On May 17, 1996, John Watson Jr. aka Johnny “Guitar” Watson died aged 61. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, known as the pioneer of guitar feedback and reverb. His recording career spanned forty years, with biggest success in his funk era, with the albums “Ain’t That a Bitch” (1976), “A Real Mother for Ya” (1977), and “Funk Beyond the Call of Duty” (1977). Watson died of a heart attack while on tour in Yokohama, Japan, collapsing mid guitar solo.
System Of A Down: Mezmerize
On May 17, 2005, “Columbia” label released “Mezmerize”, the fourth System of a Down studio album. It was recorded June – November 2004, at “The Manson” and “Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Daron Malakian and Rick Rubin.
Personnel:
- Serj Tankian– vocals, keyboards, guitars, graphic design, string arrangement
- Daron Malakian– vocals, guitars, graphic design
- Shavo Odadjian– bass, backing vocals, graphic design
- John Dolmayan– drums, percussion, graphic design
- Marc Mann– string arrangements
- David Schiffman – engineer
- Phillip Broussard – engineer assistant
- John O’Mahony – Pro Tools engineer
- Jason Lader, Dana Neilsen – editing
- Andy Wallace– mixing
- Steve Sisco, Joe Peluso – mixing assistant
- Vartan Malakian – artwork
- Brandy Flower – design
Track listing:
All tracks by Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, except where noted.
- Soldier Side – intro
- Y.O.N. (Bring Your Own Bombs)
- Revenga
- Cigaro
- Radio / Video – Daron Malakian
- This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I’m on This Song
- Violent Pornography – Daron Malakian
- Question! – Serj Tankian
- Sad Statue
- Old School Hollywood – Serj Tankian
- Lost in Hollywood
Ash: Meltdown
On May 17, 2004, “Infectious Records” label released “Meltdown”, the fourth Ash studio album. It was recorded December 2003 – January 2004, and was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, Tim Wheeler, Rick McMurray, Charlotte Hatherley and Mark Hamilton.
Personnel:
- Tim Wheeler– vocals, guitar
- Charlotte Hatherley– guitar, piano, backing vocals
- Mark Hamilton – bass, design
- Rick McMurray – drums
- Oli Kraus – cello
- Mike Terry- engineer
- Miles Wilson, Kevin Szymanski – engineer assistant
- Rich Costey- mixing
- Claudius Mittendorfer – mixing assistant
- Howie Weinberg- mastering
- Jon @ Drum Fettish – drum technician
- Bobby Schneck – session guitar technician
- Rori Keating – illustrations
- Jim Fitzpatrick- ‘Orpheus’ illustration
- Jt LeRoy – liner notes
- Craig Gentle – design
- Matt Sharp, Adrian Boot – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Tim Wheeler except where noted.
- Meltdown – Charlotte Hatherley, Tim Wheeler
- Orpheus
- Evil Eye
- Clones
- Starcrossed
- Out of the Blue – Mark Hamilton, Tim Wheeler
- Renegade Cavalcade
- Detonator
- On a Wave
- Won’t Be Saved
- Vampire Love
Moby: Play
On May 17, 1999, “Mute” and “V2” labels released “Play”, the fifth Moby studio album. It was recorded 1998 – 1999, at Moby’s home studio in Manhattan, New York, and was produced by Moby. The album was certified 4 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, 2 x Platinum in Belgium by “BEA”, 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”, Diamond in France by “SNEP”, 7 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, Platinum in Sweden by “GLF”, 6 x Platinum in UK by “BPI” and 2 x Platinum in US by “RIAA”.
Personnel:
- Moby – vocals, various instruments, engineer, mixing
- Pilar Basso, Nikki D, Reggie Matthews, The Shining Light Gospel Choir – additional vocals
- I Monster, Mario Caldato Jr.– mixing
- Graeme Durham – mastering
- Ysabel Zu Innhausen Und Knyphausen – artwork, design
- Corinne Day – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Moby, except where noted.
- Honey – Moby, Bessie Jones, Alan Lomax
- Find My Baby – Moby, Willie Jones
- Porcelain
- Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
- South Side
- Rushing
- Bodyrock – Moby, Gabriel Jackson
- Natural Blues – Moby, Vera Hall, Alan Lomax
- Machete
- 7
- Run On
- Down Slow
- If Things Were Perfect
- Everloving
- Inside
- Guitar Flute & String
- The Sky Is Broken
- My Weakness
The Hellacopters: Grande Rock
On May 1999, “White Jazz Records” label released “Grande Rock”, the third Hellacopters (The) album. It was recorded in 1999, and was produced by Nicke Andersson, Kenny Håkansson, Anders Lindstrom and Robert Eriksson.
Personnel:
- Nicke Andersson– vocals guitars
- Anders Lindström– guitar, piano
- Kenny Håkansson– bass guitar
- Robert Eriksson– drums
- Matt McHellburger– vocals, harp
- Pike McWalleye – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Zquaty – percussion
- Odd De Cologne – voice
- Anders Lind – recording
- Stefan Boman – mixing, editing
- Åsa Winzell – mastering
- Ray Hill – pinstriping
- Lance Hammond – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Nicke Andersson, Kenny Håkansson, Anders Lindstrom and Robert Eriksson.
- Action De Grâce
- Alright Already Now
- Move Right out of Here
- Welcome to Hell
- The Electric Index Eel
- Paul Stanley
- The Devil Stole the Beat from the Lord
- Dogday Mornings
- Venus in Force
- 5 vs. 7
- Lonely
- Renvoyer
Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi: Rome
On May 16, 2011, “Parlophone / EMI / Lex / Third Man” labels released “Rome”, album by Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi. It was recorded in 2006 – 2011, at “Forum Studios”, and was produced by Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi.
Personnel:
- Danger Mouse – arrangements, mixing
- Luciano Ciccaglioni – acoustic and electric guitars
- Antonello Vannucchi – celesta, harpsichord, organ, piano
- Dario Rosciglione – upright and electric bass
- Daniele Luppi – arrangements, mixing, orchestra, choir conductor
- Gegè Munari – drums, percussion
- Roberto Podio – percussion
- Gilda Buttà– celesta, harpsichord
- Cantori Moderni – choir
- Edda Dell’Orso- soprano vocals
- Jack White, Norah Jones– vocals
- Fabio Patrignani – engineer, mixing
Track listing:
All tracks by Daniele Luppi and Brian Burton.
- Theme of Rome
- The Rose with the Broken Neck – lyrics by Jack White
- Morning Fog (interlude)
- Seasons Trees – lyrics by B. Burton
- Her Hollow Ways (interlude)
- Roman Blue
- Two Against One – lyrics by Jack White
- The Gambling Priest
- The World (interlude)
- Black – B. Burton
- The Matador Has Fallen
- Morning Fog
- Problem Queen – lyrics by B. Burton
- Her Hollow Ways
- The World – lyrics by Jack White
The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing
On May 16, 2008, “Columbia” label released “We Started Nothing”, the debut The Ting Tings studio album. It was recorded 2007 – 2008, at Salford, Greater Manchester, and was produced by Jules De Martino.
Personnel:
- Katie White– vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Jules De Martino– vocals, drums, guitar, bass, keyboards
- Dave Sardy– mixing
- Matt Irwin, Denis Kleiman – band photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Jules De Martino and Katie White.
- Great DJ
- That’s Not My Name
- Fruit Machine
- Traffic Light
- Shut Up and Let Me Go
- Keep Your Head
- Be the One
- We Walk
- Impacilla Carpisung
- We Started Nothing
Maxïmo Park: A Certain Trigger
On May 16, 2005, “Warp Records” label released “A Certain Trigger”, the debut Maxïmo Park studio album. It was recorded in 2004, at “Eastcote Studios” and “2khz Studios” in London, and was produced by Paul Epworth.
Personnel:
- Paul Smith – vocals
- Duncan Lloyd– guitar
- Lukas Wooller– keyboards
- Tom English – drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Duncan Lloyd and Paul Smith, except where noted.
- Signal and Sign
- Apply Some Pressure
- Graffiti
- Postcard of a Painting
- Going Missing
- I Want You to Stay – Lukas Wooller, Paul Smith
- Limassol – Archis Tiku, Paul Smith
- The Coast Is Always Changing
- The Night I Lost My Head – Paul Smith
- Once, a Glimpse
- Now I’m All Over the Shop
- Acrobat – Lukas Wooller, Paul Smith
- Kiss You Better – Paul Smith
Beach House: Bloom
On May 15, 2012, “Sub Pop” label released “Bloom”, the fourth Beach House studio album. It was recorded in 2011, at “Sonic Ranch” in Texas, “Magpie Cage” in Baltimore, and was produced by Chris Coady, Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally.
Personnel:
- Victoria Legrand– vocals, keyboards, organ, piano
- Alex Scally– guitar, basses, piano, organ, keyboards, backing vocals, drum machine edits, programming
- Daniel Franz – live drums, percussion
- Joe Cueto – viola
- Chris Coady– engineer, mixing
- Brooks Harlan – engineer
- Manuel Calderon– engineer assistant
- Phil Joly – engineer assistant
- Joe LaPorta– mastering
- Brian Roettinger – design
Track listing:
All lyrics by Victoria Legrand; all music by Alex Scally, Victoria Legrand and Daniel Franz.
- Myth
- Wild
- Lazuli
- Other People
- The Hours
- Troublemaker
- New Year
- Wishes
- On the Sea
- Irene – includes the hidden track “Wherever You Go”
Pink Martini: Hey Eugene!
On May 15, 2007, “Heinz Records” label released “Hey Eugene!”, the third Pink Martini album. It was recorded December 2005 – December 2006, and was produced by Thomas Lauderdale, China Forbes and Phil Baker. The album was certified Platinum in France by UPFI.
Personnel:
- China Forbes – vocals
- Dan Faehnle – guitar
- Phil Baker – guitar, upright bass
- Thomas Lauderdale – piano
- Timothy Nishimoto – vocals, percussion
- Brian Davis, Derek Rieth – congas, percussion
- Martin Zarzar – cavaquinho, drums, percussion
- Gavin Bondy – trumpet
- Robert Taylor – trombone, trumpet
- Nicholas Crosa, Paloma Griffin – violin
- Pansy Chang, Brant Taylor – cello
- Maureen Love – harp
Track listing:
- Everywhere – China Forbes, Thomas Lauderdale
- Tempo Perdido – Ataulfo Alves
- Mar Desconocido – Martin Zarzar, includes an excerpt of “Waltz in C#-minor” by Frédéric Chopin
- Taya Tan – Taku Izumi, Michio Yamagami
- City of Night – China Forbes, Thomas Lauderdale
- Ojalá – Thomas Lauderdale, Luisa Quiñoy, Timothy Nishimoto, Daniel Lemay, China Forbes
- Bukra Wba’do – Mounir Mourad, Fatehi Qorah
- Cante e Dance – Phil baker
- Hey Eugene – China Forbes
- Syracuse – Henri Salvador, Bernard Dimey
- Dosvedanya Mio Bombino – China Forbes, Maya Forbes,
includes an excerpt of “The Happy Wanderer” by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller - Tea for Two – Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar
