Tag Archives: Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Mason Williams: The Mason Williams Phonograph Record

In February 1968, “Warner Bros” label released “The Mason Williams Phonograph Record”, the second Mason Williams album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Mike Post. Mason Williams won two “Grammy Awards”, for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” and “Best Instrumental Theme”. Mike Post won “Grammy Award” for “Best Instrumental Arrangement of a song”.

Personnel:

  • Mason Williams – guitar, arrangements
  • Alvin Casey, David Cohen, James Burton, Michael Deasy – guitar
  • Lawrence Knechtel, Michael Melvoin – piano
  • Carl Fortina – accordion
  • Bob West, Lawrence Knechtel, Lyle Ritz – bass
  • Lyle Ritz – double bass
  • James Beck Gordon – drums
  • Gary L. Coleman, Gene Estes – percussion
  • Richard J. Hyde, Hoyt Bohannon, Lew McCreary, Richard Leith – trombone
  • David Duke, William Hinshaw – French horn, tuba
  • David Burk, Emanuel Moss, George Kast, Harry Bluestone, Israel Baker, Jack Gootkin, Jimmy Getzoff, Jerry Reisler, John Vidor, Ralph Schaeffer, Robert Korda, Robert Sushel, Sidney Sharp, Stan Plummer, Tibor Zelig, William Kurasch – violin
  • Armand Kaproff, Jerome Kessler, Jesse Ehrlich, Joe DiTullio – cello
  • Gail Levant – harp
  • Jim Horn, Tommy Scott – woodwind
  • Phil Kaye – effects
  • Al Capps – arrangements
  • Mike Post – arrangements
  • Stan Cornyn – liner notes

Track listing:

 All tracks by Mason Williams, except where noted.

  1. Overture – Mike Post
  2. All the Time
  3. Dylan Thomas – Lowell Mason
  4. Wanderlove
  5. She’s Gone Away
  6. Here Am I
  7. Classical Gas
  8. Long Time Blues
  9. Baroque-a-Nova – Alan Blye, Mason Williams
  10. The Prince’s Panties
  11. Life Song
  12. Sunflower

Jeff Beck

On January 10, 2023, Geoffrey Arnold Beck aka Jeff Beck died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), in all lists of the 100 Greatest guitarists of all time, he was ranked in the top five. Beck’s innovative guitar sound spanned various styles ranging from blues rock, jazz fusion and guitar rock and influenced generations of young guitarists. He received “Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performances” six times, and “Best pop Instrumental Performance” once. In 1992, as member of The Yardbirds he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and as solo artists in 2009. In 2014 he received the “British Academy’s Ivor Novello Award” for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Beck was member of the Yardbirds, founder and leader of Jeff Beck Group, and member of Beck, Bogert and Appice. As leader he released fourteen albums.

George Benson & Al Jarreau: Givin’ It Up

On October 24, 2006, “Concord” label released “Givin’ It Up”, an album by Al Jarreau and George Benson. It was recorded in April 2006, at “Henson Recording Studios”, “NRG Studios”, and “Capitol Studios” in Hollywood; “G Studio Digital” in Studio City, CA; “LAFX Studios”, “The Pass”, “Willyworld”, and “Revelation Studios” in Los Angeles; “White Lightning Studios” in Sylmar, CA; “Porcupine Studios” in Chandler, AZ; “The B Hive” in Phoenix, AZ; “East Bay Studios” in Tarrytown, NY, and was produced by John Burk, Michael Broening, Marcus Miller, Patti Austin, Freddie Ravel, Larry Williams and Chris Dunn. In 2007, the album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance” (Al Jarreau), and “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” (George Benson).

Personnel:

  • George Benson – lead and backing vocals, guitar, arrangements
  • Al Jarreau – lead and backing vocals, vocal percussion, arrangements
  • Paul McCartney – lead vocals
  • Ray Fuller – guitar
  • Dean Parks – guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Freddie Fox – guitar
  • Michael O’Neill – rhythm guitar
  • Michael Thompson – guitar
  • Larry Williams – keyboards, acoustic piano, arrangements
  • Michael Broening – keyboards, organ, programming, arrangements, organ
  • Herbie Hancock – acoustic piano
  • Patrice Rushen – keyboards, Fender Rhodes, acoustic piano, arrangements
  • Rex Rideout – acoustic piano, arrangements
  • Barry Eastmond – keyboards, arrangements
  • Freddie Ravel – Fender Rhodes, clavinet, organ, synthesizer, Moog bass, drums, percussion programming, arrangements, BGV arrangements
  • Joe Turano – Wurlitzer, Hammond B3 organ, arrangements
  • Randy Waldman – acoustic piano, arrangements
  • Abraham Laboriel – electric bass
  • Mel Brown – bass guitar
  • Marcus Miller – bass guitar, arrangements
  • Stanley Clarke – bass guitar
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
  • Michael White – drums
  • Gregg Field – drums
  • Ricky Lawson – drums
  • Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
  • Bashiri Johnson – percussion
  • Marion Meadows – saxophone
  • Chris Botti – trumpet
  • John Burk – arrangements
  • Jill Scott – lead vocals
  • Patti Austin – lead and backing vocals, BGV arrangements
  • Maxi Anderson – backing vocals
  • Valerie Pinkston – backing vocals
  • Sharon Perry – backing vocals
  • Darlene Perry – backing vocals
  • Lorraine Perry – backing vocals
  • Sandra Simmons Williams – backing vocals
  • De’Ante Duckett – backing vocals
  • Alethea Mills – backing vocals
  • Chavonne Morris – backing vocals
  • Fred Martin – BGV arrangements
  • Michael Broening, Myron Chandler, Jeff Harris, Don Murray, Charlie Paakkari, Seth Presan, Bill Smith – recording engineer
  • Kevin Becka, Barry Eastmond, Eric Ferguson, Carlos Martinez, Dennis Moody, John Wroble – additional engineering
  • Phillip Broussard, Keith Gretlein, Casey Lewis, Paul Smith – engineer assistant
  • Seth Presant, Bill Smith, German Villacorta – Pro Tools engineer, editing
  • Alex Pavlides – additional Pro Tools engineer
  • Al Schmitt – mixing
  • Steve Genewick – mixing assistant
  • Doug Sax, Sangwook Nam – mastering
  • Abbey Anna – art direction
  • Andrew Pham – art direction, design
  • Randee St. Nicholas – photography
  • Barry Eastmond, Gregg Field – additional production
  • Glen Barros, Kevin Lee, Noel Lee – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Breezin’ – Bobby Womack, Al Jarreau
  2. Mornin’ – Al jarreau, David Foster, Jay Graydon
  3. Long Come Tutu – Marcus Miller, Al Jarreau
  4. God Bless the Child – Billie Holliday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
  5. Summer Breeze – Jim Seals, Dash Crofts
  6. All I Am – Rex Rideout, Phillip “Taj” Jackson
  7. Ordinary People – John Legend, will.i.am
  8. Let It Rain – Barry Eastmond, Al Jarreau
  9. Givin’ It Up for Love – Freddie Ravel, Al Jarreau
  10. Every Time You Go Away – Daryl Hall
  11. Four – Miles Davis, Jon Hendricks
  12. Don’t Start No Schtuff – Joe Turano, Al Jarreau
  13. Bring It On Home to Me – Sam Cooke

Eagles: Long Road Out of Eden

On October 30, 2007, “Eagles Recording Company II” and “Lost Highway Records” label released “Long Road Out of Eden”, the seventh Eagles studio album. It was recorded 2001 – 2007, at “The Doghouse” in Los Angeles,”Samhain Sound” in Malibu, “O’Henry Studios” in Burbank, California, “Henson Recording Studios” in Hollywood, “Mooselodge” in Calabasas, California, “The Panhandle House” in  Denton, Texas, “Luminous Sound” in Dallas, Texas, and was produced by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Steuart Smith, Richard F.W. Davis, Scott Crago and Bill Szymczyk. In 2009, the album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance”. The album was certified 3 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, Platinum in Austria by “Media Control”, 2 x Platinum in Denmark by “IFPI”, Platinum in Germany by “Media Control”, Platinum in Ireland by “IRMA”, 2 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RIANZ”, Platinum in Poland by “OLIS”, Platinum in Sweden by “GLF”, 7 x Platinum in US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Glenn Frey– vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass guitar, orchestration
  • Don Henley– vocals, drums, percussion, guitars, horns arrangements
  • Joe Walsh– vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Timothy B. Schmit– vocals, bass guitar
  • Steuart Smith– guitar, keyboards, mandolin
  • Scott Crago– drums, percussion
  • Richard F.W. Davis – keyboards, programming
  • Michael Thompson – keyboards, accordion, trombone
  • Will Hollis – keyboards
  • Al Garth – alto saxophone, violin
  • Bill Armstrong – trumpet
  • Chris Mostert– tenor and alto saxophone
  • Greg Smith – baritone saxophone
  • Greg Leisz– pedal steel
  • Lenny Castro, Luis Conti– percussion
  • Richard F.W. Davis – orchestration
  • Greg Smith – hornsarrangements
  • Chris Bell, Mike Terry, Jim Nipar, Mike Harlow – engineer
  • Andy Ackland – additional engineering
  • Elliot Scheiner- mixing
  • Blade – digital editing
  • Bob Ludwig- mastering
  • Jeri Heiden – art direction, design
  • Nick Steinhardt / SMOG Design, Inc – logo
  • Olaf Heine – photography

Track listing:

  1. No More Walks in the Wood – Don Henley, Steuart Smith, John Hollander
  2. How Long – J. D. Souther
  3. Busy Being Fabulous – Don Henley, Glenn Frey
  4. What Do I Do with My Heart – Don Henley, Glenn Frey
  5. Guilty of the Crime – Frankie Miller, Jerry Lynn Williams
  6. I Don’t Want to Hear Any More – Paul Carrack
  7. Waiting in the Weeds – Don Henley, Steuart Smith
  8. No More Cloudy Days – Glenn Frey
  9. Fast Company – Don Henley, Glenn Frey
  10. Do Something – Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Steuart Smith
  11. You Are Not Alone – Glenn Frey
  12. Long Road Out of Eden – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit
  13. I Dreamed There Was No War – Glenn Frey
  14. Somebody – Jack Tempchin, John Brannen
  15. Frail Grasp on the Big Picture – Don Henley, Glenn Frey
  16. Last Good Time in Town – Joe Walsh, J. D. Souther
  17. I Love to Watch a Woman Dance – Larry John McNally
  18. Business as Usual – Don Henley, Steuart Smith
  19. Center of the Universe – Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Steuart Smith
  20. It’s Your World Now – Glenn Frey, Jack Tempchin

Mason Williams: The Mason Williams Phonograph Record

In February 1968, “Warner Bros” label released “The Mason Williams Phonograph Record”, the 20th Mason Williams album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Mike Post. Mason Williams won two “Grammy Awards”, for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” and “Best Instrumental Theme”. Mike Post won “Best Instrumental Arrangement on the Song”.

Personnel:

  • Mason Williams – guitar
  • Alvin Casey, David Cohen, James Burton, Michael Deasy– guitar
  • Lawrence Knechtel, Michael Melvoin– piano
  • Carl Fortina – accordion
  • Bob West, Lawrence Knechtel, Lyle Ritz – bass
  • Lyle Ritz– double bass
  • James Beck Gordon– drums
  • David Duke, William Hinshaw – French horn, tuba
  • Gary L. Coleman, Gene Estes – percussion
  • Richard J. Hyde, Hoyt Bohannon, Lew McCreary, Richard Leith – trombone
  • David Burk, Emanuel Moss, George Kast, Harry Bluestone, Israel Baker, Jack Gootkin, Jimmy Getzoff, Jerry Reisler, John Vidor, Ralph Schaeffer, Robert Korda, Robert Sushel, Sidney Sharp, Stan Plummer, Tibor Zelig, William Kurasch – violin
  • Gail Levant – harp
  • Armand Kaproff, Jerome Kessler, Jesse Ehrlich, Joe DiTullio – cello
  • Jim Horn, Tommy Scott – woodwind
  • Phil Kaye – effects
  • Stan Cornyn – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Mason Williams, except where noted.

  1. Overture – Mike Post
  2. All of the Time
  3. Dylan Thomas
  4. Wanderlove
  5. She’s Gone Away
  6. Here Am I – Brown, Mason Williams
  7. Classical Gas
  8. Long Time Blues – Ellington, Mason Williams
  9. Baroque-a-Nova – Blye, Mason Williams
  10. The Princes Panties
  11. Life Song
  12. Sunflower