Tag Archives: Blair Cunningham

The Pretenders: Get Close

On October 20, 1986, “Real Records” label released “Get Close”, the fourth Pretenders (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1986, at “AIR” in London, “Power Station”, “Bearsville” and “Right Track Recording” in New York City, “Polar” in Stockholm, and was produced by Bob Clearmountain, Jimmy Lovine and Steve Lillywhite.

Personnel:

  • Chrissie Hynde – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Robbie McIntosh – guitars
  • T. M. Stevens – bass guitar
  • Blair Cunningham – drums, percussion
  • Rupert Black – keyboards
  • Bernie Worrell – organ, synthesizer
  • Bruce Brody – organ
  • Tommy Mandel – synthesizer
  • Paul Wickens – synthesizer, piano
  • Patrick Seymour – synthesizer
  • John McKenzie – bass
  • Chucho Merchán – bass
  • Bruce Thomas – bass
  • Mo Foster – bass
  • Simon Phillips – drums
  • Martin Chambers – drums
  • Mel Gaynor – drums
  • Steve Jordan – drums, percussion
  • Carlos Alomar – percussion
  • L. Shankar – violin
  • Bruce Lampcov – engineer
  • Helen Backhouse – design
  • Richard Haughton – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Chrissie Hynde, except where noted.

  1. My Baby
  2. When I Change My Life
  3. Light of the Moon – Carlos Alomar, Genevieve Gazon, Wayne Ragland
  4. Dance
  5. Tradition of Love
  6. Don’t Get Me Wrong
  7. I Remember You
  8. How Much Did You Get for Your Soul
  9. Chill Factor
  10. Hymn to Her – Meg Keene
  11. Room Full of Mirrors – Kimi Hendrix

John McKenzie

On May 10, 2020, John Michael McKenzie died aged 64. He was musician (bass, guitar, backing vocals), member of the bands Global Village Trucking Company and Man. He recorded and performed with Eurythmics, The Pretenders, Alison Moyet, Lionel Richie, Dr. John, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Annette Peacock, Steve Hillage, Noel McCalla, Bob Young, Shusha Guppy, Wham!, Deke Leonard, Morrissey-Mullen, Claire Hamill, Space Monkey, Jim Diamond, Bob Dylan, Al Corley, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Microdisney, Five Star, Endgames, John Mizarolli, Gary Moore, Ian Paice, Jaki Graham, Don Airey, Richard Bailey, Peter Auty, Billy Bremner, Terry Stannard, Simon Kirke, Earl Slick, Graham Lyle, Chris Thompson, Patti Austin, Latin Quarter, Phil Manzanera, Matt Bianco, Pete Brown, Helen Watson, Kevin Rowland, Shakira, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Eric Burdon, Kajagoogoo, Johnny Mathis, Everything But The Girl, Todd Sharpville, Branford Marsalis, Rui Veloso, Tim Finn, Ive Mendes, Tom Scott, David Dundas, Danny Tenaglia, The Christians, Phenix Horns, Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor, Jimmy Iovine, Dave Stewart, Wild, Leon Ware, Eternal, James Ingram, Francis Rossi, Karl Jenkins, Albert Lee, Barbara Dickson, Davy Spillane, Charles Aznavour, Raw Stylus, Linda Taylor, Blair Cunningham, Andy Newmark, Teresa Teng, Annabel Lamb, Nadirah X, Bob Clearmountain, Mitchell Froom, Arthur Louis, and Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra.

Haircut One Hundred: Pelican West

In February 1982, “Arista” label released “Pelican West”, the debut Haircut One Hundred album. It was recorded 1981 – 1982, at “Roundhouse Studios” in London, and was produced by Bob Sargeant.

Personnel:

  • Nick Heyward- vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
  • Graham Jones – guitar
  • Les Nemes- bass guitar
  • Blair Cunningham– drums
  • Marc Fox – congas, percussion
  • Phil Smith – saxophone, brass arrangements
  • Herschel Holder, Dave Lord – trumpet
  • Vince Sullivan – trombone
  • Mark Dearnley, Dave Kemp – engineer
  • David Shortt – art direction
  • Peter Hill – sleeve art
  • Gered Mankowitz- photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Nick Heyward, except where noted.

  1. Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
  2. Love Plus One
  3. Lemon Firebrigade
  4. Marine Boy
  5. Milk Film
  6. Kingsize (You’re My Little Steam Whistle)
  7. Fantastic Day
  8. Baked Bean
  9. Snow Girl
  10. Love’s Got Me in Triangles – Nick Heyward, Les Nemes
  11. Surprise Me Again
  12. Calling Captain Autumn

Blancmange: Mange Tout

In May 1984, “London” label released “Mange Tout”, the second Blancmange album. It was recorded August-November 1983, at “Marcus Music”, “Sarm East” and “Island Studios” in London and “Sigma Sound” in New York City, and was produced by John Luongo, Peter Collins, John Owen Williams, Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe.

Personnel:

  • Neil Arthur- vocal, drums, clarinet
  • David Rhodes, Malcolm Ross – guitars
  • Stephen Luscombe – keyboards, piano, trumpet
  • Bobby Collins -bass guitar
  • Neil Jason, David McClymont – bass guitar
  • Pandit Dinesh- tabla, mada, percussion
  • Deepak Khazanchi -sitar
  • Blair Cunningham -Hi-Hat
  • Bashira Johnson -percussion
  • Bashira Johnson -bells, percussion
  • Jerry Marotta – percussion
  • Deepak Khazanchi –santoor
  • The Uptown Horns -horns
  • Valerie Ponomoren -trumpet
  • Joe Mosello – trumpet
  • Vinnie Della-Rocca, Jim Clouse -saxophones
  • Keith O’Quinn, Jack Gale -trombone
  • Andy Findon -flute
  • Gavyn Wright, Roy Gillard -violin
  • Garf Jackson -viola
  • Nigel Warren Green -cello
  • Tawaitha Agee, Brenda White, Vernice – backing vocals
  • Dolette McDonald, Brenda Jay Nelson, Jocelyn Brown, Tawaitha Agee, Brenda White, Vernice, Michelle Cobbs, Janice Pendarvis- backing  vocals
  • James Biondolillo -maestro
  • Linton Naiff – arrangements
  • Jay Mark, Richard Digby-Smith, Julian Mendlesohn, James Docherty, Michael Hutchinson, John Potaka – engineer
  • Femi Jiya, Matthew Wallis, Steve Street, Linda Randazzo, Jimmy Santis, Elisa Gura, Melanie West, Glenn Rosenstein – engineer assistant
  • Dennis Weinrich, John Owen Williams – remix
  • Atkins & Marcx, Town & Country Planning – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, except where noted.

  1. Don’t Tell Me
  2. Game Above My Head
  3. Blind Vision
  4. Time Became The Tide
  5. That’s Love, That It Is
  6. Murder
  7. See the Train
  8. All Things Are Nice
  9. My Baby
  10. The Day Before You Came – Andersson, Ulvaeus