On December 28, 1976, Freddie King died aged 42. He was musician (guitar) and singer, with music roots were from Chicago and Texas blues, often mentioned as one of “the Three Kings” of electric blues guitar, along with Albert King and B.B. King. Freddie King was one of the first bluesmen to have a multi-racial backing band at live performances. His biggest successes were singles “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” (1960) and “Hide Away” (1961).King inspired many famous musicians including Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia,Peter Green, Dickey Betts and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In 2012 Freddie King was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Tag Archives: 1976
The Eagles: Hotel California
On December 8, 1976, “Asylum” label released “Hotel California”, the fifth Eagles (The) studio album. It was recorded March – October 1976, at the “Criteria Studios”, in Miami and “Record Plant Studios”, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk. The album won two “Grammy Awards” for the songs “New Kid in Town” and for “Hotel California”. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Hotel California” at number 37 on it ’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, and ranked the song “Hotel California” at number 49 on it’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Don Felder– vocals, guitars, pedal steel guitar
- Glenn Frey – vocals, guitars, piano, clavinet, synthesizer
- Don Henley – vocals, drums, percussion, synthesizer, art direction
- Randy Meisner– vocals, bass guitar, guitarrón
- Joe Walsh – vocals, guitars, slide guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer
- Jim Ed Norman– string arrangements, conductor
- John Kosh – art direction, design
- David Alexander – photography
Track listing:
- Hotel California – Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey
- New Kid in Town – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
- Life in the Fast Lane – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh
- Wasted Time – Don Henley, Glenn Frey
- Wasted Time (Reprise) – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Jim Ed Norman
- Victim of Love – Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
- Pretty Maids All in a Row – Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale
- Try and Love Again – Randy Meisner
- The Last Resort – Don Henley, Glenn Frey
Jean Michel Jarre: Oxygene
On December 5, 1976, “Disques Dreyfus” label released (in France) “Oxygène” (Oxygen in English), Jean Michel Jarre studio album. It was recorded August – November 1976, at Jarre home studio in Paris, and was produced by Jarre. “Oxygen” was a big commercial success and was very important step in the development of electronic music.
Personnel:
- Jean Michel Jarre – ARP 2600, EMS Synthi AKS, EMS VCS3, RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, Farfisa Professional Organ, Eminent 310U, Mellotron and the Rhythmin’ Computer
Track listing:
All tracks by Jean Michel Jarre.
- Oxygène Part I
- Oxygène Part II
- Oxygène Part III
- Oxygène Part IV
- Oxygène Part V
- Oxygène Part VI
Tommy Bolin
On December 4, 1976, Thomas Richard “Tommy” Bolin, died aged 25. He was musician (guitar), performed with number of musicians including Alphonse Mouzon, Carmine Appice, David Foster, David Sanborn, Jan Hammer, Stanley Sheldon, Phil Collins and Glenn Hughes, but was best known as a member of bands Zephyr, The James Gang and Deep Purple.
George Harrison: Thirty Three & 1/3
On November 19, 1976, “Dark Horse” label released “Thirty Three & 1/3”, the seventh George Harrison studio album. It was recorded May – September 1976, at the “Friar Park”, Harrison’s home studio, and was produced by Harrison and Tom Scott. The album was accompanied by comedy themed video clips for three of the songs, two of which were directed by Eric Idle.
Personnel:
- George Harrison – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, synthesizers, percussion
- Billy Preston– piano, organ, synthesizer
- David Foster– Fender Rhodes, clavinet
- Gary Wright– keyboards
- Richard Tee– piano, organ, Fender Rhodes
- Willie Weeks– bass
- Alvin Taylor– drums
- Emil Richards– marimba
- Tom Scott– saxophones, flute, lyricon
- Hank Cicalo – recording
- Mike Manoogian – typography
- Bob Cato – design, photography
- Henry Grossman – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by George Harrison, except where noted.
- Woman Don’t You Cry for Me
- Dear One
- Beautiful Girl
- This Song
- See Yourself
- It’s What You Value
- True Love – Cole Porter
- Pure Smokey
- Crackerbox Palace
- Learning How to Love You
Miles Davis: Water Babies
On November 2, 1976, “Columbia” label released “Water Babies”, Miles Davis studio album. “Water Babies” is a collection of “leftovers” from 1967’s “Nefertiti”, “Filles de Kilimanjaro” and 1968’s “In a Silent Way” sessions. The recording sessions took place on June 7, 13, 23, 1967, at “Columbia 30th Street Studio” in New York; and November 11–12, 1968, at “Columbia Studio B” in New York. The album was produced by Teo Macero.
Personnel:
- Miles Davis– trumpet
- Wayne Shorter– tenor saxophone
- Herbie Hancock– piano
- Chick Corea– electric piano
- Ron Carter– bass
- Dave Holland– bass
- Tony Williams– drums
- Stan Tonkel – recording
- Russ Payne – engineer
- Stan Weiss – engineer
- Corky McCoy – illustration
All tracks by Wayne Shorter, except where noted.
- Water Babies
- Capricorn
- Sweet Pea
- Two Faced
- Dual Mr. Anthony Tillmon Williams Process – Miles Davis, Tony Williams
Electric Light Orchestra: A New World Record
On September 11, 1976, “Jet” label released “A New World Record”, the sixth Electric Light Orchestra studio album. It was recorded in July 1976, at the “Musicland Studios” in Munich, and was produced by Jeff Lynne. For the first time, the album cover features the famous ELO logo, designed by Kosh,
Personnel:
- Jeff Lynne– vocals, lead, rhythm, acoustic, twelve-string acoustic and slide guitar, percussion, Wurlitzer electric piano, Minimoog, ochestra and choral arrangements
- Richard Tandy– vocals, piano, Minimoog, Micromoog, electric guitars, clavinet, Concert Spectrum strings, Mellotron, Wurlitzer electric piano, percussion, orchestra and choral arrangements
- Kelly Groucutt– vocals, bass guitar, percussion, backing vocals
- Bev Bevan– drums, Minimoog drum, percussion, timpani, gong, backing vocals
- Mik Kaminski– violin
- Hugh McDowell– cello
- Melvyn Gale– cello
- Mary Thomas – operatic vocals
- Patti Quatro, Brie Brandt, Addie Lee – backing vocals
- Louis Clark – orchestra and choral arrangements, orchestra conductor
Track listing:
All compositions by Jeff Lynne.
- Tightrope
- Telephone Line
- Rockaria!
- Mission (A world Record)
- So Fine
- Livin’ Thing
- Above the Clouds
- Do Ya
- Shangri-La
Hawkwind: Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music
On August 26, 1976, “Charisma” label released “Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music”, the sixth Hawkwind studio album. It was recorded February–March 1976 at the “Roundhouse Studios”, and was produced by Robert Calvert, Dave Brock, Alan Powell, Nik Turner, Paul Rudolph, Simon House and Simon King.. The album title makes references to SF magazine “Astounding and Amazing Stories” and the cover is a parody of the covers of old SF magazines.
Personnel:
- Robert Calvert– vocals
- Dave Brock– electric guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Nik Turner– vocals, saxophone, flute
- Paul Rudolph– bass guitar, electric guitar
- Simon House– violin, keyboards, sitar
- Simon King– drums
- Alan Powell– drums
Track listing:
- Reefer Madness – Robert Calvert, Dave Brock
- Steppenwolf – Robert Calvert, Dave Brock
- City of Lagoons – Alan Powell
- The Aubergine That ate Rangoon – Paul Rudolph
- Kerb Crawler – Robert Calver, Dave Brock
- Kadu Flyer – Nik Turner, Simon House
- Chronoglide Skyway – Simon House
Manfred Mann’s Eart Band: The Roaring Silence
On August 27, 1976, “Bronze” label released “The Roaring Silence”, the seventh Manfred Mann’s Earth Band album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Workhouse Studios” in London, and was produced by Manfred Mann, Colin Pattenden, Dave Flett, Chris Hamlet Thompson and Chris Slade.
Personnel:
- Manfred Mann– keyboards, backing vocals
- Dave Flett– lead guitar
- Chris Hamlet Thompson– lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Colin Pattenden– bass
- Chris Slade– drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Barbara Thompson– saxophone
- Doreen Chanter– backing vocals
- Irene Chanter– backing vocals
- Susanne Lynch – backing vocals
- Mick Rogers– backing vocals
Track listing:
- Blinded by the Light – Bruce Springsteen
- Singing the Dolphin Through – Mike Heron
- Waiter, There’s a Yawn in My Ear – Manfred Mann
- The Road to Babylon – Manfred Mann, Thomas, Colin Pattenden
- This Side of Paradise – Manfred Mann, Thomas, Colin Pattenden
- Starbird – Manfred Mann, Chris Slade
- Questions – Manfred Mann, Chris Slade
Boston: Same
On August 25, 1976, “Epic” label the self-titled, debut Boston studio album. It was recorded October 1975 – April 1976, and was produced by John Boylan and Tom Scholz. The album was big commercial success, selling more than 25 million copies worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. The album was certified Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada” and 17 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Tom Scholz– acoustic and electric guitars, clavinet, organ, bass guitar
- Brad Delp– lead and harmony vocals, acoustic guitar
- Barry Goudreau– rhythm and lead guitars
- Fran Sheehan– bass guitar
- Sib Hashian– drums
- Jim Masdea– drums
- Kim Hart – design consulting
- Roger Huyssen – illustrations
- Gerard Huerta – cover lettering
- Jeff Albertson – photography
- Ron Pownall – photography
- Gary Pihl – photo editing
Track listing:
All tracks by Tom Scholz, except where noted.
- More Than a Feeling
- Peace of Mind
- Foreplay / Long Time
- Rock & Roll Band
- Smokin – Brad Delp, Tom Scholz
- Hitch a Ride
- Something About You
- Let Me Take You Home Tonight – Brad Delp
