Tag Archives: 1977

The Alan Parsons Project: I Robot

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On June 1, 1977, “Arista” label released “I Robot”, the second Alan Parsons Project (The), studio album. It was recorded December 1976 – March 1977, at “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Alan Parsons. The album cover photo features Storm Thorgerson’s assistants in the escalator tubes of the circular Terminal 1 building of the “Charles de Gaulle Airport” outside of Paris

Personnel:

  • Alan Parsons – keyboards, vocoder, acoustic guitar, backing vocals, engineer
  • Ian Bairnson – acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals
  • B.J. Cole – steel guitar
  • Eric Woolfson – keyboards, vocoder, backing vocals
  • Duncan Mackay – keyboards
  • John Leach – cimbalom, kantele
  • David Paton – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Stuart Tosh – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Lenny Zakatek, Allan Clarke, Steve Harley, Jack Harris, Peter Straker, Jaki Whitren, Dave Townsend, the English Chorale, the New Philharmonia Chorus – vocals
  • Hilary Western – backing vocals
  • Smokey Parsons – backing vocals
  • Tony Rivers, John Perry and Stu Calver – backing vocals
  • Andrew Powell – choir and orchestra arrangements
  • Eric Woolfson – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, except where noted.

  1. I Robot
  2. I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You
  3. Some Other Time
  4. Breakdown
  5. Don’t Let it Snow
  6. The Voice
  7. Nucleus
  8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)
  9. Total Eclipse – Andrew Powell
  10. Genesis Ch. 1V. 32

B. T. Express: Function at the Junction

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In May 1977, “Columbia” label released “Function at the Junction”, the fourth B.T. Express album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Ultra-Sonic Recording Studios” in Hempstead, New York, and was produced by Jeff Lane.

Personnel:

  • Richard Thompson – vocals, guitar
  • Michael Jones – vocals, keyboards
  • Carlos Ward – flute, piccolo flute, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, clarinet
  • Bill Risbrook – flute, soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Jamal Rasool – vocals, bass
  • Dennis Rowe – bongos, congas, timbales, percussion
  • Leslie Ming – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Irving Spice – strings

Track listing:

  1. Funky Music – Bill Risbrook
  2. Expose Yourself – Emanuel Johnson, Michael Stokes, Tash Howard
  3. Scratch My Itch – Sam Taylor, Tash Howard
  4. Eyes – Carlos Ward
  5. We Got It Together – Carlos Ward
  6. Sunshine – Michael Jones
  7. The Door to My Mind – Gloria Risbrook, Louis Risbrook
  8. Star Gazer – Ken Williams, Rudy Clark
  9. How Big Can You Dream – Bill Risbrook

Little River Band: Sleeper Catcher

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On May 26, 1978, “EMI” label released “Sleeper Catcher”, the fourth Little River Band album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Armstrong Studios” in Melbourne, Australia, and was produced by  John Boylan, Glenn Shorrock, David Briggs, Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble, George McArdle and Derek Pellicci. The album was certified Platinum in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Glenn Shorrock – lead vocals
  • David Briggs – lead guitar, Roland synthesizer guitars
  • Beeb Birtles – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
  • Graham Goble – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, vocal arrangements
  • George McArdle – bass
  • Derek Pellicci – drums, percussion
  • Vernon Hill – flute
  • Bob Venier – flugelhorn
  • Pan Raines – harp
  • Peter Sullivan – acoustic and electric pianos
  • Peter Jones – electric piano
  • Mal Logan – Hammond organ
  • Rick Formosa – conductor, orchestral arrangements

Track listing:

  1. Fall from Paradise – Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble
  2. Lady – Graham Goble
  3. Red-Headed Wild Flower – Beeb Birtles, Ed Nimmervoll
  4. Light of Day – Beeb Birtles
  5. So Many Paths – Glenn Shorrock, Idris Jones
  6. Reminiscing – Graham Goble
  7. Sanity’s Side – Glenn Shorrock, Chris Dawes
  8. Shut Down Turn Off – Glenn Shorrock
  9. One for the Road – Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble

Little River Band: Diamantina Cocktail

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On April 8, 1977, “EMI” and “Capitol” labels released “Diamantina Cocktail” the third Little River Band album. It was recorded in 1976 and was produced by John Boylan, Glenn Shorrock, Graham Goble, Beeb Birtles, David Briggs, George McArdle and Derek Pellicci.

Personnel:

  • Glenn Shorrock – lead vocals, piano
  • Graham Goble – vocals, guitars
  • Beeb Birtles – vocals, guitars
  • David Briggs – guitars
  • George McArdle – bass guitar
  • Derek Pellicci – drums, percussion
  • Roger McLachlan – bass
  • Eddy Denton – cor anglais
  • Peter Sullivan – piano
  • Ian Mason – piano
  • Tony Buchanan – saxophones
  • Graeme Lyall – flute

Track listing:

  1. Help Is on Its Way – Glenn Shorrock
  2. The Drifter – Graham Goble
  3. L.A. in the Sunshine – David Briggs, Glenn Shorrock
  4. The Inner Light – Graham Goble
  5. Witchery – Beeb Birtles
  6. Home on Monday – Beeb Birtles, Glenn Shorrock
  7. Happy Anniversary – Beeb Birtles, David Briggs
  8. Raelene, Raelene – Beeb Birtles
  9. Changed and Different – Graham Goble

Graham Central Station: How Do U Wanna Dance

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On April 1, 1977, “Warner Bros” label released “Now Do U Wanta Dance” the fifth Graham Central Station album.

Personnel:

  • Larry Graham – lead and backing vocals, bass, synthesizer, keyboards
  • Hershall “Happiness” Kennedy – keyboards, synthesizer, clavinet, trumpet
  • David “Dynamite” Vega – guitar
  • Gail “Baby Face” Muldrow – vocals, guitar
  • Robert “Butch” Sam – vocals, keyboards, organ, piano
  • Tina Graham, Natalie Neilson, Shelia McKinney – vocals
  • Gaylord “Flash” Birch – drums
  • Dennis Marcellino, Jerry Martini, Max Haskett, Mic Gillette – horns

Track listing:

All tracks by Larry Graham except where noted.

  1. Happ-E-2-C-U-A-Ginn
  2. Now Do-U-Wanta Dance
  3. Last Train
  4. Love and Happiness – Al Green, Mabon Hodges
  5. Earthquake
  6. Crazy Chicken
  7. Stomped Beat-Up and Whooped
  8. Lead Me On – Deadric Malone
  9. Saving My Love For You
  10. Have Faith in Me

Michael Franks: Sleeping Gypsy

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On January 22, 1977, “Warner Bros” label released “Sleeping Gypsy”, the third Michael Franks album.  It was recorded in 1976, and was produced by Tommy LiPuma.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals
  • Joe Sample – keyboards, piano
  • João Donato – piano
  • Larry Carlton – guitar
  • Hélio Delmiro – guitar
  • Wilton Felder – bass, saxophone
  • David Sanborn – saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Larry Bunker – vibraphone, drums, percussion
  • Ray Armando – congas, percussion
  • João Palma – drums
  • John Guerin – percussion
  • Claus Ogerman – orchestra arrangements, conductor
  • Al Schmitt – recording, mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks, except where noted.

  1. The Lady Wants to Know
  2. I Really Hope It’s You
  3. In The Eye Of The Storm
  4. B’wana-He No Home
  5. Don’t Be Blue – Michael Franks, John Guerin
  6. Antonio’s Song (The Rainbow)
  7. Chain Reaction – Michael Franks, Joe Sample
  8. Down In Brazil

Don McLean: Prime Time

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In December 1977, “Arista” label released “Prime Time” the sixth Don McLean album. It was recorded in 1977, and was produced by John Peters.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – vocals, guitar, banjo
  • John Farrell – guitar
  • Ed Freeman – piano
  • Kenny Asher – organ, piano, clavinet, arranger
  • Pat Rebillot – keyboards
  • Dom Cortese – accordion
  • Rob Stoner – bass, backing vocals
  • Howie Wyeth – drums, marimba, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Rubens Bassini – percussion
  • David Sanborn – saxophone
  • Angela Howell – backing vocals
  • Christine Faith – backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff – concertmaster

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean, except where noted.

  1. Prime Time
  2. The Statue
  3. Jump
  4. Red Wing
  5. The Wrong Thing to Do
  6. The Pattern Is Broken
  7. When Love Begins
  8. Color TV Blues
  9. Building My Body
  10. Down the Road/Sally Ann
  11. When a Good Thing Goes Bad
  12. South of the Border – Michael Carr, Jimmy Kennedy
  13. If You Can Dream

Marvin Gaye: Here, My Dear

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On December 15, 1978, “Motown” label released “Here, My Dear”, the fifteenth Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded March 1977 – July 1978, at Marvins’s room in Los Angeles, and was produced by Marvin Gaye.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – vocals, piano, Rhodes, Roland bass, synth, horns; tape box percussion
  • Wali Ali – guitar
  • Gordon Banks – guitar
  • Spencer Bean – guitar
  • Cal Green – guitar
  • Mike McGloiry – guitar
  • Frank Blair – bass
  • Eric Ward – bass
  • Bugsy Wilcox – drums
  • Melvin Webb – drums, congas, cowbell
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – congas, bongos
  • Elmira Collins – percussion
  • Jack Ashford – percussion
  • Gary Jones – congas
  • Ernie Fields, Jr. – alto saxophone
  • Charles Owens – tenor saxophone
  • Fernando Harkless – tenor saxophone
  • Nolan Andrew Smith – trumpet
  • Daniel LeMelle – saxophone
  • David Stewart – handclaps
  • Richard “Do Dirty” Bethune – handclaps
  • Art Stewart – handclaps, engineer, mixer
  • Fred Ross – engineer
  • Tony Houston – engineer
  • Bill Ravencraft – engineer
  • Odell Brown – RMI
  • David Ritz – liner notes
  • Michael Bryant – illustrations

Track listing:

All tracks by Marvin Gaye, except where noted.

  1. Here, My Dear
  2. I Met a Little Girl
  3. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You
  4. Anger – Delta Ashby, Marvin Gaye, Ed Townsend
  5. Is That Enough
  6. Everybody Needs Love – Ed Townsend, Marvin Gaye
  7. Time to Get It Together
  8. Sparrow – Ed Townsend, Marvin Gaye
  9. Anna’s Song
  10. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You
  11. A Funky Space Reincarnation
  12. You Can Leave, but It’s Going to Cost You
  13. Falling in Love Again
  14. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (reprise)

Yusef Lateef: Autophysiopsychic

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In December 1977, “CTI” label released “Autophysiopsychic”, th 34th Yusef Lateef album. It was recorded in October 1977, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York Studios, and Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Yusef Lateef – vocals, flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, shahnai
  • Art Farmer – flugelhorn
  • Clifford Carter – keyboards
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Gary King – electric bass
  • Jim Madison – drums
  • Sue Evans – percussion
  • Frank Floyd, Babi Floyd, Milt Grayson, Norberto Jones – backing vocals
  • David Matthews – arranger

Track listing:

All tracks by Yusef Lateef except where noted.

  1. Robot Man
  2. Look on the Right Side
  3. Yl – David Matthews
  4. Communication
  5. Sister Mamie

Gino Vannelli: A Pauper in Paradise

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On November 7, 1977, “A&M” label released “A Pauper in Paradise”, the fifth Gino Vannelli studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “AIR Studios”, and “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Gino Vanelli, and Joe Vanelli.

Personnel:

  • Gino Vannelli – lead vocals, arranger
  • Joe Vannelli – Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, acoustic piano, synthesizer programming, backing vocals; synthesizer, arstring and brass arrangements
  • Bill Meyers – acoustic piano, synthesizers, synth bass, backing vocals
  • Chris Rhyne – keyboards, synth bass
  • Mark Davis – bass guitar
  • Casey Scheuerell – drums
  • John J. Mandel – timpani, percussion
  • Dido Morris – congas, bongos
  • Dick Morrissey – tenor saxophone
  • Don Sebesky – orchestration, conductor
  • Barry Griffiths – orchestra leader
  • The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra
  • Joanie Bartels – backing vocals
  • Joanne Jayde – backing vocals
  • Jay Stone – backing vocals
  • The John McCarthy Choir – choir
  • Norm Kinney; John Kurlander – engineer
  • Steve Prestage – engineer assistant
  • Jon Kelly – remixi
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Fabio Nicola, Roland Young – art direction
  • Joanne Jayde – design
  • Beth Kelly – poster photography
  • Paul McCreath – back cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gino Vannelli.

  1. Mardi Gras
  2. Valleys of Valhalla
  3. The Surest Things Can Change
  4. One Night with You
  5. A Song and Dance
  6. Black and Blue
  7. A Pauper in Paradise (In Four Movements)