Tag Archives: ABC Records

Rufus: Rags To Rufus

In May 1974, “ABC Records” label released “Rags To Rufus”, the second Rufus studio album. It was recorded 1973-1974, at “Quantum Studios” in Torrance, California, and was produced by Chaka Khan, Dennis Beifield, André Fischer, Kevin Murphy, Al Ciner, Ron Stockert and Bob Monaco. The album was certified Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Chaka Khan– lead and backing vocals
  • Al Ciner – acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals
  • Tony Maiden – vocals, guitar, talk box
  • Nate Morgan – keyboards
  • Kevin Murphy– organ, clavinet, backing vocals
  • Ron Stockert – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
  • Dennis Belfield – bass, backing vocals
  • André Fischer – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Ron Stockert, Dennis Belfield, Al Ciner – string and horn arrangements
  • Clare Fischer– orchestration
  • Don Sciarrotta – chief recording, re-mix engineer
  • Tony Sciarrotta – engineer assistant
  • Vic Zaslow – mastering

Track listing:

  1. You Got the Love – Chaka Khan, Ray Parker, Jr.
  2. I Got the Right Street (But the Wrong Direction) – Ron Stockert
  3. Walkin’ in the Sun – Jeff Barry
  4. Rags to Rufus – Kevin Murphy, André Fischer, Chaka Khan, Ron Stockert, Dennis Belfield, Al Ciner
  5. Swing Down Chariot – Kevin Murphy, André Fischer, Chaka Khan, Ron Stockert, Dennis Belfield, Al Ciner
  6. Sideways – Kevin Murphy, André Fischer, Chaka Khan, Ron Stockert, Dennis Belfield, Al Ciner
  7. Ain’t Nothin’ But a Maybe – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  8. Tell Me Something Good – Stevie Wonder
  9. Look Through My Eyes – Dennis Belfield
  10. “In Love We Grow – Dennis Belfield
  11. Smokin’ Room – Dennis Belfield

Steely Dan: Katy Lied

In March 1975, “ABC Records” label released “Katy Lied” the fourth Steely Dan album. It was recorded November 1974-January 1975, at “ABS Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen– vocals, piano, keyboards, saxophone
  • Walter Becker– bass, guitar
  • Michael Omartian, David Paich– pianos, keyboards
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Denny Dias– guitar
  • Rick Derringer– guitar
  • Dean Parks– guitar
  • Elliott Randall– guitar
  • Larry Carlton– guitar
  • Wilton Felder, Chuck Rainey– bass guitars
  • Jeff Porcaro– drums
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Victor Feldman– percussion
  • Phil Woods– alto saxophone
  • Jimmie Haskell– horns, horns arrangement
  • Bill Perkins– horns
  • Michael McDonald– backing vocals
  • Myrna Matthews, Sherlie Matthews, Carolyn Willis – backing vocals
  • Jimmie Haskell – arrangements
  • Roger Nichols – engineer
  • Rick Collins – mastering
  • Dinky Dawson – sound consultant
  • Daniel Levitin – concultant

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. Black Friday
  2. Bad Sneakers
  3. Rose Darling
  4. Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More
  5. Doctor Wu
  6. Everyone’s Gone to the Movies
  7. Your Gold Teeth II
  8. Chain Lightning
  9. Any World (That I’m Welcome To)
  10. Throw Back the Little Ones

Crosby & Nash: Wind On The Water

wind-on-the-water

On September 15, 1975, “ABC Records” label released “Wind on the Water”, the second Crosby & Nash album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Rudy Records” in San Francisco, “Sound Labs” and “Village Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Barncard.

Personnel:

  • David Crosby— vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, twelve-string guitar, piano
  • Graham Nash— vocals, electric guitar, piano, organ, congas
  • David Lindley— slide guitar, fiddle
  • Danny Kortchmar— electric guitar
  • Joel Bernstein— guitar, backing vocals
  • James Taylor— guitar, backing vocals
  • Ben Keith— slide guitar
  • Craig Doerge— electric piano, piano, organ
  • Carole King— vocals, organ, piano
  • Stan Szelest — electric piano
  • Tim Drummond — bass
  • Leland Sklar— bass
  • Russell Kunkel— drums, percussion
  • Levon Helm— drums
  • Jackson Browne— backing vocals
  • Jimmie Haskell— string arrangements
  • Sid Sharp — orchestra leader
  • Stephen Barncard, Don Gooch —engineer
  • Stanley Johnston — engineer assistant
  • Gary Burden— art direction
  • Joel Bernstein — photography

Track listing:

  1. Carry Me – David Crosby
  2. Mama Lion – Graham Nash
  3. Bittersweet – David Crosby
  4. Take the Money and Run – Graham Nash
  5. Naked in the Rain – David Crosby, Graham Nash
  6. Love Work Out – Graham Nash
  7. Low Down Payment – David Crosby
  8. Cowboy of Dreams – Graham Nash
  9. Homeward Through the Haze – David Crosby
  10. Fieldworker – Graham Nash
  11. To the Last Whale…(A. Critical Mass B. Wind on the Water) – David Crosby, Graham Nash

Steely Dan: Aja

Aja

On September 23, 1977, “ABC” label released “Aja”, the sixth Steely Dan studio album . It was recorded January – July 1977, at the “Village Recorder” in  West Los Angeles, “Producer’s Workshop” and “Sound Labs”  in Hollywood, “Warner Bros” studios in Burbank, “ABC” studios in New York City,  “A&R” studios in Manhattan, and was produced by Gary Katz.  In July 1978, the album won the “Grammy Award for Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording”. In 2003 “Aja” was ranked number 145 on “Rolling Stone” magazine “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen- lead and backing vocals, synthesizer, police whistle
  • Walter Becker- bass, guitar, guitar solos
  • Larry Carlton- guitar, guitar solo
  • Denny Dias- guitar
  • Dean Parks- guitar
  • Steve Khan- guitar
  • Jay Graydon- solo guitar
  • Victor Feldman- electric piano, vibraphone, piano, percussion
  • Joe Sample- electric piano, clavinet
  • Paul Griffin- electric piano, backing vocals
  • Michael Omartian- piano
  • Don Grolnick- clavinet
  • Chuck Rainey- bass
  • Paul Humphrey- drums
  • Steve Gadd- drums
  • Bernard Purdie- drums
  • Rick Marotta- drums
  • Ed Greene – drums
  • Jim Keltner- drums, percussion
  • Gary Coleman – percussion
  • Tom Scott- tenor saxophone, lyricon, horn arrangements
  • Wayne Shorter– tenor saxophone
  • Pete Christlieb- tenor saxophone
  • Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxophones, flutes
  • Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
  • Michael McDonald, Timothy B. Schmit, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields, Rebecca Louis – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. Black Cow
  2. Aja
  3. Deacon Blues
  4. Peg
  5. Home At Last
  6. I Got The News
  7. Josie