On June 25, 2006, Arif Mardin died aged 74. He was music arranger and producer, worked at Atlantic Records for over 30 years, before moving to EMI. Mardin worked with many famous artists including Aretha Franklin, Queen, Anita Baker, Dionne Warwick, Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Wilson Pickett, Average White Band, The Bee Gees, Chaka Khan, Laura Nyro, Hall & Oates, Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand and Norah Jones. Mardin won eleven “Grammy Awards”.
Tag Archives: Arif Mardin
Norah Jones: Come Away With Me
On February 26, 2002, “Blue Note” label released “Come Away with Me”, the debut Norah Jones album. It was recorded in 2001, at “Sorcerer Sound” in New York City, “Allaire Studios”, in Shokan, New York, and was produced by Jay Newland, Arif Mardin, Craig Street and Norah Jones. The album won “Grammy Awards” for “Album of the Year”, “Best Pop Vocal Album”, “Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical”. The song “Don’t Know Why” won “Song of the Year” and “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance”. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Argentina by “CAPIF”, 11 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, 2 x Platinum in Austria by “IFPI Austria”, 2 x Platinum in Belgium by “BEA”, Platinum in Brazil by “PRO Musica Brazil”, Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada”, 3 x Platinum in Denmark by “IFPI Denmark”, Diamond in France by “SNEP”, 2 x Platinum in Japan by “RIAJ”, 3 x Platinum in Netherlands by “NVPI”, 11 Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, 2 x Platinum in Poland by “ZPAV”, Platinum in Spain by “PROMUSICAE”, Platinum in Sweden by “GLF”, 3 x Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”, 8 x Platinum in UK by “BPI’ and Diamond in US by “RIAA”.
Personnel:
- Norah Jones – vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electric piano
- Kevin Breit– acoustic guitar, National guitar, electric guitar
- Bill Frisell– electric guitar
- Jesse Harris, Adam Levy– acoustic and electric guitar
- Adam Rogers– guitar
- Tony Scherr– slide and acoustic guitar
- Rob Burger– pump organ, accordion
- Sam Yahel– Hammond B-3 organ
- Lee Alexander– bass guitar
- Brian Blade– drums, percussion
- Kenny Wollesen– drums
- Jenny Scheinman– violin
- Jay Newland, Husky Höskulds – engineer
- Mark Birkey, Dick Kondas, Brandon Mason, Todd Parker – engineer assistant
- Arif Mardin, Jay Newland – mixing
- Todd Parker – mixing assistant
- Jay Newland – remixing
- Ted Jensen, Mark Wilder – mastering
Track listing:
- Don’t Know Why – Jesse Harris
- Seven Years – Lee Alexander
- Cold Cold Heart – Hank Williams
- Feelin’ the Same Way – Lee Alexander
- Come Away with Me – Norah Jones
- Shoot the Moon – Jesse Harris
- Turn Me On – John D. Loudermilk
- Lonestar – Lee Alexander
- I’ve Got to See You Again – Jesse Harris
- Painter Song – Lee Alexander, JC Hopkins
- One Flight Down – Jesse Harris
- Nightingale – Norah Jones
- The Long Day Is Over – Norah Jones, Jesse Harris
- The Nearness of You – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
John Prine: Sweet Revenge
In October 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Sweet Revenge”, the third John Prine album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Arif Mardin.
Personnel:
- John Prine – vocals, guitar
- Steve Goodman- guitar, backing vocals
- Grady Martin- guitar, dobro
- Steve Burgh, Johnny Christopher – guitar
- Judy Clay – steel guitar, backing vocals
- Doyle Grisham – steel guitar
- Leo LeBlanc – guitar, steel guitar
- Raun MacKinnon – gut string guitar, harmony vocals
- Dave Prine – guitar, banjo, dobro, fiddle
- Reggie Young- guitar
- David Briggs- organ, piano
- Bobby Wood, Kenny Ascher- keyboards, piano
- Jerry Shook – harmonica
- Mike Leech – bass, upright bass
- Hugh McDonald – bass, percussion
- Bill Slater – bass
- Kenny Malone– drums
- Steve Mosley – drums
- Ralph MacDonald- percussion
- Cissy Houston- backing vocals
- Deirdre Tuck Corley – backing vocals
- Arif Mardin- horn arrangements
- Brad Davis, Jimmy Douglass, Steve Ham, Frank Hubach, Bob Liftin – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by John Prine, except where noted.
- Sweet Revenge
- Please Don’t Bury Me
- Christmas in Prison
- Dear Abby
- Blue Umbrella
- Often is a Word I Seldom Use
- Onomatopoeia
- Grandpa Was a Carpenter
- The Accident (Things Could Be Worse)
- Mexican Home
- A Good Time
- Nine Pound Hammer – traditional
David Bowie: Tonight
On September 24, 1984, “EMI America” label released “Tonight”, the sixteenth David Bowie studio album. It was recorded May – June 1984, at “Le Studio” in Quebec, Canada, and was produced by David Bowie, Derek Bramble and Hugh Padgham.
Personnel:
- David Bowie– lead vocals
- Tina Turner– lead vocals
- Derek Bramble – guitar, guitar synthesizer, bass guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Carlos Alomar– guitars
- Carmine Rojas– bass guitar
- Omar Hakim– drums
- Guy St. Onge – marimba
- Sammy Figueroa– percussion
- Iggy Pop– backing vocals
- Robin Clark, George Simms, Curtis King – backing vocals
The Borneo Horns
- Stanley Harrison– alto and tenor saxophone
- Lenny Pickett– tenor saxophone, clarinet
- Steve Elson – baritone saxophone
- Arif Mardin– synthesizer, string arrangements
Track listing:
- Loving the Alien – David Bowie
- Don’t Look Down – Iggy Pop, James Williamson
- God Only Knows – Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
- Tonight – David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Ricky Gardiner
- Neighborhood Threat – David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Ricky Gardiner
- Blue Jean – David Bowie
- Tumble and Twirl – David Bowie, Iggy Pop
- I Keep Forhettin – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
- Dancing With the Big Boys – David Bowie, Carlos Alomar
Avarage White Band: AWB
In August 1974, “Atlantic” label released “AWB”, the second Average White Band studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York City and “Cand Criteria Sound Studios” in Miami, and was produced by Arif Mardin.
Personnel:
- Alan Gorrie– lead and co-lead vocals, backing vocals, bass, guitar
- Hamish Stuart– lead and backing vocals, guitar, bass
- Onnie McIntyre – guitar, backing vocals
- Roger Ball– keyboards, alto and baritone saxophones, horns arrangements
- Molly Duncan– tenor saxophone
- Robbie McIntosh– drums, percussion
- Ralph MacDonald– congas, percussion
- Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
- Randy Brecker, Marvin Stamm, Mel Davis – trumpet
- Glenn Ferris– trombone
- Ken Bichel– mellotron
- Gene Paul- mixing, engineer
- Lewis Hahn, Karl Richardson, Steve Klein, Ron Albert, Howard Albert, Jimmy Douglass, Bobby Warner – engineer
- Arif Mardin– mixing
- Dennis King – mastering
- Alan Pariser – direction
- Alan Gorrie – logo concept
- Tim Bruckner – front cover drawing
- Barry Feinstein- design, photography
Track listing:
- You Got It – Roger Ball, Hamish Stuart, Alan Gorrie
- Got the Love – Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Robbie McIntosh
- Pick Up the Pieces – Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Molly Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Robbie McIntosh, Ralph MacDonald
- Person to Person – Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Molly Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Robbie McIntosh, Ralph MacDonald
- Work to Do – O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
- Nothing You Can Do – Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball
- Just Wanna Love You Tonight – Roger Ball, Alan Gorrie
- Keepin’ It to Myself – Alan Gorrie
- I Just Can’t Give You Up – Hamish Stuart
- There’s Always Someone Waiting – Alan Gorrie
Average White Band: Cut The Cake
In June 1975, “Atlantic” label released “Cut the Cake”, the third Average White Band album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Arif Mardin.
Personnel:
- Hamish Stuart– vocals, guitar, bass
- Onnie McIntyre – guitar
- Roger Ball– keyboards, synthesizer, alto and baritone saxophones, arranger
- Alan Gorrie– vocals, bass, guitar
- Steve Ferrone– drums, percussion
- Malcolm Duncan– tenor saxophone
Track listing:
- Cut the Cake – Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Steve Ferrone, Alan Gorrie, Robbie McIntosh
- School Boy Crush – Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Steve Ferrone, Alan Gorrie, Robbie McIntosh
- It’s A Mystery – Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Steve Ferrone, Alan Gorrie, Robbie McIntosh
- Groovin’ the Night Away – Stuart Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Steve Ferrone, Alan Gorrie, Robbie McIntosh
- If I Ever Lose This Heaven – Leon Ware, Pam Sawyer
- Why – Roger Ball, Hamish Stuart, Alan Gorrie
- High Flyin’ Woman – Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Steve Ferrone, Alan Gorrie, Robbie McIntosh
- Cloudy – Hamish Stuart, Alan Gorrie
- How Sweet Can You Get – Roger Ball, Hamish Stuart, Alan Gorrie
- When They Bring Down the Curtain – Alan Gorrie, Roger Ball
B. B. King & Eric Clapton: Riding With The King
On June 13, 2000, “Duck” label released “Riding with the King”, album by Eric Clapton and B.B. King. It was recorded in 2000, and was produced by Eric Clapton and Simon Climie. The album was certified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, Denmark by “IFPI Denmark”, Greece by “IFPI Greece”, Italy by “FIMI”, Japan by “RIAJ”, New Zealand by “RMNZ” and 2 x Platinum in US by “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- B. King – co-lead vocals
- Eric Clapton – co-lead vocals, guitar
- Doyle Bramhall II – guitar, backing vocals
- Andy Fairweather Low– guitar
- Jimmie Vaughan– guitar
- Joe Sample– piano, Wurlitzer piano
- Tim Carmon– organ
- Nathan East– bass
- Steve Gadd– drums
- Arif Mardin– string arrangements
- Susannah Melvoin– backing vocals
- Wendy Melvoin– backing vocals
- Paul Waller – programming
- Alan Douglas – engineer, mixing
- Tom Sweeney – engineer assistant
- Mick Guzauski– mixing
- Robert Sebree – artwork, photography
- Don Paulsen – artwork, photography
- Wherefore Art?– artwork, design
- Stephen Walker – artwork direction
Track listing:
- Riding With the King – John Hiatt
- Ten Long Years – Jules Taub, B. King
- Key to the Highway – Big Bill Broonzy, Charlie Segar
- Marry You – Doyle Bramhall II, Susannah Melvoin, Craig Ross
- Three O’Clock Blues – Lowell Fulson
- Help the Poor – Charles Singleton
- I Wanna Be – Doyle Bramhall II, Charlie Sexton
- Worried Life Blues – Sam Hopkins, Big Maceo Merriweather
- Days of Old – Jules Taub, B.B. King
- When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer – B. King, Jules Taub
- Hold On, I’m Comin – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
- Come Rain or Come Shine – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Aretha Franklin: Through the Storm
In May 1989, “Arista” label released “Through the Storm”, the thirty-fifth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in 1988, and was produced by Narada Michael Walden, Walter Afanasieff, Arif Mardin, Joe Mardin and Aretha Franklin.
Personnel:
- Aretha Franklin– lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, vocals engineer
- James Brown – lead vocals
- Whitney Houston– lead vocals
- Elton John– lead vocals
- Four Tops– vocals
- Reggie Griffin – guitar
- Corrado Rustici – guitar, rhythm guitar
- Steve Khan– guitar
- Narada Michael Walden– Simmons drums, synthesizer, arrangements
- Aaron Zigman– bass vocal, keyboards
- David Foster– electric piano, synthesizer
- Robbie Kondor – synthesizer, acoustic piano
- David Paich– acoustic piano
- Walter Afanasieff– keyboards, synth bass, drum programming
- Ren Klyce– Fairlight CMI programming, additional keyboards
- Louis Johnson– bass guitar
- Jerry Knight – bass guitar
- Yogi Horton– drums
- Jeff Porcaro– drums
- John Robinson– drums
- George Devens – percussion
- Steve Kroon – percussion
- Greg “Gigi” Gonaway – cymbal
- Marc Russo– saxophone solo
- Kenny G– saxophone
- Andy Snitzer – tenor saxophone
- Kenneth Hitchcock – baritone saxophone
- Chris Botti– trumpet
- Kent Smith – trumpet
- Mike Davis – trombone
- Arif Mardin– arrangements
- “Bongo” Bob Smith – drum programming
- Sammy Merendino – additional drum samples
- Joe Mardin – programming, sequencing, recording, mixing
- Claytoven Richardson– backing vocals
- Edie Lehman – backing vocals
- Siedah Garrett– backing vocals
- Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals
- Margaret Branch – backing vocals
- Brenda Corbett – backing vocals
- Liz Jackson – backing vocals
- Skyler Jett – backing vocals
- Melisa Kary – backing vocals
- Marti McCall – backing vocals
- Rod Hui – recording, mixing
- Mike Iacopelli – recording , vocal recording
- Darren Klein – engineer, mixing
- Lincoln Clapp – engineer
- David Frazer – engineer
- Marlene Cohen – art direction
- Peter Max – cover art
- Norman Parkinson – photography
Track listing:
- Gimme Your Love – Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen
- Mercy – Siedah Garrett, Glen Ballard
- He’s the Boy – Aretha Franklin
- It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be – Albert Hammond, Diane Warren
- Through the Storm – Albert Hammond, Diane Warren
- Think – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
- Come to Me – Willard Eugene Price
- If Ever a Love There Was – Pamela Phillips Oland, Todd Cerney
George Benson: In Your Eyes
In May 1983, “Warner Bros” label released “In Your Eyes”, the 19th George Benson studio album. It was recorded in 1983, at “Atlantic Studios”, “The Hit Factory” and “The Record Plant” in New York City, “Music Grinder Studio” in Los Angeles, “United Westren” in Hollywood, and was produced by Arif Mardin and Kashif.
Personnel:
- George Benson – lead and backing vocals, guitar solo, rhythm guitar
- David Spinozza– guitar
- Paul Jackson, Jr.– rhythm guitar, guitar
- Ira Siegel – guitar
- Adam “Gus” Falcon – rhythm guitar, rhythm arrangement
- Robbie Buchanan– electric piano, synthesizer, Moog bass, rhythm arrangement, acoustic piano, Linn Drum programming
- Jorge Dalto– acoustic piano, electric piano
- Kashif– keyboards, Synclavier 2, synthesizer, Moog bass, drums, finger snaps, backing vocals, rhythm arrangement
- Greg Phillinganes– additional synthesizer
- Steve Porcaro– additional synthesizer
- David Paich– keyboards, synthesizer, arrangements, brass arrangement
- James Newton Howard– keyboards, synthesizer, arrangements, string arrangements
- Peter Cannarozzi – synthesizer
- Richard Tee– electric piano
- Joe Mardin – synthesizer programming
- Will Lee– bass guitar
- Nathan East– bass guitar
- Anthony Jackson– bass guitar
- Marcus Miller– bass guitar
- Steve Ferrone– drums
- Leslie Ming – drums
- Jeff Porcaro– drums
- Carlos Vega – drums
- Steve Gadd– drums
- Steve Jordan–drums
- Sammy Figueroa– percussion
- Bashiri Johnson– percussion
- Stephen Benben – finger snaps
- Lenny Castro– percussion
- David Sanborn– alto saxophone
- Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
- Lew Delgatto – baritone saxophone
- Randy Brecker – trumpet, horn arrangement
- Jon Faddis– trumpet
- Alan Raph, Tom Malone– trombone
- Jerry Hey– flugelhorn, brass arrangement
- Marty Paich, Lee Holdridge– string arrangement
- Alfred Brown, Emanuel Vardi, Fred Zlotkin, Frederick Buldrini, Gerald Tarack, Guy Lumia, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, Jonathan Abramowitz, Julien Barber, Marilyn Wright, Richard Maximoff, Richard Young, Ted Hoyle – strings
- Endre Granat , Gene Orloff– concertmaster
- Arif Mardin– BGV arrangement, rhythm arrangement, string arrangement, synthesizer arrangement, horn arrangement
- Paul Lawrence Jones III – vocal arrangements
- Hamish Stuart– backing vocals, BGV arrangement
- J. Nelson, Brenda White King, Lillo Thomas, Vicki Randle– duet vocals
- Zachary Sanders, Chaka Khan, Diva Gray, Lani Groves, Robin Clark, Babi Floyd, Mark Stevens – backing vocals
- Jeremy Smith, Michael O’Reilly, Gary Skardinia – recording
- Michael O’Reilly – engineer assistant
- Stephen Benben, Randy Burns, Robert Feist – engineer assistants
- John Agallo, Danny Caccavo, Bill Dooley, Jay Messina and Bobby Warner – additional recording
- Jeremy Smith, Michael O’Reilly – mixing
- Jeremy Smith, Michael O’Reilly, Dan Nash – post tracking
- Stephen Benben, Julie Last – tracking assistant
- George Marino – mastering
- Chrissy Allerdings, Frank De Caro, Lu Sneed – project coordination
- Simon Levy – art direction
- Laura Li Puma – design
- Jean Pagliusso – photography
Track listing:
- Feel Like Making Love – Eugene McDaniels
- Inside Love (So Personal) – Kashif
- Lady Love Me (One More Time) – David Paich, James Newton Howard
- Love Will Come Again – Arif Mardin, Hamish Stuart
- In Your Eyes – Dan Hill, Michael Masser
- Never Too Far to Fall – Hamish Stuart, Ned Doheny
- Being With You – Omar Hakim
- Use Me – James Ingram, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
- Late at Night – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
- In Search of a Dream – Adam Falcon
James Taylor: Flag
In May 1979, “Columbia” label released “Flag”, the ninth James Taylor studio album. It was recorded January-March 1979, and was produced by Peter Asher.
Personnel:
- James Taylor — vocals, guitar
- Peter Asher— vocals, timbales
- Graham Nash— vocals
- Carly Simon— vocals
- David Spinozza— guitar, strings
- Waddy Wachtel— acoustic, electric and slide guitar
- Dan Dugmore— pedal steel guitar
- Danny Kortchmar— guitar
- Don Grolnick— keyboards
- Ralph Schuckett— keyboards
- Leland Sklar— bass
- Russ Kunkel— drums, percussion
- Steve Forman — percussion
- David Sanborn— saxophone
- Louise Schulmann — viola
- Jesse Levy — cello
- Arif Mardin— strings
- Arnold McCuller— backing vocals
- Alex Taylor— backing vocals
- David Lasley— backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by James Taylor except where noted.
- Company Man Johnnie Comes Back
- Day Tripper – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- I Will Not Lie for You
- Brother Trucker
- Is That the Way You Look?
- S.U.R. (S.U.C.S.I.M.I.M.)
- Rainy Day Man – James Taylor, Zach Wiesner
- Millworker
- Up on the Roof – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
- Chanson Française
- Sleep Come Free Me
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