Tag Archives: 1977

Teddy Pendergrass: Same

On June 12, 1977, “Philadelphia International” label released the self-titled, debut Teddy Pendergrass album. It was recorded 1976 – 1877, at “Sigma Sound” in Philadelphia, and was produced by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, John Whitehead and Gene McFadden.

Personnel:

  • Teddy Pendergrass – vocals
  • Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Dennis Harris – guitar
  • Dexter Wansel – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Victor Carstarphen – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Ron Kersey – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Michael “Sugar Bear” Foreman – bass
  • Jimmy Williams – bass
  • Keith Benson – drums, percussion
  • Karl Chambers – drums, percussion
  • Charles Collins – drums, percussion
  • Larry Washington – bongos, congas
  • MFSB – strings, horns
  • Bobby Martin – arrangements
  • Jack Faith – arrangements
  • Ed Lee – design, artwork
  • Frank Laffitte – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. You Can’t Hide from Yourself
  2. Somebody Told Me – Victor Carstarphen, Kenneth Gamble, Gene McFarden, John Whitehead
  3. Be Sure
  4. And If I Had
  5. I Don’t Love You Anymore
  6. The Whole Town’s Laughing Me – Sherman Marshall, Ted Wortham
  7. Easy, Easy, Got to Take It Easy – Victor Cartstarphen, Kenneth Gamble, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
  8. The More I Get, the More I Want – Victor Cartstarphen, Kenneth Gamble, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead

Idris Muhammad: Turn This Mutha

In May 1977, “Kudu” label released “Turn This Mutha”, the fifth Idris Muhammad album. It was recorded October 1976 – February 1977, and was produced by David Matthews.

Personnel:

  • Idris Muhammad — drums, tom tom
  • Hiram Bullock — guitar
  • Hugh McCracken — guitar
  • Eric Gale — guitar
  • Charlie Brown — guitar
  • Clifford Carter — keyboards
  • David Tofani — soprano saxophone
  • Michael Brecker — tenor saxophone solo
  • Ronnie Cuber — baritone saxophone
  • Randy Brecker — trumpet
  • Jon Faddis — trumpet
  • Jeremy Steig — flute
  • Wilbur Bascomb — bass
  • Rubens Bassini — percussion
  • Sue Evans — percussion
  • Clifford Carter — synthesizer
  • Margaret Ross — harp
  • Frank Floyd — vocal
  • Bill Eaton — backing vocals
  • Zachary Sanders — backing vocals
  • Ray Simpson — backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Could Heaven Ever Be Like This – David Matthews, Tony Sarafino
  2. Camby Bolongo – David Matthews
  3. Turn This Mutha Out – David Matthews, Tony Sarafino
  4. Tasty Cakes – David Matthews, Tony Sarafino
  5. Crab Apple – David Matthews
  6. Moon Hymn – David Matthews
  7. Say What – David Matthews

Billy Harper: Soran-Bushi, B.H.

In April 1978, “Denon” label released “Soran-Bushi, B.H.”, the fifth Billy Harper album. It was recorded in December 1977, at “Sound Ideas Studios” in New York City.

Personnel:

  • Billy Harper – tenor saxophone
  • Everett Hollins – trumpet
  • Harold Mabern – piano
  • Greg Maker – bass
  • Horacee Arnold – drums 
  • Billy Hart – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Harper.

  1. Trying to Get Ready
  2. Loverhood
  3. Soran-Bushi, B.H.

The Headhunters: Straight From The Gate

In April 1977, “Arista” label released “Straight from the Gate”, the sixth Headhunters (The) album. It was recorded in 1977, at “The Automatt”, in San Francisco, and was produced by David Rubinson & Friends, Derrick Youman, DeWayne McKnight, Paul Potyen, Bennie Maupin, Paul Jackson, Michael Clark and Bill Summers.

Personnel:

  • Derrick Youman – lead vocals
  • Obsidian Blackbyrd (DeWayne McKnight) – acoustic and electric guitar, sitar, backing vocals
  • Paul Potyen – piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Bennie Maupin – vocals, soprano and tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute
  • Paul Jackson – vocals, bass
  • Michael Clark – drums
  • Bill Summers – percussion
  • David Rubinson, Fred Catero – engineer
  • Chris Minto – engineer assistant
  • George Horn – mastering
  • Bruce Steinberg – design, photography
  • Kaz Tsuruta – layout, photography
  • Fred Catero – co producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Derrick Youman, DeWayne McKnight, Paul Potyen, Bennie Maupin, Paul Jackson, Michael Clark and Bill Summers.

  1. Straight from the Gate – lyrics by Joel “Twinkles” Smith, Maurice Holloway, Wallace Mitchell
  2. Mayonnaise
  3. Ms. Yum Yum
  4. Don’t Kill Your Feelings
  5. Descending Azzizziuh (The Beginning Of A Dream)
  6. I Remember I Made You Cry
  7. Pork Soda
  8. Dreams
  9. Silhouette

Al Di Meola: Elegant Gypsy

In April 1977, “Columbia” label released “Elegant Gypsy”, the second Al Di Meola studio album. It was recorded December 1976 – January 1977, and was produced by Al Di Meola. “Elegant Gypsy” won an annual award for “Best Guitar Album in Guitar Player”.

Personnel:

  • Al Di Meola – acoustic and electric guitars, piano, synthesizer, percussion
  • Paco de Lucía – acoustic guitar
  • Jan Hammer – keyboards
  • Barry Miles – keyboards
  • Anthony Jackson – bass guitar
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Lenny White – drums
  • Mingo Lewis – congas, synthesizers, organ, percussion
  • Janice Dickinson – album cover model

Track listing:

All tracks by Al Di Meola except where noted.

  1. Flight Over Rio – Mingo Lewis
  2. Midnight Tango
  3. Mediterranean Sundance
  4. Race with Devil on Spanish Highway
  5. Lady of Rome, Sister of Brazil
  6. Elegant Gypsy Suite

Steve Kuhn: Motility

In April 1971, “ECM” label released “Motility”, the eleventh Steve Kuhn album. It was recorded in January 1977, at “Tonstudio Bauer” in Ludwigsburg, Germany, and was produced by Manfred Eicher.

Personnel:

  • Steve Kuhn – piano
  • Steve Slagle – soprano and alto saxophones, flute
  • Harvie Swartz – bass
  • Michael Smith – drums
  • Martin Wieland – recording
  • Dieter Bonhorst – layout
  • Maja Weber – design
  • Roberto Masotti – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Kuhn except where noted.

  1. The Rain Forest
  2. Oceans in the Sky
  3. Catherine – Harvie Swartz
  4. Bittersweet Passages
  5. Deep Tango
  6. Motility / The Child Is Gone
  7. A Danse for One
  8. Places I’ve Never Been

The Fall: Live at the Witch Trials

On March 16, 1979, “Step-Forward” label released “Live at the Witch Trials”, the debut Fall (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Sound Suite” in Camden, England, and was produced by Bob Sargeant, Mark E. Smith, Martin Bramah, Marc Riley, Karl Burns and Yvonne Pawlett.

Personnel:

  • Mark E. Smith – vocals, guitar
  • Martin Bramah – guitar, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Yvonne Pawlett – keyboards
  • Marc Riley – bass guitar
  • Karl Burns – drums
  • Alvin Clark – engineer
  • John Wriothesley – artwork
  • Graham Rhodes – photography
  • Steve Lyons – photography

Track listing:

  1. Frightened – Mark E. Smith, Tony Friel
  2. Crap Rap 2/Like to Blow – Martin Bramah, Mark E. Smith
  3. Rebellions Jukebox – Mark E. Smith, Martin Bramah
  4. No Xmas for John Quays – Mark E. Smith
  5. Mother-Sister – Mark E. Smith, Una Baines
  6. Industrial Estate – Mark E. Smith, Martin Bramah, Tony Friel
  7. Underground Medicine – Martin Bramah, Mark E. Smith
  8. Two Steps Back – Martin Bramah, Mark E. Smith
  9. Live at the Witch Trials – Mark E. Smith
  10. Futures and Pasts – Martin Bramah, Mark E. Smith
  11. Music Scene – Martin Bramah, Yvonne Pawlett, Mark E. Smith, Marc Riley

Johnny Guitar Watson: A Real Mother For Ya

On March 11, 1977, “DJM Records” label released “A Real Mother for Ya”, the seventh Johnny Guitar Watson album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Paramount Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Johnny Guitar Watson.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Guitar Watson – vocal, guitar, bass, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ, synthesizer, voice box, arrangements
  • Emry Thomas – drums, production assistant
  • Knud Jensen – saxophone
  • Walt Fowler – trumpet
  • Tommy Robertson – trombone
  • Kenny McNabb – engineer
  • Kassler-Grass – logo

Track listing:

All tracks by Johnny Guitar Watson.

  1. A real Mother for Ya
  2. Nothing Left to Be Desired
  3. Your Love Is My Love
  4. The Real Deal
  5. Tarzan
  6. I Wanna Thank You
  7. Lover Jones

Frank Zappa: Sheik Yerbouti

On March 3, 1979, “Zappa Records” label released “Sheik Yerbouti”, the 26th Frank Zappa album. It was recorded 1977 – 1978, at “The Palladium” in New York Cuty, “Hammersmith Odeon” in London, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – lead and backing vocals, guitar, arrangeements, remixing
  • Davey Moire – lead and backing vocals, engineer
  • Adrian Belew – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, Bob Dylan impersonation
  • Tommy Mars – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
  • Peter Wolf – keyboards, butter, Flora margarine
  • Patrick O’Hearn – lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Terry Bozzio – lead and backing vocals, drims
  • Ed Mann – percussion, backing vocals
  • David Ocker – clarinet
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock – lead and backing vocals
  • Andre Lewis – backing vocals
  • Randy Thornton – lead and backing vocals
  • Peter Henderson – engineer
  • Jon Walls – engineer
  • Kerry McNabb – engineer
  • Joe Chiccarelli – remixing, overdub engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • John Williams – art direction
  • Amy Bernstein – artwork, layout design
  • Lynn Goldsmith – photography, cover photohraphy
  • Gail Zappa – photography
  • Barbara Isaak – assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. I Have Been in You
  2. Flakes
  3. Broken Hearts Are for Assholes
  4. I’m So Cute
  5. Jones Crusher
  6. What Ever Happened to All the Fun in the World
  7. Rat Tomago – Frank Zappa, Ahmet Zappa
  8. We’ve Got to Get into Something Real
  9. Bobby Brown
  10. Rubber Shirt – Terry Bozzio, Patrick O’Hearn, Frank Zappa
  11. The Sheik Yerbouti Tango
  12. Baby Snakes
  13. Tryin’ to Grow a Chin
  14. City of Tiny Lites
  15. Dancin’ Fool
  16. Jewish Princess
  17. Wild Love
  18. Yo’ Mama

The Kinks: Sleepwalker

On February 12, 1977, “Arista” label released “Sleepwalker”, the sixteenth Kinks (The) studio album. It was recorded July – December 1976, at “Konk” in London, and was produced by Ray Davies.

Personnel:

  • Ray Davies – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Dave Davies – lead, co-lead and backing vocals, lead guitar
  • John Dalton – bass guitar
  • John Gosling – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mick Avory – drums, percussion
  • Andy Pyle – bass
  • Roger Wake – engineer
  • John Dyer – art direction
  • Bob Heimall – design
  • Hal Fiedler – calligraphy
  • James Wedge – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ray Davies.

  1. Life on the Road
  2. Mr. Big Man
  3. Sleepwalker
  4. Brother
  5. Juke Box Music
  6. Sleepless Night
  7. Stormy Sky
  8. Full Moon
  9. Life Goes On