Tag Archives: California

Jeff Lorber Fusion: Prototype

On March 24, 2017, “Shanachie” label released “Prototype”, the tenth Jeff Lorber Fusion album. It was recorded in 2016, at “Cocoa Butt” in Culver City, California, “JHL Sound” in Pacific Palisades, California, “Mannerism Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Jimmy Haslip and Jeff Lorber. “Prototype” won “Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.”

Personnel:

  • Jeff Lorber – keyboards, guitars, synth bass, recording, mixing
  • Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitars, rhythm guitar, guitar solo
  • Chuck Loeb – melody guitar
  • Michael Thompson – guitars
  • Jairus Mozee – guitars
  • Larry Koonse – guitars, guitar solo
  • Nathan East – bass
  • Jimmy Haslip – electric bass, bass
  • Gary Novak – drums
  • Andy Snitzer – soprano, alto and tenor saxophone
  • David Mann – horns, horn arrangements, orchestra and string arrangements
  • Michael Thompson – guitar recording
  • David Mann – horns recording
  • Peter Mokran – mixing
  • Gavin Lurssen – mastering
  • Raifi Minasian – graphic and package design
  • Alex Solca – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Jeff Lorber, except where noted.

  1. Hyperdrive
  2. Prototype
  3. Test Drive
  4. What’s the Deal
  5. Vienna
  6. The Badness
  7. Hidden Agenda – Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Haslip
  8. Gucci
  9. Park West
  10. River Song

Stone Temple Pilots: Same

On March 16, 2018, “Rhino” label released the self-titled, seventh Stone Temple Pilots album. It was recorded in 2017, at “HOMeFRY Studios” in Los Angeles, “Bomb Shelter Studios” in South Pasadena, California, and was produced by Dean DeLeo and Robert DeLeo.

Personnel:

  • Jeff Gutt – lead and backing vocals
  • Dean DeLeo – guitar
  • Robert DeLeo – bass, backing vocals
  • Eric Kretz – drums, percussion
  • Ryan Williams – recording, engineer
  • Russ Fowler – engineer
  • Ken Andrews – mixing
  • Dave Cooley – mastering
  • Hans Bruechle – cover art
  • Michelle Shiers – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Jeff Gutt, Dean DeLeom Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz.

  1. Middle of Nowhere
  2. Guilty
  3. Meadow
  4. Just a Little Lie
  5. Six Eight
  6. Thought She’d Be Mine
  7. Roll Me Under
  8. Never Enough
  9. The Art of letting Go

Gary McFarland: Soft Samba

In March 1966, “Verve” label released “Soft Samba”, the fourth Gary McFarland album. It was recorded June, September and October 1964, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Gary McFarland – arranger, vibraphone
  • Jimmy Cleveland – trombone
  • Seldon Powell, Spencer Sinatra – flute
  • Patty Bowen – piano
  • Antônio Carlos Jobim, Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • Richard Davis – double bass
  • Arnie Wise, Sol Gubin, Willie Bobo – percussion
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Val Valentin – director of engineering
  • Michael J. Malatak – design
  • Lester Bookbinder – cover photography
  • Wally King – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Ringo, Won’t You Marry Me – Linda Laurie, Jerry Mack
  2. From Russia with Love – Lionel Bart
  3. She Loves You – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  4. A Hard Day’s Night – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. The Good Life – Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon
  6. More (Theme from Mondo Cane) – Riz Ortolani, Nino Oliviero, Marcello Ciorciolini, Norman Newell
  7. And I Love Her – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  8. The Love Goddess – Percy Faith, Mack David
  9. I Want to Hold Your Hand – John Lennon, McCartney
  10. Emily – Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer
  11. California, Here I Come – Buddy DeSylva, Al Jolson, Joseph Meyer
  12. La Vie en Rose – Pierre Louiguy, Édith Piaf, Mack David

Chevelle: NIRATIAS

On March 5, 2021, “Epic” label released “NIRATIAS” (Nothing Is Real and This Is a Simulation), the ninth Chevelle studio album. It was recorded 2019 – 2020, in Pasadena, California, and was produced by Joe Barresi.

Personnel:

  • Pete Loeffler – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, piano
  • Sam Loeffler – drums
  • Brian Kilgore – timpani, chimes, percussion
  • Joe Barresi – additional percussion
  • Jun Murakawa – engineer assistant
  • Greg Foeller – engineer assistant
  • Joe Barresi – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Mark “Stig” Daughney – guitar technician
  • Dan Druff – guitar technician
  • Mike Fasano – drum technician
  • Bruce Jacoby – drum technician
  • Jeff Schulz – art direction, design
  • Boris Vallejo – cover illustration
  • Joseph Cultice – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Pete Loeffler and Sam Loeffler.

  1. Verruckt
  2. So Long, Mother Earth
  3. Mars Simula
  4. Sleep the Deep
  5. Self-Destructor
  6. Piistol Star (Gravity Heals)
  7. VVurmhole
  8. Peach
  9. Test Test…Enough
  10. Endlessly
  11. Remember When
  12. Ghost and Razor
  13. Lost in Digital Woods

Big Thief: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

On February 11, 2022, “4AD” label released “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You”, the fifth Big Thief studio album. It was recorded April – December 2021, at “The Elf Inn” in Westhampton, Massachusetts, “Flying Cloud” in New York, “Five Star” in Topanga, California, “Music Garden – Studio in the Clouds” in Colorado, “Press On” in Tucson, Arizona, and was produced by James Krivchenia.

Personnel:

  • Adrianne Lenker – vocals, acoustic guitar, prepared acoustic guitar, brush guitar, nylon guitar, electric guitar, snaps, harmonics, synthesizer, engineer, mixing, artwork, photography
  • Buck Meek – vocals, electric guitar, prepared acoustic guitar, acoustic guitar, brush guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, magic box guitar, bass, snaps, shakers, drums, photography
  • Max Oleartchik – bass, fretless bas, synthesizer, arpeggio synthesizer, acoustic guitar, icicles, tack piano, shakers, snaps
  • James Krivchenia – vocals, drums, electronic drums, drum machine, congas, vocal synthesizer, bells, brushes, icicles, computer synthesizer, tambourine, claps, synthesizer, shakers, computer textures, snaps, mixing
  • Mat Davidson – vocals, fiddle, pedal steel, piano, accordion, recorder
  • Noah Lenker – vocals, jaw harp, snaps
  • Hannah Cohen – vocals
  • Sam Evian – tambourine
  • Richard Hardy – flute
  • Scott McMicken – percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Adrianne Lenker, except where noted.

  1. Change
  2. Time Escaping
  3. Spud Infinity
  4. Certainty – Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek
  5. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
  6. Sparrow
  7. Little Things
  8. Heavy Bend
  9. Flower of Blood
  10. Blurred View
  11. Red Moon
  12. Dried Roses
  13. No Reason
  14. Wake Me Up to Drive
  15. Promise Is a Pendulum
  16. 12.000 Lines
  17. Simulation Swarm
  18. Love Love Love
  19. The Only Place
  20. Blue Lightning

Steve Vai: Inviolate

On January 28, 2022, “Favored Nations” label released “Inviolate”, the tenth Steve Vai studio album.It was recorded in 2021, at “Harmony Hut” in Encino, California, “Studio 666” in Northridge, California, and was produced by Steve Vai.

Personnel:

  • Steve Vai – guitars, left – handed guitar parts, bass, programming
  • Bryan Beller – bass
  • Henrik Linder – bass
  • Billy Sheehan – bass
  • Philip Bynoe – bass
  • Jeremy Colson – drums
  • Terry Bozzio – drums
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Vai.

  1. Teeth of the Hydra
  2. Zeus in Chains
  3. Little Pretty
  4. Candlepower
  5. Apollo in Color
  6. Avalancha
  7. Greenish Blues
  8. Knappsack
  9. Sandman Cloud Mist

Hard Working Americans: Same

On January 21, 2014, “Thirty Tigers” and “Melvin Records” labels released the self-titled, debut Hard Working Americans studio album. It was recorded in 2013, at “TRI Studios” in San Rafael, California, and was produced by Dave Schools and Todd Snider.

Personnel:

  • Todd Snider – vocals
  • Neal Casal – vocals, guitar
  • Chad Staehly – keyboards
  • Dave Schools – bass
  • Duane Trucks – drums
  • John Keane – vocals, banjo, guitar
  • John Popper – harmonica
  • Jason Crosby – piano, fiddle

Track listing:

  1. Blackland Farmer – Frankie Miller
  2. Another Train – Will Kimbrough, Gwil Owen
  3. Down to the Well – Kevin Gordon, Colin Linden
  4. The Mountain Song – Chad Jeffers, Kieran Kane, Sean Locke
  5. Stomp and Holler – Hayes Carll
  6. Straight to Hell – Kevin Kinney
  7. Welfare Music – Brian Henneman, S. Taylor
  8. Mr. President Have Pity on the Working Man – Randy Newman
  9. Run a Mile – Don Herron, Chuck Mead
  10. I Don’t Have a Gun – Will Kimbrough, Tommy Womack
  11. Wrecking Ball – David Rawlings, Gillian Welch

Rufus: Ask Rufus

On January 19, 1977, “ABC” label released “Ask Rufus”, the fifth Rufus studio album. It was recorded June – November 1976, at “Kendun Recorders” in Burbank, California, and was produced by Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden, David Wolinski, Kevin Murphy, Bobby Watson and André Fischer. In 2020, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 499 in its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Chaka Khan – lead and backing vocals
  • Tony Maiden – guitar, backing vocals
  • Kevin Murphy – keyboards, backing vocals
  • David “Hawk” Wolinski – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Bobby Watson – bass, backing vocals
  • André Fischer – drums, backing vocals
  • Ronnie Wood – guitar
  • Milt Holland – percussion
  • Clare Fischer – string arrangements, conductor
  • Charles Garnett, Tony Maiden – horn arrangements
  • Gary Starr – engineer
  • Michael Schuman – engineer assistant
  • Brett Lopez – photography

Track listing:

  1. At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up) – Tony Maiden, Lalomie Washburn
  2. Close the Door – David Wolinski, Bobby Watson, Chaka Khan, André Fischer
  3. Slow Screw Against the Wall / A Flat Fry (Medley: Instrumental Interlude) – David Wolinski, Bobby Watson
  4. Earth Song – Tony Maiden, Traude Sapik, Chala Khan
  5. Everlasting Love – Kevin Murphy, David Wolinski, Dennis Belfield
  6. Hollywood – David Wolinski, André Fischer
  7. Magic in Your Eyes – Chaka Khan, Tony Maiden
  8. Better Days – Richard Holland, Chaka Khan
  9. Egyptian Song – David Wolinski, Chaka Khan

The Fabulous Thunderbirds: Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk

In December 1991, “Epic Associated” label released “Walk That Walk, Talk That Talk”, the eight Fabulous Thunderbirds (The) album. It was recorded in 1991, at “The Site” in San Rafael, California, “House of Music” in West Orange, New Jersey, and was produced by Steve Jordan.

Personnel:

  • Kim Wilson – vocals, harmonica
  • Duke Robillard – vocals, guitar
  • Kid Bangham – guitar
  • Steve Jordan – guitar, percussion, backing vocals
  • Austin de Lone – keyboards
  • Preston Hubbard – electric and upright bass
  • Fran Christina – drums, percussion
  • The Gospel Hummingbirds – backing vocals
  • Bruce Barris – engineer
  • Charles Conrad – engineer
  • Don Smith – engineer
  • Mike Weisinger – engineer
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Tony Sellari – art direction
  • Alan Messer – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Kim Wilson, except where noted.

  1. Twist of the Knife – Chuck Jones, Rick Giles, Kim Wilson
  2. Ain’t That a Lot of Love – Deanie Parker, Homer Banks
  3. Work Together
  4. Born to Love You – Duke Robillard
  5. Need Somebody to Love – Jerry Lynn Williams, Kim Wilson
  6. Feelin’ Good – Herman “Junior” Parker
  7. Roller Coaster
  8. Sweet Thang
  9. Can’t Stop Rockin’
  10. When I Get Home – Kim Wilson, Rick Giles
  11. Paralyzed

Oscar Peterson: A Tribute To My Friends

In December 1983, “Pablo” label released “A Tribute to My Friends”, the 183rd Oscar Peterson album. It was recorded in November 1983, at “Fantasy Studios” in Berkeley, California, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Oscar Peterson – piano
  • Joe Pass – guitar
  • Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – double bass
  • Martin Drew – drums
  • Phil Edwards – engineer
  • Joe Gastwirt – lacquer cut
  • Sheldon Marks – layout, design
  • Norman Granz – layout, design, liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Blueberry Hill – Vincent Rose, Al Lewis, Larry Stock
  2. Sometimes I’m Happy (Sometimes I’m Blue) – Clifford Grey, Leo Robin, Vincent Youmans
  3. Stuffy – Coleman Hawkins
  4. Birk’s Works – Dizzy Gillespie
  5. Cotton Tail – Duke Ellington
  6. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) – Jimmy Davis, Roger (“Ram”) Ramirez, James Sherman
  7. A-Tisket, A-Tasket – Van Alexander, Ella Fitzgerald
  8. Rockin’ Chair – Hoagy Carmichael
  9. Now’s the Time – Charlie Parker