Tag Archives: April

5th Dimension: Portrait

In April 1970, “Bell Records” label released “Portrait”, the fifth 5th Dimension album.  It was recorded August 1969-March 1970, at Wally Heider Studios in Hollywood, and was produced by Bones Howe. The album  cover features an impressionistic portrait by the artist LeRoy Neiman.

Personnel:

  • Billy Davis, Jr.- lead and backing vocals
  • Florence LaRue- lead and backing vocals
  • Marilyn McCoo- lead and backing vocals
  • Ron Townson- lead and backing vocals
  • Michael Anthony- electric guitar
  • Mike Deasy- electric guitar
  • Dennis Budimir – rhythm guitar
  • Tommy Tedesco- rhythm guitar
  • Fred Tackett- finger pickin’ guitar
  • Larry Knechtel- piano, organ, tack piano
  • Jimmy Rowles– piano
  • Gary Illingworth – electric piano
  • Joe Osborn- bass
  • Hal Blaine- drums, percussion
  • Larry Bunker- congas, mallets, percussion, drums
  • Gary Coleman – mallets, percussion
  • Bob Alcivar, Bill Hollman – arrangements
  • Bones Howe – arrangements, engineer
  • Elliot Federman – mastering
  • Joanne Feltman, Glenn Korman – archivist
  • Joel Whitburn – research
  • Larry Cox, Johnny Golden, Rik Pekkonen – assistants
  • Beverly Weinstein – art direction
  • Mathieu Bitton – design
  • Mike Ragogna – liner notes
  • Jeremy Holiday – production coordinator
  • Bones Howe, Ann McClelland, Tom Tierney, Russ Wapensky – production assistant
  • Mandana Eidgah – production manager
  • Arlessa Barnes, Glenn Delgado, Christina DeSimone, Karyn Friedland, Felicia Gearhart, Laura Gregory, Robin Manning, Brooke Nochomson, Ed Osborne, Larry Parra, Dana Renert, Bill Stafford, Steve Strauss – project coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Puppet Man – Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka
  2. One Less Bell to Answer – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  3. Feelin’ Alright – Dave Mason
  4. This Is Your Life – Jimmy Webb
  5. A Love Like Ours – Bob Alcivar, Lamonte McLemore
  6. Save the Country – Laura Nyro
  7. Medley
  • The Declaration – Julianne Johnson, René DeKnight
  • A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
  • People Gotta Be Free – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
  1. Dimension 5ive – Bob Alcivar

On the Beach (In the Summertime) – McNeil

James Brown: Soul on Top

In April 1970, “King” label released “Soul on Top”, the 32nd James Brown studio album. It was recorded November 1969, and was produced by James Brown.

Personnel:

  • James Brown- vocal
  • Oliver Nelson- arranger and conductor
  • Ernie Watts- alto saxophone
  • Joe Romano – alto saxophone
  • Maceo Parker- tenor saxophone
  • Buddy Collette- tenor saxophone
  • Pete Christlieb- tenor saxophone
  • Jim Mulidore – baritone saxophone
  • Al Aarons- trumpet
  • Chuck Findley- trumpet
  • John Audino – trumpet
  • Tom Porello – trumpet
  • Jimmy Cleveland- trombone
  • Nick DiMaio – trombone
  • Kenny Shroyer – trombone
  • Bill Tole – trombone
  • Frank Vincent – piano
  • Bill Pitman- guitar
  • Louis Shelton- guitar
  • Ray Brown- bass
  • Louis Bellson- drums, bandleader
  • Jack Arnold – percussion

Track listing:

  1. That’s My Desire – Helmy Kressa, Caroll Loveday
  2. Your Cheatin’ Heart – Hank Williams
  3. What Kind of Fool Am I – Leslie Bircusse, Anthony Newley
  4. It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World – James Brown, Betty Jean Newsome
  5. The Man in the Glass – Bud Hobgood
  6. It’s magic – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  7. September Song – Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill
  8. For Once in My Life – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
  9. Every Day I Have the Blues – Memphis Slim
  10. I Need Your Key (To Turn Me On) – Louie Bellson
  11. Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – James Brown

M. Ward: A Wasteland Companion

On April 6, 2012, “Merge” label released “A Wasteland Companion”, the seventh M. Ward studio album. It was recorded in 2012 and was produced by M.Ward,

Personnel:

  • M. Ward – vocals, guitar, piano
  • Zooey Deschanel– vocals
  • John Graboff – pedal steel
  • Howe Gelb– piano
  • Nathan Jr. Andersen – piano
  • Mike Mogis– organ, orchestra bells
  • Toby Leaman – bass
  • Tyler Tornfelt – bass
  • Mike Coykendall– percussion, bass, acoustic guitar
  • John Parish– percussion, marimba
  • Jordan Hudson – percussion
  • Steve Shelley– percussion
  • Scott McPherson – percussion
  • Tom Hagerman– strings
  • Amanda Lawrence – violin
  • Susan Sanchez – backing vocals
  • Rachel Cox – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by M. Ward (Matthew Stephen Ward).

  1. Clean Slate
  2. Primitive Girl
  3. Me and My Shadow
  4. Sweetheart
  5. I Get Ideas
  6. The First Time I Ran Away
  7. A Wasteland Companion
  8. Watch the Show
  9. There’s a Key
  10. Crawl After You
  11. Wild Goose
  12. Pure Joy

Eric Burdon & War: Eric Burdon Declares War

In April 1970, “MGM” label released “Eric Burdon Declares War”, the first Eric Burdon and War album. It was recorded in January 1970 at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Jerry Goldstein.

Personnel:

  • Eric Burdon– lead vocals, cover concept
  • Lee Oskar– harmonica
  • Charles Miller– tenor sax, flute
  • Howard Scott– guitar, backing vocals
  • Lonnie Jordan– organ, piano
  • Bee Bee Dickerson– bass, backing vocals
  • Harold Brown– drums
  • Dee Allen– conga, percussion
  • Chris Huston – engineer
  • The Visual Thing – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Papa Dee Allen, Harold Brown, Eric Burdon, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar and Howard E. Scott, except where noted.

  1. The Vision of Rassan
  • Dedication
  • Roll on Kirk
  1. Tobacco Road
  • Tobacco Road – John D. Loudermilk
  • I Have a Dream
  • Tobacco Road – John D. Loudermilk
  1. Spill the Wine
  2. Blues for Memphis Slim
  • Birth
  • Mother Earth – P. Chatman
  • Mr. Charlie
  • Danish Pastry

Blodwyn Pig: Getting to This

In April 1970, “Chrysalis” label released “Getting to This”, the second Blodwyn Pig album. It was recorded in 1970, at “Olympic” and “Trident Studios”, and was produced by Andy Johns.

Personnel:

  • Mick Abrahams– vocals, guitar, seven-string guitar, tenor guitar
  • Graham Waller – piano
  • Andy Pyle– electric bass, six-string bass
  • Ron Berg– drums, tympani
  • Jack Lancaster– flute, violin, electric violin, tenor sax, baritone sax, soprano sax, phoon horn, cornet

Track listing:

  1. Drive Me” – Mick Abrahams
  2. Variations on Nainos – Mick Abrahams
  3. See My Way – Mick Abrahams
  4. Long Bomb Blues – Mick Abrahams
  5. The Squirreling Must Go On – Mick Abrahams, Andy Pyle
  6. San Francisco Sketches – Jack Lancaster
  • Beach Scape
  • Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Telegraph Hill
  • Close the Door, I’m Falling Out of the Room
  1. Worry – Andy Pyle
  2. Toys – Mick Abrahams
  3. To Rassman – Ron Berg
  4. Send Your Son to Die – Mick Abrahams

Colosseum: The Grass Is Greener

In April 1970, “Dunhill” label released “The Grass Is Greener” the third Colosseum, album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Tony Reeves and Gerry Bron. The album was released only in the United States.

Personnel:

  • Dave “Clem” Clempson – vocals, guitar
  • Dave Greenslade- vocals, organ, keyboards
  • Dick Heckstall-Smith- saxophone
  • Tony Reeves- bass
  • Jon Hiseman- drums
  • James Litherland – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Jumping Off the Sun – Mike Taylor, Dave Tomlin
  2. Lost Angeles – Dave Greenslade, Dick Heckstall-Smith
  3. Elegy – James Litherland
  4. Butty’s Blues – James Litherland
  5. Rope Ladder to the Moon – Pete Brown, Jack Bruce
  6. Bolero – Maurice Ravel
  7. The Machine Demands a Sacrifice – Pete Brown, Jon Hiseman, James Litherland
  8. The Grass Is Greener – Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman

 

Incredible String Band: I Looked Up

In April 1970, “Elektra” label released “I Looked Up”, the sixth Incredible String Band album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Joe Boyd.

Personnel:

  • Robin Williamson– vocals, guitar, flute, gimbri, violin
  • Mike Heron– vocals, guitar, harp, organ, piano, violin, horn
  • Licorice McKechnie– vocals, percussion, drums, dulcimer, keyboards
  • Rose Simpson– vocals, bass guitar, violin, percussion
  • Dave Mattacks– drums
  • John Gimbri – flute

Track listing:

All tracks by Mike Heron except where noted.

  1. Black Jack Davy
  2. The Letter
  3. Pictures in a Mirror – Robin Williamson
  4. This Moment
  5. When You Find Out Who You Are – Robin Williamson
  6. Fair As You

Randy Newman: 12 Songs

In April 1970, “Reprise” label released “12 Songs”, the second Randy Newman studio album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • Randy Newman – vocals, piano
  • Clarence White– B-Bender electric guitar
  • Ron Elliott– rhythm guitar
  • Ry Cooder– slide guitar
  • Lyle Ritz– double bass
  • Gene Parsons– drums
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Roy Harte– percussion
  • Al McKibbon– double bass
  • Milt Holland– percussion
  • Douglas Botnick – engineer
  • Lee Herschberg – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Newman except where noted.

  1. Have You Seen My Baby?
  2. Let’s Burn Down the Cornfield
  3. Mama Told Me Not to Come
  4. Suzanne
  5. Lover’s Prayer
  6. Lucinda
  7. Underneath the Harlem Moon – Mack Gordon, Harry Revel
  8. Yellow Man
  9. Old Kentucky Home
  10. Rosemary
  11. If You Need Oil
  12. Uncle Bob’s Midnight Blues

Bee Gees: Cucumber Castle

In April 1970, “Polydor” label released “Cucumber Castle”, the seventh Bee Gees studio album. It was recorded May – October1969 at “IBC Studios” in London, and was produced by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robert Stigwood.

Personnel:

  • Barry Gibb– lead, harmony and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Maurice Gibb– lead, harmony and backing vocals, bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, Mellotron, drums
  • Vince Melouney– guitar
  • Colin Petersen– drums
  • Terry Cox– drums
  • P. Arnold– backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb, except where noted.

  1. If Only I Had My Mind on Something Else
  2. “O.I.O.
  3. Then You Left Me
  4. The Lord
  5. I Was the Child
  6. I Lay Down and Die
  7. Sweetheart
  8. Bury Me Down By the River
  9. My Thing
  10. The Chance of Love
  11. Turning Tide – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
  12. Don’t Forget to Remember

Melanie: Candles in the Rain

In April 1970, “Buddah” label released “Candles in the Rain”, the third Melanie album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Peter Schekeryk.

Personnel:

  • Melanie – vocals, guitars
  • Alan Parker- guitars
  • Alan Hawkshaw- keyboards, organ
  • Edwin Hawkins- keyboards, piano
  • Harold McNair- fiddle, flute
  • Herbie Flowers- bass
  • Barry Morgan- drums
  • Rico Reyes – congas, percussion
  • John Abbott, Lee Holdridge- arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Melanie Safka except where noted.

  1. Candles in the Rain
  2. Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)
  3. Carolina in My Mind – James Taylor
  4. Citiest People
  5. What Have They Done to My Song Ma
  6. Alexander Beetle – Melanie Safka, A. Milne
  7. The Good Guys
  8. Lovin’ Baby Girl
  9. Ruby Tuesday – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  10. Leftover Wine