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
The Stone Roses: Second Coming
On December 5, 1994, “Geffen” label released “Second Coming”, the second Stone Roses (The) studio album. It was recorded 1992 – 1994, at “Forge Studios” in Wales, and was produced by Simon Dawson and Paul Schroeder. “Second Coming” was certified Platinum in UK by “BPI”.
Personnel:
- Ian Brown– lead vocals, harmonica, recording of running water
- John Squire – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, recording, collage
- Simon Dawson – keyboards, Jew’s harp, castanets, Wurlitzer electric piano, acoustic piano, engineer
- Mani– bass guitar
- Reni– lead and backing vocals, drums, recording of running water
- Nick Brine – tambourine, engineer assistant
- Paul Schroeder – engineer
- John Leckie– recording
- Mark Tolle – recording
- Al “Bongo” Shaw – recording
Track listing:
All tracks by John Squire, except where noted.
- Breaking into Heaven
- Driving South
- Ten Storey Love Song
- Daybreak – Ian Brown,Gary Mounfield, John Squire, Alan Wren
- Your Star Will Shine
- Straight to the Man – Ian Brown
- Begging You – John Squire, Ian Brown
- Tightrope
- Good Times
- Tears
- How Do You Sleep
- Love Spreads
- Untitled – Ian Brown, Gary Mounfield, John Squire, Alan Wren
Parliament: Trombipulation
On December 5, 1980, “Casablanca” label released “Trombipulation”, the ninth Parliament studio album. It was recorded 1979 – 1980, and was produced by George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Ron Dunbar and Ron Ford.
Personnel:
- Bootsy Collins – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
- Tony Thomas, Michael Hampton, Gordon Carlton, Jerome Ali – guitar
- Bernie Worrell, David Lee Chong, Michael Hampton, Manon Saulsby, Ernestro Wilson – keyboards
- Donnie Sterling, Lige Curry, Jimmie Ali – bass
- Lonnie Greene, Tyrone Lampkin, Kenny Colton – drums
- Fred Wesley, Larry Hatcher, Bennie Cowan, Greg Thomas, Maceo Parker, Richard Griffith, Darryl Dixon, David Taylor, Barry Taylor, Barry Rogers, Danny Cahn, David Tofani, John Mical, David Majali, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker – horns
- Garry Shider, Ray Davis, Michael “Clip” Payne, Lige Curry, Jerome Rodgers, Larry Hatcher, Robert Johnson, Ron Dunbar, Jeanette McGruder, Dawn Silva, Sheila Horne, Mallia Franklin, Shirley Hayden, Janice Evans, Jeanette Washington, Gwen Dozier, Cheryl James, Ron Ford, Patty Walker, Andre Williams, Stevie Pannell, Kevin Shider, Tracey “Trey Lewd” Lewis, Tony Davis, Philippe Wynne, Jessica Cleaves, Donnie Sterling, Tony Thomas, Lonnie Greene, Nina Hoover, Linda Shider, Larry Heckstall, Dawn Driver, Ronni Faust, Godmoma, Junie Morrison – vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by George Clinton.
- Crush It
- Trombipulation
- Long Way Around
- Agony Of Defeet
- New Doo Review
- Let’s Play House
- Body Language
- Peek-A-Groove
Buffalo Springfield: Same
On December 5, 1966, “Atco” label released the self-titled, debut Buffalo Springfield album. It was recorded July – September 1966, at “Gold Star Studios” in Los Angeles, and “Columbia Recording Studio” in Hollywood, and was produced by Charles Greene and Brian Stone.
Personnel:
- Richie Furay – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- Stephen Stills – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, keyboards
- Neil Young – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, harmonica, piano
- Bruce Palmer- bass guitar
- Dewey Martin – drums, backing vocals
- Tom May, Doc Siegel, James Hilton, Stan Ross – engineer
- Buffalo Springfield, Charles Greene, Brian Stone – mixing
- Sandy Dvore – design
- Henry Diltz, Ivan Nagy – photography
Track listing:
- Go and Say Goodbye – Stephen Stills
- Sit Down, I Think I Love You – Stephen Stills
- Leave – Stephen Stills
- Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing – Neil Young
- Hot Dusty Roads – Stephen Stills
- Everybody’s Wrong – Stephen Stills
- Flying on the Ground Is Wrong – Neil Young
- Burned – Neil Young
- Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It – Neil Young
- Baby Don’t Scold Me – Stephen Stills
- Out of My Mind – Neil Young
- Pay the Price – Stephen Stills
Ten Years After: Watt
In December 1970, “Deram” label released “Watt”, the fifth Ten Years After studio album. It was recorded September 1970, at “Olympic Sound Studios” in London, except “Sweet Little Sixteen”, which is a recording from the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. The album was produced by Alvin Lee, Leo Lyons, Ric lee and Chick Churchill.
Personnel:
- Alvin Lee – vocals, guitar
- Chick Churchill– organ
- Leo Lyons– bass
- Ric Lee– drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Alvin Lee, except where noted.
- I’m Coming On
- My Baby Left Me
- Think About the Times
- I Say Yeah
- The Band with No Name
- Gonna Run
- She Lies in the Morning
- Sweet Little Sixteen – Chuck Berry
Sir Lord Baltimore: Kingdom Come
In December 1970, “Mercury” label released “Kingdom Come”, the debut Sir Lord Baltimore studio album. It was recorded in 1970, at “Vantone Studios” in New Jersey, and “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos, Eddie Kramer and Kim King.
Personnel:
- Louis Dambra – guitar
- Gary Justin – bass
- John Garner – lead vocals, drums
- Eddie Kramer– engineer
- Kim King – engineer
Track listing:
- Master Heartache
- Hard Rain Fallin’
- Lady of Fire
- Lake Isle of Innersfree
- Pumped Up
- Kingdom Come
- I Got a Woman
- Hell Hound
- Helium Head (I Got a Love)
- Ain’t Got Hung on You
If: 2
In December 1970, “Island” label released “If 2”, the second If album. It was recorded in 1970, at “The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Lew Futterman.
Personnel:
- W. Hodkinson– lead vocals, percussion
- Dick Morrissey– tenor and soprano saxophone, flute
- Dave Quincy– tenor and alto saxophones, flute
- Terry Smith– guitar
- John Mealing– organ, backing vocals, electric piano
- Jim Richardson– bass
- Dennis Elliott– drums
- Frank Owen, Jon Child – engineer
Track listing:
- Your City Is Falling – Dave Quincy
- Sunday Sad – Dick Morrissey
- Tarmac T. Pirate and the Lonesome Nymphomaniac – John Mealing, Trevor Preston
- I Couldn’t Write and Tell You – Dave Quincy
- Shadows and Echoes – Margaret Busby, Lionel Grigson
- Song for Elsa, Three Days Before Her 25th Birthday – W. Hodkinson
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