Tag Archives: April

Elton John: Empty Sky

Empty Sky

On June 6, 1969, “DJM” label released “Empty Sky”, the debut Elton John studio album. It was recorded December 1968 – April 1969, at “Dick James Music Studios” in London, and was produced by Steve Brown.

Personnel:

  • Elton John– vocals, acoustic piano, organ, electric piano, harpsichord
  • Caleb Quaye– acoustic and electric guitars, conga drums
  • Graham Vickery – harmonica
  • Tony Murray – bass guitar
  • Nigel Olsson– drums
  • Roger Pope – drums, percussion
  • Don Fay – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Clive Franks – tape operator, whistling
  • Frank Owen – engineer
  • Gus Dudgeon, John Tobler – linear notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

  1. Empty Sky
  2. Val-Hala
  3. Western Ford Gateway
  4. Hymn 2000
  5. Lady What’s Tomorrow
  6. Sails
  7. The Scaffold
  8. Skyline Pigeon
  9. Gulliver/Hay Chewed/Reprise

Moby Grape: Same

Moby_Grape_-_Moby_Grape

On June 6, 1967, “Columbia” label released the self-titled, debut  Moby Grape album. It was recorded March – April 1967, at “CBS Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by David Rubinson.

Personnel:

  • Peter Lewis– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Jerry Miller– vocals, lead guitar
  • Skip Spence– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Bob Mosley– vocals, bass
  • Don Stevenson– vocals, drums

Track listing:

  1. Hey Grandma – Jerry Miller, Donn Stevenson
  2. Blues – Bob Mosley
  3. 8:05 – Jerry Miller, Don Stevenson
  4. Come in the Morning – Bob Mosley
  5. Omaha – Skip Spence
  6. Naked, If I Want To – Jerry Miller
  7. Someday – Jerry Miller, Don Stevenson, Skip Spence
  8. Ain’t No Use – Jerry Miller, Don Stevenson
  9. Sitting by the Window – Peter Lewis
  10. Changes – Jerry Miller, Don Stevenson
  11. Lazy Me – Bob Mosley
  12. Indifference – Skip Spence

 

Deep Purple: In Rock

In_Rock

On June 3, 1970, “Harvest” label released “Deep Purple in Rock”, the fourth Deep Purple studio album. It was recorded October 1969 – April 1970, at “IBC Studios”, “De Lane Lea Studios” and “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Roger Glover and Ian Gillan. In 2005, “Classic Rock” magazine  awarded “In Rock”, with the “Classic Rock and Roll of Honor Award” in the category “Classic Album”.

Personnel:

  • Ian Gillan– lead vocals
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
  • Jon Lord– keyboards, organ
  • Roger Glover– bass
  • Ian Paice– drums, percussion
  • Andy Knight – engineer
  • Martin Birch– engineer
  • Phil McDonald – engineer
  • Peter Mew– remastering
  • Tom Bender, Jason Butera – additional studio work
  • Nesbit, Phipps & Froome – artwork
  • Edwards Coletta Productions – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

  1. Speed King
  2. Bloodsucker
  3. Child in Time
  4. Flight of the Rat
  5. Into the Fire
  6. Living Wreck
  7. Hard Lovin’ Man

Cockney Rebel: The Psychomodo

Psychomodo

On June 2, 1974, “EMI” label released “The Psychomodo”, the second  Cockney Rebel studio album. It was recorded February – March 1974, at “Morgan Studios”, “Nova Sound Studios” and “Air Studios” in London, and was produced by Alan Parsons and Steve Harley.

Personnel:

  • Steve Harley– vocals
  • Jean-Paul Crocker –electric violin, guitars
  • Milton Reame-James –keyboards
  • Paul Jeffreys– Fender bass
  • Stuart Elliott– drums, percussion
  • Andrew Powell– orchestral and brass arrangements
  • Peter Flanagan, Richard Dodd, Geoff Emerick, John Middleton – engineer
  • Chris Blair – mastering
  • Mick Rock – design, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Harley.

  1. Sweet Dreams
  2. Psychomodo
  3. Soft
  4. Singular Band
  5. Ritz
  6. Cavaliers
  7. Bed in the Corner
  8. Sling It
  9. Tumbling Down

Pink Floyd: Obscured By Clouds

Obscured by clouds

On June 2, 1972, “Harvest” label released “Obscured by Clouds” the seventh Pink Floyd studio album. It was recorded February – April 1972, at “Strawberry Studios” in Château d’Hérouville, Hérouville, and was produced by  David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright. The album is based on their soundtrack for the French movie “La Vallée”, by Barbet Schroeder.

Personnel:

  • David Gilmour– vocals, guitars, pedal steel guitar, VCS3 synthesizer
  • Nick Mason– drums, percussion, tape effects
  • Roger Waters– vocals, bass guitar, VCS3 synthesizer, tape effects
  • Richard Wright– piano, keyboards, vocals, VCS3 synthesizer
  • Hipgnosis– album cover

Track listing:

  1. Obscured by Clouds – David Gilmour, Roger Waters
  2. When You’re In – David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright
  3. Burning Bridges – Richard Wright, Roger Waters
  4. The Gold is in the…- David Gilmour, Roger Waters
  5. Wot’s…Uh the Deal? – David Gilmour, Roger Waters
  6. Mudmen – Richard Wright, Roger Waters
  7. Childhood’s End – David Gilmour
  8. Free Four – Roger Waters
  9. Stay – Roger Waters, Richard Wright
  10. Absolutely Curtains – David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason

Electric Light Orchestra: Discovery

Discovery

On May 31, 1979, “Jet” label released “Discovery”, the eighth Electric Light Orchestra studio album. It was recorded March–April 1978, at “Musicland Studios” in Munich, and was produced by Jeff Lynne. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Jeff Lynne – lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, Yamaha CS80 synthesizer, orchestra and choral arrangements
  • Richard Tandy– piano, Yamaha CS80 synthesizer, Wurlitzer electric piano, clavinet
  • Kelly Groucutt– lead and backing vocals, bass
  • Bev Bevan– drums, percussion, Rototoms, timpani
  • Louis Clark – orchestra and choral arrangements, conductor
  • Richard Tandy – orchestra and choral arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Jeff Lynne,.

  1. Shine a Little Love
  2. Confusion
  3. Need Her Love
  4. The Diary of Horace Wimp
  5. Last Train to London
  6. Midnight Blue
  7. On the Run
  8. Wishing
  9. Don’t Bring Me Down

Mike Oldfield: Crises

Crisis

On May 27, 1983, “Virgin” label released “Crises”, the eighth Mike Oldfield album. It was recorded November 1982 – April 1983, and was produced by Mike Oldfield and Simon Phillips.

Personnel:

  • Mike Oldfield – vocals, guitars, Fairlight CMI, Roland string synthesizer, Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer, Farfisa organ, piano, Prophet 5 synthesizer, bass guita, acoustic bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, electronic drums, bells, tambourine, shaker, Oberheim DMX drum machine, Oberheim DSX digital polyphonic sequencer, Quantec Room Simulator reverb unit
  • Simon Phillips– acoustic drums, special effects, shaker, finger-snaps, bells, tambourine, boots
  • Ant (Ant Glynne) – guitars
  • Rick Fenn– guitar
  • Phil Spalding– bass guitar
  • Pierre Moerlen– vibraphone
  • Maggie Reilly– vocals
  • Jon Anderson– vocals
  • Roger Chapman– vocals
  • Terry Ilott – cover art

Track listing:

  1. Crises – Mike Oldfield
  2. Moonlight Shadow – Mike Oldfield
  3. In High Places – Mike Oldfield, Jon Anderson
  4. Foreign Affair – Mike Oldfield, Maggie Reilly
  5. Taurus 3 – Mike Oldfield
  6. Shadow on the Wall – Mike Oldfield

Peter Frampton: Wind Of Change

Winds of Change

On May 26, 1972, “A&M” label released “Wind of Change”, the debut Peter Frampton album. It was recorded October 1971 – April 1972,at “Devonshire Sound Studios” in North Hollywood; “Olympic Studios” and  “Island Studios” in London, and was produced by Peter Frampton and Chris Kimsey.

Personnel:

  • Peter Frampton – lead vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, organ, keyboards, drums, percussion, dulcimer, harmonium, engineer
  • Frank Carillo – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Mick Jones- rhythm guitar
  • Billy Preston- piano, organ
  • Andy Bown- bass, organ, electric piano, mellotron, percussion, backing vocals
  • Rick Wills- bass
  • Klaus Voorman- bass
  • Mike Kellie- drums, percussion
  • Ringo Starr- drums, percussion
  • Chris Karan- congas
  • Frank Ricotti- shaker
  • Del Newman- strings, arrangements, flute, marimba
  • Jim Price- brass
  • Chris Kimsey – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Peter Frampton, except where noted.

  1. Fig Tree Bay
  2. Wind of Change
  3. Lady Lieright
  4. Jumpin’ Jack Flash – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  5. It’s a Plain Shame
  6. Oh for Another Day
  7. All I Wanna Be (Is by Your Side)
  8. The Lodger
  9. Hard
  10. Alright

James Taylor: Gorilla

James_Taylor_-_Gorilla

On May 1, 1975, “Warner Bros” label released “Gorilla”, the sixth James Taylor studio album. It was recorded March – April, 1975 at “Warner Bros. Studios” in North Hollywood and “The Burbank Studios” in Burbank, and was produced by Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • James Taylor – vocals, acoustic, electric and high-string acoustic  guitar, ukulele
  • David Crosby- vocals
  • Graham Nash- vocals
  • Carly Simon- vocals
  • Valerie Carter- vocals
  • Clarence McDonald – piano, ARP String Ensemble synthesizer, Fender Rhodes electric piano
  • Randy Newman- horn organ
  • Nick DeCaro – organ, strings, accordion
  • Arthur Adams – electric guitar
  • Lowell George- vocals, slide guitar
  • Danny Kortchmar- electric guitar
  • Al Perkins- pedal steel guitar
  • David Grisman- mandolin
  • Lee Sklar- bass
  • Willie Weeks- bass
  • Jim Keltner- drums
  • Andy Newmark- drums
  • Russ Kunkel- drums, percussion, shaker, tambourine, congas
  • Milt Holland- percussion, wind chimes
  • Victor Feldman- percussion
  • David Sanborn- saxophone
  • Chuck Findley- trumpet
  • George Bohannon – trombone
  • Jules Jacob – clarinet, oboe
  • Gayle Levant – harp

Track listing:

All tracks by James Taylor, except where noted.

  1. Mexico
  2. Music
  3. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) – Holland/Dozier/Holland
  4. Wandering – traditional; arrangement and additional lyrics by James Taylor
  5. Gorilla
  6. You Make It Easy
  7. I Was a Fool to Care
  8. Lighthouse
  9. Angry Blues
  10. Love Songs
  11. Sarah Maria

 

MGMT: Oracular Spectacular

Oracular_Spectacular

On January 22, 2008, “Columbia” label released “Oracular Spectacular”, the first MGMT major label studio album. It was recorded March – April 2007, and was produced by Dave Fridmann. In 2012, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked  “Oracular Spectacular” at number 494 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Andrew Vanwyngarden – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion
  • Ben Goldwasser– keyboards, synthesizers, sampling, rhythm guitar, percussion, backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser except where noted.

  1. Time to Pretend
  2. Weekend Wars
  3. The Youth
  4. Electric Feel – VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser, Will Berman
  5. Kids
  6. 4th Dimensional Transition
  7. Pieces of What
  8. Of Moons, Birds & Monsters
  9. The Handshake
  10. Future Reflections