Tag Archives: 1970

Billy Preston: Encouraging Words

On September 11, 1970, “Apple” label released “Encouraging Words”, the fifth Billy Preston studio album. It was recorded February – December 1969 – April 1970, at “trident Studios” and “Olympic Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by George Harrison and Billy Preston.

Personnel:

  • Billy Preston – lead and backing vocals, organ, piano, electric piano, harmonica, backing vocals
  • George Harrison – electric guitar, Moog synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Eric Clapton – electric guitar
  • Delaney Bramlett – electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Klaus Voormann – bass guitar
  • Carl Radle – bass guitar
  • Jim Gordon – drums
  • Ringo Starr – drums
  • Bobby Keys – saxophones
  • Jim Price – trumpet, trombone, horn arrangements
  • The Edwin Hawkins Singers – backing vocals
  • Members of the Temptations’ tour band – electric guitar, bass guitar, drums
  • Members of Sam & Dave’s tour band – bass guitar, drums
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:                                                                                                            

All tracks by Billy Preston, except where noted.

  1. Right Now
  2. Little Girl
  3. Use What You Got
  4. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
  5. Let the Music Play – Billy Preston, Joe Greene, Jesse Kirkland
  6. The Same Thing Again – Billy Preston, James Herndon
  7. I’ve Got a Feeling – John Lennon and Paul McCartney
  8. Sing One for the Lord – George Harrison, Billy Preston
  9. When You Are Mine
  10. I Don’t Want You to Pretend
  11. Encouraging Words
  12. All Things Must Pass – George Harrison
  13. You’ve Been Acting Strange – Ronnie Lee Williams

Martha Reeves And The Vandellas: Natural Resources

On September 8, 1970, “Gordy” label released “Natural Resources”, the seventh Martha Reeves and the Vandellas album. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, and was produced by Henry Cosby and Clarence Paul.

Personnel:

  • Martha Reeves – lead and backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • Lois Reeves – backing vocals
  • Sandra Tilley – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
  • Nickolas Ashford – backing vocals
  • David Van De Pitte – arrangements
  • Henry Cosby – arrangements
  • Paul Riser – arrangements
  • Robert White – arrangements
  • Wade Marcus – arrangements
  • Curtis McNair – art direction, design
  • Jim Hendin – photography
  • Tom Schlesinger – graphic supervision

Track listing:

  1. Something – George Jarrison
  2. Easily Persuaded – Dick Cooper, Clarence Paul, Ernie Shelby, Morris Broadnax
  3. Didn’t We – Jimmy Webb
  4. I’m in Love – Ernie Shelby
  5. Love, Guess Who – Clarence Paul, Ermie Shelby
  6. Everybody’s Talking – Fred Neil
  7. Put a Little Love in Your Heart – Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers
  8. The Hurt Is Over (Since I Found You) – Duke Browner
  9. Take a Look – Clyde Otis
  10. Won’t It Be So Wonderful – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  11. I Should Be Proud – Henry Cosby, Joe Hinton, Pam Sawyer
  12. People Got to Be Free – Felix Cavaliere, Ed Brigati

Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen

In August 1970, “A&M” label released “Mad Dogs & Englishmen”, the third Joe Cocker album. It was recorded in March 1970, at “Filmore East” in New York City, and was produced by Denny Cordell and Leon Russell. In 2021, “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.

Personnel:

  • Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge, Donna Weiss, Donna Washburn, Claudia Lennear, Denny Cordell, Daniel Moore, Pamela Polland, Matthew Moore, Nicole Barclay, Bobby Jones – vocals
  • Leon Russell – vocals, lead guitar, piano, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Don Preston – vocals, guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Stainton – organ, piano
  • Carl Radle – bass guitar
  • Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Chuck Blackwell – drums
  • Chuck Blackwell, Sandy Konikoff, Bobby Torres – percussion
  • Jim Horn, Bobby Keys – saxophone
  • Jim Price – trumpet
  • Chris Stainton – arrangements
  • Edwin Kramer – engineer
  • Craig Braun – design concept
  • Ron Wolin – illustration
  • Tom Wilkes – design
  • Jim McCrary – cover photography
  • Cosmina Andee Cohen, Linda Wolf – tour photographer

Track listing:

  1. Introduction
  2. Honky Tonk Women – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  3. Introduction
  4. Sticks and Stones – Titus Turner, Henry Glover
  5. Cry Me a River – Arthur Hamilton
  6. Bird on the Wire – Leonard Cohen
  7. Feelin’ Alright – Dave Mason
  8. Superstar – Leon Russell, Delaney Bramlett
  9. Introduction
  10. Let’s Go Get Stoned – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Josephine Armstead
  11. Blue Medley
  12. Till Drown in My Own Tears – Henry Glover
  13. When Something Is Wrong with My Baby – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
  14. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Otis Redding, Jerry Butler
  15. Introduction
  16. Girl from the North Country – Bob Dylan
  17. Give Peace a Chance – Leon Russell, Bonnie Bramlett
  18. Introduction
  19. She Came in Through the Bathroom Window – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  20. Space Captain – Matthew Moore
  21. The Letter – Wayne Carson Thompson
  22. Delta Lady – Leon Russel

Freda Payne: Band Of Gold

In August 1970, “Invictus” label released “Band of Gold”, the third Freda Payne studio album. It was recorded in 1970, at “HDH Sound Studios” (Holland-Dozier-Holland Sound Studios, Inc.) in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by William Weatherspoon.

Personnel:

  • Freda Payne – vocal
  • Lawrence Horn – recording
  • Bob Dennis – mastering
  • Bob Wortham – cover photography
  • William Weatherspoon – production supervision

Track listing:

  1. Band of Gold – Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne
  2. I Left Some Dreams Back There – Norma Toney, Ron Dunbar
  3. Deeper and Deeper – Norma Toney, Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne
  4. Rock Me in the Cradle – Ron Dunbar, General Johnson, Gregg Perry
  5. Unhooked Generation – Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne
  6. Love on Borrowed Time – William Weatherspoon
  7. Through the Memory of My Mind – William Weatherspoon
  8. This Girl Is a Woman Now – Alan Bernstein, Vic Millrose
  9. The World Don’t Owe You a Thing – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier
  10. Nos Is the Time to Say Goodbye – Scherrie Payne
  11. Happy Heart – Wayne P. Walker
  12. The Easiest Way to Fall – Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne, Scheerie Lavette

Cannonball Adderley: Cannonball Adderley Quintet & Orchestra

In August 1970, “Capitol” label released “The Cannonball Adderley Quintet & Orchestra”, the 46th Cannonball Adderley album. It was recorded in June 1970, in Los Angeles, and was produced by David Axelrod.

Personnel:

  • Cannonball Adderley – alto saxophone
  • Nat Adderley – cornet
  • Joe Zawinul – piano, electric piano
  • Walter Booker – bass
  • Roy McCurdy – drums
  • William S. Fischer – conductor
  • Lalo Schifrin – conductor
  • Unidentified orchestra

Track listing:

  1. Experience in E – Joe Zawinul, William Fischer
  2. Tensity – David Axelrod
  3. Dialogues for Jazz Quintet and Orchestra – Lalo Schifrin

Roberta Flack: Chapter Two

On August 12, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “Chapter Two”, the second Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded December 1969 – March 1970, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn and King Curtis.

Personnel:

  • Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Donny Hathaway – piano, backing vocals. arrangements
  • Marshall Hawkins, Terry Plumeri, Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
  • Ray Lucas, Bernard Sweetney – drums
  • Warren Smith – percussion
  • Chauncey Welsch, Ernie Royal, Frank Wess, Garnett Brown, George Marge, John Frosk, John Glasel, Trevor Lawrence – horns
  • Hubert Laws, Joe Gentle – alto and bass flute
  • Corky Hale – harp
  • John Swallow – euphonium
  • Alfred Brown, Arnold Black, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, Kermit Moore, Leo Kahn, Lewis Eley, Max Kahn, Max Pollikoff, Noel Dacosta, Peter Buonconsiglio, Peter Dimitriades, Raoul Poliakin, Sanford Allen, Selwart Clarke, Seymour Myroff, Tosha Samaroff – strings
  • Eumir Deodato – conductor, horn and string arrangements
  • Joel Dorn – arrangements
  • King Curtis – arrangements, backing vocals
  • Gene McDaniels – backing vocals
  • Lew Hahn – recording, remix
  • Ira Friedlander – design
  • Jack Robinson – photography

Track listing:

  1. Reverend Lee – Gene McDaniels
  2. Do What You Gotta Do – Jimmy Webb
  3. Just Like a Woman – Bob Dylan
  4. Let It Be Me – Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
  5. Gone Away – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, Curtis Mayfield
  6. Until It’s Time for You to Go – Buffy Sainte-Marie
  7. The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh
  8. Business Goes on as Usual – Fred Hellerman, Fran Minkoff

Merle Haggard And The Strangers: Someday We’ll Look Back

On August 9, 1971, “Capitol” label released “Someday We’ll Look Back”, the 15th  Merle Haggard and The Strangers album. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, at “Capitol” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ken Nelson.

Personnel:

  • Merle Haggard– vocals, guitar

The Strangers:

  • Roy Nichols – lead guitar
  • Norman Hamlet – steel guitar, dobro
  • Bobby Wayne – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Dennis Hromek – bass, backing vocals
  • Biff Adam – drums
  • James Burton – guitar, dobro
  • Glen Campbell – guitar, backing vocals
  • Glen D. Hardin – piano
  • Hargus “Pig” Robbins – piano
  • Willard Price – bass
  • Leon Copeland – bass
  • Chuck Berghofer – bass
  • Tommy Ash – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Merle Haggard, except where noted.

  1. Someday We’ll Look Back
  2. Train of Life – Roger Miller
  3. One Sweet Hello
  4. One Row at a Time – Red Lane, Dottie West
  5. Big Time Annie’s Square
  6. I’d Rather Be Gone
  7. California Cottonfields – Dallas Frazier, Earl Montgo
  8. Carolyn – Tommy Collins
  9. Tulare Dust
  10. Huntsville – Merle Haggard, Red Simpson
  11. The Only Trouble with Me

Firesign Theater: Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers

On July 22, 1970, “Columbia” label released “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers”, the third Firesign Theatre album. It was recorded April – May 1970, and was produced by Bill Driml, Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Phil Proctor. In 1983, “The New Rolling Stone Record Guide” called it “The Greatest Comedy Album Ever Made”. In 2005, the “US Library of Congress” added the album to the “National Recording Registry” and called the Firesign Theatre “The Beatles of Comedy.”

Personnel:

  • Phil Austin
  • Peter Bergman
  • David Ossman
  • Phil Proctor
  • Anna-Lee Austin – spoken parts
  • Thaddeus Warrick and the Mindermast Mental Music Hall One-Man Sympathy Orchestra
  • The St. Louis Aquarium Choraleers (including Anna-Lee Austin, Jane Dansie, Tiny Ossman, Elisabeth Plumb, John Kinick, Cathleen O’Mara)
  • The Android Sisters
  • Robert Grossman – cover art
  • John Rose, Elisabeth Plumb – back cover photography
  • James William Guercio – co-production

Track listing:

All tracks by Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Phil Proctor

  1. This Side
  2. The Other Side

The Doors: Absolutely Live

On July 20, 1970, “Elektra” label released “Absolutely Live”, the sixth Doors (The) album. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, in several cities in the U.S. and was produced by Paul A. Rothchild.

Personnel:

  • Jim Morrison – lead vocals
  • Robby Krieger – guitar
  • Ray Manzarek – lead and backing vocal, organ, keyboard bass
  • John Densmore – drums
  • Bruce Botnick – engineer
  • Vince Treanor – technician
  • Frank Lisciandro – cover photography
  • Ed Caraeff – inside photography

Track listing:

  1. Who Do You Love? – Ellas McDaniel
  2. Medley:
  3. Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) – Kurt Weill, Bertol Brecht
  4. Back Door Man – Willie Dixon
  5. Love Hides – Jim Morrison
  6. Five to One – Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger
  7. Build Me a Woman – Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger
  8. When the Music’s Over – Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger
  9. Close to You – Willie Dixon
  10. Universal Mind – Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger
  11. Break on Thru, #2 – Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger
  12. Celebration of the Lizard – Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger
  13. Soul Kitchen – Jim Morrison

The Supremes And Four Tops: The Return Of The Magnificient Seven

On July 13, 1971, “Motown” label released “The Return of the Magnificent Seven”, the second Supremes (The) and Four Tops collaborative album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Jean Terrell – vocals
  • Mary Wilson – vocals
  • Cindy Birdsong – vocals
  • Levi Stubbs – vocals
  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir – vocals
  • Lawrence Payton – vocals
  • Renaldo “Obie” Benson – vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • David Van DePitte, Henry Cosby, Paul Riser, Tom Baird – arrangements
  • Frank Wilson – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  2. I Wonder Where We’re Going – Tom Baird
  3. Call Me – Tony Hatch
  4. One More Bridge to Cross – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  5. If You Could See Me Now – Janie Bradford, Joe Hinton, Henry Cosby
  6. I’ll Try Not to Cry – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  7. I’m Glad About It – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  8. Let’s Make Love Now – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  9. I Can’t Believe You Love Me – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  10. Where Would I Be Without You Baby – Clarence McMurray, Martin Coleman
  11. What Do You Have to Do (To Stay on the Right Side of Love) – Pam Sawyer, Leon Ware