Tag Archives: Aaron Smith

David Ruffin: Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay

In December 1974, “Motown” label released “Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay”, the fifth David Ruffin album. It was recorded 1973 – 1974, at “Motown Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Whitfield and Mark Davis.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals
  • Dennis Coffey, Eddie Willis, Johnny McGhee, Melvin Ragin – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Mark Davis – keyboards
  • Henry Davis, Ron Brown – bass
  • Aaron Smith, Ed Greene, James Gadson – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown, Stephanie Spruill – percussion
  • Mykal Moore – saxophone
  • Freddy Dunn, Kenny Copeland – trumpet
  • Carolyn Willis, Jessie Kirkland, Joe Greene, Julia Waters, Lisa Roberts, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I Saw You When You Met Her – Norman Whitfield
  2. Take Me Clear from Here – Vincent DiMirco
  3. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay – Norman Whitfield
  5. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  6. No Matter Where – Clarence Drayton, Tamy Smith
  7. City Stars – Charles Higgins Jr, Dobie Gray
  8. I Just Want to Celebrate – Dino Fekaris, Nick Zesses

Doug Sahm: Texas Tornado

In December 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Texas Tornado”, the second Doug Sahm studio album. It was recorded in October 1972, at “Atlantic Studios” and “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin and Doug Sahm.

Personnel:

  • Doug Sahm – vocals, guitar, bajo sexto, fiddle, electric piano, arrangements
  • Atwood Allen – acoustic guitar, harmony
  • Frank Paredes – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Luis Ortéga – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Charlie Owens – steel guitar
  • Andy Statman – mandolin
  • Mike Nock – electric piano
  • George Stubbs – electric piano
  • Flaco Jiménez – accordion
  • Augie Meyers – Vox Continental
  • Dr. John – piano, organ
  • Jack Barber – bass
  • Steve Vargas – bass
  • George Rains – drums
  • Pancho Morales – percussion
  • Warren Chiasson – vibraphone
  • David Bromberg – dobro
  • Kenny Kosek – fiddle
  • Rocky Morales – tenor saxophone
  • David “Fathead” Newman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Martin Fierro – tenor saxophone
  • Mel Martin – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson – trumpet
  • Jack Wilmoth – trumpet
  • Charley MacBirney – trumpet
  • Neil Rosengarden – flugelhorn
  • Jimmy Douglass – engineer
  • Ken Hopkins – engineer, mixing
  • Dan Healy – mixing
  • Lew Hahn – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Doug Sahm.

  1. San Francisco FM Blues
  2. Someday
  3. Blue Horizon
  4. Tennessee Blues
  5. Ain’t That Loving You
  6. Texas Tornado
  7. Jaun Mendoza
  8. Chicano
  9. I’ll Be There
  10. Hard Way
  11. Nitty Gritty

The Undisputed Truth: Face to Face With the Truth

In January 1972, “Gordy” label released “Face to Face with the Truth”, the second Undisputed Truth (The) album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Joe “Pep” Harris – lead vocals
  • Billie Rae Calvin – additional lead and backing vocals
  • Brenda Joyce Evans – additional lead and backing vocals
  • Dennis Coffey – lead guitar
  • Melvin Ragin, Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke – piano
  • Johnny Griffin – organ
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Aaron Smith, Richard Allen, Andrew Smith – drums
  • Eddie Brown – bongos, congas
  • Jack Ashford – tambourine, maracas, percussion
  • Jack Brokensha – timpani, vibraphone, bells
  • Norman Whitfield – engineer, mastering, art concept

Track listing:

  1. You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth
  2. What It Is
  3. Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World) / Friendship Train
  4. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
  5. Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me
  6. Don’t Let Him take Your Love from Me
  7. What’s Going On

Brazil: The Philosophy of Velocity

On October 3, 2006, “Immortal” label released “The Philosophy of Velocity”, the third Brazil album. It was recorded in 2006, at “Tarbox Road Studio” in Cassadaga, New York, and was produced by Dave Fridmann, Jonathon Newby, Nic Newby, Aaron Smith, Eric Johnson, James Sefchek and Philip Williams.

Personnel:

  • Jonathon Newby – vocals, keyboards, timpani, chimes, glockenspiel, tambourine
    Nic Newby – keyboards
  • Aaron Smith – electric guitar, engineering
  • Eric Johnson – electric, acoustic, classical and 12-string guitar
  • James Sefchek – drums, timpani, chimes
  • Philip Williams – bass
  • Dave Fridmann – engineer
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Matt Miller – pre-production
  • Brand Smith – pre-production
  • David Schrott – photography
  • Sons of Nero– sleeve art

Track listing:

  1. On Safe-Cracking and Rubella
  2. Crime (and the Antique Solution)
  3. You Never Know
  4. The Vapours
  5. Cameo
  6. Candles (Cast Long Shadows)
  7. Au, Revoir, Mr. Mercury
  8. Captain Mainwaring
  9. A Year In Heaven
  10. The Remarkable Cholmondley Chute System
  11. Breathe
  12. Strange Days

The Temptations: Masterpiece

Temptations-masterpiece

On February 21, 1973, “Gordy” label released “Masterpiece”, the 16th   Temptations (The) album. It was recorded 1972 – 1973, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards: vocals
  • Damon Harris: vocals
  • Richard Street: vocals
  • Melvin Franklin: vocals
  • Otis Williams: vocals
  • Melvin “Wah-Wah Watson” Ragin: guitar
  • Joe Messina: guitar
  • Paul Warren: guitar
  • Robert White: guitar
  • Eddie Willis: guitar
  • Robert Ward: guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke: piano, organ
  • Johnny Griffith: organ
  • Leroy Taylor: bass guitar
  • Bob Babbitt: bass guitar
  • Eddie Watkins: bass guitar
  • Aaron Smith: drums
  • Richard “Pistol” Allen: drums
  • Uriel Jones: drums
  • Andrew Smith: drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown: bongos, congas
  • Jack Ashford: tambourine, maracas, sticks
  • Jack Brokensha: tympani, vibes, bells, gourd
  • Maurice Davis: trumpet
  • Ted Lucas: harmonica
  • Paul Riser: arranger
  • Des Strobel: design
  • Parvis Sadighian: sculpture (for album cover image)
  • Jim Britt: liner photo

Track listing:

All tracks by Norman Whitfield.

  1. Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)
  2. Masterpiece
  3. Ma
  4. Law of the Land
  5. Plastic Man
  6. Hurry Tomorrow