On December 14, 2006, Ahmet Ertegun died aged 83. He was businessman, philanthropist, composer, and music producer. Ertegun was the co-founder and president of “Atlantic Records” (with Herb Abramson), and discovered and supported the careers of many rhythm and blues and rock musicians, including Aretha Frankiln, Led Zeppelin, and Ray Charles. Ertegun was chairman of the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2017 was inducted in the “Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame”. He was regarded as “one of the most significant figures in the modern recording industry”.
Tag Archives: Atlantic Records
Arif Mardin
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”.
Led Zeppelin: II
On October 22, 1969, “Atlantic” label released “Led Zeppelin II”, the second Led Zeppelin studio album. It was recorded January – August 1969, at several locations in the United Kingdom and North America, and was produced by Jimmy Page. In 1989, “Spin” magazine ranked the album at number 5 on its list of “The 25 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 2000, “Q” magazine ranked “Led Zeppelin II” at number 37 on its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”; in 2003, Rolling Stone” magazine the album at number 75 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time “Led Zeppelin II” was the band’s first album to reach number one in the UK and the US. “Led Zeppelin II” was ranked 4 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 9 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; 4 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 12× Platinum in the US by the “RIAA”.
Personnel:
- Robert Plant– lead vocals, harmonica
- Jimmy Page – acoustic and electric guitars, theremin, backing vocals
- John Paul Jones– bass guitar, organ
- John Bonham– drums, timpani
- Eddie Kramer – director of engineering,
- George Chkiantz, Chris Huston, Andy Johns – engineer
- Robert Ludwig – mastering
- David Juniper – artwork
- Peter Grant – executive producer
Track listing:
- Whole Lotta Love – John Bonham, Willie Dixon, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- What Is and What Should Never Be – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- The Lemon Song – John Bonham, Chester Burnett, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- Thank You – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- Heartbreaker – John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- Living Loving Maid – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- Ramble On – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- Moby Dick – John Bonham, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page
- Bring It On Home – Willie Dixon
Yes: Close To The Edge
On September 13, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Close to the Edge”, the fifth Yes studio album. . It was recorded at the “Advison Studios” in London, and was produced by Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford and Eddy Offord.
Personnel:
- Jon Anderson – lead vocals
- Steve Howe – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
- Rick Wakeman – Hammond organ, Minimoog, Mellotron, grand piano, RMI 368 Electra-Piano and Harpsichord, pipe organ at St. Giles, Cripplegate church,
- Chris Squire – vocals, bass guitar
- Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
Track listing
- Close to the Edge – Jon Anderson, Steve Howe
- The Solid Time of Change
- Total Mass Retain
- I Get Up, I Get Down
- Seasons of Man
- And You and I – Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford, Chris Squire
- Cord of Life
- Eclipse
- The Preacher, the Teacher
- The Apocalypse
- Siberian Khatru – Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman
Donny Hathaway
On January 13, 1979, Donny Edward Hathaway died aged 34. He was musician (piano, keyboards), singer and songwriter, started successful career after signing contract with “Atlantic Records” in 1969 and after releasing his first single for the “Atco” label, “The Ghetto, Part I”. The “Rolling Stone” magazine “marked him as a major new force in soul music” in 1970 and his collaboration with Roberta Flack won him the “Grammy Award” for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals” for the duet, “Where Is the Love” in 1973. On January 13, 1979, Hathaway’s body was found outside the luxury hotel “Essex House” in New York City; his death was ruled a suicide.
Led Zeppelin: Same
On January 12, 1969, “Atlantic” label released the self-titled, debut Led Zeppelin album. It was recorded October 1968 at “Olympic Studios” in London in only 36 hours, and was produced by Jimmy Page. The album art was coordinated by George Hardie; the back cover photography of the band was taken by former Yardbirds member Chris Dreja. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 29 on its of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 2004 it was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Personnel:
- Jimmy Page– acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, backing vocals
- Robert Plant– lead vocals, harmonica
- John Bonham– drums, timpani, backing vocals
- John Paul Jones– bass guitar, Hammond organ, backing vocals
- Viram Jasani– tabla
- Glyn Johns – engineer
- Peter Grant– executive production
Track listing:
- Good Times Bad Times – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
- Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Anne Bredon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- You Shook Me – Willie Dixon, B. Lenoir
- Dazed and Confused – Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes
- Your Time Is Gonna Come – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
- Black Mountain Side – Jimmy Page
- Communication Breakdown – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
- I Can’t Quit You Babe – Willie Dixon
- How Many More Times – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham
Tom Dowd
On October 24, 2002, Thomas John “Tom” Dowd died aged 77. He was recording engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. He was credited with innovating the multi-track recording method. Tom Dowd recorded albums for number of famous artists including: Eric Clapton, Derek and the Dominos, Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, The Drifters, Cream, Lulu, Chicago, The Allman Brothers Band, The J. Geils Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, Sonny & Cher, The Rascals, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Kenny Loggins, Dusty Springfield and Otis Redding.
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