On January 2, 2018, Roe Erister “Rick” Hall died aged 85. He was musician (guitar, mandolin) , music producer, songwriter, music publisher, best known as the owner and proprietor of “FAME Studios” in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He had recorded and promoted names like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Duane Allman, Etta James, Osmonds, Paul Anka and Tom Jones. In 1985, Hall was inducted into the “Alabama Music Hall of Fame”, received the “John Herbert Orr Pioneer Award”, and In 2014, he won the “Grammy Trustees Award”.
Count Basie and His Orchestra: The Atomic Mr. Basie
In January 1958, “Roulette” label released “The Atomic Mr. Basie”, album by Count Basie and his Orchestra. It was recorded on October 21 and 22, 1957, at “Capitol Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Teddy Reig. At the 1st “Annual Grammy Awards”, the album won “Best Jazz Performance, Group” and “Best Performance by a Dance Band” awards.
Personnel:
- Count Basie— piano
- Wendell Culley, Snooky Young, Thad Jones, Joe Newman— trumpet
- Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell— trombone
- Marshal Royal, Frank Wess, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Frank Foster, Charles Fowlkes— reeds
- Eddie Jones— bass
- Freddie Green— guitar
- Sonny Payne— drums
- Joe Williams— vocals
- Neal Hefti, Jimmy Mundy— arrangements
Track listing:
All tracks composed and arranged by Neal Hefti, except where noted.
- Kid from Red Bank – Count Basie, Neal Hefti
- Duet
- After Supper
- Flight of the Foo Birds
- Double-O
- Teddy the Toad
- Whirlybird
- Midnite Blue
- Splanky
- Fantail
- Lil’ Darlin’
Miles Davis: Ascenseur pour l’échafaud
In January 1958, “Fontana” label released “Ascenseur pour l’échafaud”, album by Miles Davis. It was recorded on December 4 and 5, 1957, at “Le Poste Parisien Studio” in Paris. The album features the musical cues for the 1958 Louis Malle film “Ascenseur pour l’échafaud”.
Personnel:
- Miles Davis– trumpet
- Barney Wilen– tenor saxophone
- René Urtreger– piano
- Pierre Michelot– bass
- Kenny Clarke– drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Miles Davis.
- Générique
- L’ Assassinat de Carala
- Sur L’Autoroute
- Julien Dans L’Ascenseur
- Florence Sur Les Champs Élysées
- Dîner au Motel
- Évasion De Julien
- Visite Du Vigile
- Au Bar du Petit Bac
- Chez Le Photographe Du Motel
Bob Weston
On January 3, 2012, Bob Weston died age 64. He was guitarist and songwriter, performed and recorded with Fleetwood Mac, Graham Bond, Long John Baldry, Murray Head, Sandy Denny and Danny Kirwan.
The Strokes: First Impressions of Earth
On December 30, 2005, “RCA” label released “First Impressions of Earth”, the third Strokes studio album. It was recorded January–May 2005 in Sestri Levante, and was produced by David Kahne and Gordon Raphael.
Personnel:
- Julian Casablancas- vocals, drums
- Albert Hammond, Jr.- guitar
- Nick Valensi- guitar, mellotron
- Nikolai Fraiture- bass guitar
- Fabrizio Moretti- drums, percussion
- David Kahne– engineer
- Andy Wallace- mixing
- Steve Sisco – mixing assistant
- Bob Ludwig, Howie Weinberg– mastering
- Piero Fornasetti – disc art work
- Lothar Quinte – cover art
- Günter Fruhtrunk – rear cover art
- James Bellesini – design (for Love Police)
- Dan Winters – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Julian Casablancas, except where noted.
- You Only Live Once
- Juicebox
- Heart in a Cage
- Razorblade
- On the Other Side
- Vision of Division
- Ask Me Anything – Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi
- Electricityscape
- Killing Lies – Julian Casablancas, Nikolai Fraiture
- Fear of Sleep
- 15 Minutes
- Ize of the World
- Evening Sun – Julian Casablancas, Fabrizio Moretti
- Red Light
Paul Revere & The Raiders: Just Like us
On January 3, 1966, “Columbia” label released “Just Like Us!” the fourth Paul Revere & the Raiders studio album. It was recorded in 1965, and was produced by Terry Melcher.
Personnel:
- Paul Revere – organ
- Mark Lindsay– vocals, saxophone
- Drake Levin– guitar
- Philip “Fang” Volk– bass
- Mike “Smitty” Smith – drums
Track listing:
- Steppin’ Out – Mark Lindsay, Paul Revere
- Doggone – Marvin Tarplin, Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore
- Out of Sight – Ted Wright
- Baby, Please Don’t Go – Big Joe Williams
- I Know – Barbara George
- Night Train – Jimmy Forrest, Lewis P. Simpkins, Oscar Washington
- Just Like Me – Richard Dey, Roger Hart
- Catch the Wind – Donovan Leitch
- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
- I’m Crying – Alan Price, Eric Burdon
- New Orleans – Frank Guida, Joseph Royster
- Action – Steve Venet, Tommy Boyce
Merle Haggard: Sing Me Back Home
On January 2, 1968, “Capitol” label released “Sing Me Back Home”, the fifth Merle Haggard studio album. It was recorded April, July, September, November 1967, at “Capitol Records” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ken Nelson.
Personnel:
- Merle Haggard – vocals, guitar
- Roy Nichols– guitar
- Glen Campbell– guitar
- Billy Mize– guitar
- Lewis Talley – guitar
- George French – piano
- Jerry Ward – bass
- Eddie Burns – drums
- Bonnie Owens– harmony vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Merle Haggard; except where noted.
- Sing Me Back Home
- Look Over Me
- Son of Hickory Holler’s Tramp – Dallas Frazier
- Wine Take Me Away – Tommy Collins, Merle Haggard
- If You See My Baby – Eddie Miller, Bob Morris
- Where Does the Good Times Go – Buck Owens
- I’ll Leave the Bottle on the Bar
- My Past Is Present – Merle Haggard, Wynn Stewart
- Home Is Where a Kid Grows Up – Merle Haggard, Wynn Stewart, Bob Wills
- Mom and Dad’s Waltz – Lefty Frizzell
- Good Times
- Seeing Eye Dog
Brian Eno: Reflection
On January 1, 2017, “Warp” label released “Reflection”, the twenty-sixth Brian Eno studio album. It was recorded in 2017, and was produced by Brian Eno.
Personnel:
- Brian Eno– performer, cover image, photography
- Peter Chilvers– mutation software
- Matt Colton– mastering
- Nick Robertson – layout, design
Track listing:
All tracks by Brian Eno.
- Reflection
Junoon: Inquilaab
On January 1, 1996, “EMI” label released “Inquilaab”, the third Junoon studio album. It was recorded 1994-1996 at “Aamir Hasan Studios” in Karachi, Pakistan, “Sound on Sound Studios”, “Pyramid Studios”, and was produced by Brian O’Connell, Salman Ahmad and Rohail Hyatt.
Personnel:
- Ali Azmat- vocals
- Salman Ahmad- lead guitar, backing vocals, art concept
- Brian O’Connell- bass guitar, backing vocals
- Malcolm Goveas – drums
- Ashiq Ali Mir – tablas, dholak
- Aamir Hasan – engineer, mixing
- Z. Rowdy, Ehtisham-ul-Haq – engineer assistant
- Tahir Gul Hassan – additional mixing
- Shehzad Hasan & Tabish – assistant
- Arif Mehmood – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Salman Ahmad and Sabir Zafar, except where noted.
- (Untitled) – Intro
- Mera Mahi
- Saeein
- Rooh Ki Pyas
- Husan Walo
- Iltija
- Khoeey Ankhein
- Chalay Thay Saath
- Mein Nay Kabhi
- Dosti – Kannan Rashid
- Mein Kaun Hoon
- National Anthem
- Jazba-e-Junoon
Journey: Look into the Future
On January 1, 1976, “Columbia” label released “Look into the Future”, the second Journey studio album. It was recorded August – October 1975, at “CBS Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Ross Valory, Aynsley Dunbar and Glen Kolotkin.
Personnel:
- Gregg Rolie– vocals, keyboards
- Neal Schon– guitar
- Ross Valory– bass guitar
- Aynsley Dunbar– drums
- Mark Friedman – engineer
- George Horn – mastering
- Albert Louis Bramy – design concept
- Rick Narin – design
Track listing:
- On a Saturday Nite – Gregg Rolie
- It’s All Too Much – George Harrison
- Anyway – Gregg Rolie
- She Makes Me (Feel Alright) – Alex Cash, Gregg Rolie
- You’re on Your Own – Gregg Rolie
- Look into the Future – Diane Valory, Gregg Rolie
- Midnight Dreamer – Gregg Rolie
- I’m Gonna Leave You – Gregg Rolie
