Tag Archives: 1983

Paul Kantner: Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra

In August 1983, “RCA” label released “Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra”, the fourth and final Paul Kantner album. It was recorded in 1983, at “The Automat” and “The Pen” in San Francisco, and was produced by Paul Kantner, Scott Mathews and Ron Nagle.

Personnel:

  • Paul Kantner – vocals, guitars, lead guitar, banjo, glass harmonica, synthesizers, director, additional production
  • Grace Slick – vocals, piano
  • Scott Mathews – vocals, guitar, percussion, pedal steel guitar, Linn drums, glass harmonica, vocoder, synthesizers, saxophones, mandolin, harmonica, piano, organ, bass drum
  • Craig Chaquico – lead guitar
  • Ronnie Montrose – lead guitar
  • John Blakeley – rhythm guitar
  • Ron Nagle – vocals, piano
  • Pete Sears – piano, bass
  • David Freiberg – vocals, synthesizers
  • Jack Casady – bass
  • Aynsley Dunbar – drums
  • The Dūrocs – sound effects
  • China Kantner – vocals
  • Alexander Kantner – vocals
  • Flo & Eddie – vocals
  • Mickey Thomas – vocals
  • Proud Pork Productions (Scott Mathews, Ron Nagle) – engineer, additional production
  • David Frazer – engineer
  • Wayne Lewis – engineer
  • Steve Fontana – engineer
  • Maureen Droney – engineer, assistant mixing
  • Ken Kessie – mixing, remixing
  • Artists & Friends, Inc. (Jim Welch) – art direction
  • Bud Thon – illustration
  • Pat Leraci (Maurice) – production coordinator
  • Vicky Leraci – production coordinator assistant

Track listing:

  1. The Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra – Paul Kantner
  2. (She Is A) Telepath – Paul Kantner
  3. Circle of Fire – Paul Kantner
  4. Mount Shasta – Paul Kantner, Grace Slsick, Scott Mathews, Ron Nagle
  5. Lilith’s Song – lyrics by Paul Kantner, music by Paul Kantner, Pete Sears
  6. Transubstantiation: Part I: Esperanto / Part II: Science Friction – Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Scott Mathews, Ron Nagle
  7. The Mountain Song – lyrics by Paul Kantner, Jerry Garcia, music by Paul Kantner, Jerry Garcia
  8. Declaration of Independence – lyrics by Wolcott Gibbs, music by Celius Dougherty
  9. Underground (the Laboratories) – lyrics by Grace Slick, Alexander Kantner, music by Ron Nagle
  10. The Sky Is No Limit – lyrics by Paul Kantner, China Kantner, music by Paul Kantner
  11. Let’s Go – Paul Kantner

James Ingram: It’s Your Night

On July 27, 1983, “Qwest Records” and “Warner Bros” labels released “It’s Your Night”, the debut James Ingram album. It was recorded 1982 – 1983, at “Westlake” and “Ocean Way” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Quincy Jones. In 1985, the album track “Yah Mo B There” won “Grammy Award” for “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group”.

Personnel:

  • James Ingram – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, synth bass, arrangements
  • Quincy Jones – African voices, electric piano, arrangements
  • Michael McDonald – lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, arrangements
  • Patti Austin – lead and backing vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Larry Carlton – guitars
  • George Doering – guitars
  • Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizers
  • David Foster – acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • Jimmy Smith – organ, synthesizers
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizers
  • Mark Vieha – synthesizers, arrangements
  • Craig Hundley – synthesizers, synthesizer programming
  • Rod Temperton – synthesizers, arrangements
  • Don Dorsey – synthesizers
  • David Paich – synthesizers, arrangements
  • Ian Underwood – synthesizer programming
  • Steve Porcaro – synthesizer programming
  • Louis Johnson – bass guitar
  • Abe Laboriel – bass guitar
  • Nathan East – bass guitar
  • Harvey Mason Sr. – drums
  • John Robinson – drums
  • Raymond Calhoun – drums
  • Leon “Ndugu” Chancler – drums
  • Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
  • Steve Ray – fingerpopper
  • Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone
  • Larry Williams – saxophone
  • Tom Scott – saxophone, lyricon
  • Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn 
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
  • Ollie E. Brown – backing vocals
  • Zane Giles – backing vocals
  • Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals
  • Susaye Greene Brown – backing vocals
  • Howard Hewett – backing vocals
  • Bunny Hull – backing vocals
  • David Pack – backing vocals
  • Phillip Ingram – backing vocals
  • Augie Johnson – backing vocals
  • Valerie Johnson – backing vocals
  • Scherrie Payne – backing vocals
  • Luther Vandross – backing vocals
  • Tom Bahler – backing vocals
  • Linda Harmon – backing vocals
  • Edie Lehmann – backing vocals
  • Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals
  • Carmen Twillie – backing vocals
  • Maxine Willard Waters – backing vocals
  • Johnny Mandel – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. Party Animal – James Ingram, Richard Page, Mark Vieha
  2. Yah Mo B There – James Ingram, Quincy Jones, Michael McDonald, Rod Temperton
  3. She Loves Me (The Best That I Can Be) – Jim Photoglo, Brian Francis Neary
  4. Try Your Love Again – Glen Ballard, Brock Walsh
  5. Whatever We Imagine – David Foster, Paul Gordon, Jeremy Lubbock
  6. One More Rhythm – Rod Temperton
  7. There’s No Easy Way – Barry Mann
  8. It’s Your Night – James Ingram, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
  9. How Do You Keep the Music Playing – Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand

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

Tim Finn: Escapade

On June 15, 1983, “Mushroom” label released “Escapade”, the debut Tim Finn studio album. It was recorded 1982 – 1983, at “Festival Studios” in Sydney, and was produced by Ricky Fataar and Mark Moffatt. At the 1983 “Countdown Australian Music Awards” the album won “Best Australian Album”.

Personnel:

  • Tim Finn – vocals, piano
  • Mark Moffatt – guitar
  • Vince Gill – mandolin
  • Richard Tee – piano, Rhodes
  • Amanda Villepastour – synthesizer
  • Sam McNally – synthesizer
  • Chris Haig – bass
  • Phil Scorgie – bass
  • Ricky Fataar – drums, percussion, keyboard, backing vocals
  • Doug Lacey – steel drums
  • Wilbur Wilde – saxophone
  • Joe Camilleri – saxophone
  • Peter Cross – trumpet
  • Venetta Fields – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Tim Finn.

  1. Fraction Too Much Friction
  2. Made My Day
  3. Not for Nothing
  4. In a Minor Key
  5. Grand Adventure
  6. Staring at the Embers
  7. Wait and See
  8. I Only Want to Know
  9. Growing Pains
  10. Through the Years

Talking Heads: Speaking In Tongues

On June 1, 1983, “Sire” label released “Speaking in Tongues”, the fifth Talking Heads studio album. It was recorded 1982 – 1983, at Blank Tape” in New York City, “Sigma Sound” in Philadelphia, “Compass Point” in Nassau, and was produced by David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz. Artist Robert Rauschenberg won a “Grammy Award” for his work on the limited-edition LP version.

Personnel:

  • David Byrne – vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, bass guitar, percussion, design
  • Jerry Harrison – keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, backing vocals
  • Tina Weymouth – bass guitar, synthesizer, guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Frantz – drums, synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Wally Badarou – synthesizers
  • Bernie Worrell – synthesizers
  • Alex Weir – guitar
  • Steve Scales – percussion
  • Raphael Dejesus – percussion
  • David Van Tieghem – percussion
  • L. Shankar – double violin
  • Richard Landry – saxophone
  • Nona Hendryx – backing vocals
  • Dolette McDonald – backing vocals
  • Butch Jones – recording
  • John Convertino – recording assistant
  • Alex Sadkin – overdubbing, mixing
  • Frank Gibson – overdubbing assistant, mixing assistant
  • Jay Mark – overdubbing assistant, mixing assistant
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Robert Rauschenberg – limited edition cover art

Track listing:

All tracks are written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth.

  1. Burning Down the House
  2. Making Flippy Floppy
  3. Girlfriend is Better
  4. Slippery People
  5. I Get Wild/Wild Gravity
  6. Swamp
  7. Moon Rocks
  8. Pull Up the Rocks
  9. This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)

Scott Walker: Climate Of Hunter

In March 1984, “Virgin” label released “Climate of Hunter”, the eleventh Scott Walker studio album. It was recorded October – December 1983, at “The Town House”, and “EMI & Sarm West Studios” in London, and was produced by Peter Walsh and Scott Walker.

Personnel:

  • Scott Walker – vocals
  • Ray Russell – lead and backing guitars
  • Phil Palmer – lead and backing guitars
  • Mark Knopfler – guitars
  • Brian Gascoigne – keyboards
  • Mo Foster – bass
  • Peter Van Hooke – drums
  • Mark Isham – trumpet
  • Gary Kettel – percussion
  • Billy Ocean – harmony vocal
  • Evan Parker – soprano and tenor saxophone
  • c•more•tone – design
  • Bob Carlos Clarke – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Scott Walker, except where noted.

  1. Rawhide
  2. Dealer
  3. Track Three
  4. Sleepwalker Woman (Informal title Delayed)
  5. Track Five (Informal title It’s a Starving)
  6. Track Six (Informal title Say It)
  7. Track Seven (Informal title Stump of a Drowner)
  8. Blanket Roll Blues – lyrics by Tennessee Williams, music by Kenyon Hopkins

The Undertones: The Sin Of Pride

On March 13, 1983, “Ardeck-EMI” label released “The Sin of Pride”, the fourth Undertones (The) album. It was recorded 1982 – 1983, at “Playground Studios” in London, and was produced by Mike Hedges, Feargal Sharkey, Damian O’Neil, John O’Neil, Michael Bradley and Billy Doherty.

Personnel:

  • Feargal Sharkey – lead vocals
  • Damian O’Neill – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • John O’Neill – rhythm guitar
  • Michael Bradley – co-lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, keyboards
  • Billy Doherty – drums
  • Dick Blewett – saxophone
  • Dave Price – trumpet
  • The Rumour Brass – brass
  • Anne Stephenson, Virginia Howes – violin
  • Caroline Lavelle – cello
  • Sylvia & The Sapphires – backing vocals
  • The Chanter Sisters – backing vocals
  • Mike Hedges – engineer, mixing
  • Leo Peppas – engineer
  • Nigel Green – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Got To Have You Back – Ivy Jo Hunter, Leon Ware, Stephen Bowden
  2. Valentine’s Treatment – Damian O’Neil, Michael Bradley
  3. Luxury – J. J. O’Neil
  4. Love Before Romance – Damian O’Neil
  5. Untouchable – Damian O’Neil
  6. Bye Bye Baby Blue – J. J. O’Neil, Michael Bradley
  7. Conscious – Damian O’Neil
  8. Chain of Love – J. J. O’Neil
  9. Soul Seven – J. J. O’Neil
  10. The Love Parade – Damian O’Neil, Michael Bradley
  11. Save Me – William Robinson, Warren “Pete” Moore, Robert Rogers
  12. The Sin of Pride – Damian O’Neill, Michael Bradley

John Cale: Caribbean Sunset

In January 1984, “ZE Records” label released “Caribbean Sunset”, the ninth John Cale studio album. It was recorded in 1983, at “Right Track Recording” in New York City, and was produced by John Cale.

Personnel:

  • John Cale – vocals, keyboards, guitar, mixing
  • Dave Young – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andy Heermans – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • David Lichtenstein – drums, boobams
  • Brian Eno – A.M.S pitch changer (effects)
  • Andy Heermans – engineer
  • Tim “Thilby” Crich – engineer assistant
  • David Schecterson – engineer assistant
  • Rob O’Connor – design
  • Risé Irushalmi Cale – photography
  • Tom Roberts – associate producer

Track listing:

All tracks by John Cale and Dave Young, except where noted.

  1. Hungry for Love
  2. Experiment Number 1 – John Cale
  3. Model Beirut Recital
  4. Caribbean Sunset – John Cale, Larry Sloman
  5. Praetorian Underground
  6. Magazines
  7. Where There’s a Will – John cale, Larry Sloman
  8. The Hunt
  9. Villa Albani – John Cale

Oscar Peterson: A Tribute To My Friends

In December 1983, “Pablo” label released “A Tribute to My Friends”, the 183rd Oscar Peterson album. It was recorded in November 1983, at “Fantasy Studios” in Berkeley, California, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Oscar Peterson – piano
  • Joe Pass – guitar
  • Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – double bass
  • Martin Drew – drums
  • Phil Edwards – engineer
  • Joe Gastwirt – lacquer cut
  • Sheldon Marks – layout, design
  • Norman Granz – layout, design, liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Blueberry Hill – Vincent Rose, Al Lewis, Larry Stock
  2. Sometimes I’m Happy (Sometimes I’m Blue) – Clifford Grey, Leo Robin, Vincent Youmans
  3. Stuffy – Coleman Hawkins
  4. Birk’s Works – Dizzy Gillespie
  5. Cotton Tail – Duke Ellington
  6. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) – Jimmy Davis, Roger (“Ram”) Ramirez, James Sherman
  7. A-Tisket, A-Tasket – Van Alexander, Ella Fitzgerald
  8. Rockin’ Chair – Hoagy Carmichael
  9. Now’s the Time – Charlie Parker

Leonard Cohen: Various Positions

On December 11, 1984, “Columbia” label released “Various Positions”, the seventh Leonard Cohen studio album. It was recorded in June 1983, at “Quadrasonic Sound” in New York City, and was produced by John Lissauer.

Personnel:

  • Leonard Cohen – vocals, guitar, photography
  • Jennifer Warnes – vocals
  • Sid McGinnis – guitar
  • John Lissauer – piano, keyboard orchestrations, backing vocals
  • John Crowder – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Richard Crooks – drums
  • Kenneth Kosek – fiddle
  • Erin Dickins – backing vocals
  • Chrissy Faith – backing vocals
  • Ron Getman – backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals
  • Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals
  • Merle Miller – backing vocals
  • Anjani Thomas – backing vocals
  • John Lissauer – arrangements
  • Leanne Ungar – recording, mixing
  • Jon Smith – additional recording
  • Lee Friedman – engineer assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Leonard Cohen.

  1. Dance Me to the End of Love
  2. Coming Back to You
  3. The Law
  4. Night Comes On
  5. Hallelujah
  6. The Captain
  7. Hunter’s Lullaby
  8. Heart with No Companion
  9. If It Be Your Will