On January 14, 1997, “High Tone” label released “Small Revelations”, the seventh Chris Smither album. It was recorded in September 1996, and was produced by Stephen Bruton.
Personnel:
Track listing:
All tracks by Chris Smither except where noted.
On January 2, 1997, Randy Craig Wolfe aka Randy California died aged 45. He was musician (guitar, bass), singer and songwriter, member of the bands Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, Deep Purple, but was best known as the founding member and guitarist of the band Spirit. As leader he released five albums.
On December 16, 1997, Nicolette Larson died aged 45. She was songwriter and singer, recorded and performed with The Doobie Brothers, Marcia Ball, Rodney Crowell, Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Commander Cody, Steve Wariner, Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, but was best known for her work with Neil Young. As a leader she released 13 albums.
On December 14, 1997, Kurt Winter died aged 51. He was musician (guitar), and songwriter, member of the bands Gettysbyrg Address, The Fifth, and Brother, but was best known as songwriter and guitarist of The Guess Who.
On December 5, 2017, Jean-Philippe Léo Smet aka Johnny Hallyday died aged 74. He was musician (piano, guitar), singer and actor, the pioneer of the French rock and roll scene. He was called “The French Elvis”, and described as “The biggest rock star you’ve never heard of in English-speaking countries”. In 1997, he was made “Chevalier of the Legion of Honour”, and in 2001, Officer of the “Order of the Crown” in Belgium. In his more than four decades long career he worked with many famous musicians including Mick Jones, Jimmy Page, Tony Joe White, Dalida, Bon Jovi, Michael Bolton, Sylvie Vartan, Bono, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Tommy Brown, Connie Francis, and Laura Pausini. In his lifetime Hallyday released 81 studio and live albums.
On November 10, 1997, Thomas J. Tedesco died aged 67. He was a musician (guitar), part of the loose collective of Los Angeles area’s session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. As he played on hundreds studio recordings, “Guitar Player” magazine described him as “the most recorded guitarist in music history”. He recorded with the Beach Boys, Chet Baker, the Mamas & the Papas, the Everly Brothers, the Association, Bobby Darrin, Barbra Streisand, Jan and Dean, the 5th Dimension, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Ricky Nelson, Cher, Neil Diamond, Van Dyke Parks, Michael Franks, Nancy and Frank Sinatra, Richard Harris, Peggy Lee, Johnny Rivers, Al Kooper, Michael Nesmith, Paul Anka, Don Ellis, Minnie Riperton, Maria Muldaur, Leon Russell, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, J.J. Cale, Quincy Jones, Stephen Bishop, Kenny Loggins, Jack Nitzsche, Sarah Vaughan, Lalo Schifrin, Randy Newman, Hugh Masakela, and Joan Baez. Tedesco performed on soundtracks including The French Connection, Jaws, The Godfather, Field of Dreams, and The Deer Hunter. As a leader he released ten albums.
On November 4, 1997, “MCA” label released “Deuces Wild”, the thirty fifth B.B. King studio album. It was recorded in 1997, and was produced by John Porter and Chris Lord-Alge.
Personnel:
Track listing:
On October 31, 1997, “Crippled Dick Hot Wax!” label released “Matrikamantra”, the fourth Lydia Lunch album. It was recorded in March 1997, “Harbinger House” in New York, “Palace Acropolis” in Praha, Czech Republic, and was produced by Lydia Lunch.
Personnel:
Harbinger House
Live in Praque
Track listing:
All lyrics by Lydia Lunch, all music by Joseph Budenholzer.
Harbinger House
Live in Prague
October 27, 1998, “Elektra” label released “The Story of the Ghost”, the seventh Phish studio album. It was recorded March – October 1997, April – June 1998, at “Bearsville Studios” in New York, “Dave O’s Farmhouse”, and was produced by Andy Wallace.
Personnel:
Track listing:
On October 19, 1999, “ECM” label released “A Long Time Ago”, the 16th Kenny Wheeler album. It was recorded September 1997 – January 1998, at “Gateway Studio” in Kingston, and was produced by Manfred Eicher.
Personnel:
Track listing:
All tracks by Kenny Wheeler.
