Tag Archives: Ben Benay

The Beach Boys: 15 Big Ones

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On July 5, 1976, “Brother/Reprise” label released “15 Big Ones”, the 20th Beach Boys (The) studio album. It was recorded December 1969 – May 1976, at “Brother” in Santa Monica, “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Brian Wilson – lead and backing vocals, organ, piano, Moog bass, ARP synthesizer, ARP String Ensemble, bass guitar, harmonica, chimes, bells
  • Carl Wilson – lead and backing vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, Jew’s harp, percussion
  • Dennis Wilson – lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, vibraphone
  • Al Jardine – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Mike Love – lead and backing vocals, arranger
  • Thomas J. Tedesco – guitar
  • Ben Benay – guitar
  • Jerry Cole – guitar
  • Bruce Johnston – piano, backing vocals
  • Carl L. Fortina – accordion
  • James D. Hughart – string bass
  • Tim Drummond – bass
  • Ray Pohlman – bass
  • Lyle Ritz – bass
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Dennis Dragon – drums
  • Ricky Fataar – drums, percussion
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Julius Wechter – percussion, bells
  • Roy Wood (credited as “Roy Wood and Wizzard”) – saxophone
  • Mike Altschul – saxophone, clarinet
  • Steve Douglas – saxophone, horns, flute
  • Dennis Dreith – saxophone, clarinet
  • Jay Migliori – saxophone, horns, flute
  • Bobby Shew – trumpet
  • Daryl Dragon – clavinet, vocal arrangements
  • Charles Lloyd – flute
  • Jules Jacobs – clarinet
  • Carol Lee Miller – autoharp
  • Maureen L. West – harp

The Sid Sharp Strings

  • Murray Adler – violin
  • Arnold Belnick – violin
  • Henry Ferber – violin
  • Lou Klass – violin
  • Bernard Kundell – violin
  • William Kurasch – violin
  • James Getzoff – violin
  • Henry L. Roth – violin
  • Sidney Sharp – violin
  • Tibor Zelig – violin
  • William Kurasch – violin
  • James Getzoff – violin
  • Henry L. Roth – violin
  • Sidney Sharp – violin
  • Tibor Zelig – violin
  • Toni Tennille – backing vocals
  • Marilyn Wilson – backing vocals
  • Dean Torrence, Jim Evans – album cover, art direction, logo

Track listing:

  1. Rock and Roll Music – Chuck Berry
  2. It’s Ok – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  3. Hard to Phone Ya – Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Diane Rovell
  4. Chapel of Love – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  5. Everyone’s in Love with You – Mike Love
  6. Talk to Me – Joe Seneca – includes an interpolation of the track “Tallahassee Lassie” originally performed by Freddy Cannon
  7. That Same Song – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  8. T M Song – Brian Wilson
  9. Palisades Park – Chuck Berry
  10. Susie Cincinnati – Al Jardine
  11. A Casual Look – Ed Wells
  12. Blueberry Hill – Al Lewis, Larry Stock, Vincent Rose
  13. Back Home – Brain Wilson, Bob Norberg
  14. In the Still of the Night – Fred Parris
  15. Just Once in My Life – Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Phil Spector

The Association: And Then…Along Comes

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In July 1966, “Valiant Records” label released “And Then… Along Comes”, the debut Association (The) album. It was recorded March – May 1966, at “Homewood Studios”, “GSP Studios” and “Columbia Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Curt Boettcher.

Personnel:

  • Terry Kirkman – vocals, wind instruments, percussion
  • Jules Alexander – vocals, lead guitar
  • Jim Yester – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Russ Giguere – vocals, rhythm guitar, percussion
  • Brian Cole – bass, vocals, woodwinds
  • Ted Bluechel, Jr. – vocals, drums, rhythm guitar, bass
  • Mike Deasy, Lee Mallory, Ben Benay – guitars
  • Jim Henderson – piano
  • Jerry Scheff – bass guitar
  • Jim Troxel – drums
  • Doug Rhodes or Butch Parker – celesta
  • Toxey French – vibraphone
  • Curt Boettcher – backing vocals
  • Gary Paxton, Pete Romano – engineer
  • Peter Whorf Graphics – design
  • Fred Poore – photography
  • Phyllis Burgess – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Enter the Young – Terry Kirkman
  2. Your Own Love – Jules Alexander, Jim Yester
  3. Don’t Blame It on Me – Don Addrisi, Dick Addrisi
  4. Blistered – Billy Ed Wheeler
  5. Along Comes Mary – Tandyn Almer
  6. Cherish – Terry Kirkman
  7. Standing Still – Ted Bluechel
  8. Message of Our Love – Tandyn Almer, Curt Boettcher
  9. Round Again – Jules Alexander
  10. Remember – Jules Alexander
  11. Changes – Jules Alexander

Cass Elliot: Bubblegum, Lemonade and…Something for Mama

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On July 5, 1969, “Dunhill” label released “Bubblegum, Lemonade and… Something for Mama”, the second Cass Elliot album under the billing “Mama Cass”. It was recorded in 1969 and was produced by Steve Barri.

Personnel:

  • Mama Cass – vocals
  • Mike Deasy– guitar
  • Red Rhodes– steel guitar
  • Larry Knechtel– organ, piano
  • Ben Benay – guitar, harmonica
  • Jimmie Haskell– accordion, arranger, conductor
  • Joe Osborn– bass
  • Hal Blaine– drums, percussion
  • Steve Barri– percussion
  • Phil Kaye – percussion, engineer
  • Gary Burden- art direction, design
  • Henry Diltz- photography

Track listing

  1. It’s Getting Better – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
  2. Blow Me a Kiss – Jack Carone
  3. Sour Grapes -Tom Ghent
  4. Easy Come, Easy Go – Diane Hildebrand, Jack Keller
  5. I Can Dream, Can’t I? – Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal
  6. Welcome To the World – Martin Eagle Siegel, Scott English
  7. Lady Love – Delaney Bramlett
  8. He’s a Runner – Laura Nyro
  9. Move in a Little Closer, Baby – Robert O’Connor, Arnold Jay Capitanelli
  10. When I Just Wear My Smile – Tom V. Lane, Sharyn Pulley
  11. Who’s To Blame – Leah Kunkel

Free Movement: I’ve Found Someone of My Own

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In January 1972, “Columbia” label released “I’ve Found Someone of My Own”, the only Free Movement album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Michael Omartian, Bill Straw, Joe Porter and Toxey French.

Personnel:

  • Adrian Jefferson, Cheryl Conley, Claude Jefferson, Godoy Colbert, Jennifer Gates, Josephine Brown – vocals
  • Ben Benay, Jerry McGhee – guitar
  • Jerry Scheff, Bobby West – bass
  • Gene Pello – drums
  • Milt Holland, Victor Feldman– percussion
  • Bobbye Hall, King Erison – congas
  • Michael Omartian– piano, arrangements
  • Toxey French, Jimmie Haskell– arrangements
  • Bill Straw – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank F. Robinson except where noted.

  1. I’ve Found Someone of My Own
  2. Land Where I Live – Hilton, William Flemister
  3. Son of the Zulu King – Chick Carlton
  4. If Only You Believe – Brian Potter, Dennis Lambert
  5. Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills
  6. The Harder I Try (The Bluer I Get)
  7. Comin’ Home
  8. I Know I Could Love You Better (The Second Time Around) – Bobby Arvon
  9. Your Love Has Grown Cold – Michael Omartian
  10. Could You Believe in a Dream – Al Jarreau
  11. Where Do We Go from Here – Mike Settle

The Manhattan Transfer: Coming Out

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On August 19, 1976, “Atlantic” label released “Coming Out”, the third Manhattan Transfer (The) album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Richard Perry.

Personnel:

  • Tim Hauser– vocals, arrangements
  • Laurel Massé– vocals, arrangements
  • Alan Paul– vocals, arrangements
  • Janis Siegel– vocals, arrangements
  • Ira Newborn– guitar, autoharp, arrangements
  • Ben Benay, Robert Bowles – guitar
  • Dave Frishberg– Clavinet, keyboards, piano
  • Paul Griffin– keyboards, organ, synthesizer
  • Dr. John– piano, keyboards
  • John Barnes, Clarence McDonald– piano
  • Arthur Jenkins– piano, arranger
  • Mike Melvoin– piano
  • Bill Payne, Roger Steinman – piano
  • Steve Paietta – accordion
  • Andy Muson – double bass, bass guitar
  • Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, David Kemper, Roy Markowitz, Jim Nelson, Rick Shlosser, Ringo Starr– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– congas, percussion
  • Nicky Marrero – percussion, timbales
  • Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez Jr– bongos, percussion
  • Bobbye Hall, Doug Thorngren – percussion
  • Michael Brecker– soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Jackie Kelso– tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Jay Migliori– tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Douglas Botnick, Lewis Hahn, Rick Rowe – engineer
  • Douglas Botnick, Lewis Hahn, Rick Rowe – engineer
  • Howard Steele – engineer, remixing
  • Dennis Devlin, Dan Latham, Tim Sadler – engineer assistant
  • Allen Zentz – mastering
  • Tim Hauser– assistant producer
  • Tim Hauser– assistant producer

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Let Go – Jesse Stone
  2. Zindy Lou – Johnny Moore, Eddie Smith
  3. Chanson D’Amour – Wayne Shanklin
  4. Helpless – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  5. Scotch and Soda – Dave Guard
  6. The Speak Up Mambo (Cuentame) – Al Castellanos
  7. Poinciana(The Song Of The Tree) Nat Simon, Buddy Bernier
  8. O.S – Ron Roker, Gerry Shury, Phil Swern
  9. Popsicle Toes – Michael Franks
  10. It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference – Todd Rundgren
  11. The Thought of Loving You – David White

Steely Dan: Countdown to Ecstasy

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In July 1973, “ABC” label released “Countdown to Ecstasy”, the second Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, “The Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz. The cover painting was by Dorothy White.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen – lead vocals, acoustic and electric pianos, synthesizer
  • Walter Becker– electric bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Denny Dias– electric guitar, mixing
  • Jeff “Skunk” Baxter– electric and pedal steel guitars
  • Ben Benay– acoustic guitar
  • Rick Derringer– slide guitar
  • Ray Brown– string bass
  • Jim Hodder– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Victor Feldman– vibraphone, marimba, percussion
  • Ernie Watts, Johnny Rotella, Lanny Morgan, Bill Perkins– saxophone
  • Sherlie Matthews, Myrna Matthews, Patricia Hall, David Palmer, James Rolleston, Michael Fennelly– backing vocals
  • Roger Nichols – engineer
  • Miss Natalie – engineer assistant
  • Dotty of Hollywood – design
  • Ed Caraeff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. Bodhisattva
  2. Razor Boy
  3. The Boston Rag
  4. Your Gold Teeth
  5. Show Biz Kids
  6. My Old School
  7. Pearl of the Quarter
  8. King of the World

Jerry Garcia: Garcia

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In June 1974, “Round Records” label released “Compliments” (known as Garcia), the second Jerry Garcia solo album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by John Kahn.

Personnel:

  • Jerry Garcia – vocals, guitar, classical guitar
  • Arthur Adams – guitar
  • Larry Carlton– guitar
  • David Nichtern – guitar
  • Ben Benay – rhythm guitar
  • David Grisman- mandolin
  • Michael Omartian- piano, tack piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Merl Saunders- organ
  • Arnie Egilsson, Ray Siegal – string bass
  • John Kahn – bass, horn arrangement, string arrangement
  • Ron Tutt – drums
  • Bobbye Hall- percussion
  • Melvin Moore – trumpet
  • Gene Connors – trombone, horn arrangement
  • Jackie Kelso – saxophones
  • Amos Garrett– trombone
  • Joel Tepp- clarinet
  • Geoff Muldaur– clarinet
  • Tom Rose – clarinet
  • John Rotella – e flat clarinet
  • Willie Green – b flat clarinet
  • Gary Ray – b flat clarinet
  • Julian Sheer – bass clarinet
  • Sid Page– violin
  • Richard Greene – violin
  • Carl Pedersen – violin
  • Nathan Rubin – violin
  • Emily van Valkenburg – violin
  • Vassar Clements– violin
  • Miriam Dye – viola
  • Nancy Ellis – viola
  • Terry Adams – cello
  • Judiyaba – cello
  • Merry Clayton- backing vocals
  • Maria Muldaur, Clydie King, Patty- backing vocals
  • Ron Malo – engineer
  • Victor Moscoso – cover art
  • Richard Loren, Joshua Blardo – production assistant

Track listing:

  1. Let It Rock – Chuck Berry
  2. When The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game – Smokey Robinson
  3. That’s What Love Will Make You Do – Henderson Thigpen, James Banks, Eddy Marion
  4. Russian Lullaby – Irving Berlin
  5. Turn On The Bright Lights – Albert Washington
  6. He Ain’t Give You None – Van Morrison
  7. What Goes Around – Mac Rebbenack
  8. Let’s Spend The Night Together – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  9. Mississippi Moon – Peter Rowan
  10. Midnight Town – Robert Hunter, John Kahn

Joe Cocker: Jamaica Say You Will

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In April 1975, “Cube” label released “Jamaica Say You Will”, the fifth Joe Cocker studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “The Village Recorders” in Los Angeles and was produced by Jim Price.

Personnel:

  • Joe Cocker – lead vocals
  • Ben Benay, Dan Sawyer, Daniel Moore, Henry McCullough, Cornell Dupree- guitar
  • Jim Price, Jean Alain Roussel, Nicky Hopkins, Richard Tee- keyboards
  • Ben Benay – harmonica
  • Chuck Rainey, Chris Stewart, Dave McDaniel – bass
  • Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Jim Karstein, Joe Correro – drums
  • Don Poncher – percussion
  • Jim Horn, Trevor Lawrence, Bobby Keys- saxophone
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • Sherlie Matthews, Cynthia Barclay, Carol Stallings, Jim Price, Matthew Moore, Daniel Moore, Buzz Clifford, Joanne Bell, Clydie King, Venetta Fields- backing vocals
  • Peggy Sandvig – orchestration
  • Sid Sharp – strings
  • Jim Price, Richard Tee – arrangements
  • Daniel Moore – additional choral arranging
  • Zak Zenor, Rob Fraboni, Rob Fraboni, Joe Tuzen – engineer
  • Allen Zentz – mastering

Track listing:

  1. (That’s What I Like) In My Woman – Matthew Moore
  2. Where Am I Now – Jesse Ed Davis
  3. I Think It’s Going to Rain Today – Randy Newman
  4. Forgive Me Now – Matthew Moore
  5. Oh Mama – Jim Price
  6. Lucinda – Randy Newman
  7. If I Love You – Daniel Moore
  8. Jamaica, Say You Will – Jackson Browne
  9. It’s All Over But the Shoutin’ – Joe Hinton, Johnny Bristol
  10. Jack-A-Diamonds – Daniel Moore

Delaney & Bonnie and Friends: Motel Shot

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In March 1971, “Atco” label released “Motel Shot”, the fourth Delaney & Bonnie and Friends album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Delaney Bramlett.

Personnel:

  • Delaney Bramlett- vocals, guitar, arranger
  • Bonnie Bramlett- vocals
  • Duane Allman- slide guitar
  • Ben Benay- guitar
  • Dave Mason- guitar
  • Gram Parsons- guitar, vocals
  • John Hartford- banjo, fiddle
  • Eddie James – guitar
  • Leon Russell- vocals, piano
  • Clarence White- vocals, guitar
  • Carl Radle- bass guitar
  • Kenny Gradney- bass guitar
  • Jim Keltner- drums
  • Bobby Keys- saxophone
  • Bobby Whitlock- vocals
  • Jay York – backing vocals
  • Joe Cocker- backing vocals
  • Bruce Botnick, Richard Moore, Lewis Peters – engineer
  • Barry Feinstein – photography
  • Tom Wilkes – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Where the Soul Never Dies – traditional
  2. Will the Circle Be Unbroken – P. Carter
  3. Rock of Ages – traditional
  4. Long Road Ahead Delaney Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett, Carl Radle
  5. Faded Love – Bob Wills, Johnnie Wills
  6. Talkin’ about Jesus – traditional
  7. Come On In My Kitchen – Payne (Robert Johnson)
  8. Don’t Deceive Me (Please Don’t Go) – Chuck Willis
  9. Never Ending Song of Love – Delaney Bramlett
  10. Sing My Way Home – Delaney Bramlett
  11. Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad – traditional, Delaney Bramlett
  12. Lonesome and a Long Way from Home – Delaney Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell

Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic

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Pretzel_Logic

On February 20, 1974, “ABC” label released “Pretzel Logic”, the third Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded October 1973 – January 1974 at the “Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz.  The cover photo of the New York pretzel seller was by Raeanne Rubenstein. On September 7, 1993, “Pretzel Logic” was certified Platinum in US by the “RIAA”. Magazine “NME” named “Pretzel Logic” best album of 1974. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Pretzel Logic” at number 385 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen- lead vocals, keyboards, saxophone
  • Walter Becker- bass, guitar, backing vocals
  • Jeff “Skunk” Baxter- lead guitar
  • Denny Dias- guitar
  • Ben Benay – guitar
  • Dean Parks- guitar, banjo
  • Michael Omartian- keyboards
  • David Paich- keyboards
  • Timothy B. Schmit- bass, backing vocals
  • Wilton Felder- bass
  • Chuck Rainey- bass
  • Jim Gordon- drums
  • Jeff Porcaro– drums
  • Victor Feldman– percussion
  • Plas Johnson- saxophone
  • Jerome Richardson- saxophone
  • Ernie Watts- saxophone
  • Lew McCreary – horn
  • Ollie Mitchell- trumpet
  • Jimmie Haskell – orchestration
  • Jim Hodder- backing vocals
  • David Larkham – design
  • Ed Caraeff – art direction, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, except where noted.

  1. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
  2. Night by Night
  3. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
  4. Barrytown
  5. East St. Louis Toodle – Duke Ellington, Bubber Miley
  6. Parker’s Band
  7. Through with Buzz
  8. Pretzel Logic
  9. With a Gun
  10. Charlie Freak
  11. Monkey in Your Soul