Tag Archives: Armando Manzanero

New Birth: Ain’t No Big Thing, But It’s Growing

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On July 17, 1971, “RCA” label released “Ain’t No Big Thing, But It’s Growing”, the second New Birth studio album. It was recorded in 1971, at “RCA’s Mid-America Center” in Chicago, and was produced by Harvey Fugua.

Personnel:

  • Vernon Bullock
  • Harvey Fugua
  • Tony Churchill
  • James Baker
  • Robin Russell
  • Austin Lander
  • Robert “Lurch” Jackson
  • Leroy Taylor
  • Charlie Hearndon
  • Bruce Marshall
  • Nathaniel “Nebs” Neblett

Track listing:

  1. O-O-H Child – Stan Vincent
  2. Make It with You – David Gates
  3. Never Can Say Goodbye – Clifton Davis
  4. How Good It Feels – Harvey Fuqua
  5. It’s Impossible – Armando Manzanero, Sid Wayne
  6. Honeybee – Harvey Fuqua, Ann Bogan, Edwenna Edwards, Robert Earl Walker
  7. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
  8. Oh What a Feeling – Harvey Fuqua
  9. Let It Be – Gilbert Becaud, Mann Curtis

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

Elvis Presley: Elvis

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On July 16, 1973, “RCA” label released “Elvis”, the eighteenth Elvis Presley studio album. It was recorded in March 1971 and March 1972, at “RCA” in Hollywood, “RCA Studio B” in Nashville, and was produced by Felton Jarvis.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Presley – lead vocals, piano
  • James Burton – lead guitar
  • Joe Esposito – guitar, percussion
  • John Wilkinson – rhythm guitar
  • Chip Young – rhythm guitar
  • Charlie Hodge – rhythm guitar
  • Glen D. Hardin – piano, string arrangements
  • David Briggs – piano
  • Charlie McCoy – harmonica
  • Emory Gordy Jr. – bass
  • Norbert Putnam – bass
  • Jerry Scheff – bass
  • Kenneth A. Buttrey – drums
  • Jerry Carrigan – drums
  • Ron Tutt – drums
  • J. D. Sumner – vocals
  • The Sweet Inspirations – backing vocals
  • The Nashville Edition – backing vocals
  • Joe Babcock – backing vocals
  • Dolores Edgin – backing vocals
  • Ginger Holladay – backing vocals
  • The Imperials Quartet – backing vocals
  • Millie Kirkham – backing vocals
  • June Page – backing vocals
  • Temple Riser – backing vocals
  • Hurshel Wiginton – backing vocals
  • Mary Holliday – backing vocals
  • Kathy Westmoreland – backing vocals
  • Joe Guercio – conductor

Track listing:

  1. Fool – James Last, Carl Sigman
  2. Where Do I Go from Here – Paul Williams
  3. Love Me, Love the Life I Lead – Roger Greenaway, Tony Macaulay
  4. It’s Still Here – Ivory Joe Hunter
  5. It’s Impossible – Armando Manzanero, Sid Wayne
  6. (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me – Gordon Lightfoot
  7. Padre – Jacques Larue, Paul Francis Webster, Alain Romans
  8. I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen – Thomas Paine Westendorf
  9. I’ll Be True – Ivory Joe Hunter
  10. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – Bob Dylan

The New Birth: Coming Together

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On March 24, 1972, “RCA” label released “Coming Together”, the third New Birth (The) studio album. It was recorded 1970 – 1971, and was produced by Harvey Fugua.

Personnel:

  • Bert De Coteaux – arrangements, conductor 
  • Harvey Fuqua – arrangements, conductor 
  • Vernon Bullock – arrangements, conductor
  • Jim Crotty – engineer
  • Acy Lehman – art direction
  • Frank Mulvey – design
  • George Adams – photography
  • Vince Aletti – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Two Kinds of People (I Am) – Vernon Bullock
  2. Oh Baby, I Love the Way – Harvey Fugua
  3. Yesterday I Heard the Rain – Armando Manzanero, Gene Lees
  4. African City – Ann Bogan, Harvey Fugua, Leslie Wilson, Melvin Wilson
  5. I Don’t Want to Do Wrong – Bibba Knight, Gladys Knight, Johnny Bristol, Katherine Schaffner, William Guest
  6. Don’t Knock My Love – Brad Shapiro, Wilson Pickett
  7. If I Can’t have You – Brook Benton, Etta James, Harvey Fugua
  8. All the Way – Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Hausen
  9. Unh Song – Harvey Fugua, Vernon Bullock
  10. Come Back into My Life – Vernon Bullock

Blake Mills: Mutable Set

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On May 8, 2020, “Verve” label released “Mutable Set”, the fourth Blake Mills studio album. It was recorded in 2020, at “Sound City Studios”, “SWT”, “Boulevard Recording Studios”, and was produced by Blake Mills.

Personnel:

  • Blake Mills – vocals, guitar, arranger, art direction
  • Gabriel Kahane – piano
  • Aaron Embry – keyboards
  • David Boucher – acoustic bass, recording
  • Pino Palladino – electric bass
  • Abe Rounds – drums
  • Sem Gendel – saxophone
  • Rob Moose – strings, string arrangements
  • Joseph Lorge – recording
  • Joseph Lorge, Will Maclellan – additional recording
  • Maddy Baltor – engineer assistant
  • Greg Coller – mixing
  • Patricia Sullivan – mastering
  • Julio Chavez – art direction
  • Emilio Villalba – artwork
  • Ian Sefchick – artwork

Track listing:

  1. Never Forever – Blake Mills, Cass McCombs
  2. May Later – Blake Mills, Cass McCombs
  3. Eat My Dust – Blake Mills
  4. Money Is the One True God – Blake Mills
  5. Summer All Ove – Blake Mills, Cass McCombs
  6. Vanishing Town – Blake Mills, Cass McCombs
  7. My Dear One – Blake Mills, Cass McCombs
  8. Farsickness – Blake Mills, Gabriel Kahane
  9. Mirror Box – Blake Mills
  10. Window Facing a Window – lyrics by Blake Mills, music by Blake Mills, Armando Manzanero
  11. Off Grid – Blake Mills