Tag Archives: Charles Collins

Marlena Shaw: From The Depts Of My Soul

In September 1973, “Blue Note” label released “From the Depths of My Soul”, the fourth Marlena Shaw album. It was recorded May – June 1973, at “A&R Studios” in New York City, and was produced by George Butler.

Personnel:

  • Marlena Shaw – vocals
  • Gene Bertoncini, Cornell Dupree, Carl Lynch, Hugh McCracken – guitar
  • Derek Smith – piano, electric piano, clavinet
  • Eugene Bianco – harp
  • Ron Carter – double bass
  • Wilbur Bascomb, Jr. – electric bass
  • Charles Collins, Herbie Lovelle, Grady Tate – drums
  • Arthur Jenkins – congas
  • George Devens, George Jenkins – percussion
  • Wade Marcus – arrangements, conductor
  • Uncredited horns and strings musicians

Track listing:

  1. Prelude / I Know I Love Him – Bodie Chandler, Wade Marcus
  2. Hum This Song – Carl Davis
  3. But For Now – Bob Dorough
  4. Easy Evil – Alan O’Day
  5. The Laughter and the Tears – Randy Edelman
  6. The Feeling’s Good – Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel
  7. Wildflower – David Richardson, Doug Edwards
  8. Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely – Bobby Eli, John C. Freeman, Jr., Vinnie Barrett
  9. Waterfall – Randy Edelman
  10. Say a Good Word – Marlena Shaw
  11. Time For Me to Go – Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel

Teddy Pendergrass: This One’s for You

On July 23, 1982, “Philadelphia International” label released “This One’s for You”, the sixth Teddy Pendergrass album. It was recorded in 1982, and was produced by Gene Mc Fadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen, John R. Faith, Thom Bell, Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. Huff, Charles B. Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

Personnel:

  • Teddy Pendergrass – vocal
  • Robert LeGrand – guitar
  • Dennis Harris – guitar
  • Anthony Bell – guitar
  • Cecil Womack – guitar
  • Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Valerie Simpson – piano, backing vocals
  • Alfred Pollitt – piano
  • Leon A. Huff – acoustic and electric piano
  • Ray Chew – electric piano
  • Barry Eastmond – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • Cecil DuValle – keyboards, synthesizer
  • Thom bell – keyboards
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • James L. William – bass
  • Norman Smith – bass
  • Bob Babbitt – bass
  • Michael “Sugarbear” Foreman – bass
  • Francisco Centeno – bass
  • Daryl Burgee – drums
  • James Carter – drums
  • Charles Collins – drums
  • Quinton Joseph – drums
  • Keith Benson – drums
  • Chris Parker – drums
  • David Cruse – percussion
  • Ralph McDonald – percussion
  • Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings, horns
  • Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton, Charles B. Simmons, Constance Harvey, Harriet L. Tharpe, Sherry Butler, Richard Roebuck, Nicholas Ashford, Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals
  • Anthony Bell – arrangements
  • Robert Martin – arrangements
  • Dexter Wansel – arrangements
  • John R. Faith – arrangements
  • John Davis – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. I Can’t Win for Losing – Gene Mc Fadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen
  2. This One’s for You – Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer
  3. Loving You Was Good – Le Roy Bell, Casey James
  4. This Gift of Life – Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. Huff
  5. Now Tell Me That You Love Me – Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. Huff
  6. It’s Up to You (What You Do with Your Life) – Kenneth Gamble, Leon A. Huff
  7. Don’t Leave Me out Along the Road – Richard Roebuck
  8. Only to You – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson

Patti LaBelle: Patti

On July 3, 1985, “Philadelphia International” label released “Patti”, the seventh Patti LaBelle studio album. It was recorded in 1985, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, and was produced by Kenny Gamble, Reggie Griffin, Leon Huff, Joseph Jefferson, Bunny Sigler, James Sigler, Dexter Wansel and Cecil Womack.

Personnel:

  • Patti LaBelle – lead, harmony and backing vocals
  • Herb Smith – guitar, backing vocals
  • Cecil Womack – guitar, arrangements
  • Dennis Harris – guitar
  • Joel Bryant – acoustic piano
  • James Budd Ellison – acoustic piano, keyboards, arrangements, musical director, orchestra conductor
  • Philip Woo – acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizers
  • Dexter Wansel – keyboards, arrangements
  • Joseph Jefferson – keyboards, arrangements
  • Cecil Du Valle – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Leon Huff – keyboards
  • Reggie Griffin – guitar, bass, keyboards, Minimoog, synthesizers, drum programming, arrangements 
  • James Sigler – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • William Jolly – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • Bunny Sigler – keyboards
  • Jimmy Williams – bass
  • Steve Green – bass
  • Darryl Jones – bass
  • Quinton Joseph – drums
  • John Ingram – drums, backing vocals
  • Charles Collins – drums
  • Clifford “Pete” Rudd – drums
  • Miguel Fuentes – percussion
  • Don Renaldo – horns and strings
  • Sam Peake – saxophone
  • Andrea Jackson – backing vocals
  • Donna Natson – backing vocals
  • Veronica Underwood – backing vocals
  • Cynthia Biggs – backing vocals
  • Terri Wells – backing vocals
  • Edward Batts – backing vocals
  • Peter Humphreys, King Shameek, Arthur Stoppe, Joseph Tarsia – engineer
  • Randy Abrams, Tom Caine, Marin Conaty, Scott MacMillan, Glenn McKee, Adam Silverman, Vince Warsavage – engineer assistant
  • Stephen Byram – art direction
  • Diane Best – illustration
  • Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff – executive producers

Track listing:

  1. Love Symphony – Linda Womack, Cecil Womack
  2. Living Double – Bunny Sigler, James Sigler
  3. Where I Wanna Be – Cecil Womack, Kenny Gamble
  4. Shy – Bunny Sigler, Kenny Gamble
  5. Look to the Rainbow – Burton Lane, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg
  6. I Can’t Forget You – James Herbert Smith, Terri Wells
  7. What Can I Do for You – Charles Simmons, Richard Roebuck, Joseph Jefferson
  8. If You Don’t Know Me By Now (live) – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff

Teddy Pendegrass: Teddy

On June 23, 1979, “Philadelphia International” label released “Teddy”, the third Teddy Pendergrass studio album. It was recorded 1978 – 1979, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell, Sherman Marshall, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, John Whitehead and Gene McFadden.

Personnel:

  • Teddy Pendergrass – lead and backing vocals
  • Bobby Eli, Dennis Harris, Roland Chambers, Tony Bell – guitar
  • Leon Huff – keyboards
  • Thom Bell – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • Bob Babbitt, Jimmy Williams – bass
  • David Cruse – percussion
  • Charles Collins, Keith Benson, Quinton Joseph – drums
  • Don Renaldo & His Horns and Strings – strings, horns
  • Barbara Ingram, Carl Helm, Carla Benson, Evette Benton, Joseph Jefferson -backing vocals
  • Jack Faith, Tony Bell, Dexter Wansel, Jerry Cohen, Larry Gold, John L. Usry Jnr., Thom Bell – arrangements
  • Ed Lee – design
  • Frank Laffitte – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. Come Go with Me
  2. Turn Off the Lights
  3. I’ll Never See Heaven Again – LeRoy Bell, Casey James
  4. All I Need Is You – Darnell Jordan, Sherman Marshall
  5. If You Know Like I Know – Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
  6. Do Me
  7. Set Me Free – LeRoy Bell, Casey James
  8. Life Is a Circle

The O’Jays: Travelin’ at the Speed of Thought

In May 1977, “Philadelphia International Records” label released “Travelin’ at the Speed of Thought”, the eleventh O’Jays (The) album. It was recorded 1976 – 1977, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Victor Carstarphen and Dennis Williams.

Personnel:

  • Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Sammy Strain – vocals
  • Roland Chambers, Dennis Harris, T.J. Tindall – guitar
  • Dennis Williams – piano
  • Carlton Kent – organ
  • Michael “Sugar Bear” Foreman – bass guitar
  • Charles Collins – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • MFSB – horns, strings

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. Travelin’ at the Speed of Thought
  2. We’re All in This Thing Together
  3. So Glad I Got You, Girl
  4. Stand Up
  5. Those Lies (Done Caught Up with You This Time) – John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, Victor Carstarphen
  6. Feelings – Morris Albert
  7. Work on Me
  8. Let’s Spend Some Time Together

Blue Magic: The Magic of the Blue

In December 1974, “Atco” label released “The Magic of the Blue”, the second Blue Magic album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Norman Harris and Bobby Eli.

Personnel:

  • Ted Mills – vocals
  • Vernon Sawyer – vocals
  • Richard Pratt – vocals
  • Keith Beaton – vocals
  • Wendell Sawyer – vocals
  • Bobby Eli, Roland Chambers, Norman Harris, Tony Bell – guitar
  • Ted Mills, Ron Kersey, Cotton Kent – piano
  • Rusty Jackmon, Ron Baker, Bob Babbitt– bass
  • Earl Young, Charles Collins, John Nero – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas
  • Vince Montana– vibraphone
  • Life – harmonica solo
  • Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings and horns accompaniment
  • Ted Mills – sound effects
  • Norman Harris, Bobby Eli– arrangement
  • Carl Paruolo, Joe Tarsia, Kenny Present, Don Murray, Jay Mark – recording
  • Ron Kersey, Vince Montana, Jack Faith – arrangements
  • Carl Helm, Phil Hurtt, Bunny Sigler, Barbara Ingram, Evette Benton, Carla Benson, Ted Mills, Wendall Sawyer, Darryl Grant – vocal arrangements
  • Alan Rubens, Steven Bernstein, Bruce Gable – executive producers

Track listing:

  1. Three Ring Circus – Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett
  2. Stringin’ Me Along – Norman Harris, Pat Cooper, Ronnie Tyson
  3. You Don’t Have to Tell Me Goodbye – Norman Harris, Vinnie Barrett, James Hendricks
  4. Never Get Over You – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  5. Talking to Myself – Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett
  6. Let Me Be the One – Norman Harris, Allan Felder, Chuck Brooks
  7. Maybe Just Maybe (We Can Fall in Love Again) – Morris Bailey, Jr., Edward Green
  8. Love Has Found Its Way to Me – Bobby Eli, Allan Waldman
  9. When Ya Coming Home – Ted Mills, Allan Felder
  10. Looking for a Friend – Ted Mills

Blue Magic: Thirteen Blue Magic Lane

In September 1975, “Atco” label released “Thirteen Blue Magic Lane”, the third Blue Magic album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, and was produced by Norman Harris and Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey.

Personnel:

  • Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, Roland Chambers – guitars
  • Ron Kersey, Cotton Kent, Dexter Wansel, Ted Mills – keyboards
  • Vince Montana– vibraphone
  • Ronald Baker, Michael Foreman, Rusty Jackmon, Larry LaBes – bass
  • Earl Young, Charles Collins – drums
  • Larry Washington, Robert Cupit, Bunny Harris – percussion
  • Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings and horns accompaniment
  • Norman Harris, Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey– arrangements
  • Richard Rome – arrangements
  • Ted “Wizard” Mills – rhythm arrangements
  • Carl Paruolo, Kenny Present, Jay Mark – engineer
  • Dirk Devlin, Mike Huchinson, James Gallagher – engineer assistant
  • Nimitr Sarikananda, Wayne Wilfong – mastering
  • Alan Rubens, Steven Bernstein, Bruce Gable – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. The Loneliest House on the Block – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  2. Chasing Rainbows – Ted Mills
  3. Born on Halloween – Norman Harris, Allan Felder, Tanya Jones
  4. Haunted (By Your Love) – Ron Tyson, Allan Felder, Bruce Hawes
  5. I Like You – Ted Mills
  6. Magic of the Blue – Ron Kersey, Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  7. We’re on the Right Track – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  8. Stop and Get a Hold of Yourself – Pat Cooper, Ron Kersey
  9. What’s Come Over Me – Ted Mills