On December 7, 2016, Gregory Stuart “Greg” Lake died aged 69. He was musician (guitar, bass, harmonica), singer, songwriter and producer, best known as member of bands Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) and King Crimson. As leader he released three albums.
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Fairport Convention: Liege & Lief
In December 1969, “Island” label released “Liege & Lief”, the fourth Fairport Convention album. It was recorded October – November 1969, at “Sound Techniques” in London, and was produced by Joe Boyd. In 2006, the audience at “BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards” voted “Liege & Lief” the “Most Influential Folk Album of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Sandy Denny– vocals, sleeve concept, design
- Dave Swarbrick– fiddle, viola, sleeve concept, design
- Richard Thompson – acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals, sleeve concept, design
- Simon Nicol– 6-string, 12-string acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals, sleeve concept, design
- Ashley Hutchings– bass guitar, backing vocals, sleeve concept, design
- Dave Mattacks– drums, percussion, sleeve concept, design
- John Wood – engineer
- Roberta Nicol – sleeve concept, design
- Diogenic Attempts Ltd – design coordination
- Eric Hayes – cover photography
Track listing:
- Come All Ye – Sandy Denny, Ashley Hutchings
- Reynardine – traditional, arranged by Fairport Convention
- Matty Groves – arr. Fairport Convention
- Farewell, Farewell – Richard Thompson
- The Deserter – arr. Fairport Convention
- Medley – arr. Dave Swarbrick
- The Lark in the Morning
- Rakish Paddy
- Foxhunters’ Jig
- Toss the Feathers
- Tam Lin – arr. Dave Swarbrick
- Crazy Man Michael – Richard Thompson, Dave Swarbrick
The Butterfield Blues Band: The Resurrection of Pigboy Grabshaw
In December 1967, “Elektra” label released “The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw”, the third Butterfield Blues Band (The) album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by John Court.
Personnel:
- Paul Butterfield– vocals, harmonica
- Elvin Bishop– guitar
- Mark Naftalin– keyboards
- Bugsy Maugh – bass, vocalon
- Phil Wilson– drums
- David Sanborn– alto saxophone
- Gene Dinwiddie– tenor saxophone
- Keith Johnson – trumpet
Track listing:
- One More Heartache – Smokey Robinson, The Miracles
- Driftin’ and Driftin’ – Charles Brown, Johnny Moore, Eddie Williams
- I Pity the Fool – Deadric Malone
- Born Under a Bad Sign – William Bell, Booker T. Jones
- Run Out of Time – Paul Butterfield, Gene Dinwiddie
- Double Trouble – Otis Rush
- Drivin’ Wheel – Roosevelt Sykes
- Droppin’ Out – Paul Butterfield, Tucker Zimmerman
- Tollin’ Bells – traditional, arranged by The Butterfield Blues Band
Crosby, Stills & Nash: Replay
On December 8, 1980, “Atlantic” label released “Replay”, the sixth Crosby, Stills & Nash album. It was recorded in 1980, and was produced by Bill Halverson, David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills.
Personnel:
- David Crosby— vocals, acoustic guitar, string arrangements
- Stephen Stills— vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, congas, overdubbed drums, steel drum, percussion
- Graham Nash— vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, string arrangements, congas
- Jerry Garcia- pedal steel guitar
- James Taylor— acoustic guitar
- Paul Harris— keyboards
- Craig Doerge— electric piano, piano, synthesizer
- George “Chocolate” Perry— bass
- Calvin “Fuzzy” Samuels— bass
- Tim Drummond— bass
- Leland Sklar— bass
- Kenny Passarelli — bass
- Dallas Taylor— drums
- Russ Kunkel— drums, congas, percussion
- Jim Gordon— drums
- Jeff Whitaker — congas
- Joe Lala— percussion
- Joe Vitale— drums, percussion, organ, electric piano, tympani
- Rita Coolidge, Priscilla Jones, John Sebastian— backing vocals
- Fred Neil, Henry Diltz— backing vocals
- Cass Elliot— backing vocals
- Mike Lewis, Joel Bernstein— string arrangements
Track listing:
- Carry On – Stephen Stills
- Marrakesh Express – Graham Nash
- Just a Song Before I Go – Graham Nash
- First Things First – Stephen Stills, Joe Schermie, Jon Smith
- Shadow Captain – David Crosby, Craig Doerge
- To the Last Whale…- David Crosby, Graham Nash
- Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills
- Pre-Road Downs – Graham Nash
- Change Partners – Stephen Stills
- I Give You Give Blind- Stephen Stills
- Cathedral – Graham Nash
Foreigner: Agent Provocateur
On December 7, 1984, “Atlantic” label released “Agent Provocateur”, the fifth Foreigner studio album. It was recorded in 1984, and was produced by Mick Jones and Alex Sadkin. The album was certified Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”; Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 3 x Platinum in the U.S. by the “RIAA”.
Personnel:
- Lou Gramm- lead vocals, percussion
- Mick Jones- guitar, keyboards, synthesizers. backing vocals
- Rick Wills- bass, backing vocals
- Dennis Elliott- drums
- Wally Badarou – analog and digital synthesizers
- Bob Mayo- synthesizer, piano, backing vocals
- Brian Eddolls – synthesizer
- Larry Fast– synthesizer
- Jack Waldman– synthesizer
- Tom Bailey– vocals
- Don Harper- backing vocals
- Jennifer Holliday- backing vocals
- Ian Lloyd- backing vocals
- New Jersey Mass Choir of the GMWA – backing vocals
- Mark Rivera- saxophone, backing vocals
- Thompson Twins- backing vocals
- Josh Abbey, Larry Alexander, Joe Ferla, Frank Filipetti, Howie Lindeman – engineer
- Bobby Cohen, Tim Crich, Scott Mabuchi – engineer assistant
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Bob Defrin – art direction, design
Track listing:
- Tooth and Nail – Lou Gramm, Mick Jones
- That Was Yesterday – Lou Gramm, Mick Jones
- I Want to Know What Love Is – Mick Jones
- Growing Up the Hard Way – Lou Gramm, Mick Jones
- Reaction to Action – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
- Stranger in My Own House – Mick Jones
- A Love in Vain – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
- Down on Love – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
- Two Different Worlds – Lou Gramm
- She’s Too Tough – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
Paraf: Zastave
In December 1984, “Helidon” label released “Zastave”, the third Paraf studio album. It was recorded April – May 1984, at “Studio Top Ten” in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and was produced by Aldo Ivančić, Dušan Ladavac, Pavica Mijatović, Zdravko Čabrijan, Mladen Vičić and Robert Tičić.
Personnel:
- Pavica Mijatović – vocals
- Mladen Vičić – guitar
- Robert Tičić – guitar
- Dušan Ladavac – drums
- Zdravko Čabrijan – bass
- Goran Lisica, Raoul Varlen – performer
- Janko Belin, Marko Sever – trumpet
- Aldo Ivančić – arrangements
- Dare Novak – recording
- Novi Kolektivizem – design
Track listing:
All tracks by Paraf, except where noted.
- Nikad Nikad Nikad
- Odlazak
- Zastave
- Kad Se Oglasi
- Oj Ponose Moj
- Napunjeno Vreme
- Divlja Misao
- U Pobjede Nove
- Željko
- Zlatno Doba – lyrics by Dejan Kbez
Roy Orbison
On December 6, 1988, Roy Kelton Orbison died aged 52. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), singer and songwriter, thanks to his distinctive and impassioned voice, named “Caruso of Rock” and nicknamed the Big O. In the period between 1960 and 1964, 22 of his songs placed on the Billboard Top 40. In 1987, Roy Orbison was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and in “Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame”; in 1989 in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked him at number 37 on its list of the “Greatest Artists of All Time” and number 13 on the list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time’. In 2002, “Billboard” magazine ranked Orbison at number 74 in its list of the “Top 600 Recording Artists”. Orbison won six “Grammy Awards”, including “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 1998.
The Black Keys: El Camino
On December 6, 2011, “Nonesuch” label released “El Camino”, the seventh Black Keys studio album. It was recorded March – May 2011, at “Easy Eye Sound Studio” in Nashville, and was produced by Brian Burton (Danger Mouse), Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. At the 55th “Annual Grammy Awards”, The Black Keys won the award for “Best Rock Album”, “Best Rock Performance” and “Best Rock Song” for “Lonely Boy”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in Ireland by “IRMA”; 2 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Dan Auerbach– vocals, guitars
- Patrick Carney– drums
- Brian Burton– keyboards
- Leisa Hans – vocals
- Heather Rigdon – vocals
- Ashley Wilcoxson – vocals
- Kennie Takahashi – engineer
- Collin Dupuis – engineer assistant
- Tchad Blake – mixing
- Tom Elmhirst – mixing
- Ben Baptie – mixing assistant
- Brian Lucey – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks written Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney, and Brian Burton.
- Lonely Boy
- Dead and Gone
- Gold on the Ceiling
- Little Black Submarines
- Money Maker
- Run Right Back
- Sister
- Hell of a Season
- Stop Stop
- Nova Baby
- Mind Eraser
James Taylor: Same
On December 6, 1968, “Apple” label released the self-titled, debut James Taylor album. It was recorded July – October 1968, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by Peter Asher. It was the first recording by a non-British artist released by “Apple” label, and would also be Taylor’s only release on that label.
Personnel:
- James Taylor– vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, percussion
- Mick Wayne– guitar
- Freddie Redd– keyboards
- Don Shinn– keyboards
- Paul McCartney– bass
- Louis Cennamo– bass
- Bishop O’Brien – drums, percussion
- Peter Asher– vocals, percussion
- Richard Hewson– strings, bassoon, oboe
- Skaila Kanga – harp
Track listing:
All tracks by James Taylor, except where noted.
- Don’t Talk Now
- Something’s Wrong
- Knocking ‘Round the Zoo
- Sunshine Sunshine
- Taking It In
- Something in the Way She Moves
- Carolina in My Mind
- Brighten Your Night With My Day
- Night Owl
- Rainy Day Man – James Taylor, Zach Wiesner
- Circle Round the Sun – traditional arr. James Taylor
- Blues Is Just a Bad Dream
The Beatles: The Beatles’ Million Sellers
On December 6, 1965, “Parlaphone” label released “The Beatles’ Million Sellers”, the tenth Beatles (The) EP. It was recorded in 1965, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The EP was only released in mono version.
Personnel:
- John Lennon– lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney– lead and harmony vocals, bass
- George Harrison– lead and rhythm guitars, harmony vocals
- Ringo Starr– drums
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
- She Loves You
- I Want to Hold Your Hand
- Can’t Buy Me Love
- I Feel Fine
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