Tag Archives: Charles Stepney

Marlena Shaw: The Spice Of Life

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In November 1969, “Cadet” label released “The Spice of Life”, the second Marlena Shaw studio album. It was recorded February – July 1969, at “Ter Mar Studios” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Richard Evans and Charles Stepney.

Personnel:

  • Marlena Shaw – vocal
  • Richard Evans – arrangements
  • Charles Stepney – arrangements
  • Stu Black – engineer
  • Dave Purple – engineer
  • Jerry Griffin – design
  • Bob Crawford – photography
  • Bobby Miller – album supervision
  • Loonis McGlohon – liner notes
  • Ken Druker – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Woman of the Ghetto – Bobby Miller, Marlena Shaw, Richard Evans
  2. Call it Stormy Monday – T-Bone Walker
  3. Where Can I Go? – Leo Fuld, Sigment Berland, Sonny Miller
  4. I’m Satisfied – Morris Dollison
  5. I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) – Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas
  6. Liberation Conversation – Bobby Miller, Marlena Shaw
  7. California Soul – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  8. Go Away Little Boy – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
  9. Looking Through the Eyes of Love – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
  10. Anyone Can Move a Mountain – Johnny Marks

Earth, Wind & Fire: Spirit

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On September 28, 1976, “Columbia” label released “Spirit”, the seventh Earth, Wind & Fire studio album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Burbank Studios” in Burbank, California, “Hollywood Sound Recorders” and “Wally Heider Studios” in Los Angeles, “Westlake Audio” in Hollywood, and was produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in the US by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Maurice White – vocals, drums, kalimba, timbales, mixing
  • Al McKay – guitar, percussion
  • Johnny Graham – guitar
  • Larry Dunn – piano, keyboards, organ, Moog synthesizer
  • Jerry Peters – piano, keyboards
  • Verdine White – vocals, bass, percussion
  • Fred White – drums, percussion
  • Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion
  • Philip Bailey – vocals, congas, percussion
  • Harvey Mason – percussion
  • Andrew Woolfolk – saxophone, percussion
  • Don Myrick – saxophone
  • Oscar Brashear – trumpet
  • Charles Findley – trumpet 
  • Michael Harris – trumpet
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • George Bohanon – trombone
  • Louis Satterfield – trombone
  • Charles Loper – trombone
  • Lew McCreary – bass trombone
  • David Duke – Frech horn
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn
  • Sidney Muldrow – French horn
  • Marilyn Robinson – French horn
  • Tommy Johnson – tuba
  • Charles Veal – concertmaster
  • Asa Drori, Winterton Garvey, Harris Goldman, Carl LaMagna, Joy Lyle, Sandy Seemore, Haim Shtrum, Ken Yerke – violin
  • Marilyn Baker, David Campbell, Denyse Buffum, Rollice Dale, James Dunham, Paul Polivnick, Lynn Subotnick, Barbara Thomason – viola
  • Ronald Cooper, Marie Fera, Dennis Karmazyn, Harry Shlutz – cello
  • Dorothy Ashby – harp
  • Jerry Peters, Charles Stepney, Tom Tom 84 – arrangements
  • George Massenburg – engineer, remix
  • Paul Klingberg, Leo Sacks – mixing

Track listing:

  1. Getaway –Peter Cor, Bernard “Beloyd” Taylor
  2. On Your Face – Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Philip Bailey
  3. Imagination – Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Philip Bailey
  4. Spirit – Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  5. Saturday Night – Al McKay, Maurice White, Philip Bailey
  6. Earth, Wind & Fire – Skip Scarborough, Maurice White
  7. Departure – Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  8. Biyo – Maurice White, Al McKay
  9. Burnin’ Bush – Jerry Peters

The Ramsey Lewis Trio: Another Voyage

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In August 1969, “Cadet” label released “Another Voyage”, album by Ramsey Lewis Trio (the 33 Ramsey Lewis album overall). It was recorded in May 1969, at “Ter Mar Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Ramsey Lewis and Bryan Koniarz.

Personnel:

  • Ramsey Lewis – piano, keyboards, electric piano
  • Phil Upchurch – electric guitar
  • Cleveland Eaton – bass
  • Maurice White – drums, percussion, kalimba
  • Stu Black – engineer
  • Bob Irwin – mastering
  • Jayme Pieruzzi – mastering
  • Hollis King – art direction
  • Randy Harter – design
  • Sherniece Smith – art producer
  • Roger Poznan – cover photography
  • Frank Chaplin – photography
  • Ken Druker – executive producer
  • Mark Cooper Smith – production assistant
  • Charles Stepney – supervisor

Track listing:

All tracks by Ramsey Lewis, except where noted.

  1. If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It, Pt. 1 – Ramsey Lewis, Cleveland Eaton, Maurice White
  2. Wandering Rose – Neal Creque
  3. How Beautiful Is Spring – Eddie Harris
  4. Do What You Wanna
  5. My Cherie Amour – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  6. Bold and Black – Eddie Harris
  7. Opus Number 5 – Charles Stepney
  8. Uhuru – Maurice White
  9. Cecile – Cleveland Eaton
  10. If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It, Pt. 2 – Cleveland Eaton, Ramsey Lewis, Maurice White

Ramsey Lewis: Maiden Voyage

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In July 1968, “Cadet” label released “Maiden Voyage”, the 29th Ramsey Lewis album. It was recorded in April 1968, at “Universal Recording Studio” in Chicago, and was produced by Richard Evans.

Personnel:

  • Ramsey Lewis – piano
  • Cleveland Eaton – bass, arrangements
  • Maurice White – drums
  • Charles Stepney – arrangements
  • Doug Brand – engineer
  • Jerry Griffith – design
  • Ryell Ho – photography
  • Richard Evans – supervision

Track listing:

  1. Maiden Voyage – Herbie Hancock
  2. Mighty Quinn – Bob Dylan
  3. Sweet Rain – Mike Gibbs
  4. Lady Madonna – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Do You Know the Way to San Jose – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  6. Ode – Charles Stepney
  7. Les Fleur – Charles Stepney
  8. Since You’ve Been Gone – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  9. In The Heat of the Night – Quincy Jones
  10. Afro-Boogaloo Twist – Cleveland Eaton
  11. Only When I’m Dreaming – Charles Stepney, Alex Dino
  12. Eternal Journey – Charles Stepney, Ramsey Lewis

The Soulful Strings: Groovin’ with the Soulful Strings

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In October 1967, “Cadet” label released “Groovin’ with the Soulful Strings”, the second Soulful Strings (The) album. It was recorded June – July 1967, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Richard Evans – musical arrangements, direction
  • Sol Bobrov – viola
  • David Chausow – viola
  • Arthur Ahlman – violin
  • Harold Kupper – violin
  • Karl B. Fruh – cello
  • Emil Mittermann – cello
  • Theodore Ratzer – cello
  • Charles Stepney – organ, vibraphone
  • Lenny Druss – saxophone, flute
  • Vernice Green – saxophone, flute
  • Ronald Steele – guitar, sitar
  • Phil Upchurch – guitar
  • Cleveland Eaton – bass
  • Louis Satterfield – bass
  • Philip R. Thomas – bongos, congas
  • Morris Jennings – drums

Track listing:

  1. Burning Spear – Richard Evans
  2. All Blues – Miles Davis
  3. What Now My Love – Carl Sigman, Gilbert Bécaud, Pierre Delanoë
  4. Within You Without You – George Harrison
  5. Our Day Will Come – Bob Hilliard, Mort Garson
  6. Soul Prelude – J.S. Bach
  7. Groovin’ – Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati
  8. Alfie – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  9. Comin’ Home Baby – Ben Tucker, Bob Dorough
  10. (I Know) I’m Losing You – Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant

Muddy Waters: After the Rain

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On May 12, 1969, “Cadet” label released “After the Rain”, the sixth Muddy Waters studio album. It was recorded in January 1969, and was produced by Marshall Chess, Charles Stepney and Gene Barge.

Personnel:

  • Muddy Waters(McKinley Morganfield) – vocals, lead guitar
  • Phil Upchurch– guitar
  • Pete Cosey– guitar
  • Otis Spann– piano
  • Charles Stepney– organ
  • Paul Oscher– harmonica
  • Morris Jennings – drums
  • Louis Satterfield– bass
  • Stu Black – engineer
  • T. Swan – re-mix production

Track listing:

All tracks by Muddy Waters, except where noted.

  1. I Am the Blues – Willie Dixon
  2. Ramblin’ Mind
  3. Rollin’ and Tumblin’
  4. Bottom of the Sea
  5. Honey Bee
  6. Blues and Trouble
  7. Hurtin’ Soul – Charles Williams
  8. Screamin’ and Cryin’

Muddy Waters: Electric Mud

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electric_mud

On October 5, 1968, “Cadet” label released “Electric Mud” the fifth Muddy Waters studio album with Rotary Connection. It was recorded May 1968, at “Ter Mar Studios” in Chicago, Illinois, and was produced by Marshall Chess and Charles Stepne.

Personnel:

  • Muddy Waters– vocal
  • Phil Upchurch– guitars
  • Roland Faulkner – guitars
  • Pete Cosey– guitars
  • Charles Stepney– organ, arranger
  • Louis Satterfield– bass
  • Morris Jennings – drums
  • Gene Barge – tenor saxophone
  • Stu Black – engineer
  • Abner Spector – mixing
  • Meire Murakami – design
  • Bill Sharpe – cover design
  • Vartan – art direction

Track listing:

  1. I Just Want to Make Love to You – Willie Dixon
  2. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man – Willie Dixon
  3. Let’s Spend the Night Together – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  4. She’s Alright – Morganfield
  5. Mannish Boy – Morganfield
  6. Herbert Harper’s Free Press News – Sidney Barnes, Robert Thurston
  7. Tom Cat – Charles Williams
  8. The Same Thing – Willie Dixon

Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes

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Earth,_Wind_&_Fire_-_Open_Our_Eyes

On March 25, 1974, “Columbia” label released “Open Our Eyes” the fifth Earth, Wind & Fire, studio album. It was recorded August 1973, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, Colorado, and was produced by Maurice White, Joe Wissert and Charles Stepney. “Open Our Eyes” was certified Platinum in the US by the “RIAA.”

Personnel:

  • Maurice White – vocals, drums, kalimba
  • Al McKay – vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Johnny Graham – guitar, percussion
  • Larry Dunn – piano, organ, synthesizer
  • Andrew Woolfolk – soprano saxophone, flute
  • Verdine White – vocals, bass, percussion
  • Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion
  • Philip Bailey – vocals, congas, percussion

Track listing:

  • Mighty, Mighty – Maurice White, Verdine White
  • Devotion – Maurice White, Philip Bailey
  • Fair But So Uncool – Rick Giles, Charles Stepney
  • Feelin’ Blue – Kenny Altman
  • Kalimba Story – Maurice White, Verdine White
  • Drum Song – Maurice White
  • Tee Nine Chee Bit – Maurice White, Charles Stepney, Philip Bailey
  • Spasmodic Movements – Eddie Harris
  • Caribou – Charles Stepney, Rick Giles
  • Open Our Eyse – Leon Lumkins

Earth, Wind & Fire: That’s The Way Of The World

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TTWOTWL

On March 15, 1975, “Columbia” label released “That’s the Way of the World”, the sixth Earth, Wind & Fire studio album. It was recorded September – October 1974, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, Colorado, and was produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 486 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Maurice White – vocals, drums, percussion, kalimba
  • Al McKay – guitar, percussion
  • Johnny Graham – guitar
  • Richard Tee– electric piano
  • Larry Dunn – piano, organ, Moog synthesizer
  • Verdine White – vocals, bass, percussion
  • Fred White – drums, percussion
  • Ralph Johnson – drums, percussion
  • Philip Bailey – vocals, percussion
  • Andrew P. Woolfolk – flute, saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Shining Star – Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  2. That’s the Way of the World – Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Verdine White
  3. Happy Feelin’ – Verdine White, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn
  4. All About Love – Larry Dunn and Maurice White
  5. Yearnin’ learnin – Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White
  6. Reasons – Philip bailey, Charles Stepney, Maurice White
  7. Africano – Larry Dunn, Maurice White
  8. See the Light – Louise Anglin, Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn