Tag Archives: Al Capps

Sparks: Introducing Sparks

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In October 1977, “Columbia” label released “Introducing Sparks”, the seventh Sparks album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Larrabee Sound” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Jimmy Lenner, Terry Powell, Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael – lead and backing vocals
  • Ron Mael – keyboards, arrangements
  • Alan Broadbent, Ben Benay, David Foster, Ed Greene, David Paich, Mike Porcaro, Reinie Press, Lee Ritenour, Thom Rotella – musicians
  • Tom Bahler, Al Capps, Stan Farber, Jim Haas, Ron Hicklin, Mark Piscitelli, Nick Uhrig – backing vocals
  • Lenny Roberts – engineer
  • Betsy Banghart, Randy Tominaga – engineer assistant
  • Al Capps – arrangements
  • John Kehe, Tommy Steele – design
  • Bob Seidemann – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

  1. A Big Surprise
  2. Occupation
  3. Ladies
  4. I’m Not
  5. Forever Young
  6. Goofing Off
  7. Girls on the Brain
  8. Over the Summer
  9. Those Mysteries

Mason Williams: The Mason Williams Phonograph Record

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In February 1968, “Warner Bros” label released “The Mason Williams Phonograph Record”, the second Mason Williams album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Mike Post. Mason Williams won two “Grammy Awards”, for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” and “Best Instrumental Theme”. Mike Post won “Grammy Award” for “Best Instrumental Arrangement of a song”.

Personnel:

  • Mason Williams – guitar, arrangements
  • Alvin Casey, David Cohen, James Burton, Michael Deasy – guitar
  • Lawrence Knechtel, Michael Melvoin – piano
  • Carl Fortina – accordion
  • Bob West, Lawrence Knechtel, Lyle Ritz – bass
  • Lyle Ritz – double bass
  • James Beck Gordon – drums
  • Gary L. Coleman, Gene Estes – percussion
  • Richard J. Hyde, Hoyt Bohannon, Lew McCreary, Richard Leith – trombone
  • David Duke, William Hinshaw – French horn, tuba
  • David Burk, Emanuel Moss, George Kast, Harry Bluestone, Israel Baker, Jack Gootkin, Jimmy Getzoff, Jerry Reisler, John Vidor, Ralph Schaeffer, Robert Korda, Robert Sushel, Sidney Sharp, Stan Plummer, Tibor Zelig, William Kurasch – violin
  • Armand Kaproff, Jerome Kessler, Jesse Ehrlich, Joe DiTullio – cello
  • Gail Levant – harp
  • Jim Horn, Tommy Scott – woodwind
  • Phil Kaye – effects
  • Al Capps – arrangements
  • Mike Post – arrangements
  • Stan Cornyn – liner notes

Track listing:

 All tracks by Mason Williams, except where noted.

  1. Overture – Mike Post
  2. All the Time
  3. Dylan Thomas – Lowell Mason
  4. Wanderlove
  5. She’s Gone Away
  6. Here Am I
  7. Classical Gas
  8. Long Time Blues
  9. Baroque-a-Nova – Alan Blye, Mason Williams
  10. The Prince’s Panties
  11. Life Song
  12. Sunflower

Gábor Szabó And Bob Thiele: Light My Fire

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In February 1968, “Impulse!” label released “Light My Fire”, album Gábor Szabó and Bob Thiele (the seventh Gábor Szabó album overall). It was recorded August – September 1967, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Gábor Szabó – guitar
  • Bob Thiele – director
  • Dennis Budimir, Louis Morell – rhythm guitar
  • Bill Plummer – sitar
  • Lincoln Mayorga – piano, harpsichord
  • Mike Melvoin – piano, organ, harpsichord
  • Max Bennett, Carol Kaye – electric bass
  • Jim Gordon, John Guerin – drums
  • Gary Coleman, Emil Richards – percussion
  • Buddy Collette, Bob Hardaway, Bud Shank – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute
  • Tom Scott – tenor saxophone
  • Ollie Mitchell, Ray Triscari, Jimmy Zito, Gary Barone, Bud Brisbois – trumpet
  • Lew McCreary, Mike Barone, Dick Leith – trombone
  • Howard Johnson – tuba
  • Sid Feller – arranger
  • The California Dreamers: Ron Hicklin, Al Capps, Loren Farber, John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ian Freebairn-Smith, Sally Stevens, Sue Allen, Jackie Ward – vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Gábor Szabó, except where noted.

  1. Forest Flower – Charles Lloyd
  2. Rainy Day Woman – Bob Dylan
  3. Krishna
  4. Light My Fire – Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger
  5. Fakin’ It – Paul Simon
  6. Eight Miles High – David Crosby, Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn
  7. Sophisticated Wheels

Gábor Szabó: Wind, Sky And Diamonds

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In February 1968, “Impulse!” label released “Wind, Sky and Diamonds”, the eight Gábor Szabó album. It was recorded in September 1967, at “Western Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Gábor Szabó – guitar, recitation
  • Dennis Budimir, Herb Ellis, Louis Morell, Howard Roberts – guitar
  • Bill Plummer – sitar
  • Mike Melvoin – piano, harpsichord
  • Carol Kaye, Ray Pohlman – electric bass
  • Jimmy Gordon, John Guerin – drums
  • Victor Feldman, Emil Richards – percussion
  • The California Dreamers: Ron Hicklin, Al Capps, Loren Farber, John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ian Freebairn-Smith, Sally Stevens, Sue Allen, Jackie Ward – vocals
  • Eddie Bracket – engineer
  • Robert and Barbara Flynn – front cover design
  • Joe Lebow – liner design
  • Jim Marshall – cover photography
  • Irv Glaser – liner photography

 Track listing:

  1. San Franciscan Nights – Eric Burdon, Vic Briggs, John Weider, Barry Jenkins, Danny McCulloch
  2. A Day in the Life – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon) – John Phillips
  4. To Sir with Love – Don Black, Mark London
  5. White Rabbit – Grace Slick
  6. Guantanamera – Joseíto Fernández
  7. Saigon Bride – Joan Baez, Nina Duscheck
  8. The End of Life – John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Gábor Szabó
  9. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  10. Are You There? – Gábor Szabó, Steve Allen
  11. W.C. Fields – John Bahler, Tom Bahler

The Ventures: Where the Action Is

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In January 1965, “Dolton Records” label released “Where the Action Is”, the 20th Ventures (The) album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Joe Saraceno.

Personnel:

  • Don Wilson – rhythm guitar
  • Bob Bogle – lead guitar, bass
  • Nokie Edwards – bass, lead guitar
  • Mel Taylor – drums
  • Harold “Lanky” Lintstrot – engineer
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Ken Kim – design

Track listing:

  1. Action – Steve Venet, Tommy Boyce
  2. Lies – Beau Charles, Buddy Randell
  3. Fever – Eddie Cooley, John Davenport
  4. Stop Action – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  5. 3’s Crowd – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  6. A Taste of Honey – Bobby Scott, Ric Marlow
  7. No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In) – Granville Sasha Burland
  8. Action Plus – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  9. Hang on Sloopy – Bert Russell, Wes Farrell
  10. Nutty – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  11. Little Bit of Action – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  12. She’s Just My Style – Al Capps, Gary Lewis, Leon Russell, Tom Lesslie