On December 4, 1993, Frank Vincent Zappa died aged 52. He was musician (guitar, various instruments), composer, bandleader, producer, actor and filmmaker. In a career spanning more than 30 years, with The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist, Zappa released more than 60 albums, working most of the time as an independent artist. His work gained critical acclaim worldwide; magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at No. 71 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”, and in 2011 at No. 22 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 1995, Zappa was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” and in 1997 he was posthumously awarded with the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”.
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Tommy Bolin
On December 4, 1976, Thomas Richard “Tommy” Bolin, died aged 25. He was musician (guitar), performed with number of musicians including Alphonse Mouzon, Carmine Appice, David Foster, David Sanborn, Jan Hammer, Stanley Sheldon, Phil Collins and Glenn Hughes, but was best known as a member of bands Zephyr, The James Gang and Deep Purple.
Wishbone Ash: Same
On December 4, 1970, “Decca” label released the self-titled, debut Wishbone Ash studio album. It was recorded in September 1970, at the “De Lane Lea Studios” in London, and was produced by Derek Lawrence.
Personnel:
- Andy Powell – vocals, lead guitar
- Ted Turner- vocals, lead guitar
- Martin Turner- vocals, bass
- Steve Upton – drums
All tracks by Martin Turner, Steve Upton, Ted Turner and Andy Powell.
- Blind Eye
- Lady Whiskey
- Errors Of My Way
- Queen Of Torture
- Handy
- Phoenix
Robert Wyatt: The End Of An Ear
On December 4, 1970, “CBS” label released “The End of an Ear”, the debut Robert Wyatt solo studio album. It was recorded in August 1970, at the “Sound Techniques” in London, and was produced by Robert Wyatt.
Personnel:
- Robert Wyatt- drums, piano, organ, keyboards, harmonica
- Neville Whitehead- bass
- Mark Charig- cornet
- Elton Dean- alto saxophone, saxello
- Mark Ellidge – piano
- Cyrille Ayers – assorted percussion
- David Sinclair- organ
All tracks by Robert Wyatt; except where noted.
- Las Vegas Tango Part (repeat) – Gil Evans
- To Mark Everywhere
- To Saintly Bridget
- To Oz Alien Daevyd and Gilly
- To Nick Everyone
- To Caravan and Brother Jim
- To the Old World (Thank You For the Use of Your Body, Goodbye)
- To Carla, Marsha and Caroline (For Making Everything Beautifuller)
- Las Vegas Tango Part 1 – Gil Evans
King Crimson: Islands
On December 3, 1971, “Island” label released “Islands”, the fourth King Crimson studio album. It was recorded in October 1971, at the “Command Studios” in London, and was produced by Robert Fripp, Mel Collins, Ian Wallace and Boz Burrell.
Personnel:
- Robert Fripp– guitar, mellotron, harmonium, sundry implements
- Peter Sinfield– words, sounds and visions, cover design, painting
- Mel Collins– saxophones, flute, bass flute, backing vocals
- Ian Wallace– drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Boz Burrell– bass, lead vocals, choreography
- Paulina Lucas – soprano vocals
- Keith Tippett– piano
- Robin Miller – oboe
- Mark Charig– cornet
- Harry Miller– double bass
- Uncredited musicians – strings
- Robert Ellis – photography
Track listing:
Music by Robert Fripp, lyrics by Peter Sinfield.
- Formentera Lady
- Sailor’s Tale
- The Letters
- Ladies of the Road
- Prelude: Song of the Gulls
- Islands
- Untitled
The Beatles: Rubber Soul
On December 3, 1965, “Parlaphone” label released “Rubber Soul”, the sixth Beatles studio album. “Rubber Soul” was recorded in October and November 1965, at the “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Rubber Soul” on number five on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel
- John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitars, electric piano
- Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and backing vocals, lead, acoustic and bass guitars, piano
- George Harrison– lead, harmony and backing vocals, lead, rhythm, acoustic and bass guitars, sitar
- Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine, maracas, cowbell, bells, cymbals, lead vocals, Hammond organ
- Mal Evans– Hammond organ
- Robert Freeman- photography
Track listing
- I’ve Just Seen a Face – Paul McCartney
- Norwegian Woods – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- You Won’t See Me – Paul McCartney
- Think for Yourself – George Harrison
- The Word – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison
- Michelle – Paul McCartney
- It’s Only Love – John Lennon
- Girl – John Lennon
- I’m Looking Through You – Paul McCartney
- In My Life – John Lennon
- Wait – Paul McCartney, John Lennon
- Run For Your Life – Paul McCartney, John Lennon
The Who: My Generation
On December 3, 1965, “Brunswick Records” label released “My Generation”, the debut Who (The) studio album. “My Generation” was recorded in April and October 1965, at the “IBC Studios” in London, and was produced by Shel Talmy.
Personnel:
- Roger Daltrey– lead vocals, harmonica
- Pete Townshend – lead and backing vocals, six and twelve-string acoustic and electric guitars
- John Entwistle– bass guitar, backing vocals
- Keith Moon– drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Jimmy Page– lead and rhythm guitar
- Perry Ford – piano
- Nicky Hopkins– piano
- The Ivy League– backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Pete Townshend, except where noted.
- Out in the Street
- I Don’t Mind – James Brown
- The Good’s Gone
- La-La-La-Lies
- Much Too Much
- My Generation
- The Kids Are Alright
- Please, Please, Please – James Brown, Johnny Terry
- It’s Not True
- I’m a Man – Bo Diddley
- A Legal Matter
- The Ox – Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Nicky Hopkins
Mothers Of Invention: Cruising With Ruben & The Jets
On December 2, 1968, “Bizarre” and “Verve” labels released “Cruising with Ruben & the Jets”, the fourth Mothers of Invention studio album. It is part of Mothers project named “No Commercial potential” which featured three albums: “Uncle Meat”, We’re in it Only for the Money” and “Lumpy Gravy”. The album was recorded December 1967 – February 1968, at the “Apostolic Studios” in New York, and was produced by Frank Zappa.
Personnel:
- Frank Zappa– low grumbles, oo-wah and lead guitar, bass, piano, drums
- Ray Collins– lead vocals
- Roy Estrada– high weazlings, dwaedy-doop and electric bass
- Jimmy Carl Blackand/or Arthur Dyer Tripp III – lewd pulsating rhythm
- Ian Underwoodor and Don Preston – redundant piano triplets
- Motorhead Sherwood– baritone sax, tambourine
- Bunk Gardner, Ian Underwood – alto and tenor saxophone
- Cal Schenkel – artwork, cover art
Track listing:
All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.
- Cheap Thrills
- Love of My Life – Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
- How Could I Be Such a Fool
- Deseri – Ray Collins and Paul Buff
- I’m Not Satisfied
- Jerry Roll Gum Drop
- Anything – Ray Collins
- Later That Night
- You Didn’t Try to Call Me
- Fountain of Love – Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
- No. No.
- Anyway the Wind Blows
- Stuff Up the Cracks
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis: Bold As Love
On December 1, 1967, “Track Records” label released “Axis: Bold as Love”, the second Jimi Hendrix Experience album. It was recorded May – October 1967, at the “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Chas Chandler.
Personnel:
- Jimi Hendrix– vocals, electric guitar, piano, recorder
- Noel Redding– lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, foot stamping
- Mitch Mitchell– drums, glockenspiel, backing vocals
- Gary Leeds– foot stamping
- Chas Chandler– foot stamping
- Graham Nash– foot stamping
- Trevor Burton– backing vocals
- Roy Wood– backing vocals
- David King, Roger Law – design, painted head
- Donald Silverstein – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Jimi Hendrix, except where noted.
- EXP
- Up From the Skies
- Spanish Castle Magic
- Wait Until Tomorrow
- Ain’t No Telling
- Little Wing
- If 6 Was 9
- You Got me Floating
- Castles Made of Sand
- She’s So Fine – Noel Redding
- One Rainy Wish
- Little Miss Lover
- Bold as Love
Michael Jackson: Thriller
On November 30, 1982, “Epic” label released “Thriller”, the sixth Michael Jackson studio album. It was recorded April – November 1982, at the “Westlake Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. With more than 65 million copies sold worldwide“Thriller” is the best selling album of all time. In 1984, the album won a record eight “Grammy Awards”, including “Album of the Year” award. In 2003 magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Thriller” on number 20 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. “The National Association of Recording Merchandisers” ranked “Thriller” at number three in its “Definitive 200” albums of all time. The album was included in the “Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry” of culturally significant recordings. In 2012, magazine “Slant” ranked “Thriller” at number one on its list of “Best Albums of the 1980”.
Personnel:
- Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals, drum case beater, bathroom stomp board, handclaps, vocal arrangements, rhythm arrangements , horn arrangements , synthesizer arrangements
- Paul McCartney– vocals
- Quincy Jones– rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements, musical arrangements
- Steve Lukather– guitar, bass guitar, additional guitars musical arrangements
- Eddie Van Halen– guitar
- Paul Jackson, Jr.– guitar
- Dean Parks – guitar
- David Williams – guitar
- Rod Temperton – keyboards, synthesizers, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements , synthesizer arrangements
- Steve Porcaro – keyboards, synthesizers, synthesizer programming , musical arrangements
- Bill Wolfer – keyboards , synthesizers, synthesizer programming
- Brian Banks – keyboards, synthesizer, synthesizer programming
- Michael Boddicker– keyboards, synthesizers, Emulator, Vocoder
- N’dugu Chancler– drums
- Paulinho da Costa– percussion
- David Foster– synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements
- Anthony Marinelli– synthesizer programming
- David Paich – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, rhythm arrangements, musical arrangements
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards , synthesizers, electric piano, synthesizer programming
- Greg Smith – synthesizers
- Louis Johnson– bass guitar
- Jeff Porcaro – drums
- Larry Williams – saxophone, flute
- Jerry Hey– trumpet, flugelhorn, horn arrangements, string arrangements, strings conductor
- Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Bill Reichenbach – trombone
- Chris Shepard – vibraslap
- Vincent Price – voice-over
- La Toya Jackson, Janet Jackson – backing vocals
Track listing:
- Wanna Be Startin’ Something – Michael Jackson
- Baby Be Mine – Rod Temperton
- The Girl Is Mine – Michael Jackson
- Thriller – Rod Temperton
- Beat It – Michael Jackson
- Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
- Human Nature – Steve Porcaro, John Bettis
- Pretty Young Thing – James Ingram, Quincy Jones
- The Lady In My Life – Rod Temperton
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