Tag Archives: 1968

13th Floor Elevators: Bull of the Woods

In March 1968, “International Artists” label released “Bull of the Woods”, the fourth and the last 13th Floor Elevators album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Ray Rush.

Personnel:

  • Roky Erickson– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Stacy Sutherland– vocals, lead guitar
  • Tommy Hall– electric jug
  • Ronnie Leatherman, Duke Davis – bass
  • Danny Thomas– drums, horn arrangements
  • Fred Carroll, Jim Duff, Hank Poole – engineer
  • Lloyd Sepulveda – cover

Track listing:

  1. Livin’ On – Stacy Sutherland, Tommy Hall
  2. Barnyard Blues – Stacy Sutherland
  3. Til Then – Stacy Sutherland, Tommy Hall
  4. Never Another – Roky Erickson, Tommy Hall
  5. Rose and the Thorn – Stacy Sutherland
  6. Down by the River – Stacy Sutherland
  7. Scarlet and Gold – Stacy Sutherland
  8. Street Song – Stacy Sutherland
  9. Doom – Stacy Sutherland, Tommy Hall
  10. With You – Ronnie Leatherman
  11. May the Circle Remain Unbroken – Roky Erickson

Ray Charles: A Portrait of Ray

In March 1968, “ABC / Tangerine” label released “A Portrait of Ray”, album by Ray Charles. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Joe Adams.

Personnel:

  • Ray Charles– vocals, keyboard, piano
  • Bryon Clark – engineer, remixing

Track listing:

  1. Never Say Naw – Percy Mayfield
  2. The Sun Died – Ray Charles, Ann Grégory, Hubert Giraud, Pierre Delanoë
  3. Am I Blue? – Harry Akst, Grant Clarke
  4. Yesterdays – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
  5. When I Stop Dreaming’ – Ira Louvin, Charlie Louvin
  6. I Won’t Leave – Lou Courtney, Luther Ingram, Robert Bateman
  7. A Sweet Young Thing Like You – Dee Ervin
  8. The Bright Lights and You Girl – Sayde Shepherd
  9. Understanding – Jimmy Holiday, Ray Charles
  10. Eleanor Rigby – John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Hugh Masekela

On January 23, 2018, Hugh Ramopolo Masekela died aged 78. He was musician (trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet), singer and composer, known as “Father of South African Jazz.” As leader Masekela released 49 albums, and received many awards, including:

  • 1968 – Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Pop Performance – instrumental
  • 2002 – BBC Radio Jazz Awards: International Award of the Year
  • 2005 – Channel O Music Video Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2007 – Ghana Music Awards: 2007 African Music Legend Award
  • 2010 – Order of Ikhamanga: South African National Orders Ceremony
  • 2014 – University of York Honorary Doctorate in Music
  • 2015 – Rhodes University: Doctor of Music

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bayou Country

On January 5, 1969, “Fantasy” label released “Bayou Country”, the second  Creedence Clearwater Revival studio album. It was recorded in 1968, at “RCA Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by John Fogerty.

Personnel:

  • John Fogerty– lead guitar, lead and background vocals, harmonica, percussion, arranger
  • Tom Fogerty– backing vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Stu Cook– bass guitar
  • Doug Clifford– drums
  • George Horn – remastering
  • Basul Parik – cover art
  • Hank McGill – engineer
  • Tamaki Beck – mastering supervisor
  • Kevin Gray, Steve Hoffman, Shigeo Miyamoto – mastering
  • Joel Selvin– liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by John Fogerty, except where noted.

  1. Born on the Bayou
  2. Bootleg
  3. Graveyard Train
  4. Good Golly, Miss Molly – Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco
  5. Penthouse Pauper
  6. Proud Mary
  7. Keep on Chooglin’

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.

  1. Sing Me Back Home
  2. Look Over Me
  3. Son of Hickory Holler’s Tramp – Dallas Frazier
  4. Wine Take Me Away – Tommy Collins, Merle Haggard
  5. If You See My Baby – Eddie Miller, Bob Morris
  6. Where Does the Good Times Go – Buck Owens
  7. I’ll Leave the Bottle on the Bar
  8. My Past Is Present – Merle Haggard, Wynn Stewart
  9. Home Is Where a Kid Grows Up – Merle Haggard, Wynn Stewart, Bob Wills
  10. Mom and Dad’s Waltz – Lefty Frizzell
  11. Good Times
  12. Seeing Eye Dog

Ray Collins

On December 24, 2012, Ray Collins died aged 76. He was musician (harmonica, tambourine) and singer, best known as member of The Mothers of Invention. Collins was the lead vocalist on most songs for their early albums, including “Freak Out!”, “Absolutely Free”, “Cruising with Ruben & the Jets” and “Uncle Meat”. In 1968 he quit The Mothers of Invention, but continued to contribute to other Frank Zappa projects in the 70s.

Brooklyn Bridge: Same

In November 1968, “Buddah” label released the self-titled, debut Brooklyn Bridge album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Wes Farrell.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Maestro – lead vocals
  • Richie Macioce – guitar
  • Carolyn Wood – organ
  • Jimmy Rosica – bass
  • Artie Cantanzarita – drums
  • Shelly Davis – piano
  • Joe Ruvio – saxophone
  • Shelly Davis – trumpet
  • Fred Ferrara, Les Cauchi, Mike Gregorio – vocals
  • Tom Sullivan – arrangements
  • Harry Yarmark – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Blessed Is the Rain
  2. Welcome Me Love
  3. Which Way to Nowhere
  4. Free as the Wind
  5. Glad She’s a Woman
  6. Space Odessey-2001 (Thus Spake Zarathustra)
  7. Requiem
  8. I’ve Been Lonely Too Long
  9. The Worst That Could Happen
  10. Piece of My Heart
  11. Your Kite, My Kite

Eric Burdon & the Animals: Love Is

In December 1968, “MGM” label released “Love Is”, the third Eric Burdon and The Animals album. It was recorded in October 1968, at “TTG” and “Sunset Sound Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Eric Burdon, Zoot Money, Andy Summers, John Weider and Barry Jenkins.

Personnel:

  • Eric Burdon— lead vocals, spoken word
  • Zoot Money — co-lead and backing vocals, spoken word, bass, organ, piano
  • Andy Summers— guitar, backing vocals
  • John Weider— guitar, violin, backing vocals
  • Barry Jenkins— drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Robert Wyatt- backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. River Deep, Mountain High – Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
  2. I’m an Animal – Sylvester Stewart
  3. I’m Dying (Or Am I?) – Eric Burdon
  4. Ring of Fire – June Carter, Merle Kilgore
  5. Colored Rain – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood
  6. To Love Somebody – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
  7. As the Years Go Passing By – Deadric Malone
  8. Gemini – Steve Hammond / Madman – Zoot Money, Andy Summers

Tom Rush: The Circle Game

In December 1968, “Elektra” label released “The Circle Game”, the sixth Tom Rush album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Arthur Gorson.

Personnel:

  • Tom Rush – vocals, guitar
  • Hugh McCracken, Don Thomas, Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Jonathan Raskin – acoustic guitar, bass
  • Bruce Langhorne– acoustic guitar
  • Paul Harris– keyboards
  • Joe Mack, Bob Bushnell– bass
  • Herb Lovelle, Bernard Purdie, Richie Ritz – drums
  • Joe Grimm – saxophone
  • Buddy Lucas– saxophone
  • Paul Harris– arrangements
  • Bruce Botnick, Brooks Arthur – engineer
  • Zal Schreiber – mastering
  • William S. Harvey – design
  • Linda Eastman (McCartney) – photography
  • Jac Holzman– production supervisor

Track listing:

  1. Tin Angel – Joni Mitchell
  2. Something in the Way She Moves – James Taylor
  3. Urge for Going – Joni Mitchell
  4. Sunshine, Sunshine – James Taylor
  5. The Glory of Love – Billy Hill
  6. Shadow Dream Song – Jackson Browne
  7. The Circle Game – Joni Mitchell
  8. So Long – Charlie Rich
  9. Rockport Sunday – Tom Rush
  10. No Regrets – Tom Rush

The Incredible String Band: Wee Tam and the Big Huge

In November 1968, “Elektra” label released “Wee Tam and the Big Huge”, the fourth  Incredible String Band (The) album. It was recorded April – August 1968, at “Sound Techniques” in London, and was produced by Joe Boyd.

Personnel:

  • Robin Williamson– lead vocals; guitar, bass guitar, guimbri, percussion,  sarangi, violin, harpsichord, piano, organ, kazoo, bass drum, whistle, harmonica,  drums
  • Mike Heron– lead vocals, guitar,  bass guitar, sitar, organ, harpsichord, washboard, percussion, harmonica
  • Rose Simpson– violin; percussion, backing vocals
  • Licorice McKechnie– percussion, Irish harp,  backing vocals

Track listing:

Wee Tam

  1. Job’s Tears Robin Williamson
  2. Puppies – Mike Heron
  3. Beyond the Sea – Mike Heron
  4. The Yellow Snake – Robin Williamson
  5. Log Cabin Home in the Sky – Mike Heron
  6. You Get Brighter – Mike Heron
  7. The Half-Remarkable Question – Robin Williamson
  8. Air – Mike Heron
  9. Ducks on a Pond – Robin Williamson

The Big Huge

  1. Maya – Robin Williamson
  2. Greatest Friend – Mike Heron
  3. The Son of Noah’s Brother – Robin Williamson
  4. Lordly Nightshade – Robin Williamson
  5. The Mountain of God – Robin Williamson
  6. Cousin Caterpillar – Mike Heron
  7. The Iron Stone – Robin Williamson
  8. Douglas Traherne Harding – Mike Heron
  9. The Circle Is Unbroken – traditional, arr. by Robin Williamson