheppard – tenor saxophone
  • Kirk Whalum – tenor saxophone
  • Bunny Hull – backing vocals
  • Brenda Russell – backing vocals
  • Kareem – backing vocals
  • Livingston Taylor – backing vocals
  • Jeff Lorber – recording
  • Eric Rudd – recording assistant
  • Roger Nichols – recording, mixing
  • Al Schmitt – recording, additional recording
  • Chris Fuhrman – additional recording assistant
  • Tom Hardisty – recording assistant
  • Scott Ralston – recording assistant
  • Clif Norrell – recording assistant
  • Joey Wolpert – additional recording
  • Ed Torgerson – additional recording assistant
  • Gabe Moffat – additional recording assistant
  • Bill Schnee – mixing
  • Alan Meyerson – mixing
  • Neal Pogue – mixing assistant
  • Ken Allardyce – mixing assistant
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Sonny Abelardo – production coordinator
  • Carol Parks – production coordinator
  • Jeri and John Heiden – art direction, design
  • Kip Lott – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks.

  1. The Art of Love
  2. Woman in the Wave
  3. All I Need
  4. Long Slow Dance
  5. Vincent’s Ear
  6. Speak to Me
  7. On the Inside
  8. Chez Nous
  9. Blue Pacific
  10. Crayon Sun (Safe at Home)

Kevin Ayers: The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories

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In May 1974, “Island” label released “The Confessions of Dr.Dream and Other Stories”, the fifth Kevin Ayers studio album. It was recorded February – March 1974, at “AIR Studios” and “Ramport Studios” in London, and was produced by Rupert Hine.

Personnel:

  • Kevin Ayers – vocals, guitars, piano, organ
  • Nico – vocals
  • Mark Warner – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Sam Mitchell – electric guitar
  • Ollie Halsall – electric guitar solo
  • Cal Batchelor – electric guitar
  • Mike Oldfield – electric guitar solo
  • Henry Crallan – piano
  • Mike Moran – piano
  •  Rupert Hine – keyboards
  • Steve Nye – organ, electric piano
  • Mike Ratledge – organ
  • John Perry – bass
  • John Gustafson – bass
  • Trevor Jones – bass
  • Michael Giles – drums
  • The G’Deevy Ensemble – percussion
  • Ray Cooper – percussion
  • Lol Coxhill – alto saxophone
  • Doris Troy, Rosetta Hightower, Joanne Williams – backing vocals
  • Sean Milligan – backing vocals
  • Hulloo Choir – backing vocals
  • John Punter – engineer
  • Steve Nye – engineer
  • Gerry Leitch, Sean Milligan – engineer assistant
  • Simon Jeffes – additional brass arrangements
  • George Smith, James Wedge – illustration

Track listing:

All tracks by Kevin Ayers.

  1. Day By Day
  2. See You Later
  3. Didn’t Feel Lonely Till I Thought of You
  4. Everybody’s Sometime and Some People’s All the Times Blues
  5. It Begins with a Blessing / Once I Awakened / But It Ends with a Curse
  6. Ballbearing Blues
  7. The Confessions of Doctor Dream, Part 1: Irreversible Neural Damage
  8. The Confessions of Doctor Dream, Part 2: Invitation
  9. The Confessions of Doctor Dream, Part 2: The One Chance Dance
  10. The Confessions of Doctor Dream, Part 4: Doctor Dream Theme
  11. Two Goes into Four

The Flying Burrito Brothers: Last Of the Red Hot Burritos

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In May 1972, “A&M” label released “Last of the Red Hot Burritos”, the fourth Flying Burrito Brothers (The) album. It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Jim Dickson.

Personnel:

  1. Chris Hillman – vocals, bass, mandolin
  2. Rick Roberts – vocals, rhythm guitar
  3. Al Perkins – pedal steel guitar, lead electric guitar
  4. Kenny Wertz – vocals, guitar, banjo
  5. Michael Clarke – drums
  6. Byron Berline – fiddle
  7. Roger Bush – vocals, acoustic bass, acoustic guitar
  8. Earl P. Ball or Spooner Oldham – piano

Track listing:

  1. Christine’s Tune – Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons
  2. Six Days on the Road – Earl Green, Carl Montgomery
  3. My Uncle – Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons
  4. Dixie Breakdown – Jimmie Lunceford, Don Reno
  5. Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down – Louise Certain, Gladys Stacey Flatt, Jerry Organ, Wayne Walker
  6. Orange Blossom Special – Ervin T. Rouse
  7. Ain’t That a Lot of Love – Homer Banks, Deanie Parker
  8. High Fashion Queen – Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons
  9. Don’t Forget It – Wilson Pickett, Steve Cropper
  10. Hot Burrito #2 – Chris Ethridge, Gram Parsons
  11. Losing Game – James Carr, Dennis Weaver

Herbie Hancock: Crossings

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In May 1972, “Warner Bros” label released “Crossings”, the tenth Herbie Hancock album. It was recorded in February 1972, at “Pacific” in San Mateo, and was produced by David Rubinson.

Personnel:

  • Herbie Hancock – piano, electric piano, mellotron, percussion
  • Bennie Maupin – soprano saxophone, alto flute, bass clarinet, piccolo, percussion
  • Eddie Henderson – trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion
  • Julian Priester – tenor and alto trombones, bass, percussion
  • Buster Williams – bass guitar, double bass, percussion
  • Billy Hart – drums, percussion
  • Patrick Gleeson – Moog synthesizer, mellotron
  • Victor Pantoja – congas
  • Candy Love, Sandra Stevens, Della Horne, Victoria Domagalski, Scott Beach – voices

Track listing:

  1. Sleeping Giant – Herbie Hancock
  2. Quasar – Bennie Maupin
  3. Water Torture – Bennie Maupin

Al Foster

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On May 28, 2025, Aloysius Tyrone Foster aka Al Foster, died aged 82. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Blue Mitchell, Illinois Jacquet, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Joe Henderson, Joanne Brackeen, Cedar Walton, Larry Willis, Steve Kuhn, Tommy Flanagan, Chris Potter, George Adams, Richie Beirach, Peter Bernstein, Walter Bishop Jr, Donald Byrn, Eli Degibri, Eliane Elias, Eric Le Lann, Red Garland, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Haden, Sadik Hakim, Jimmy Heath, Duke Jordan, Shirley Horn, Bobby Hutcherson, Sam Jones, Yusef Lateef, Andy LaVerne, Abbey Lincoln, Fred Lipsius, Larry Willis, George Mraz, Lonnie Liston Smith, Joe Lovano, Frank Morgan, Johnny Lytle, Hugh Masakela, Ronnie Mathews, Tete Montoliu, Sam Morrison, Bud Shank, Reggie Workman, Peter Zak, Cecil Payne, Dave Liebman and Art Pepper. As leader, Foster released eighth albums.

John Mayall: A Special Life

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On May 30, 2014, “Forty Below” label released “A Special Life”, the 33rd John Mayall album. It was recorded in November 2013, and was produced by John Mayall and Eric Corne.

Personnel:

  • John Mayall – vocals, guitars, harmonica, organ, piano
  • Rocky Athas – guitars
  • C. J. Chenier – vocals, accordion
  • Greg Rzab – bass guitar, percussions
  • Jay Davenport – drums

Track listing:

  1. Why Did You Go Last Night – Clifton Chenier
  2. Speak of the Devil – Sonny Landreth
  3. That’s All Right – James Lane
  4. World Gone Crazy – John Mayall
  5. Floodin’ in California – Albert King
  6. Big Town Playboy – Eddie Taylor
  7. A Special Life – John Mayall
  8. I Just Got to Know – Jimmy McCracklin
  9. Heartache – John Mayall
  10. Like a Fool – Greg Rzab, Rocky Athas
  11. Just a Memory – John Mayall

Velvet Underground: Live At Max’s Kansas City

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On May 30, 1972, “Cotillion” label released “Live at Max’s Kansas City”, the first Velvet Underground  live album. It was recorded on August 23, 1970, at “Max’s Kansas City” in New York City, and was produced by Geoff Haslam.

Personnel:

  • Lou Reed – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Sterling Morrison – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Doug Yule – vocal, bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Yule – drums, cowbell

Track listing:

All tracks by Lou Reed, except where noted.

  1. I’m Waiting for the Man
  2. Sweet Jane
  3. Lonesome Cowboy Bill
  4. Beginning to See the Light
  5. I’ll Be Your Mirror
  6. Pale Blue Eyes
  7. Sunday Morning – Lou Reed, John Cale
  8. New Age
  9. Femme Fatale
  10. After Hours

Bo Diddley: Another Dimension

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In May 1971, “Chess” label released “Another Dimension”, the 15th Bo Diddley album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Soundview Environmental Studios” in Kings Park, New York, and was produced by Bob Gallo.

Personnel:

  • Bo Diddley – vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Eddie Covi – saxophone
  • Mike Mattia – trumpet, keyboards
  • Carl Schickler – trombone, guitar
  • Al Kooper – keyboards, guitar
  • Bob Gallo – guitar, percussion
  • Sonny Hahn – guitar
  • Don Olsen – bass
  • John Birganti – drums
  • Bob Dorsa, Vince Traina – percussion
  • Cookie Vee – vocals, percussion
  • Kathy Alson, Leslie Zimei – vocals

Track listing:

  1. The Shape I’m in – Robbie Robertson
  2. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know – Al Kooper
  3. Pollution – Kay McDaniel
  4. Bad Moon Rising – John Fogerty
  5. Down on the Corner – John Fogerty
  6. I Said Shutup Woman – Kay McDaniel
  7. Bad Side of the Moon – Elton John, Bernie Taupin
  8. Lodi – John Fogerty
  9. Go for Broke – John Berganti, Mike Mattia, Don Olsen, Carl Schickler

Curtis Mayfield: Curtis / Live

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In May 1971, “Curtom” label released “Curtis/Live!”, the first Curtis Mayfield’s live album. It was recorded in January 1971, at “Bitter End” nightclub in New York City, and was produced by Curtis Mayfield.

Personnel:

  • Curtis Mayfield – vocals, guitar
  • Craig McMullen – guitar
  • Joseph “Lucky” Scott – bass
  • Tyrone McCullen – drums
  • Henry Gibson – percussion, congas, bongos

Track listing:

All tracks by Curtis Mayfield, except where noted.

  1. Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)
  2. Rap
  3. I Plan to Stay a Believer
  4. We’re a Winner
  5. Rap
  6. We’ve Only Just Begun – Paul Williams, Roger Nichols
  7. People Get Ready
  8. Rap
  9. Stare and Stare
  10. Check Out Your Mind
  11. Gypsy Woman
  12. The Makings of You
  13. Rap
  14. We the People Who are Darker Than Blue
  15. Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go
  16. Stone Junkie