On December 26, 1999, Curtis Lee Mayfield died aged 57. He was musician (guitar, keyboards, piano), singer, songwriter and record producer, regarded as one of the most influential musicians and composers in soul and politically conscious African-American music. Mayfield started the career in a gospel choir, gained wide recognition as member and main composer of The Impressions, and later had a successful solo career. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked his 1965 song “People Get Ready” at number 24 on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. The same song was also included in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll”, and in 1998 was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”. His album with the soundtrack for the 1972 movie “Super Fly” was ranked at number 72 on “Rolling Stone’s” list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 1994, Mayfield won a “Grammy Legend Award” in and a “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award” in 1995. In 1991, he was inductee into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of the Impressions, and in 1999 as a solo artist.
Tag Archives: 1994
Traffic: When The Eagle Flies
In September 1974, “Island” label released “When the Eagle Flies”, the seventh Traffic studio album. It was recorded July 1973 – June 1974, and was produced by Chris Blackwell.
Personnel:
- Steve Winwood – vocal, guitar, keyboards
- Chris Wood– flute, saxophone
- Rosko Gee– bass
- Jim Capaldi– drums, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals
- Rebop Kwaku Baah – percussion
- Nobby Clark, Brian Humphries – engineer
- Jeff Willens – mastering
- Martin Hughes – design
- Bill DeYoung – liner notes
Track listing:
All tracks by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi, except where noted.
- Something New
- Dream Gerrard – Steve Winwood, Vivian Stanshall
- Graveyard People
- Walking in the Wind
- Memories of a Rock N’ Rolla
- Love
- When the Eagle Flies
Shed Seven: Change Giver
On September 5, 1994, “Polydor” label released “Change Giver”, the debut Shed Seven studio album. It was recorded 1993–1994, at “Greenhouse Studio” in London, and was produced by Jessica Corcoran.
Personnel:
- Rick Witter– vocals
- Paul Banks– guitar
- Tom Gladwin – bass
- Alan Leach – drums
- Jon Graym, Shed Seven – engineer
- Jessica Corcoran – mixing
- Steve Double – photography
Track listing:
All lyrics by Rick Witter, all music by Paul Banks, Rick Water, Tom Gladwin, Alan Leach, except where noted.
- Dirty Soul – Paul Banks, Rick Water, Tom Gladwin, Alan Leach, Johnson
- Speakeasy
- Long Time Dead
- Head and Hands – Paul Banks, Rick Water, Tom Gladwin, Alan Leach, Johnson
- Casino Girl
- Missing Out – Paul Banks, Rick Water, Tom Gladwin, Alan Leach, Johnson
- Dolphin – Paul Banks, Rick Water, Tom Gladwin, Alan Leach, Johnson
- Stars in Your Eyes
- Mark
- Ocean Pie
- On an Island with You – Paul Banks, Rick Water, Tom Gladwin, Alan Leach, Johnson
Walter Becker
On September 3, 2017, Walter Carl Becker died aged 67. He was musician (guitar, bass), songwriter, and record producer, member of the band China Crisis, but best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and co-songwriter of Steely Dan. As leader he released two albums.
Hootie & The Blowfish: Cracked Rear View
On July 5, 1994, “Atlantic” label released “Cracked Rear View”, the debut Hootie & the Blowfish studio album. It was recorded in 1994, at “NRG Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Don Gehman. “Cracked Rear View” was the highest-selling album of 1995, with 10.5 million shipments that year alone, and became the16th-best-selling album of all time in the US.
Personnel:
- Mark Bryan – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
- percussion, mandolin, piano
- Dean Felber – vocals, bass guitar, clavinet, piano
- Darius Rucker– vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
- Jim “Soni” Sonefeld – vocals, drums, percussion, piano, glasses
- John Nau – piano, Hammond organ
- Lili Haydn– violin
- David Crosby– backing vocals
- Don Gehman– engineer, mixing
- Wade Norton – engineer assistant
- Liz Sroka – mixing, assistant
- Eddy Schreyer – mastering
- Jean Cronin – art direction
- Michael McLaughlin – photography
- Gena Rankin – production coordination
- Tim Sommer– artists and repertoire
Track listing:
All tracks by Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, Darius Rucker and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld.
- Hannah Jane
- Hold My Hand
- Let Her Cry
- Only Wanna Be with You
- Running from an Angel
- I’m Goin’ Home
- Drowning
- Time
- Look Away
- Not Even the Trees
- Goodbye – includes hidden traditional trackSometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
Spin Doctors: Turn It Upside Down
On June 14, 1994, “Epic” label released “Turn It Upside Down”, the second Spin Doctors album. It was recorded in March 1994, at “Clinton Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Peter Denenberg, Frankie La Rocka, Chris Barron, Aaron Comess, Eric Schenkman and Mark White. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- Chris Barron – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Eric Schenkman – lead and backing vocals, guitar
- Mark White- bass
- Aaron Comess – drums, percussion, piano, Hammond organ, chapman stick, clavinet, zildjian
- Rich Koerner – guitar
- Art Smith – guitar
- Mark Agostino – shaker
- Andrew Commes – Hammond organ
- Peter Denenberg – engineer
- Peter Denenberg – mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Chris Barron, Aaron Comess, Eric Schenkman and Mark White, except where noted.
- Big Fat Funky Booty
- You Let Your Heart Go Too Fast
- Cleopatra’s Cat
- Hungry Hamed’s
- Biscuit Head
- Indifference – Eric Schenkman, Linda Kelly
- Bags of Dirt
- Mary Jane – Chris Barron, Bob Lewis
- More Than Meets the Ear
- Laraby’s Gang – Chris Barron
- At This Hour
- Someday All This Will Be Road
- Beasts in the Woods
Luna: Bewitched
On March 1, 1994, “Elektra” label released “Bewitched”, the second Luna studio album. It was recorded in 1993, at “RPM Studios” and “Right Track Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Dean Wareham, Sean Eden, Justin Harwood, Stanley Demeski and Victor Van Vugt.
Personnel:
- Dean Wareham– vocals, guitars
- Sean Eden –guitar
- Sterling Morrison– guitar
- Justin Harwood– bass, vibes, Hammond organ
- Stanley Demeski –drums, percussion, vibes
- Grasshopper –clarinet
- Frank London– trumpet
- Baumgartner– Hammond organ
- Victor Van Vugt– engineer
- Jen Monnar – engineer assistant
- Susanne Dyer – engineer assistant
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Dean Wareham, Sean Eden, Justin Harwood, Stanley Demeski, all lyrics by Dean Wareham.
- California (All the Way)
- Tiger Lily
- Friendly Advice
- Bewitched
- This Time Around
- Great Jones Street
- Going Home
- Into the Fold
- I Know You Tried
- Sleeping Pill
Pops Staples
On December 19, 2000, Roebuck “Pops” Staples died aged 85. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, regarded as one of the key figures of the gospel, soul and R&B scene of the 60’ and 70’, and was best known as founder and leader of The Staple Singers. As leader he released three albums, and one posthumously released under his name.
The Stone Roses: Second Coming
On December 5, 1994, “Geffen” label released “Second Coming”, the second Stone Roses (The) studio album. It was recorded 1992 – 1994, at “Forge Studios” in Wales, and was produced by Simon Dawson and Paul Schroeder. “Second Coming” was certified Platinum in UK by “BPI”.
Personnel:
- Ian Brown– lead vocals, harmonica, recording of running water
- John Squire – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, recording, collage
- Simon Dawson – keyboards, Jew’s harp, castanets, Wurlitzer electric piano, acoustic piano, engineer
- Mani– bass guitar
- Reni– lead and backing vocals, drums, recording of running water
- Nick Brine – tambourine, engineer assistant
- Paul Schroeder – engineer
- John Leckie– recording
- Mark Tolle – recording
- Al “Bongo” Shaw – recording
Track listing:
All tracks by John Squire, except where noted.
- Breaking into Heaven
- Driving South
- Ten Storey Love Song
- Daybreak – Ian Brown,Gary Mounfield, John Squire, Alan Wren
- Your Star Will Shine
- Straight to the Man – Ian Brown
- Begging You – John Squire, Ian Brown
- Tightrope
- Good Times
- Tears
- How Do You Sleep
- Love Spreads
- Untitled – Ian Brown, Gary Mounfield, John Squire, Alan Wren
Nick Lowe: The Impossible Bird
On November 29, 1994, “Demon” label released “The Impossible Bird”, the ninth Nick Lowe album. It was recorded in 1994, at “The Turk’s Head Function Room” in Twickenham, Middlesex; “The Old Cinema” in Brentford, Middlesex and “The Bonaparte Rooms”, in Twickenham, Middlesex, and was produced by Nick Lowe and Neil Brockbank.
Personnel:
- Nick Lowe – vocals, rhythm and acoustic guitar, bass guitar
- Gary Grainger– guitar
- Geraint Watkins– organ, electric guitar
- Bill Kirchen– trombone, electric guitar
- Paul Riley– bass guitar
- Robert Treherne– drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Nick Lowe, except where noted.
- Soulful Wind
- The Beast in Me
- True Love Travels on a Gravel Road – Dallas Frazier, L. Owens
- Trail of Tears – Roger Cook, Allen Reynolds
- Shelley My Love
- Where’s My Everything?
- 12-Step Program (To Quit You Babe)
- Lover Don’t Go
- Drive-Thru Man
- Withered on the Vine
- I Live on a Battlefield – Paul Carrack, Nick Lowe
- 14 Days
- I’ll Be There – Ray Price, Rusty Gabbard
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