On December 11, 2012, Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury aka Ravi Shankar died aged 92. Shankar was world renowned composer, musician, performer and scholar of Indian classical music. In his long and distinguished career, through teaching, performances, and cooperation with Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison, Shankar engaged Western music by writing compositions for sitar and orchestra. His career includes numerous recordings and performances at all the world’s leading venues.
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Monty Pythons: Monty Pythons Sings
On December 11, 1989, “Virgin” label released “Monty Python Sings”,album of comedy songs by the Monty Python’s. The album was released in memory of Graham Chapman.
Personnel:
- Graham Chapman
- John Cleese
- Terry Gilliam
- Eric Idle
- Terry Jones
- Michael Palin
- Sonia Jones
- Fred Tomlinson
- John Du Prez
- Neil Innes
- Dave Howman
- George Harrison
- Andre Jacquemin
- John Gould
- John Altman
- Mike McNaught
- James Saunders
- Kath James
Track listing:
- Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
- Sit on My Face
- Lumberjack Song
- Penis Song (Not the Noel Coward Song)
- Oliver Cromwell
- Money Song
- Accountancy Shanty
- Finland
- Medical Love Song
- I’m So Worried
- Every Sperm Is Sacred
- Never Be Rude to an Arab
- I Like Chinese
- Eric the Half-a-Bee
- Brian Song
- Bruces’ Philosophers Song (Bruces’ Song)
- The Meaning of Life
- Knights of the Round Table (Camelot Song)
- All Things Dull and Ugly
- Decomposing Composers
- Henry Kissinger
- I’ve Got Two Legs
- Christmas in Heaven
- Galaxy Song
- Spam Song
King Crimson: Lizard
On December 10, 1970, “Island” label released “Lizard”, the third King Crimson studio album. It was recorded August – September 1970, at the “Wessex Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by Robert Fripp and Peter Sinfield.
Personnel:
- Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron, synthesizer, organ, devices
- Mel Collins– saxophone, flute
- Gordon Haskell– vocals, bass guitar
- Andy McCulloch– drums
- Keith Tippett– acoustic and electric pianos
- Robin Miller – oboe, cor anglais
- Mark Charig– cornet
- Nick Evans– trombone
- Jon Anderson– vocals
- Tony Levin- bass guitar
- Peter Sinfield – pictures, sleeve conception
- Gini Barris – outside painting
- Koraz Wallpapers – inside marbling
- C.S. – typography
Track listing:
All lyrics by Peter Sinfield, all music by Robert Fripp.
- Cirkus (including Entry of the Chameleons)
- Indoor Games
- Happy Family
- Lady of the Dancing Water
- Lizard
- Prince Rupert Awakes
- Bolero – The Peacock’s Tale
- The Battle of Glass Tears
- Dawn Song
- Last Skirmish
- Prince Rupert’s Lament
- Big Top
John Lennon: John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band
On December 11, 1970, “Apple” label released “John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band”, the debut John Lennon studio album. It was recorded September – October , 1970, at the “Abbey Road Studios” and at “Ascot Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 23 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- John Lennon– vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Phil Spector– piano
- Billy Preston– piano
- Klaus Voormann– bass
- Ringo Starr– drums
- Yoko Ono– wind
- Mal Evans– tea and sympathy
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon.
- Mother
- Hold On
- I Found Out
- Working Class Hero
- Isolation
- Remember
- Love
- Well Well Well
- Look at Me
- God
- My Mummy’s Dead
Blood, Sweat & Tears: Same
On December 11, 1968, “Columbia” label released self titled, second Blood, Sweet & Tears album. It was recorded October 1968, at “CBS Studios” in New York, and was produced by James William Guercio. The album was certified 4 x Platinum in the US by the RIAA. The album received “Grammy Award” for “Album of the Year” in 1970.
Personnel:
- David Clayton-Thomas– lead vocals
- Steve Katz– lead and backing vocals, guitar, harmonica
- Dick Halligan– organ, piano, flute, trombone, vocals
- Jim Fielder– bass
- Bobby Colomby– vocals, drums, percussion
- Lew Soloff– trumpet, flugelhorn
- Fred Lipsius– alto saxophone, piano
- Chuck Winfield– trumpet, flugelhorn
- Jerry Hyman– trombone, recorder
- Dick Halligan, Fred Lipsius, Al Kooper – arrangements
- Timothy Quay, Bob Cato – cover art
- John Berg – design
- Harrie George – photography
Track listing:
- Variations on a theme by Erik Satie (1st and 2nd Movements)
- Adapted from “Trois Gymnopédies”; arr. by Dick Halligan
- Smiling Phases – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood
- Sometimes in Winter – Steve Katz
- More and More – Vee Pee Smith, Don Juan
- And When I Die – Laura Nyro
- God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
- Spinning Wheel -David Clayton-Thomas
- You’ve Made Me So Very Happy – Berry Gordy Jr., Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Frank Wilson
- Blues – Part II – Blood, Sweat & Tears
- Interpolating Sunshine of Your Love (Jack Bruce, Pete Brown, Eric Clapton), Spoonful – Willie Dixon, Somethin’ Goin’ On – Al Kooper
- Variations on a theme by Erik Satie” (1st Movement)
Queen: A Day At The Races
On December 10, 1976, “EMI” label released “A Day at the Races”, the fifth Queen studio album. It was recorded at the “Sarm East”, “The Manor” and “Wessex Studios”, and was produced by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon. This was the second band’s album that took its name from Marx Brothers movie (the previous was “A Night at the Opera). In 2006, in “BBC” pool “A Day at the Races” was voted the 67th greatest album of all time. The album was certified Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Poland by “ZPAV”, and Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Freddie Mercury- lead and backing vocals, piano
- Brian May- lead and backing vocals, electric, slide and acoustic guitars, plastic piano and harmonium
- Roger Taylor- lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, timpani, rhythm guitar, gong
- John Deacon- bass guitar, acoustic guitar
- Mike Stone – additional vocals
- Richard Gray – design
Track listing:
- Tie Your Mother Down – Brian May
- You Take My Breath Away – Freddie Mercury
- Long Away – Brian May
- The Millionaire Waltz – Freddie Mercury
- You and I – John Deacon
- Somebody to Love – Freddie Mercury
- White Man – Brian May
- Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy – Freddie Mercury
- Drowse – Roger Taylor
- Teo Torriatte – Brian May
Ginger Baker’s Air Force: 2
On December 10, 1970, “Polydor” label released “Ginger Baker’s Air Force 2”, the second and final Ginger Baker’s Air Force album. It was recorded May – October, 1970, at the “Trident Studios” and “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Ginger Baker, Rick Grech, Denny Laine and Graham Bond.
Personnel:
- Ginger Baker: vocals, drums, timpani, tubular bells, African drums
- Ken Craddock: vocals, guitars, Hammond organ, piano
- Graham Bond: vocals, alto saxophone, Hammond organ, piano
- Denny Laine: vocals, guitars, piano
- Colin Gibson: bass guitar
- Rick Grech: bass guitar
- Rocki Dzidzornu: percussion, conga
- Neemoi “Speedy” Acquaye: drums, percussion, African drums
- Harold McNair: tenor & alto saxophones, flutes
- Steve Gregory: tenor saxophone, flutes
- Bud Beadle: baritone, alto and tenor saxophones
- Diane Stewart: vocals
- Catherine James: vocals
- Aliki Ashman: vocals
Track listing:
- Let Me Ride – Roebuck Staples
- Sweet Wine – Ginger Baker, Janet Godfrey
- Do U No Hu Yor Phrenz R? – Ginger Baker
- We Free Kings – Ginger Baker
- I Don’t Want to Go on Without You – Bert Berns, Jerry Wexler
- Toady – Ginger Baker
- 12 Gates of the City – Graham Bond
George Harrison: Dark Horse
On December 9, 1974, “Apple” label released “Dark Horse”, the fifth George Harrison studio album. It was recorded November 1973, and August – October 1974, at “FPSHOT” in Oxfordshire and “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by George Harrison.
Personnel:
- George Harrison– lead and backing vocals , guitars, Moog synthesizer, clavinet, organ, bass, percussion, gubgubbi, drums
- Robben Ford– guitar
- Ron Wood– guitar
- Alvin Lee– guitar
- Mick Jones– guitar
- Billy Preston– electric piano, organ, piano
- Gary Wright– piano
- Nicky Hopkins– piano
- Roger Kellaway– piano, organ
- Willie Weeks– bass
- Klaus Voormann– bass
- Max Bennett– bass
- John Guerin– drums
- Ringo Starr– drums
- Andy Newmark– drums, percussion
- Jim Keltner– drums
- Emil Richards– percussion
- Tom Scott– saxophones, flute, horn arrangements , organ
- Jim Horn– flute
- Chuck Findley– flute
- Derrek Van Eaton– backing vocals
- Lon Van Eaton– backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by George Harrison, except where noted.
- Hari’s on Tour
- Simply Shady
- So Sad
- Bye Bye, Love – Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant, George Harrison
- Māya Love
- Ding Dong, Ding Dong
- Dark Horse
- Far East Man – George Harrison, Ron Wood
- It Is ‘He’ – Jai Sri Krishna
The Who: A Quick One
On December 9, 1966, “Reaction” label released “A Quick One”, the second Who studio album. It was recorded September – November 1966, at the “IBC Studios” and “PYE Studios” in London, and was produced by Kit Lambert.
Personnel:
- Roger Daltrey- lead vocals, trombone, bass drum
- John Entwistle – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, French horn, trumpet
- Pete Townshend – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, penny-whistle
- Keith Moon – lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, tuba
- Alan Aldridge – design
- Chris Stamp – executive producer
Track listing:
All tracks by Pete Townshend, except where noted.
- Run Run Run
- Boris the Spider – John Entwistle
- I Need You – Keith Moon
- Whiskey Moon – John Entwistle
- Heat Wave – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland
- Cobwebs and Strange – Keith Moon
- Don’t Look Away
- See My Way – Roger Daltrey
- So Sad About Us
- A Quick One, While He’s Away
Cream: Fresh Cream
On December 9, 1966, “Reaction” label released “Fresh Cream”, the debut Cream studio album. It was recorded July – October 1966, at the “Rayrik Studios” and “Ryemese Studios” in London, and was produced by Robert Stigwood. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 101 on it’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.
Personnel:
- Eric Clapton – vocals, guitar
- Jack Bruce- vocals, bass, harmonica, piano
- Ginger Baker- vocals, drums, percussion
Track listing:
- S.U. – Jack Bruce
- Sleepy Time Time – Jack Bruce, Janet Godfrey
- Dreaming – Jack Bruce
- Sweet Wine – Jack Bruce, Janet Godfrey
- Spoonful – Willie Dixon
- Wrapping Paper – Jack Bruce, Pete Brown
- Cat’s Squirrel – traditional, arr. by Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce
- Four Until Late – Robert Johnson, arr. Eric Clapton
- The Coffee Song – Ray Smith, Tony Colton
- Rollin’ and Tumblin’ – Hambone Willie Newbern
- I’m so Glad – Skip James
- Toad – Ginger Baker
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