Tag Archives: Billy Beck

Ohio Players: Angel

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In March 1977, “Mercury” label released “Angel”, the ninth Ohio Players studio album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Paragon” and “CRC” in Chicago, and was produced by Billy Beck, James “Diamond” Williams, Marshall Jones, Marvin “Merv” Pierce, Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks, Clarence Satchell, and Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner.

Personnel:

  • Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner – vocals, guitars
  • Clarence “Chet” Willis – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Billy Beck – vocals, grand piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Hohner Clavinet, RMI Electric piano, ARP Odyssey Synthesizer, ARP string ensemble, Hammond B-3 organ, percussion
  • Marshall “Rock” Jones – electric bass
  • James “Diamond” Williams – vocals, drums, congas, cowbells, temple blocks, percussion
  • Clarence “Satch” Satchell – vocals, flute, alto saxophones, tenor saxophones, percussion
  • Marvin “Merv” Pierce – trumpet
  • Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks – trumpet

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Beck, James “Diamond” Williams, Marshall Jones, Marvin “Merv” Pierce, Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks, Clarence Satchell, and Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner.

  1. Angel
  2. Merry-Go-Round
  3. Glad to Know You’re Mine
  4. Don’t Fight My Love
  5. Body Vibes
  6. Can You Still Love Me?
  7. O-H-I-O
  8. Faith

Ohio Players: Fire

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In November 1974, “Mercury” label released “Fire”, the sixth Ohio Players studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Paragon Studios” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by James Williams, Clarence Satchell, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Marvin Pierce and William Beck,

Personnel:

  • Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner – lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Billy Beck– lead and backing vocals, piano, organ, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, ARP, percussion
  • Marshall “Rock” Jones– Fender bass
  • James “Diamond” Williams – lead and backing vocals, drums, chimes, percussion
  • Clarence “Satch” Satchell – lead and backing vocals, baritone sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, percussion
  • Marvin “Merv” Pierce – trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone, backing vocals
  • Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks – trumpet, trombone, backing vocals
  • Barry Mraz, Lee Hulko – engineer
  • Jim Ladwig – art director
  • Len Willis – design
  • Stan Malinowski– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by James Williams, Clarence Satchell, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Marvin Pierce and William Beck.

  1. Fire
  2. Together
  3. Runnin’ from the Devil
  4. I Want to Be Free
  5. Smoke
  6. It’s All Over
  7. What the Hell
  8. Together (reprise)

Ohio Players: Honey

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In August 1975, “Mercury” label released “Honey”, the seventh Ohio Players studio album. It was recorded February–June, 1975, at “Paragon Recording Studios” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by James Williams, Clarence Satchell, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Marvin Pierce, William Beck.

Personnel:

  • Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner – lead and backing vocals, guitars
  • Billy Beck – lead and backing vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes piano, RMI electric piano, clavinet, ARP Odyssey, ARP string ensemble, percussion
  • Marshall “Rock” Jones– electric bass
  • James “Diamond” Williams – lead and backing vocals, drums, timbales, congas, percussion
  • Clarence “Satch” Satchell – tenor saxes, bariton sax, flute
  • Marvin “Merv” Pierce – trumpets, flugelhorn
  • Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks – trumpets
  • Barry Mraz, Gilbert Kong – engineer
  • Marty Linke, Steve Kusiciel, Rob Kingsland, Paul Johnson – tape operators
  • Jim Ladwig – art direction
  • Joe Kotleba – design
  • Richard Fegley– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by James Williams, Clarence Satchell, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Marvin Pierce and William Beck.

  1. Honey
  2. Fopp
  3. Let’s Love
  4. Ain’t Givin’ Up No Ground
  5. Sweet Sticky Thing
  6. Love Rollercoaster
  7. Alone

Ohio Players: Skin Tight

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In April 1974, “Mercury” label released “Skin Tight”, the fifth Ohio Players studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Paragon Studios” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by James Williams, Billy Beck, Clarence Satchell, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks and Marvin Pierce.

Personnel:

  • Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner– lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Billy Beck – lead and backing vocals, piano, organ, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, ARP, percussion
  • Marshall “Rock” Jones– Fender bass
  • James “Diamond” Williams – lead and backing vocals, drums, chimes, percussion
  • Clarence “Satch” Satchell – lead and backing vocals, baritone sax, tenor sax, flute, percussion,
  • Ralph “Pee Wee” Middlebrooks – lead and backing vocals, trumpet
  • Marvin “Merv” Pierce – trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone, backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by James Williams, Billy Beck, Clarence Satchell, Leroy Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks and Marvin Pierce.

  1. Skin Tight
  2. Streakin’ Cheek to Cheek
  3. It’s Your Night/Words of Love
  4. Jive Turkey
  5. Heaven Must Be Like This
  6. Is Anybody Gonna Be Saved