Tag Archives: 2017

Rick Wakeman: Piano Portraits

On January 13, 2017, “Universal Music Group” label released “Piano Portraits”, album by Rick Wakeman. It was recorded July – August 2016, at “The Old Granary Studio” in Norfolk, UK, and was produced by Rick Wakeman.

Personnel:

  • Rick Wakeman– Steinway Model D concert grand piano
  • Erik Jordan – engineer
  • Ian Brown – project co-ordinator
  • Stylorouge – design
  • Rob O’Connor – photographer
  • Dick Beetham – mastering at 360 Mastering

Track listing:

  1. Help – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  2. Stairway to Heaven – Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
  3. Life on Mars – David Bowie
  4. I’m Not in Love – Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman
  5. Wonderous Stories – Jon Anderson
  6. Berceuse – Gabriel Fauré, arr. Rick Wakeman
  7. Amazing Grace – traditional, arr. by Rick Wakeman
  8. Swan Lake – Peter Tchaikovsky, arr. by Rick Wakeman
  9. Morning Has Broken – traditional, arr. by Rick Wakeman
  10. Summertime – George Gershwin
  11. Space Oddity – David Bowie
  12. Dance of the Damselflies – Rick Wakeman
  13. Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy, arr. by Rick Wakeman
  14. I Vow to Thee, My Country – Gustav Holst, arr. by Rick Wakeman
  15. Eleanor Rigby – John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Brian Eno: Reflection

On January 1, 2017, “Warp” label released “Reflection”, the twenty-sixth Brian Eno studio album. It was recorded in 2017, and was produced by Brian Eno.

Personnel:

  • Brian Eno– performer, cover image, photography
  • Peter Chilvers– mutation software
  • Matt Colton– mastering
  • Nick Robertson – layout, design

Track listing:

All tracks by Brian Eno.

  1. Reflection

Fats Domino

On October 24, 2017, Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr. died aged 89. He was musician (piano), singer and song-writer, regarded as one of the Rock and Roll pioneers and most important artists in the popularization of the early rock and roll. He had 11 top 10 hits between 1955 and 1960, and 35 records in the U.S. Billboard Top 40. His best known songs are “Ain’t That a Shame” and “Blueberry Hill”, and he has sold more than 65 million records worldwide. Fats Domino was one the first musicians inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.

George Young

On October 22, 2017, George Redburn Young died aged 70. He was musician (guitar, bass, piano, drums), songwriter and music producer, member of the Australian band the Easybeats. With his bandmate Harry Vanda he wrote the hits “Friday on My Mind” and “Love Is in the Air”. In 1973, with Harry Vanda and Ted Albert, he formed “Albert Productions” in Sydney. George Young and Harry Vanda were also producers for AC/DC, (formed by his younger brothers Malcolm and Angus Young). In 1988, George Young and Harry Vanda were inducted into the “ARIA Hall of Fame”.

Tom Petty

On October 2, 2017, Thomas Earl Petty aka Tom Petty, died aged 66. He was singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist and record producer, best known as the leader and singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He was also member and co-founder of the Traveling Wilburys and his early band Mudcrutch. Tom Petty has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In 2002, he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.

Donald Ray Williams

On September 8, 2017, Donald Ray Williams died aged 78. He was musician (guitar, piano), singer and songwriter, known by the nick name “Gentle Giant” of the country music. He had 17 number one country hits, and his songs has been covered by many artists including Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings, Pete Townshend, Claude Russell Bridges, Lefty Frizzell, Josh Turner,  Sonny James, Alison Krauss,  Billy Dean,  Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers,  Lambchop,  Alan Jackson, Tomeu Penya, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. In 2010, he was inducted in the “Country Music Hall of Fame”.

Holger Czukay

On September 5, 2017, Holger Czukay died aged 79. He was musician, music producer, recording engineer, best known as co-founder and member of Can, one of the most influential and important music groups in the music history. Studied under Karlheinz Stockhausen, Czukay is regarded as one of the pioneers of ambient music, early pioneer of sampling and one of the first explorers of “world music”, long before the term was coined. He has released eleven solo albums, and has collaborated with the likes of Conny Plank, The Edge, Jah Wobble, David Sylvian, Ben Mandelson, Dr. Walker, U-She, Ursa Major and Bob Humid.

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.