Tag Archives: Chad Wackerman

Steve Vai: Flex-Able

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In January 1984, “Urantia” label released “Flex-Able”, the debut Steve Vai solo album. It was recorded April–November, 1983, and was produced by Steve Vai.

Personnel:

  • Steve Vai – vocals, electric guitar, synthesizer, bass, guitar, percussion, piano, keyboards, sitar, bells, drum machine, drum programming, engineer, mixing, design
  • Scott Collard – synthesizer, keyboards, Fender Rhodes
  • Paul Lemcke – keyboards
  • Larry Crane – lyre, xylophone, bells, vibraphone
  • Peggy Foster – bass
  • Stuart Hamm– vocals, bass, sound effects
  • Billy James – drums, percussion
  • Chris Frazier– drums
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Pete Zeldman – percussion, drums
  • Greg Degler – clarinet, flute, saxophone
  • Bob Harris (as Irney Rantin) – vocals, trumpet
  • Tommy Mars– vocals, violin, keyboards
  • Laurel Fishman – vocals
  • Suzannah Harris (as Ursula Rayven) – vocals
  • Pia Maiocco– vocals
  • Joe Despagni – sound effects
  • Lill Vai – sound effects
  • John Matousek – mastering
  • Mark Pinske – assistant
  • Aaron Brown – design, illustrations
  • Neil Zlozower – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Vai.

  1. Little Green Men
  2. Viv Woman
  3. Lovers Are Crazy
  4. Salamanders in the Sun
  5. The Boy/Girl Song
  6. The Attitude Song
  7. Call It Sleep
  8. Junkie
  9. Bill’s Private Parts
  10. Next Stop Earth
  11. There’s Something Dead in Here

Allan Holdsworth

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On April 16, 2017, Allan Holdsworth died aged 70. He was guitarist and composer, known as big innovator in development of the guitar playing. He was one of the most influential guitarists of the 20th Century, cited as influence by many famous guitarists such as  Tom Morello, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Greg Howe, Shawn Lane, Richie Kotzen, John Petrucci, Alex Lifeson and Kurt Rosenwinkel. In his four decades long career he released twelve albums as solo artists, and has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and bands including Igginbottom, Nucleus, Tempest, Soft Machine, The New Tony Williams Lifetime,  Pierre Moerlen’s Gong,  Jean-Luc Ponty, Bruford, U.K., Stanley Clarke, Chad Wackerman, Level 42 and K². According to “Guitar World” magazine he is “as influential as Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen”.

Steven Wilson: Hand. Cannot. Erase

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hand_cannot_erase

On February 27, 2015, “Kscope” released “Hand. Cannot. Erase”, the fourth Steven Wilson solo studio album. It was recorded in September 2014, at “Air Studios” in London, and was produced by Steven Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Steven Wilson– lead vocals,  mellotron,  keyboards,  guitars ,  bass,  banjo, hammered dulcimer, programming, shaker, effects,  arrangements, artwork
  • Guthrie Govan– acoustic and lead guitar
  • Dave Gregory– guitars
  • Nick Beggs– bass, Chapman Stick, backing vocals
  • Adam Holzman– piano, Hammond organ, celesta, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer , Moog Voyager synthesizer
  • Marco Minnemann– drums
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Theo Travis– flute and baritone saxophone
  • Ninet Tayeb– vocals
  • Katherine Jenkins– spoken word
  • Leo Blair – solo vocal
  • Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School – choir
  • Dave Stewart— arrangements, conduction, transcription
  • Steve Price – string engineer
  • London Session Orchestra– strings
  • Laurence Anslow – engineer
  • Steve Orchard – engineer
  • Lasse Hoile— artwork, photography, film director
  • Hajo Mueller — illustrations
  • Carl Glover – design, layout

Track listing:

All tracks by Steven Wilson.

  1. First Regret
  2. 3 Years Older
  3. Hand Cannot Erase
  4. Perfect Life
  5. Routine
  6. Home Invasion
  7. Regret #9
  8. Transience

Steven Wilson: 4½

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steven_wilson

On January 22, 2016, “Kscope” label released “4½”, the fifth Steven Wilson solo album. The mini album features songs that were written during the sessions for Wilson’s previous two studio albums, “Hand. Cannot. Erase”. and “The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)”., and was produced by Steven Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Steven Wilson– lead vocals, guitars, autoharp, Mellotron, piano, percussion, virtual instruments
  • Dave Kilminster– guitar
  • Guthrie Govan– guitar
  • Adam Holzman– Wurlitzer, Hammond organ, Minimoog, Rhodes, piano
  • Theo Travis– reeds
  • Ninet Tayeb– co-lead vocals
  • Nick Beggs– bass, Chapman Stick, backing vocals
  • Craig Blundell – drums
  • Marco Minnemann– drums
  • Chad Wackerman– drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Steven Wilson.

  1. My Book of Regrets
  2. Year of the Plague
  3. Happiness III
  4. Sunday Rain Sets In
  5. Vermillioncore
  6. Don’t Hate Me

Frank Zappa: Meets The Mothers Of Invention

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frank_zappa_meets_the_mothers_of_prevention

On November 21, 1985, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention”, the 44th Frank Zappa album. It was recorded November 1981–September 1985, at “UMRK”, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, Synclavier
  • Johnny “Guitar” Watson – vocals, guitar
  • Ike Willis– vocals, guitar
  • Ray White– vocals, guitar
  • Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards
  • Steve Vai– guitar
  • Tommy Mars – keyboards
  • Scott Thunes– bass
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Ed Mann – percussion
  • Moon Zappa– vocals
  • Dweezil Zappa– vocals
  • John Danforth– voice excerpts
  • Ernest Hollings– voice excerpts
  • Paul S. Trible, Jr.– voice excerpts
  • Paula Hawkins– voice excerpts
  • James Exon– voice excerpts
  • Al Gore– voice excerpts
  • Tipper Gore– voice excerpts
  • Bob Stone – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. We’re Turning Again
  2. Alien Orifice
  3. Yo Cats – Frank Zappa, Tommy Mars
  4. What’s New in Baltimore?
  5. Little Beige Sambo
  6. Porn Wars
  7. Aerobics in Bondage

Frank Zappa: Jazz From Hell

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jazz_from_hell

On November 15, 1986, “Barking Pumpkin Records” label released “Jazz from Hell”, the forty-seventh Frank Zappa album. It was recorded 1985–1986, at “UMRK”; “Palais des Sports” in St. Etienne, France, and was produced by Frank Zappa. “Jazz from Hell” was Zappa’s final studio album released in his lifetime. In 1988, Frank Zappa won “Grammy Award” for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance”.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– lead guitar, Synclavier, keyboards
  • Steve Vai– rhythm guitar
  • Ray White– rhythm guitar
  • Tommy Mars– keyboards
  • Bobby Martin – keyboards
  • Scott Thunes– bass guitar
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Ed Mann– percussion
  • Bob Stone – engineer
  • Greg Gorman – cover photography
  • Bob Rice – computer assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Night School
  2. The Beltway Bandits
  3. While You Were Art II
  4. Jazz from Hell
  5. G-Spot Tornado
  6. Damp Ankles
  7. Etienne
  8. Massaggio Galore

 

Frank Zappa: London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I

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London_Symphony_Orchestr

On June 9, 1983, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I” the thirty-eight  Frank Zappa album. It was recorded in January 1983, at “Twickenham Film Studios” in London,and was produced by Frank Zappa. The album features the London Symphony Orchestra’s renditions of four of Zappa’s compositions.

Personnel:

  • The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kent Nagano
  • David Ocker –clarinet
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Ed Mann– percussion
  • Mark Pinske – recording
  • John Vince – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Sad Jane
  2. Pedro’s Dowry
  3. Envelopes
  4. Mo ‘n Herb’s Vacation
  • First Movement
  • Second Movement
  • Third Movement

 

Frank Zappa: Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch

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Frank_Zappa_-_Ship_Arriving_Too_Late_to_Save_a_Drowning_Witch

On May 3, 1982, “Barking Pumpkin” released “Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch”, the thirty fifth album by Frank Zappa. It was recorded September 1981–early 1982, Live and at “UMRK” (studio tracks), and was produced by Frank Zappa. The album’s first half consists of studio recordings, while the second half consists of live recordings.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, lead guitar
  • Steve Vai– guitar
  • Ray White– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Tommy Mars– keyboards
  • Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards, sax
  • Scott Thunes– bass
  • Arthur Barrow– bass
  • Patrick O’Hearn– bass
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Ed Mann– percussion
  • Roy Estrada– vocals
  • Ike Willis– vocals
  • Bob Harris – vocals
  • Lisa Popeil– vocals
  • Moon Unit Zappa– vocal

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. No Not Now
  2. Valley Girl
  3. I Come to Nowhere
  4. Drowning Wiych
  5. Envelopes
  6. Teen-Age-Prostitute

Frank Zappa: The Man From Utopia

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On March 28, 1983, “Barking Pumpkin” label release “The Man from Utopia”, thirty-sixth Frank Zappa album. It was recorded October 1980 – October 1982, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, drum machine, ARP 2600
  • Steve Vai – acoustic amd electric guitar
  • Ray White – vocals, guitar
  • Roy Estrada– vocals
  • Bob Harris – boy soprano
  • Ike Willis – vocals
  • Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards, saxophone
  • Tommy Mars – keyboards
  • Arthur Barrow– keyboards, bass, micro bass, rhythm guitar
  • Craig Twister Steward – harmonica
  • Dick Fegy – mandolin
  • Marty Krystall – saxophone
  • Scott Thunes– bass
  • Chad Wackerman– drums
  • Vinnie Colaiuta– drums
  • Ed Mann– percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Cocaine Decisions
  2. The Dangerous Kitchen
  3. Tink Walks Amok
  4. The Radio is Broken
  5. Mōggio
  6. The Man from Utopia Meets Mary Lou – Donald and Doris Woods,  Obie Jessie
  7. Stick Together
  8. SEX
  9. The Jazz Discharge Party Hats
  10. We Are Not Alone

 

Frank Zappa: Them Or Us

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Frank Zappa_Them_or_Us

On October 18, 1984, “Barking Pumpkin” label released “Them or Us”, the fortieth Frank Zappa album. It was recorded November 1981 – June 1984 (except “Planet Of My Dreams” and “Ya Hozna” recorded in 1974), and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – lead vocal, guitar, keyboards, arrangements
  • Johnny “Guitar” Watson– vocals, guitar
  • Ray White – vocals, guitar, choir, chorus, harmony and backing vocals
  • Steve Vai– guitar, soloist, fills
  • Dweezil Zappa– soloist, guitar
  • Tommy Mars – vocals, keyboards
  • Bob Harris – vocals, keyboards, harmony vocals
  • George Duke – vocals, keyboards, piano
  • Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards, saxophone, falssetist, harmony vocals, harmonica
  • Brad Cole – piano
  • Patrick O’Hearn – wind, bass guitar
  • Arthur Barrow – bass guitar
  • Roy Estrada– vocals, backing vocals, choir, chorus, bass guitar
  • Scott Thunes– vocals, Minimoog, synthesizer, bass guitar
  • Chad Wackerman – drums, vocals
  • Ed Mann – percussion
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock– saxophone, vocals, harmony vocals
  • Moon Unit Zappa– vocals
  • Thana Harris – vocals
  • Ike Willis – vocals, backing vocals, choir, chorus, harmony vocals

Track listing:

All compositions by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. The Closer You Are
  2. In France
  3. Ya Hozna
  4. Sharleena
  5. Sinster Footwear II
  6. Truck Driver Divorce
  7. Stevie’s Spanking
  8. Baby, Take Your Teeth Out
  9. Marque-son’s Chicken
  10. Planet of My Dreams
  11. Be in My Video
  12. Them or Us
  13. Frogs With Dirty Little Lips – Frank Zappa, Ahmet Zappa
  14. Whipping Post – Gregg Alman