Neil Diamond: Three Chord Opera

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On July 24, 2001, “Columbia” label released “Three Chord Opera”, the twenty-fifth Neil Diamond studio album. It was recorded 2000 – 2001, at “Arch Angel Studios” in Los Angeles, “Sony Pictures Studios” in Culver City, California, and was produced by Peter Asher and Alan Lindgren.

Personnel:

  • Neil Diamond – lead vocals
  • Hadley Hockensmith – acoustic and electric guitar, 12-string guitar
  • Doug Rhone – acoustic and electric guitar, tiple 
  • Michael Thompson – electric guitar
  • Jaydee Manes – pedal steel guitar
  • Alan Lindgren – piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, drums, percussion, programming, arrangements, conductor
  • Tom Hensley – piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Dominic Ordinaire – accordion
  • Reinie Press – bass
  • Chuck Domanico – bass
  • Ron Tutt – drums
  • Russ Kunkel – drums
  • Peter Asher – percussion, autoharp, backing vocals, programming
  • Vince Charles – percussion, tambourine, steel drums, congas, marimba
  • Everette Harp – tenor saxophone
  • Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone
  • Norbert Satchel – tenor saxophone
  • Larry Klimas – tenor saxophone
  • Don Markese – baritone saxophone, clarinet
  • Stephen “Doc” Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Daniel Fornero – trumpet
  • Ralf Rickert – trumpet
  • Greg Adams – trumpet, horn arrangements
  • Adolfo Acosta – trumpet
  • Michael Bogart – trumpet, trombone
  • Assa Drori – concertmaster, violin
  • Evan Wilson – violin
  • Shari Zippert – violin
  • Susie Katayama – cello
  • Linda Press – harmony vocals
  • Colin Mitchell – backing vocals
  • Wendy Worth – backing vocals
  • Alvin Chea – backing vocals
  • Craig Copeland – backing vocals
  • Randy Crenshaw – backing vocals
  • Robert Joyce – backing vocals
  • Luana Jackman – chorus master, vocal contractor
  • Marc Mann – backing vocals, programming, sequencing
  • Jeff Turzo – additional programming
  • Bernie Becker – recording, mixing, mastering
  • Colin Mitchell – recording assistant
  • Alan Mason – mixing assistant
  • Gabrielle Raumberger – art direction
  • Samantha Ahdoot – design
  • Rocky Schenck – photography
  • Ivy Skoff – production coordination
  • Sam Cole – album coordination

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Diamond.

  1. I Haven’t Played This Song in Years
  2. Don’t Look Down
  3. I Believe in Happy Endings
  4. At the Movies
  5. Midnight Dream
  6. You Are the Best Part of Me
  7. Baby Let’s Drive
  8. My Special Someone
  9. A Mission of Love
  10. Elijah’s Song
  11. Leave a Little Room for God
  12. Turn Down the Lights

The 3 Sounds: Bottoms Up

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In July 1959, “Blue Note” label released “Bottoms Up!”, the second 3 Sounds (The) studio album. It was recorded September 1958 – February 1959, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Gene Harris – piano, celeste
  • Andrew Simpkins – bass
  • Bill Dowdy – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording, mastering
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Bésame Mucho – Consuelo Velázquez
  2. Angel Eyes – Matt Dennis
  3. Time After Time – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  4. Love Walked In – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  5. I Could Write a Book – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  6. Jinne Lou – Gene Harris
  7. Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You – Marvin Fisher, Jack Sega
  8. Falling in Love with Love – Lorzenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

Abdul Kareem “Duke” Fakir 

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On July 22, 2024, Abdul Kareem “Duke” Fakir died aged 88. He was singer, a founding member of the quartet Four Tops. In 1990, as a member of the Four Tops, Fakir was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was inducted into the “Vocal Group Hall of Fame”, in 1999, in the “Grammy Hall of Fame”, in 1998, received the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”. 

Jerry Miller

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On July 20, 2024, Jerry Miller died aged 81. He was musician (guitar) and singer, member of the bands Jerry Miller Band, The Frantics and The Rhythm Dukes, but was best known as founding member of Moby Grape. Magazine “Rolling Stone” included Jerry Miller at number 68 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. As leader, Miller released three albums.

The Youngbloods: Ride The Wind

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In July 1971, “Warner Bros” label released “Ride the Wind”, the fifth Youngbloods (The) album. It was recorded in November 1969, in New York City, and was produced by Charlie Daniels.

Personnel:

  • Lowell “Banana” Levinger – guitar, piano
  • Jesse Colin Young – bass, rhythm guitar, kazoo
  • Drums – Joe Bauer
  • Richie Schmidt – recording
  • Paul Heald – design
  • Sydney Wasserbach – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Jesse Colin Young, except where noted.

  1. Ride the Wind
  2. Sugar Babe
  3. Sunlight
  4. The Dolphin – Fred Neil
  5. Get Together – Chet Powers, Dino Valenti
  6. Beautiful

Del Shannon: This Is My Bag

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In July 1966, “Liberty” label released “This Is My Bag”, the seventh Del Shannon studio album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Snuff Garrett.

Personnel:

  • Del Shannon – vocal
  • Leon Russell – arrangements
  • Nick De Caro – arrangements
  • Dave Hassinger – engineer 
  • Henry Lewy – engineer
  • Joe Sidore – lacquer cut
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Ivan Nagy – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. The Big Hurt – Wayne Shanklin
  2. Kicks – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
  3. For a Little While – Del Shannon
  4. Lightnin’ Strikes – Lou Christie, Twyla Herbert
  5. When You Walk in the Room – Jackie DeShannon
  6. The Cheater – John Krenski
  7. Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison, Bill Dees
  8. Everybody Loves a Clown – Snuff Garrett, Gary Lewis, Leon Russell
  9. Never Thought I Could – Del Shannon
  10. It’s Too Late – Bobby Goldsboro
  11. Hey! Little Star – Del Shannon
  12. Action – Tommy Boyce, Steve Venet

Guy Clark: My Favorite Picture Of You

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On July 23, 2013, “Dualtone” label released “My Favorite Picture of You” the fourteenth and final Guy Clark studio album. In 2014, “My Favorite Picture of You” won “Grammy Award” for “Best Folk Album”.

Personnel:

  • Guy Clark – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Shawn Camp – banjo, fiddle, acoustic and resonator guitar, mandolin, octave fiddle, backing vocals
  • Chris Latham – acoustic and resonator guitar, viola, violin, backing vocals
  • Verlon Thompson – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Noel McKay – nylon string guitar
  • Gordie Sampson – acoustic guitar
  • Bryn Davies – bass guitar, cello, backing vocals
  • Morgane Stapleton – backing vocals
  • Chris Latham – recording, mixing, mastering
  • Mark Richardson – lacquer cut
  • Gina R. Binkley – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Guy Clark.

  1. Cornmeal Waltz
  2. My Favorite Picture of You
  3. Gell Beny on a Heartache
  4. El Coyote
  5. Heroes
  6. Rain in Durango
  7. Good Advice
  8. The Death of Sis Draper
  9. Waltzing Fool
  10. The High Price of Inspiration
  11. I’ll Show Me

Ethan Iverson: Costumes Are Mandatory

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On July 23, 2013, “High Note” label released “Costumes Are Mandatory”, the sixth Ethan Iverson album. It was recorded in August 2012, at “Brooklyn Recording” in Brooklyn, New York, and was produced by Ethan Iverson.

Personnel:

  • Ethan Iverson – piano, liner notes
  • Lee Konitz – vocals, alto saxophone
  • Larry Grenadier – bass
  • Jorge Rossy – drums
  • Pete Rende – engineer
  • Kevin Blackler – mastering
  • Brad Wrolstad – design
  • Julie Worden – cover photography
  • John Rogers – personal photography’s 
  • Joe Fields – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Ethan Iverson, except where noted.

  1. Blueberry Ice Cream (Take 2)
  2. Try a Little Tenderness – Harry M. Woods, Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly
  3. It’s You (Tempo Complex) – Lee Konitz
  4. It’s You – Lee Konitz
  5. What’s New? – Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke
  6. 317 East 32nd – Lee Konitz
  7. Body and Soul – Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton
  8. Blueberry Hill – Vincent Rose, Larry Stock, Al Lewis
  9. A Distant Bell
  10. Bats
  11. Mr. Bumi
  12. My New Lovers All Seem So Tame
  13. My Old Flame – Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston
  14. Blueberry Ice Cream (Take 1)

Billy Squier: Emotions In Motion

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On July 23, 1982, “Capitol” label released “Emotions in Motion”, the third Billy Squier studio album. It was recorded in 1982, and was produced by Reinhold Mack and Billy Squier.

Personnel:

  • Billy Squier – lead vocals, guitars, mixing
  • Kevin Osborn – guitars
  • Jeff Golub – guitars
  • Alan St. Jon – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals
  • Doug Lubahn – bass, backing vocals
  • Bobby Chouinard – drums
  • Dino Solera – saxophones
  • Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor – backing vocals, “emotional” support
  • Gary Rindfuss – engineer
  • David Thoener – mixing
  • Jim Ball – mixing assistant
  • George Marino – mastering
  • Andy Warhol – artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Squier.

  1. Everybody Wants You
  2. Emotions in Motion
  3. Learn How to Live
  4. In Your Eyes
  5. Keep Me Satisfied
  6. It Keeps You Rockin’
  7. One Good Woman
  8. She’s a Runner
  9. Catch 22
  10. Listen to the Heartbeat

Firesign Theater: Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers

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On July 22, 1970, “Columbia” label released “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers”, the third Firesign Theatre album. It was recorded April – May 1970, and was produced by Bill Driml, Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Phil Proctor. In 1983, “The New Rolling Stone Record Guide” called it “The Greatest Comedy Album Ever Made”. In 2005, the “US Library of Congress” added the album to the “National Recording Registry” and called the Firesign Theatre “The Beatles of Comedy.”

Personnel:

  • Phil Austin
  • Peter Bergman
  • David Ossman
  • Phil Proctor
  • Anna-Lee Austin – spoken parts
  • Thaddeus Warrick and the Mindermast Mental Music Hall One-Man Sympathy Orchestra
  • The St. Louis Aquarium Choraleers (including Anna-Lee Austin, Jane Dansie, Tiny Ossman, Elisabeth Plumb, John Kinick, Cathleen O’Mara)
  • The Android Sisters
  • Robert Grossman – cover art
  • John Rose, Elisabeth Plumb – back cover photography
  • James William Guercio – co-production

Track listing:

All tracks by Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Phil Proctor

  1. This Side
  2. The Other Side

musicalphabet