On March 18, 2017, Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry died aged 90. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, one of the pioneers and most important figures of rock and roll music. His songs “Maybellene” (1955), “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956), “Rock and Roll Music” (1957) and “Johnny B. Goode” (1958), defined the contours of rock and roll music, and changed the face of popular music. His unique guitar solos and stage appearance made lasting influence on subsequent rock artists, including names like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. In 1984, Berry was awarded “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”. He was among the first musicians to be inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” on its opening in 1986. In 2004, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked him at number 5 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. The same magazine ranked his compilation album “The Great Twenty-Eight” at number 21 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. His songs “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene,” and “Rock and Roll Music”, are included in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”. “Johnny B. Goode” is the only rock-and-roll song included on the “Voyager Golden Record”. In 2014, Berry was made a laureate of the “Polar Music Prize”.
Tag Archives: 1986
Psychedelic Furs: Midnight To Midnight
In February 1987, “Columbia” label released “Midnight to Midnight”, the fifth Psychedelic Furs studio album. It was recorded in 1986, at “Hansa Tonstudio” in Berlin, and was produced by Chris Kimsey.
Personnel:
- Richard Butler– vocals
- John Ashton– guitar
- Marty Williamson – second guitar
- Jon Carin– keyboards
- Ed Buller– additional keyboards
- Tim Butler– bass guitar
- Paul Garisto – drums
- Steve Scales – percussion
- Mars Williams– horns, saxophone
- Frank Simms– backing vocals
- Pete Hewlett – backing vocals
- Chris Kimsey – mixing
- Michael Barbiero– mixing
- Nick Egan- art direction, design
- Michael Halsband – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Richard Butler, John Ashton and Tim Butler.
- Heartbreak Beat
- Shock
- Shadow in My Heart
- Angels Don’t Cry
- Midnight to Midnight
- One More Word
- All of the Law
- Torture
- No Release
Reo Speedwagon: Life As We Know It
In February 1987, “Epic” label released “Life as We Know It”, the twelfth Reo Speedwagon studio album. It was recorded April – December 1986, at “Rumbo Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer and David DeVore.
Personnel:
- Kevin Cronin– lead vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitar
- Gary Richrath- lead guitar
- Neal Doughty– keyboards
- Bruce Hall– bass, backing vocals
- Alan Gratzer – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Track listing:
- New Way to Love – Kevin Cronin
- That Ain’t Love – Kevin Cronin
- In My Dreams – Kevin Cronin, Tom Kelly
- One Too Many Girlfriends – Kevin Cronin
- Variety Tonight – Neal Doughty
- Screams and Whispers – Tom Kelly, Gary Richrath, Billy Steinberg
- Can’t get You Out of My Heart – Kevin Cronin, Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg
- Over the Edge – Tom Kelly, Gary Richrath, Billy Steinberg
- Accidents Can Happen – Bruce Hall, Jeffery B. Hall
- Tired of Getting Nowhere – Kevin Cronin
Santana: Freedom
In February 1987, “Columbia” label released “Freedom”, the fourteenth Santana studio album. It was recorded in 1986, and was produced by Jeffrey Cohen, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson and Sterling Crew.
Personnel:
- Carlos Santana – vocals, guitar
- Buddy Miles– vocals
- Tom Coster– keyboards
- Chester D. Thompson – keyboards
- Gregg Rolie– synthesizer, keyboards
- Sterling Crew – keyboards, synths
- Alphonso Johnson– bass
- Graham Lear– drums
- Armando Peraza– percussion, conga
- Orestes Vilató– percussion, timbales
- Raul Rekow – vocals, percussion, conga
Track listing:
- Veracruz – Jeffrey Cohen, Buddy Miles, Gregg Rolie, Carlos Santana
- She Can’t Let Go – Jeffrey Cohen, Tom Coster, Alphonso Johnson, Cory Lerios
- Once It’s Gotcha – Jeffrey Cohen, Tom Coster, Alphonso Johnson
- Love Is You – Carlos Santana, Chester D. Thompson
- Songs of Freedom – Tom Coster, Buddy Miles, Carlos Santana
- Deeper, Dig Deeper – Sterling Crew, Buddy Miles, Carlos Santana, Chester D.Thompson
- Praise – Sterling Crew, Buddy Miles, Carlos Santana, Chester D.Thompson
- Mandela – Armando Peraza
- Before We Go – Jim Capaldi, Carlos Santana
- Victim of Circumstance – Sterling Crew, Buddy Miles, Gary Rashid, Carlos Santana
Eric Clapton: August
On November 24, 1986, “Duck / Warner Bros” labels released “August”, the tenth Eric Clapton studio album. It was recorded April – May 1986, and was produced by Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and Tom Dowd. The album was certified Platinum in UK by “BPI”.
Personnel:
- Eric Clapton– vocals, guitar
- Tina Turner– lead and backing vocals
- Richard Feldman – keyboards
- Greg Phillinganes– keyboards, backing vocals
- Gary Brooker– keyboards, backing vocals
- Richard Cottle – synthesizer
- Laurence Cottle– bass guitar
- Nathan East– bass guitar
- Phil Collins– drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Henry Spinetti– drums
- Michael Brecker– saxophone
- Jon Faddis– trumpet
- Dave Bargeron– trombone
- Randy Brecker– trumpet
- Katie Kissoon– backing vocals
- Magic Moreno – backing vocals, engineer
- Tessa Niles– backing vocals
- Larry Williams– synthesizer programming
- Leon Pendarvis – horn arrangements
- Steve Chase, John Jacobs, Paul Gommersall, Peter Hefter – engineer
- Terry O’Neill– photography
Track listing:
- It’s in the Way That You Use It – Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson
- Run – Lamont Dozier
- Tearing Us Apart – Eric Clapton, Greg Phillinganes
- Bad Influence – Robert Cray, Michael Vannice
- Walk Away – Richard Feldman, Marcella Detroit
- Hung Up on Your Love – Lamont Dozier
- Take a Chance – Eric Clapton, Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes
- Hold On – Eric Clapton, Phil Collins
- Miss You – Eric Clapton, Bobby Columby, Greg Phillinganes
- Holy Mother – Stephen Bishop, Eric Clapton
- Behind the Mask – Chris Mosdell, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Michael Jackson
- Grand Illusion – Bob Farrell, Dave Robbins, Wesly Stephenson
The The: Infected
On November 17, 1986, “Some Bizzare” label released “Infected”, the second The The album. It was recorded in 1986, and was produced by Warne Livesey, Matt Johnson, Roli Mosimann and Gary Langan.
Personnel:
- Matt Johnson – vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion
- Neneh Cherry – vocals
- Warne Livesey – organ, bass, string arrangement, backing vocals, engineer, remix
- Steve Hogarth – piano
- Judd Lander – harmonica
- Jeff Clyne – acoustic bass
- Dan Brown – electric bass
- Steve Brown – electric bass
- Dave Clayton – synth bass
- David Palmer – drums
- Roli Mosimann – percussion, programming
- Luís Jardim – percussion
- Bashiri Johnson – percussion
- The Deaf Section – brass
- Philip Eastop – French horn
- John Edcott – trumpet
- Dave DeFries – trumpet
- Steve Aitken – trombone
- Pete Beachill – trombone
- Ashley Slater – trombone
- Jamie Talbot – saxophone
- Bob Mintzer – saxophone
- Andy Blake – baritone sax
- John Thirkell – trumpet
- Guy Barker – trumpet, flugel horn
- Andrew Poppy – brass arrangements
- Astarti String Orchestra (leader Gavyn Wright) – strings
- The Croquets – backing vocals
- Anna Domino – backing vocals
- Zeke Manyika – backing vocals
- Tessa Niles – backing vocals
- Anne Dudley – arrangements
- Steve Peck – engineer
- Mike Johnson – engineer
- Gary Langan – engineer
- Sir Barrence Clempson – engineer assistant
- Mini Matt – engineer assistant
- Barbara Milne – engineer assistant
- Steve Reece – engineer assistant
- Mark Robinson – engineer assistant
- Peter Woodroffe – engineer assistant
- Gary Mobeley – fairlight operator
- Andy Dog – artwork
Track listing:
All tracks by Matt Johnson, except where noted.
- Infected
- Out of the Blue (Into the Fire)
- Heartland
- Angels of Deception
- Sweet Bird of Truth
- Slow Train to Dawn
- Twilight of a Champion – Matt Johnson, Roli Mosimann
- The Mercy Beat
Beastie Boys: Licensed To ill
On November 15, 1986, “Def Jam” label released “Licensed to ill”, the debut Beastie Boys studio album. It was recorded in 1986, and was produced by Rick Rubin, Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 217 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and in 2013 the same magazine named it the best debut album of all time. “Licensed to Ill” was the first rap album to top the Billboard album chart. In February 1987, the album was certified Platinum in the US by “RIIA’.
Personnel:
- Mike D (Michael Louis Diamond) – vocals, drums
- MCA (Adam Nathaniel Yauch) – vocals, bass
- Ad – Rock (Adam Keefe Horovitz) – vocals, guitar, programing
- Kerry King– lead guitar
- Keene Carse – trombone
- Danny Lipman – trumpet
- Tony Orbach – tenor saxophone
- Steven Ett – engineer
- Joe Blaney – mixing
- Steve Byram – art direction
- World B. Omes (David Gambale) – cover art
- Sunny Bak– photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Mike D, MCA, Ad-Rock and Rick Rubin, except where noted.
- Rhymin & Stealin
- The New Style
- She’s Crafty
- Posse in Effect
- Slow Ride
- Girls
- (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)
- No Sleep till Brooklyn
- Paul Revere – Adam Horovitz,Darryl McDaniels, Rick Rubin, Joseph Simmons
- Hold It Now, Hit It
- Brass Monkey
- Slow and Low – Darryl McDaniels, Rick Rubin, Joseph Simmons
- Time to Get Ill
Frank Zappa: Jazz From Hell
On November 15, 1986, “Barking Pumpkin Records” label released “Jazz from Hell”, the forty-seventh Frank Zappa album. It was recorded 1985–1986, at “UMRK”; “Palais des Sports” in St. Etienne, France, and was produced by Frank Zappa. “Jazz from Hell” was Zappa’s final studio album released in his lifetime. In 1988, Frank Zappa won “Grammy Award” for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance”.
Personnel:
- Frank Zappa– lead guitar, Synclavier, keyboards
- Steve Vai– rhythm guitar
- Ray White– rhythm guitar
- Tommy Mars– keyboards
- Bobby Martin – keyboards
- Scott Thunes– bass guitar
- Chad Wackerman– drums
- Ed Mann– percussion
- Bob Stone – engineer
- Greg Gorman – cover photography
- Bob Rice – computer assistant
Track listing:
All tracks by Frank Zappa.
- Night School
- The Beltway Bandits
- While You Were Art II
- Jazz from Hell
- G-Spot Tornado
- Damp Ankles
- Etienne
- Massaggio Galore
XTC: Skylarking
On October 27, 1986, “Virgin” label released “Skylarking”, the ninth XTC studio album. It was recorded in 1986, at “Utopia Sound Studios” in Woodstock, NY; “The Sound Hole Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Todd Rundgren.
Personnel:
- Andy Partridge– vocals, guitar
- Colin Moulding– vocals, bass, and bonfire
- Dave Gregory– vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer, Chamberlin, string arrangement, the odd tiple
- Prairie Prince– “the part of the time bomb” (i.e., drums)
- Beech Avenue Boys (i.e., XTC) – backing vocals
- Todd Rundgren– melodica, keyboards, backing vocals, orchestral arrangements, computer programming, engineer
- Mingo Lewis – percussion
- Charlie McCarthy – alto and tenor saxophone, flute
- Bob Ferreira – tenor saxophone, piccolo, bass clarinet
- Dave Bendigkeit – trumpet
- Dean Hubbard – trombone
- John Tenney – violin
- Emily Van Valkenburgh – violin
- Rebecca Sebring – viola
- Teressa Adams – cello
- Jasmine Veillette – vocals
- Kim Foscatoand, George Cowan – additional engineering
- Greg Fulginiti – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Andy Partridge, except where noted.
- Summer’s Cauldron
- Grass – Colin Moulding
- The Meeting Place – Colin Moulding
- That’s Really Super, Supergirl
- Ballet for a Rainy Day
- 1000 Umbrellas
- Season Cycle
- Earn Enough for Us
- Big Day
- Another Satellite
- Mermaid Smiled
- The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
- Dying – Colin Moulding
- Sacrificial Bonfire – Colin Moulding
Iggy Pop: Blah-Blah-Blah
On October 23, 1986, “A&M” label released “Blah-Blah-Blah”, the seventh Iggy Pop studio album. It was recorded in 1986, at “Mountain Studios” in Montreux, Switzerland, and was produced by David Bowie and David Richards. The album was Iggy Pop and David Bowie last collaboration, and became the most commercially successful Iggy Pop’s album to date.
Personnel:
- Iggy Pop– vocals
- Kevin Armstrong– guitar, backing vocals
- Steve Jones– guitar solo
- Erdal Kızılçay– synthesizer, bass, drums, string arrangements, backing vocals
- David Bowie- backing vocals.
Track listing:
All tracks by Iggy Pop and David Bowie except where noted.
- Real Wild Child (Wild One) – Johnny O’Keefe, Johnny Greenan, Dave Owens
- Baby, It Can’t Fall
- Shades
- Fire Girl – Iggy Pop, Steve Jones
- Isolation
- Cry for Love – Iggy Pop, Steve Jones
- Blah-Blah-Blah
- Hideaway
- Winners & Losers – Iggy Pop, Steve Jones
