Tag Archives: Charles Stepney

The Soulful Strings: Groovin’ with the Soulful Strings

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

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

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

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

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