Tag Archives: 1976

Return to Forever: Musicmagic

In January 1977, “Columbia” label released “Musicmagic” the seventh and final Return to Forever studio album. It was recorded in 1976, and was produced by Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Gayle Moran and Gerry Brown. Beside the conventional stereo version the album was also released by “Columbia” in a four channel quadraphonic version.

Personnel:

  • Chick Corea– vocals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hohner clavinet, synthesizers (ARP Odyssey, Minimoog, Polymoog, Moog 15 modular)
  • Gayle Moran– vocals, acoustic piano, Hammond B3 organ, Polymoog
  • Stanley Clarke– vocals, electric bass, acoustic bass
  • Gerry Brown – drums
  • Joe Farrell– piccolo flute, flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • James Tinsley– piccolo trumpet, trumpet
  • John Thomas – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • James E. Pugh– tenor trombone
  • Harold Garret– tenor trombone, bass trombone, baritone horn

Track listing:

  1. The Musician – Chick Corea
  2. Hello Again – Stanley Clarke
  3. Musicmagic – Chick Corea, Gayle Moran
  4. So Long Mickey Mouse – Stanley Clarke
  5. Do You Ever – Gayle Moran
  6. The Endless Night – Chick Corea, Gayle Moran

Sly & The Family Stone: Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back

On December 18, 1976, “Epic/CBS” labels released “Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back”, the eighth Sly and the Family Stone album. It was recorded in 1976, and was produced by Sly Stone.

Personnel:

  • Sly Stone – vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass, various instruments, string arrangements
  • Joe Baker – vocals, guitar
  • John Farey – keyboards, percussion
  • Dwight Hogan – vocals, bass
  • Anthony Warren – drums
  • Virginia Ayers – vocals, percussion
  • John Colla = vocals, alto and soprano saxophone
  • Steve Schuster – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Cynthia Robinson – vocals, trumpet
  • Lady Bianca – lead and backing vocals, clavinet
  • Vicki Blackwell – violin
  • Ed Bogas – string arrangements
  • Armando Peraza – timbales, congas
  • Sister Vet& Cousin Tiny – vocals
  • Karat Faye – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Sly Stone.

  1. Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back
  2. What Was I Thinkin’ in My Head
  3. Nothing Less Than Happiness
  4. Sexy Situation
  5. Blessing in Disguise
  6. Everything in You
  7. Mother Is a Hippie
  8. Let’s Be Together
  9. The Thing
  10. Family Again

Be Bop Deluxe: Modern Music

On September 3, 1976, “Harvest” label released “Modern Music”, the fourth Be Bop Deluxe studio album. It was recorded in 1976, and was produced by Bill Nelson and John Leckie.

Personnel:

  • Bill Nelson- lead vocals, guitars, percussion
  • Andrew Clark- keyboards, percussion
  • Charlie Tumahai- bass, percussion, backing vocals
  • Simon Fox- drums, percussion

 Track listing:

All tracks by Bill Nelson.

  1. Orphans of Babylon
  2. Twilight Capers
  3. Kiss of Light
  4. The Bird Charmer’s Destiny
  5. The Gold at the End of My Rainbow
  6. Bring Back the Spark
  7. Modern Music
  8. Dancing in the Moonlight (All Alone)
  9. Honeymoon on Mars
  10. Lost in the Neon World
  11. Dance of the Uncle Sam Humanoids
  12. Modern Music (reprise)
  13. Forbidden Lovers
  14. Down on Terminal Street
  15. Make the Music Magic

 

Patti Austin: End of a Rainbow

On August 6, 1976, “CTI” label released “End of a Rainbow”, the debut Patti Austin album. It was recorded April – June 1976, at  “Mediasound Studios” in New York City, “Van Gelder Studios” in Englewood, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Patti Austin– vocals
  • Eric Gale, Steve Khan– guitar
  • Michael Abene – piano
  • Barry Miles– synthesizer
  • Jeff Berlin, Will Lee, Chuck Rainey– bass guitar
  • Chuck Israels– arco bass
  • Steve Gadd, Andy Newmark– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • Michael Brecker, Joe Farrell– tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber– baritone saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Richard Tee– clavinet
  • Harry Cykman, Max Ellen, Barry Finclair, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Guy Lumia, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Max Pollikoff, Matthew Raimondi, Richard Sortomme – violin
  • Al Brown, Ted Israel, Manny Vardi– viola
  • Charles McCracken, Alan Shulman– cello
  • Gloria Agostini – harp
  • Vivian Cherry, Frank Floyd, Gwen Guthrie, Zachary Sanders – backing vocals
  • David Matthews– arrangements
  • Bob James- conductor

Track listing:

All tracks by Patti Austin except where noted

  1. Say You Love Me
  2. In My Life
  3. You Don’t Have To Say You’re Sorry
  4. More Today Than Yesterday – Pat Upton
  5. Give It Time
  6. There Is No Time
  7. What’s at the End of a Rainbow
  8. This Side of Heaven
  9. Sweet Sadie the Savior

Alice Cooper: Alice Cooper Goes to Hell

On June 25, 1976, “Warner Bros” label released “Alice Cooper Goes to Hell”, the second Alice Cooper album. It was recorded in 1076, at “Soundstage” in Toronto, “Record Plant East” in New York City, “RCA Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bob Ezrin.

Personnel:

  • Alice Cooper – vocals
  • Dick Wagner– vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Steve Hunter– guitar
  • Tony Levin– bass
  • Bob Babbitt– bass
  • Allan Schwartzberg– drums
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Jimmy Maelen– percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Alice Cooper, Dick Wagner and Bob Ezrin.

  1. Go to Hell
  2. You Gotta Dance
  3. I’m the Coolest
  4. Didn’t We Meet
  5. I Never Cry
  6. Give the Kid a Break
  7. Guilty
  8. Wake Me Gently
  9. Wish You Were Here
  10. I’m Always Chasing Records
  11. Going Home

Rod Stewart: A Night on the Town

On June 18, 1976, “Riva” label released “A Night on the Town”, the seventh Rod Stewart album. It was recorded December 1975 – April 1976, at “Cherokee Recording Studios” in Hollywood, “Muscle Shoals Sound” in Sheffield, “Criteria” in  Miami” in Nederland, CO, and was produced by Tom Dowd. The cover art is based on Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s painting “Bal du moulin de la Galette”.

Personnel:

  • Rod Stewart – vocals
  • Steve Cropper, Billy Peek, Joe Walsh, Jesse Ed Davis, David Lindley, Fred Tackett– guitar
  • John Barlow Jarvis, David Foster, Barry Beckett, J. Smith – keyboards
  • Donald Dunn, Bob Glaub, David Hood, Willie Weeks, Lee Sklar– bass guitar
  • Roger Hawkins, Andy Newmark, Al Jackson Jr., Rick Shlosser– drums
  • Tommy Vig, Joe Lala– percussion
  • Jerry Jumonville, Plas Johnson– tenor saxophone
  • Tower of Power Horn section – French horn
  • Jimmy Horowitz, Mel Lewis, Arif Mardin– string arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Rod Stewart, except where noted.

Slow Side

  1. Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
  2. The First Cut Is the Deepest – Cat Stevens
  3. Fool for You
  4. The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)

Fast Side

  1. The Balltrap
  2. Pretty Flamingo – Mark Barkan
  3. Big Bayou – Gib Guilbeau
  4. The Wild Side of Life – Arlie Carter, William Warren
  5. Trade Winds – Ralph MacDonald, William Salter

Brand X: Unortodox Behaviour

On June 18, 1976, “Charisma” label released “Unorthodox Behaviour”, the debut Brand X album. It was recorded September – October 1975, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by Dennis MacKay, John Goodsall, Robin Lumley, Percy Jones and Phil Collins.

Personnel:

  • John Goodsall– acoustic and electric guitars
  • Robin Lumley– acoustic and electric pianos, Moog synthesizer, string synthesizer
  • Percy Jones– acoustic and electric basses, marimba
  • Phil Collins– vocals, drums, percussion, vibraphone
  • Jack Lancaster– soprano saxophone

Track listing:

All tracks by Phil Collins, John Goodsall, Robin Lumley, and Percy Jones.

  1. Nuclear Burn
  2. Euthanasia Waltz
  3. Born Ugly
  4. Smacks of Euphoric Hysteria
  5. Unorthodox Behaviour
  6. Running on Three
  7. Touch Wood

Ray Thomas: Hopes, Wishes and Dreams

On June 3, 1976, “Threshold” label released “Hopes, Wishes and Dreams”, the second Ray Thomas studio album. It was recorded February – April 1976 at “Threshold Studios” in London, and was produced by Ray Thomas and Derek Varnals.

Personnel:

  • Ray Thomas – lead and backing vocals, flute, bass flute, harmonica
  • Mike Moran– keyboards
  • John Jones – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Trevor Jones – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Graham Deakin– drums, percussion
  • Barry St. John – backing vocals
  • Liza Strike – backing vocals
  • Helen Chappelle – backing vocals
  • Nicky James – backing vocals
  • Terry James – orchestral arrangements
  • Derek Varnals – recording, associate producer
  • Dave Baker – recording
  • Phil Travers – illustration, design
  • Gered Mankowitz– photography

Track listing:

  1. In Your Song – Nicky James
  2. Friends – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  3. We Need Love – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  4. Within Your Eyes – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  5. One Night Stand – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  6. Keep On Searching – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  7. Didn’t I – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  8. Migration – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  9. Carousel – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  10. The Last Dream – Ray Thomas

Peter Frampton: I’m In You

On May 28, 1977, “A&M” label released “I’m in You”, the fifth Peter Frampton album. It was recorded November 1976 – April 1977, at “Electric Lady Studios” in Greenwich Village, in New York, “The Record Plant” and “The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Peter Frampton, Chris Kimsey, Bob Mayo and Frankie D’Augusta. The album was certified Platinum in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Peter Frampton – vocal, acoustic, electric and slide guitar, bass guitar, piano, organ, Moog synthesizer, minimoog, ARP String Synthesizer, ARP Axxe, clavinet, harmonica, drums, percussion, vocals, talk box, engineer, mixing
  • Bob Mayo– organ, Hammond B-3, synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, ARP String Synthesizer, ARP Axxe, clavinet, melodica, electric piano, piano, Fender Rhodes, accordion, electric and acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Stevie Wonder– harmonica
  • Stanley Sheldon– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • John Siomos– drums, percussion, tambourine
  • Richie Hayward– drums, percussion, congas
  • Ringo Starr– drums, percussion
  • Mick Jagger– backing vocals
  • Mike Finnigan– backing vocals
  • Chris Kimsey, Bob Mayo, Frankie D’Augusta – engineer, mixing
  • George Marino, Doug Sax, Arnie Acosta – mastering
  • Vartan, Roland Young, Ryan Rogers – art direction
  • Neal Preston, Irving Penn – photography
  • Beth Stempel, Bill Levenson – supervisor, coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Peter Frampton; except where noted:

  1. I’m in You
  2. (Putting My) Heart on the Line
  3. Thomas (Don’t You Know How I Feel)
  4. Won’t You Be My Friend
  5. You Don’t Have to Worry
  6. Tried to Love
  7. Rocky’s Hot Club
  8. (I’m a) Road Runner – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland, Jr.
  9. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Lee Garrett, Lula Mae Hardaway, Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright

Aretha Franklin: Sweet Passion

On May 19, 1977, “Atlantic” label released “Sweet Passion”, the twenty-third Aretha Franklin album. It was recorded 1976 – 1977, at “ABC Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, “Whitney Recording Studios” in Glendale, CA, and was produced by Aretha Franklin, Lamont Dozier, Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, keyboards
  • Ray Parker Jr.– guitar
  • Lee Ritenour– guitar
  • Craig McMillian – guitar
  • Mike Morgan – guitar
  • David Paich– keyboards
  • Sylvester Rivers– keyboards
  • Sonny Burke– keyboards
  • Ronald Coleman – keyboards
  • B. Barnum– rhythm arrangements, horn arrangements, string arrangements, keyboards
  • Ray Brown – bass guitar
  • Scott Edwards – bass guitar
  • Chuck Rainey– bass guitar
  • James Gadson– drums
  • Harold Mason – drums
  • Joe Clayton – congas, percussion
  • Gary Coleman – percussion
  • Bob Zimmitti – percussion
  • Lamont Dozier– rhythm arrangements
  • McKinley Jackson – rhythm arrangements, horn arrangements
  • Gene Page– horn and string arrangements
  • David Paich, Marty Paich – co-producers
  • Frank Kemjar, Reginald Dozier, Barney Perkins – engineer
  • Reginald Dozier, Barney Perkins – mixing.
  • Dennis King – mastering
  • Bob Defrin – photography
  • David Alexander – photography

Track listing:

  1. Break It To Me Gently – Marvin Hamlisch, Carole Bayer Sager
  2. When I Think About You – Aretha Franklin
  3. What I Did for Love – Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban
  4. No One Could Ever Love You More – Lamont Dozier
  5. A Tender Touch – Aretha Franklin
  6. Touch Me Up – Lamont Dozier
  7. Sunshine Will Never Be The Same – Lamont Dozier
  8. Meadows of Springtime – Aretha Franklin
  9. Mumbles / I’ve Got the Music in Me – Clark Terry, Aretha Franklin, Bias Boshell
  10. Sweet Passion – Aretha Franklin