Tag Archives: Al Stewart

Ben E. King: Spanish Harlem

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On May 1, 1961, “Atco” label released “Spanish Harlem”, the debut Ben E. King album. It was recorded 1960 – 1961, and was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Personnel:

  • Ben E. King – vocals
  • Al Caiola – guitar
  • George Barnes – guitar
  • Ernest Hayes – piano
  • George Duvivier – double bass
  • Gary Chester – drums
  • Ray Barretto – percussion
  • Charlie Margulis – trumpet
  • Urbie Green – trombone
  • Stan Applebaum – arrangements
  • Allen Vogel, Loring Eutemey – artwork

Track listing:

  1. Amor – Gabriel Ruíz, Sunny Skylar, Ricardo López Méndez
  2. Sway – Norman Gimbel, Gabriel Ruíz
  3. Come Closer to Me – Al Stewart, Osvaldo Farrés
  4. Perfidia – Alberto Dominguez, Milton Leeds
  5. Granada – Agustín Lara, Dorothy Dodd
  6. Sweet and Gentle – George Thorn, Otilio del Portal, Martin Ledyard
  7. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps – Joe Davis, Osvaldo Farrés
  8. Frenesí – Alberto Dominguez, Leonard Whitcup
  9. Souvenir of Mexico – Mort Shuman, Doc Pomus
  10. Bésame Mucho – Sunny Skylar, Consuelo Velázquez
  11. Love Me, Love Me – Ben E. King
  12. Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector

Gerald Conway

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On March 29, 2024, Gerald Conway died aged 76. He was musician (drums, percussion), performed and recorded with Alexis Korner, Eclection, Fotheringay, Al Stewart, Cat Stevens, Joan Armatrading, The Bunch, Moke McHear, Grimms, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Richard Thompson and Ian Matthews. Conway was best known for his work with Pentangle, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention.

Francis Monkman

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On May 12, 2023, Francis Monkman died aged 73. He was musician (keyboards, guitar) and movie score composer, member of bands Sisyphus which evolved in Curved Air, and founding member of band Sky. He recorded and toured with Renaissance, The Shadows, Al Stewart, Lynsey de Paul, Phil Manzanera, Brian Eno and Brian Bennett. As leader, Monkman released 14 albums.  

Al Stewart: Past, Present and Future

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In October 1973, “CBS” label released “Past, Present and Future”, the fifth Al Stewart studio album. It was recorded in April 1973, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by John Anthony.

Personnel:

  • Al Stewart – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Tim Renwick – electric guitar
  • Peter Berryman – acoustic guitar
  • Isaac Guillory – acoustic and classical guitar
  • B.J. Cole – steel guitar
  • Peter Wood – keyboards, piano, accordion
  • Rick Wakeman – piano, keyboards
  • Tim Hinkley – keyboards
  • Bob Andrews – keyboards
  • Bob Sargeant – keyboards
  • Francis Monkman – Moog synthesizer
  • Alistair Anderson – English concertina
  • Bruce Thomas – bass
  • Brian Odgers – bass
  • John Wilson – drums
  • Frank Ricotti – percussion
  • Roger Taylor – percussion
  • Richard Hewson – string arrangements
  • Haim Romano – mandolin
  • Dave Swarbrick – mandolin
  • Luciano Bravo – steel band
  • Lennox James – steel band
  • Michael Oliver – steel band
  • Krysia Kocjan – backing vocals
  • John Donelly – backing vocals
  • Mick Welton – backing vocals
  • Kevin Powers – backing vocals
  • Mike “Clay” Stone – engineer
  • Mario Grattarola – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Al Stewart.

  1. Old Admirals
  2. Warren Harding
  3. Soho (Needless to Say)
  4. The Last Day of June 1934
  5. Post World War Two Blues
  6. Roads to Moscow
  7. Terminal Eyes
  8. Nostradamus

Al Stewart: Last Days of the Century

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On August 24, 1988, “Enigma” label released “Last Days of the Century”, the eleventh Al Stewart studio album. It was recorded March – April 1988, at “Capitol Studio B” in Hollywood, and was produced by Joe Chiccarelli.

Personnel:

  • Al Stewart – vocals
  • Peter White – acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards, accordion
  • Tim Renwick – electric guitar
  • Steve Farris – electric guitar
  • Steve Recker – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Tim Landers – bass
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
  • Steve Chapman – drums, percussion
  • Dave Camp – flute, saxophones
  • Phil Kenzie – saxophones
  • Lee R. Thornburg – trumpet
  • Robin Lamble – backing vocals
  • Tori Amos – backing vocals
  • Carroll Sue Hill – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Last Days of the Century – Al Stewart, Peter White
  2. Real and Unreal – Al Stewart
  3. King of Portugal – Al Stewart, Peter White
  4. Red Toupée – Al Stewart, Peter White
  5. Where Are They Now – Al Stewart, Peter White
  6. Bad Reputation – Al Stewart, Peter White
  7. Josephine Baker – Al Stewart, Peter White
  8. License to Steal – Al Stewart
  9. Fields of France – Al Stewart
  10. Antarctica – Al Stewart, Peter White
  11. Ghostly Horses of the Plain – Al Stewart, Steve Recker

Jeff Porcaro

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On August 5, 1992, Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro died aged 38. He was a songwriter, musician (drums), and record producer, best known as the drummer with Toto. He was one of the most south after session drummers in popular music, played on hundreds of albums and worked with numerous artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Greg Lake, Seals & Crofts, Les Dudek, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Jacksons, Tommy Bolin, Jackson Browne, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lisa Dal Bello, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Colin Blunstone, Larry Carlton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Bim, Jerry Williams, Al Stewart, Marc Jordan, Rickie Lee Jones, Janne Schaffer, Lowell George, Aretha Franklin, Jon Anderson, Luis Miguel, Love and Money, Patti Austin, Mariya Takeuchi, The Brothers Johnson, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Char, Christopher Cross, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Amii Ozaki, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Eye to Eye, Donna Summer, Elton John, Melissa Manchester, Donald Fagen, Herbie Hancock, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Russ Taff, Chicago, David Gilmour Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Peter cetera, Earth Wind & Fire, roger Hodgson, David Benoit, Dr. John, Steve Porcaro, Nik Kershaw, Poco, Clair Mario, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Madonna, Jude Cole, Sandy Patty, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Cher, Dire Straits, Richard Marx, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, B-52’s, Go West, 10CC, Roger Waters, Paul Young, and David Crosby. In 1993, Porcaro was posthumously inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”.

Al Stewart: Bed Sitter Images

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On October 8, 1967, “CBS” label released “Bed Sitter Images”, the debut Al Stewart studio album. It was recorded in September 1967, and was produced by Roy Guest.

Personnel:

  • Al Stewart – vocals, guitar
  • Alexander Faris- conductor, orchestral arrangements
  • Mike Claydon – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Al Stewart.

  1. Bedsitter Images
  2. Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres
  3. The Carmichaels
  4. Scandinavian Girl
  5. Pretty Golden Hair
  6. Denise at 16
  7. Samuel, Oh How You’ve Changed
  8. Cleave to Me
  9. A Long Way Down From Stephanie
  10. Ivich
  11. Beleeka Doodle Day

Al Stewart: Orange

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On January 1, 1972, “CBS” label released “Orange”, the fourth Al Stewart album. It was recorded in September 1971, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by John Anthony.

Personnel:

  • Al Stewart – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Tim Renwick– guitar
  • Cal Batchelor – guitar
  • Brinsley Schwarz– guitar
  • Tim Walker – Spanish guitar
  • Rick Wakeman– keyboards
  • Bob Andrews– keyboards
  • Brian Odgers – bass
  • Bruce Thomas– bass
  • Graham Hunt – drums
  • Roger Pope – drums
  • John Wilson– drums
  • Kevin Powers – backing vocals
  • John Donnelly – backing vocals
  • Mick Welton – backing vocals
  • David Hentschel– engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Al Stewart, except where noted.

  • You Don’t Even Know Me
  • Amsterdam
  • Songs Out of Clay
  • The News from Spain
  • I Don’t Believe You – Bob Dylan
  • Once an Orange, Always an Orange
  • I’m Falling
  • Night of the 4th of May

Al Stewart: Down In The Cellar

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On October 17, 2000, “EMI” label released “Down in the Cellar”, the fourteenth Al Stewart studio album. It was recorded May – June 2000, at “Capitol B Studios” in Hollywood and “Sign of the Scorpion” in Studio City, California, and was produced by Laurence Juber.

Personnel:

  • Al Stewart – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica
  • Laurence Juber – acoustic and electric guitar, arranger, engineer
  • Jim Cox – piano, organ
  • Dominic Genova – electric bass, bass
  • Michael Jochum – percussion, drums
  • David P. Jackson – accordion
  • Bruce Dukov – violin
  • Rachel Purkin – violin
  • Simon Boswell – viola
  • David Low – cello
  • Avi Kipper – engineer
  • Jimmy Hoyson – engineer assistant
  • Joe Gastwirt – mastering
  • Ramon Breton – mastering assistant
  • Lori Stoll – photography

All tracks by Al Stewart except where noted.

  1. Waiting for Margaux
  2. Tasting History – Laurence Juber, Al Stewart
  3. Down in the Cellars
  4. Turning It into Water
  5. Soho – Bert Jansch
  6. The Night That the Band Got the Wine
  7. Millie Brown
  8. Under a Wine-Stained Moon
  9. Franklin’s Table
  10. House of Clocks
  11. Sergio
  12. Toutes les Etoiles
  13. The Shiraz Shuffle – Laurence Juber, Al Stewar