Tag Archives: A&R Recording

Paul Simon: Still Crazy After All These Years

On October 17, 1975, “Columbia” label released “Still Crazy After All These Years”, the fourth Paul Simon studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “A&R Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Phil Ramone and Paul Simon.

Personnel:

  • Paul Simon – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, string and horn arrangements
  • Pete Carr – electric guitar
  • Joe Beck – electric guitar
  • Jerry Friedman – electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – acoustic and electric guitar
  • John Tropea – electric guitar
  • Barry Beckett – Fender Rhodes, acoustic piano
  • Bob James – woodwind arrangements, string arrangements, Fender Rhodes
  • Kenneth Ascher – Fender Rhodes, organ
  • Sivuca – vocal solo, accordion
  • Richard Tee – acoustic piano
  • Leon Pendarvis – acoustic piano
  • Toots Thielemans – harmonica
  • David Hood – bass
  • Tony Levin – bass
  • Gordon Edwards – bass
  • Roger Hawkins – drums
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Grady Tate – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Eddie Daniels – saxophone
  • David Sanborn – saxophone
  • Phil Woods – alto saxophone
  • David Mathews – horn arrangements
  • Phoebe Snow – vocals, backing vocals
  • Art Garfunkel – vocals
  • Patti Austin – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
  • The Jessy Dixon Singers – backing vocals
  • Chicago Community Choir – backing vocals
  • Phil Ramone – engineer
  • Jerry Masters – engineer
  • Glenn Berger – recording
  • Bert Szerlip – recording
  • John Berg – design
  • Anthony Maggiore – design
  • Edie Baskin – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Simon.

  1. Still Crazy After All These Years
  2. My Little Town
  3. I Do It for Your Love
  4. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
  5. Night Game
  6. Gone at Last
  7. Some Folks Lives Roll Easy
  8. Have a Good Time
  9. You’re Kind
  10. Silent Eyes

Bob James: Touchdown

On July 20, 1978, “Tappan Zee” label released “Touchdown”, the sixth Bob James album. It was recorded in 1978, at “CBS Studios”, “Sound Mixers” and “A&R Recording” in New York, and was produced by Bob James.

Personnel:

  • Bob James – acoustic piano, Yamaha electric grand piano, Fender Rhodes, Oberheim Polyphonic synthesizer, arrangements, conductor
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Hiram Bullock – vocals, electric guitar
  • Earl Klugh – acoustic guitar
  • Richard Resnicoff – rhythm acoustic guita
  • Gary King – electric bass
  • Ron Carter – acoustic bass, piccolo bass
  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Mongo Santamaria – percussion
  • Phil Bodner – alto saxophone, flute, oboe
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone solo
  • Harvey Estrin – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
  • George Marge – tenor saxophone, English horn, flute, oboe, recorder
  • Howard Johnson – baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Mike Lawrence – trumpet
  • Ron Tooley – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Bargeron – trombone
  • Alan Raph – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • David Nadien – concertmaster
  • Harry Cykman, Lewis Eley, Max Ellen, Louis Gabowitz, Diana Halprin, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Herbert Sorkin, Richard Sortomme – violin
  • Jean Dane, Theodore Israel, Sue Pray and Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Jonathan Abramowitz, Seymour Barab, Richard Locker, Charles McCracken – cello
  • Joe Jorgensen – engineer, associate producer
  • Tim Bomba – engineer assistant
  • Ted Bronson – engineer assistant
  • Lou Jannone – engineer assistant
  • Harold Tarowsky – engineer assistant
  • Vlado Meller – mastering
  • Paula Scher – art direction, design
  • Buddy Endress – photography
  • Jay Chattaway – associate producer
  • Marion Orr – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Bob James.

  1. Angela (Theme from Taxi)
  2. Touchdown
  3. I Want to Thank You (Very Much)
  4. Sun Runner
  5. Caribbean Nights

James Brown: Everybody’s Doin’ The Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump

In September 1975, “Polydor” label released “Everybody’s Doin’ the Hustl e & Dead on the Double Bump”, the 41st James Brown studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Sound Ideas Studios” in New York City, “A&R Recording” in New York City   and was produced by James Brown.

Personnel:

  • James Brown – vocals
  • Bob Both – recording, mixing, production supervision
  • David Stone, Major Little – engineer assistant
  • Douglas Gervasi – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by James Brown, except where noted.

  1. Hustle!!! (Dead on It)
  2. Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
  3. Your Love
  4. Turn On the Heat and Build Some Fire
  5. Superbad, Superslick
  6. Calm & Cool
  7. Kansas City – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

George Benson: 20/20

On January 7, 1985, “Warner Bros” label released “20/20”, the 22nd George Benson studio album. It was recorded in 1984, at “Amigo Studios”, “Devonshire Sound Studios”, “Bill Schnee Studios” in Hollywood, “Atlantic Studios”, “A&R Recording”, “Automated Sound Studios”, “Rosebud Recording”, “The Hit Factory”, “the Review Room”, “Avatar Studios”, “Sigma Sound Studios” in New York City, “Grand Slam Studios” in New Jersey, “House of Music” in Orange, NJ, “Bossa Nova Hotel”, “Village Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Russ Titelman, Michael Masser, Daniel Sembello and Michael Sembello.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – lead and harmony vocals, guitar
  • Michael Sembello – guitars, drum programming, backing vocals
  • Dann Huff – guitar
  • Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
  • Cecil Womack – guitar, backing vocals
  • David Williams – rhythm guitar
  • Freddie Green – rhythm guitar
  • Joe Sample – acoustic piano
  • Wells Christie – Synclavier programming
  • Randy Waldman – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • James Newton Howard – acoustic piano, synthesizers, string arrangements
  • Clifford Carter – keyboards, synthesizers, drum programming
  • Rob Mounsey – Synclavier, vocoder, synthesizer bass
  • Richard Tee – Fender Rhodes, synthesizer bass
  • Daniel Sembello – DX7 Rhodes, synthesizer bass, synthesizers, drum programming, ride cymbal
  • Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, synthesizer programming, arrangements
  • Randy Goodrum – synthesizer programming, Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
  • Barnaby Finch – DX7 Rhodes
  • Dave Grusin – string synthesizer, flute
  • Neil Larsen – synthesizers
  • Randy Kerber – keyboards
  • Marcus Miller – bass
  • Nathan East – bass
  • Earl May – bass
  • Anthony Jackson – bass
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  • Clif Magness – drum programming, track arrangements
  • Russ Titelman – drum programming
  • Steve Ferrone – additional drums
  • Dave Weckl – additional drums, additional cymbals
  • Bryan Lee Janszen – Simmons drum programming
  • Carlos Vega – drums
  • John Robinson – drums
  • Steve Kipner – Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
  • Rick Shlosser – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – finger cymbals
  • Ralph MacDonald – triangle, percussion
  • Gary Herbig – saxophone
  • Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone
  • Frank Wess – alto saxophone
  • Charles Williams – alto saxophone
  • Robert Eldridge – baritone saxophone
  • George Coleman – tenor saxophone
  • Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone
  • Robin Eubanks – trombone
  • Slide Hampton – trombone
  • Benny Powell – trombone
  • Dave Taylor – trombone
  • Gary Grant – trumpet
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet, horn arrangements
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Earl Gardner – trumpet
  • Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Felix Vega – trumpet
  • George Young – flute
  • Frank Foster – horn arrangements, conductor
  • Ralph Burns – string arrangements, conductor
  • Michael Masser – rhythm track arrangements
  • Gene Page – rhythm track and string arrangements
  • Roberta Flack – lead vocals
  • Patti Austin – backing and harmony vocals
  • Gordon Grody – backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals
  • Richard Marx – backing vocals
  • Deborah Thomas – backing vocals
  • James Taylor – backing and harmony vocals
  • Linda Womack – backing vocals
  • David Cochrane – backing vocals
  • Darryl Phinnessee – backing vocals
  • Russ Titelman – executive producer
  • Mary Melia – production coordinator
  • Jim Boyer, Lee Herschberg, Gary Ladinsky, Michael Mancini, Elliot Scheiner, Russell Schmitt, Thom Wilson – engineer
  • Dick Bogart, Kendal Brown, Dean Burt, John Convertino, Jim Gallagher, Josiah Gluck, Cliff Hodson, John Rollo, Nicholas Spigel – additional engineering
  • Michael Abbott, Mike Allaire, Nelson Ayers, Mike Birnholz, Paul Brown, Ollie Cotton, Nick Delre, Paul Higgins, Steve Hirsch, Cliff Jones, Barbara Ivone, Leslie Klein, Robin Laine, Bruce Lampcov, James Nichols, Bobby Warner, Jay Willis – engineer assistant
  • Jim Boyer, Ed Rak, Elliot Scheiner, Russ Titelman – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Simon Levy – art direction
  • Kav DeLuxe – design
  • Richard Bomersheim – photography

Track listing:

  1. No One Emotion – Cliff Magness, Mark Mueller, Tom Keane
  2. Please Don’t Walk Away – James Newton Howard, Steve Lukather
  3. I Just Wanna Hang Around You – Chuz Sembello, Daniel Sembello, Jon Sembello, Michael Sembello
  4. Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You – Michael Masser, Gerry Goffin
  5. Beyond the Sea (la Mer) – Charles Trenet, Jack Lawrence
  6. 20/20 – Randy Goodrum, Steve Kipner
  7. New Day – Cecil Womack, Linda Womack
  8. Hold Me – Michael Sembello, Daniel Sembello
  9. Stand Up – Neil Larsen
  10. You Are the Love of My Love – Linda Creed, Michael Masser

Bill Withers: Menagerie

In December 1977, “Columbia” label released “Menagerie”, the sixth Bill Withers studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “The Record Plant” in Los Angeles, “A&R Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Withers, Keni Burke, Clarence McDonald and Clifford Coulter.

Personnel:

  • Bill Withers – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
  • Clarence McDonald – keyboards, string arrangements, horn arrangements, arrangements
  • Dean Gant – keyboards
  • Clifford Coulter – keyboards, synthesizer solo
  • Mike Jones – synthesizers
  • Jerry Knight – bass
  • Keni Burke – bass
  • Russ Kunkel – drums, shaker
  • Alvin Taylor – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Paul Riser – horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Charles Veal – concertmaster
  • Pat Hodges – backing vocals
  • Denita James – backing vocals
  • Jessica Smith – backing vocals
  • Phil Jantaas – assistant engineer
  • Roger Carpenter – design
  • Lou Beach – illustration
  • Elliot Gilbert – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Bill Withers, except where noted.

  1. Lovely Day – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough
  2. I Want to Spend the Night
  3. Lovely Night for Dancing
  4. Then You Smile at Me – Bill Withers, Clarence McDonald
  5. She Wants To (Get on Down) – Bill Withers, Larry Nash
  6. It Ain’t because of Me Baby – Bill Withers, Michael Jones
  7. Tender Things
  8. Wintertime – Cliff Coulter
  9. Let Me Be the One You Need – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough

Television: Marque Moon

On February 8, 1977, “Elektra” label released “Marquee Moon”, the debut Television studio album. It was recorded in September 1976, at “A&R Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Andy Johns and Tom Verlaine. In 2003, “NME” magazine named “Marque Moon” the fourth-greatest album of all time. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 128 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Personnel:

  • Tom Verlaine– lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Richard Lloyd– vocal, guitar
  • Fred Smith– vocal, bass guitar
  • Billy Ficca– drums
  • Andy Johns – engineer, mixing
  • Jim Boyer – engineer assistant
  • Greg Calbi, Lee Hulko – mastering
  • Jimmy Douglass – mixing assistant
  • Randy Mason – mixing assistant
  • Tony Lane – art direction
  • Billy Lobo – back cover artwork
  • Robert Mapplethorpe– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Tom Verlaine, except where noted.

  1. See No Evil
  2. Venus
  3. Friction
  4. Marquee Moon
  5. Elevation
  6. Guiding Light – Tom Verlaine, Richard Lloyd
  7. Prove It
  8. Torn Curtain

Billy Joel: An Innocent Man

On August 8, 1983, “Family Productions” label released “An Innocent Man”, the ninth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded in 1983, at “Chelsea Sound” and “A&R Recording, Inc.” in New York, and was produced by Phil Ramone.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joelv– lead and backing vocals, Baldwin acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 organ
  • David Brown – lead electric and acoustic guitars
  • Eric Gale– electric guitar
  • Russell Javors– rhythm electric and acoustic guitars
  • Leon Pendarvis – Hammond B3 organ
  • Toots Thielemans– harmonica
  • Richard Tee– acoustic piano
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass guitar
  • Liberty DeVitto– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • Mark Rivera– alto and tenor saxophone, percussion
  • David Sanborn– alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber– baritone saxophone
  • Jon Faddis– trumpet
  • Joe Shepley – trumpet
  • John Gatchell – trumpet
  • String Fever – strings
  • Tom Bahler, Rory Dodd, Frank Floyd, Lani Groves, Ullanda McCullough, Ron Taylor, Terry Textor, Eric Troyer, Mike Alexander – backing vocal
  • David Matthews – horn and strings arrangements
  • Tom Bahler – backing vocals arrangements
  • Billy Zampino – musical advisor
  • Jim Boyer, Bradshaw Leigh – engineer
  • Mike Allaire, Scott James – engineer assistant
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Christopher Austopchuk, Mark Larson – design
  • Gilles Larrain – photography
  • Laura Loncteaux – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel, except for the chorus for “This Night,” credited to L. v. Beethoven.

  1. Easy Money
  2. An Innocent Man
  3. The Longest Time
  4. This Night
  5. Tell Her About It
  6. Uptown Girl
  7. Careless Talk
  8. Christie Lee
  9. Leave a Tender Moment Alone
  10. Keeping the Faith