Tag Archives: Album of the Year

Steely Dan: Two Against Nature

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Steely Dan- Two against nature

On February 29, 2000, “Giant Records/Warner Bros” label released “Two Against Nature” the eighth Steely Dan album. “Two Against nature” was recorded 1977 to 1999, and was produced by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. The album won Steely Dan four “Grammy Awards”, including “Album of the Year”.

Personnel:

  • Walter Becker– bass, lead guitar
  • Donald Fagen– vocals, organ, piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
  • Ted Baker – piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Jon Herington– acoustic and rhythm guitar
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Dean Parks– guitar
  • Tom Barney – bass
  • Keith Carlock– drums
  • Leroy Clouden – drums
  • Vinnie Colaiuta– drums
  • Sonny Emory– drums
  • Ricky Lawson– drums
  • Michael White – drums
  • Gordon Gottlieb – percussion
  • Will Lee– percussion
  • Daniel Sadownick – percussion, timbales
  • David Shank – vibraphone
  • Steve Shapiro– vibraphone
  • Lawrence Feldman – clarinet, tenor saxophone
  • Amy Helm – whistle
  • Michael Hitchcock – trumpet
  • Michael Leonhart– trumpet, Wurlitzer, conductor
  • Lou Marini– alto saxophone
  • Chris Potter– alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • Jim Pugh– trombone
  • Roger Rosenberg – bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
  • David Tofani– saxophone
  • Cynthia Calhoun– backing vocals
  • Mike Harvey – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Leonhart– backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. Gaslighting Abbie
  2. What a Shame About Me
  3. Two Against Nature
  4. Janie Runaway
  5. Almost Gothic
  6. Jack of Speed
  7. Cousin Dupree
  8. Negative Girl
  9. West of Hollywood

Midnight Oil: Blue Sky Mining

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Midnight Oil_Blue Sky Mining

On February 25, 1990, “Columbia” label released “Blue Sky Mining”, the seventh Midnight Oil album. It was recorded in 1989, at “Rhino” in Sydney, and was produced by Warne Livesey, Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey and Warne Livesey . At the “ARIA Music Awards” in 1991, “Blue Sky Mining” won “Best Group”, “Outstanding Achievement Award”, “Best Cover Art”, “Best Video” and “Album of the Year”. The album was awarded 5× Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”.

Personnel:

  • Peter Garrett – lead vocals
  • Jim Moginie – vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Martin Rotsey- vocals, guitars
  • Warne Livesey- keyboards
  • Bones Hillman – vocals, bass
  • Robert Hirst – vocals, drums
  • Jeremy Smith – French horn
  • Phillip Hartl – string leader
  • Glad and Carl – Horn Swells

Track listing:

  1. Blue Sky Mine – Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
  2. Stars of Warburton – Peter Garrett, Martin Rotsey
  3. Bedlam Bridge – Robert Hirst
  4. Forgeotten Years – Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
  5. Mountains of Burma – Robert Hirst
  6. King of the Mountain – Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
  7. River Runs Red – Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie
  8. Shakers and Movers – Peter Garrett, Jim Moginie
  9. One Country – Peter Garret, Jim Moginie
  10. Antartica – Peter Garret, Robert Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey
  11. You May Not Be released – Jim Moginie

Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic

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Pretzel_Logic

On February 20, 1974, “ABC” label released “Pretzel Logic”, the third Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded October 1973 – January 1974 at the “Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz.  The cover photo of the New York pretzel seller was by Raeanne Rubenstein. On September 7, 1993, “Pretzel Logic” was certified Platinum in US by the “RIAA”. Magazine “NME” named “Pretzel Logic” best album of 1974. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Pretzel Logic” at number 385 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen- lead vocals, keyboards, saxophone
  • Walter Becker- bass, guitar, backing vocals
  • Jeff “Skunk” Baxter- lead guitar
  • Denny Dias- guitar
  • Ben Benay – guitar
  • Dean Parks- guitar, banjo
  • Michael Omartian- keyboards
  • David Paich- keyboards
  • Timothy B. Schmit- bass, backing vocals
  • Wilton Felder- bass
  • Chuck Rainey- bass
  • Jim Gordon- drums
  • Jeff Porcaro– drums
  • Victor Feldman– percussion
  • Plas Johnson- saxophone
  • Jerome Richardson- saxophone
  • Ernie Watts- saxophone
  • Lew McCreary – horn
  • Ollie Mitchell- trumpet
  • Jimmie Haskell – orchestration
  • Jim Hodder- backing vocals
  • David Larkham – design
  • Ed Caraeff – art direction, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, except where noted.

  1. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
  2. Night by Night
  3. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
  4. Barrytown
  5. East St. Louis Toodle – Duke Ellington, Bubber Miley
  6. Parker’s Band
  7. Through with Buzz
  8. Pretzel Logic
  9. With a Gun
  10. Charlie Freak
  11. Monkey in Your Soul

Fleetwood Mac: Rumours

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Fleetwood Mac Rumours

On February 4, 1977, “Warner Bros” label released “Rumours”, the eleventh Fleetwood Mac studio album.  It was recorded in 1976, at “Criteria Studios” in Miami; “Record Plant Studios” in Los Angeles; “Zellerbach Auditorium” in Berkeley and “Wally Heider Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Lindsey Buckingham,  Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks, Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut. “Rumours” won “Grammy Award for Album of the Year” in 1978, the three major US trade publications – “Billboard”, “Cash Box, and Record World”, named it “Album of the Year” for 1977. The album has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. Rumours has received Diamond certifications in several countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia. “Rumours” was certified 11 x Platinum in UK by the “BPI”; it has received a “Diamond Award” in US by “RIAA” for a 20 x Platinum certification or 20 million units shipped. In 1998, magazine “Q”  ranked  “Rumours” at number three in its list of “50 Best Albums of the 70’s’; in 1999,  “Vibe”  featured it as one of “100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century”; in  2003, “VH1” ranked “Rumours” at number 16 during its “100 Greatest Albums Countdown” and magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked it at number 25 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Lindsey Buckingham – vocals, guitars, dobro, percussion
  • Stevie Nicks– vocals
  • Christine McVie – vocals, keyboards
  • John McVie– bass guitar
  • Mick Fleetwood– drums, percussion, harpsichord
  • Desmond Strobel – design
  • Larry Vigon – calligraphy
  • Herbert W. Worthington– photography

Track listing:

  1. Second hand News – Lindsey Buckingham
  2. Dreams – Stevie Nicks
  3. Never Going Back Again – Lindsey Buckingham
  4. Don’t Stop – Christine McVie
  5. Go Your Own Way – Lindsey Buckingham
  6. Songbird – Christine McVie
  7. The Chain – Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks
  8. You Make Loving Fun – Christine McVie
  9. I Don’t Want to Know – Stevie Nicks
  10. Oh Daddy – Christine McVie
  11. Gold Dust Woman – Stevie Nicks

 

Bob Dylan: Desire

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Bob_Dylan_-_Desire

On January 5, 1976, “Columbia” label released “Desire”, the seventeenth Bob Dylan studio album. It was recorded July – October 1975, and was produced by Don De Vito. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in the US by the “RIAA” and 3 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”.  “Desire” was NME “Album of the Year” and magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked it on number 174, on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

  • Bob Dylan– vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica; piano
  • Dominic Cortese – accordion, mandolin
  • Scarlet Rivera– violin
  • Vincent Bell – bouzouki
  • Rob Stoner– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Howard Wyeth– drums, piano
  • Luther Rix – congas
  • Ronee Blakley– backing vocals
  • Emmylou Harris– backing vocals
  • Steven Soles– backing vocals

Track listing

All tracks by Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy, except where noted.

  1. Hurricane
  2. Isis
  3. Mozambique
  4. One More Cup of Coffee – Bob Dylan
  5. Oh, Sister
  6. Joey
  7. Romance in Durango
  8. Black Diamond Bay
  9. Sara – Bob Dylan

George Harrison & Frineds: The Concert for Bangladesh

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The_Concert_For_Bangla_Desh

On December 20, 1971, “Apple” label released “The Concert for Bangladesh”  a live triple album by George Harrison and his friends. The album is recording from the concert on August 1, 1971, at “Madison Square Garden” in New York, held in aid of the homeless Bengali refugees of the Bangladesh Liberation War. This was the first big humanitarian concert with international music stars and was the model for future big rock benefits events such as “Live Aid” (1985).  The album was produced by George Harrison and Phil Spector. The box set included a 64-page book containing concert photos. ”The Concert for Bangladesh” won “Grammy Award” for “Album of the Year”.

Personnel:

  • George Harrison – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
  • Ravi Shankar– sitar
  • Bob Dylan– vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
  • Leon Russell– piano, vocals, bass, backing vocals
  • Ringo Starr– drums, vocals, tambourine
  • Billy Preston– Hammond organ, vocals
  • Eric Clapton– electric guitar
  • Ali Akbar Khan– sarod
  • Alla Rakha– tabla
  • Kamala Chakravarty– tambura
  • Jesse Ed Davis– electric guitar
  • Klaus Voormann– bass
  • Jim Keltner– drums
  • Pete Ham– acoustic guitar
  • Tom Evans– twelve-string acoustic guitar
  • Joey Molland– acoustic guitar
  • Mike Gibbins– tambourine, maracas
  • Don Preston– electric guitar, vocals, percussion
  • Carl Radle– bass
  • Jim Horn– saxophones, horn arrangements
  • Chuck Findley– trumpet
  • Jackie Kelso– saxophones
  • Allan Beutler – saxophones
  • Lou McCreary – trombone
  • Ollie Mitchell– trumpet
  • Claudia Linnear, Jo Green, Jeanie Greene, Marlin Greene, Dolores Hall, Don Nix – backing vocals
  • Tom Wilkes – design

Track listing:

  1. George Harrison/Ravi Shankar Introduction – George Harrison, Ravi Shankar
  2. Bangla Dhun – Ravi Shankar
  3. Wah-Wah – George Harrison
  4. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
  5. Awaiting on You All – George Harrison
  6. That’s the Way God Planned It – Billy Preston
  7. It Don’t Come Easy – Richard Starkey
  8. Beware of Darkness – George Harrison
  9. Band Introduction
  10. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – George Harrison
  11. Medley: Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Youngblood – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards/Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus
  12. Here Comes the Sun – George Harrison
  13. A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall – Bob Dylan
  14. It Takes A Lot to Laugh It – Bob Dylan
  15. Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
  16. Mr. Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
  17. Just Like A Woman – Bob Dylan
  18. Something – George Harrison
  19. Bangla Desh – George Harrison

Blood, Sweat & Tears: Same

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On December 11, 1968, “Columbia” label released self titled, second Blood, Sweet & Tears album. It was recorded October 1968, at “CBS Studios” in New York,  and was produced by James William Guercio. The album was certified 4 x Platinum in the US by the RIAA. The album received “Grammy Award” for “Album of the Year” in 1970.

Personnel:

  • David Clayton-Thomas– lead vocals
  • Steve Katz– lead and backing vocals, guitar, harmonica
  • Dick Halligan– organ, piano, flute, trombone, vocals
  • Jim Fielder– bass
  • Bobby Colomby– vocals, drums, percussion
  • Lew Soloff– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Fred Lipsius– alto saxophone, piano
  • Chuck Winfield– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Jerry Hyman– trombone, recorder
  • Dick Halligan, Fred Lipsius, Al Kooper – arrangements
  • Timothy Quay, Bob Cato – cover art
  • John Berg – design
  • Harrie George – photography

Track listing:

  1. Variations on a theme by Erik Satie (1st and 2nd Movements)
  2. Adapted from “Trois Gymnopédies”; arr. by Dick Halligan
  3. Smiling Phases –  Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood
  4. Sometimes in Winter – Steve Katz
  5. More and More – Vee Pee Smith, Don Juan
  6. And When I Die – Laura Nyro
  7. God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
  8. Spinning Wheel -David Clayton-Thomas
  9. You’ve Made Me So Very Happy – Berry Gordy Jr., Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway, Frank Wilson
  10. Blues – Part II – Blood, Sweat & Tears
  11. Interpolating Sunshine of Your Love (Jack Bruce, Pete Brown,  Eric Clapton), Spoonful – Willie Dixon, Somethin’ Goin’ On – Al Kooper
  12. Variations on a theme by Erik Satie” (1st Movement)

 

Michael Jackson: Thriller

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Michael_Jackson_-_Thriller

On November 30, 1982, “Epic” label released “Thriller”, the sixth Michael Jackson studio album.  It was recorded April – November 1982, at the “Westlake Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. With more than 65 million copies sold worldwide“Thriller” is the best selling album of all time. In 1984, the album won a record eight “Grammy Awards”, including “Album of the Year” award. In 2003 magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Thriller” on number 20 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. “The National Association of Recording Merchandisers” ranked “Thriller” at number three in its “Definitive 200” albums of all time. The album was included in the “Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry” of culturally significant recordings. In 2012, magazine “Slant” ranked “Thriller” at number one on its list of “Best Albums of the 1980”.

Personnel:

  • Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals, drum case beater, bathroom stomp board, handclaps, vocal arrangements, rhythm arrangements , horn arrangements , synthesizer arrangements
  • Paul McCartney– vocals
  • Quincy Jones– rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements, musical arrangements
  • Steve Lukather– guitar, bass guitar, additional guitars  musical arrangements
  • Eddie Van Halen– guitar
  • Paul Jackson, Jr.– guitar
  • Dean Parks – guitar
  • David Williams – guitar
  • Rod Temperton – keyboards, synthesizers, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements , synthesizer arrangements
  • Steve Porcaro – keyboards, synthesizers, synthesizer programming , musical arrangements
  • Bill Wolfer – keyboards , synthesizers, synthesizer programming
  • Brian Banks – keyboards, synthesizer, synthesizer programming
  • Michael Boddicker– keyboards, synthesizers, Emulator, Vocoder
  • N’dugu Chancler– drums
  • Paulinho da Costa– percussion
  • David Foster– synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements
  • Anthony Marinelli– synthesizer programming
  • David Paich – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, rhythm arrangements, musical arrangements
  • Greg Phillinganes – keyboards , synthesizers, electric piano, synthesizer programming
  • Greg Smith – synthesizers
  • Louis Johnson– bass guitar
  • Jeff Porcaro – drums
  • Larry Williams – saxophone, flute
  • Jerry Hey– trumpet, flugelhorn, horn arrangements, string arrangements, strings conductor
  • Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Bill Reichenbach – trombone
  • Chris Shepard  – vibraslap
  • Vincent Price – voice-over
  • La Toya Jackson, Janet Jackson – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Wanna Be Startin’ Something – Michael Jackson
  2. Baby Be Mine – Rod Temperton
  3. The Girl Is Mine – Michael Jackson
  4. Thriller – Rod Temperton
  5. Beat It – Michael Jackson
  6. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
  7. Human Nature – Steve Porcaro, John Bettis
  8. Pretty Young Thing – James Ingram, Quincy Jones
  9. The Lady In My Life – Rod Temperton

Johnny Cash: American IV: The Man Comes Around

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American IV

On November 4, 2002, “American Recordings” released “American IV: The Man Comes Around”, the 87th Johnny Cash album and the fourth one in the “American Recordings Series”. This was the last album released before his death in 2003. “American IV: The Man Comes Around” was recorded in 2002 at the “American Recording Studios”, and was produced by Rick Rubin and John Carter Cash. The album won “Album of the Year” award at the 2003 “CMA Awards” and was awarded platinum certification 2003 by the “R.I.A.A”. In 2004, Johnny Cash won “Grammy Award” for “Best Country Male Vocal Performance” for “Give My Love To Rose,” and the music video for “Hurt” won “Grammy Award” for “Best Short Form Video”.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Cash- vocals, guitars , arranger, adaptation
  • Mike Campbell, John Frusciante, Randy Scruggs- guitars
  • Thom Bresh, Jeff Hanna, Kerry Marx, Marty Stuart – guitars
  • Smokey Hormel- guitars
  • David R. Ferguson- ukulele
  • Benmont Tench- organ, piano, harmonium, keyboards, Mellotron, vibraphone, pipe organ, Wurlitzer
  • Roger Manning– piano, harmonium, mellotron, chamberlin, orchestra bells
  • Billy Preston- piano
  • Don Henley – vocals, drums, keyboards
  • Joey Waronker- drums
  • Jack Clement- dobro
  • Laura Cash – fiddle
  • Terry Harrington – clarinet
  • Fiona Apple- vocals
  • Nick Cave- vocals
  • Christine Cano – art direction, design
  • Martyn Atkins – photography

Track listing

  1. The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash
  2. Hurt – Reznor
  3. Give My Love to Rose – Johnny Cash
  4. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Paul Simon
  5. I Hung My Head – Sting
  6. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ian MacColl
  7. Personal Jesus – Martin Gore
  8. In My Life – John Lennon and Paul McCartney
  9. Sam Hall – Ritter
  10. Danny Boy – Weatherly
  11. Desperado – Frey and Henley
  12. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Duet with Nick Cave- Williams
  13. Streets of Laredo – Traditional
  14. Wichita Lineman – Jimmy Webb
  15. Big Iron – Marty Robbins
  16. Tear Stained Letter – Johnny Cash
  17. We’ll Meet Again – Hughie Charles and Ross Parker

U2: The Joshua Tree

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The_Joshua_Tree

On March 9, 1987, “Island” label released “The Joshua Tree”, the fifth U2 studio album . It was recorded January 1986 – January 1987, at “STS Studios”, “Danesmoate House”, “Windmill Lane Studios”, and was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. In 1988, “The Joshua Tree” won “Grammy Awards”  for  “Album of the Year” and “Best Rock Performance” by a “Duo or Group with Vocal”.  It is U2 best sold album with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide.  In 1995, the album was certified 10× Platinum in US by “RIAA”, and  album subsequently received the “Diamond” certificate. In Canada it was certified Diamond by “Canadian Recording Industry Association”, In UK it was certified 8 x Platinum by “BPI”, with an additional silver certification for the 20th anniversary edition. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 27 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bono– lead vocals, harmonica, guitars
  • The Edge– guitars, piano, backing vocals
  • Adam Clayton– bass guitar
  • Larry Mullen, Jr.– drums, percussion
  • Brian Eno– keyboards, DX7 programming, backing vocals
  • Daniel Lanois– tambourine, Omnichord, additional guitar, backing vocals
  • The Armin Family – strings
  • The Arklow Silver Band – brass

Track listing:

All lyrics by Bono, all music by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen.

  1. Where the Streets Have No Name
  2. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
  3. With or Without You
  4. Bullet the Blue Sky
  5. Running to Stand Still
  6. Red Hill Mining Town
  7. In God’s Country
  8. Trip Through Your Wires
  9. One Tree Hill
  10. Exit
  11. Mothers of the Disappeared