Tag Archives: 1969

5th Dimension: Portrait

In April 1970, “Bell Records” label released “Portrait”, the fifth 5th Dimension album.  It was recorded August 1969-March 1970, at Wally Heider Studios in Hollywood, and was produced by Bones Howe. The album  cover features an impressionistic portrait by the artist LeRoy Neiman.

Personnel:

  • Billy Davis, Jr.- lead and backing vocals
  • Florence LaRue- lead and backing vocals
  • Marilyn McCoo- lead and backing vocals
  • Ron Townson- lead and backing vocals
  • Michael Anthony- electric guitar
  • Mike Deasy- electric guitar
  • Dennis Budimir – rhythm guitar
  • Tommy Tedesco- rhythm guitar
  • Fred Tackett- finger pickin’ guitar
  • Larry Knechtel- piano, organ, tack piano
  • Jimmy Rowles– piano
  • Gary Illingworth – electric piano
  • Joe Osborn- bass
  • Hal Blaine- drums, percussion
  • Larry Bunker- congas, mallets, percussion, drums
  • Gary Coleman – mallets, percussion
  • Bob Alcivar, Bill Hollman – arrangements
  • Bones Howe – arrangements, engineer
  • Elliot Federman – mastering
  • Joanne Feltman, Glenn Korman – archivist
  • Joel Whitburn – research
  • Larry Cox, Johnny Golden, Rik Pekkonen – assistants
  • Beverly Weinstein – art direction
  • Mathieu Bitton – design
  • Mike Ragogna – liner notes
  • Jeremy Holiday – production coordinator
  • Bones Howe, Ann McClelland, Tom Tierney, Russ Wapensky – production assistant
  • Mandana Eidgah – production manager
  • Arlessa Barnes, Glenn Delgado, Christina DeSimone, Karyn Friedland, Felicia Gearhart, Laura Gregory, Robin Manning, Brooke Nochomson, Ed Osborne, Larry Parra, Dana Renert, Bill Stafford, Steve Strauss – project coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Puppet Man – Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka
  2. One Less Bell to Answer – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  3. Feelin’ Alright – Dave Mason
  4. This Is Your Life – Jimmy Webb
  5. A Love Like Ours – Bob Alcivar, Lamonte McLemore
  6. Save the Country – Laura Nyro
  7. Medley
  • The Declaration – Julianne Johnson, René DeKnight
  • A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
  • People Gotta Be Free – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
  1. Dimension 5ive – Bob Alcivar

On the Beach (In the Summertime) – McNeil

James Brown: Soul on Top

In April 1970, “King” label released “Soul on Top”, the 32nd James Brown studio album. It was recorded November 1969, and was produced by James Brown.

Personnel:

  • James Brown- vocal
  • Oliver Nelson- arranger and conductor
  • Ernie Watts- alto saxophone
  • Joe Romano – alto saxophone
  • Maceo Parker- tenor saxophone
  • Buddy Collette- tenor saxophone
  • Pete Christlieb- tenor saxophone
  • Jim Mulidore – baritone saxophone
  • Al Aarons- trumpet
  • Chuck Findley- trumpet
  • John Audino – trumpet
  • Tom Porello – trumpet
  • Jimmy Cleveland- trombone
  • Nick DiMaio – trombone
  • Kenny Shroyer – trombone
  • Bill Tole – trombone
  • Frank Vincent – piano
  • Bill Pitman- guitar
  • Louis Shelton- guitar
  • Ray Brown- bass
  • Louis Bellson- drums, bandleader
  • Jack Arnold – percussion

Track listing:

  1. That’s My Desire – Helmy Kressa, Caroll Loveday
  2. Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams
  3. What Kind of Fool Am I – Leslie Bircusse, Anthony Newley
  4. It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World – James Brown, Betty Jean Newsome
  5. The Man in the Glass – Bud Hobgood
  6. It’s magic – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  7. September Song – Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill
  8. For Once in My Life – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
  9. Every Day I Have the Blues – Memphis Slim
  10. I Need Your Key (To Turn Me On) – Louie Bellson
  11. Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – James Brown

Colosseum: The Grass Is Greener

In April 1970, “Dunhill” label released “The Grass Is Greener” the third Colosseum, album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Tony Reeves and Gerry Bron. The album was released only in the United States.

Personnel:

  • Dave “Clem” Clempson – vocals, guitar
  • Dave Greenslade- vocals, organ, keyboards
  • Dick Heckstall-Smith- saxophone
  • Tony Reeves- bass
  • Jon Hiseman- drums
  • James Litherland – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Jumping Off the Sun – Mike Taylor, Dave Tomlin
  2. Lost Angeles – Dave Greenslade, Dick Heckstall-Smith
  3. Elegy – James Litherland
  4. Butty’s Blues – James Litherland
  5. Rope Ladder to the Moon – Pete Brown, Jack Bruce
  6. Bolero – Maurice Ravel
  7. The Machine Demands a Sacrifice – Pete Brown, Jon Hiseman, James Litherland
  8. The Grass Is Greener – Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman

 

Randy Newman: 12 Songs

In April 1970, “Reprise” label released “12 Songs”, the second Randy Newman studio album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • Randy Newman – vocals, piano
  • Clarence White– B-Bender electric guitar
  • Ron Elliott– rhythm guitar
  • Ry Cooder– slide guitar
  • Lyle Ritz– double bass
  • Gene Parsons– drums
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Roy Harte– percussion
  • Al McKibbon– double bass
  • Milt Holland– percussion
  • Douglas Botnick – engineer
  • Lee Herschberg – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Newman except where noted.

  1. Have You Seen My Baby?
  2. Let’s Burn Down the Cornfield
  3. Mama Told Me Not to Come
  4. Suzanne
  5. Lover’s Prayer
  6. Lucinda
  7. Underneath the Harlem Moon – Mack Gordon, Harry Revel
  8. Yellow Man
  9. Old Kentucky Home
  10. Rosemary
  11. If You Need Oil
  12. Uncle Bob’s Midnight Blues

The Flying Burrito Brothers: Burrito Deluxe

In March 1970, “A&M” label released “Burrito Deluxe”, the second Flying Burrito Brothers (the) studio album. It was recorded 1969-1970, and was produced by Jim Dickson and Henry Lewy.

Personnel:

  • Gram Parsons— vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Chris Hillman— vocals, bass, mandolin
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow— pedal steel guitar
  • Bernie Leadon— vocals, guitar, dobro
  • Michael Clarke— drums
  • Leon Russell— piano
  • Byron Berline— fiddle
  • Tommy Johnson— tuba
  • Buddy Childers— cornet, flugelhorn
  • Leopoldo C. Carbajal — accordion
  • Frank Blanco — percussion

Track listing:

  1. Lazy Days – Gram Parsons
  2. Image of Me – Harlan Howard, Wayne Kemp
  3. High Fashion Queen – Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons
  4. If You Gotta Go – Bob Dylan
  5. Man in the Fog – Bernie Leadon, Gram Parsons
  6. Father Along – J.R. Baxter, W.B. Stevens
  7. Older Guys – Chris Hillman, Bernie Leadon, Gram Parsons
  8. Cody Cody – Chris Hillman, Bernie Leadon, Gram Parsons
  9. God’s Own Singer – Bernie Leadon
  10. Down in the Churchyard – Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons
  11. Wild Horses – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards

Bee Gees: Cucumber Castle

In April 1970, “Polydor” label released “Cucumber Castle”, the seventh Bee Gees studio album. It was recorded May – October1969 at “IBC Studios” in London, and was produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robert Stigwood.

Personnel:

  • Barry Gibb– lead, harmony and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Maurice Gibb– lead, harmony and backing vocals, bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, Mellotron, drums
  • Vince Melouney– guitar
  • Colin Petersen– drums
  • Terry Cox– drums
  • P. Arnold– backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb, except where noted.

  1. If Only I Had My Mind on Something Else
  2. “O.I.O.
  3. Then You Left Me
  4. The Lord
  5. I Was the Child
  6. I Lay Down and Die
  7. Sweetheart
  8. Bury Me Down By the River
  9. My Thing
  10. The Chance of Love
  11. Turning Tide – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
  12. Don’t Forget to Remember

The Bob Seger System: Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man

In April 1969, “Capitol” label released “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man”, the first Bob Seger System (The) studio album. It w as recorded in 1968, and was produced by Punch Andrews, Bob Seger, Dan Honaker, Pep Perrine and Bob Schultz.

Personnel:

  • Bob Seger– lead vocals, guitar, piano, organ, linear notes
  • Glenn Frey– acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Bob Schultz – organ
  • Dan Honaker – bass, vocals
  • Pep Perrine – drums, vocals
  • Michael Erlewine – blues harp
  • Jim Bruzzese – engineer
  • Lockart – illustrations

Track listing:

All tracks by Bob Seger, except where noted.

  1. Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
  2. Tales of Lucy Blue
  3. Ivory
  4. Gone – Dan Honaker
  5. Down Gone
  6. Train Man
  7. White Wall
  8. Black Eyed Girl
  9. 2+2=?
  10. Doctor Fine
  11. The Last Song (Love Needs to Be Loved)

Townes Van Zandt: Our Mother the Mountain

In April 1969, “Tomato” label released “Our Mother the Mountain”, the second Townes Van Zandt studio album. It was recorded in January 1969 in Los Angele and Nashville, and was produced by Kevin Eggers, Jim Malloy and Jack Clement.

Personnel:

  • Townes Van Zandt: vocals, guitar
  • David Cohen: guitar
  • Jack Clement: guitar
  • Mike Deasy: guitar
  • James Burton: dobro, guitar
  • Don Randi: keyboards
  • Ben Bennay: harmonica
  • Charlie McCoy: bass, guitar, harmonica, organ, recorder
  • Chuck Domanico: bass
  • Lyle Ritz: bass
  • Harvey Newmark: bass
  • John Clauder: drums
  • Donald Frost: drums
  • Jules Jacob: flute
  • Bergen White: string arrangements
  • Milton Glaser – artwork
  • Allen Vogel – photography

Track listing:

  1. Be Here to Love Me
  2. Kathleen
  3. She Came and She Touched Me
  4. Like A Summer Thursday
  5. Our Mother The Mountain
  6. Second Lovers Song
  7. John The Gambler
  8. Tecumseh Valley
  9. Snake Mountain Blues
  10. My Proud Mountains
  11. Why She’s Acting This Way

Hugh McCracken

On March 28, 2013, Hugh C. McCracken died aged 70. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), arranger and producer, best known as session musician. McCracken  recorded with Graham Parker, Yoko Ono, Eric Carmen, Loudon Wainwright III, Lou Donaldson, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Four Seasons, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Hank Crawford, Jerry Jemmott, Dr. John, Gary Wright, Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B. King, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, The Monkees, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Idris Muhammad, James Taylor, Phoebe Snow, Bob Dylan, Linda McCartney, Ron Carter, Rusty Bryant, Marlena Shaw, Deodato, Carly Simon and Andy Gibb. From 1969-1972, McCracken was member of Mike Mainieri’s White Elephant Orchestra.

Gong: Magick Brother

In March 1970, “BYG Actuel” label released “Magick Brother”, the debut Gong studio album. It was recorded September- October 1969, at “Studio Eta” and “Studio Europa Sonor” in Paris, and was produced by Jean Georgakarakos and Jean-Luc Young.

Personnel:

  • Daevid Allen – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
  • Burton Greene– piano
  • Didier Malherbe– flute, soprano saxophone
  • Dieter Gewissler – bowed contrabass
  • Barre Phillips– contrabass
  • Earl Freeman – contrabass, piano
  • Rachid Houari – drums, percussion
  • Gilli Smyth– space whisper
  • Tasmin Smyth – voices

Track listing:

All tracks by Daevid Allen.

Early Morning side

  1. Mystic Sister
  2. Magick Brother
  3. Rational Anthem (Change the World)
  4. Glad To Sad To Say
  5. Chainstore Chant
  6. Pretty Miss Titty
  7. Fredfish / Hope You Feel OK

Late Night side

  1. Ego
  2. Gong Song
  3. Princess Dreaming
  4. 5 & 20 Schoolgirls
  5. Cos You Got Green Hair