Tag Archives: Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin: Laughing on the Outside

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On August 12, 1963, “Columbia” label released “Laughing on the Outside”, the fourth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in April – June 1963, at “Columbia Recording Studios” in New York and Hollywood, and was produced by Robert Mersey.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals
  • Robert Mersey – arrangements, conductor
  • Don Arnome, Tommy Tedesco, Billy Strange – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Dave Grusin, Andrew Acker, Leon Russell – piano
  • C. Bosler, Ray Pohlman, Melvin Pollan – bass guitar
  • Hindel Butts, Hal Blaine – drums
  • Plas Johnson – saxophone
  • Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet
  • Robert Ascher – trombone
  • Bernard Eichenbaum, Julius Schacter, Leo Kahn, Berl Senofsky, Felix Gigol, Max Pollikoff, George Ockner, John Rublowsky, Sid Sharp, Tibor Zelig, George Poole, Irving Lipschultz, Irving Weinper, Darrel Terwilliger – violin
  • R. Dickler, Theodore Israel, Jacob Glick – viola
  • Jesse Erlich, Anthony Twardowsky, Joseph Tekula – cello

Track listing:

  1. Skylark – Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael
  2. For All We Know – Sam M. Lewis, J. Fred Coots
  3. Make Someone Happy – Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne
  4. I Wonder (Where Are You Tonight) – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  5. Solitude – Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills
  6. Laughing on the Outside – Bernie Wayne, Ben Raleigh
  7. Say It Isn’t So – Irving Berlin
  8. Until The Real Thing Comes Along – Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L. E. Freeman
  9. If Ever I Would Leave You – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  10. Where Are You? – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
  11. Mr. Ugly – Norman Mapp
  12. I Wanna Be Around – Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstedt

Aretha Franklin: Amazing Grace

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On June 1, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Amazing Grace”, the fourth Aretha Franklin live album. It was recorded in January 1972, at the “New Temple Missionary Baptist Church”, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Aretha Franklin and Arif Mardin. In 1973, Aretha Franklin won “Grammy Award” for “Best Soul Gospel Performance”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, piano, celesta, arrangements
  • Rev. C.L. Franklin – vocals
  • Rev. James Cleveland – lead vocals, piano, choir director
  • Rev. Alexander Hamilton – choir director assistant
  • Kenneth “Ken” Lupper – organ, additional keyboards
  • Cornell Dupree – guitar
  • Chuck Rainey – bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Pancho Morales – congas, additional percussion
  • Southern California Community Choir – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin – music editing, remix
  • Wally Heider – recording
  • Jimmy Douglass – recording assistant
  • Gene Paul – recording assistant
  • George Piros – recording assistant
  • Ray Thompson – recording

Track listing:

  1. Mary, Don’t You Weep – spiritual
  2. Medley: Precious Lord, Take My Hand / You’ve Hot a Friend – Thomas A. Dorsey, Frank Frazier / Carole King
  3. Old Landmark – W. Herbert Brewster, Adeline M. Brunner
  4. Give Yourself to Jesus – Robert Fryson
  5. How I Got Over – Clara Ward
  6. What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Joseph M. Seriven, Charles Crozat Converse
  7. Amazing Grace – John Newton
  8. Precious Memories – J.B.F. Wright
  9. Climbing Higher Mountains – traditional
  10. Remarks by Reverend C.L. Franklin
  11. God Will Take Care of You – traditional
  12. Wholy Holy – Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland
  13. You’ll Never Walk Alone – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  14. Never Grow Old – traditional

Aretha Franklin: Live At Fillmore West

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On May 19, 1971, “Atlantic” label released “Aretha Live at Fillmore West”, the third Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in March 1971, at “Filmore West Concert Hall”, in San Francsico, and was produced by Jerry Wexler.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, Fender Rhodes
  • Cornell Dupree – guitar
  • Truman Thomas – piano
  • Ray Charles – piano
  • Billy Preston – organ
  • Jerry Jemmott – bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Pancho Morales – congas
  • King Curtis – saxophone, orchestra leader
  • Memphis Horns – horns
  • Brenda Bryant, Margaret Branch, Pat Smith – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin – horn arrangements
  • Larry Wilcox – horn arrangements
  • Tom Dowd – horn arrangements

Track listing:

  1. Respect – Otis Redding
  2. Love the One Youy’re With – Stephen Stills
  3. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Paul Simon
  4. Eleanor Rigby – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Make It with You – David Gates
  6. Don’t Play That Song – Ahmet Ertegun, Betty Nelson
  7. Dr. Feelgood – Aretha Franklin
  8. Spirit in the Dark – Aretha Franklin
  9. Spirit in the Dark (reprise with Ray Charles) – Aretha Franklin
  10. Reach Out and Touch – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson

The Supremes & The Four Tops: Dynamite

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In December 1971, “Motown” label released “Dynamite”, the third and last album between Supremes (The) and Four Tops (The). It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Johnny Bristol, Joe Hinton, Bobby Taylor and Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • The Supremes – Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong – vocals 
  • The Four Tops – Levi Stubbs, Duke Fakir, Obie Benson, Lawrence Payton – vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • David Van DePitte, Gene Page, H.B. Barnum, Robert White – arrangements
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Warren Linn – illustration
  • Tom Schlesinger – graphics

Track listing:

  1. It’s Impossible – Armando Manzanero, Sid Wayne
  2. The Bigger You Love (The Harder You Fall) – Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
  3. Hello Stranger – Barbara Lewis
  4. Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills
  5. Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  6. Melodie – Deke Richards, Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
  7. If – David Gates
  8. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  9. Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  10. Do You Love Me Just a Little, Honey – Gladys Knight, Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock

Quincy Jones; You’ve Got It Bad Girl

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In October 1973, “A&M” label released “You’ve Got It Bad Girl”, the 22nd Quincy Jones. It was recorded in 1973, at “A&M Studios”, “Sun West Studios” and “The Record Plant” in Hollywood, “The Burbank Studios” in Burbank, California, “A&R Studios” in New York, and was produced by Quincy Jones.

Personnel:

  • Quincy Jones – vocals, trumpet, arranger, conductor, mixing
  • Quincy Duke – vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – vocals
  • Toots Thielemans – guitar, whistle, harmonica
  • George Duke – piano
  • Dave Grusin – electric piano
  • Bob James & Creations – keyboards
  • Tom Junior Morgan – harmonica
  • Ray Brown – bass, mixing
  • Carol Kaye – electric bass
  • Chuck Rainey – electric bass
  • Grady Tate – drums
  • Bobbye Porter – percussion
  • Phil Woods – alto saxophone
  • Ernie Watts – saxophone
  • Cat Anderson – trumpet
  • Eddie Louis – soloist
  • Phil Ramone – engineer
  • Phil (Boogie) Schier – mixing
  • Kevin Reeves – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Summer in the City – John Sebastian, Mark Sebastian, Steve Boone
  2. Eyes of Love – Quincy Jones, Bob Russell
  3. Tribute to A.F.-Ro’: Daydreaming / First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Aretha Franklin / Ewan MacColl
  4. Love Theme from The Getaway – Quincy Jones
  5. You’ve Got It Bad Girl – Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright
  6. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
  7. Manteca – Gil Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo
  8. Sanford and Son Theme (The Streetbeater) – Quincy Jones
  9. Chump Change – Bill Cosby, Quincy Jones

Booker T. & The M.G.’s: Soul Limbo

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In September 1968, “Stax” label released “Soul Limbo”, the seventh Booker T. & the M.G.’s studio album. It was recorded in 1968, at “Stax Recording Studio” in Memphis, and was produced by Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Donald Dunn and Al Jackson Jr.

Personnel:

  • Booker T. Jones – Hammond organ, clavinet, piano, guitar
  • Steve Cropper – guitar
  • Donald Dunn – bass guitar
  • Al Jackson Jr. – drums, percussion
  • Terry Manning – marimba
  • Isaac Hayes – cowbell

Track listing:

  1. Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy – J.R. Cobb, Ray Whitley
  2. La-La (Means I Love You) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  3. Hang ‘Em High – Dominic Frontiere
  4. Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronell
  5. Over Easy – Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Donald Dunn, Al JacksonJr.
  6. Soul Limbo – Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Donald Dunn and Al Jackson Jr.
  7. Eleanor Rigby – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  8. Heads or Tails = Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Donald Dunn, Al Jackson Jr.
  9. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone – Aretha Franklin, Teddy White
  10. Born Under a Bad Sign – William Bell, Booker T. Jones
  11. Foxy Lady – Jimi Hendrix

Aretha Franklin: La Diva

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On September 6, 1979, “Atlantic” label released “La Diva”, the twenty-fifth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded February – May 1979, at “Penny Lane Studios” in New York City, “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Aretha Franklin, Van McCoy, Skip Scarborough and Charles Kipps.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead and backing vocals, rhythm arrangements
  • Jack Cavari, Cornell Dupree, Tom Hanlon – guitar
  • Van McCoy – keyboards, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements
  • Kenneth Ascher, Richard Tee, Paul Griffin – keyboards
  • Ken Bichel – synthesizer, orchestra bells
  • Brian Aslop, Gordon Edwards – bass guitar
  • Chris Parker – drums
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett, George Devens – percussion
  • Richard Gibbs – rhythm arrangements
  • Arthur Jenkins – rhythm arrangements
  • Skip Scarborough – rhythm arrangements
  • Zulema Cusseaux – rhythm arrangements, backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff – conductor
  • Albert Bailey – backing vocals
  • Sharon Brown – backing vocals
  • Diane Destry – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Franklin – backing vocals
  • Richard Harris – backing vocals
  • Brenda Hilliard – backing vocals
  • Jerome Jackson – backing vocals
  • Pete Marshall – backing vocals
  • Pat Williamson – backing vocals
  • Lee Decarlo, Alan Varner – engineer
  • Rick Delana, Brian Marine, John Terrell – engineer assistant
  • George Piros – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Ladies Only – Aretha Franklin
  2. It’s Gonna Get a Bit Better – Lalome Washburn
  3. What If I Should Ever Need You – Charles H. Kipps
  4. Honey I Need Your Love – Aretha Franklin
  5. I Was Made for You – Clarence Franklin
  6. Only Star – Aretha Franklin
  7. Reasons Why – Skip Scarborough, Wanda Hutchinson, Wayne Vaughan
  8. You Brought Me Back to Life – Van McCoy
  9. Half a Love – Zulema Cusseaux
  10. The Feeling – Van McCoy

Ramsey Lewis: Maiden Voyage

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In July 1968, “Cadet” label released “Maiden Voyage”, the 29th Ramsey Lewis album. It was recorded in April 1968, at “Universal Recording Studio” in Chicago, and was produced by Richard Evans.

Personnel:

  • Ramsey Lewis – piano
  • Cleveland Eaton – bass, arrangements
  • Maurice White – drums
  • Charles Stepney – arrangements
  • Doug Brand – engineer
  • Jerry Griffith – design
  • Ryell Ho – photography
  • Richard Evans – supervision

Track listing:

  1. Maiden Voyage – Herbie Hancock
  2. Mighty Quinn – Bob Dylan
  3. Sweet Rain – Mike Gibbs
  4. Lady Madonna – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Do You Know the Way to San Jose – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  6. Ode – Charles Stepney
  7. Les Fleur – Charles Stepney
  8. Since You’ve Been Gone – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  9. In The Heat of the Night – Quincy Jones
  10. Afro-Boogaloo Twist – Cleveland Eaton
  11. Only When I’m Dreaming – Charles Stepney, Alex Dino
  12. Eternal Journey – Charles Stepney, Ramsey Lewis

Grover Washington Jr.: All The King’s Horses

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On July 1, 1972, “Kudu” label released “All the King’s Horses”, the second Grover Washington Jr. studio album. It was recorded May – June 1972, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Grover Washington Jr. – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Gene Bertoncini – guitar
  • Cornell Dupree – guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • David Spinozza – guitar
  • Bob James – electric piano, harpsichord, arrangements, conductor
  • Richard Tee – organ
  • Gordon Edwards – bass
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Billy Cobham – drums
  • Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald – congas
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn

Brass and Woodwind Section

  • George Marge – alto saxophone, flute, English horn, oboe, recorder
  • Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
  • Arthur Clarke – baritone saxophone, flute
  • Wayne Andre, Paul Faulise, Tony Studd – trombone
  • Jon Faddis, John Frosk, Marky Markowitz, Ernie Royal, Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm, Snooky Young – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Ray Alonge, Donald Corrado, Fred Klein, Brooks Tillotson – French horn

String Section

  • Alexander Cores, Bernard Eichen, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Gene Orloff, John Pintaualle, Irving Spice – violin
  • Richard Dickler, Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello
  • Margaret Ross – harp

String Trio

  • David Nadien – violin
  • Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Bob Ciano – design
  • Pete Turner – photography

Track listing:

  1. No Tears, in the End – Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
  2. All the King’s Horses – Aretha Franklin
  3. Where Is the Love – Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
  4. Body and Soul (Montage) – Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green
  5. Lean on Me – Bill Withers
  6. Lover Man – Jimmy Davis, James Sherman, Ram Ramirez
  7. Love Song 1700 – Henry Purcell