On December 15, 1943, Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller died aged 39. He was musician (piano, organ, violin), singer, and a comedic entertainer, a pioneer in creating the sound of the modern jazz piano. As composer he copyrighted over 400 songs, some of them with his collaborator Andy Razaf. Waller’s compositions “Honeysuckle Rose” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’” were inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”, In 1970 he was inducted in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, in 1989 into the “Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame”, in 1993 he was posthumously awarded “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”, in 2005 he was inducted into the “Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame”, and in 2008 into the “Gennett Records Walk of Fame”.
Tag Archives: 1970
George Harrison
On November 29, 2001, George Harrison died aged 58. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, and music and movie producer, lead guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of The Beatles. His interest in folk music and especially in Indian music had serious influence on the band’s Hindu-aligned spirituality in the later years. Some of his songs composed for the band include “Here Comes the Sun”, “Something”, “Taxman”, “Within You Without You”, and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. After The Beatles broke-up in 1970, Harrison released the album “All Things Must Pass” which included the track “My Sweet Lord”, his most successful single, and the first solo single by any member of The Beatles that sold over million copies. In 1971, together with Ravi Shankar he organized “Concert for Bangladesh”, the first big benefit concert in the music history. In 1974, Harrison founded the music label “Dark Horse Records”, and co-founded movie label “Hand Made Films” in 1978. In 1988, with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison, he co-founded the supergroup The Travelling Wilburys. As a guitarist he recorded for Badfinger, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan, Duane Eddy, Randy Newman, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, and Tom Petty. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked Harrison at number 11 in their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 1988, as a member of The Beatles he was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2004, posthumously for his solo career. As leader, Harrison released twelve studio and two live albums.
Isaac Hayes: To Be Continued…
In November 1970, “Enterprise” label released “…To Be Continued” is, the fourth Isaac Hayes studio album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Isaac Hayes.
Personnel:
- Isaac Hayes – vocals, piano, electric piano, bongos, timpani, vibraphone, arranger
- The Bar-Kays – instrumentation
- Michael Toles – guitar
- Ronnie Gordon – keyboards
- James Alexander – bass guitar
- Cliff Acred – bass guitar
- Roy Cunningham – drums
- Willie Hall – drums
- Harvey Henderson – saxophone
- Ben Cauley – trumpet
- Hot Buttered Soul Unlimited – backing vocals
- Dale Warren – arrangements
- Pat Lewis – backing vocal arrangements
The Memphis Horns and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra: instrumentation
- Richard “Johnny” Davis – trumpet
- Ernie Bernhardt – trumpet
- John Davis – trumpet
- Jackie Thomas – trombone
- Bill Bell – trombone
- Edwin Hubbard – flute
- Jack Fonville – flute
- James Terry – flute
- Nick Vergos – English horn, oboe
- Joe De’Gerolamo – French horn
- D’Gerolamo – French horn
- Richard Dolph – French horn
- Robert Snyder – violin
- Ann Spurbeck – violin
- Ed Freudberg – violin
- Gloria Hendricks – violin
- Hal Saunders – violin
- John Wehlan – violin
- Joan Gilbert – violin
- Noel Gilbert – violin
- Nino Ravarino – viola
- Vincent de Frank – cello
- William Brown, Henry Bush, Ron Capone – engineer
- Joe Tarantino – mastering
- David Krieger – art direction
- Herb Kole – art supervisor
- Joel Brodsky – photography
Track listing:
- Ike’s Rap I – Isaac Hayes
- Our Day Will Come – Bob Hilliard, Mort Garson
- The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- Medley: Ike’s Mood/You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – Isaac Hayes, Phil Spector, Barry Man, Cynthia Weil
- Runnin’ out of Fools – Kay Rodgers, Richard Ahiert
Bee Gees: 2 Years On
In November 1970, “Polydor” label released “2 Years On”, the eighth Bee Gees studio album. It was recorded June – October 1970, at “BBC Studios” in London, and was produced by Robert Stigwood,
Personnel:
- Barry Gibb – lead, harmony and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- Robin Gibb – lead, harmony and backing vocals
- Maurice Gibb – lead, harmony and backing vocals, bass guitar, lead and rhythm guitars, piano
- Geoff Bridgford – drums
- Bill Shepherd – orchestral arrangement
- Gerry Shury – orchestral arrangement
- John Stewart – engineer
Track listing:
- 2 Years On – Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
- Portrait of Louise – Barry Gibb
- Man For All Seasons – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
- Sincere Relation – Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
- Back Home – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
- The 1st Mistake I Made – Barry Gibb
- Lonely Days – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
- Alone Again – Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
- Tell Me Why – Barry Gibb
- Lay It On Me – Maurice Gibb
- Every Second, Every Minute – Barry Gibb
- I’m Weeping – Robin Gibb
Yusef Lateef: Suite 16
On November 2, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “Suite 16”, the 28th Yusef Lateef album. It was recorded in April 1970, at “Regent Sound Studios”, in New York City, June 1970, at “Corner Studios” in Cologne, Germany and was produced by Joel Dom.
Personnel:
- Yusef Lateef – tenor saxophone, flute, bamboo flute, pneumatic bamboo flute, oboe, bells, tambourine
- Neal Boyar – vibraphone
- Barry Harris, Joe Zawinul – piano
- Eric Gale, Earl Klugh – guitar
- Chuck Rainey – electric bass
- Robert Cunningham – bass, electric bass
- Albert Heath, Jimmy Johnson – drums
- Selwart Clarke – viola
- Kermit Moore – cello
- Cologne Radio Orchestra conducted by William S. Fischer
- The Sweet Inspirations – backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Yusef Lateef except where noted.
- Buddy and Lou
- Down in Atlanta
- Nocturne
- When a Man Loves a Woman – Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright
- Michelle – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Symphonic Blues Suite: First Movement; Folia
- Symphonic Blues Suite: Second Movement; Minuet (Hybird, Atonal)
- Symphonic Blues Suite: Third Movement; Blues (Twelve Measure Form) Variation Interlude
- Symphonic Blues Suite: Fourth Movement; Passacaglia
- Symphonic Blues Suite: Fifth Movement; Chorale / Sixth Movement; Blues (Extended Form)
- Symphonic Blues Suite: Seventh Movement; Blues, Coda
Ornette Coleman: The Art of the Improvisers
On November 2, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “The Art of the Improvisers”, the ninth Ornette Coleman album. It was recorded May – October 1959, July 1960, January – March 1961, and was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun.
Personnel:
- Ornette Coleman — alto and tenor saxophone
- Don Cherry — pocket trumpet; cornet
- Charlie Haden — bass
- Scott LaFaro — bass
- Jimmy Garrison — bass
- Billy Higgins — drums
- Ed Blackwell — drums
All tracks by Ornette Coleman.
- The Circle with a Hole in the Middle
- Just for You
- The Fifth of Beethoven
- The Alchemy of Scott LaFaro
- Moon Inhabitants
- The Legends of Bebop
- Harlem’s Manhattan
Syd Barrett: Opel
On October 17, 1988, “Harvest” label released “Opel”, and album compiled from Syd Barrett’s recordings made between 1968 and 1970. It features unreleased material and alternate takes of recordings from sessions for Barrett’s solo albums, “The Madcap Laughs”, and “Barrett”. It was recorded at “Abbey Road Studios” in London and was produced by Syd Barrett, Peter Jenner, Malcolm Jones, Roger Waters, and David Gilmour.
Personnel:
- Syd Barrett – vocals, guitar
- Mike Ratledge – organ
- Hugh Hopper – bass
- Robert Wyatt – drums
- Gareth Cousins – mixing
Track listing”
All tracks by Syd Barrett, except where noted.
- Opel
- Clown and Jugglers
- Rats
- Golden Hair – lyrics based on a poem by James Joyce
- Dolly Rocker
- Word Song
- Wined and Dined
- Swan Lee (Silas Lang)
- Birdie Hop
- Let’s Split
- Lanky (Party One)
- Wouldn’t You Miss Me (Dark Globe)
- Milky Way
- Golden Hair (instrumental version)
Jefferson Starship: Jefferson’s Tree of Liberty
On September 2, 2008, “The Lab” label released “Jefferson’s Tree of Liberty”, the tenth Jefferson Starship album. It was recorded in October 1970 at “Wally Heider Studios”, in San Francisco, in 1998 at “Coast Recorders” in San Francisco, in March and May 2008 at “Renegade Studios” in San Rafael, California, and was produced by Michael Gaiman, David Freiberg, and Paul Kantner.
Personnel:
- Paul Kantner– vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, ‘George Harrison’ lead guitar, 12-string electric guitar, banjo, glass harmonica, mixing, liner notes
- David Freiberg– vocals, acoustic and washboard guitar, mixing, additional recording, liner notes
- Cathy Richardson– vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar
- Chris Smith – piano, bass, squeezebox, drone, pennywhistle, string synthesizer
- Slick Aguilar– tremolo and ‘Soldano’ electric guitar, lead guitar
- Prairie Prince– drums, snare, kick, bodhran
- Donny Baldwin– drums
- Darby Gould– vocals
- Diana Mangano – vocals
- Marty Balin– vocals, acoustic guitar
- David Grisman– mandolin
- Grace Slick– vocals
- David LaFlamme– violin
- Michael Gaiman – flat-picked acoustic guitar
- Michael Eisenstein – acoustic guitar
- Barry Sless– pedal steel guitar
- The Wailin’ Cowgirls (Cathy Richardson, Linda Imperial) – vocals
- Jack Casady– bass
- T Lavitz– keyboards
- The I-Jays (Paul Kantner, David Freiberg, Darby Gould) – vocals
- Alexander Kantner – electric bass guitar
- Paul Lamb – French horn
- Jack Traylor – vocals
- Michael Gaiman – mixing, art and booklet design, layout and direction, liner notes
- Paul Lamb – engineer, mixing
- Cathy Richardson – additional recording
- John Ovnik – additional recording
- Paul Stubblebine – mastering
- Rebecca Baltutis, Jesse Obstbaum – art and booklet design, layout and direction
- Mike Thut – photography
Track listing:
- Wasn’t That a Time – Lee Hays, William Lowenfels, additional lyrics by Paul Kantner
- Follow the Drinking Gourd – traditional
- Santy Anno – traditional, arranged by Paul Kantner
- Cowboy on the Run – Dino Valenti
- I Ain’t Marching Anymore – Phil Ochs, additional lyrics by Cathy Richardson
- Chimes of Freedom – Bob Dylan
- Genesis Hall – Richard Thompson
- Kisses Sweeter Than Wine – Paul Campbell, Huddie Ledbetter
- Royal Canal (The Auld Triangle) – Brendan Behan
- Rising of the Moon – K. Casey, Turlough O’Carolan
- Frenario – traditional
- In a Crisis – World Entertainment War
- Maybe for You (from Windows of Heaven) – Terry Terrell
- Commandante Carlos Fonseca – Carlos Mejia-Godoy, Tomás Borge
- Pastures of Plenty – Woody Guthrie
- Imagine Redemption (arrangement of Imagine and Redemption Song) – John Lennon, Bob Marley, idea by Michael Gaiman
- On the Threshold of Fire – Paul Kantner
- The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood – traditional, words by Richard Fariña
- Surprise Surprise (hidden track) – Jack Traylor, Grace Slick, Paul Kantner
Robert Moog
On August 21, 2005, Robert Arthur Moog died aged 71. He was an engineer and pioneer of electronic music, founder of “Moog Music”. In 1964, he promoted “Moog synthesizer”, the first commercial synthesizer. In 1970, he invented the “Minimoog”, portable model, regarded as the most famous and influential synthesizer in history.
Wayene Shorter: Moto Gross Feio
In August 1974, “Blue Note” label released “Moto Gross Feio”, the thirteenth Wayne Shorter album. It was recorded April – August 1970, at “A & R Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Duke Pearson.
Personnel:
- Wayne Shorter— soprano and tenor saxophone
- John McLaughlin— 12 string guitar
- Chick Corea— marimba, drums, percussion
- Ron Carter— bass, cello
- Dave Holland— acoustic guitar, bass
- Miroslav Vitouš— bass
- Michelin Prell (Micheline Pelzer) — drums, percussion
Track listing:
All tracks by Wayne Shorter except where noted.
- Moto Grosso Feio
- Montezuma
- Antigua
- Vera Cruz – Milton Nascimento
- Iska
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