Tag Archives: Charles McCracken

Moondog: Same

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On October 1, 1969, “Columbia Masterworks Records” label released the self-titled, sixth Moondog album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Old Church” in New York City, and was produced by James William Guercio and Al Brown.

Personnel:

  • Moondog (Louis Thomas Hardin) – conductor
  • Wally Kane – baritone saxophone
  • Joe Wilder – trumpet
  • Danny Repole – bass trumpet
  • Tony Studd, Charles Small, Buddy Morrow – tenor trombone
  • Paul Faulise – bass trombone
  • Don Butterfield, Bill Stanley – tuba
  • Bill Stanley, Bill Elton, John Swallow, Phil Giardina – tenor tuba
  • Harold Bennet, Andrew Lolya, Harold Jones, Hubert Laws – flute
  • Henry Shuman, Irving Horowitz – English horn
  • James Buffington, Richard Berg, Ray Alonge, Brooks Tillotson – French horn
  • Jimmy Abato, George Silfies, Phil Bodner – clarinet
  • Ernie Bright – bass clarinet
  • Jack Knitzer, Don Macourt, Ryohei Nakagawa, George Berg, Wally Kane, Joyce Kelly – bassoon
  • Paul Gershman, Aaron Rosand – violin
  • Emanuel Vardi, David Schwartz, Eugene Becker, Raoul Poliakin – viola
  • George Ricci, Charles McCracken – cello
  • Joe Tekula – contrabass cello
  • George Duvivier, Ron Carter, Alfred Brown, Louis Hardin – bass
  • Jack Jennings, Dave Carey, Elayne Jones, Bob Rosengarden – percussion
  • Raoul Poliakin, Eugene Becker – tenor

Track listing:

All tracks by Louis Thomas Hardin (Moondog)

  1. Theme
  2. Stamping Ground
  3. Symphonique #3 (Ode to Venus)
  4. Symphonique #6 (Good for Goodie)
  5. Minisym #1
    I. Allegro
    II. Andante Adagio
    III. Vivace
  6. Lament 1 (Bird’s Lament)
  7. Witch of Endor
    I. Dance
    II. Trio: A. Adagio (The Prophecy), B. Andante (The Battle), C. Agitato (Saul’s Death)
    III. Dance (reprise)
  8. Symphonique #1 (Portrait of a Monarch)

Bob James: BJ4

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On February 24, 1977, “CTI” label released “BJ4”, the fourth Bob James studio album. It was recorded November – December 1976, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, in New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Bob James – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, ARP Odyssey, Oberheim polyphonic synthesizer, arrangements
  • Eric Gale – guitars
  • Gary King – bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Eddie Daniels – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
  • Romeo Penque – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, tenor recorder
  • Art Farmer – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • John Frosk – trumpet
  • John Gatchell – trumpet
  • Hubert Laws – flute, alto flute
  • George Marge – alto recorder
  • Sidney Weinberg – oboe, English horn
  • Max Ellen – violin
  • Paul Gershman – violin
  • Harry Glickman – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Harold Kohon – violin
  • Charles Libove – violin
  • David Nadien – violin
  • Matthew Raimondi – violin
  • Lamar Alsop – viola
  • Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Charles McCracken – cello
  • Alan Shulman – cello
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Sib Chalawick – design
  • Carole Kowalchuck – design
  • Wendie Lombardi – cover photography
  • White Gate Art Company – liner photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Bob James, except where noted.

  1. Pure Imagination – Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley
  2. Where the Wind Blows Free
  3. Tappan Zee
  4. Nights Are Forever Without You – Parker McGee
  5. Treasure Island
  6. El Verano

Charles Mingus: Let My Children Hear Music

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In January 1972, “Columbia” label released “Let My Children Hear Music”, the 30th Charles Mingus album. It was recorded September – November 1971, and was produced by Teo Macero.

Track listing:

  • Charles Mingus – bass
  • Charles McPherson – alto saxophone
  • James Moody – tenor saxophone
  • Bobby Jones – tenor saxophone
  • Snooky Young – lead trumpet
  • Joe Wilder – trumpet
  • Lonnie Hillyer – trumpet
  • Julius Watkins – French horn
  • Charles McCracken – cello
  • Sir Roland Hanna – piano
  • Dannie Richmond – drums

All tracks by Charles Mingus.

  1. The Shoes of the Fisherman’s Wife Are Some Jiveass Slippers
  2. Adagio ma Non Troppo
  3. Don’t Be Afraid, the Clown’s Afraid Too
  4. Hobo Ho
  5. The Chill of Death
  6. The I of Hurricane Sue

Hank Crawford: We Got A Good Thing Going

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In November 1972, “Kudu” label released “We Got a Good Thing Going”, the thirteenth Hank Crawford album. It was recorded September – October 1972, at “Van Gelder Studios” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Hank Crawford – alto saxophone
  • Richard Tee – piano, electric piano, organ
  • George Benson, Cornell Dupree – electric guitar
  • Ron Carter, Gordon Edwards – double bass, electric bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Phil Kraus – vibraphone, orchestra bells
  • Art Jenkins – congas, tambourine
  • Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Elliot Rosoff, Irving Spice – violin
  • Al Brown, Harold Coletta, Ted Israel – viola
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • Bob James, Don Sebesky – arrangements, conductor
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

  1. We Got a Good Thing Going – The Corporation
  2. I Don’t Know – Bill Withers
  3. Down to Earth – Ron Miller, Avery Vandenberg
  4. I’m Just a Lucky So-and-So – Duke Ellington, Mack David
  5. Imagination – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  6. Little Tear – Don Sebesky
  7. The Christmas Song – Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
  8. Winter Wonderland – Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
  9. Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
  10. Dirt Dobbler – Alfred Ellis
  11. Betcha by Golly, Wow – Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  12. This Is All I Ask – Gordon Jenkins
  13. Jazz Bridge – Don Sebesky

Don McLean: Homeless Brother

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In October 1974, “United Artists” label released “Homeless Brother”, the fifth Don McLean studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Regent Sound Studios” in New York City, “Clack Studios”, and was produced by Joel Dorn.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo
  • Hugh McCracken – guitars
  • David Spinozza – guitars
  • Arthur Jenkins, Jr. – keyboards
  • Richard Tee – keyboards
  • Willie Weeks – bass guitar
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • David Carey – percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Willis Jackson – tenor saxophone
  • Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
  • Yusef Lateef – flute
  • Joe Wilder, Garnett Brown, Wally King, James Buffington, Jonathan Dorn, Billy Slapin, Seldon Powell, George Barrow, Charles Williams, Dany Moore, Peter Gordon, Ray Alonge, George Marge, Brooks Tillotson – horns
  • William Eaton – arrangements, conductor
  • Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Emanuel Vardi, Sanford Allen, Joseph Malignaggi, Avram Weiss, Diana Halprin, Charles Libove, Harry Cykman, Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Matthew Raimondi, Kermit Moore, Charles McCracken, Max Ellen, Max Pollikoff, Gene Orloff, David Nadien, Kathryn Kienke, Julius Schachter, Harold Kohon, Julius Held, Guy Lumia – strings
  • Gerry Teifer – whistling
  • The Persuasions – backing vocals
  • Pete Seeger – backing vocals
  • Kenny Vance, Cissy Houston, Renelle Stafford, Ned Albright, Steven Soles, Deidre Tuck, Linda November, Joel Dorn, Helene Miles, Arlene Martell, Marlene VerPlanck, Norma Holes – backing vocals
  • Bob Liftin – recording, remix
  • Joe Ferla – additional recording
  • Marcote – cover painting

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean, except where noted.

  1. Winter Has Me in Its Grip
  2. La La Love You
  3. Homeless Brother
  4. Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond) – George Harrison
  5. The Legend of Andrew McCrew
  6. Wonderful Baby
  7. You Have Lived
  8. Great Big Man
  9. Tangled (Like a Spider in Her Hair)
  10. Crying in the Chapel – Artie Glenn
  11. Did You Know

Bob James: Three

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On September 3, 1976, “CTI” label released “Three”, the third Bob James studio album. It was recorded November 1975 and January 1976, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Bob James – keyboards, arrangements, conductor
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar solo, guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – guitar
  • Gary King – bass guitar
  • Will Lee – bass guitar
  • Andy Newmark – drums
  • Harvey Mason – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Eddie Daniels – alto and tenor saxophone, flute
  • Grover Washington Jr. – soprano and tenor saxophone, tin whistle
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • John Frosk – trumpet
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Bargeron – bass trombone, tuba
  • Dave Taylor – bass trombone
  • Jerry Dodgion – flute
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Frederick Buldrini – violin
  • Harry Cykman – violin
  • Lewis Eley – violin
  • Max Ellen – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Harold Kohon – violin
  • David Nadien – violin
  • Matthew Raimondi – violin
  • Al Brown – viola
  • Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Charles McCracken – cello
  • Alan Shulman – cello
  • Gloria Agostini – harp
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Rene Schumacher – design
  • Richard Alcorn – photography

Track listing:

  1. One Mint Julep – Rudy Toombs
  2. Women of Ireland – Seán Ó Riada
  3. Westchester Lady – Bob James
  4. Storm King – Bob James
  5. Jamaica Farewell – Lord Burgess

Don Sebesky: The Rape Of El Morro

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In July 1975, “CTI” label released “The Rape of El Morro”, the fourth Don Sebesky album. It was recorded April – May 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Don Sebesky – keyboards, arranger, conductor
  • Joan LaBarbara – vocals
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre, Barry Rogers, Sonny Russo – trombone
  • Tony Studd – bass trombone
  • Ray Beckenstetein – flute, alto flute, piccolo
  • Harvey Estrin, Walt Levinsky, George Marge, Al Regni – flute
  • Joe Beck – guitar
  • Don Grolnick, Roland Hanna, Pat Rebillot – keyboards
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Will Lee – bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • George Devens, Phil Kraus – percussion
  • Harry Cykman, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien, Matthew Raimondi, David Rose – violin
  • Jean R. Dane, Manny Vardi – viola
  • Seymour Barab, Charles McCracken – cello
  • Bob Ciano, Richard Mantel – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Don Sebesky, except where noted.

  1. The Rape of El Morro
  2. Moon Dreams – John Chalmers MacGregor, Johnny Mercer
  3. Skyliner – Charlie Barnet, Billy Moore Jr.
  4. The Entertainer – Scott Joplin
  5. Footprints of the Giant – based on themes by Béla Bartók, arranged and adapted by Don Sebesky
  6. Lucky Seven

Don Sebeski: Giant Box

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In July 1973, “CTI” label released “Giant Box”, the third Don Sebeski album. It was recorded April – May 1973, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Don Sebesky – electric piano, organ, clavinet, accordion, arrangements, conductor
  • Jackie Cain, Roy Kral – vocals
  • Lani Groves, Carl Caldwell, Tasha Thomas – vocals
  • Hubert Laws – soprano saxophone, flute
  • Joe Farrell – soprano saxophone
  • Romeo Penque – soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe, English horn
  • Grover Washington, Jr. – alto saxophone
  • Paul Desmond – alto saxophone
  • Phil Bodner – soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo
  • George Marge – soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe, English horn
  • Walt Levinsky – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Randy Brecker, Alan Rubin, Joe Shepley – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Garnett Brown – trombone
  • Wayne Andre, Warren Covington – trombone, baritone horn
  • Paul Faulise, Alan Raph – bass trombone, baritone horn
  • Jim Buffington, Earl Chapin – French horn
  • Tony Price – tuba
  • Dave Friedman, Phil Kraus, Ralph MacDonald, Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Alfred Brown, Harry Cykman, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Gene Orloff, Elliot Rosoff, Irving Spice – violin
  • Seymour Barab, Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Alan Shulman – cello
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • George Benson – electric guitar
  • Bob James – organ
  • Ron Carter – bass, electric bass, piccolo bass
  • Homer Mensch – bass
  • Billy Cobham – drums
  • Jack DeJohnette – drums
  • Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Rubens Bassini – conga
  • Milt Jackson – vibraphone
  • Bob Ciano – design

Track listing:

 All tracks, by Don Sebesky, except where noted.

  1. Firebird/Birds of Fire – Igor Stravinsky, John McLaughlin
  2. Song to a Seagull – Joni Mitchell
  3. Free as a Bird
  4. Psalm 150 – Jimmy Webb
  5. Vocalise – Sergei Rachmaninoff
  6. Fly/Circles
  7. Semi-Tough

Hubert Laws: Wild Flower

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On July 22, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Wild Flower”, the seventh Hubert Laws album. It was recorded October – November 1971, in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn.

Personnel:

  • Hubert Laws – flute, alto flute, piccolo, electric flute
  • Chick Corea – piano
  • Gary Burton – vibraphone
  • Ron Carter, Richard Davis – double bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Ramon “Mongo” Santamaría – congas
  • Joe Chambers, Airto Moreira, Warren Smith – percussion
  • Bernard Eichen, Paul Gershman, Harry Lookofsky, Guy Lumia, David Nadien, Gene Orloff, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Aaron Rosand – violin
  • Julian Barber, Selwart Clarke, Harold Coletta, Richard Dickler, Harry Zaratzian – viola
  • Seymour Barab, Richard Bock, Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Alan Shulman – cello
  • John Murtaugh – arrangements, conductor

Track listing:

  1. Wild Flower – John Murtaugh
  2. Pensativa – Clare Fischer
  3. Equinox – John Coltrane
  4. Ashanti – John Murtaugh
  5. Motherless Child – traditional
  6. Yoruba – John Murtaug

Bob James: Touchdown

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On July 20, 1978, “Tappan Zee” label released “Touchdown”, the sixth Bob James album. It was recorded in 1978, at “CBS Studios”, “Sound Mixers” and “A&R Recording” in New York, and was produced by Bob James.

Personnel:

  • Bob James – acoustic piano, Yamaha electric grand piano, Fender Rhodes, Oberheim Polyphonic synthesizer, arrangements, conductor
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Hiram Bullock – vocals, electric guitar
  • Earl Klugh – acoustic guitar
  • Richard Resnicoff – rhythm acoustic guita
  • Gary King – electric bass
  • Ron Carter – acoustic bass, piccolo bass
  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Mongo Santamaria – percussion
  • Phil Bodner – alto saxophone, flute, oboe
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone solo
  • Harvey Estrin – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
  • George Marge – tenor saxophone, English horn, flute, oboe, recorder
  • Howard Johnson – baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Mike Lawrence – trumpet
  • Ron Tooley – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Bargeron – trombone
  • Alan Raph – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • David Nadien – concertmaster
  • Harry Cykman, Lewis Eley, Max Ellen, Louis Gabowitz, Diana Halprin, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Herbert Sorkin, Richard Sortomme – violin
  • Jean Dane, Theodore Israel, Sue Pray and Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Jonathan Abramowitz, Seymour Barab, Richard Locker, Charles McCracken – cello
  • Joe Jorgensen – engineer, associate producer
  • Tim Bomba – engineer assistant
  • Ted Bronson – engineer assistant
  • Lou Jannone – engineer assistant
  • Harold Tarowsky – engineer assistant
  • Vlado Meller – mastering
  • Paula Scher – art direction, design
  • Buddy Endress – photography
  • Jay Chattaway – associate producer
  • Marion Orr – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Bob James.

  1. Angela (Theme from Taxi)
  2. Touchdown
  3. I Want to Thank You (Very Much)
  4. Sun Runner
  5. Caribbean Nights