On December 29, 2012, Neil James Innes died aged 75, He was writer, comedian, songwriter and musician (vocals, guitar, banjo, piano), who had success working with Monty Pythons, The Rutles and The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Enrico Rava: Electric Five
On December 31, 1995, “Soul Note” label released “Electric Five”, the 17th Enrico Rava album. It was recorded in September 1994, at “MU REC Studio” in Milano, Italy and was produced by Giovanni Bonandrini.
Personnel:
- Enrico Rava- trumpet, flugelhorn
- Gianluigi Trovesi- alto saxophone, bass clarinet
- Domenico Caliri – electric andclassical guitar
- Roberto Cecchetto – electric guitar
- Giovanni Maier- bass
- T. Ghandi- drums
- Paolo Falascone – recording
- Gennaro Carone – mastering
- Maria Bonandrini – cover art
- Lydia Panizzut – design
- Luca D’Agostino – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Enrico Rava except where noted.
- Da Silva
- Fragile
- The Fearless Five
- Lavori Casalinghi
- Milestones – Miles Davis
- Overboard
- La Strada – Nino Rota
- Fefè
- Satie
- Lady Orlando
- Boplicity – Cleo Henry
Julius Hemphill: Five Chord Stud
In December 1993, “Black Saint” label released “Five Chord Stud”, the 14th Julius Hemphill album. It was recorded November 18 and 19, 1993, at “Sear Sound” in New York City and was produced by Julius Hemphill and Cynthia B, Herbst.
Personnel:
- Julius Hemphill- conductor, composer
- Tim Berne- alto saxophone
- Marty Ehrlich- soprano and alto saxophone
- Sam Furnace- soprano and alto saxophone
- James Carter- tenor saxophone
- Andrew White- tenor saxophone
- Fred Ho- baritone saxophone
- Bill Emmons – recording, engineer
- Jon Rosenberg – recording, mixing
- Gennaro Carone – mastering
- Jeff Schlanger – cover art, design
- Jurg Rehbein – photography
- Bill Shoemaker – liner notes
- Giovanni Bonandrini – executive producer
Track listing:
All tracks by Julius Hemphill
- Band Theme
- Critical
- Shorty
- Mirrors
- Five Chord Stud
- The Moat and the Bridge
- Georgia Blue
- Flush
- Spiritual Chairs
Fairport Convention: Red & Gold
In December 1988, “Rough Trade” label released “Red & Gold”, the 16th Fairport Convention studio album. It was recorded September to November 1988 at “Woodworm Studios” in Barford St. Michael, Oxfordshire, and was produced by Simon Nicol.
Personnel:
- Maartin Allcock– vocals, guitars, bouzouki, mandolin, accordion, keyboards
- Dave Pegg– vocals, acoustic and bass guitars
- Simon Nicol– vocals, guitars, dobro
- Ric Sanders– violin
- Dave Mattacks– drums, percussion, keyboards, harpsichord
- Tim Matyear – engineer
- Rob Braviner, Mark Tucker – engineering
- John Dent – mastering
- Mike Dolan – mixing
- David Gleeson, Spencer Richards – artwork
- Malcolm Holmes – booklet design
- Dawn Robertson, John Woodward – photography
Track listing:
- Set Me Up – Dave Whetstone
- The Noise Club – Maartin Allcock
- Red and Gold – Ralph McTell
- The Beggar’s Song – traditional,arranged by Maartin Allcock
- The Battle – Ric Sanders
- Dark Eyed Molly – Archie Fisher
- The Rose Hip – Ric Sanders
- London River – Rod Shearman
- Summer Before the War – Huw Williams
- Open the Door Richard – Bob Dylan
Roger Chapman: Hyenas Only Laugh for Fun
In December 1981, “Sanctuary” label released “Hyenas Only Laugh for Fun”, the third Roger Chapman and The Shortlist studio album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Jacob Studios” in Piano, Texas, and was produced by Terry Barham and Paul Smykle.
Personnel:
- Roger Chapman– vocals, harmonica
- Tim Hinkley– keyboards
- Geoff Whitehorn– guitars
- Steve Simpson – violin, mandolin, slide guitar
- Jerome Rimson – bass guitar
- John Wetton– bass guitar
- Leonard “Stretch” Stretching – drums
- Alan Coulter – drums
- Nick Pentelow – saxophones
- Poli Palmer– synthesisers, programming
- Raymond Burrell– editing blocks
- Duncan Kinnell – percussion
- Jill Mumford – sleeve design
Track listing:
All lyrics by Roger Chapman
- Prisoner– Roger Chapman, Tim Hinkley, Geoff Whitehorn
- Hyenas Only Laugh for Fun – Roger Chapman, Tim Hinkley, Geoff Whitehorn, Jerome Rimson
- Killing Time – Roger Chapman
- Wants Nothing Chained – Roger Chapman, Geoff Whitehorn
- The Long Goodbye – Roger Chapman
- Blood and Sand – Roger Chapman, Geoff Whitehorn
- Common Touch – Roger Chapman
- Goodbye Reprise – Roger Chapman
- Hearts On The Floor – Roger Chapman
- Step Up – Take A Bow – Roger Chapman, Geoff Whitney
- Jukebox Mama – Roger Chapman, Troy Seals
Focus: Focus con Proby
In December 1977, “EMI Records” label released “Focus con Proby”, the seventh Focus studio album. It was recorded in 1977, and was produced by Yde De Jong.
Personnel:
- J. Proby– vocals
- Philip Catherine– acoustic, lead and rhythm guitar
- Eef Albers – lead and rhythm guitar
- Thijs van Leer– Hammond organ, piano, electric piano, Mellotron, synthesizer, flute
- Bert Ruiter– bass guitar
- Steve Smith– drums
Track listing:
- Wingless – Roselie van Leer, Thijs van Leer
- Orion – Eef Albers
- Night Flight – Eef Albers
- Eddy – Roselie van Leer, Thijs van Leer
- Sneezing Bull – Philip Catherine
- Brother – Roselie van Leer, Thijs van Leer
- Tokyo Rose – Roselie van Leer
- Maximum – Bert Ruiter, Thijs van Leer
- How Long – Roselie van Leer, Thijs van Leer
Stevie Wonder: With A Song In My Heart
On December 28, 1963, “Tamla Motown” label released “With a Song In My Heart”, the third Stevie Wonder studio album. It was recorded in 1963, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and in Los Angeles, and was produced by Clarence Paul and William “Mickey” Stevenson.
Personnel:
- Stevie Wonder- vocals, harmonica
- Ernie Wilkins- arrangements, conductor
- Los Angelessession musicians – instrumentation
Track listing:
- With a Song in My Heart – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
- When You Wish Upon a Star – Ned Washington, Leigh Harline
- Smile – Charlie Chaplin, Geoffrey Parsons, John Turner
- Make Someone Happy – Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne
- Dream – Johnny Mercer
- Put on a Happy Face – Charles Strouse, Lee Adams
- On the Sunny Side of the Street – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
- Get Happy – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
- Give Your Heart a Chance – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden, Kenneth O’Neil
- Without a Song – Edward Eliscu, Billy Rose, Vincent Youmans
The Kingston Trio: Time To Think
In December 1963, “Capitol” label released “Time to Think”, the 17th Kingston Trio album. It was recorded in 1963 in San Francisco, and was produced by Voyle Gilmore.
Personnel:
- Bob Shane– vocals, guitar
- Nick Reynolds– vocals, tenor guitar
- John Stewart– vocals, banjo, guitar
- Dean Reilly – bass
- John Staubard – guitar
Track listing:
- Patriot Game – Dominic Behan
- Coal Tattoo – Billy Edd Wheeler
- Hobo’s Lullaby – Goebel Reeves
- Seasons in the Sun – Rod McKuen, Jacques Brel
- These Seven Men – John Stewart
- Ally Ally Oxen Free – Rod McKuen, Sammy Yates
- Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) – Woody Guthrie, Martin Hoffman
- No One to Talk My Troubles To – Dick Weissman
- If You Don t Look Around – John Stewart
- Turn Around – Harry Belafonte, Alan Greene, Nick Reynolds
- Song for a Friend – John Stewart
- Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream – Ed McCurdy
Anekdoten: Nucleus
In December 1995, “Virtalevy” label released “Nucleus”, the second Anekdoten studio album. It was recorded July – November 1995, and was produced by Tommy Andersson, Peter Nordins, Jan Erik Liljeström, Nicklas Berg and Anna Sofi Dahlberg.
Personnel:
- Nicklas Berg– vocals, guitar, hand organ, clavinet, mellotron, Fender Rhodes
- Tommy Andersson – Fender Rhodes
- Anna Sofi Dahlberg – vocals, cello, mellotron
- Jan Erik Liljeström – vocals, bass
- Peter Nordins – percussion
- Helena Källander – violin
Track listing:
- Nucleus
- Harvest
- Book of Hours a) Pendulum Swing / b) The Book
- Raft/Rubankh
- Here
- This Far from the Sky
- In Freedom
Don Pullen: Milano Strut
In December 1978, “Black Saint” label released “Milano Strut”, the eleventh Don Pullen album. It was recorded in December 1978, at “at Barigozzi Studio” in Milano, Italy, and was produced by Giacomo Pellicciotti.
Personnel:
- Don Pullen- piano, organ
- Don Moye- drums, percussion, congas, bells
Track listing:
All tracks by Don Pullen.
- Conversation
- Communication
- Milano Strut
- Curve Eleven (For Giuseppi)








