Tag Archives: 2015

Momus: Glyptothek

On December 5, 2015, “American Patchwork” label released “Glyptothek”, the 29th Momus album. It was recorded in 2015, in Osaka, Japan, and was produced by Nicholas Currie.

Personnel:

  • Momus (Nicholas Currie) – performer
  • Hagen Verleger – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Nicholas Currie.

  1. The Art Creep
  2. Masks of Bebko
  3. Moral Mountain
  4. Chef Biff
  5. The Kappa
  6. The Etruscan Shepherd
  7. AFK
  8. Gregor Samsa
  9. Hinkfuss at the Glyptothek
  10. The Labourer
  11. The Manticore
  12. Electric Dionysus
  13. Candualism
  14. Nikki Danjo
  15. Old Nick
  16. Papposilenus

Enya: Dark Sky Island

On November 20, 2015, “Warner Bros” label released “Dark Sky Island”, the eighth Enya studio album. It was recorded 2012 – 2015, at “Aigle Studio” in Killney, Ireland, and was produced by Nicky Ryan.

Personnel:

  • Enya – vocals, instrumentation, mixing
  • Eddie Lee – double bass 
  • Nicky Ryan – arrangements, engineer, mixing, album sleeve conception
  • Dick Beetham – mastering
  • Roma Ryan – Loxian language, font
  • Daniel Polley – digital advisor, technician
  • Simon Fowler – album sleeve conception, photography
  • Richard Welland – booklet layout
  • Michael Whitham – commissioner

Track listing:

All lyrics by Roma Ryan, all music by Enya.

  1. The Hamming
  2. So I Could Find My Way
  3. Even in the Shadows
  4. The Forge of the Angels
  5. Echoes in Rain
  6. I Could Never Say Goodbye
  7. Dark Sky Island
  8. Sancta Maria
  9. Astra et Luna
  10. The Loxian Gate
  11. Diamonds on the Water

Hollywood Vampires: Same

On September 11, 2015, “Republic Records” label released the self-titled, debut Hollywood Vampires album. It was recorded 2012 – 2014, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bob Ezrin.

Personnel:

  • Alice Cooper – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Johnny Depp – lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Joe Perry – lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
  • Sir Christopher Lee – vocals
  • Brian Johnson – vocals
  • Perry Farrell – vocals, backing vocals
  • Orianthi – guitar
  • Joe Walsh – guitar
  • Robby Krieger – guitar
  • Slash – guitar
  • Sir Paul McCartney – vocals, piano, bass
  • Tommy Henriksen – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
  • Justin Cortelyou – keyboards
  • Bob Ezrin – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Charlie Judge – keyboards
  • Bruce Witkin – bass, keyboards, guitar
  • Kip Winger – bass, backing vocals
  • Dennis Dunaway – bass
  • Zak Starkey – drums
  • Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums, backing vocals
  • Dave Grohl – drums
  • Neal Smith – drums
  • Glen Sobel – drums

Track listing:

  1. The Last Vampire – Johnny Deepp, Bob Ezrin, Christopher Lee
  2. Raise the Dead – Johnny Depp, Bob Ezrin, Alice Cooper, Bruce Witkin, Rob Klonel
  3. My Generation – Pete Townshend
  4. Whole Lotta Love – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham. John Paul Jones
  5. I Got a Line on You – Randy California
  6. Five to One/Break on Through – Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore
  7. One/Jump into the Fire – Harry Nilsson
  8. Come and Get It – Paul McCartney
  9. Jeepster – Marc Bolan
  10. Cold Turkey – John Lennon
  11. Manic Depression – Jimi Hendrix
  12. Itchycoo Park – Steve Marriot, Ronnie Lane
  13. Schools Out/Another Brick in the Wall (part 2) – Alice Cooper, Micael Bruce, Glen Buxton, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith, Roger Waters
  14. My Dead Drunk Friends – Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Bob Ezrin, Bruce Witkin, Tommy Henriksen

Beirut: No No No

On September 11, 2015, “4AD” label released “No No No”, the fourth Beirut studio album. It was recorded in 2015, and was produced by Zach Condon and Gabe Wax.

Personnel:

  • Zach Condon – vocals, piano, synthesizer (Roland, Moog Rogue, Korg, Moog Sub Phatty, Moog Voyager, trumpet, organ, electric piano, mellotron, ukulele, Rhodes, celesta
  • Nick Petree – percussion, acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Paul Collins – bass, electric guitar, double bass, organ, backing vocals
  • Perrin Cloutier – tom tom, accordion
  • Kyle Resnick – trumpet
  • Ben Lanz – trombone
  • Ben Russell – violin
  • Yuki Numata Resnick – violin
  • Clarice Jensen – cello

Track listing:

All tracks by Zach Condon.

  1. Gibraltar
  2. No No No
  3. At Once
  4. August Holland
  5. As Needed
  6. Perth
  7. Pacheco
  8. Fener
  9. So Allowed

Blondie: Pollinator

On May 5, 2017, “BMG Rights Management” label released “Pollinator”, the eleventh Blondie studio album. It was recorded 2015 – 2017, at “The magic Shop” in New York City, and was produced by John Congleton.

Personnel:

  • Deborah Harry – vocals
  • Chris Stein – guitar
  • Tommy Kessler – guitar
  • Johnny Marr – guitar
  • Nick Valensi – guitar
  • Matt Katz-Bohen – keyboards
  • Leigh Foxx – bass guitar
  • Clem Burke – drums
  • What Cheer? Brigade – drums, horns
  • Joan Jett – backing vocals
  • John Roberts – backing vocals
  • Gregory Brothers – backing vocals
  • Kabir Hermon – engineer
  • Rich Costey – mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Tony Hoffer – additional production

Track listing:

  1. Doom of Destiny – Chris Stein, Deborah Harry
  2. Long Time – Deborah Harry, Dey Hynes
  3. Already Naked – Matthew Katz Bohen, Laurel Katz Bohen, Lucian Piane
  4. Fun – David Sitek, Daniel Ledinsky, Erik Hasale, Adiam Feireiss
  5. My Monster – Johnny Marr
  6. Best Day Ever – Sia Furler, Nick Valensi
  7. Gravity – Charlotte Aitchison, Dimitri Tikovoï
  8. When I Gave Up on You – Michael Gregory, Andrew Gregory
  9. Love Level – Deborah Harry, Chris Stein
  10. Too Much – Matthew Katz Bohen, Laurel Katz Bohen
  11. Fragments – Adam Johnston

John Mellencamp: Sad Clowns & Hillbillies

On April 28, 2017, “Republic Records” label released “Sad Clowns & Hillbillies”, the 23rd John Mellencamp studio album. It was recorded December 2015 – February 2016, at “Belmont Mall” in Belmont, Indiana, and was produced by John Mellencamp.

Personnel:

  • John Mellencamp – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Carlene Carter – duet and backing vocals
  • Andy York – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Mike Wanchic – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Izzy Stradlin – electric guitar
  • Troye Kinnett – keyboards, harmonica
  • John Gunnell – bass
  • Toby Myers – electric bass
  • Dane Clark – drums
  • Stan Lynch – drums
  • Kenny Aronoff – drums, percussion
  • Miriam Sturm – violin
  • Martina McBride – vocal
  • Carlene Carter – vocal
  • Lily & Madeleine – backing vocals
  • Christie Brinkley – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by John Mellencamp, except where noted.

  1. Mobile Blue – Mickey Newbury
  2. Battle of Angels
  3. Grandview – John Mellencamp, Bobby Clark
  4. Indigo Sunset – John Mellencamp, Carlene Carter
  5. What Kind of Man Am I
  6. All Night talk Radio
  7. Sugar Hill Mountain
  8. You Are Blind
  9. Damascus Road – Carlene Carter
  10. Early Bird Café – Lane Tietgen
  11. Sad Clowns
  12. My Soul’s Got Wings – John Mellencamp, Woody Guthrie
  13. Easy Target

Ahmad Jamal

On April 16, 2023, Ahmad Jamal died aged 92. He was musician (piano), composer, bandleader, and educator, one of the most successful small-group leaders and one of the most important artists in jazz history. For his work Jamal received many awards including:

  • 1959: Entertainment Award, Pittsburgh Junior Chamber of Commerce
  • 1980: Distinguished Service Award, City of Washington D.C., Anacostia Neighborhood Museum
  • 1986: Mellon Jazz Festival Salutes Ahmad Jamal, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 1987: Honorary Membership, Philippines Jazz Foundation
  • 1994: American Jazz Masters award, National Endowment for the Arts
  • 2001: Arts & Culture Recognition Award, National Coalition of 100 Black Women
  • 2001: Kelly-Strayhorn Gallery of Stars, for Achievements as Pianist and Composer, East Liberty Quarter Chamber of Commerce
  • 2003: American Jazz Hall of Fame, New Jersey Jazz Society
  • 2003: Gold Medallion, Steinway & Sons 150 Years Celebration
  • 2007: Living Jazz Legend, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
  • 2007: Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, French government
  • 2011: Down Beat Hall of Fame, 76th Readers Poll
  • 2015: Honorary Doctorate of Music, The New England Conservatory
  • 2017: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, The Recording Academy
  • 2018: Leopolis Jazz Music Awards Leopolis Jazz Fest, Lviv

As leader, Jamal released 69 albums.

Sam Beam: Love Letter for Fire

On April 15, 2016, “Sub Pop” label released “Love Letter for Fire”, album by Sam Beam, and Jesca Hoop. It was recorded in 2015, at “Flora Recording & Playback” in Portland, Oregon, and was produced by Tucker Martine.

Personnel:

  • Sam Beam – vocals, guitar, design
  • Jesca Hoop – vocals, guitar, design
  • Rob Burger – keyboards, string arrangements
  • Sebastian Steinberg – bass
  • Glenn Kotche – drums, percussion
  • Eyvind Kang – violin, viola
  • Edward Rankin-Parker – cello
  • Tucker Martine – recording, mixing
  • Michael Finn – engineer assistant
  • Richard Dodd – mastering
  • John Golden – vinyl mastering
  • Keegan Curry – additional technician assistance
  • Dusty Summers – design
  • Josh Wool – back cover photography
  • Lissa Gotwals – front cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop.

  1. Welcome to Feeling
  2. One Way to Pray
  3. The Lamb You Lost
  4. We Two Are a Moon
  5. Midas Tongue
  6. Know the Wild That Wants You
  7. Every Songbird Says
  8. Bright Lights and Goodbye
  9. Kiss Me Quick
  10. Chalk It Up to Chi
  11. Valley Clouds
  12. Soft Place to Land
  13. Sailor to Siren

Blancmange: Semi Datached

On March 21, 2015, “Cherry Red Records” label released “Semi Detached”, the sixth Blancmange studio album. It was recorded in 2014, and was produced by Neil Arthur.

Personnel:

  • Neil Arthur – lead vocals, keyboards
  • David Rhodes – guitar
  • Jake Parker – backing vocals
  • Eleanor Arthur – backing and additional vocals
  • Helen Kincaid, Joe Arthur, Tony Brook, Harvey Brook, Reed Wilson, Rupert Howe – additional vocals
  • Adam Fuest – mixing
  • Tim Debney – mastering
  • Adam Yeldham – artwork
  • Helen Kincaid – asteroid painting

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Arthur, except where noted.

  1. The Fall – Neil Arthur, Graham Henderson
  2. I Want More – Michael Karoli, Irmin Schmidt, Holger Czukay, Jaki Liebezeit, Peter Gilmour
  3. Paddington
  4. It Didn’t Take Long
  5. MKS Lover
  6. Like I Do
  7. Deep in the Mine
  8. Acid
  9. Useless
  10. Bloody Hell Fire

Elbow: Little Fictions

On February 3, 2017, “Polydor” and “Concord” labels released “Little Fictions”, the seventh Elbow studio album. It was recorded 2015 – 2016, at “Blueprint Studios” in Salford, “Gargunnock House” in Stirling, “Elbow Rooms” in Manchester, and was produced by Craig Potter.

Personnel:

  • Guy Garvey – lead vocals, guitar
  • Craig Potter – keyboard, piano, backing vocals
  • Mark Potter – guitar, backing vocals
  • Pete Turner – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Alex Reeves – drums percussion
  • The Halle Orchestra, the Halle Ancoats Community Choir, members of London Contemporary Voices

Track listing:

  1. Magnificent (She Says)
  2. Gentle Storm
  3. Trust the Sun
  4. All Disco
  5. Head for Supplies
  6. Firebrand & Angel
  7. K2
  8. Montparnasse
  9. Little Fiction
  10. Kindling